I. Introduction. In this article, we will consider the events of today’s world, and historical events, as they relate to the suggested outcomes of personal opinion and Bible prophecy. The USA is dealing with the effects of a virus that began in China. Rioting has been taking place throughout the USA, with the city of Portland, Oregon experiencing 100 days of violent riots, as of September 20, 2020. The many voting irregularities of the November 3, 2020 Presidential election have many Christians and Jews wondering if the USA will survive as a nation that God has used to support His Chosen People of Israel (Deuteronomy 14:2).
A. Video Title. Revelation.
B. Article Title. Bible? Virus? Riots? Rigged Elections? Which will cause, “End Of The World, 2nd Coming Of Christ, Tribulation, Rapture?
C. Article Focus. God’s Plan, or God’s Reaction.
1. Many among Christian and Jewish groups are attributing the current day events to God’s response to today’s lawlessness and turmoil. But, there has been a great lack of misunderstanding of events that have happened in world history that have resulted in far greater deaths than those that are being experienced today. Before anybody assumes that today’s world events will cause God to do anything to His creation, we must consider the great numbers of deaths that have resulted from past wars, disasters, pandemics, natural disasters, and other catastrophies.
d. Conclusion. In spite of previous atrocities, pandemics and wars, with deaths that greatly surpass those of today, God has not responded with the end of the world, the second coming of Christ, the Tribulation, or the rapture of the believers in Christ. God has a plan for His creation that will not be thwarted by events that come as a result of His creation’s bad behavior, or by the effects of nature or anything else that may happen in this world (there is no mother nature!).
II. Today’s World. God’s Plan. The Times Of The Gentiles; The Fullness Of The Gentiles.
A. The Times Of The Gentiles…The Fulness Of The Gentiles. In the Book, “Things To Come,” written by J. Dwight Pentecost, there is a good study on this subject on pages 303-304 (re Romans 11:25-27). Pg 303, in Lk 21:24, Christ referred to the “times of Gentiles” as continuing as long as Jerusalem is “trodden down of the Gentiles.” The reference in Luke is to the political domination of Jerusalem by Gentiles which began with the fall of Jerusalem at the time of the captivity and has continued to the present day. While the terminology is not significant in itself from the context of the two passages involved, it seems clear that the expression “times of the Gentiles” has reference to political domination of Gentiles, while the expression “fullness of the Gentiles” has reference to Gentile blessing and opportunity in this present age. If this analysis is correct, the times of the Gentiles and the fullness of the Gentiles are two entirely different ideas. The times of the Gentiles began long before Christ, and will continue until Christ returns to establish His kingdom. The fullness of the Gentiles began at Pentecost and will continue only as long as the present age of grace. From the standpoint of eschatology, the important point is that the fullness of the Gentiles will come to its close before the times of the Gentiles are run out …{“it seems clear that the fulness of the Gentiles will come abruptly to its close when the church is caught up to heaven” (John Walvoord, “Israel’s Blindness, July, 1945}.
B. The MacArthur Study Bible adds the following note on Romans 11:25 (Times Of The Gentiles): “Until” refers to a specific point in time; “fullness” refers to completion; “has come in” translates a Gr. verb often used to speak of coming salvation (Mt 5:20, Mk 9:43, 45, 47; Jn 3:5, Ac 14:22). Israel’s spiritual hardening (which began with rejecting Jesus as Messiah) will last until the complete number of elect Gentiles has come to salvation.)
C. The Ryrie Study Bible explains the time of Tribulation and Second Coming of Christ in Mt 24:3 note: Christ speaks of the end of the age in vs 4-28. Vs 4-14 lists the characteristics of the first half of the Tribulation period, whereas vs 15-28, deal with the second half. In vs 29-31 Christ speaks of his second coming. Zech 12:10, At the second coming of Christ, Israel will recognize Jesus as her Messiah, acknowledging with deep emotion that He was the One whom their fathers pierced …(Jn 19:37)]
D. Mt 24:31 is not the rapture; neither is Mt 24:40-41. Zech 14:1-5 and Rev 19:11-21 tell of Christ returning “to earth” with his saints and angels (as opposed to the rapture in the air, Jn 14:2-6, 1 Cor 15:50-54, 1 Thes 4:13-18). Zech 14:9,11, tells of Christ taking His throne, with peace finally coming to earth. The 1000 year millennial reign of Christ (Kingdom age, Rev 20:4) will follow the tribulation (Rev 6:1-19:21) and the 2nd coming of Christ (Mt 24:29-31). The rapture of the church will occur prior to the Tribulation, when the predetermined number of Gentiles has come to saving faith in Christ, which will occur during the Church age of grace. The tribulation will follow the rapture (Rev 6:1-19:21), being followed by the Kingdom Age (Rev 20:1-10), and the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15, where unbelievers of all ages are cast into the lake of fire). The destruction of the world in which we live will follow the Great White Throne Judgment (2 Pet 3:7-12, Rev 21:1). The eternal state of new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem, will follow the destruction of the former (Rev 21:1-1).
E. Re: Rom 11:25. God has determined “a fullness” of Gentiles (the number of saved Gentiles). Then, the rapture of the church (born again believers in Christ) will take place. The fullness of the Gentiles is based on God’s measure, and doesn’t happen in, and of, itself.
F. Credentials.
1. Charles C. Ryrie (Th.D, Ph.D.) (Deceased).
2. J. Dwight Pentecost (Th.M., Th.D.) (Deceased).
3. John F. Walvoord (Th.M., Th.D.) (Deceased).
4. John MacArthur (M.Div., Litt.D., D.D.). Walvoord has made reference to McArthur’s writings.
III. The Cause Of Today’s World’s Problems.
A. Upon the completion of God’s creation of our world, and all that is contained, the words “very good,” are found in Genesis 1:31 to assess the condition of the newly created world. Everything that is found in Chapters one and two of Genesis show perfection; without error, without sin (1 Tim 4:4).
B. Sin entered the world through the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden (Gen 3:1-13).
C. A curse on all of God’s creation followed the fall (Gen 3:14-19), which included death (Gen 2:17; Rom 5:12). There were no human or animal life before the creation in the Garden. There was no death of pre-Adamic cavemen, or dinosaurs of billions of years ago. The perfection of Genesis chapters 1 and 2, is no longer present in our world, and will not return until the time of the eternal state (Rev 21:3-4).
D. The world in which we now reside is affected by the effects of the fall of Adam and Eve, and the resulting curse, and is shown in the words of Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Such sin from the fall and the curse, causes pandemics, riots, and election rigging. Such persistent sin is evidence of people not having been born again, not having the righteous influence of the indwelling Spirit of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Jn 3:3; 14:20; 16:7-14), NOT HAVING BEEN SAVED!
IV. Considering References. Everybody reads something that someone else has written. It has been my goal to study the works of pastors, seminary instructors, and authors of books, who have a history of being respected for their works by others of their peer groups. No conclusion that I draw comes without having also been such a conclusion coming from one of my sources of information. A list of my sources of information can be found on my website Page, “About Sources.” https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/about-sources/
V. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
VI. Video Details. REVELATION. REVELATION STATION. Aug 6, 2019.
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I. Video Data. Sep 26, 2019. Chosen People Ministries. You are invited to our 125th Anniversary Gala at the Grand Prospect Hall in Brooklyn! Learn more here: https://www.chosenpeople.com/site/ann… Deuteronomy 14:2.
II. Text. Let us now consider the plight of the non-raptured Jews and Gentiles, of whom will find themselves in the tribulation. Up to this point in this study, all unbelievers that were left behind have been under the hand of persecution of the antichrist and the seal and trumpet judgments of God; the antichrist’s persecutions are included in the judgments of God. God is using the tribulation judgments to draw His chosen people, the Jews, to saving faith in Christ as Messiah. There is no such specific plan for Gentiles in the tribulation, but they also may come to saving faith in Christ. There are people who teach that the Judgments of God (seal, trumpet, bowl) took place in 70 A.D. But, as you read about the the Bowl judgments, as they are described in this 16th Chapter of Revelation, it will become very clear that none of these bowls of God’s wrath have yet been poured out on the earth. There are also people who teach that the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments will happen at the same time. But, that “opinion” of prophecy is incorrect, and can be verified by a comparison of judgments; e.g., one-fourth of mankind being killed in Rev 6:8, being killed at the same time as one-third of mankind being killed in Rev 9:15-18. The prophecies of Jeremiah, Daniel, and Christ in Matthew, clearly show that the time of tribulation relates to Israel, and not gentiles. The Ryrie Study Bible shows that Matt 24:4-14 refers to the first half of the tribulation, and 24:15-28 refers to the second half of the tribulation. The second half of the tribulation is also known as the Great Tribulation (Mt 24:21). Mt 24:29-31 refers to the second coming of Christ to earth from Heaven. Mt 24:32-25:46 refers to the judgments that will come at the hand of Christ on the survivors of the tribulation, whether for eternal death or eternal life. Unless otherwise indicated, all notes in this article come from the MacArthur Study Bible; dates come from the Scofield Study Bible. The Matthew and Revelation commentaries of Dr. John F. Walvoord shows the parallels that exist between Mt 24 and Rev 6-7.
A. Revelation 16 (NKJV) (Written 96 A.D.)
1. The Seven Bowls.
a. 1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”
b. Note. 6:1—19:21 This lengthy section details the judgments and events of the time of tribulation (see notes on 3:10) from its beginning with the opening of the first seal (vv. 1, 2) through the 7 seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments to the return of Christ to destroy the ungodly (19:11–21).
B. First Bowl: Loathsome Sores
a. 2 So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.
b. Note. first…bowl…a foul and loathsome sore. The Septuagint (LXX) uses the same Gr. word to describe the boils that plagued the Egyptians (Ex. 9:9–11) and afflicted Job (Job 2:7). In the NT, it describes the open sores that covered the beggar Lazarus (Luke 16:21). All over the world, people will be afflicted with incurable, open, oozing sores. mark of the beast. Only the worshipers of Antichrist will be afflicted (see note on 13:16; cf. 14:9–11).
C. Second Bowl: The Sea Turns to Blood
a. 3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.
b. Note. second…bowl…every living creature in the sea died. This is reminiscent of the second trumpet (8:8, 9), and of the first plague against Egypt (Ex. 7:20–25). This plague, however, will be far more widespread. The water in the world’s oceans will become thick, dark, and coagulated, like the blood of a corpse. The death and decay of billions of sea creatures will only add to the misery of this judgment.
D. Third Bowl: The Waters Turn to Blood
a. 4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.” 7 And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”
b. Note. 16:4. third…bowl…rivers and springs of water. Fresh water, already in short supply because of the prolonged drought (11:6), will now suffer the fate of the oceans (cf. Ex. 7:19ff.). In addition to suffering from thirst, the worshipers of Antichrist will have no clean water with which to wash their sores. 16:6 given them blood to drink. The thick, blood-like substance which the fresh waters have become is all that is available to drink (cf. v. 4).
E. Fourth Bowl: Men Are Scorched
a. 8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.
b. Note. 16:8. fourth…bowl…scorch…with fire. The sun that normally provides light, warmth, and energy will become a deadly killer. With no fresh water to drink, earth’s inhabitants will face extreme heat. The scorching heat will melt the polar ice caps, which some estimate would raise the level of the world’s oceans by 200 ft., inundating many of the world’s major cities and producing further catastrophic loss of life (cf. Amos 9:5, 6). The resulting disruption of ocean transportation will make it difficult to distribute the dwindling resources of food and water. 16:9 they did not repent. Incredibly, sinners will still refuse to repent (cf. vv. 11, 21), and instead blaspheme God—the One they know has caused their afflictions.
