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The Pope Calls Jesus A Liar July 21 2017
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Minutes 3:27-12:00 The Pope
Minutes 21:10-27:00 The End Times
John 8:32 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
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Gaither Vocal Band, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound – Blow the Trumpet in Zion
Daniel 9 Taught by Dave Breese
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Key Verse: Daniel 9:20 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Seventy-Weeks Prophecy
20 Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God,
In Daniel 9:20, we have the key to understanding the 70th week of Daniel, which we will come to know as the tribulation, which ends with the second coming of Christ. In this verse, Daniel is seen praying for the sin of himself and for the sin of Israel. He is not praying for any other people, or for any other land. The focus on Daniel and Israel is the key to understanding eschatology (rapture, tribulation, second coming of Christ, millennium/kingdom age, eternal state), which is about Israel and the church, with the focus being on Israel. The church will not replace Israel for the promises that were made to Israel by God. The church is not a brick and mortar structure, but is the born again body of believers in Christ, which may, or may not, assemble in a brick and mortar structure. God is using His prophecy to Daniel to tell of His plan to restore “His chosen people,” Israel (Genesis 12:1-3; Deuteronomy 7:6), to their promised land (Genesis 13:14-15; 15:18-21; 17:6-8; 28:13-15). The 70th week of Daniel was designed for the Jews and Gentiles who are not believers in Christ. There is no purpose for born again believers in Christ to have a place in the tribulation, whether they are Jew or Gentile.
This article discusses the purposes of the 70th week of Daniel, and shows that week as being the tribulation, as depicted in Matthew 24, and is the key to understanding the tribulation and second coming of Christ. The rapture of the church takes place before the events of Matthew 24. Born again believers in Christ have no place in Matthew 24, or in any other passage that relates to the tribulation. The 70th week of Daniel/the tribulation, is designed for the purpose of God for judging sin, and for bringing Israel to saving faith in Christ as the Messiah. Following the tribulation will be the second coming of Christ, which will be followed by the Millennium/Kingdom age. The word “tribulation” is often used in ways that understate its severity. It will be a time of escalating severity that has never been experienced, per Matthew 24:21, “such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.” Yes! People go through times of tribulation, but no one will ever experience the kind of tribulation that awaits the 70th week of Daniel.
“The mountain of my God. ” Thy holy mountain – Jerusalem was built on hills, and the city in general might be designated by this phrase. Or, more probably, there is allusion either to Mount Zion, or to Mount Moriah. Barnes Commentary, Daniel 9:16)
Terms for reference. The terms, “1,000 Year Reign of Christ, Millennium, Kingdom, Kingdom Age, and Kingdom Of God,” are synonymous in respect to this article.
Book Introduction – Daniel
Date of Book of Daniel,607 B.C., to 534 B.C.
Date of Daniel 9, 538 B.C.
Scofield Reference Note
Daniel, like Ezekiel was a Jewish captive in Babylon. He was of royal or princely descent ( Daniel 1:3 ). For his rank and comeliness he was trained for palace service. In the polluted atmosphere of an oriental court he lived a life of singular piety and usefulness. His long life extended from Nebuchadnezzar to Cyrus. He was a contemporary of Jeremiah, Ezekiel ( Daniel 14:20 ), Joshua, the high priest of the restoration, Ezra, and Zerubbabel.
Daniel is the indispensable introduction to New Testament prophecy, the themes of which are, the apostasy of the Church, the manifestation of the man of sin, the great tribulation, the return of the Lord, the resurrections and the judgments. These, except the first, are Daniel’s themes also. But Daniel is distinctively the prophet of the “times of the Gentiles” ( Luke 21:24 ), (See Scofield “Luke 21:24”) . His vision sweeps the whole course of Gentile world-rule to its end in catastrophe, and to the setting up of the Messianic kingdom.
Daniel is in four broad divisions:
Introduction. The personal history of Daniel from the conquest of Jerusalem to the second year of Nebuchadnezzar, 1:1-21.
The visions of Nebuchadnezzar and their results, 2:1-4:37.
The personal history of Daniel under Belshazzar and Darius, 5:1-6:28.
The visions of Daniel, 7:1-12:13.
The events recorded in Daniel cover a period of 73 years (Ussher).
Re: The Times Of The Gentiles
Luke 21:24 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
24 and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Macarthur Study Bible Note: 21:24 the times of the Gentiles. This expression is unique to Luke. It identifies the era from Israel’s captivity (ca. 586 B.C. to Babylon; cf. 2 Kin. 25) to her restoration in the kingdom (Rev. 20:1–6). It has been a time during which, in accord with God’s purpose, Gentiles have dominated or threatened Jerusalem. The era has also been marked by vast spiritual privileges for the Gentile nations (cf. Is. 66:12; Mal. 1:11; Matt. 24:14; Mark 13:10).
trodden down of the Gentiles: Scofield Reference Note: The “times of the Gentiles” began with the captivity of Judah under Nebuchadnezzar 2 Chronicles 36:1-21, since which time Jerusalem has been under Gentile overlordship.
Daniel 9 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Daniel’s Prayer for His People
1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. 3 So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 5 we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. 6 Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land.
7 “Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You. 8 Open shame belongs to us, O Lord, to our kings, our princes and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 9 To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him; 10 nor have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His teachings which He set before us through His servants the prophets. 11 Indeed all Israel has transgressed Your law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; so the curse has been poured out on us, along with the oath which is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against Him. 12 Thus He has confirmed His words which He had spoken against us and against our rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great calamity; for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what was done to Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth. 14 Therefore the Lord has kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for the Lord our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice.
15 “And now, O Lord our God, who have brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have been wicked. 16 O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a reproach to all those around us. 17 So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and for Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary. 18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion. 19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”
Comments: All following notes come from the MacArthur Study Bible.
9:1 the first year. Ca. 539 B.C. made king. This may mean that Darius (a title, not a proper name, see note on 5:31) refers to Cyrus who was made king by God’s allowance (cf. Ps. 75:6, 7). Since Cyrus was the first monarch of the Medo-Persian empire, this time note was also the first year after the death of Belshazzar, when Babylon fell.
9:2 seventy years. Daniel’s study of “the books” (OT scrolls) focused on the years prophesied for the captivity by Jeremiah in Jer. 25:11, 12 and 29:10. Since the end of that span was near, he prayed for God’s next move on behalf of Israel. Cf. 2 Chr. 36:21, where it is indicated that the 70 years of exile were intended to restore the Sabbath rests that Israel had ignored for so many years (cf. Lev. 25:4, 5; 26:34–43).
Jeremiah 25:11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
11 This whole land will be a desolation and a horror, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
25:11 seventy years. Here is the first specific statement on the length of the exile (cf. 29:10). This period probably began in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, when Jerusalem was first captured and the temple treasures were taken. It ends with the decree of Cyrus to let the Jews return, spanning from ca. 605/04 B.C. to 536/35 B.C. The exact number of Sabbath years is 490 years, the period from Saul to the Babylonian captivity. This was retribution for their violation of the Sabbath law (cf. Lev. 26:34, 35; 2 Chr. 36:21).
Jeremiah 29:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 “For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place.
29:4–10 Jeremiah’s counsel to Israelites in Babylon was to take all the steps in living as colonists planning to be there for a long time (70 years, 29:10, as 25:11).
Daniel 9:4–19 I prayed. Various aspects of the passage give rich instruction regarding prayer. True prayer is: in response to the Word (v. 2), characterized by fervency and self-denial (v. 3), identified unselfishly with God’s people (v. 5), strengthened by confession (vv. 5–15), dependent on God’s character (vv. 4, 7, 9, 15), and has as its goal, God’s glory (vv. 16–19)
Daniel 9:11 the curse. This refers to the judgment that God brought, as promised, for Israel’s disobedience in the Land (Lev. 26:21–42; Deut. 28:15–68). This is in contrast to the blessings associated with faith and obedience (Lev. 26:3–20; Deut. 28:1–14). God had given the promise that even in a time of judgment, if Israel would confess their sin, He would bring blessing again (Lev. 26:40–42).
9:16. Daniel prayed for restoration in 3 aspects. In effect he asked God to bring back “Your city” (vv. 16, 18), “Your sanctuary (v. 17), and “Your people”(v. 19). God’s answer embraced all three (v. 24).
Gabriel Brings an Answer
20 Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, 21 while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering. 22 He gave me instruction and talked with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding. 23 At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.
9:21 the man Gabriel. This angel, called a “man” because he appeared in the form of a man, appeared also in 8:16. Cf. the angel Michael in 10:13, 21; 12:1. the evening offering. This was the second lamb of two offered daily (cf. 8:14 and see note there), this one at 3 p.m., a common time for prayer (Ezra 9:5).
Seventy Weeks and the Messiah
My note: To gain an understanding of the 70 weeks of Daniel is to gain an understanding of how long it will be until the world that we know is destroyed, with a new one replacing it… New Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-2). The study of the timing of the 70 weeks of Daniel shows that we, who are living in the church age, are living in the time between the 69th and 70th weeks of Daniel. The remaining events on the calendar of God are the rapture of the church, the tribulation, the 1,000 year reign of Christ/the Kingdom Age/The Kingdom Of God, the Great White Throne Judgment (for unbelievers), and the eternal state (for those who have been born again). Revelation 21:5 “I am making all things new.” Revelation 21:12, “the names of the 12 tribes of Israel’s sons are inscribed on the gates” (of the New Jerusalem”)
Seventy Weeks and the Messiah
24 “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. 25 So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. 26 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. 27 And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”
My note: It is important to read these notes on verses 24-27 until they are easily understood. The key to determining the time line of the 70 weeks of Daniel (weeks of years/490 years) is to use “360 day years.” At present time we are living in the time that exists between the 69th and 70th weeks of Daniel (weeks of years.we are in the dispensation of grace). The 69th week (the 483rd of 490 years) ended when Christ entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. From the time that our Lord was crucified, until the time of the tribulation, born again believers in Christ await the rapture of the church, which precedes the tribulation. For unbelievers, they are not caught up in the rapture, but enter into the 7 year tribulation (the 70th week of Daniel, years 484-490).
9:24–26 Seventy weeks…from…until. These are weeks of years, whereas weeks of days are described in a different way (10:2, 3). The time spans from the Persian Artaxerxes’ decree to rebuild Jerusalem, ca. 445 B.C. (Neh. 2:1–8), to the Messiah’s kingdom. This panorama includes: 1) 7 weeks or 49 years, possibly closing Nehemiah’s career in the rebuilding of the “street and wall,” as well as the end of the ministry of Malachi and the close of the OT; 2) 62 weeks or 434 more years for a total of 483 years to the first advent of Messiah. This was fulfilled at the triumphal entry on 9 Nisan, A.D. 30 (see notes on Matt. 21:1–9). The Messiah will be “cut off,” (a common reference to death); and 3) the final 7 years or 70th week of the time of Antichrist (cf. v. 27). Roman people, from whom the Antichrist will come, will “destroy the city” of Jerusalem and its temple in A.D. 70.
9:24. This highly complex and startlingly accurate prophecy answers Daniel’s prayer, not with reference to near history, but by giving the future of Israel in the final end of the age. God promises 2 sets of 3 accomplishments each.
First, those related to sin are: 1) finish the transgression, i.e., restrain sin and Israel’s in particular in its long trend of apostasy, as in v. 11; 2) make an end of sins, i.e., to judge it with finality (cf. Heb. 9:26); and 3) make reconciliation for iniquity, signifies to furnish the actual basis of covering sin by full atonement, the blood of the crucified Messiah who is “cut off” (v. 26), which affects the first two realities (cf. the fountain, Zech. 13:1).
Second, those accomplishments related to righteousness are: 1) bring in…righteousness, the eternal righteousness of Daniel’s people in their great change from centuries of apostasy; 2) seal up vision…, i.e., no more revelation is needed and God will bring these anticipations to completion by their fulfillment in Israel’s blessing as a nation; and 3) anoint the Most Holy, consecrate the Holy Place in a temple of the future that will be the center of worship in the millennial kingdom (cf. Ezek. 40–48). Clearly this must be understood to sweep to the end of Gentile power and the time of Antichrist right before Christ’s return. Summing up, the first 3 are fulfilled in principle at Christ’s first coming, in full at His return. The last 3 complete the plan at His Second Advent.
9:27 Then. This is clearly the end of the age, the Second Advent judgment, because the bringing in of righteousness did not occur 7 years after the death of the Messiah, nor did the destruction of Jerusalem fit the 7 year period (occurring 37 years later). This is the future 7 year period which ends with sin’s final judgment and Christ’s reign of righteousness; i.e., the return of Christ and the establishment of His rule. These 7 years constitute the 70th week of Daniel. he shall confirm. “He” is the last-mentioned prince (v. 26), leader of the Roman sphere (cf. chaps. 2 and 7), the Antichrist who comes in the latter days. The time is in the future tribulation period of “one week,” i.e., the final 7 years of v. 24. He confirms (lit., causes to prevail) a 7 year covenant, his own pact with Israel for what will turn out actually to be for a shorter time. The leader in this covenant is the “little horn” of 7:7, 8, 20, 21, 24–26, and the evil leader of NT prophecy (Mark 13:14; 2 Thess. 2:3–10; Rev. 13:1–10). That he is in the future, even after Christ’s First Advent, is shown by 1) Matt. 24:15; 2) by the time references that match (7:25; Rev. 11:2, 3; 12:14; 13:5); and 3) by the end here extending to the Second Advent, matching the duration elsewhere mentioned in Daniel (2:35, 45; 7:15ff.; 12:1–3) and Rev. 11:2; 12:14; 13:5. middle of the week. This is the halfway point of the 70th week of years, i.e., 7 years leading to Christ’s second coming. The Antichrist will break his covenant with Israel (v. 27a), which has resumed its ancient sacrificial system. Three and a half years of tribulation remain, agreeing with the time in other Scriptures (7:25; Rev. 11:2, 3; 12:14; 13:5, called “Great Tribulation,” cf. Matt. 24:21) as God’s wrath intensifies. abominations…one who makes desolate. The Antichrist will cause abomination against Jewish religion. This violation will desolate or ruin what Jews regard as sacred, namely their holy temple and the honoring of God’s presence there (cf. 1 Kin. 9:3; 2 Thess. 2:4). Jesus refers directly to this text in His Olivet discourse (Matt. 24:15). See note on 11:31. the consummation. God permits this tribulation under the Antichrist’s persecutions and ultimately triumphs, achieving judgment of the sin and sinners in Israel (12:7) and in the world (cf. Jer. 25:31). This includes the Antichrist (11:45; Rev. 19:20), and all who deserve judgment (9:24; Matt. 13:41–43).
Christ relates the 70th week of Daniel to the tribulation and His second coming.
Matthew 24:3-8 Introduction
Christ tells His disciples, who are Jews, about the coming tribulation.
Christ will continue with a discussion about the great tribulation and His second coming.
The Jews who find themselves in the tribulation will be those who had not accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, which means they were not born again. From this point, forward, any mention of Jew, or Gentile, relates to those who had not accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior; had not been born again; and had missed the rapture and were left behind to face the oppression of the anti-Christ and the wrath of God (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58.)
Matthew 24:3-8 New American Standard Translation (NASB)
3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
24:8 sorrows. The word means “birth pangs.” Famines, earthquakes, and conflicts have always characterized life in a fallen world; but by calling these things “the beginning” of labor pains, He indicated that things will get notably and remarkably worse at the end of the era as these unique tribulations signal the soon arrival of Messiah to judge sinful humanity and set up His millennial kingdom. Cf. 1 Thess. 5:3; Rev. 6:1–17; 8:1—9:21; 16:1–21; see note on v. 14.
Matthew 24:9-12 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
This discussion relates to those who will be left behind from the rapture of the church. Christ is speaking to Jews.
9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12 Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
Matthew 24:14 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Note: It is the gospel of the kingdom, not the gospel of Christ, that will be preached.
14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
24:14 preached in all the world. Despite all the tribulations that would come—the deception of false teachers, the wars, persecutions, natural disasters, defections from Christ, and all the obstacles to the spread of the gospel—the message ultimately penetrates every part of the globe. God is never without a witness, and He will proclaim the gospel from heaven itself if necessary (cf. Rev. 14:6). and then the end will come. “The end” refers to the final, excruciating birth pangs (see note on v. 8). This is how Christ characterizes the time of Great Tribulation described in the verses that follow.
Matthew 24:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Notice the reference to Daniel that Christ uses to explain the tribulation.
Perilous Times
15 “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
24:15 abomination of desolation. See notes on Daniel 9:27; 11:31. This phrase originally referred to the desecration of the temple by Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria in the second century B.C. Antiochus invaded Jerusalem in 168 B.C., made the altar into a shrine to Zeus, and even sacrificed pigs on it. However, Jesus clearly was looking toward a yet-future “abomination of desolation.” Some suggest that this prophecy was fulfilled in A.D. 70 when Titus invaded Jerusalem and destroyed the temple (see note on v. 2). However, the Apostle Paul saw a still-future fulfillment (2 Thess. 2:3, 4), as did John (Rev. 13:14, 15)—when the Antichrist sets up an image in the temple during the future tribulation. Christ’s words here therefore look beyond the events of A.D. 70 to a time of even greater global cataclysm that will immediately precede His coming (cf. vv. 29–31).
Matthew 24:16-20 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Notice the reference that Christ makes to the Sabbath (vs 20). Such a reference would have no meaning to Gentiles. Also, Christ did not have such a discussion with Gentiles. This discussion at the Mount of Olives was made by Christ, to Jews, about Jews.
16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 18 Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.
24:1—25:46 This is the last of the 5 discourses Matthew features (see Introduction: Historical and Theological Themes). It is known as the Olivet Discourse, and it contains some of the most important prophetic material in all of Scripture
Matthew 24:21 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Christ discusses the great tribulation with His disciples, who are Jews.
21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
24:21 great tribulation. The words “has not been” and “nor ever shall be”—along with the description that follows—identify this as the yet-future time in which God’s wrath shall be poured out upon the earth (see note on Rev. 7:14). Jesus’ descriptions of the cataclysms that follow closely resemble the outpouring of divine wrath described in the bowl judgments of Rev. 16 and His subsequent appearing in Rev. 19 (see note on v. 30).
Matthew 24:22-28 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
22 Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them.27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
My comment. 24:22 those days will be shortened. If the afflictions of this time were to continue, “no flesh would be saved,” meaning that no Jews would survive. But “for the elect’s sake” (the elect are Israel, Deuteronomy 7:6); the attack of the anti-Christ is against Israel. Gentiles who come to Christ will also suffer, but the focus of the tribulation is the attack by the anti-Christ on Israel. Daniel 7:25, 7:27 and Revelation 12:14 suggest that the actual length of time that the Beast will be permitted to terrorize the world will be set at 3½ years, which will occur after the anti-Christ breaks the covenant with Israel, which will be the last half of the tribulation.
