Comments from video. In this captivating sequel, journalist Buck Williams and a group of survivors survivors known as the TRIBULATION FORCE know the truth about the new leader of the new Global Community, Nicholae Carpathia. He has not come to save the world, and he is most certainly not the Messiah, he is the Antichrist. But who will believe them as the world rushes toward the apocalypse. Video details. Left Behind II: Tribulation Force ~ Trailer.
Cloud10Entertainment. Oct 30, 2009.
In the opening video of the move, “Left Behind II-Tribulation Force,” we see a group of people who were left behind from the Rapture; they had not believed the message of Christ, and had not believed in Him as Lord and Savior, prior to the Rapture. Because of the information that was “also left behind,” in books, articles, videos, Bibles, and other such sources of Last Days teaching, the truth of the Anti-Christ and the Tribulation is being spread to many people who had neglected the seriousness of the warnings that predicted the circumstance that millions of people had found themselves captive throughout the world. As believers in Christ, we must consider the things that we can do to help those who will be left behind to come to saving belief in Christ, to believe in Him for salvation and to tell others, who will also have been left behind, how they can have an assurance of their own eternal life in the Presence of our Lord.
There are Biblical terms that are often read by Christians about eschatology (the science of last things), yet misunderstood. It is important for Christians of today to understand such information, so that we can leave that knowledge behind for those who will be in a world of total collapse of law and order. We will use this article, and future posts, to make known the things of the Anti-Christ and the Tribulation that await most of the world’s current and projected population.
Two terms that are important to know are “latter days,” and “last days.” Scriptures that are discussed as being “latter days,” relate to the Old Testament. Scriptures that are discussed as being “last days,” relate to the Old and New Testaments. Context is paramount in studying Scripture. The context of the “latter days” Scriptures is that of the words of Jewish Old Testament prophets, as they speak of the Word of God in relation to the seven years of the Tribulation, and the thousand years of the Kingdom Age, which is called the Millennium. The verses that we will examine will come from the New American Standard Bible 2020. Comments will come from the MacArthur Study Bible, unless in noted exception.
In my previous “End Times 13” article, I made known the fact that both the Church and the Rapture were unknown to those of the Old Testament era; they were “mysteries” to the Jews of that time. Therefore the Jewish prophets of the Old Testament did not write on those two future events.
In the Ryrie Study Bible, “mystery” is described in comment to Romans 16:25-26. “the mystery.” A definition of a scriptural mystery: something unknown in times past but revealed in the NT. Here, “the mystery” is the gospel of Christ. OT prophecies of Messiah could be understood, once the mystery was revealed (cf. Luke 24:44-45; 1 Peter 1:10-12).
Dr. Ryrie explains, in his comment to Ephesians 3:3, the “mystery.” The mystery that is spoken of here is not that the Gentiles would be blessed (for that was predicted in the OT), but that Jews and Gentiles would be equal heirs in the one body of Christ (v. 6). This was unknown in OT prophecy but was revealed by the NT apostles and prophets (v. 5).
In his comment on 1 Corinthians 15:51, Dr. Ryrie discusses “the mystery” of the rapture, as follows: The rapture of the church described in verses 51-58 was a “mystery” unknown in the OT but now revealed.
The prophecies of the Old Testament Jewish prophets were those that were given by God to the prophets. Those prophets spoke the same prophecies to the Jews of Israel. Consider the following verses: Isaiah 1:1-2; 2-1 and Jeremiah 2:1-2. None of the prophecies of God to the Jews have any relevance to the church.
We will now discuss the prophetic scriptures of, “latter days.”
Jeremiah 30:24, ” the millennial kingdom of the “latter days.” Jeremiah 48:47, “the messianic era , the latter days”). Ezekiel 38:8, “In the context of Israel’s restoration.” Daniel 2:27-35, “It is a reference to the future millennial kingdom of Christ (exception, Ryrie Study Bible note). Micah 4:4, “this phrase looks forward to greater peace and prosperity in the Millennium (cf. Zech. 3:10).”
It is clear that the prophetic scriptures of “latter days,” as was spoken by God to the Jews, relate to the time after the Rapture takes place. It is also clear that none of these “latter days” scriptures have any relation to the church.
We will now discuss the prophetic scriptures of, “last days,” as they are written in the books of the Old Testament prophets. Notice that the prophesied times are those of the Tribulation and Kingdom Age (Millennium).
Isaiah 2:2, ” The “latter (or last) days” is a time designation looking forward to the messianic era (Ezek. 38:16; Hos. 3:5; Mic. 4:1). The NT applied the expression to the period beginning with the first advent of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:17; 2 Tim. 3:1; Heb. 1:2; James 5:3; 2 Pet. 3:3).Old Testament prophets, being without a clear word regarding the time between the Messiah’s two advents, linked the expression to the Messiah’s return to establish His earthly kingdom, i.e., the millennial kingdom spoken about in Rev. 20:1–10.
Jeremiah 49:39, “I will bring back. As with certain other peoples in this section of nations, God would allow Elamites to return to their homeland. In Acts 2:9, Elamites were among the group present at the Pentecost event. This has eschatological implications as well.