F. Fifth Bowl: Darkness and Pain
a. 10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. 11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.
b. Note. 16:10. throne of the beast. This refers to either Antichrist’s actual throne, or his capital city, but extends to all his dominion. Regardless of where the darkness begins, it eventually covers Antichrist’s entire kingdom. full of darkness. Worldwide darkness is elsewhere associated with the judgment of God (cf. Is. 60:2; Joel 2:2; Mark 13:24, 25). gnawed their tongues. A futile attempt to alleviate the pain from their sores, the drought, and the fierce heat. 16:11 blasphemed the God of heaven. A sign of their continued loyalty to Antichrist and their anger at God for the cumulative miseries brought about by the first 5 bowls. “God of heaven,” a frequent OT title for God, appears in the NT only here and in 11:13. their sores. The lingering effects of the first bowl are the chief cause of their blasphemy.
G. Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried Up
a. 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.
b. Note. 16:12. Euphrates. With its flow already reduced by the prolonged drought and intensified heat, God supernaturally will dry it up to make way for the eastern confederacy to reach Palestine (Is. 11:15). the kings from the east. God will have to dry it up miraculously for the eastern army to get to Armageddon. God providentially draws these kings and their armies in order to destroy them in the battle of Armageddon (v. 14). 16:14. kings of the earth. No longer just the eastern confederacy, but now all the world begins to gather in Palestine for the final, climactic battle (Ps. 2:2, 3; Joel 3:2–4; Zech. 14:1–3). the battle of that great day of God Almighty. The Battle of Armageddon (v. 16). It is the great war with God and Christ (see notes on 2 Thess. 1:7–10; cf. Joel 2:11; 3:2, 4). The war will end when Christ arrives (19:17–20).
c. 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. 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
d. Note. Armageddon. The Heb. name for Mt. Megiddo, 60 mi. N of Jerusalem. The battle will rage on the nearby plains, site of Barak’s victory over the Canaanites (Judg. 4), and Gideon’s victory over the Midianites (Judg. 7). Napoleon called this valley the greatest battlefield he had ever seen. But the Battle of Armageddon will not be limited to the Megiddo plains—it will encompass the length of Palestine (see note on 14:20).
H. Seventh Bowl: The Earth Utterly Shaken
a. 17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.
b. Note. 16:17. seventh…bowl…“It is done!” This bowl will complete God’s wrath (except for final judgment on the rebellion at the end of the Millennium; 20:7–10) and immediately precedes the second coming of Christ. It will usher in the worst calamity in the history of the world. God will punctuate the completion of His wrath with a devastating earthquake—the most powerful in earth’s history (cf. vv. 19–21). 16:19 the great city. Cf. 11:13; 21:10; see notes on Zech 14:1–8. Jerusalem will be split into 3 parts (Zech. 14:4), not as a judgment (cf. 11:13), but as an improvement. The additional water supply (Zech. 14:8) and topographical changes (Zech. 14:4, 5) will prepare the city for its central place in the millennial kingdom. Jerusalem is the only city to be spared the judgment (cf. 1 Chr. 23:25; Ps. 125:1, 2; Mic. 4:7) and will be made more beautiful (Ps. 48:2), because of her repentance (see 11:13). cities of the nations. God’s purpose is very different for the rest of the world’s cities—they are to be destroyed. Babylon. The capital of the Antichrist’s empire will receive a special outpouring of God’s wrath as prophesied in Is. 13:6–13. Chapters 17, 18 give details of its destruction. 16:20 every island fled…mountains…not found. This powerful earthquake will radically alter all the earth’s topography, preparing it for the coming millennial kingdom. Cf. 6:12–14; Is. 40:4, 5; Jer. 4:23–27. 16:21 a talent. The heaviest weight a normal man could carry (about 75 lbs.). The huge size of the hailstones indicates unparalleled atmospheric convulsions. Such massive chunks of ice will cause unimaginable devastation and death.
B. Daniel 12:1 (NKJV) (534 B.C.)
a. “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.
b. Note. that time. This points back to 11:36–45, the time of the ascendancy of Antichrist during the final tribulation period. During that period, Michael the archangel (cf. Jude 9) of 10:13, 21 ministers with special attention to protecting Israel during that Gentile time (cf. Is. 26:20, 21; Jer. 30:7; Matt. 24:21). “Your people” means Daniel’s Israelite people, who can have hope, even in the distress of an unprecedented kind set for the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:21; cf. Rev. 12:12–17; 13:7). The book is the book of the saved (Mal. 3:16—4:3; Luke 10:20; Rev. 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27).
C. Jeremiah 30:7 (NKJV) (606 B.C.)
a. 7. Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it.
b. Note. time of Jacob’s trouble. This period of unprecedented difficulty for Israel, as the verse defines, is set in a context of Israel’s final restoration. It is best equated with the time of tribulation (cf. vv. 8, 9) just before Christ’s Second Advent, mentioned elsewhere (Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21, 22) and described in detail by Rev. 6–19.
D. Matthew 24:21 (NKJV) (33 A.D.)
a. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
b. Note. 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).
c. My note. Concerning those who teach that the tribulation occurred in 70 A.D., the truth of the matter is that there has not yet been such tribulation poured out on earth by God, as is described in Matt 24:21. For those who teach that all judgments will take place at the same time, the effects of Matt 24:21-31 can only take place in the last half of the tribulation, “in the great tribulation,” in the form of bowl judgments. Those bowl tribulation judgments can not be poured out on the earth concurrently with the seal and/or trumpet judgments. Go back to Dan 12:1 for Mt 24:21 parallel.
d. My note. There are those who teach that Matt 24:40-41 discusses the rapture.
(1) NKJV. “40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.”
(2) The rapture (John 14:2,3,6; 1 Cor 15:50-54; 1 Thes 4:13-18) teaches that “those taken” will be taken by Christ to Heaven, and that “those left” will be left on earth to endure the following tribulation. The teaching of Matt 24:40-41 is that at the second coming of Christ, “at the end of the tribulation:”
(a) those Jews that “have not accepted Christ” during the tribulation “will be taken,” in death, to judgment (Great White Throne Judgment, Rev 20:10-15).
(b) those Jews that “have accepted Christ” during the tribulation “will be left,” in life, to enter the Kingdom Age of the millennium on earth.
e. Ryrie Study Bible note. Mt 24:40-41: “The ones “taken” will be taken to judgment and death. The ones “left” will be left to enter the blessings of the millennial kingdom.
g. Ryrie Study Bible note. Mt 25:32: “All the nations.” Lit., All the Gentiles. This is a judgment of those Gentiles “who survive the tribulation” and whose heart-relation to God is evidenced by their treatment of the Jews (Christ’s brethren, v 40), especially during that time. Surviving Jews will also be judged at this time. See Ezek 20:33-44. (See Mt 24:40-41, mine). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ezek+20%3A33-44&version=NKJV
III. Summary. The rapture has not yet taken place; neither has the tribulation. The rapture will precede the tribulation. The judgments of the tribulation will not be mixed, as to their being poured out on the earth by God. Only those whom have been born again will be taken to heaven in the rapture.
IV. Closing Video. A testimony.
How I Became a Jew for Jesus!Jun 11, 2013. Jews for Jesus.
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I. Video Data. Chosen People Ministries. Dr. Mitch Glaser on how you can help us serve God through serving His Chosen People, the Jews (Deu 14:2).
II. Course. At this time, we will continue with our study of the book of Revelation. Because we have been away from the subject of Israel in the end times, it will be good to consider again why Jews and Gentiles will find themselves in the tribulation. Also, it will be good to consider the things that lie ahead for Israel at the end of the tribulation, as well as the conditions that Jews will encounter as they wake each day to the wrath of God that is present in each Bowl Judgment.
1. We have studied the seal judgments (Rev 6:1-8:6), and the trumpet judgments (Rev 8:7-9:21). We will now study in Rev 15, the prelude to the wrath of the bowl judgments of Rev 16. Once we have completed Revelation, we will go back to the Old Testament. Regardless of the book, or testament, we will study things that relate to Jews and Israel. We may study the travels of Israel, the prophets of Israel, Israel in the end times, or any other subject that relates to Israel. Through the tribulation judgments (seal, trumpet, bowl), God will be working to draw Jews in Israel, and “left behind” Jews all around the world, to saving faith in Christ, the Messiah. God’s purpose for Christians will have been completed when the born again believers in Christ (the church of Christ) are caught up to heaven in the rapture of the church (John 14:2,3,6) to be “forever in the Presence of Christ.” Jews, whom are born again at the time of the rapture, will also be caught up to Heaven in the same rapture. There is no particular plan for Gentiles that will be left behind from the rapture; however, these people will still have the opportunity of coming to saving faith in Christ during the tribulation. All “left-behind” Jews and Gentiles will come under the judgments of God. Those whom die during the tribulation will face an eternity that is based on whether they have come to saving faith in Christ, or have remained in their spiritual state of “unbelief.” The left-behind Jews and Gentiles that survive the tribulation will be judged as to their belief in Christ. Those in “unbelief” will be sent “in death” to the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:10-15), which occurs at the end of the Kingdom Age. Those in “belief” will be sent in life to enter the Kingdom age where they will be in the Presence of Christ, forever and ever, and will enter in life into the eternal state of the “new heavens, new earth and new Jerusalem,” (Rev 21:1-3) at the end of the Kingdom Age.
2. God’s plan for “Israel and the tribulation” are stated in Jeremiah 30:7 and Daniel 9:20, 24-27. Christ told His “Jewish” disciples the details of the tribulation in His “Olivet Discourse” of “Matthew 24:3 through 25:46,” during which time He told of the horrors of the tribulation as they relate to the Jews (the elect) Mt 24:22/Deu 14:2.” Our Lord tells in Mt 25:31-46 of the judgment that awaits the nations/Gentiles that were indifferent to Jews during the tribulation, and the reward that He will give to the Gentiles that will have shown compassion to the Jews, “the least of these, My brethren,” (Mt 25:40/Deu 14:2).
3. It will be God whom will be the author and deliverer of the Judgments that will be poured out on the earth during the tribulation. Jews and Gentiles whom will be left behind on earth, when the rapture occurs, will be subject to the tribulation judgments, which will include the persecution by the Antichrist. Rev 6:1 shows the first seal being opened and its judgment being released on the earth by “the Lamb, Christ,” as He will repeat with the remaining seals. Rev 8:6 shows the judgment of the first trumpet being thrown down to earth at the hands of an angel, as will be the case of the remaining trumpets. The severity of the trumpet judgments are greater in severity than are those of the seal judgments. The severity of the tribulation bowl judgments will be greater than any of the preceding judgments.
4. The termination of the tribulation is based on the Words of Christ in Mt 24:14, “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” (NAS95). “This gospel of the kingdom” relates to the Kingdom Age, for which Jews have waited ever since 2 Samuel 12:7, and of which the disciples desired in Acts 1:6, immediately prior to their seeing Christ ascending to heaven in Acts 1:9. The gospel of “the Kingdom” is different from the gospel of “the death, burial and resurrection of Christ” (1 Cor 15:3-5), and is important to drawing left behind Jews to saving faith in Christ, whom will rule and reign over the Kingdom after His second coming to earth at the end of the tribulation. The gospel of the Kingdom will definitely include the message of Christ, per Isaiah 53:5, which relates to the spiritual healing of Israel:
Isaiah 53:5 (NAS95) “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.”