24:26 do not believe it. No one should consider the claims of self-styled messiahs because all of them are false. When Christ returns, no one will miss it (vv. 27, 28).24:28 the eagles will be gathered together. The location of a carcass is visible from great distances because of the circling carrion birds overhead (cf. Job 39:27–30). Similarly, Christ’s return will be clearly evident to all near and far. The same point is made by the lightning in v. 27. The eagle-carcass imagery here also speaks of the judgment that will accompany His return (Rev. 19:21).
Matthew 24:29-31 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Glorious Return Of Christ “After” The Tribulation
29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
vs 29, “after the tribulation”
24:29 the sun will be darkened. Such phenomena are a common feature of Day of the Lord prophecy (see Is. 13:9, 10; Ezek. 32:7, 8; Joel 2:10, 31; 3:15; Amos 8:9). The ultimate fulfillment of these prophecies takes place during the time of the Beast’s reign (Rev. 6:12, 13; 8:12).
24:30 the sign of the Son of Man. I.e., the Son of Man Himself is the sign. The events described here precisely parallel the description in Dan. 7:13; Rev. 19:11–21. all the tribes of the earth will mourn. I.e., over their own rebellion. Israel in particular will mourn over their rejection of the Messiah (cf. Zech 12:10–12).
My note: 24:31 from one end of heaven to the other. All the “elect/Jews”. from heaven and earth are gathered and assembled before Christ. This is the culmination of world history, ushering in the millennial reign of Christ (cf. Rev. 20:4).See the following verses:
Ezekiel 36:24-29 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
24 For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. 28 You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God. 29 Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you.
Ezekiel 37:14 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
14 I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’”
Jeremiah 16:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
15 but, ‘As the Lord lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries where He had banished them.’ For I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers.
Jeremiah 29:14 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
14 I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’
Jeremiah 30:3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
3 For behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.’ The Lord says, ‘I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it.’”
My note: Not all Jews will be saved. All will be gathered, but not all will enter into the Millennial Kingdom. Consider Luke 16:19-31, where two Jews had died (Lazarus, a righteous Jew, and the rich man, who was not righteous). Lazarus is shown as being in the bosom of Abraham, which is the Presence of God. Scripture consistently teaches that the spirits of the righteous dead go immediately into the presence of God (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23). The rich man is shown to be confined to Hades where he was being tormented. “Hades” always refers to the place of the wicked prior to final judgment in hell. Both places of residence are permanent, with no way of going from one place to the other, and with no end to either. (Reference made to MacArthur Study Bible notes)
Matthew 24:40-41 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
John Walvoord’s Note: 24:40, 41 the one who is left, is left to enter the kingdom; the one who is taken, is taken in judgment. I.e., taken in judgment
MacArthur Note: (cf. v. 39) just as in Noah’s day (“took them”; v. 39). This is clearly “not” a reference to the catching away of believers described in 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.
Matthew 25:31-34 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Son of Man Will Judge the Nations
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Matthew 25:40 New King James Version (NKJV)
40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Matthew 25:41 New King James Version (NKJV)
41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
Matthew 25:45-46 New King James Version (NKJV)
45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
The eternal destiny is the same for those in Matthew 25:45-46, as for those who were taken in Matthew 24:40-41. In the Judgment of the Nations, also known as the Sheep and Goat Judgment, Christ is judging the Gentiles as to how they treated the Jews (My brethren) during the tribulation. Because of the compassion that the “sheep” gentiles had for the Jews, it showed that they recognized the Jews as being the elect of God, and that they had come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. Because the sheep gentiles were granted entry into the Millennium, thereby gaining entry into the eternal state, they would have been given immortal/imperishable bodies, per 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. This passage (1 Cor 15:50-54) relates to the rapture of the church, prior to the tribulation. However, the truth that relates to the sheep gentiles of Matthew 25, is that in order for people to spend eternity with Christ, “they must be given a body that is immortal/imperrishable.”
1 Corinthians 15:50-54 New King James Version (NKJV)
Our Final Victory
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Let’s consider the two events that surround the 70th week of Daniel, which are the tribulation and the second coming of Christ. At the second coming of Christ, He sets foot on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, Israel.
The rapture, from rapio (Latin), and harpazo (Greek).
Preceding the tribulation is the rapture, which is a time of comfort for believers in Christ. It is a time where believers are looking for “the blessed hope and appearing of our great God and Savior” (notice that Christ is called God and Savior). The rapture is an event where Christ delivers His saints from the wrath that will fall upon all people who are present during the tribulation. All of the wrath that occurs during the 70th week of Daniel is the wrath of God, which begins with Revelation 6:1 and ends with Revelation 19:21. In the rapture, Christ comes to take His people to heaven. It happens quickly, with no notice to unbelievers, and where deceased believers are resurrected, given immortal and imperrishable bodies, caught up in the air to meet Christ in the clouds, and then are taken to heaven. Believers who are alive will also be given immortal and imperrishable bodies, will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and will also be taken to heaven. Those living believers will never die, but will live eternally with God, as will the resurrected saints. Dead believers will be caught up first; living believers will follow. Christ will come in the air to take His saints to Heaven. The destination of Christ and His saints is Heaven, where the saints go before the bema judgment (the Judgment Seat of Christ) and receive rewards, which is followed by the marriage of the Lamb, which takes place in Heaven. (John 14:1-3; 1 Thes 4:13-18; Titus 1:13; 1 Thes 1:10; 1 Corinthians 15:50-55; 2 Corinthians 5:10…the Holman Christian Standard Bible has the best translation…; Revelation 19:7-9)
2 Corinthians 5:10 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
10 For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.
The second coming of Christ.
At the end of the tribulation Christ will return to earth with His previously resurrected saints and angels; He will stand on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, Israel. The tribulation will be a time of God’s vengeance on unbelievers, with a resulting eternal separation of them from God. There will be conflict and public disorder all over the earth. Jews and Gentiles who accept Christ during the tribulation will experience famine, pestilence and cosmic disorders, and will be murdered and come under great persecution by the forces of the anti-Christ. Total worldly conditions will be worse than anyone in the world has ever experienced. The murders of those who turn to Christ will be so numerous that God will shorten the time of tribulation, so that all of God’s people will not be murdered. But, all Jews will be targeted by the anti-Christ. The second coming of Christ will be seen by all who live on the earth. There will be great cosmic disturbances. Those who see Christ coming to earth (with His saints and angels) will mourn at the sight of Him coming on the clouds; that will not be a time of joyful mourning. The angels will be sent by Christ to gather all of the Jews from the four corners of the earth and take them to Jerusalem, but not all Jews will enter the Kingdom of God. Christ will reward the gentiles who showed compassion for the Jews (My brethren), by giving them an immortal/imperrishable body (1 Cor 15:50.53) and allowing them to enter the Millennium/Kingdom. For the Gentiles who did not show compassion of the Jews, they will be taken to judgment, for eternal punishment. The gentiles who showed compassion on the Jews, recognized the Jews as being the elect of God (Christ referred to the Jews as being “My brethren”), which was a result of their coming to know Christ as Lord and Savior. All of the wrath that comes upon the “earth dwellers” (those who were not raptured), comes by the will of God, Christ, and the angels. (2 Thes 2:8-9; Matt 24:4-31; 40-41; 25:31-46; Revelation 3:10; 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8; 13:14; 17:8; 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9,12; 8:1, 5; 8:7, 8, 10, 12, 9:1, 13, 11:15; 15:1,16:1, 16:3,16:4, 16:8, 16:10, 16:12, 16:17; 19:11-21; 20:1-15; Zechariah 14:1-16)
Before we close this post, we must consider dispensations, or “times of testing.” The following information comes from the Scofield Study Bible, as a note to Genesis 1:28. The same information is shown in Scofield Reference Notes and Scofield Reference Notes Bible Commentary, both of which are contained on the internet.
In the church age, we are under the dispensation of grace. We have already been tested as to whether we will come to salvation by “grace through faith,” per Ephesians 2:8. We, who have come by grace through faith in Christ have passed God’s test of the dispensation of grace. We will not be present during the tribulation, to be tested again. Those who will be left behind after the rapture of the church takes place, those who are called “earth dwellers,” will be given the opportunity to pass the test of accepting Christ as Messiah, as their Lord and Savior, per Revelation 3:10. However, they will probably be martyred because of that decision.
Revelation 3:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
My note: The testing of this verse is for people who had not been born again at the time of the rapture. Believers in Christ persevere because of their new birth by the Holy Spirit. Their spirit dwells within the Spirit of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Father, Son and Holy Spirit dwells within the spirit of the believer who has been born again (John 14:20). Notice the words “My perseverance.” The words of Jude 1:24 show that God keeps us from falling from the Presence of God; it is God’s perseverance, and not ours, that keeps us secure in Him. The truth of God’s Word is that after we have been born again, we can not be unborn from the Spirit of God. John 10:28-29 tells us that “no can can snatch us from God.” “No one” includes those of us who have been born again.
Genesis 1:28 King James Version (KJV)
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
DISPENSATION: A dispensation is a period of time during which man is tested in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God. Seven such dispensations are distinguished in Scripture. (See Scofield “Genesis 1:28”), note 5.
“And God blessed them”
The First Dispensation: Innocency. Man was created in innocency, placed in a perfect environment, subjected to an absolutely simple test, and warned of the consequence of disobedience. The woman fell through pride; the man deliberately. 1 Timothy 2:14 God restored His sinning creatures, but the dispensation of innocency ended in the judgment of the Expulsion Genesis 3:24 See, for the other dispensations:
Conscience (See Scofield “Genesis 3:23”)
Human Government (See Scofield “Genesis 8:21”)
Promise (See Scofield “Genesis 12:1”)
Law (See Scofield “Exodus 19:8”)
Grace (See Scofield “John 1:17”)
Kingdom (See Scofield “Ephesians 1:10”)
Make this article relevant for today.
John 3:3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Click onto any blue letter, number or symbol to see the video and text on the blog.
Please pray for the people who live in the Slavic nations of our world.
Notice in the song that the word, “Jehovah,” is not spoken by the choir. “Yehovah” is their pronunciation, and is correct. There is no letter “J” in Hebrew, to create the word “Jehovah). Check the following link.
http://www.israelitesunite.com/the-letter-j-exposed.html
Consider the following information.
The word Jehovah has been said to be the true name of God. But, from the following search of that name, it was found to be included in only the King James Bible and American Standard Bible translations. Check out the following data of research and see the list of well-know translations, to include the liberal RSV and NRSV, that do not use the word Jehovah. Notice that the Complete Jewish Bible does not use the word Jehovah. As was said in one of my recent articles, the word “Jehovah” is not the first word for God in the Bible, but is “Elohim.” Outside of the KJV and liberal ASV, the word Jehovah is not used in scripture. The purpose for the information on the ASV, RSV, and NRSV is to show their liberal writing bias. Still, only of those three liberal translations, only the ASV uses the word “Jehovah” for “God.” Consider the way that Isaiah 7:14 is translated in the RSV and NSRV. Amazingly, the ASV uses the word “virgin” instead of young woman. This may be because of the closeness in date of the ASV to the KJV and the fact that the liberal attempt to overthrown sound doctrine of the Bible had not yet infected the ASV, which may have also been due to the time in history of the ASV writing. There were also conflicts between the British and American members of the translation team. Still, many people use the word Jehovah for God. So, in the spirit of love, the video for this post matches that name.
In the spirit of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), the accompanying video is that of Ukrainian Christians, who are singing “He Is Jehovah.” The choir is singing in their native language, but certain words of the song are easily understood. The people of Ukraine (not “The” Ukraine) are believers in Christ Jesus largely due to the spread of the Gospel by Titus (2 Timothy 4:10). Titus was a companion of the Apostle Paul while he was in jail in Rome awaiting execution. Titus was not even an Apostle but, Paul sent him to Dalmatia, which became Yugoslavia, and is now Croatia, which is a close neighbor of Ukraine which borders Russia. This post will go to some of my internet friends who reside in Ukraine. My soul is deeply stirred when I listen to the Ukrainian choir. I think about the danger that faces them everyday of their life. Let us pray for the people of Ukraine, some of whom are Christian missionaries.
Isaiah 7:14
RSV – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Imman′u-el.”
NRSV – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.”
“Jehovah” used in popular Bible translations.
Jehovah Used In KJV
Genesis 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.
Other verses containing “Jehovah” in KJV
Exodus 6:3
Exodus 17:15
Judges 6:24
Psalm 83:18
Isaiah 12:2
Isaiah 26:4
All (7)
Old Testament (7)
Genesis (1)
Exodus (2)
Judges (1)
Psalm (1)
Isaiah (2)
Jehovah Used In American Standard Version
Genesis 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Jehovah-God made earth and heaven.
Genesis 2:5 And no plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for Jehovah God had not caused it to rain upon the earth: and there was not a man to till the ground;
Genesis 2:7 And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 2:8 And Jehovah God planted a garden eastward, in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made Jehovah God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:15 And Jehovah God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
Genesis 2:16 And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
Genesis 2:18 And Jehovah God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.
Genesis 2:19 And out of the ground Jehovah God formed every beast of the field, and every bird of the heavens; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them: and whatsoever the man called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
Genesis 2:21 And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof:
Genesis 2:22 and the rib, which Jehovah God had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
ASV – American Standard Version All (5822)
Old Testament (5822)
Genesis (143)
Exodus (344)
Leviticus (281)
Numbers (351)
Deuteronomy (439)
Joshua (170)
Judges (137)
Ruth (15)
1 Samuel (241)
2 Samuel (129)
1 Kings (213)
2 Kings (228)
1 Chronicles (144)
2 Chronicles (307)
Ezra (28)
Nehemiah (15)
Job (23)
Psalm (654)
Proverbs (87)
Song of Solomon (1)
Isaiah (396)
Jeremiah (624)
Lamentations (32)
Ezekiel (399)
Daniel (6)
Hosea (41)
Joel (26)
Amos (72)
Obadiah (6)
Jonah (21)
Micah (36)
Nahum (10)
Habakkuk (11)
Zephaniah (27)
Haggai (24)
Zechariah (102)
Malachi (39)
Jehovah Used In New King James Version
0 Bible results for “jehovah
Jehovah Used In New American Standard Bible
0 Bible results for “jehovah .”
Jehovah Used In English Standard Bible
0 Bible results for “jehovah .”
Jehovah Used In New International Version
0 Bible results for “jehovah .”
Jehovah Used In Holman Christian Standard Bible
0 Bible results for “jehovah .”
Jehovah Used In Revised Standard Bible
0 Bible results for “jehovah .”
Jehovah Used In New Revised Standard Bible
0 Bible results for “jehovah .”
Jehovah Used In Complete Jewish Bible
0 Bible results for “jehovah .”
Consider the following details of Bible translation as they relate to the ASV, RSV, and NRSV
Notice the reason for Jehovah’s Witnesses using the ASV.
Please notice that not all Baptist groups are conservative.
From Bible Study Tools (ASV). The Revised Version, Standard American Edition of the Bible, more commonly known as the American Standard Version (ASV), is a revision of the King James Version and was released in 1901. It was originally best known by its full name, but soon came to have other names, such as the American Revised Version, the American Standard Revision, the American Standard Revised Bible, and the American Standard Edition. By the time its copyright was renewed in 1929, it had finally come to be known by its present name, the American Standard Version. Because of its prominence in seminaries, however, it was sometimes simply called the “Standard Bible”.
From Bible Study Tools (RSV) The Revised Standard Version (RSV) is a comprehensive revision of the King James Version, the Revised Version of 1881-1885, and the American Standard Version of 1901, published in stages around the middle of the 20th century. It aims to present a literally accurate translation of the Bible in modern English. The panel of scholars who worked on the translation used the 17th edition of the Nestle-Aland Greek text for the New Testament, and the traditional Hebrew Masoretic Text for the Old Testament. However, they amended the Hebrew in a number of places. In the Book of Isaiah, they sometimes followed readings found in the then newly discovered Dead Sea Scrolls.
The RSV New Testament was published on February 11, 1946. In his presentation speech to the International Council of Religious Education, Luther Weigle, dean of the translation committee, explained that he wanted the RSV to supplement and not supplant the King James and American Standard Versions.
In 1950, the Council merged with the Federal Council of Churches to form the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. The RSV copyright was assigned to the new Council’s Division of Christian Education.
From Bible Study Bible Tools (NRSV). The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) first appeared in 1989, and has received wide acclaim and broad support from academics and church leaders as a Bible for all Christians.
The NRSV Bible Translation Committee consists of thirty men and women who are among the top scholars in America today. They come from Protestant denominations, the Roman Catholic church, and the Greek Orthodox Church. The committee also includes a Jewish scholar.
Standing in the tradition of the RSV, which was the only major English translation that included both the standard Protestant canon and the books that are traditionally used by Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians (the so-called “Apocryphal” or “Deuterocanonical” books), the NRSV is available in three formats: a standard edition with or without the Apocrypha, a Roman Catholic Edition, which has the so-called “Apocryphal” or “Deuterocanonical” books in the Roman Catholic canonical order, and The Common Bible, which includes all books that belong to the Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox canons.
From Wikipedia: The American Standard Version (ASV) is rooted in the work that was done with the Revised Version (RV) (a late 19th century British revision of the King James Version of 1611). In 1870, an invitation was extended to American religious leaders for scholars to work on the RV project. A year later, Protestant theologian Philip Schaff chose 30 scholars representing the denominations of Baptist, Congregationalist, Dutch Reformed, Friends, Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Protestant Episcopal, and Unitarian. These scholars began work in 1872.
The RV New Testament was released In 1881; the Old Testament was published in 1885. The ASV was published in 1901 by Thomas Nelson & Sons. In 1928, the International Council of Religious Education (the body that later merged with the Federal Council of Churches to form the National Council of Churches) acquired the copyright from Nelson and renewed it the following year.
From Wikipedia. The New Revised Standard Version was translated by the Division of Christian Education (now Bible Translation and Utilization) of the National Council of Churches. The group included scholars representing Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant Christian groups as well as Jewish representation in the group responsible for the Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament. The mandate given the committee was summarized in a dictum: “As literal as possible, as free as necessary.”
From Wikipedia. The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Christian Bible is an English translation released in 1989. It is an updated revision of the Revised Standard Version, which was itself an update of the American Standard Version.