Ezekiel 38:16, “that the nations may know Me. The phrase, frequent in Ezekiel, is part of the theme to glorify God and show His sovereign power (cf. Introduction: Historical and Theological Themes). God is the victor, who will be “hallowed” by fire (cf. v. 19).
Hosea 3:5, “David. Cf. 1:11. This must refer to Messiah during the Millennium, as “in the latter days” specifies (cf. Is. 55:3, 4; Jer. 30:9; Ezek. 34:23, 24; 37:24, 25). The Jews did not seek after Christ at His first advent. This reference has the Davidic Covenant as its background (cf. 2 Sam. 7:12–17; Pss. 39; 132).”
Micah 4:1, “In a reversal of 3:12, Micah shifted from impending judgment to prophecies of the future millennial kingdom (“the latter days”) in which Mt. Zion (v. 3), the center of Messiah’s coming earthly kingdom, shall be raised both spiritually and physically (cf. Zech. 14:9, 10). This discussion continues to 5:15.”
We will now discuss the prophetic scriptures of, “last days,” as they are written in the books of the New Testament. Notice that in the Acts and Hebrews scriptures the audience in each situation consisted of those of Jewish ancestry, and would have known of the teachings of the Old Testament Jewish prophets. In the books of the New Testament, whose audience contained those of Gentile ancestry, the Gentile members would not have known the Scriptures of the Old Testament Jewish prophets, therefore, they would not have detailed knowledge of the Tribulation or Kingdom. So, in the New Testament context, “last days” relates to the time which precedes the Rapture, except when the discussion context is that of teaching New Testament Jews about their ancestor relationship with the Old Testament Jewish prophetic scriptures.
Acts 2:17: last days 1. Notice that the occasion is that of the festival of Pentecost. Those who heard Peter’s sermon were Jews; they were aware of the prophecies of the Old Testament Jewish prophets, and of the scriptures that have been discussed up to this point. Therefore, the conversation is Jewish. In the following comment, the old and new covenants are discussed, both of which relate to God and Israel, and both of which Gentile believers will share in the millennium. Spiritual aspects of the new covenant are now being received by Christians (Exception, my comment). 2. In the last days (see Isa. 2:2; Hos. 3:5; Mic. 4:1; Heb. 1:2; discussions on 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1; 1 Peter 1:20; 1 John 2:18). In Joel 2:28, the Hebrew has “after this,” and the Septuagint has “after these things.” Peter interpreted the passage as referring specifically to the latter days of the new covenant (see Jer. 31:33-34; Ezek. 36:26-27; 39:29) in contrast to the former days of the old covenant. The age of messianic fulfillment had arrived (Exception, Zondervan KJV Commentary).
2 Timothy 3:1, “the last days. This phrase refers to this age, the time since the first coming of the Lord Jesus.”
Hebrews 1:2: last days. The primary group addressed were Hebrew Christians who suffered rejection and persecution by fellow Jews (10:32–34), although none as yet had been martyred (12:4). The second group addressed were Jewish unbelievers who were convinced of the basic truths of the gospel but who had not placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their own Savior and Lord. They were intellectually persuaded but spiritually uncommitted. last days. Jews understood the “last days” to mean the time when Messiah (Christ) would come (cf. Num. 24:14; Jer. 33:14–16; Mic. 5:1, 2; Zech. 9:9, 16). The fulfillment of the messianic prophecies commenced with the advent of the Messiah. Since He came, it has been the “last days” (cf. 1 Cor. 10:11; James 5:3; 1 Pet. 1:20; 4:7; 1 John 2:18). In the past God gave revelation through His prophets, but in these times, beginning with the Messiah’s advent, God spoke the message of redemption through the Son. (My comment. Notice that this is a Jewish audience).
James 5:3, “last days. The period between Christ’s first and second comings.”
2 Peter 3:3, ” in the last days. This phrase refers to that entire period of time from the arrival of the Messiah to His return (cf. Acts 2:17; Gal. 4:4; 2 Tim. 3:1; Heb. 1:2; James 5:3; 1 Pet. 1:20; 1 John 2:18, 19; Jude 18). The entire age will be marked by saboteurs of the Christian truth and especially the hope of Christ’s return.”
At the time of this writing, it is Thursday, the evening of the last Passover meal (Matthew 26:16-30). The crucifixion of Jesus will take place on the following day (Friday; the day of preparation before the Sabbath, John 19:14; Luke 23:54), in less than twenty-four hours (John 19:14-18). The women followed the body of Jesus to His burial tomb at the end of the day (Friday) before the onset of sunset and the Sabbath; they went to their homes and rested on the Sabbath, returning after the Sabbath ended to anoint the body of Christ (Luke 23:50-24:6), but announcing, “He is risen!”
Jews are still observing Passover, which will end on sunset of Sunday, April 4. Jews will begin their observance of the weekly Sabbath all around the world, beginning in just a few hours. The closing video of this article shows a Jewish family as their prepare for the Sabbath.
As you watch the video consider the great symbolism that relates to the trinity, to the woman bringing light into the world, and to “the Light” that can not be extinguished. .
Video details. How to light Shabbat candles? Yahaduton. May 27, 2013.
Eternity 