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5. Messiah, Christ, will teach from Jerusalem during the Kingdom Age, to all whom will have been born again during the tribulation, and will have survived the tribulation, as well as to their children, and childrens’ children (Isa 2:1-3); the truth of John 3:3 will still be truth. Jews and Gentiles, those of whom will have entered the Kingdom in mortal bodies (Matt 24-25) will receive instruction from our Lord. Old Testament born again saints will be resurrected and will Judge the 12 tribes of Israel during the Kingdom Age (Dan 12:1-2, Mt 19:28); such Jews will have translated, immortal, eternal bodies and souls to accompany their born again spirits. Born again believers in Christ whom will have been translated at the time of “the rapture and resurrection” (Jn 14:2,3,6; 1 Cor 15:50-54, 1 Thes 4:-18), will be present during the Kingdom Age, and will enter this millennium in eternal, immortal, translated bodies, souls and spirits; they will rule and reign with Christ throughout the Kingdom Age (2 Tim 2:12). Martyred tribulation saints (Rev 20:4) will be resurrected and will rule and reign with Christ during the Kingdom Age, having been given translated, eternal, immortal bodies and souls to accompany their born again spirits. All whom will have been translated will enter the eternal state in their translated bodies. Jews and Gentiles whom will enter the Kingdom at the end of the tribulation will have born again spirits; prior to their entry into the eternal state, God will give them immortal bodies and souls to match their eternal born again spirits. The children, and children’s children, of those whom will enter the millennium having only “born again spirits,” will come under the instruction of Christ (Isa 2:1-3) and must come to saving faith in Christ in order to be born again, and receive eternal, immortal, translated bodies and souls; otherwise, they will face the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:10-15), and receive the same fate of anyone else whom has not been born again (John 3:3). Because the promised land of Israel extends from the Nile River in Egypt to the Euphrates River in Iraq (Gen 15:18-20), it appears that the OT saints of Dan 12:1-2 and Matt 19:28, will rule and reign over Jews that enter the Kingdom age not having translated bodies and souls. Because Jews have been promised the land of the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 15:8-20), Gentiles not having translated bodies and souls will reside outside of the land of the Jews (Gen 15:18-20); they will be able to come and go, to and from, the Jews’ covenant land (Zech 14:16), and will be governed by NT and Tribulation translated saints (2 Tim 2:12, Rev 20:4) whom will rule and reign with Christ. Scripture shows that during the Kingdom age, those whom have been translated will rule and reign over those whom have not been translated. Raptured and resurrected born again believers in Christ will enter the Kingdom age after their descent from heaven with Christ (Rev 19:11-21) at the end of the tribulation; they will go to and from the earth, at will. Old Testament and martyred born again saints will be resurrected at the end to the tribulation and will enter the Kingdom age. Born again survivors of the tribulation will just enter a day of life, experiencing the greatness of the Kingdom age, as described in Isaiah 11:6:
Isaiah 11:6 (NAS95). And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them.
III. The key to understanding God’s Word is to develop a good understanding of God’s chosen people. The purpose of the articles that are written in this Equipping Site is to develop and strengthen the knowledge of its readers of God’s Holy Word. Of key concern, as it relates to the “Revelation of Christ to the Apostle John” (Rev 1:1), are the Words of our Lord in Revelation 22:18-19:
“18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.” (NAS95).
A. The prophecy of the Book of Revelation has been stated by our Lord and Savior, Christ; it can not be changed. Anyone whom is guilty of “adding to, or taking away” from the prophecy that our Lord spoke to John the Apostle will be someone whom has not been born again (John 3:3). Anyone whom has been “born again,” through the work of God’s Holy Spirit (John 3:8), can not be “unborn.” Anyone whom has been born again will not “add to, or take away,” from any Word of Scripture. Consider the comment that is provided in the Revelation commentary of Dr. John F. Walvoord, as follows:
B. “To use the verses Rev 22:18-19 as a proof that a child of God once saved and born into the family of God can lose his salvation is, of course, applying this passage out of context. This passage assumes that a child of God will not tamper with these scriptures. It is the contrast of unbelief with faith, the blinded, fallen intellect of man in contrast to the enlightened Spirit-taught believer. Although the true child of God may not comprehend the meaning of the entire book of Revelation, he will recognize in it a declaration of his hope and that which has been assured to him in grace by his salvation in Christ.” https://bible.org/seriespage/22-concluding-revelations-and-exhortations
Consider the introduction to the Bowl Judgments of the tribulation, as provided by Dr. John F. Walvoord. Those whom will be present on earth will be Jews and Gentiles that were left behind from the rapture of the born again believers in Christ (John 14:2,3,6). God will use every event of the tribulation to call Jews to saving faith in Christ. Gentiles will also be able to accept Christ as Savior.
B. Introduction To The Bowl Judgments
Chapters 15 and 16 of Revelation bring to consummation the chronologically ordered events leading up to the second coming of Christ described in chapter 19. These are introduced in this chapter as “the seven last plagues” which are the divine judgments preceding the second coming of Christ. As previously indicated, the chronological order of events in Revelation is presented basically in the seven seals (6:1-17; 8:1). The seventh seal includes all of the seven trumpets (8:1-9:21; 11:15-19). The seven vials or bowls of divine judgment are included in the seventh trumpet. From this it can be seen that the order of events is one of dramatic crescendo, the seventh seal being all-inclusive of the end-time events including the seven trumpets, and the seventh trumpet including the events described in the seven vials. The second coming of Christ follows this order of events immediately after the seventh vial. The intervening sections such as 10:1-11:14; 13-14; 17-19:10 do not advance the narrative chronologically. Chapter 19:11 of Revelation follows immediately after chapter 16 in the chronological development.
C. Prelude to the Bowl Judgments.
1. Overview: MacArthur Study Bible. 15:1–8. Chapter 15 introduces the 7 bowls of wrath, God’s final judgments at the end of the 7 year Tribulation period. The bowl judgments come in a rapid-fire, staccato fashion, each one stronger in fury and intensity. The bowls are the last plagues that issue from the blast of the seventh trumpet, and will conclude the seventh seal (see note on 6:1). https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/grace-to-you/listen/
a. Rev 15:1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.
Comment. MacArthur Study Bible. 15:1. “wrath of God.” See 11:18; 14:10; 16:19; 19:15; cf. Rom. 1:18–21.
b. Rev 15:2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
Comment. MacArthur Study Bible. 15:2. “sea of glass.” God’s heavenly throne sits on a transparent crystal platform or pavement. “victory over the beast.” All the saints from every nation, including Israel, ultimately triumph over Satan’s Antichrist and his system because of their faith in Jesus Christ. number of his name. 13:17: “buy or sell.” Antichrist’s mark will allow people to engage in daily commerce, including the purchase of food and other necessities. Without the identifying mark, individuals will be cut off from the necessities of life. number of his name. The beast (Antichrist) will have a name inherent in a numbering system. It is not clear from the text exactly what this name and number system will be or what its significance will be.
c. Rev 15:3-4 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! 4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.”
Comment. MacArthur Study Bible. 14:5. God’s holy and perfect character inevitably demands that He judge (cf. Ps. 19:9; Nah. 1:3, 6). After God’s righteous judgment is complete, He will set up Christ’s millennial kingdom on earth and the elect from every nation will come and worship Him (cf. Ps. 66:4; Is. 66:23; Phil. 2:9–11).
d. Rev 15:5 After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.
Comment. MacArthur Study Bible. “the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony.” This refers to the location of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies where God dwells (see note on 11:19; cf. Num. 10:11).
e. Rev 15:6-7 And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.
Comment. MacArthur Study Bible. 15:7. “four living creatures.” See notes on 4:6–8. seven golden bowls. These are shallow saucers, familiar items often associated with various functions of the temple worship (1 Kin. 7:50; 2 Kin. 12:13; 25:15), such as wine (Amos 6:6) and blood sacrifice (Ex. 27:3). Their flat shallowness pictures how the divine judgments will be emptied instantly rather than slowly poured, drowning those who refused to drink the cup of salvation.
Comment. The New American Commentary. 5:7. “wrath of God.” the fury of a righteous God against the contamination of His entire creation through sin.
g. Rev 15:8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
Comment. The New American Commentary. 5:8. At this point the entire temple is filled with smoke from the Glory of God, rendering it impossible for anyone to enter the temple until the seven plagues are completed. Twice before a manifestation of the “shekinah glory” of God was seen – first, upon its completion in the tabernacle and then at the dedication of the Solomonic temple. Now, the stage is set for the last plagues of the tribulation period. https://www.logos.com/product/20317/new-american-commentary-revelation
V. Closing Video. A Song
Cloverton’s Christmas version of Hallelujah. Dec 22, 2016. The High Definition Lifestyle. This is a really beautiful Christmas version of the song “Hallelujah” as the lyrics have been written to honor Jesus. Telling the story of His birth, what a beautiful song to explain the real meaning of Christmas!
Click on the image to see the text. Click on the arrow to see the video.
End Time Events – Seals, Trumpets, Great Tribulation, Antichrist, Rapture. Jul 23, 2017. OTG Ministry.
The opening video shows scenes that closely resemble the things that will occur during the upcoming time of Tribulation (Rev 6:1-19:21). It is important to know that small children will not be present during the tribulation, nor will be people whom will have been born again and know Christ as their Lord and Savior prior to the Tribulation. Small children and born again believers in Christ will have been caught up in the rapture and taken to Heaven by Christ (John 14:2,3,6) prior to the onset of the Tribulation. In the video we see events which many of the world might claim to be natural disasters being caused by climate change, or by “mother nature.” But, it must be understood that it is God whom will be responsible for everything that will happen during the tribulation. Also, “there is no mother nature!”
The purpose of this article is to look back to the first seal of the judgments of the Tribulation, and then show the events that have taken place in this study since Christ broke that seal (Rev 6:1). We will move forward, through the judgments of the trumpets that will be concluded in 14:20, and continue through the judgments of the bowls of wrath, which is God’s wrath being poured out on this world (Rev 15-16). We will see the destruction of Religious Babylon (Rev 17) and Commercial Babylon (Rev 18). We will see the conclusion of the Tribulation at the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19) as Christ, His angels, and His raptured saints descend from heaven to earth to fight the nations that are attacking Israel (Zech 14:1-3; Rev 19:11-21). As has been shown in prior articles, the time and judgments of the Tribulation come as a result of a sovereign decision of God. Every act of judgment, or wrath, that will take place during the Tribulation, will be due to a decision of God, and only of God. Of the judgments, each seal is broken by Christ (Rev 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 8:1). Each trumpet is sounded as a result of Christ having given the trumpets to angels, who release each judgment on the earth (Rev 8:2). Each bowl judgment of God’s wrath comes as a result of each bowl of wrath being poured out on the earth by an angel (Rev 16:1). The judgments of the seals, trumpets, and bowls are God’s tools to draw left-behind Jews to saving faith in Christ, and to judge sin. Gentiles in the Tribulation will be subject to the same judgments, and may also be drawn to saving faith in Christ.
The purpose of the Tribulation is to bring Israel, and unsaved Jews around the world, to saving faith in Christ. The focus of the Tribulation is on Israel, and has no purpose for small children or born again believers in Christ. The Tribulation is also known as “The 70 Weeks Of Daniel,” with the 70th week being the last seven year period that covers the time period of Rev 6:1-19:21 (Jer 30:7; Dan 9:24). All people that will be present during the Tribulation (Jew and Gentile) will have been left behind from when the rapture of the church occurs (Jn 14:2,3,6; 1 Cor 15:50-54; 1 Thes 4:13-18). Anyone, Jew or Gentile, whom will be left behind from the rapture, will be left behind because they will not have been born again. They will have the opportunity to come to saving faith in Christ during the Tribulation, although persecution or death may be the outcome for such believers from the forces of the Anti-Christ (13:7-8, 13:15-17). The purpose of the “seventy weeks of Daniel” is stated in Daniel 9:24: “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” A detailed study of the 70 weeks of Daniel is shown in the Walvoord Daniel Commentary (9:24-27), and clearly focuses on Israel as being the purpose of the 70 weeks, which ends in Tribulation. The church, “born again believers in Christ,” has no place or purpose in the 70 weeks or Tribulation. A careful focus on the summary of 9:27 is recommended, per: https://bible.org/seriespage/9-prophecy-seventy-weeks
The events of the Tribulation are shown in capsule form in Matt 24-25. Note, Mt 24:3 of The Ryrie Study Bible, states that Mt 24:4-14 lists characteristics of the first half of the Tribulation period, whereas verses 15-28 deal with the second half. The judgments of Matt 24:6-7 are outlined in Rev 6:1-8 (Ryrie note, Mt 24:6-7). Mt 24:15 “abomination of desolation.” This relates to the “man of sin” (2 Thes 2:4), the Antichrist, who at this midpoint in the Tribulation breaks the covenant that he made with the Jewish people at the beginning of the Tribulation (Dan 9:27) and demands that they and the world worship him. Those who resist will be persecuted and many will be martyred; that is the reason for the urgency of the instructions in verses 16-22. The church will have been translated (raptured, mine) before the time begins (1 Thes 4:13-18), per Ryrie note on Mt 24:22.