Usage by Jehovah’s Witnesses
The ASV has been used for many years by the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The reasons for their choosing of the ASV were twofold: its usage of “Jehovah” as the Divine Name, which was congruent with their Joseph Franklin Rutherford doctrine, and they derived their name from Isaiah 43.10, 12, both of which contain the phrase, “Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah.” Also, there was a perception that the ASV had improved the translation of some verses in the King James Version, and in other places it reduced the verses that they found to be erroneously translated in the KJV to mere footnotes, removed from the main text altogether.
Jehovah’s Witnesses’ publishing organization, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, had printed its own edition of the King James Version since 1926, but did not obtain the rights to print ASV until 1944. From 1944 to 1992, they printed and distributed over a million copies of the ASV. By the 1960s, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, made by members of their group and the rights to which they controlled, had largely replaced ASV as the Bible used most by Witnesses. Though now preferring the NWT, Jehovah’s Witnesses’ publications frequently quote from other translations, including ASV.
King James Bible Thoughts – King James Only
The KJV was directed to be written by King James, who was the King of England, during times which were brutal for Christians who disagreed with him. He chose the writers of the KJV, and he excluded writers. Imagine if we were to have a President Obama Bible, or a President Clinton Bible, or a President Bush Bible. Who would possibly stand for such disrespect of the Word of God? So, why do we not provide the same scrutiny for a Bible that bears the name of a King of a nation.
Before someone can say that the KJV is the only Bible to use, and that all others are wrong, there must be a stated reason of fact, which is something that I never hear from KJV only people. The purpose of the KJV was to put the Word of God in the common language of the people of England, which the writers did, in spite of the political pressure that King James placed on them.
The first update of the KJV had more than 70,000 corrections in it, due to changes in the spoken language. The New American Standard Bible (NASB) is the most correct word for word translation of the Greek and Hebrew scriptures to our current languages, than are the other translations. The NASB translation committee meets more frequently than do the others. But, there is value in the other translations, as well as in the KJV. In today’s world, we don’t use “Elizabethan English.” We don’t say, “betwixt me and thee.” as we find in the KJV. I use the KJV daily, but I also understand its limitations.
King James wanted a Bible that showed a “religious superstructure,” as opposed to individual bodies of believers (churches) who were autonomous in control and operation, per scripture references (Acts 14:23; 20:17,28). The KJV used “Bishop” (which is not found in the Greek scriptures) instead of pastor or elder.
If anyone says that Christians should use only the King James version of the Bible, facts should also accompany such a demand.
The KJV was not the first Bible translation to be written in the English language. The following link will provide a good understanding of the different translations of the Bible, from the first English translation, the Wycliffe Translation, to the current day translations. As stated, the KJV was not the first English translation of the Bible, but may actually have been the fifteenth or sixteenth translation.
http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/
Closing thought: “Thank God for Titus!”
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The Timing Of The Rapture And The Second Coming.
This video, The Timing Of The Rapture And The Second Coming Of Christ
was included in the post that can be found by the link:
https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/2015/03/
032315 – Road To Armageddon, Daniel – Overview
The participants in the video are:
John Ankerberg, Dr. Jimmy DeYoung and Dr. Renald Showers.
Biographies
Dr. John Ankerberg, founder and president of The John Ankerberg Show, the most-watched Christian worldview show in America
https://www.jashow.org/about-dr-john-ankerberg/
Signs of the Last Days – Dr. Jimmy DeYoung
Bio – http://jimmydeyoung.com/aboutdrd.shtml
Dr. Renald Showers
http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?SpeakerOnly=true&currSection=sermonsspeaker&Keyword=Dr.%5ERenald%5EShowers
Dr. Renald Showers is an author and Bible teacher for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc.
Ed Hindson – Can We Still Believe in the Rapture – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
John 14:1-3 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Way to the Father
1 “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Comfort of Christ’s Coming
13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:50-58 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
Victorious Resurrection
50 What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. 54 When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place:
Death has been swallowed up in victory.
55 Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting? 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Considering: The Judgment Seat Of Christ, The BEMA Judgment,
The speaker in this video is one of great understanding of God’s Holy Word, especially in relation to eschatology. There are differences of opinion, among the great teachers of the end times. My understanding of the Judgment Seat of Christ, which is known as the bema judgment, holds closer to that which is held by John MacArthur who is also held in great acclaim for his teachings of the end times. Consider his comments that follow 2 Corinthians 5:10.
2 Corinthians 5:10 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
10 For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.
NOTE: MacArthur Study Bible. 5:10 This describes the believer’s deepest motivation and highest aim in pleasing God—the realization that every Christian is inevitably and ultimately accountable to Him. the judgment seat of Christ. “Judgment seat” metaphorically refers to the place where the Lord will sit to evaluate believers’ lives for the purpose of giving them eternal rewards. It is translated from the Gr. word be¯ma, which was an elevated platform where victorious athletes (e.g., during the Olympics) went to receive their crowns. The term is also used in the NT to refer to the place of judging, as when Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate (Matt. 27:19; John 19:13), but here the reference is definitely from the athletic analogy. Corinth had such a platform where both athletic rewards and legal justice were dispensed (Acts 18:12–16), so the Corinthians understood Paul’s reference. the things done in the body. Actions which happened during the believer’s time of earthly ministry. This does not include sins, since their judgment took place at the cross (Eph. 1:7). Paul was referring to all those activities believers do during their lifetimes, which relate to their eternal reward and praise from God. What Christians do in their temporal bodies will, in His eyes, have an impact for eternity (see notes on 1 Cor. 4:3–5; cf. Rom. 12:1, 2: Rev. 22:12). whether good or bad. These Gr. terms do not refer to moral good and moral evil. Matters of sin have been completely dealt with by the death of the Savior. Rather, Paul was comparing worthwhile, eternally valuable activities with useless ones. His point was not that believers should not enjoy certain wholesome, earthly things, but that they should glorify God in them and spend most of their energy and time with what has eternal value (see notes on 1 Cor. 3:8–14).
Strong’s Concordance – Lexicon – 968.bema – 2 Corinthians 5:10
béma: a step, raised place, by impl. a tribunal
Original Word: βῆμα, ατος, τό
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: béma
Phonetic Spelling: (bay’-ma)
Short Definition: the space covered by a step of the foot, a tribunal
Definition: an elevated place ascended by steps, a throne, tribunal.
the judgment seat βήματος bēmatos 968 a step, raised place, by impl. a tribunal from the same as basis
My note:
John MacArthur relates his understanding of the Judgment Seat Of Christ (bema judgment) to the picture of an athletic event. After the end of a track and field event, such as the 1500 meter run, the top three finishers stand before an official who will give rewards for their accomplishments. The runners stand on a platform that has three individual platforms/steps, each of which has a greater elevation from the ground. The winner of the event stands on the top step and is given a gold medal for his, or her, accomplishment. The runner who finished second stands on a step that is on the right side of the winner’s step, and lower than the step of the winner of the event. The second place runner receives a silver medal. The runner who finished third in the event, stands on the left side of the winner, and two steps below the winner, and one step below the second place finisher. A bronze medal is given to the third place winner. In this setting, all finishers receive rewards for their accomplishments; there is no rebuking of any of the runners for their lack of a greater performance.
There is no great announcement to those who have viewed that race, or to those elsewhere, as to the fact that the runners did not run as many miles as they should have run, in preparation for this particular race; the runners were given their rewards, without chastisement. Those who will be present at the 2 Cor 5:10 Judgment Seat Of Christ will be those who have been born again, are the body of Christ, and are known as the bride of Christ. At the bema judgment, the bride of Christ is given rewards and will take place in the marriage of the lamb. The bride of Christ is the “bride of all brides.” Christ is the “groom of all grooms.” Ephesians 5:25 says for husbands to “love your wives, just as Christ loved the church, and gave Himself for it. It will not be the purpose of Christ to take His bride to the marriage of the lamb, and beat her up on the way to the altar, either physically or verbally.
The bema judgment takes place in heaven after the body of born again believers in Christ, the bride of Christ, has been “caught up” from earth. Consider Revelation 19:7: “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” The next stop for the bride of Christ is planet earth, as it accompanies the groom, “Christ,” back to planet earth, after the tribulation. for the second coming of Christ, the Battle of Armageddon, to land on the Mount of Olives. (Zechariah 14:1-16; Revelation 19:11-21; Matthew 24:29-31; Matthew 25:31-34; 41, 46; Mark 13:24-27)
Zechariah 14:1-16 http://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/zechariah/passage/?q=zechariah+14:1-16
Revelation 19:11-21 http://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/revelation/passage/?q=revelation+19:11-21
Matthew 24:29-31 http://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/matthew/passage/?q=matthew+24:29-31
Matthew 25:31-34 http://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/matthew/passage/?q=matthew+25:31-34
Matthew 25:41 http://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/matthew/25-41.html
Matthew 25:46 http://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/matthew/25-46.html
Mark 13:24-27 http://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/mark/passage/?q=mark+13:24-27
How was the bride of Christ made herself ready?” It was through the new birth, where the spirit of every born again believer in Christ had been made to be as pure as the Spirit of Christ, and at the time of the rapture, or resurrection, (1 Corinthians 15:51-53) is given a body that is without blemish. The same principle applies to the bride of Christ being removed from plant Earth prior to the Tribulation. Revelation 3:10 explains that the severity of the Tribulation, that will come upon “everyone” who is present. “Because you have kept the word of “My” perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” The testing is designed to cause those who are left behind to come to know Christ as their Messiah, as their Lord and Savior. The perseverance of the saints comes from God (notice “My”). The bride of Christ is kept “from the hour of testing,” because those who are “the church,” came to saving faith in Christ prior to the rapture of the church, which was when “they passed the test;” no further testing is needed. The purpose of Christ is not to “beat up” on His bride on the way to the marriage altar. The tribulation is brought on all of those who are left behind (from the rapture/catching up of the saints/bride), “by Christ” (Revelation 6:1), and “by the angels” (Revelation 8:1; 16:1). The severity of the tribulation will be as Christ describes it in Matthew 24:21. “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.” It will not be the purpose of Christ to put His bride into the midst of things that will be worse than those which had ever happened.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 http://www.biblestudytools.com/1-corinthians/passage/?q=1-corinthians+15:51-53
Make this lesson applicable for today:
Ephesians 5:25, New American Standard 1977
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her;
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Gordon Mote – Mercy Walked In
The Ezekiel 38 War and the Battle of Armageddon
Published on Oct 28, 2016
Dr. Mark Hitchcock, Dr. Ron Rhodes and Dr. Ed Hindson explain what the Bible teaches about the Ezekiel 38 war and what happens in the final battle of Armageddon.
Revelation 19:19 King James Version (KJV)
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Note: 19:19 kings of the earth. See 17:12–17. their armies. See 16:13, 14. His army. Zechariah describes this army of the Lord as “all the saints” (14:5). (MacArthur Study Bible)
God’s Love For Israel
Text
Isaiah 53:2-5 King James Version (KJV)
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
1 Peter 2:24 King James Version (KJV)
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Notes: Isaiah MacArthur Study Bible (Everybody should own a MacArthur Study Bible)
My note: The message is from God to Israel. 53:5 tells of a spiritual healing for the nation of Israel through Christ.
Isaiah
53:2 before Him. Though unrecognized by the world (v. 1), Messiah Jesus was observed carefully by God, who ordered every minute circumstance of His life. dry ground…no beauty that we should desire Him. The Servant will arise in lowly conditions and wear none of the usual emblems of royalty, making His true identity visible only to the discerning eye of faith.
53:3 despised…rejected…despised. The prophet foresees the hatred and rejection by mankind toward the Messiah/Servant, who suffered not only external abuse, but also internal grief over the lack of response from those He came to save (e.g., Matt. 23:37; Luke 13:34). we hid…we did not esteem. By using the first person, the prophet spoke for his unbelieving nation’s aversion to a crucified Messiah and their lack of respect for the incarnate Son of God.
53:4 borne…carried. Cf. vv. 11, 12. Even though the verbs are past tense, they predict happenings future to Isaiah’s time, i.e., “prophetic perfects” in Heb. here and elsewhere in this Servant-song. Isaiah was saying that the Messiah would bear the consequences of the sins of men, namely the griefs and sorrows of life, though incredibly the Jews who watched Him die thought He was being punished by God for His own sins. Matthew found an analogical fulfillment of these words in Jesus’ healing ministry (see notes on Matt. 8:16, 17), because sickness results from sin for which the Servant paid with His life (vv. 7, 8; cf. 1 Pet. 2:24). In eternity, all sickness will be removed, so ultimately it is included in the benefits of the atonement.
53:5 wounded for our transgressions…bruised for our iniquities. This verse is filled with the language of substitution. The Servant suffered not for His own sin, since He was sinless (cf. Heb. 4:15; 7:26), but as the substitute for sinners. The emphasis here is on Christ being the substitute recipient of God’s wrath on sinners (cf. 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 1:3, 4; Heb. 10:9, 10). chastisement for our peace. He suffered the chastisement of God in order to procure our peace with God. by His stripes we are healed. The stripe (the Heb. noun is singular) that caused His death has brought salvation to those for whose sins He died. Peter confirms this in 1 Pet. 2:24.
1 Peter
My note: Physical healing comes at glorification. The curse that came as a result of the fall of Adam and Eve, in the garden of Eden, often seems like it will never go away but, it will (1 Corinthians 15:51-57; Revelation 21:4).
2:24 by whose stripes you were healed. From Is. 53:5 (see note). Through the wounds of Christ at the cross, believers are healed spiritually from the deadly disease of sin. Physical healing comes at glorification only, when there is no more physical pain, illness, or death (Rev. 21:4). See notes on Is. 53:4–6; Matt. 8:17 for comments on healing in the atonement.
Lesson Text
Ezekiel 7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Punishment for Wickedness Foretold
1 Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “And you, son of man, thus says the Lord God to the land of Israel, ‘An end! The end is coming on the four corners of the land.3 Now the end is upon you, and I will send My anger against you; I will judge you according to your ways and bring all your abominations upon you. 4 For My eye will have no pity on you, nor will I spare you, but I will bring your ways upon you, and your abominations will be among you; then you will know that I am the Lord!’
5 “Thus says the Lord God, ‘A disaster, unique disaster, behold it is coming! 6 An end is coming; the end has come! It has awakened against you; behold, it has come! 7 Your doom has come to you, O inhabitant of the land. The time has come, the day is near—tumult rather than joyful shouting on the mountains. 8 Now I will shortly pour out My wrath on you and spend My anger against you; judge you according to your ways and bring on you all your abominations.9 My eye will show no pity nor will I spare. I will repay you according to your ways, while your abominations are in your midst; then you will know that I, the Lord, do the smiting.
10 ‘Behold, the day! Behold, it is coming! Your doom has gone forth; the rod has budded, arrogance has blossomed. 11 Violence has grown into a rod of wickedness. None of them shall remain, none of their people, none of their wealth, nor anything eminent among them. 12 The time has come, the day has arrived. Let not the buyer rejoice nor the seller mourn; for wrath is against all their multitude. 13 Indeed, the seller will not regain what he sold as long as they both live; for the vision regarding all their multitude will not be averted, nor will any of them maintain his life by his iniquity.
14 ‘They have blown the trumpet and made everything ready, but no one is going to the battle, for My wrath is against all their multitude. 15 The sword is outside and the plague and the famine are within. He who is in the field will die by the sword; famine and the plague will also consume those in the city. 16 Even when their survivors escape, they will be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, each over his own iniquity. 17 All hands will hang limp and all knees will become like water. 18 They will gird themselves with sackcloth and shuddering will overwhelm them; and shame will be on all faces and baldness on all their heads. 19 They will fling their silver into the streets and their gold will become an abhorrent thing; their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord. They cannot satisfy their appetite nor can they fill their stomachs, for their iniquity has become an occasion of stumbling.
The Temple Profaned
20 They transformed the beauty of His ornaments into pride, and they made the images of their abominations and their detestable things with it; therefore I will make it an abhorrent thing to them. 21 I will give it into the hands of the foreigners as plunder and to the wicked of the earth as spoil, and they will profane it. 22 I will also turn My face from them, and they will profane My secret place; then robbers will enter and profane it.
23 ‘Make the chain, for the land is full of bloody crimes and the city is full of violence.24 Therefore, I will bring the worst of the nations, and they will possess their houses. I will also make the pride of the strong ones cease, and their holy places will be profaned. 25 When anguish comes, they will seek peace, but there will be none. 26 Disaster will come upon disaster and rumor will be added to rumor; then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but the law will be lost from the priest and counsel from the elders. 27 The king will mourn, the prince will be clothed with horror, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. According to their conduct I will deal with them, and by their judgments I will judge them. And they will know that I am the Lord.’”
Notes – Ezekiel 7 – MacArthur Study Bible (Everybody should own a MacArthur Study Bible)
4:1—7:27 Here is the first series of prophecies given over a year’s time, of Jerusalem’s conquest by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.
7:1–9 This lament declared that the entire land of Israel was ripe for judgment. God’s patience had ended. The final destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar was in view (586 B.C.).
7:10 rod has blossomed. Verse 11 explains this. Violence had grown up into a rod of wickedness, which likely refers to Nebuchadnezzar, the instrument of God’s vengeance (cf. Is. 10:5; Jer. 51:20).
7:12 buyer rejoice…seller mourn. Such matters of business were meaningless because the Chaldeans (Babylonians) took all the land and killed those they didn’t take captive (v. 15) and the rest escaped (v. 16). Wealth was useless (vv. 19, 20).
7:13 seller shall not return to…sold. There was to be no Jubilee year in which all lands were returned to their original owners (cf. Lev. 25).
7:17–22 This section described the mourning of the helpless and frightened people. In distress, they recognized the uselessness of the things in which they trusted. Their wealth provided nothing. Their “silver and gold” (v. 19), their “ornaments” (v. 20) were as useless as the idols they made with them.
7:22 My secret place. The Holy of Holies in the temple will be desecrated by pagans, that place where only once a year the High-Priest could enter to make atonement in God’s presence
7:23 Make a chain. Ezekiel is to perform another emblematic act of captivity (cf. Jer. 27:2; Nah. 3:10).
7:24 the worst of the Gentiles. Babylonian pagans.
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This post is one of others that you can find in the blog under the category of “Journey.” There, you will be able to locate the Journey posts, in the order of their being published. Please follow this blog. Select Category, “Journey” to see all of the posts that relate to the end times study. The purpose of the study of Ezekiel will be to relate it to the end times.
Biographies
Dr. John Ankerberg, founder and president of The John Ankerberg Show, the most-watched Christian worldview show in America
https://www.jashow.org/about-dr-john-ankerberg/
Signs of the Last Days – Dr. Jimmy DeYoung
Bio – http://jimmydeyoung.com/aboutdrd.shtml
Dr. Renald Showers
http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?SpeakerOnly=true&currSection=sermonsspeaker&Keyword=Dr.%5ERenald%5EShowers
Dr. Renald Showers is an author and Bible teacher for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc.