The Seven Seals (Rev 6:1-8:6) Antichrist. War. Famine. Death. Martyr’s prayers. Great earthquakes.
The Seven Trumpets (Rev 8:7-9:21) A third of vegetation burned. A third of the sea judged. A third of fresh water judged. A third of the luminaries darkened. Increased demonic activity. A third of mankind killed.
The Seven Bowls (Rev 15:1-16:21) Malignant sores. Sea turned to blood. Fresh waters to blood. Men scorched with fire. Darkness over the kingdom of the Beast. Invasion from the east. Greatest earthquake and widespread destruction.
We will now continue with our discussion of Revelation 14. .
The next phase of the vision given to John in this chapter (14) introduces “another angel” flying in the midst of heaven, literally “in mid-heaven,” having the everlasting gospel to preach to the entire world. The reference to “another” seems to be to an angel in addition to the seven angels introduced in 8:2 and also in contrast to “another angel” in 8:3 and 10:1. J. B. Smith notes that the remaining portion of the chapter “presents a seven-fold division consisting of the appearance of six angels including a vision of the Son of man between two groups of three angels each.” (John Walvoord Commentary, Revelation Chapter 14).
(https://bible.org/seriespage/14-victory-lamb-and-his-followers)
Revelation 14:6-20 (NKJV)
Concerning The Eternal Gospel
6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—
6 Comment. Ryrie Study Bible. “the everlasting gospel to preach.” God’s last call of grace to the world before the return of Christ in judgment.” (notice, carefully…”the last call of grace.”)
7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
8 And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
8 Comment. Ryrie Study Bible. “Babylon is fallen.” This fall is described in detail in chaps 17-18. For “Babylon,” see 17:5. Religious Babylon is discussed in Rev 17. Commercial Babylon is discussed in Rev 18.
Concerning Beast Worshipers
9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
12 Comment. Ryrie Study Bible. Saints will be able to endure, knowing that God will punish their enemies (vs 9-11). See 13:10. (these saints are those people who have come to saving faith in Christ during the tribulation, mine).
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
10-13 Comment. Ryrie Study Bible. The wicked will be tormented in the lake of fire forever (Rev 20:10-15, mine), with no hope of annihilation or restoration. In contrast, the righteous will have rest forever.
Concerning The Harvesting Of The Earth
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.
20 Comment. Ryrie Study Bible. Apparently a reference to Armageddon (16:16; 19:17-19), when the blood from the slaughter will flow 180 miles, to the depth of about 4.5 feet. The blood of horses added to that of the large armies of human soldiers could easily cause such an enormous river of blood.
We have now completed a review of the Tribulation that discusses the seal and trumpet judgments. The bowl judgments of God’s wrath will be discussed in our next Revelation article. However, it is important for us to add greater detail to the harvesting of the earth of Rev 14:14-19, as follows.
The Elect: The Jews In The Harvest
Matthew 24:30-31 (NKJV)
30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
24:30-31 Comment. Consistent with the second coming of Christ will be the gathering of Jews from all over the world. Notice in vs 31, “His elect.” Those whom are identified in Deuteronomy 14:2 are the elect people of God, “the chosen people of God.” However, in the harvest, not all Jews are saved (are born again). The Jews of the harvest were left behind from the rapture because they had not accepted Christ as Lord and Savior; they were not born again. During the tribulation, some of those Jews which did not come to saving faith in Christ prior to the rapture will accept Him as their Lord and Savior, and will be born again; others will remain in a state of unbelief; “they are not born again.” The saved and unsaved Jews are identified in Mt 24:40-41; John 3:3 provides clarification.
Matthew 24:40-41 (NKJV)
40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
40-41 Comment: Those Jews which are taken, are taken in death to the Judgment of Rev 20:10-15; they had not been born again during the tribulation. Those Jews that are left, are left to enter the Kingdom of God (the 1,000 year reign of Christ) because they were born again during the tribulation. John 3:3, “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In the rapture, those that are taken, are taken to heaven with Christ (1 Thes 4:17). Those that are left behind (Jews and Gentiles) are left behind on earth to come under God’s judgments during the tribulation (1 Thes 1:10, “Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” 5:9-10, “9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him).
If we were to say that those whom are chosen for salvation will be present during the tribulation, that would violate the teaching of the rapture of the church when the born again believers in Christ are removed from the earth during the rapture (John 14: 2,3,6) prior to the tribulation. The elect of Matt 24:31 are clearly identified as being Jews, per Deu 14:2:
Deuteronomy 14:2 (NKJV)
2 For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
We will now consider the comments of Dr. John Walvoord (deceased), as they relate to born again believers in Christ not being present on earth during the Tribulation.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 N(NKJV)
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
5:9-10 Comment. Walvoord Commentary, 1-2 Thessalonians. John Walvoord. https://bible.org/seriespage/chapter-5-day-lord
Verses 1-5 reveal that the day of the Lord will come suddenly, unannounced, and inescapably on an unbelieving world. But, we as Christians will have no part in it, because we do not belong to that period of time. Verse 9: Paul was saying expressly that our appointment is to be caught up to be with Christ; the appointment of the world is for the day of the Lord, the day of wrath. One can not keep both of these appointments. We make our appointment for salvation, and the rapture when we trust in Christ as our Savior from sin. Certainly after the church is raptured, some in the tribulation will turn to Christ, and Rev 7:9-10 states that there will be an innumerable company of martyrs. Many will be saved after the church has to gone to heaven, but they will experience the awfulness of that period. As the wrath of God is poured upon the earth, it will involve them too. Many believers who come to faith in Christ during the tribulation will also die during that terrible time. The reason they will be subjected to those things is that they were not ready for Christ when He came for His church. But, we who have trusted in Him, who have believed in Christ as our Savior, are not appointed to that day of wrath. We are appointed to meet Christ in the air and to be forever with Him.
Dr. Walvoord clearly makes the case that at the time of the rapture, all born again believers in Christ will be caught up to Heaven with Christ, and will be forever with Christ (1 Thes 4:18). Christ will not be present on earth during the tribulation; neither will be the born again believers in Christ who come to saving faith in Christ prior to the rapture (John 14:2,3,6). “We can’t be in two places at the same time” (in heaven and on earth).
Click on the image to see the text. Click onto the arrow to see the video.
I. Introduction. Chapter 14 brings to a conclusion the material found in the section of chapters 12 through 14. Chapter 12 deals with the important characters of the period, chapter 13 with the wicked rulers of the period, and chapter 14 with the ultimate triumph of Christ. All of this material is not chronological but prepares the way for the climax which begins in chapter 15. Chapter 14 consists of a series of pronouncements and visions assuring the reader of the ultimate triumph of Christ and the judgment of the wicked. Much of the chapter is prophetic of events that have not yet taken place, but which are now impending. The chapter begins with the assurance that the Lamb will ultimately stand in triumph on Mount Zion with his followers, and it concludes with a series of pronouncements of judgments upon the wicked (Revelation Commentary, John F. Walvoord, https://bible.org/seriespage/14-victory-lamb-and-his-followers).
II. Video A. Who are the 144,000, and what power has God given to them? (See video details at the bottom of the page).
III. Subject Of Study. The Lamb And The 144,000.
A. Text. Revelation 14:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
B. Comments. Consider the understanding of the following highly regarded theologians on Rev 14:1-5.
14:1 “the Lamb,” Christ. “144,000,” The same group that is mentioned in 7:4: “One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed.” (Their work on earth is done; they survived the tribulation.)
14:4 “not…defiled with women.” This may simply mean that the 144,000 were unmarried, or it may indicate their state of separation unto God (2 Cor 11:2). “first fruits,” The salvation of the 144,000 will precede the salvation of a larger group of Israelites, who will turn to the Lord at the end of the Tribulation (Isa 2:3, Rom 11:15).
14:2 harps. (note from 5:8). These ancient stringed instruments not only accompanied the songs of God’s people (1 Chr 25:6; Ps 33:2), but also accompanied prophecy (cf. 1 Sam 10:5). The 24 elders, representative of the redeemed church, played their harps in praise and in a symbolic indication that all the prophets had said was about to be fulfilled.
14:3 new song. The song of redemption, which is being sung by all the redeemed saints in one gigantic choir. They are rejoicing over the accomplishment of God’s entire redemptive work before Christ’s return (Ps 33:1–3; 40:3; 96:1; 144:9, 10; 149; Luke 15:10; see note on 5:9). the four living creatures, and the elders. See notes on 4:4, 6.
Note: 5:9. This new song anticipates the final, glorious redemption that God is about to begin.
Note: 4:4. twenty-four elders. Their joint rule with Christ, their white garments (19:7, 8), and their golden crowns (2:10) all seem to indicate that these 24 represent the redeemed (vv. 9–11; 5:5–14; 7:11–17; 11:16–18; 14:3; 19:4). The question is which redeemed? Not Israel, since the nation is not yet saved, glorified, and coronated. That is still to come at this point in the events of the end. Their resurrection and glory will come at the end of the 7 year tribulation time (cf. Dan. 12:1–3). Tribulation saints aren’t yet saved (7:9, 10). Only one group will be complete and glorified at that point—the church. Here elders represent the church, which sings the song of redemption (5:8–10). They are the overcomers who have their crowns and live in the place prepared for them, where they have gone with Jesus (cf. John 14:1–4).
Note: 4:6. four living creatures. Lit. “four living ones or beings.” These are the cherubim (sing., cherub), those angels frequently referred to in the OT in connection with God’s presence, power, and holiness. Although John’s description is not identical to Ezekiel’s, they are obviously both referring to the same supernatural and indescribable beings (Pss. 80:1; 99:1; see notes on Ezek. 1:4–25; 10:15).
14:5 no deceit. The 144,000 speak God’s truth accurately and precisely, with no exaggeration or understatement (Zeph 3:13). without fault. Not sinless, but sanctified (see Eph 1:4; 5:27; Col. 1:22).
14:4 Redemption. Rom 3:24, “to deliver by paying a price.” The N.T. doctrine. The N.T. records the fulfillment of the O.T. types and prophecies of redemption through the sacrifice of Christ.
Video B. Does God specifically protect the 144,000, and if so, why? (See video details at the bottom of the page.)
Things To Come, Page 300.In Chapter 7, the 144,000 are sealed by God, set apart to a special ministry, before the Great Tribulation begins. They seem to be sealed at the very outset of the tribulation period. In all probability, the multitude of Gentiles, described in the passage that follows (Rev 7:9-17), has come to a knowledge of salvation through the ministry of this group. In Chapter 14 the same group is pictured at the termination of the tribulation, when the kingdom is established. The returning King is on Mt. Zion, as was predicted of Him (Zech 14:4). At his return the faithful witnesses gather unto Him, having been redeemed (Rev 14:4) and having faithfully witnessed in the midst of apostasy (Rev 14:4-5). They are called “the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb” (Rev 14:4), that is they are the first of the harvest of the tribulation period that will come into the millennium to populate the millennial earth. As the judgments are about to be poured out upon Babylon (Rev 14:8), upon the Beast (Rev 14:9-12), upon the Gentiles (Rev 14:14-17), and upon unbelieving Israel (Rev 14:18-20), these 144,000 are viewed as being preserved through all that the the earth experiences so that they they may be the firstfruits of that period.
IV. Saved “through the tribulation.”
As has been explained in this article, the 144,000 Jewish missionaries will be protected by God, and will be saved “through the tribulation.”
Revelation 7:4 (NKJV) 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
MacArthur note. 7:4. One hundred and forty-four thousand. A missionary corps of redeemed Jews who are instrumental in the salvation of many Jews and Gentiles during the Tribulation (vv. 9–17). They will be the firstfruits of a new redeemed Israel (v. 4; Zech. 12:10). Finally, Israel will be the witness nation she refused to be in the OT (see notes on Rom. 11:25–27). all the tribes of the children of Israel. By sovereign election, God will seal 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes, promising His protection while they accomplish their mission.
V. Video Details.
A. John Ankerberg Show. Sep 28, 2018. From the series “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hindson, and, Dr. Mark Hitchcock. To obtain this entire series, please visit https://www.jashow.org/resources/the-…(Check the credentials of each man on my Page, “About Sources And Links.”)
B. John Ankerberg Show. Oct 1, 2018. From the series “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hindson, and, Dr. Mark Hitchcock.
VI. Additional biographical information on the sources of information that are mentioned in this article, as well as other credible sources, can be found on the Page in this blog, “About Sources.”
Click on the image to see the text. Click onto the arrow to see the video.
“This beast had all the authority of the first beast. It did what the first beast wanted. It made the earth and all who live on it worship the first beast. The first beast was the one whose deadly wound had been healed.” (Revelation 13:12 – NIRV – New International Reader’s Version)
I. Video. Why does the Antichrist join forces with Satan and the “false prophet”? (See video details at the bottom of the page).
II. The Beast From The Earth.
A. Text. Revelation 13:11-18 (NKJV)
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
13:11 “another beast.” This man is Antichrist’s lieutenant, who will enforce the worship of Antichrist by performing miracles (vs 13), by making and animating an image of Antichrist (vs 14-15), by sentencing to death those who disobey (vs 15), and by requiring a mark on the hand or forehead in order that men may buy and sell (vs 16-17). Satan, the Antichrist, and this second beast form and evil trinity.
13:18 “his number is 666.” Somehow, unknown to us, this number will play an important part in the identification of the Antichrist in a future day.
13:15 speak. The false prophet will give the image of Antichrist the appearance of life, and the image will seem to utter words—contrary to what is normally true of idols (cf. Ps. 135:15, 16; Hab. 2:19). cause…to be killed. His gentleness is a lie, since he is a killer (7:9–17). Some Gentiles will be spared to populate the kingdom (Matt. 25:31–40) and Jews will be protected (12:17).
13:17 buy or sell. Antichrist’s mark will allow people to engage in daily commerce, including the purchase of food and other necessities. Without the identifying mark, individuals will be cut off from the necessities of life. number of his name. The beast (Antichrist) will have a name inherent in a numbering system. It is not clear from the text exactly what this name and number system will be or what its significance will be.
13:16 “he causeth.” Antichrist the person is to be distinguished from the “many antichrists” 1 John 2:18 and the “spirit of antichrist” 1 John 4:3 which characterizes all. The supreme mark of all is the denial of the Christian truth of the incarnation of the Logos, the eternal Son in Jesus as the Christ John 1:1; John 1:14. (See Scofield “Matthew 1:16”). The “many antichrists” precede and prepare the way for the Antichrist, who is “the Beast out of the earth” of Revelation 13:11-17 and the “false prophet” of; Revelation 16:13; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10. He is the last ecclesiastical head, as the Beast of Revelation 13:1-8 is the last civil head. For purposes of persecution he is permitted to exercise the autocratic power of the emperor- Beast. (See Scofield “Revelation 19:20″).
E. Outline And Comments: Dr. John F. Walvoord (deceased).
a. From verses 11-12 of chapter 13: After the revelation of the first beast, John now beholds another beast coming up out of the earth and occupying a secondary role supporting the activities of the first beast. In contrast to the first beast which comes out of the sea, the second beast is said to come out of the earth. He is of similar nature to the first beast. The same word for beast (Gr., the„rion) is used as well as the word “another” (Gr., allo) meaning “one like in kind.” Though some have interpreted the word earth as referring to the Holy Land, it is the general word for the earth (Gr., ge„). If the sea, mentioned as the source of the first beast, represents the mass of humanity indicating the racial background of the first beast as a Gentile, the reference to the second beast as coming out of the earth indicates that this character, who is later described as a false prophet
b. From verse 18 of Revelation 13: Chapter 13, taken as a whole, is one of the great prophetic chapters of Scripture and is the only passage which presents in any detail the two principal evil characters of the end of the age who form with Satan an unholy trinity. Here is clearly presented the fact that the head of the revived Roman Empire ultimately becomes the ruler of the entire world. Dominated by Satan, he is Satan’s masterpiece and substitute for Christ, and is aided and supported by the second beast called the false prophet. Many have alluded to the contrast of this evil trinity with the heavenly Trinity, Satan corresponding to God the Father, the first beast corresponding to Christ, and the second beast corresponding to the Holy Spirit. George W. Davis expresses a common view that this is a false trinity: “This trinity will consist of Satan as God, Antichrist, the counterfeit of Christ, as Christ, and the false prophet, a travesty on the Holy Spirit.”
c. Outline of Revelation Chapter 13.
The Second Beast Out Of The Earth (13:11-12).
The Deceptive Miracles Of The False Prophet (13:13-14).
All Required To Worship The Beast (13:15-17).
The Number Of The Beast (13:18).
2. The following comment comes from “Every Prophecy Of The Bible, Prophetic Revelation III: The Beast out of the Land,” John F. Walvoord, pg 587-588. “The importance of this chapter (Rev 13, mine) is that world history leading up to the second coming of Christ (end of the tribulation, mine) will be dominated by these two characters (Antichrist and False Prophet, mine), especially in the last 3 1/2 years before the Second Coming. The world leader (Antichrist, mine) will actually for a time exercise political authority over the entire world and the supporting character, the beast out of the earth, will give his support supernaturally and cause people to worship the world ruler. The worship of this world ruler and the recognition of Satan also as deity brings apostasy to its most dramatic revelation. The evil in Satan’s and men’s hearts is allowed in its full manifestation but will be subject to the judgment of God at the time of the Second Coming (of Christ, mine).
F. Comments. The Identity Of The Anti-Christ and False Prophet. Revelation Illustrated And Made Plain, pg 189, Tim LaHaye, (deceased) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_LaHaye …. Because the identities of these two beasts will not be revealed until the middle of the Tribulation Period, and the Church will be raptured before the Tribulation, it seems more than likely that “we” will not be given a hint as to the identities of the Antichrist or False Prophet. (the “we,” in the comment of Dr. LaHaye, relates to the born again believers in Christ that will be caught up in the rapture of the church…John 14:2,3,6…1 Cor 15:50-54…1 Thes 4:13-18).
III. Video Details.
A. John Ankerberg Show. 80.3K subscribers.4,702 views•Oct 5, 2018.
B. From the series “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hinson, and, Dr. Mark Hitchcock. To obtain this entire series, please visit https://www.jashow.org/resources/the-…(Check the credentials of each man on my Page, “About Sources And Links.”)
IV. Additional biographical information on the sources of information that are mentioned in this article, as well as other credible sources, can be found on the Page in this blog, “About Sources.”
Click on the image to see the text. Click onto the arrow to see the video.
I. Video. How does the book of Revelation describe the Antichrist? (See video details at the bottom of the page).
II. The Beast from the Sea.
A. Text. Revelation 13:1-10 (NKJV)
1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
13:1. “beast.” The Antichrist (note from 11:7, “the beast.”). The Antichrist (1 John 2:18; see Ryrie note), also called “the man of lawlessness” (2 Thes 2:3). The same person is mentioned in Rev 6:2, 13:1, 14:9, 14:11, 15:2, 16:2, 17:3, 13; 19:20, 20:10. He can not kill the two witnesses until God allows him to (11:7).
13:2. “the dragon gave him power.” Satan gives Antichrist power.
13:3. “had been slain.” The same word is used in 5:6 of Christ’s actual death, though here it may indicate a wound that normally would be fatal. “his fatal wound was healed.” Apparently Satan will miraculously restore Antichrist to life in imitation of the resurrection of Christ. No wonder the world will acclaim Antichrist.
13:5. “forty-two months.” Apparently the last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation period during which Antichrist’s power is practically unrestrained.
13:6. “His tabernacle.” God’s dwelling place, “heaven.”
13:7-8. Antichrist’s rule will extend to all, except believers whose names have been written in the “book of life.” The phrase from “the foundation of the world” relates to the writing of the names, not to the crucifixion (cf 17:8).
13:10. Assurance that God will punish evildoers sustains the faith of those who are persecuted during these days (note from 14:12: Saints will be able to endure, knowing that God will punish their enemies, vs 9-11).
C. Outline And Comments: Dr. John F. Walvoord (deceased).
a. In the first ten verses of chapter 13, a character is introduced of central importance to the events of the great tribulation. This passage is first of all a revelation of the revived Roman Empire in its period of worldwide dominion, but more especially this paragraph directs attention to the evil character who exercises satanic power as the world dictator.
b. Taken as a whole, the first ten verses of Revelation 13 predict a future world government which from God’s point of view will be a continuation of the ancient Roman Empire expanded ultimately to cover not only the area of the ancient empire but the entire world. This government will be empowered by Satan, and its primary objective will be forcing the whole world to worship Satan and his human representative, the world dictator.
c. Outline of Revelation Chapter 13.
The Emergence of the Beast out of the Sea (13:1-2).
The Deadly Wound of the Beast (13:3).
The Worship of Satan by All the World (13:4).
The Blasphemous Character of the Beast as World Ruler (13:5-6).
The Universal Dominion of the Beast (13:7).
The Universal Worship of the Beast (13:8).
Exhortation to Hear (13:9-10).
2. Titles Of The Coming World Ruler (Walvoord Revelation Commentary, Chapter 13 chart). The little horn (Dan 7:8). The coming prince (Dan 9:26). The willful king (Dan 11:36). The man of lawlessness (2 Thes 2:3). The son of destruction (2 Thes 2:3). The Antichrist ( 1 John 2:18, 22). The rider on the white horse (Rev 6:2). The beast (Rev 13:1-10).
D. The last half of the seven-year tribulation described (verses and John MacArthur’s notes; bio on Page, “About Sources And Links).
1. The last half of the tribulation. The Great Tribulation. Revelation Verses.
11:2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.
12:6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
12:14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
13:5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
2. God’s protection of Israel during the last half of the tribulation. MacArthur Study Bible notes.
a. God will protect Israel from Satan by hiding her in the wilderness, perhaps in the region of Moab, Ammon, and Edom, east of Palestine. Interestingly, those countries will be specifically spared from the Antichrist’s attack against the Holy Land (cf. Dan. 11:41). one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
b. At the mid-point of the Tribulation, the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel, puts a stop to temple worship, sets up the abomination of desolation (Dan. 9:27; Matt. 24:15), and devastates Jerusalem (11:2). At that time, many Jews flee for their lives (Matt. 24:16ff.). God will preserve them during the last 1,260 days (42 months; 3½ years) constituting the Great Tribulation. See notes on 3:10; 6:1.