Dr. Ed Hindson, http://thekingiscoming.com/about-dr-ed-hindson/
Dr. Ed Hindson is the Bible Teacher on The King Is Coming telecast. He is also the Assistant Chancellor, Distinguished Professor, and Dean of the Institute of Biblical Studies and the School of Religion at Liberty University in Virginia.
MacArthur Study Bible Notes
Bio – Dr. John MacArthur – https://www.gracechurch.org/Leader/MacArthur/John?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
Dr. John F. Walvoord, (1910-2012) long-time president of Dallas Theological Seminary, was one of the most prominent evangelical scholars of his generation. He is considered perhaps the world’s foremost interpreter of biblical prophecy.
Bio – https://bible.org/users/john-f-walvoord
Hal Lindsey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Lindsey
Harold Lee Lindsey (born November 23, 1929) is an American evangelist and Christian writer. He is a Christian Zionist and dispensationalist author. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with a Master of Theology degree, majoring in the New Testament and early Greek literature.
Dr. Mark Hitchcock http://marklhitchcock.com/about/
Mark Hitchcock is a leading Bible prophecy expert, prolific author who has penned over 20 books on the end times, senior pastor, and adjunct faculty member of the Dallas Theological Seminary.
Dr. Ron Rhodes http://ronrhodes.org/meet-ron.html
Th.D., Dallas Theological Seminary (1986). Major: Systematic Theology. Graduated with High Honors.
Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary (1983). Major: Systematic Theology. Graduated with Honors. Elected to Dean’s List.
B.A., Houston Baptist University (1979). Recipient of the Greek Excellence Award. Chief nominee for the Riverside Scholarship.
Eschatology
Eschatology is the study of the teachings in the Bible concerning the end times and of the period of time dealing with the return of Christ and the events that follow. Those events, follow, but are not in the order as shown: the Resurrection, the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Millennium, the Binding of Satan, the Three witnesses, the Final Judgment, Armageddon, and The New Heavens and the New Earth. In one form or another most of the books of the Bible deal with end-times subjects.
Background
My study of the end times goes back to the year of 1976. There have been many people who have helped me to understand this exciting part of God’s Holy Word. There have also been many credible source documents that I have studied, “over and over.” The following individuals (some alive, and some deceased) are recognized for their knowledgeable of matters that relate to the end times. Their study materials have helped me to prepare this series of posts on “God’s Plan For The Ages.” Their names are presented below in no special order of importance. It is easy to research their qualifications through the internet.
Sources
C.I. Scofield, Merrill Unger, Charles C. Ryrie, Henry Morris, J. Dwight Pentecost, David Jeremiah, John MacArthur, Frank Charles Thompson, Grant R. Jeffrey, John F. Walvoord, J. Vernon McGee, Charles Swindoll, John Phillips, Ed Hindson, Tim LaHaye, Ron Rhodes, David Reagan, Jimmy DeYoung, Renald Showers, John Ankerberg, Hal Lindsey, Mark Hitchcock, Ron Rhodes, Jack Van Impe, Adrian Rogers, and others.
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“I Then Shall Live”
Matthew 25:40, “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
The Great Commission of our Lord Jesus instructed His disciples to: “go, teach, baptize, and teach,” all of the things that He had taught them, to “all of the world” (Matthew 28:18-20). His encouragement to them, immediately prior to His ascension to Heaven, was that He would empower them to be His witnesses, “when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,” to go “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, said of the Holy Spirit, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the works of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). Those of us who have been blessed with the spiritual gifts of leadership, within the body of Christ, have been given the same commission as that which was given to the disciples/apostles, to “go, teach, baptize, and teach.” The purpose of these posts, that will be found in this blog, is to provide information that will help others to be better able to understand the teachings of God’s Holy Word, and to encourage them to have the attitude that Luke attributed to the Jews who were in Berea. ”Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed…” (Acts 17:10-12). The focal point of teaching should lead to the conclusion that was made by the Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians, when he said, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2). Jesus didn’t die of disease or old age; He died as a result of being crucified. But, the good news is, “But now Christ is risen from the dead” (1 Cor 15:20), and because of his being resurrected from the dead: “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet ….. the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised …..” (1 Cor 15:52). As believers in Christ we have been called to help other believers in Christ to know the desire that yearned within the Apostle John when he penned some of the last words of God’s Holy Word, “Come Lord Jesus,” (Rev 22:20c). May that yearning of believers in Christ prompt them for greater “works of service, to the building up of the body of Christ,” (Eph 4:12). May we lead those who have not accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior to the same realization of the Ethiopian, who was led by the Evangelist Phillip to know that, “Jesus Christ is the Son of God,” (Acts 8:37). If we have been forgiven and saved by Christ, based on grace through faith, should we not also make that same grace known to others?
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Baptizing In The Name Of The Father And Of The Son And Of The Holy Spirit
Matthew 28:18-20 New King James Version (NKJV)
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
What are the differences between the rapture and the second coming of Christ? (2:25)
By: Dr. John Ankerberg / Dr. Renald Showers; ©2004
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 King James Version (KJV)
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
The word “rapture” (1 Thessalonians 4:17 – caught up) does not appear in our English Bible. So, why is the word used, and what does it mean?
There are people throughout the world, of which many are believers in Christ, who believe that the rapture of the church is merely an allegory. If the allegory assumption is correct, should we also believe that the “allegory belief” should extend to the resurrection and ascension of Christ into Heaven, as well as the teaching of the anti-Christ and the tribulation? Should we believe that the Battle of Armageddon and the return of Christ with His saints are also allegories? Should we believe that the 1,000 year reign of Christ (the Millennium), and the Great White Throne Judgment, and the eternal state are allegories? Should we believe that the new heaven, new Earth and new Jerusalem are allegories, as well as the first eleven chapters of Genesis? Since 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is to be considered to be an allegory, because it tells of Christ coming to take His believers with Him to Heaven, should we not also consider John 14:3 to be an allegory, because it also tells of the return of Christ to take his born again believers to heaven with Him? Since those two verses are suspected of being allegories, should we not also consider the entire books of John and 1 Thessalonians to be allegories? Because 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 tells of the Apostle Paul being “caught up” to the third heaven, to be in the Presence of God, should not that incident and that book of the Bible also be considered to be allegories? Should not both letters to the believers in Christ, at Corinth and at Thessalonica, also be considered to be allegories? Should not the entire Book of Acts be considered to be an allegory because of the teaching of Christ being taken up to Heaven (Acts 1:9), and Philip being “caught up,” and taken to another location, for the purposes of God (8:39)? Should not Revelation 11:12 be considered to be an allegory because the “two witnesses” are taken up to Heaven? Should not the teaching of Revelation 12:5, where Christ is caught up to Heaven, also considered to be an allegory? Should we not consider the books of Genesis and Hebrews to be allegories because Genesis 5:24 and Hebrews 11:5 state that God “took Enoch up?” Should we not consider the book of 2 Kings to be an allegory because in 2 Kings 2:11 it states that God took Elijah up. And, should not the entire book of Revelation be treated as an allegory because of its controversial teachings on the tribulation, the anti-Christ, the 144,000 Jewish missionaries (none of whom were martyred by the forces of the anti-Christ during the tribulation)? We can add to the list of “suggested allegories,” the Battle of Armageddon with the return of Christ to earth with His saints, the 1,000 year reign of Christ, the Battle of Gog and Magog, the Great White Throne Judgment and the Lake of Fire?
Because of all of those examples of “suggested allegories of scripture,” should not we say that the Bible is “just one big allegory”, and totally worthless? I think not. I believe that the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God, per the following verses of scripture. Notice the first two words, “All scripture.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
The purpose of God “taking up, catching up,” a believer in Christ, or a group of believers in Christ, to heaven, is to take those people to heaven without causing them to experience death. The word for such taking up is known as Harpazo in Greek, Rapio in Latin, and Rapture in English. Whichever translation is used, the purpose is to show that God is catching up believers in Christ to go to heaven without them experiencing death. (See John 14:2-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58)
Many people teach that the catching up of the saints and the second coming of Christ are the same event. But, there are great differences in those two events. Consider the immediacy of those two happenings. The catching up of the saints is said to be, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). The same act of immediacy is also recorded in John 14:2-3 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. The second coming of Christ takes much longer to take place. Per scripture, Christ will not land on planet Earth, and no one on Earth who has not been born again will see Christ coming out of Heaven to catch up His saints. Those who will see Christ coming to earth, at His second coming, will not be comforted to see His appearing; they will be deeply grieved! The destination of Christ, and of those who are “caught up,” is heaven, where there will be the giving of rewards to the saints, the marriage of the lamb, and the return to Earth with the previously raptured saints of Christ. Then, Christ will inflict judgment on those who had not been raptured, and will set up His earthly millennial Kingdom; the saints will rule and reign with Christ. The destination of Christ, at His second coming, will be the Mount of Olives. Judgment on those, who were left behind from the rapture of the saints, will immediately commence. There is great comfort in the rapture, per 1 Thessalonians 4:18, “…comfort one another with these words.” Opposite emotions will be present among those who are “left behind” from the rapture, when they see Christ returning to stand on planet earth at the end of the tribulation (Matthew 24:29); “they will mourn at His sight” (Matthew 24:30); with “men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world (Luke 21:26). The rapture of the church is described quickly in John 14:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; and 1 Corinthians 15:50-58. The scriptures that discuss the second coming of Christ show a much greater sequence of events and time, much longer than “the twinkling of an eye,” as follows: (Zechariah 14:1-14; Matthew 24:29-44; Matthew 25:31-46; Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-36; Revelation 19:7-8…marriage of the Lamb in Heaven to the raptured saints (the bride of Christ) (1 Thes 4:16-17) …Revelation 19:11-21 …the second coming of Christ with the raptured saints/the Battle of Armageddon…Revelation 20:1-6…the 1,000 year reign of Christ/the millennium; Satan bound; saints rule and reign with Christ, those returning/raptured saints, and those resurrected saints of the Old Testament and tribulation.) Notice the words, “immediately after the tribulation,” (Matthew 24:29); and, “in those days, after that tribulation,” (Mark 13:24), which show that the events of the second coming of Christ will happen after the tribulation.
The teaching of the end times, to include the rapture of the church, is a subject that is sorely neglected by pastors. It was forty-one years ago that a pastor introduced me to the teaching of eschatology. That pastor was twenty years my senior. His mentor was twenty years his senior. Both of those brothers in Christ are now with the Lord. But, their teachings go on through the people that they taught, to include this grateful student. It is my hope that more pastors will realize a sense of urgency, as it relates to the end times teaching. There are far too many “people in the pews” who are ignorant of the facts of the end times, and that is because they are sitting under the teachings of pastors who share that same ignorance of God’s Holy Word. Ignorance does not mean “stupid;” it means “not taught.” The MacArthur Study Bible provides excellent notes on all teachings of the Bible, to include the scriptures that relate to eschatology. A limited amount of notes from the MacArthur Study Bible can also be found in biblegateway.com A membership to Biblegateway provides the full extent of the MacArthur notes.
In the year 405 A.D., Jerome completed the Latin Vulgate.”This Latin translation stood as the preeminent Bible text for centuries—and set the standard for future translators” (from the following link).
http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-28/405-jerome-completes-vulgate.html
The first hand-written English language Bible manuscripts were produced in the 1380’s AD by John Wycliffe, an Oxford professor, scholar, and theologian (from the following link).
http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/
Whether the Latin or Greek translation is used to translate 1 Thessalonaians 4:17 into English, the meaning of both translations is that Christ is going to descend from Heaven (in the air, not coming to earth), and catch up those living believers (at the time of the “catching up”), and take them to Heaven with Him. For a full explanation of the teaching of the “catching up,” (of those living in Christ), and resurrection (of those dead in Christ), read the commentary notes at the bottom of the page.
Posts will follow that address specifics of different end times subjects.
Consider The Following Verses, And Other Data, That Relate To The Catching Up Of The Saints, Which Is Also Known As The Rapture Of The Church.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Those Who Are Dead, And Those Who Are Living, “in Christ,” At The Time Of The Rapture
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
John 14:2-3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Christ Tells The Apostles That He Will Come Back To Earth And Take Them To Heaven With Him
2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
See study notes at the bottom of the page.
1 Corinthians 15:50-58 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Mystery of Resurrection
50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
(My quip) A notice was posted in a Church nursery. The notice read, “we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.” (vs 51)
Differences Between the Rapture & Second Coming (28:30)
What is the meaning of the word “Rapture?”
https://www.jashow.org/articles/prophecy/biblical-prophecy/what-is-the-meaning-of-the-word-rapture/
Rapture
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture
rapture; raptura; raptus; harpazo; rapiemur;rapia
1 Thessalonians 4:17 (seize, catch up, snatch away).
1 Thessalonians 4:17 King James Bible
“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Etymology
“Rapture” is derived from Middle French rapture, via the Medieval Latin raptura (“seizure, kidnapping”), which derives from the Latin raptus (“a carrying off”).[17]
Greek
The Koine Greek of 1 Thessalonians 4:17 uses the verb form ἁρπαγησόμεθα (harpagisometha), which means “we shall be caught up” or “taken away”, with the connotation that this is a sudden event. The dictionary form of this Greek verb is harpazō (ἁρπάζω).[18] This use is also seen in such texts as Acts 8:39; 2 Corinthians 12:2-4; Revelation 12:5
Latin
The Latin Vulgate translates the Greek ἁρπαγησόμεθα as rapiemur[19] meaning “we are caught up” or “we are taken away” from the Latin verb rapio meaning “to catch up” or “take away”.[20]
1 Thessalonians 4:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
Strong’s Concordance With Greek Lexicon – 726
harpazó: to seize, catch up, snatch away
Original Word: ἁρπάζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: harpazó
Phonetic Spelling: (har-pad’-zo)
Short Definition: I seize, snatch, obtain by robbery
Definition: I seize, snatch, obtain by robbery.
Notice that the transliteration of “to seize, catch up, snatch away,” is “harpazo.” Through the use of transliteration, one word tells the meaning of many more translated words. Check out the following link.
http://www.beingfilled.com/2012/07/translation-transliteration-difference.html
The following are just a few more examples of transliterated words in the New Testament:
Apostle comes from apostlos and means “one who is sent.”
Baptism comes from baptisma and means “immersion.”
Christ comes from cristos and means “anointed one.”
Deacon comes from diakonos and means “servant.”
Epistle comes from epistole and means “letter.”
Strong’s Concordance With Greek Lexicon
1 Thessalonians 4:17 King James Bible
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
will be caught ἁρπαγησόμεθα arpagēsometha 726 to seize, catch up, snatch away from a prim. root harp-
Acts 8:39 King James Bible – caught away – 726
And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
snatched ἥρπασεν ērpasen 726 to seize, catch up, snatch away from a prim. root harp-
2 Corinthians 12:2 King James Bible – caught up – 726
I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
was caught ἁρπαγέντα arpagenta 726 to seize, catch up, snatch away from a prim. root harp-
2 Corinthians 12:4 King James Bible – caught up – 726
How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
was caught ἡρπάγη ērpagē 726 to seize, catch up, snatch away from a prim. root harp-
Revelation 12:5 King James Bible – caught up – 726
And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
was caught ἡρπάσθη ērpasthē 726 to seize, catch up, snatch away from a prim. root harp-
Notes: MacArthur Study Bible – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
4:13–18 Even though Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica was brief, it is clear the people had come to believe in and hope for the reality of their Savior’s return (cf. 1:3, 9, 10; 2:19; 5:1, 2; 2 Thess. 2:1, 5). They were living in expectation of that coming, eagerly awaiting Christ. Verse 13 (cf. 2 Thess. 2:1–3) indicates they were even agitated about some things that were happening to them that might affect their participation in it. They knew Christ’s return was the climactic event in redemptive history and didn’t want to miss it. The major question they had was “What happens to the Christians who die before He comes? Do they miss His return?” Clearly, they had an imminent view of Christ’s return and Paul had left the impression it could happen in their lifetime. Their confusion came as they were being persecuted, an experience they thought they were to be delivered from by the Lord’s return (cf. 3:3, 4).4:13 those who have fallen asleep. Sleep is the familiar NT euphemism for death which describes the appearance of the deceased (see note on 1 Cor. 11:30). It describes the dead body, not the soul (cf. 2 Cor. 5:1–9; Phil. 1:23). Sleep is used of Jarius’ daughter (Matt. 9:24) whom Jesus raised from the dead and Stephen who was stoned to death (Acts 7:60; cf. John 11:11; 1 Cor. 7:39; 15:6, 18, 51; 2 Pet. 3:4). Those who sleep are identified in v. 16 as “the dead in Christ.” The people, in ignorance, had come to the conclusion that those who die miss the Lord’s return and they were grieved over their absence at such a glorious event. Thus the departure of a loved one brought great anguish to the soul. But there is no reason for Christians to sorrow when a brother dies as if some great loss to that person has come.4:14 God will bring with Him. As Jesus died and rose, so also will those who die believing in Him rise again so they can be taken to heaven with the Lord (see notes on John 14:1–3; 1 Cor. 15:51–58). These texts describe the rapture of the church, which takes place when Jesus comes to collect His redeemed and take them back to heaven. Those who have died before that time (called “those who sleep”) will be gathered and taken back to heaven with the Lord.4:15 the word of the Lord. Was Paul referring to some saying of Jesus found in the gospels? No. There are none exact or even close. The only explicit reference to the Rapture in the gospels is John 14:1–3. Some suggest that Jesus had said the words while on earth, their substance being recorded later in such places as Matt. 24:30, 31 and John 6:39, 40; 11:25, 26. Similarities between this passage in 1 Thess. and the gospel accounts include a trumpet (Matt. 24:31), a resurrection (John 1:26), and a gathering of the elect (Matt. 24:31). Yet dissimilarities between it and the canonical sayings of Christ far outweigh the resemblances. Some of the differences between Matt. 24:30, 31 and vv. 15–17 are as follows: 1) in Matt. the Son of Man is coming on the clouds (but see Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27), in 1 Thess. ascending believers are in them; 2) in the former the angels gather, in the latter Christ does personally; 3) in the former nothing is said about resurrection, while in the latter this is the main theme; and 4) Matthew records nothing about the order of ascent, which is the principal lesson in Thessalonians. On the other hand, did he mean a statement of Jesus that was spoken but not recorded in the gospels (Acts 20:35)? No. There is reason to conclude this since Paul affirmed that he taught the Rapture as a heretofore hidden truth (1 Cor. 15:51), i.e., “mystery.” Apparently, the Thessalonians were informed fully about the Day of the Lord judgment (cf. 5:1, 2), but not the preceding event—the rapture of the church. Until Paul revealed it as the revelation from God to him, it had been a secret, with the only prior mention being Jesus’ teaching in John 14:1–3. This was new revelation of what had previously been an unrevealed mystery. we who are alive and remain. This refers to Christians alive at the time of the Rapture, those who live on this earth to see the coming of the Lord for His own. Since Paul didn’t know God’s timing, he lived and spoke as if it could happen in his lifetime. As with all early Christians, he believed the event was near (cf. Rom. 13:11; 1 Cor. 6:14; 10:11; 16:22; Phil. 3:20, 21; 1 Tim. 6:14; Titus 2:13). Those alive at the Rapture will follow those dead who rise first (v. 16).