E. Consider the following end times timeline.
1. The catching up of the saints from earth by Christ prior to the tribulation (John 14:2,3,6; 1 Cor 15:50-54; 1 Thes 4:13-18). Only unbelieving Jews and Gentiles will be left on earth after the believing saints are caught up to heaven.
2. God’s encouragement to believers. God’s warning to those whom will miss the rapture. (Rev 3:10). “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” All whom are left behind will come under the judgments of God, which are all Jews and Gentiles that are not been born again; excluding small children.
3. The Antichrist empowered by Christ (Rev 6:1). “Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals.”
4. The Antichrist will be a man of great deception. Israel is not a nation that is presently living in a land of “unwalled cities,” (Ez 38:11). However, the Jews will accept such a dream of peace that will come through the “smooth talking Antichrist,” (Rev 6:2).
a. Rev 6:2 “And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.”
b. 6:2 white horse. The animal represents an unparalleled time of world peace—a false peace that is to be short-lived (see note on v. 4). This peace will be ushered in by a series of false messiahs, culminating with the Antichrist (Matt. 24:3–5). He who sat on it. The 4 horses and their riders do not represent specific individuals, but forces. Some, however, identify this rider with Antichrist. Although he will be the leading figure, John’s point is that the entire world will follow him, being obsessed with pursuing this false peace. bow. The bow is a symbol of war, but the absence of arrows implies that this victory is a bloodless one—a peace won by covenant and agreement, not by war (cf. Dan. 9:24–27). crown. This word refers to the kind of laurel wreath awarded winning athletes. It “was given to him.” Antichrist becomes king, elected by the world’s inhabitants regardless of the cost, and will conquer the entire earth in a bloodless coup (MacArthur Study Bible).
c. Ezekiel 38:11 “You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’—”
d. 38:10–13 This describes the peace in Israel during the period of Antichrist’s short-lived treaty with them (Dan. 9:27) in the first half of Daniel’s 70th week. References to “unwalled villages,” refer to that period of 3½ years when Israel is secure under the protection of the world-ruling “prince that shall come,” called Antichrist (cf. Dan. 9:27). After Antichrist turns on Israel, there is an escalation of hostility until the end of the 7 year time when this great force comes to plunder Jerusalem and the Promised Land (v. 12) (MacArthur Study Bible).
5. The events of the tribulation are discussed, per the Ryrie Study Bible.
a. Matt 24-25 is the Olivet Discourse which took place between Christ and His Jewish disciples, which was a discussion between Christ and Jews, about Jewish matters. No Gentiles were present. Consider Mt 24:14: “the Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached, and then the end will come.” The church preached “the Gospel of Christ” (1 Cor 15:1-8), which is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. “The end” is the end of the tribulation, which precedes the Kingdom Age of the millennium, which is followed by the eternal state.
b. Matt 24:4-14 is the first half of tribulation.
c. Matt 24:15-28 is the last half of tribulation. Matt 24:15, Antichrist (Man of sin, 2 Thes 2:4) breaks the covenant with Israel that he made with them at the beginning of the tribulation, Dan 9:27, and demands that they worship him.
d. Mt 24:20 warned of “a sabbath flight for safety.” A “sabbath-day’s journey,” Acts 1:12, which was about one-half a mile, which was the distance that Jews could travel on the Sabbath. Gentiles had no such concern for sabbath travel constraints.
e. It has been my pleasure to have been in a Jewish neighborhood, where the neighborhood synagogue was located within “a sabbath day’s journey” of most Jewish homes. I have seen men and boys walking that “sabbath day’s journey” to synagogue on the Sabbath. I have also been blessed by observing Jewish women and children walking that same distance to synagogue on the Sabbath (Psalm 122:6).
6. John Walvoord’s Commentary on the seventieth week of Daniel. Click on the following link for a detailed discussion by John Walvoord on Daniel Chapter 9, on the seven years of tribulation: https://bible.org/seriespage/9-prophecy-seventy-weeks. Taken from the last two paragraphs of Dr. Walvoord’s notes on Chapter 9 are, “a., b. c.,” which follow.
a. The final period of seven years begins with the introduction of a covenant relationship between the future “prince that shall come” (Antichrist), and “the many,” the people of Israel. This covenant is observed for the first half of the future seven-year period; then the special liberties and protections granted Israel are taken away; and Israel becomes persecuted in their time of great tribulation.
b. The beginning of the last three and one-half years of the seventy sevens of Daniel is marked by the desecration of the future temple, the stopping of the sacrifices, and the desolation of the Jewish religion. It is this period that was referred to by Christ as “the great tribulation,” in Matthew 24:15-26.
c. The culmination of the entire prophecy of the seventy weeks is the second advent of Jesus Christ, which closes the seventieth seventh of Israel (aka seventieth week of Daniel, mine).
III. Video Details.
A. John Ankerberg Show. 78.6K subscribers. 2,040 views. Sep 24, 2018
B. From the series “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hinson, and, Dr. Mark Hitchcock. To obtain this entire series, please visit https://www.jashow.org/resources/the-… (Check the credentials of each man on my Page, “About Sources And Links.”
Click onto the image to see the text. Click onto the arrow to see the video.
Who are the main players in the end time events? John Ankerberg Show Published on Sep 17, 2018 – From the series “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hindson, and, Dr. Mark Hitchcock. To obtain this entire series, please visit https://www.jashow.org/resources/the-…”
From the series, “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hindson, and Dr. Mark Hitchcock. To obtain this entire series, please visit https://www.jashow.org/resources/the-…
I. Opening video details.
In the previous article, we discussed the subject of, “A Shout From Heaven,” which was accompanied by the video, “Who is the child mentioned in Revelation 12??” John Ankerberg Show – Published on Sep 10, 2018. The video that accompanies this article is titled, “Who are the main players in the end time events?
The comments in this article come from the writings of Drs. Charles Ryrie, John Walvoord, David Jeremiah, and John MacArthur, and will be preceded only by their capitalized last names. The credentials of these men, as well as other credible sources, can also be found in the above link.
III. Preface To Article
As was stated in the previous article, the church will not be present on earth during the time of these events that we are studying, which will take place during the tribulation. Let’s consider a few of the reasons for such an exclusion: (1) John 3:3 says, “you must be born again,” with the result of the Presence of the Spirit of “Father/Son/Holy Spirit” dwelling within the spirit of each person whom has been born again (John 14:16,17,20), which is an eternal and securing presence (John 10:27-31). The new birth is also mentioned in the Old Testament (Ezek 36:24-29), where the subject is addressed to the “whole house of Israel,” (587 B.C.). (2) The words of Christ in John 3:3, “you must be born again,” were spoken to Jews, and had a promise that the new birth would be accomplished by the Holy Spirit (John 3:8), with the conditions that Christ spoke in John 3:16, 18 (If you believe, you have been born again. if you have been born again, you believe.). To not believe in Christ/to not be born again, has the promise of Judgment (Rom 8:1), which comes from Christ, whom will not condemn those whom have been born again (Rom 8:34). (3) The Apostle Paul spoke of the new birth to the church at Corinth (2 Cor 5:17, 56 A.D.), whether they were Jews or Gentiles, whether they were born again, or not. (4) Each person whose spirit has been born again, has a new Holy spirit dwelling within them, with the old corrupt spirit no longer present in the life of the believer (2 Cor 5:17), and with the new, born again spirit, being as righteous as the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21). (5) At the time of the rapture of the church, the following types of people will not be taken to heaven by Christ: (a) those whom have not been born again; (b) those not having the eternal Presence of the Spirit of “Father/Son/Holy Spirit” within their spirits; (c) those not having spirits as righteous as the righteousness of God. (6) Only the “dead in Christ” (1 Thes 4:16), and those alive in Christ (1 Thes 4:17), will be taken by Christ to Heaven (John 14:2,3,6). (7) Only those whom are raptured will be given immortal, perfect, resurrection bodies and souls (to join their born again spirits) at the time that they are caught up by Christ (1 Cor 15:51-53). (8) Only those whom have not been born again, and are known as “earth dwellers,” will remain on earth at the time of the rapture, to be subject to the judgments of God, and the oppression of the anti-christ (Rev 3:10, 6:10, 8:13, 11:10, 13:8, 13:14, 17:8). (9) Many earth dwellers will continue to defy God throughout the tribulation. However, some of those whom have been left behind from the rapture, will come to saving faith in Christ during the tribulation. (10) Anyone denying Christ will have no place in Heaven,” Luke 12:9, John 14:1-3, but will suffer from the wrath to come, 1 Thes 1:9-10, with the wrath occurring during the tribulation, Rev 6:16 (RYRIE). (11) Unbelievers, known as “the dead,” as opposed to “the dead in Christ,” have “The Great White Throne Judgment” awaiting them (Rev 20:10-15).
IV. Article Details
The Persecution of Israel in the Great Tribulation (12:13-16)
The Persecution of the Godly Remnant of Israel (12:17)
Revelation 12:13-17 New King James Version (NKJV)
War On Earth – The Woman Persecuted
13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.
WALVOORD. 12:13. Satan immediately turns his anger toward Israel.This apparently is the beginning of the great tribulation of which Christ Warned Israel in Matt 24:15:22, which at the time of this writing is yet future. The Walvoord commentary links this time of tribulation with Christ’s judgment of the sheep and goats in Matt 25, which relates to the Gentiles’ treatment of Israel as the nation (Israel) undergoes this persecution (Matt 25:31-40). These gentiles are those that missed the rapture, but came to saving faith in Christ during the tribulation, and gave support to Jews during the tribulation.
JEREMIAH. 12:13. Satan’s assault is anti-Semitic — he persecutes “the woman,” a symbol of Israel. Satan has persecuted Israel as God’s chosen people throughout their entire existence (Zechariah 3:1).
14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
THE DETAILS OF REV 12:14 ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND. It is important, also, to understand that not all theologians have the same understanding of this scripture. However, the scholars that I have chosen as references for my study of the end times, are in great agreement with the critical areas of scriptural interpretation.
RYRIE. 12:14. Persecuted Israel will flee quickly as if on wings of an unspecified place in the wilderness where she will have protection and care.
WALVOORD. 12:14. There is some supernatural care of Israel during this period. Whether natural or supernatural means are used, it is clear that God does preserve a godly remnant, though according to Zech 13:8, 2/3 of Israel in the land will perish. The time element of Israel’s suffering is described as “a time, and times, and half a time.” This again seems to be a reference to the three and one-half years, the mention of time being one unit, the second reference to times, being two units, which the addition of one-half a time would make three and one-half units. A parallel reference is found in Daniel 7:25 and 12:7 referring to the same period of great tribulation. Though Rev 12:6,14 referred to the refuge as a desert, and the Synoptic passages referred to the mountains, this is no contradiction as both desert and mountains are in the same area. The flight of Israel to a place of safety was also indicated in Matt 24:16, Mark 13:14, and Luke 21.21.
MAC ARTHUR. 12:14. wings of a great eagle. Not actual birds’ wings, but a graphic depiction of God’s providential protection of Israel (cf. Ex. 19:4). Wings often speak of protection (cf. Deut. 32:9–12; Ps. 91:4; Is. 40:31). Eagles—probably vulture-like griffins—were the largest birds known in Palestine. a time and times and half a time. Three and one-half years; the second half of the Tribulation (cf. v. 6; 11:2, 3; 13:5).
My Note. The duration: Time, 1 year. Times, 2 years. Half a time, six month, which equal 3 1/2 years. The persecution condition. Matthew 24:14: “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.” The conditions of Matt 24:14 have not happened in past history, and are not occurring at present time; they will only occur during the future time of the great tribulation.
15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.
JEREMIAH 12:15. Some interpret the “water” literally, suggesting there will be a massive flood in Israel during the Tribulation. However, it is more likely that the water symbolizes an aggressive assault by Satan to destroy the Jewish people through their enemies (Isa 59:19).
16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.
WALVOORD. 12:16. The flood is the total effort of Satan to exterminate Israel, and the resistance of earth is the natural difficulty in executing such a massive program. Satan strives with all of his power to persecute and exterminate the people of Israel. By divine intervention, both natural and supernatural means are used to thwart the enemy’s program and carry a remnant of Israel safely through their time of great tribulation.
RYRIE. 12:15-16. In an attempt to dislodge the Jews, Satan will bring a flood. God will then cause the earth to open and swallow the water.
MAC ARTHUR. 12:16 earth opened its mouth. A great army will come against Israel like a flood (v. 15; cf. Jer. 46:8; 47:2), only to be swallowed up, perhaps in conjunction with one of the numerous earthquakes that occur during that period (6:12; 8:5; 11:13, 19; 16:18; Matt. 24:7).
17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
WALVOORD. 12:17. The godly remnant of Israel is identified by their faith in Christ (“have the testimony of Jesus Christ”).
RYRIE. 12:17. Satan will then attack those who did not flee to the place of assylum.
MAC ARTHUR. 12:17 rest of her offspring. Satan will turn his frustrated rage against every follower of the Lamb he can find—Jew or Gentile. commandments of God…testimony of Jesus. The revealed truth from God and Christ contained in Scripture. Obedience to God’s Word always marks a genuine believer. Cf. John 8:32.
JEREMIAH 12:16-17. Satan’s rage during the Tribulation is toward Israel (the woman) as the people of God and toward the remnant of Israel (the rest of her offspring) – the 144,000 who refuse to take the mark of the beast. Along with an earlier verse (12:14), these verses detail how God will safeguard His own from Satan’s attacks: by protecting them during the later part of the Tribulation (the final three and a half years; for a time and times and half a time.). This is much like the way He protected Israel from the Egyptians at the time of the Exodus.
My note. Look around the world today, and you will find it easy to identify many people, and groups of people, that are waiting to join in the persecution of Israel. Consider BDS: Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions.
Click onto the image. Then, click onto the arrow. This procedure will allow you to see the text of the article and the opening video that accompanies the article, “Revelation 12:10-12, Satan’s Wrath Announced, The Ultimate Victory Of The Saints.”
I. Opening video details follow.
In the previous article, we discussed the subject of, “Satan Thrown Out Of Heaven,” which was accompanied by the video, “Who is the dragon described in Revelation 12?” John Ankerberg Show – Published on Sep 10, 2018. The video that accompanies this article is titled, “Who is the child mentioned in Revelation 12?” The Child of Revelation Chapter 12, as was stated in the video is, “Christ, our Lord and Savior.”
From the series, “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hindson, and Dr. Mark Hitchcock. To obtain this entire series, please visit https://www.jashow.org/resources/the-…
The comments in this article come from the writings of Drs. Charles Ryrie, John Walvoord, C.I. Scofield, J. Dwight Pentecost, and John MacArthur, and will be preceded only by their capitalized last names. The credentials of these men, as well as other credible sources, can also be found in the above link.
III. Preface to article.
With Chapter 12 being the approximate mid point of the book of Revelation, this is a good place to bring some key things into focus which relate to the presence of key players. It will also be good to identify a key player of scripture that is not present. The players that are present will be identified by the verse, and will have the NKJV identity.
v1, woman v2, child v3, dragon v4, dragon, Child (notice the capital C) v5, She, Child, God v6, woman, God v7, Michael and his angels, the dragon and his angels v9, the great dragon, devil, Satan and his angels v10, God, His Christ, “accuser of our brethren and his angels” v11, Lamb v12, inhabitants, devil v13, dragon, woman, male Child v14, woman, serpent v15, serpent, woman v16, woman, dragon v17, dragon, woman, God, Jesus Christ.
It is very noticeable that there are repeated words and names above. But, in keeping with the time from the Day of Pentecost until the time of the rapture, there is a significant word that is missing; that word is “church.” The church is never mentioned in the Book of Revelation, nor is it present on earth, after the end of Chapter 3. The focus of the Book of Revelation, however, relates to the attack of Satan, through the forces of the anti-christ, on Israel and Jews everywhere (consider the world today, and the overwhelming number of opponents of Israel and Jews). The reason for the absence of the church, after Rev Chapter 3, is that it has been removed from the earth by way of the rapture, also known as the catching up of the saints. At the closing of this article, in Paragraph V., there will be a discussion on the rapture of the church and the tribulation.
IV. Article Details.
Revelation 12:10-12 (NKJV)
A Shout From Heaven
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
SCOFIELD. The Dispensation of the Kingdom (2 Samuel 7:16 refs.) begins with the return of Christ to the earth, runs through the “thousand years” of His earth-rule, and ends when He has delivered up the kingdom to the Father. (See Scofield “1 Corinthians 15:24”).
SCOFIELD. (Scofield 1 Corinthians 15:24. “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.” Kingdom (N.T.), Summary: See “Kingdom (O.T.)” Genesis 1:26-28. (See Scofield “Zechariah 12:8”). Kingdom truth is developed in the N.T. in the following order (Scofield note).
MAC ARTHUR. accuser. See note on v. 9. Satan will no longer accuse believers before the throne of God because he will no longer have access to heaven.
WALVOORD. 12:10-12. Beginning at this point in Revelation, Satan and his hosts are excluded from the third heaven, though their temporary dominion over the second heaven and the first heaven continues. Satan’s defeat in heaven, however, is the occasion for him to be cast into the earth and explains the particular virulence of the great tribulation time. Note that even as Satan accuses the brethren before God day and night prior to his being cast out of heaven, so the four living creatures of 4:8 cease not day or night to ascribe holiness to the Lord… Though the events of this chapter deal in general with the end of the age, it is clear that they do not come chronologically after the seventh trumpet. Rather, the fall of Satan may be predated to the time of the seals in chapter 6, or even before the first seal. His fall begins the great tribulation.
PENTECOST. The word, “brethren,” relates to Israel.
My note. Both, here in Rev 12:10, and in Matt 25:40, the word, “brethren,” relates to Israel, as follows:
Bible Hub note. Lexicon, Strong’s concordance: “of our brethren ἀδελφῶν (adelphōn) 80: a brother”.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
MAC ARTHUR. blood of the Lamb. No accusation can stand against those whose sins have been forgiven because of Christ’s sacrificial death (see Rom. 8:33–39).
12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
MAC ARTHUR. he has a short time. Knowing that his time is limited, Satan will intensify his efforts against God and mankind, and specifically target Israel (v. 13, 17).
WALVOORD. 12:10-12. The short time or season (Gr., kairos) refers to the time of the great tribulation after which Satan will be bound for the duration of the millennial kingdom. Though many of the judgments of God inflicted on the earth during the great tribulation “originate in divine power” rather than satanic influence, the afflictions of the inhabitants of the earth spring largely from the activities of Satan, resulting in the martyrdom of countless saints and in widespread human suffering of every kind.
V. The rapture and the tribulation. Persecution by anti-christ. Judgments of God. God is in control.
The following discussion is necessary for an understanding of the absence of the church after Revelation Chapter 3.
Key to understanding God, during the tribulation, is His focus on drawing unbelieving Israel to belief in Christ as Messiah. There will also be gentile unbelievers whom will have missed the rapture and will remain on the earth with the unbelieving Jews. The oppression of the anti-christ, and the judgments of God, will fall on all of those “who dwell on the earth” (Rev 3:10) during the tribulation (“ALL OF THOSE LEFT ON THE EARTH; NO EXCEPTIONS.”). Both of those groups of unbelievers can come to saving faith in Christ, and enter into the Kingdom Age at the end of the tribulation (Matt 24:40-41, righteous Jews are “left” to enter the Kingdom. Matt 25:34, righteous Gentiles are allowed to enter the Kingdom). During the tribulation, The forces of the Anti-Christ will persecute and kill the Jews (consider the world today), as well as anyone else, who will not follow the anti-christ (Rev 13:15-18).
It is important to understand that the church is not present on earth from Revelation Chapter 4, forward. So, where is the church? The answer is simple. The church, to include small children, will be caught up in the rapture, and taken to heaven. Consider the words of John 14:2-3, “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.” These words were spoken by Christ to His disciples on the night before He was crucified. The disciples were born again, and are an example of the church. They were told that Christ was going to prepare a place for them in Heaven, and that He would return to earth and take them to Heaven with him. In 14:6, Christ explained the way that the disciples (and all believers) would be taken to Heaven. “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Many people have used this verse (6) to prove that only through belief in Christ, can a person be saved. The words of vs 6, actually say that Christ will return to earth and take His believers to Heaven with Him, and that only He can take his born again believers to Heaven. Therefore, v6 is an action statement. Included in the rapture of believers will be small children. God does not have a problem with small children, or with born again believers in Christ. Christ has a problem with people that have refused His offer of salvation through belief in Him (John 3:16-18).
Rev 12 is a key example that shows that the focus of the Book of Revelation is on the Jews; that is why there is no mention of the church in that chapter (12), or anywhere else after chapter 3. God is in the process of fulfilling the Abrahamic Covenant with Israel (Gen 15:18-21), which will be fulfilled after the end of the tribulation, when Israel possesses the promised land of the Kingdom, “thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth” (Matt 6:10). The promised land extends eastward, from the Nile River in Egypt, to the Euphrates River in Iraq. As of yet, Israel has not possessed that promised land.
The raptured born again believers in Christ will spend seven years in heaven with Christ while the tribulation is taking place on earth. A promise was made to believers in Christ, that wherever Christ would be, His believers would also be also (John 14:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:17).
Consider the seven years of tribulation.
My note, from competent sources. Seven years equal one week, which is the length of the tribulation.
Daniel 9:27, “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.”
MC ARTHUR Daniel 9:27, “He shall confirm.” “He” is Antichrist who comes in the latter days.
RYRIE Daniel 9:27. The prince of verse 26, the anti-christ previously introduced in 7:8, 24-26, who will make a pact with many (of the Jewish people) at the beginning of the tribulation period. But “in the middle of the week” (i.e., 3 1/2 years later) anti-christ will break his covenant and desecrate the Temple by demanding worship of himself in it (Matt 24:15, 2 Thes 2:4). At Christ’s second coming, anti-Christ and his false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev 19:20).
WALVOORD Daniel 9:27 The final period of seven years begins with the introduction of a covenant relationship between the future “prince that shall come” (anti-christ) and “the many,” the people of Israel. This covenant is observed for the first half of the future seven-year period; then the special liberties and protections granted Israel are taken away; and Israel becomes persecuted in their time of great tribulation. The beginning of the last three and one-half years of the seventy sevens of Daniel is marked by the desecration of the future temple, the stopping of the sacrifices, and the desolation of the Jewish religion.
Forces of the anti-christ will persecute anyone who will not follow the anti-christ, Rev 6:1-11, 13:16-18. In Rev 6:12, and forward, we see the judgments of God coming on the whole earth, which will affect “those who live on the earth (Rev 3:10).” From Rev 6:1, forward, God’s wrath is shown in all of the judgments, as well as in the persecutions of the anti-christ. God is in control of all that is described in Rev 3:10, which will begin with Rev 6:1. The anti-christ is a tool of God.
Please remember: The raptured born again believers in Christ will spend seven years in heaven with Christ while the tribulation is taking place on earth. A promise was made to believers in Christ, that wherever Christ would be, His believers would also be also (John 14:3, 1 Thes 4:17, Titus 1:2).
VI. Closing Video
Does the rapture take place before the Tribulation?
Click onto the image. Then, click onto the arrow. This procedure will allow you to see the text of the article and the video that accompanies the article, “Who is the dragon described in Revelation 12?”