4:16 the Lord Himself will descend. This fulfills the pledge of John 14:1–3 (cf. Acts 1:11). Until then, He remains in heaven (cf. 1:10; Heb. 1:1–3). archangel. Very little is known about the organization or rank of angels (cf. Col. 1:17). While only Michael is named as an archangel (Jude 9), there seems to be more than one in the archangelic ranks (Dan. 10:13). Perhaps it is Michael, the archangel, whose voice is heard as he is identified with Israel’s resurrection in Dan. 12:1–3. At that moment (cf. 1 Cor. 15:52, “twinkling of an eye”), the dead rise first. They will not miss the Rapture, but be the first participants. trumpet of God. Cf. 1 Cor. 15:52. This trumpet is not the judgment trumpets of Rev. 8–11, but is illustrated by the trumpet of Ex. 19:16–19, which called the people out of the camp to meet God. It will be a trumpet of deliverance (cf. Zeph. 1:16; Zech. 9:14).
4:17 caught up. After the dead come forth, their spirits, already with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23), are now being joined to resurrected new bodies (see notes on 1 Cor. 15:35–50); the living Christians will be raptured, lit. snatched away (cf. John 10:28; Acts 8:39). This passage, along with John 14:1–3 and 1 Cor. 15:51, 52, forms the biblical basis for “the Rapture” of the church. The time of the Rapture cannot be conclusively determined from this passage alone. However, when other texts such as Rev. 3:10 and John 14:3 are consulted and compared to the texts about Christ’s coming in judgment (Matt. 13:34–50; 24:29–44; Rev. 19:11–21) at the end of a 7 year tribulation, it has to be noted that there is a clear difference between the character of the “Rapture” in that there is no mention of any judgment, while the other texts feature judgment. So then, it is best to understand that the Rapture occurs at a time different from the coming of Christ in judgment. Thus, the Rapture has been described as pretribulational (before the wrath of God unfolded in the judgments of Rev. 6–19). This event includes complete transformation (cf. 1 Cor. 15:51, 52; Phil 3:20, 21) and union with the Lord Jesus Christ that never ends.
4:18 comfort one another. The primary purpose of this passage is not to teach a scheme of prophecy, but rather to provide encouragement to those Christians whose loved ones have died. The comfort here is based on the following: 1) the dead will be resurrected and will participate in the Lord’s coming for His own; 2) when Christ comes the living will be reunited forever with their loved ones; and 3) they all will be with the Lord eternally (v. 17).
Notes: MacArthur Study Bible – John 14:2-3
14:2, 3 I go to prepare. His departure would be for their advantage since He was going away to prepare a heavenly home for them and will return to take them so that they may be with Him. This is one of the passages that refers to the rapture of the saints at the end of the age when Christ returns. The features in this description do not describe Christ coming to earth with His saints to establish His kingdom (Rev. 19:11–15), but taking believers from earth to live in heaven. Since no judgment on the unsaved is described here, this is not the event of His return in glory and power to destroy the wicked (cf. Matt. 13:36–43, 47–50). Rather, this describes His coming to gather His own who are alive and raise the bodies of those who have died to take them all to heaven. This rapture event is also described in 1 Cor. 15:51–54; 1 Thess. 4:13–18. After being raptured, the church will celebrate the marriage supper (Rev. 19:7–10), be rewarded (1 Cor. 3:10–15; 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:9, 10), and later return to earth with Christ when He comes again to set up His kingdom (Rev. 19:11—20:6).
Notes: MacArthur Study Bible: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
15:1–58 This chapter is the most extensive treatment of resurrection in the Bible. Both the resurrection of Jesus Christ as recorded in the gospels and the resurrection of believers as promised in the gospels are here explained.
15:50 People cannot live in God’s eternal heavenly glory the way they are. See notes on Rom. 8:23. We have to be changed (v. 51).
15:51 mystery. This term refers to truth hidden in the past and revealed in the NT. See notes on 2:7 and Eph. 3:4, 5. In this case, the rapture of the church was never revealed in the OT. It was first mentioned in John 14:1–3, when it is specifically explained and is detailed in 1 Thess. 4:13–18 (see notes there). sleep. See note on v. 18.
15:52 twinkling of an eye. This was Paul’s way of showing how brief the “moment” will be. The Gr. word for “twinkling” refers to any rapid movement. Since the eye can move more rapidly than any other part of our visible bodies, it seems to well illustrate the sudden transformation of raptured believers. trumpet will sound.To herald the end of the church era, when all believers will be removed from the earth at the rapture (1 Thess. 4:16). dead…raised. According to 1 Thess. 4:16, they are first and the living saints follow (1 Thess. 4:17).
15:54–57 Paul enhanced his joy at the reality of resurrection by quoting from Is. 25:8 and Hos. 13:14. The latter quote taunts death as if it were a bee whose sting was removed. That sting was the sin that was exposed by the law of God (see notes on Rom. 3:23; 4:15; 6:23; Gal. 3:10–13), but conquered by Christ in His death (see notes on Rom. 5:17; 2 Cor. 5:21).
15:58 The hope of resurrection makes all the efforts and sacrifices in the Lord’s work worth it. No work done in His name is wasted in light of eternal glory and reward.
Biographies of speakers of this post.
Consider the qualifications of the speakers in the videos.
Dr. John Ankerberg, founder and president of The John Ankerberg Show, the most-watched Christian worldview show in America
https://www.jashow.org/about-dr-john-ankerberg/
Signs of the Last Days – Dr. Jimmy DeYoung
Bio – http://jimmydeyoung.com/aboutdrd.shtml
Dr. Jimmy DeYoung resided in Jerusalem for at least a portion of the year each year for the last 23 years where he held full credentials as a journalist in the second most populated journalistic city in the world.
Dr. Renald Showers
http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?SpeakerOnly=true&currSection=sermonsspeaker&Keyword=Dr.%5ERenald%5EShowers
Dr. Renald Showers is an author and Bible teacher for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc.
Dr. Ed Hindson, http://thekingiscoming.com/about-dr-ed-hindson/
Dr. Ed Hindson is the Bible Teacher on The King Is Coming telecast. He is also the Assistant Chancellor, Distinguished Professor, and Dean of the Institute of Biblical Studies and the School of Religion at Liberty University in Virginia.
MacArthur Study Bible Notes
Bio – Dr. John MacArthur – https://www.gracechurch.org/Leader/MacArthur/John?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
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What does the Bible say about the battle of Armageddon?
Revelation 16:12-16 New King James Version (NKJV)
Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried Up
12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
What is the battle of Armageddon? What happens there?
Muslims, Jews, campaign of Armageddon
God’s Love For Israel
Text
Psalm 47:4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“He chooses our inheritance for us, The glory of Jacob whom He loves. Selah.”
God’s Promises For Israel’s Restoration
Text
Isaiah 43:1 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Israel Redeemed
“But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!”
Notes: MacArthur Study Bible (Everybody should own a MacArthur Study Bible)
Psalm 47:4 He will choose. Again, “He chooses,” serves as a timeless truth. Cf. the election of Israel in Deut. 7:6ff.; Ps. 135:4. On the land of promise as “inheritance,” cf. Deut. 32:8, 9; Ps. 105:11. See notes on Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:2 for a discussion of the doctrine of divine election. The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. The “excellence” or “pride” of Jacob also refers to the land of Canaan (cf. the term illustratively in Is. 13:19; then in Is. 60:15; Nah. 2:2; etc.). “Whom He loves” is signal terminology for God’s special, elective, covenantal “love” (cf., e.g., Mal. 1:2ff.). This special focus on God’s covenant with Israel does not negate the bigger picture involving blessing to all nations sketched out in the original Abrahamic Covenant of Gen. 12:1–3.
Isaiah 43:1 created…formed. The only explanation for the ongoing existence of the nation of Israel is God’s sovereign grace, which brought her into existence from nothing (cf. Deut. 7:6–11) and sustains her. Since she was God’s creation, she could find comfort in knowing that no one or nothing can destroy her, not even her own wickedness (cf. 43:18–25; Rom. 11:1, 2, 25–27). Jacob…Israel. This double designation (cf. Gen. 32:28) for God’s chosen nation is used by Isaiah 21 times, 16 of them in chaps. 40–49 (9:8; 10:20; 14:1; 27:6; 29:23; 40:27; 41:8, 14; 42:24; 43:1, 22, 28; 44:1, 21, 23; 45:4; 46:3; 48:1, 12; 49:5, 6). This speaks of the Lord’s special attachment to Abraham’s physical seed. Fear not. The Lord repeated His word, relieving Israel’s fear (35:4; 41:10, 13, 14; cf. 7:4). redeemed. God’s redemption of His people from exile is not to be complete until His Servant returns to reign over the faithful remnant in the land of Israel who have believed on Jesus Christ (cf. Zech. 12:10—13:1; Rom. 11:25–27; Rev. 11:13). The limited return from Babylon only typified the final return. See note on 43:14.
Text
Ezekiel 6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Idolatrous Worship Denounced
1 And the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them 3 and say, ‘Mountains of Israel, listen to the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord God to the mountains, the hills, the ravines and the valleys: “Behold, I Myself am going to bring a sword on you, and I will destroy your high places. 4 So your altars will become desolate and your incense altars will be smashed; and I will make your slain fall in front of your idols. 5 I will also lay the dead bodies of the sons of Israel in front of their idols; and I will scatter your bones around your altars. 6 In all your dwellings, cities will become waste and the high places will be desolate, that your altars may become waste and desolate, your idols may be broken and brought to an end, your incense altars may be cut down, and your works may be blotted out. 7 The slain will fall among you, and you will know that I am the Lord.
8 “However, I will leave a remnant, for you will have those who escaped the sword among the nations when you are scattered among the countries. 9 Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations to which they will be carried captive, how I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me, and by their eyes which played the harlot after their idols; and they will loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed, for all their abominations. 10 Then they will know that I am the Lord; I have not said in vain that I would inflict this disaster on them.”’
11 “Thus says the Lord God, ‘Clap your hand, stamp your foot and say, “Alas, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, which will fall by sword, famine and plague! 12 He who is far off will die by the plague, and he who is near will fall by the sword, and he who remains and is besieged will die by the famine. Thus will I spend My wrath on them. 13 Then you will know that I am the Lord, when their slain are among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains, under every green tree and under every leafy oak—the places where they offered soothing aroma to all their idols. 14 So throughout all their habitations I will stretch out My hand against them and make the land more desolate and waste than the wilderness toward Diblah; thus they will know that I am the Lord.”’”
Notes – Ezekiel 6 – MacArthur Study Bible (Everybody should own a MacArthur Study Bible)
6:3 says the Lord…to the mountains. God had the prophet do this because the people worshiped at idol altars in the “high places” (cf. Lev. 26:30–33; Is. 65:7; Jer. 3:6; Hos. 4:13; Mic. 6:1, 2).
6:7 you shall know that I am the Lord. This clause recurs in vv. 10, 13, 14 and 60 times elsewhere in the book. It shows that the essential reason for judgment is the violation of the character of God. This is repeatedly acknowledged in Lev. 18–26, where the motive for all obedience to God’s law is the fact that He is the Lord God.
6:8–10 The mass of people was rejected, but grace and mercy were given to a godly group in the nation. There never has been nor ever will be a complete end to Israel. The doctrine of the remnant can be studied in Is. 1:9; 10:20; Jer. 43:5; Zeph. 2:7; 3:13; Zech. 10:9; Rom. 9:6–13; 11:5.
6:14 Diblah. A reference to Diblathaim, a city on the eastern edge of Moab (Num. 33:46; Jer. 48:22), near the desert E and S of the Dead Sea.
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This post is one of others that you can find in the blog under the category of “Journey.” There, you will be able to locate the Journey posts, in the order of their being published. Please follow this blog. Select Category, “Journey” to see all of the posts that relate to the end times study. The purpose of the study of Ezekiel will be to relate it to the end times.
Eschatology
Eschatology is the study of the teachings in the Bible concerning the end times and of the period of time dealing with the return of Christ and the events that follow. Those events, follow, but are not in the order as shown: the Resurrection, the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Millennium, the Binding of Satan, the Three witnesses, the Final Judgment, Armageddon, and The New Heavens and the New Earth. In one form or another most of the books of the Bible deal with end-times subjects.
Background
My study of the end times goes back to the year of 1976. There have been many people who have helped me to understand this exciting part of God’s Holy Word. There have also been many credible source documents that I have studied, “over and over.” The following individuals (some alive, and some deceased) are recognized for their knowledgeable of matters that relate to the end times. Their study materials have helped me to prepare this series of posts on “God’s Plan For The Ages.” Their names are presented below in no special order of importance. It is easy to research their qualifications through the internet.
Sources
C.I. Scofield, Merrill Unger, Charles C. Ryrie, Henry Morris, J. Dwight Pentecost, David Jeremiah, John MacArthur, Frank Charles Thompson, Grant R. Jeffrey, John F. Walvoord, J. Vernon McGee, Charles Swindoll, John Phillips, Ed Hindson, Tim LaHaye, Ron Rhodes, David Reagan, Jimmy DeYoung, Renald Showers, John Ankerberg, Hal Lindsey, Mark Hitchcock, Ron Rhodes, Jack Van Impe, Adrian Rogers, and others.
Click onto any highlighted word to see the videos and text on the blog.
“And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.” (John 12:20-21)
As I viewed the first video, and the one that follows, the emotional pull on me drew tears from my eyes and made me think of just how important it is for all of us to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. In the verses, the Greeks were Gentile proselytes to Judaism; they made a simple statement, “we would see Jesus.” How about you? Is your desire to “see Jesus;” to know Him as your Lord and Savior? The songs of this post are being used by God’s Holy Spirit to draw those of you who don’t have saving faith in Jesus to make the decision of John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Stay with the second video. “Consider Jesus; ask Him to be your Lord and Savior, knowing that by doing so you will spend eternity with Jesus.”
John 14:6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
Click onto any highlighted word to see the videos and text on the blog.
Left Behind: The Movie – Raptured!
The above video was taken from the Left Behind I movie. The truth of the catching up of the church, also known as the rapture of the church, is greatly criticized, but without credible scriptural basis. The following video provides a good study of the rapture of the church and of the second coming of Christ, which are two separate events. Please understand that the teaching of the end times rapture and second coming of Christ is not an allegory. The scriptures that explain both events are very clear as to their being actual things that happen, and NOT AN ALLEGORY.
The Timing of the Rapture and the Second Coming
Consider the following scriptures that discuss the rapture of the church, also known as the catching up of the saints and the snatching away of the saints. The Greek word for this event is “harpazo.”
Consider Enoch – God took him. God took him up.
Genesis 5:24 New King James Version (NKJV)
24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
MacArthur Study Bible note.5:24 walked with God…was not, for God took him. Enoch is the only break in the chapter from the incessant comment, “and he died.” Cf. 4:17, 18; 1 Chr. 1:3; Luke 3:37; Heb. 11:5; Jude 14. Only one other man is said to have enjoyed this intimacy of relationship in walking with God, Noah (6:9). Enoch experienced being taken to heaven alive by God, as did Elijah later (2 Kin. 2:1–12).
Hebrews 11:5 New King James Version (NKJV)
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
MacArthur Study Bible note. 11:5 The quote is from Gen. 5:24. Enoch. See note on Gen. 5:24.The LXX translated the Heb. idiom “Enoch walked with God” with “he pleased God.” The writer combines both in the reference. Enoch was miraculously taken to heaven without dying (cf. 1 Thess. 4:17).
Consider Elijah – “Elijah went up…into heaven”
2 Kings 2:11 New King James Version (NKJV)
11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Consider the discussion of Christ with His disciples/apostles. – Christ will return for His followers and take them to Heaven. This is the coming of Christ in the air, to not set foot on the earth. Shortly following this event, the time of tribulation will occur on earth, when the Judgments of Christ will be unleashed on the earth, and the anti-Christ will begin persecuting the Jews and those who accept Christ during the tribulation.
John 14:1-3 New King James Version (NKJV)
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
MacArthur Study Bible 14:1 Instead of the disciples lending support to Jesus in the hours before His cross, He had to support them spiritually as well as emotionally. This reveals His heart of serving love (cf. Matt. 20:26–28). troubled. Faith in Him can stop the heart from being agitated. See note on 12:27.
MacArthur Study Bible 14:2 mansions. Lit. dwelling places, rooms, or even apartments (in modern terms). All are in the large “Father’s house.”
MacArthur Study Bible 14:2, 3 I go to prepare. His departure would be for their advantage since He was going away to prepare a heavenly home for them and will return to take them so that they may be with Him. This is one of the passages that refers to the rapture of the saints at the end of the age when Christ returns. The features in this description do not describe Christ coming to earth with His saints to establish His kingdom (Rev. 19:11–15), but taking believers from earth to live in heaven. Since no judgment on the unsaved is described here, this is not the event of His return in glory and power to destroy the wicked (cf. Matt. 13:36–43, 47–50). Rather, this describes His coming to gather His own who are alive and raise the bodies of those who have died to take them all to heaven. This rapture event is also described in 1 Cor. 15:51–54; 1 Thess. 4:13–18. After being raptured, the church will celebrate the marriage supper (Rev. 19:7–10), be rewarded (1 Cor. 3:10–15; 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:9, 10), and later return to earth with Christ when He comes again to set up His kingdom (Rev. 19:11—20:6).
In The Presence Of God
2 Corinthians 5:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) We are translated out of our bodies, or graves, and taken to the Presence of God.
2 Corinthians 5:10 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) (This is a better translation
Once in the Presence of God, we appear before the Judgment Seat Of Christ, not to determine the fate of our salvation, but to be given rewards, and to be prepared for the Marriage of the Lamb.
10 For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.
The next stop is the Marriage of the Lamb
Revelation 19:7-9 King James Version (KJV)
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
MacArthur Study Bible 19:7 marriage of the Lamb. Hebrew weddings consisted of 3 phases: 1) betrothal (often when the couple were children); 2) presentation (the festivities, often lasting several days, that preceded the ceremony); and 3) the ceremony (the exchanging of vows). The church was betrothed to Christ by His sovereign choice in eternity past (Eph. 1:4; Heb. 13:20) and will be presented to Him at the Rapture (John 14:1–3; 1 Thess. 4:13–18). The final supper will signify the end of the ceremony. This symbolic meal will take place at the establishment of the millennial kingdom and last throughout that 1,000 year period (cf. 21:2). While the term “bride” often refers to the church, and does so here (2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:22–24), it ultimately expands to include all the redeemed of all ages, which becomes clear in the remainder of the book.
MacArthur Study Bible 19:8 righteous acts of the saints. Not Christ’s imputed righteousness granted to believers at salvation, but the practical results of that righteousness in believers’ lives, i.e., the outward manifestation of inward virtue.
MacArthur Study Bible 19:9 Blessed. See note on 1:3. those who are called. This is not the bride (the church) but the guests. The bride doesn’t get invited, she invites. These are those saved before Pentecost, all the faithful believers saved by grace through faith up to the birth of the church (Acts 2:1ff.). Though they are not the bride, they still are glorified and reign with Christ in the millennial kingdom. It is really differing imagery rather than differing reality. The guests also will include tribulation saints and believers alive in earthly bodies in the kingdom. The church is the bride, pure and faithful—never a harlot, like Israel was (see Hos. 2). So the church is the bride during the presentation feast in heaven, then comes to earth for the celebration of the final meal (the Millennium). After that event, the new order comes and the marriage is consummated (see notes on 21:1, 2). true sayings of God. This refers to everything since 17:1. It is all true—the marriage will take place after judgment.
Revelation 19:7 – We, the bride of Christ, will come under the protection of the Bride Groom, “Christ.” We are the bride of all brides. Christ is the Bride Groom of all Bride Grooms.
Consider the words of the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians. This is the coming of Christ in the air, to not set foot on the earth. In this passage, “the dead in Christ” will rise first. The “dead in Christ” is a phrase that excludes the dead who never had a saving relationship with Christ. “We who are alive and remain, will be caught up…..” Only living believers in Christ will be caught up (snatched away, caught up, raptured). Both classes of believers (dead and alive), will be taken away to heaven to the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). While the saints of God are in the Presence of God, those who were left behind will be coming under the judgments of God and the persecution of the anti-Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 King James Version (KJV)
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
MacArthur Study Bible 4:16 the Lord Himself will descend. This fulfills the pledge of John 14:1–3 (cf. Acts 1:11). Until then, He remains in heaven (cf. 1:10; Heb. 1:1–3). archangel. Very little is known about the organization or rank of angels (cf. Col. 1:17). While only Michael is named as an archangel (Jude 9), there seems to be more than one in the archangelic ranks (Dan. 10:13). Perhaps it is Michael, the archangel, whose voice is heard as he is identified with Israel’s resurrection in Dan. 12:1–3. At that moment (cf. 1 Cor. 15:52, “twinkling of an eye”), the dead rise first. They will not miss the Rapture, but be the first participants. trumpet of God. Cf. 1 Cor. 15:52. This trumpet is not the judgment trumpets of Rev. 8–11, but is illustrated by the trumpet of Ex. 19:16–19, which called the people out of the camp to meet God. It will be a trumpet of deliverance (cf. Zeph. 1:16; Zech. 9:14).
MacArthur Study Bible 4:17 caught up. After the dead come forth, their spirits, already with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23), are now being joined to resurrected new bodies (see notes on 1 Cor. 15:35–50); the living Christians will be raptured, lit. snatched away (cf. John 10:28; Acts 8:39). This passage, along with John 14:1–3 and 1 Cor. 15:51, 52, forms the biblical basis for “the Rapture” of the church. The time of the Rapture cannot be conclusively determined from this passage alone. However, when other texts such as Rev. 3:10 and John 14:3 are consulted and compared to the texts about Christ’s coming in judgment (Matt. 13:34–50; 24:29–44; Rev. 19:11–21) at the end of a 7 year tribulation, it has to be noted that there is a clear difference between the character of the “Rapture” in that there is no mention of any judgment, while the other texts feature judgment. So then, it is best to understand that the Rapture occurs at a time different from the coming of Christ in judgment. Thus, the Rapture has been described as pretribulational (before the wrath of God unfolded in the judgments of Rev. 6–19). This event includes complete transformation (cf. 1 Cor. 15:51, 52; Phil 3:20, 21) and union with the Lord Jesus Christ that never ends.
MacArthur Study Bible 1 Thessalonians 4:18 comfort one another. The primary purpose of this passage is not to teach a scheme of prophecy, but rather to provide encouragement to those Christians whose loved ones have died. The comfort here is based on the following: 1) the dead will be resurrected and will participate in the Lord’s coming for His own; 2) when Christ comes the living will be reunited forever with their loved ones; and 3) they all will be with the Lord eternally (v. 17).
1 Thessalonians 4:17 “Caught up #726, seize, catch up, snatch away, harpazo (see below)
harpazó: to seize, catch up, snatch away
Original Word: ἁρπάζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: harpazó
Phonetic Spelling: (har-pad’-zo)
Short Definition: I seize, snatch, obtain by robbery
Definition: I seize, snatch, obtain by robbery.
Consider the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians, about the return of Christ in the air to take His believers to Heaven with Him, away from the earth, before the tribulation takes place. Earthly believers will be given immortal bodies, “in the twinkling of an eye,” and will be raised just as quickly. Our earthly, corruptible, bodies must be changed into heavenly, incorruptible, bodies in order for us to enter into heaven. Such an incorruptible, or imperishable body of our birth, will be a body that will never decay in heaven; it will live forever; we will live forever in the Presence of God.
1 Corinthians 15:50-53 King James Version (KJV)
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
MacArthur Study Bible 15:51 mystery. This term refers to truth hidden in the past and revealed in the NT. See notes on 2:7 and Eph. 3:4, 5. In this case, the rapture of the church was never revealed in the OT. It was first mentioned in John 14:1–3, when it is specifically explained and is detailed in 1 Thess. 4:13–18 (see notes there). sleep. See note on v. 18.
MacArthur Study Bible 15:52 twinkling of an eye. This was Paul’s way of showing how brief the “moment” will be. The Gr. word for “twinkling” refers to any rapid movement. Since the eye can move more rapidly than any other part of our visible bodies, it seems to well illustrate the sudden transformation of raptured believers. trumpet will sound.To herald the end of the church era, when all believers will be removed from the earth at the rapture (1 Thess. 4:16). dead…raised. According to 1 Thess. 4:16, they are first and the living saints follow (1 Thess. 4:17)
Pre-Tribulation Rapture
After the rapture of the church takes place, the unwelcomed promise of Revelation 3:10 will soon follow. Those “who dwell on the earth,” is a phrase that is repeated throughout the book of Revelation, and relates to those people who did not know Christ as their Lord and Savior, but aligned themselves with the things of the earth. Believers in Christ do not need to be tested, as will happen to the earth dwellers. When we came to know Christ as our Lord and Savior, we passed “the test.” The judgments of Christ on the earth will begin with the Seal Judgments (Rev 6:1-8:6)), will continue with the Trumpet Judgments (Rev 8:7-9:21), and will end in the Bowl Judgments (Rev 15:1-16:21). The judgments will increase in severity. At the same time, the anti-Christ will be persecuting the Jews, and anyone else who aligns themselves with a belief in Christ as their Lord and Savior. As opposed to being earth dwellers, believers in Christ are Citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:20).
Revelation 3:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
MacArthur Study Bible 3:10 keep you from the hour of trial. Christ’s description—an event still future that for a short time severely tests the whole world—must refer to the time of tribulation, the 7 year period before Christ’s earthly kingdom is consummated, featuring the unleashing of divine wrath in judgments expressed as seals, trumpets, and bowls. This period is described in detail throughout chaps. 6–19. The latter half is called “the Great Tribulation” (7:14; Matt. 24:21) and is identified as to time in 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14; 13:5. The verb “to keep” is followed by a preposition whose normal meaning is “from” or “out of”—this phrase, “keep…from” supports the pretribulational rapture of the church (see notes on John 14:1–3; 1 Cor. 15:51, 52; 1 Thess. 4:13–17). This period is the same as Daniel’s 70th week (see notes on Dan. 9:24–27) and “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (see notes on Jer. 30:7).
Other scriptures that identify “earth dwellers” are: Rev 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8; 13:14; 17:8. These verses show a hostility of those left behind people toward Christ. Consider the fact that their names were not written in the Book of Life.
Revelation 17:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
8 “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.
Who will be raptured?
In order for someone to be raptured, they must have the Spirit of God dwelling within their spirits. They must have a spirit just as pure as the Spirit of Christ. In order for that spiritual indwelling and purity to take place, a person must have been born again.
1 John 1:5 New American Standard Bible (NASB) The Spirit of God is pure (lack of darkness).
5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
2 Corinthians 5:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB) To dwell within the Spirit of Christ, we must have a spirit that is just as pure as the Spirit of Christ.
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Colossians 1:27 New American Standard Bible (NASB) To have the Spirit of Christ “in us” is the expectant “hope of glory.”
27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The New Birth: It makes our spirits as pure as the Spirit of Father/Son/Holy Spirit.
John 3:3 New King James Version (NKJV) – The need to be born again.
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:8 New King James Version (NKJV) – The Holy Spirit performs the new birth.
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:16 New King James Version (NKJV) – If we believe in Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have been born again. If we have been born again, we believe in Christ as our Lord and Savior.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:18 New King James Version (NKJV) – Without a belief in Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have condemnation as our eternal promise. This condemnation relates to Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and anyone else in the world who does not know Christ as their Lord and Savior – even to those “who say” that they are Christians, but show no spiritual fruit of the new birth (Galatians 5:22-23). The fruit of the Spirit “is,” explains that all of the individual items of spiritual fruit come into a person’s spiritual being when they are born again. Galatians 5:22-23 New American Standard Bible (NASB) “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control;…”
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 14:16-17 New King James Version (NKJV) – When we have been born again, we have the indwelling Presence of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
John 14:20 New King James Version (NKJV) – The indwelling of the Spirit in our born again spirit.
20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
John 14:26 New King James Version (NKJV) – the Holy Spirit is our never-ending teacher of the things of God.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
John 16:8-11 New King James Version (NKJV) – God’s Holy Spirit will convict the world, through His born again believers, of sin, and righteousness and judgment.
8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
John 16:13 New King James Version (NKJV) – the Holy Spirit teaches us in all matters of truth.
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
Summing it up.
When we are born again, God’s Spirit is always in us and teaching us, and prompting us to do the things of righteousness. People will make mistakes, but someone who has been born again, having the daily prompting to righteousness, will lead a life of holiness. Consider the following verses of scripture that discuss people who show no evidence of having been born again, not having the Spirit of God dwelling within them, and not being prompted to lifestyles of righteousness.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 New American Standard Bible (NASB) These are people whose lifestyles showed that they had not been born again, and did not have the Spirit of God dwelling within their spirits. There are also people who came out those sinful lifestyles and “were washes, were sanctified, and were justified in the Name of the Lord,” which shows that they had been born again and had left their sinful lifestyles.
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
Revelation 21:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB) All of these character traits show a lack of personal relationships in Christ as their Lord and Savior.
8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Conclusion
Remember the opening video. Consider the people in the airliner. Families were seated side-by-side. In the “twinkling of an eye,” those who had been born again were removed from their mortal bodies in the cabin of the aircraft, and were immediately caught up to be the Presence of God. (2 Cor 5:8). Consider those who were left behind; they had not been born again.
Consider the realities of life. Consider the things that show that certain people have not been born again. In today’s world, it is quite easy to identify “earth dwellers.”
Consider murder. Consider abortion on demand. Consider people who perform such practices. Consider people who vote to put people in public office, who will also vote to use the force of law to promote abortion on demand.
Consider homosexual marriage. Consider people who conduct such weddings, and those who enter into such abominable unions. Consider the people who vote to put people in public, who will also vote to use the force of law to promote homosexual marriage and will use the force of law to make normal people accept the abomination of homosexuality.
Consider personal thoughts
Matthew 5:28 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
James 1:14-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
For someone to think of committing the act of adultery begins a slippery slope that may lead to the fulfillment of that act. For someone to think of committing the act of homosexuality is also the beginning of a slippery slope, which may lead to a lifestyle of homosexuality, or of condoning that abomination. For someone to think of killing an unborn baby, is to climb onto yet another slippery slope. Yet the slippery slope that leads to abortion is an act that destroys life. Life comes from existing life (Dr. Louis Pasteur, Law of Biogenesis).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogenesis The aorta pumps blood from the heart to the rest of the body. During an abortion, the blood of the unborn baby is seen as the baby is being destroyed. A video will be shown at the bottom of this page which shows the blood of an unborn baby which is being butchered. The blood that will be seen will not be the blood of the mother, but of the baby http://www.webmd.com/heart/picture-of-the-aorta#1
At present time, in America, the Democrat party has on its party platform a statement for abortion, with no limits being imposed. Yet, many “so called” Christians continue to vote for Democrats. The liberal media (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC) supports the Democrat party in its pro-abortion legislation. Yet, many “so called” Christians continue to watch those networks, thereby improving the ratings of those networks, and also take into their minds the pro-death reporting that will affect the beliefs of the parents and children of those “so called” Christian families. The Democrat Party also has on it party platform the support of same-sex marriage. The same liberal media outlets (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC) also support same-sex marriage. Still, many “so called” Christians continue to watch the pro-homosexual propaganda that is reported by the liberal media. The Democrat Party platform can be seen in the following link. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/papers_pdf/117717.pdf
Let’s make this personal. If you see nothing wrong with the killing of unborn babies, you should have no problem viewing the video of the abortion that follows. If you see nothing wrong with the killing of unborn babies, you do not have the Spirit of God dwelling within your spirit, prompting you to righteousness. Also, if you see nothing wrong with people of the same-sex having sexual relations, or entering into same-sex unions, you do not have the spirit of God dwelling within your spirit and prompting you to righteousness. In either instance, you have not been born again! Your destiny is the Lake of Fire!(Revelation 20:15). It is a personal choice as to whether you will be standing in the line with other people having such similar beliefs that are the result of not having been born again.
The road which leads to the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15), which also leads to the lake of fire and eternal suffering, is a road that is not forced upon anyone. It is only by a personal choice that anyone will take such a trip. Consider such a journey that has only been set aside for people who have not been born again.
Revelation 20:11-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Judgment at the Throne of God
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Consider your family. Do you want you and your family to be cast into the lake of fire on the family plan? A better decision for you and your family to make is to spend eternity in the Kingdom of God, by being born again (John 3:3).
John 3:3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the video of an abortion. When you watch it consider how the people, who are involved in the killing of that unborn baby, have become so ridiculously numb to the taking of life that it seems like a tv reality show.
Eschatology
Eschatology is the study of the teachings in the Bible concerning the end times and of the period of time dealing with the return of Christ and the events that follow. Those events, follow, but are not in the order as shown: the Resurrection, the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Millennium, the Binding of Satan, the Three witnesses, the Final Judgment, Armageddon, and The New Heavens and the New Earth. In one form or another most of the books of the Bible deal with end-times subjects.
My study of the end times goes back to the year of 1976. There have been many people who have helped me to understand this exciting part of God’s Holy Word. There have also been many credible source documents that I have studied, “over and over.” The following individuals (some alive, and some deceased) are recognized for their knowledgeable of matters that relate to the end times. Their study materials have helped me to prepare this series of posts on “God’s Plan For The Ages.” Their names are presented below in no special order of importance. It is easy to research their qualifications through the internet.
C.I. Scofield, Merrill Unger, Charles C. Ryrie, Henry Morris, J. Dwight Pentecost, David Jeremiah, John MacArthur, Frank Charles Thompson, Grant R. Jeffrey, John F. Walvoord, J. Vernon McGee, Charles Swindoll, John Phillips, Ed Hindson, Tim LaHaye, Ron Rhodes, David Reagan, Jimmy DeYoung, Renald Showers, John Ankerberg, Hal Lindsey, Mark Hitchcock, Jack Van Impe, Adrian Rogers, and others.
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This post is one of others that you can find in the blog under the category of “Journey.” There, you will be able to locate the Journey posts, in the order of their being published. Please follow this blog. Select Category, “Journey” to see all of the posts that relate to the end times study. The purpose of the study of Ezekiel will be to relate it to the end times.
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LEGRADO
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As you consider this post, also consider the fact that there have been too many American Presidents who have been trying to legislate peace in the middle east for too long of a period of time. The truth of the matter is that there will not be peace in the middle east, or anywhere else on earth, until Christ comes back to earth and sets up His millennial (1,000 year) Kingdom (Zechariah 14, Revelation 19-20, Matthew 24-25). The subject of the tribulation has been described as: “pre-trib, mid-trib, and post-trib.” Unfortunately, there have been far too many pastors who have added “pan-trib,” saying that it will “all pan out” in the end. Folks, such a statement shows a great lack of respect for the teachings of the Bible that clearly show that the rapture of the church will come, “as directed by God,” prior to the beginning of the tribulation, and is know as the “pre-tribulation rapture of the church. (Mid-trib means that all believers in Christ (including little babies) will have to go through the first half of the judgments of the tribulation. Post tribulation means that all believers in Christ (including little babies) will have to through all of the judgments of the tribulation. The “off the cuff” insult to God’s Holy Word, that things “will just pan out,” is totally incorrect. God has a plan, which will not just “pan out,” as a result of “happen stance.”) This subject is too serious not to be taught. Too many believers in Christ think that they will have to go through the tribulation, or parts of it, and will also be subjected to the Battle of Armageddon, which is also totally false. Remember the purpose of the leaders of the church, Ephesians 4:11, “equip the saints.”
The following link tells us about the man who authored the Left Behind Series of books.
The man who wrote the Left Behind series, Tim LeHaye, was traveling on an airliner. He noticed a pilot flirting with a stewardess. He also noticed that the pilot was wearing a wedding ring. The thought came to Dr. LeHaye about the coming of Christ in the air for the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) at such a time that he was observing. Dr. LeHaye soon wrote his first book on the events that surround the rapture of the church, which was titled “Left Behind.” The rapture of the church, which is the coming of Christ in the air to take His believers out of this world, prior to the beginning of the tribulation period (the 70th week of Daniel). This event precedes the second coming of Christ when He will come for judgment of the world, which will come at the end of the tribulation (7 years after the rapture of the church) (Matthew 24:21, 29-30). The teaching of this subject is greatly ignored, and often scorned. The subject of the rapture of the church is taught in clear detail in the Bible, but is not being taught in many Christian congregations; it is an event that is like none other. Let me encourage you to follow this blog and study the posts that relate to this subject. The posts that relate to the end of times can be found by selecting the category of “Journey.” As is shown in the linked article, Tim LeHaye had been the pastor of the congregation where Dr. David Jeremiah is now the Senior Pastor.
God has been very good to me by putting very gifted teachers of the end times in my life. He has also given me a great desire to study things that relate to the end times. Let me encourage you to equip yourselves with study tools that will help you to gain a better understanding of “the Revelation (singular) of Christ (Revelation 1:1). One such tool is the MacArthur Study Bible. Its notes in the book of Revelation, and other books of the Bible, will provide you with information about the end times that may not have been provided to you by other pastors or teachers.
Consider the teaching of this post, “Left Behind I.” Other posts that relate to the Left Behind series and the end times will follow.
Matthew 24:8-12 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
(note) It is important to know that Christ is speaking to Jews (the church had not yet been established) about things that relate to “left behind Jews” who will experience the judgments of God during the tribulation. Much of that which Christ said in this passage would not have had any meaning to Gentiles; e.g., “the Sabbath.” The Sabbath is a sign between God and the Jews, and is to be kept by the Jews (Exodus 33:13). During the time of tribulation, “left behind Gentiles” will also be subjected to the judgments of God (seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments).
8 All these events are the beginning of birth pains.
Persecutions Predicted
9 “Then they will hand you over for persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of My name.10 Then many will take offense, betray one another and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.
The persecutions that are discussed are also known as “birth pains,” “birth pangs,” and sorrows, vs 8. Consider the commentary on verse 8 from the MacArthur Study Bible.
Famines, earthquakes, and conflicts have always characterized life in a fallen world; but by calling these things “the beginning” of labor pains, Christ indicated that things will get notably and remarkably worse at the end of the era, as these unique tribulations signal the soon arrival of Messiah to judge sinful humanity and set up His millennial kingdom. Cf. 1 Thes. 5:3; Rev. 6:1–17; 8:1—9:21;16:1–21;
The rapture of the church is not the second coming of Christ, when our Lord will return from Heaven and stand on the Mount Of Olives in Jerusalem. During the tribulation Christ will inflict a series of judgments on all “earth dwellers” (those who missed the rapture because they had not been born again). The purpose of the events of the tribulation will be to judge sin and to bring Israel to accept Jesus as Messiah (Daniel 9:24). The Anti-Christ will be under the control of God. God will not be just an observer; He will be in control of the seal judgments, the trumpet judgments, and the bowl judgments, which will come upon all of those that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10). No one who is present during the tribulation will be exempted from God’s judgment. Those whom have been born again, and have the Spirit of God dwelling within their Spirits, will not be among those “earth dwellers.” At the time of the rapture of the church, all of those whom have been born again will be removed from the earth. At that time, the only dwellers on earth will be those whom have not been born again; those whom do not have the Spirit of God dwelling within their spirits. Those “unborn again” earth dwellers, and only they, will be the objects of God’s judgments. Such people cling to the things that are not of God, and Heaven. We, whom are born again, are citizens of Heaven and therefore cling to Heavenly matters because of the influence that God’s Holy Spirit places within our spirits (John 16:7-11). Those, whom have not been born again, are minus the dwelling of the Holy Spirit within their spirits, have no understanding of spiritual things (1 Cor 1:18; 2:14), and have no Spiritual leading and influence in their lives. Such people, which have not been born again, (Gentile or Jew) will have the opportunity to accept Jesus as Messiah during the tribulation, and will most likely become martyrs of the Anti-Christ and become tribulation martyrs. To believe that “all” people in the world will go through any part of the tribulation, is to also believe that little children and little babies will also be the objects of the judgments of God. If anyone has any misunderstanding about the severity of the judgments of God, a quick look at those judgments should provide a much clearer understanding of God’s love vs his stern judgment. Check out the seal judgments (Rev 6:1-17); the trumpet judgments (Rev 8:2-9:21; 11:15-19); and the bowl judgments (Rev 15-16). As opposed to the harshness of God’s wrath that will follow when Christ returns to earth for judgment, there is a verse of encouragement for those of us who will have been raptured out of this world.
Titus 2:11-13 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
11 For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
It is a “blessed hope” that we believers in Christ have, as we await his coming in the air to take us out of this world, which will protect us from the tribulation and judgments that will soon follow.
Consider the Words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30, as they relate to His protection and love for His people.
Matthew 11:28-30 New King James Version (NKJV)
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
The love of Christ for his people is very clear in Mt 11:28-30. But, did He “very conveniently” leave out of that conversation that His people would have to suffer, along with all those whom are not His people, the horrible conditions of the judgments of the tribulation? I think not! Consider, also, the love that Christ expressed for His Church, which is His Bride/His born again believers of the world that is expressed in Eph 5:25.
Ephesians 5:25 New King James Version (NKJV)
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
Jesus is the “bridegroom of all bridegrooms.” He tells all of us that His love for us (the born again body of Christ/his bride) is such that he loved us so much that “He died for us.” Jesus, through the work of the Holy Spirit, courted us and “stole our hearts from the unbelieving world.” His Word told husbands to love “their wives.” But, are we to believe that Jesus is going to leave His bride in the world to face the persecution of the Anti-Christ and God’s directed seal, trumpet and bowl judgments? I think not!
During the tribulation, Christ will not be present on earth; He will be judging the earth. Consider where His believers will be; we will be with Him, in Him. When we were born again, our spirits became inhabitants of the Spirit of Christ, and Christ became an inhabitant of our Spirits, as we read in the following verses.
John 10:30 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
30 The Father and I are one.” (note: God the Father and God the Son are literally “One”)
John 14:11 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves (note: God the Father and God the Son dwell within “The Other”)
John 14:16-17 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. (note: the Spirit of God dwells literally “in our spirits.” He does not dwell within the spirits of the unborn again world)
John 14:20 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, you are in Me, and I am in you. (note: we see the literal dwelling of the God-Head in us, and us in the God-Head ‘Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
2 Corinthians 5:17 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. (note: we are literally, “in Christ”)
Colossians 1:27 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (note: Christ is literally, “in us)
Future posts will discuss scriptures that describe the rapture of the church and the Judgment Seat Of Christ “for rewards for believers in Christ;” the tribulation, the Anti-Christ, and the judgments of God (seal, trumpet, bowl judgments); the martyred tribulation saints (those which came to Christ during the tribulation) and the two slain witnesses which are resurrected; the dragon/Satan, the Anti-Christ/the Beast, the false prophet/a religious leader; the woman of Revelation 12 and the 144,000 Jewish missionaries; the mark of the beast; the preparation for the Battle of Armageddon; the marriage of the lamb and the marriage supper; the second coming of Christ at the Battle of Armageddon (with the accompanying raptured saints and angels); the resurrection of the other saints of all times (Old Testament and tribulation saints); the 1,000 year reign of Christ and the binding of Satan; the loosing of Satan and the Battle of Gog and Magog; the resurrection of those which were not born again and the Great White Throne Judgment (for those not born again); the lake of fire (for Satan, the beast, the false prophet, and for those not born again); the new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem; eternity for God’s born again people with God and the Lamb.
This post is one of many that can be found in the blog under the category of “Journey.” There, you will be able to find the Journey posts. If you click onto the following link you will be able to follow the blog and receive automatic updates.
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What nations will be involved in the Ezekiel 38 war?
The Ezekiel 38 War and the Battle of Armageddon
God’s Promises For Israel’s Restoration
Text
Isaiah 14:1 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
1 When the Lord will have compassion on Jacob and again choose Israel, and settle them in their own land, then strangers will join them and attach themselves to the house of Jacob.
Isaiah 60:21 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
21 “Then all your people will be righteous; They will possess the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified.
Notes: MacArthur Study Bible (Everybody should own a MacArthur Study Bible)
Isaiah 14:1 The strangers. These are Jewish proselytes who join themselves to the nation in the final earthly kingdom of Christ.
Isaiah 60:21 inherit the land forever. Israel will inherit the land promised to Abraham (Gen. 12:1, 7; 13:15; 15:18). During the millennial kingdom, that will be the land of Israel as we know it today. In the eternal kingdom, it will be the New Jerusalem, capital of the new creation. I may be glorified. The ultimate mission of Israel is to glorify the Lord (49:3; 61:3).
Text
Ezekiel 5 – New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Ezekiel Dramatizes Jerusalem’s Fall
1 “As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword; take and use it as a barber’s razor on your head and beard. Then take scales for weighing and divide the hair. 2 One third you shall burn in the fire at the center of the city, when the days of the siege are completed. Then you shall take one third and strike it with the sword all around the city, and one third you shall scatter to the wind; and I will unsheathe a sword behind them. 3 Take also a few in number from them and bind them in the edges of your robes. 4 Take again some of them and throw them into the fire and burn them in the fire; from it a fire will spread to all the house of Israel.
5 “Thus says the Lord God, ‘This is Jerusalem; I have set her at the center of the nations, with lands around her. 6 But she has rebelled against My ordinances more wickedly than the nations and against My statutes more than the lands which surround her; for they have rejected My ordinances and have not walked in My statutes.’ 7 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘Because you have more turmoil than the nations which surround you and have not walked in My statutes, nor observed My ordinances, nor observed the ordinances of the nations which surround you,’ 8 therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I, even I, am against you, and I will execute judgments among you in the sight of the nations. 9 And because of all your abominations, I will do among you what I have not done, and the like of which I will never do again. 10 Therefore, fathers will eat their sons among you, and sons will eat their fathers; for I will execute judgments on you and scatter all your remnant to every wind. 11 So as I live,’ declares the Lord God, ‘surely, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and with all your abominations, therefore I will also withdraw, and My eye will have no pity and I will not spare. 12 One third of you will die by plague or be consumed by famine among you, one third will fall by the sword around you, and one third I will scatter to every wind, and I will unsheathe a sword behind them.
13 ‘Thus My anger will be spent and I will satisfy My wrath on them, and I will be appeased; then they will know that I, the Lord, have spoken in My zeal when I have spent My wrath upon them. 14 Moreover, I will make you a desolation and a reproach among the nations which surround you, in the sight of all who pass by. 15 So it will be a reproach, a reviling, a warning and an object of horror to the nations who surround you when I execute judgments against you in anger, wrath and raging rebukes. I, the Lord, have spoken. 16 When I send against them the deadly arrows of famine which were for the destruction of those whom I will send to destroy you, then I will also intensify the famine upon you and break the staff of bread.17 Moreover, I will send on you famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you of children; plague and bloodshed also will pass through you, and I will bring the sword on you. I, the Lord, have spoken.’”
Notes – Ezekiel 5 – MacArthur Study Bible (Everybody should own a MacArthur Study Bible)
5:1–4 a barber’s razor. The sign in shaving his hair illustrated the severe humiliation to come at the hand of enemies, emphasizing calamities to three segments of Jerusalem due to the Babylonian conquest. Some were punished by fire, i.e., pestilence and famine (v. 12), others died by the enemy’s sword, and some were dispersed and pursued by death (cf. v. 12). A small part of his hair clinging to his garment (v. 3) depicted a remaining remnant, some of whom were subject to further calamity (v. 4; cf. 6:8; Jer. 41–44)
5:5 Jerusalem. Here the great city alone was not meant, but was used as a representative of the whole land which, despite its strategic opportunity and responsibility, rejected God (vv. 6, 7).
5:7 Instead of being a witness to the heathen nations, Israel had exceeded them in idolatrous practices. The nations maintained their familiar idols, while Israel defected from their true and living God. God’s people were worse than the pagans in proportion to spiritual knowledge and privileges. The judgments of God are always relative to light and privilege granted. Since Ezekiel’s people were unique in their disobedience, they were to be outstanding in their punishment.
5:8–10 The book of Lamentations reveals how literally these promises were realized when parents ate their children and sons ate their fathers in the times of starvation. Down through the centuries had come the threats of Lev. 26:29 and Deut. 28:53, taken up by Jeremiah (Jer. 19:9; Lam. 2:22; 4:10; cf. Is. 9:20), and sealed in the life of the disobedient nation. Even the remnant would be scattered and suffer.
5:11 as I live. Here was a solemn oath pledging the very existence of God for the fulfillment of the prophecy. It is found 14 times in this book. Their greatest sin was defiling the sanctuary, showing the height of their wickedness.
5:12 The 4 well known judgments (cf. vv. 2–4) of pestilence, famine, sword, and scattering were their judgment. They had no place to offer atoning blood, thus bearing their sins without relief.
5:13–15 Ezekiel’s purpose was to impress on Israel’s conscience God’s intense hatred of idolatry and apostasy. “Fury” and “anger” are repeated 6 times.
5:16 arrows of famine. The evil arrows included hail, rain, mice, locusts, and mildew (cf. Deut. 32:23, 24).
5:17 I, the Lord, have spoken. Cf. vv. 13, 15 for the same expression, which was God’s personal signature on their doom.
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This post is one of others that you can find in the blog under the category of “Journey.” There, you will be able to locate the Journey posts, in the order of their being published. Please follow this blog. Select Category, “Journey” to see all of the posts that relate to the end times study. The purpose of the study of Ezekiel will be to relate it to the end times.
Biographies
Dr. John Ankerberg, founder and president of The John Ankerberg Show, the most-watched Christian worldview show in America
https://www.jashow.org/about-dr-john-ankerberg/
Signs of the Last Days – Dr. Jimmy DeYoung
Bio – http://jimmydeyoung.com/aboutdrd.shtml
Dr. Renald Showers
http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?SpeakerOnly=true&currSection=sermonsspeaker&Keyword=Dr.%5ERenald%5EShowers
Dr. Renald Showers is an author and Bible teacher for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc.
MacArthur Study Bible Notes
Bio – Dr. John MacArthur – https://www.gracechurch.org/Leader/MacArthur/John?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
Dr. John F. Walvoord, (1910-2012) long-time president of Dallas Theological Seminary, was one of the most prominent evangelical scholars of his generation. He is considered perhaps the world’s foremost interpreter of biblical prophecy.
Bio – https://bible.org/users/john-f-walvoord
Dr. Ed Hindson, http://thekingiscoming.com/about-dr-ed-hindson/
Dr. Ed Hindson is the Bible Teacher on The King Is Coming telecast. He is also the Assistant Chancellor, Distinguished Professor, and Dean of the Institute of Biblical Studies and the School of Religion at Liberty University in Virginia.
Hal Lindsey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Lindsey
Harold Lee Lindsey (born November 23, 1929) is an American evangelist and Christian writer. He is a Christian Zionist and dispensationalist author. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with a Master of Theology degree, majoring in the New Testament and early Greek literature.
Dr. Mark Hitchcock http://marklhitchcock.com/about/
Mark Hitchcock is a leading Bible prophecy expert, prolific author who has penned over 20 books on the end times, senior pastor, and adjunct faculty member of the Dallas Theological Seminary.
Dr. Ron Rhodes http://ronrhodes.org/meet-ron.html
Th.D., Dallas Theological Seminary (1986). Major: Systematic Theology. Graduated with High Honors.
Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary (1983). Major: Systematic Theology. Graduated with Honors. Elected to Dean’s List.
B.A., Houston Baptist University (1979). Recipient of the Greek Excellence Award. Chief nominee for the Riverside Scholarship.
To The Shores Of Tripoli was a movie that was made about World War II during that war. The Marines who are shown in the video are examples of those who train to fight for our nation. World War II was a very critical period of time in our nation’s history. The Axis Powers of Germany, Japan and Italy had plans to conquer the world for their cause of world domination. Without the entry of the United States military forces into World War II, the objectives of the Axis powers would have been achieved. Consider some of the related facts that are included as a part of this post.
The following link will lead you to an account of the Bataan death march where the Japanese army captured 76,000 Filipinos and Americans. Japanese butchery, disease, exposure to the blazing sun, lack of food, and lack of water took the lives of approximately 5,200 Americans
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/bataandeathmarch.htm
The following video has been respectfully produced to show the cemetery that contains the remains of more than 17,000 Americans who died as they served our nation during World War II. Written on the walls of The American Cemetery in Fort Bonifacio, in Manila, The Republic Of The Philippines, are the names of more than 36,000 Americans who remain missing from World War II. This cemetery is the largest American cemetery from World War II. It was my honor to have personally walked through this cemetery when I was stationed in the Philippines in 1970-71. My father also was stationed in the Philippines, but during World War II, Of interest to me is that the graves are those of Christian and Jewish soldiers, but not of Muslims. During my tour of duty in the Philippines, an older Filipino man told me about some of the atrocities that took place against his friends at the hands of Japanese soldiers. The man said that he had seen a Japanese soldier putting a burning cigar against the neck of one of his friends.
The following link leads to an article that describes the American Cemetery in Fort Bonifacio.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_American_Cemetery_and_Memorial
Today, Muslims are actively trying to overthrow the Republic of the Philippines. Filipinos fought along side of American soldiers during World War II. Today, Filipino soldiers are fighting to keep militant Muslims from overthrowing their nation. The following link leads to a news report of such Muslim actions.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/26/43-philippine-commandos-killed-battle-muslim-insurgents
The war to protect believers in Christ from terrorists seems like it will never end. But, I’ve read “the Book.” It tells me that “our side wins,” which is the side of all believers in Christ. There are two battles that will mark the victory of Christ over the forces of Satan, of which Islam is one. As you read the scriptural account of the battles, you will notice the participants of the nations who join in the battle against the forces of God. The words “all the nations” (Zechariah 14:2) and “the nations” (Rev 19:15 and Rev 20:8) will include “all of the nations” of the world, which will include the United States of America; Americans who will not be caught up in the Rapture of the Church (1 Thes 4:16-17) before the tribulation begins. The two end-times battles are discussed in the following scriptures. The first battle will be the Battle of Armageddon. The second battle will be the Battle of God and Magog, which is not to be confused with the Ezekiel 38-39 “battles of Gog and Magog,” which will take place prior to the Tribulation, or during the first part of the Tribulation. (Matthew 24:4-10) The two battles are not really battles, because God brings about spiritual victories over the forces of Satan and his supporters in each of the battles.
Zechariah 14:1-14 New American Standard Bible (NASB) (The First Battle)
God Will Battle Jerusalem’s Foes. Vs 12 shows that this is a spiritual battle.
1 Behold, a day is coming for the Lord when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you. 2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. 4 In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south. 5 You will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will flee just as you fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him!
6 In that day there will be no light; the luminaries will dwindle. 7 For it will be a unique day which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but it will come about that at evening time there will be light.
8 And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter.
God Will Be King over All
9 And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one.
10 All the land will be changed into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; but Jerusalem will rise and remain on its site from Benjamin’s Gate as far as the place of the First Gate to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s wine presses. 11 People will live in it, and there will no longer be a curse, for Jerusalem will dwell in security.
12 Now this will be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem; their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth. 13 It will come about in that day that a great panic from the Lord will fall on them; and they will seize one another’s hand, and the hand of one will be lifted against the hand of another. 14 Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered, gold and silver and garments in great abundance.
Revelation 19:11-20 New American Standard Bible (NASB) (The First Battle)
The Coming of Christ. Verse 15 shows that it is a spiritual battle. (Context: Revelation 16:12-19:20)
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.”
19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
Doom of the Beast and False Prophet
20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.
Revelation 20:1-3 New American Standard Bible (NASB) (The First Battle)
Satan Bound
1. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.
Revelation 20:7-10 New American Standard Bible (NASB) (The Last Battle) Satan will be freed to deceive the nations again. Vs 9 shows that this is a spiritual battle.
Satan Freed, Doomed
7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
The eternal place of torment is not limited to the feast and false prophet. Those who do not know Christ as their Lord and Savior, those whom have not been born again, will be there too.
Revelation 20:11-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Judgment at the Throne of God
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Here is the way that the Great White Throne Judgment and the lake of fire will not be a person’s eternal destiny.
John 3:3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Have you been born again?
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How close are we to the Ezekiel 38 war?
God’s Promises For Israel’s Restoration
Text
Amos 9:11-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB 1995)
The Restoration of Israel
11“In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, And wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its
ruins And rebuild it as in the days of old; 12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom And all the nations who are called by My name,” Declares the Lord who does this. 13 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When the plowman will overtake the reaper And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; When the mountains will drip sweet wine And all the hills will be dissolved. 14 “Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, And they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, And make gardens and eat their fruit. 15 “I will also plant them on their land, And they will not again be rooted out from their land Which I have given them,” Says the Lord your God.
Notes: MacArthur Study Bible (Everybody should own a MacArthur Study Bible)
Amos 9:11–15 Millennial blessings await the final faithful remnant, when Messiah personally reigns over all nations in Jerusalem upon the throne of David, and the Jews are never again pulled up from their divinely inherited land.
Text
Ezekiel 4 – New American Standard Bible (NASB 1977)
Siege of Jerusalem Predicted – Consider Israel and Judah
1 “Now you son of man, get yourself a brick, place it before you, and inscribe a city on it, Jerusalem. 2 “Then lay siege against it, build a siege wall, raise up a ramp, pitch camps, and place battering rams against it all around.
3 “Then get yourself an iron plate and set it up as an iron wall between you and the city, and set your face toward it so that it is under siege, and besiege it. This is a sign to the house of Israel.
4 “As for you, lie down on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel on it; you shall bear their iniquity for the number of days that you lie on it. 5 “For I have assigned you a number of days corresponding to the years of their iniquity, three hundred and ninety days; thus you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. 6 “When you have completed these, you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah; I have assigned it to you for forty days, a day for each year. 7 “Then you shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem with your arm bared, and prophesy against it. 8 “Now behold, I will put ropes on you so that you cannot turn from one side to the other, until you have completed the days of your siege.
Defiled Bread
9 “But as for you, take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet and spelt, put them in one vessel and make them into bread for yourself; you shall eat it according to the number of the days that you lie on your side, three hundred and ninety days. 10 “And your food which you eat shall be twenty shekels a day by weight; you shall eat it from time to time. 11 “And the water you drink will be the sixth part of a hin by measure; you shall drink it from time to time. 12 “And you shall eat it as a barley cake, having baked it in their sight over human dung.” 13 Then the LORD said, “Thus shall the sons of Israel eat their bread unclean among the nations where I shall banish them.” 14 But I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I have never been defiled; for from my youth until now I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by beasts, nor has any unclean meat ever entered my mouth.” 15 Then He said to me, “See, I shall give you cow’s dung in place of human dung over which you will prepare your bread.” 16 Moreover, He said to me, “Son of man, behold, I am going to break the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they will eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and drink water by measure and in horror, 17 because bread and water will be scarce; and they will be appalled with one another and waste away in their iniquity.
Notes: Ezekiel 4 – MacArthur Study Bible (Everybody should own a MacArthur Study Bible)
4:1—7:27 Here is the first series of prophecies given over a year’s time, of Jerusalem’s conquest by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.
4:1–3 portray…Jerusalem. Ezekiel’s object lesson was to use a soft tile to create a miniature city layout of Jerusalem with walls and siege objects to illustrate Babylon’s final coming siege of Jerusalem (588–586 B.C.).
4:4–6 Lie…on your left side…right side. Lying on his side, likely facing N, illustrated God’s applying judgment to Israel, and facing S pointed to judgment on Judah. It is not necessary to assume that Ezekiel was in the prone position all the time. It was doubtless part of each day, as his need for preparing food (v. 9) indicates.
4:4, 6 you shall bear their iniquity. Ezekiel’s action was not to represent the time of Israel’s sinning, but the time of its punishment.
4:5 three hundred and ninety. Each day symbolized a year (v. 6). Israel in the N was accountable during this span of time whose beginning and end is uncertain.
4:6 forty. Judah was also guilty, but the 40 cannot represent less guilt (cf. 23:11). It may extend the time beyond the 390 to 430 or they may run concurrently, but the exact timing is uncertain.
4:7 arm…uncovered. A symbol for being ready for action, as a soldier would do (cf. Is. 52:10).
4:8 I will restrain you. This was to symbolize the impossibility of the Jews being able to shake off their punishment.
4:9–13 make bread. Scarcity of food in the 18 month siege especially made necessary the mixing of all kinds of grain for bread. The “20 shekels” would be about 8 ounces, while “one-sixth of a hin” would be less than a quart. There would be minimums for daily rations. It must be noted that the command of v. 12 regarding “human waste” relates only to the fuel used to prepare the food. Bread was baked on hot stones (cf. 1 Kin. 19:6) heated by human waste because no other fuel was available. This was repulsive and polluting (cf. Deut. 23:12–14) and the Lord calls it “defiled bread” (v. 13).
4:14, 15 never defiled. Ezekiel, like Daniel, had convictions to be undefiled even in his food (cf. Dan. 1:8 and see note there). God permitted fuel of dried cow chips for cooking his food in gracious deference to His spokesman’s sensitivity (cf. 44:31).
4:16, 17 They were soon to have neither bread nor water in any amount, and they were to grieve over the famine and their iniquity (cf. Lev. 26:21–26).
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This post is one of others that you can find in the blog under the category of “Journey.” There, you will be able to locate the Journey posts, in the order of their being published. Please follow this blog. Select Category, “Journey” to see all of the posts that relate to the end times study. The purpose of the study of Ezekiel will be to relate it to the end times.
Biographies
Dr. John Ankerberg, founder and president of The John Ankerberg Show, the most-watched Christian worldview show in America
https://www.jashow.org/about-dr-john-ankerberg/
Signs of the Last Days – Dr. Jimmy DeYoung
Bio – http://jimmydeyoung.com/aboutdrd.shtml
Dr. Renald Showers
http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?SpeakerOnly=true&currSection=sermonsspeaker&Keyword=Dr.%5ERenald%5EShowers
Dr. Renald Showers is an author and Bible teacher for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc.
MacArthur Study Bible Notes
Bio – Dr. John MacArthur – https://www.gracechurch.org/Leader/MacArthur/John?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
Dr. John F. Walvoord, (1910-2012) long-time president of Dallas Theological Seminary, was one of the most prominent evangelical scholars of his generation. He is considered perhaps the world’s foremost interpreter of biblical prophecy.
Bio – https://bible.org/users/john-f-walvoord
Dr. Ed Hindson, http://thekingiscoming.com/about-dr-ed-hindson/
Dr. Ed Hindson is the Bible Teacher on The King Is Coming telecast. He is also the Assistant Chancellor, Distinguished Professor, and Dean of the Institute of Biblical Studies and the School of Religion at Liberty University in Virginia.
Hal Lindsey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Lindsey
Harold Lee Lindsey (born November 23, 1929) is an American evangelist and Christian writer. He is a Christian Zionist and dispensationalist author. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with a Master of Theology degree, majoring in the New Testament and early Greek literature.
Click onto any highlighted word to see the video and text on the blog.
Jimmy DeYoung: Ezekiel 38 War – Nations mentioned in the Bible
God’s Promises For Israel’s Restoration
Texts
Jeremiah 31:31-34 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
31 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. 33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
Notes: MacArthur Study Bible (Everybody should own a MacArthur Study Bible)
Jeremiah 31:31–34 a new covenant. In contrast to the Mosaic Covenant under which Israel failed, God promised a New Covenant with a spiritual, divine dynamic by which those who know Him would participate in the blessings of salvation. The fulfillment was to individuals, yet also to Israel as a nation (v. 36; Rom. 11:16–27). It is set 1) in the framework of a reestablishment in their land (e.g., chaps. 30–33 and in vv. 38–40) and 2) in the time after the ultimate difficulty (30:7). In principle, this covenant, also announced by Jesus Christ (Luke 22:20), begins to be exercised with spiritual aspects realized for Jewish and Gentile believers in the church era (1 Cor. 11:25; Heb. 8:7–13; 9:15; 10:14–17; 12:24; 13:20). It has already begun to take effect with “the remnant according to the election of grace” (Rom. 11:5). It will be also realized by the people of Israel in the last days, including the regathering to their ancient land, Palestine (chaps. 30–33). The streams of the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New Covenants find their confluence in the millennial kingdom ruled over by the Messiah.
Text
Ezekiel 3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Ezekiel’s Commission
1 Then He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll. 3 He said to me, “Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.” Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.
4 Then He said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. 5 For you are not being sent to a people of unintelligible speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel, 6 nor to many peoples of unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. But I have sent you to them who should listen to you;7 yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me. Surely the whole house of Israel is stubborn and obstinate. 8 Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. 9 Like emery harder than flint I have made your forehead. Do not be afraid of them or be dismayed before them, though they are a rebellious house.” 10 Moreover, He said to me, “Son of man, take into your heart all My words which I will speak to you and listen closely.
CONSIDER THE HOLINESS OF GOD (VS 11-14) THE LORD GOD; THE SPIRIT; THE GLORY OF THE LORD; THE HAND OF THE LORD
11 Go to the exiles, to the sons of your people, and speak to them and tell them, whether they listen or not, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’” 12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard a great rumbling sound behind me, “Blessed be the glory of the Lord in His place.” 13 And I heard the sound of the wings of the living beings touching one another and the sound of the wheels beside them, even a great rumbling sound.14 So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away; and I went embittered in the rage of my spirit, and the hand of the Lord was strong on me.
15 Then I came to the exiles who lived beside the river Chebar at Tel-abib, and I sat there seven days where they were living, causing consternation among them.
CONSIDER THE HOLINESS OF GOD (VS 16) THE WORD OF THE LORD
16 At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
17 “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me. 18 When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself. 20 Again, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 However, if you have warned the righteous man that the righteous should not sin and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; and you have delivered yourself.”
CONSIDER THE HOLINESS OF GOD (VS 22-24) THE HAND OF THE LORD; THE GLORY OF THE LORD; THE SPIRIT
22 The hand of the Lord was on me there, and He said to me, “Get up, go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you.” 23 So I got up and went out to the plain; and behold, the glory of the Lord was standing there, like the glory which I saw by the river Chebar, and I fell on my face. 24 The Spirit then entered me and made me stand on my feet, and He spoke with me and said to me, “Go, shut yourself up in your house.
25 As for you, son of man, they will put ropes on you and bind you with them so that you cannot go out among them. 26 Moreover, I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be mute and cannot be a man who rebukes them, for they are a rebellious house.
CONSIDER THE HOLINESS OF GOD (VS 27) THE LORD GOD
27 But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you will say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.
Notes – Ezekiel 3 – MacArthur Study Bible (Everybody should own a MacArthur Study Bible)
3:1–3 eat this scroll…So I ate. God’s messenger must first internalize God’s truth for himself, then preach it.
3:3 like honey. Even though the message was judgment on Israel, the scroll was sweet because it was God’s Word (cf. Pss. 19:10; 119:103) and because it vindicated God in holiness, righteousness, glory, and faithfulness, in which Jeremiah also delighted (Jer. 15:16). Bitterness also was experienced by the prophet (3:14) in this message of judgment confronting Judah’s rebellion (v. 9). The Apostle John records a similar bittersweet experience with the Word of God in Rev. 10:9, 10.
3:7 Cf. John 15:20.
3:8, 9 I have made your face strong. What God commands (“do not be afraid”) He gives sufficiency to do (“I have made”), so God will enable the prophet to live up to his name (which means “strengthened by God”). Cf. 2:2; 3:14, 24; Is. 41:10; Jer. 1:8, 17.
3:9 rebellious. It is sad to observe that the exile and affliction did not make the Jews more responsive to God; rather, they were hardened by their sufferings. God gave Ezekiel a “hardness” to surpass the people and sustain his ministry as prophet to the exiles.
3:12, 14 the Spirit lifted me up. This is a phrase used to describe the prophet being elevated to a heavenly vision, as in the experiences of 8:3 and 11:1.
3:14 bitterness. See note on 3:3.
3:15 the captives. Tel Abib was the main city for the Jewish captives, who may have included some of the 10 tribes taken long before in the conquering of the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C., as 2 Kin. 17:6 may indicate (“Habor” is the same river as Chebar). remained…seven days. Ezekiel sat with the sorrowing people for 7 days, the usual period for manifesting deep grief (cf. Job 2:13). He identified with them in their suffering (cf. Ps. 137:1), thus trying to win their trust when he spoke God’s Word.
3:17 a watchman. This role was spiritually analogous to the role of watchmen on a city wall, vigilant to spot the approach of an enemy and warn the residents to muster a defense. The prophet gave timely warnings of approaching judgment. The work of a watchman is vividly set forth in 2 Sam. 18:24–27 and 2 Kin. 9:17–20. See notes on 33:1–20.
3:18–21 Cf. chap. 18, and see notes there.
3:18 the wicked…him…his. The emphasis of singular pronouns was on individuals. The ministries of Habakkuk (2:1), Jeremiah (6:17), and Isaiah (56:10) were more national than individual. Ezekiel’s ministry was more personal, focused on individual responsibility to trust and obey God. Disobedience or obedience to God’s messages was a matter of life or death; Ezek. 18:1–20 is particularly devoted to this emphasis. no warning…die. Men are not to assume that ignorance, even owing to the negligence of preachers, will be any excuse to save them from divine punishment. Cf. Rom. 2:12. save his life. This refers to physical death, not eternal damnation, though that would be a consequence for many. In the Pentateuch, God had commanded death for many violations of His law and warned that it could be a consequence of any kind of consistent sin (cf. Josh. 1:16–18). The people of Israel had long abandoned that severe standard of purification, so God took execution back into His own hands, as in the destruction of Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem. On the other hand, God had also promised special protection and life to the obedient. Cf. 18:9–32; 33:11–16; Prov. 4:4; 7:2; Amos 5:4, 6.
3:20 a righteous man. Here is a person who was obeying God by doing what was right, but fell into sin and God took his life in chastisement. The “stumbling block” was a stone of judgment that kills. Ps. 119:165 says: “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” The crushing stone always falls on the disobedient. Hebrews 12:9 says it is better to obey and “live.” Cf. 1 Cor. 11:30; James 1:21; 1 John 5:16.
3:21 delivered your soul. The prophet had done his duty.
3:23 the glory of the Lord. The “glory of the Lord” is central to Ezekiel, appearing in 1:28; 3:12, 23; 10:4, 18; 11:23; 43:4, 5; 44:4.
3:24 shut yourself inside your house. He was to fulfill much of his ministry at home (8:1; 12:1–7), thereby limiting it to those who came to hear him there.
3:25 they will put ropes on you. These were not literal, but spiritual. On one hand, they could be the inner ropes of depressing influence which the rebellious Jews exerted on his spirit. Their perversity, like ropes, would repress his freedom in preaching. More likely, they imply the restraint that God placed on him by supernatural power, so that he could only go and speak where and when God chose (cf. vv. 26, 27).
3:26, 27 you shall be mute. He was not to speak primarily, but to act out God’s message. The prohibition was only partial, for on any occasion (v. 27) when God did open his mouth, as He often did in chaps. 5–7, he was to speak (3:22; 11:25; 12:10, 19, 23, 28). The end of such intermittent dumbness with regard to his own people closely synchronized with Ezekiel’s receiving a refugee’s report of Jerusalem’s fall (24:25–27; 33:21, 22). He also spoke with regard to judgments on other nations (chaps. 25–32).
Comments On This Post
This post is one of others that you can find in the blog under the category of “Journey.” There, you will be able to locate the Journey posts, in the order of their being published. Please follow this blog. Select Category, “Journey” to see all of the posts that relate to the end times study. The purpose of the study of Ezekiel will be to relate it to the end times.
Biographies
Dr. John Ankerberg, founder and president of The John Ankerberg Show, the most-watched Christian worldview show in America
https://www.jashow.org/about-dr-john-ankerberg/
Signs of the Last Days – Dr. Jimmy DeYoung
Bio – http://jimmydeyoung.com/aboutdrd.shtml
Dr. Renald Showers
http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?SpeakerOnly=true&currSection=sermonsspeaker&Keyword=Dr.%5ERenald%5EShowers
Dr. Renald Showers is an author and Bible teacher for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc.
MacArthur Study Bible Notes
Bio – Dr. John MacArthur – https://www.gracechurch.org/Leader/MacArthur/John?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
Dr. John F. Walvoord, (1910-2012) long-time president of Dallas Theological Seminary, was one of the most prominent evangelical scholars of his generation. He is considered perhaps the world’s foremost interpreter of biblical prophecy.
Bio – https://bible.org/users/john-f-walvoord
Dr. Ed Hindson, http://thekingiscoming.com/about-dr-ed-hindson/
Dr. Ed Hindson is the Bible Teacher on The King Is Coming telecast. He is also the Assistant Chancellor, Distinguished Professor, and Dean of the Institute of Biblical Studies and the School of Religion at Liberty University in Virginia.
Hal Lindsey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Lindsey
Harold Lee Lindsey (born November 23, 1929) is an American evangelist and Christian writer. He is a Christian Zionist and dispensationalist author. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with a Master of Theology degree, majoring in the New Testament and early Greek literature.
Eternity 