I. Video details follow.
In the previous article, “Who is the woman described in Revelation 12?” (Rev 12:1-6), we determined the identify of the woman as being Israel – John Ankerberg Show – Published on Sep 10, 2018). In this article we will determine the identify of the Dragon (Rev 12:7-9).
From the series, “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hindson, and Dr. Mark Hitchcock. To obtain this entire series, please visit https://www.jashow.org/resources/the-…
The credentials of each of the video speakers can be found by clicking onto the following link. Scroll down past the list of sources, and you will see biographical data of each of the speakers. https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/sources-of-information/
II. Sources Of Information.
The comments in this article come from the writings of Drs. Charles Ryrie, John Walvoord, and John MacArthur, and will be preceded only by their last names, capitalized. The credentials of these men can also be found in the above link. Additionally, many years of end times study have helped me to develop a personal philosophy on the end times, which has also led me to follow key theologians whom are highly regarded for their knowledge of the end times (Please check the above link.) As a personal note, everyone should have a MacArthur Study Bible, as it contains extremely great data and detail in its comments.
III. Preface to article.
Most of the events of the book of Revelation show an earthly place of happening. However, as you read through this article, you will understand that it is simply, “out of this world!” It is important to know that the time of this event is midway through the tribulation, at the beginning of the “great tribulation” (RYRIE Note. Tribulation is Matt 24:4-28, vs 15-28 is Great Tribulation RYRIE Note).
The details of this article go back to the time prior to the time of Adam and Eve. The following piece of information is provided by Got Questions, and is an excellent “lead-in” to this post.
Question: “How, why, and when did Satan fall from heaven?”
Answer: Satan’s fall from heaven is symbolically described in Isaiah 14:12-14 and Ezekiel 28:12-18. While these two passages are referring specifically to the kings of Babylon and Tyre, they also reference the spiritual power behind those kings, namely, Satan. These passages describe why Satan fell, but they do not specifically say when the fall occurred. What we do know is this: the angels were created before the earth (Job 38:4-7). Satan fell before he tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden (Genesis 3:1-14). Satan’s fall, therefore, must have occurred somewhere after the time the angels were created and before he tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Whether Satan’s fall occurred hours, days, or years before he tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden, Scripture does not specifically say.
Consider the parallel verse to Revelation 12:9: Ezekiel 28:17, “I cast you to the ground.”
IV. Article Details.
Revelation 12:7-9 New King James Version (NKJV)
War In Heaven – Satan Thrown Out of Heaven
Revelation 12:7-9 New King James Version (NKJV) – Satan Thrown Out of Heaven
7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
WALVOORD. Though the conflict of the end of the age is primarily on earth, attention is directed in this section to the war which will be waged in “heaven.” Michael and his angels (that is, the holy angels) fight against the dragon (identified in verse 9 as the devil, Satan) and the wicked angels associated with him, with the result that Satan and his hosts are cast out of heaven. The concept that there is a spiritual warfare in the very presence of God “in heaven” has been resisted by some expositors, preferring to regard this war as being fought in the atmospheric or the starry heaven rather than in the very “presence of God.” The event here prophesied was predicted by Daniel the prophet in Daniel 12:1, where it is recorded that Michael shall “stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people.” This event marks the beginning of the great tribulation defined in Daniel 12:1. It is undoubtedly the same event as in Revelation 12.
MAC ARTHUR. A state of war has existed since the fall of Satan. Something will intensify that warfare—possibly the raptured saints passing through the realm of the prince of the power of the air.
9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
WALVOORD. The devil, Satan, and the wicked angels associated with him, are cast out of heaven.
RYRIE. 12:9-11. Notice two of Satan’s activities in these verses to deceive the world and to accuse the brethren. The believer’s defense against Satan is (1) to bank on the merits of the death of Christ, (2) to be active in witnessing, and (3) to be willing to make any sacrifice, including death (v 11). 12:9. Several judgments have and will be passed on Satan: (1) his removal from guarding the throne of God (Ezek 28:14, 16); (2) the prophecy in the garden of Eden (Gen 3:15), (3) his defeat at the Cross (John 12:31); (4) his being barred from Heaven (here in v 9); (5) his confinement in the abyss (20:3); and (6) his torment in the lake of fire forever (20:10).
MAC ARTHUR. dragon was cast…to the earth. Satan and his demons were cast out of heaven at the time of their original rebellion, but still have access to it (cf. Job 1:6; 2:1). That access will then be denied, and they will be forever barred from heaven. Devil and Satan. Cf. 20:2. “Devil” comes from a Gr. verb meaning “to slander” or “to falsely accuse.” He is a malignant liar (John 8:44; 1 John 3:8). His accusations against believers (v. 10) are unsuccessful because of Christ our Advocate (1 John 2:1). Satan, meaning “adversary,” or “enemy,” appears especially in Job and the gospels. deceives the whole world. As he has throughout human history, Satan will deceive people during the Tribulation (cf. 13:14; 20:3; John 8:44). After his temporary release from the bottomless pit at the end of the Millennium, he will briefly resume his deceitful ways (20:8, 10).
Let’s consider the “lead-in” words of Revelation 12:7 again, “War broke out in heaven.”
Let’s consider the affects on earth of Revelation 12:9, that are provided in the notes above.
The time of Revelation Chapter 12:7-9 is midway through the tribulation. The following video will provide an idea of what life will be like on earth during that time. The tribulation is discussed in Revelation Chapters 6-19, where the oppression of the anti-christ and the judgments of God are described. It is important to know that the cataclysmic disturbances that will take place during the tribulation are not caused by “Mother Nature,” or by “global warning.” As it is written in the tribulation chapters, God is in charge of every oppressive act of the anti-christ, and every judgment that will take place. As you watch the video, you may see small children present, which will not be the case during the tribulation. The scenes in the video show things that may take place at various times during the tribulation. That which is shown in the video is the situation that awaits those whom will be left behind when Christ catches up His believers at the time of the rapture, prior to the tribulation (John 14:2, 3, 6; 1 Cor 15:50-54; 1 Thes 4:13-18). God will unleash His judgments on the earth during the tribulation, to include the oppressive acts of the anti-christ. The purpose of the tribulation is to bring unbelievers to saving faith in Christ (Rev 3:10). The rapture has nothing to do with small children, or with those whom have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, prior to the rapture taking place (John 14:2,3, 6; 1 Cor 15:50-54; 1 Thes 4:13-18). When the rapture takes place, all born again believers in Christ are taken from earth to heaven, by Christ.
Click on the image, and click on the arrow, to see “End Time Events – Seals, Trumpets, Great Tribulation, Antichrist, Rapture” – OTG Ministry – Published on Jul 23, 2017
Click onto the image to see the text, and the arrow to see the video.
Why is the rapture such an important topic? John Ankerberg Show -Published on Jul 3, 2017
From the series, The Biblical Case For the Rapture of All Christians https://www.jashow.org/resources/the-…
Click onto the following link to read bios on each of the video speakers. https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/sources-of-information/
Scroll down past the video, and the names of sources, to the links that provide the biographical information of the video speakers. Bios of other theologians, that I use for support in my articles, can also be seen in this area of the article.
Consider the following passage of scripture that explains the comfort that believers in Christ have from an understanding of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the church.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Those Who Died in Christ
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.
Consider the importance of verse 18: “comfort one another with these words”
Consider the following valuable tool, the “Pre-Trib Research Center,” for researching scriptures that relate to:
(1) the rapture of the church, for Christ to take His saints to Heaven prior to the tribulation.
(2) the second coming of Christ to earth, with His raptured saints.
(3) other related end times subjects.
Pre-Trib Research Center
Ephesians 4:12 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ”
The Pre-Trib Research Center is truly an Ephesians 4:12 place of equipping. The site has an abundance of highly credible information that has helped me in my own research of end times matters. I recommend the Pre-Trib Research Center to anyone desiring such Biblical expertise for their particular studies and creative works. The significance of the following verse of scripture is found in the works of the Pre-Trib Research Center: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3). The link to the Pre-Trib Research Center Web Site is: https://www.pre-trib.org/
Click onto the image to see the text. Click onto the arrow to see the video.
Does Matthew 24 teach the rapture and the second coming are tied together as one single event? John Ankerberg Show – Published on May 9, 2018 – From our special 1 hour question and answer session on the book of Revelation featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hinson, and, Dr. Mark Hitchcock. To obtain this entire series, please visit https://www.jashow.org/resources/the-…
Click onto the following link to read bios on each of the video speakers. https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/sources-of-information/
Scroll down past the video, and the names of sources, to the links that provide the biographical information of the video speakers. Bios of other theologians, that I use for support in my articles, can also be seen in this area of the article.
Consider the following Rapture and Second Coming scriptures.
The Rapture Of The Church
John 14:2-6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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. 4 And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
1 Corinthians 15:50-54 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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.
The Second Coming Of Christ
Zechariah 12:10-12 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. 11 In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12 The land will mourn, every family by itself; the family of the house of David by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself and their wives by themselves;
Zechariah 14:1-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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.
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. 15 So also like this plague will be the plague on the horse, the mule, the camel, the donkey and all the cattle that will be in those camps.
Matthew 24:29-31 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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.
Mark 13:24-27 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.
Luke 21:25-28 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
25 “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Revelation 19:11-21 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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.
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. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
Click onto the image above and you will see the message text. Then, click onto the arrow that is in the middle of the image, and you will turn on the video.
Video details follow.
Who is the woman described in Revelation 12? John Ankerberg Show – Published on Sep 10, 2018
From the series “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hinson, and, Dr. Mark Hitchcock. To obtain this entire series, please visit https://www.jashow.org/resources/the-…
The credentials of each of the video speakers can be found by clicking onto the following link. Scroll down past the list of sources, and you will see biographical data of each of the speakers. https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/sources-of-information/
The details of this article are discussed, as follows.
I. Who is the woman of Revelation 12? Consider the following discussion.
Revelation 12:1-6 New King James Bible (NKJV)
A. The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon (vs 1-2)
1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
a. sign. A symbol pointing to something else. This is the first of 7 signs in the last half of Revelation. Cf. v. 3; 13:13, 14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:20.
b. a woman. Not an actual woman, but a symbolic representation of Israel, pictured in the OT as the wife of God (Is. 54:5, 6; Jer. 3:6–8; 31:32; Ezek. 16:32; Hos. 2:16). Three other symbolic women appear in Revelation: 1) Jezebel, who represents paganism (2:20); 2) the scarlet woman (17:3–6), symbolizing the apostate church; and 3) the wife of the Lamb (19:7), symbolizing the true church. That this woman does not represent the church is clear from the context.
c. clothed with the sun…moon under her feet…twelve stars. Cf. Gen. 37:9–11. Being clothed with the sun speaks of the glory, dignity, and exalted status of Israel, the people of promise who will be saved and given a kingdom. The picture of the moon under her feet possibly describes God’s covenant relationship with Israel, since new moons were associated with worship (1 Chr. 23:31; 2 Chr. 2:4; 8:13; Ezra 3:5; Ps. 81:3). The 12 stars represent the 12 tribes of Israel.
2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
a. cried out…in pain. Israel, often pictured as a mother giving birth (cf. Is. 26:17, 18; 54:1; 66:7–12; Hos. 13:13; Mic. 4:10; 5:2, 3; Matt. 24:8),
b. had agonized and suffered for centuries, longing for the Messiah to come and destroy Satan, sin, and death, and usher in the kingdom.
B. The Red Dragon, Satan (vs 3-4)
3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.
a. great, fiery red dragon. The woman’s mortal enemy is Satan, who appears as a dragon 13 times in this book (cf. v. 9; 20:2).
b. Red speaks of bloodshed (cf. John 8:44).
c. seven heads…ten horns…seven diadems. Figurative language depicting Satan’s domination of 7 past worldly kingdoms and 10 future kingdoms (cf. Dan. 7:7, 20, 24). See notes on 13:1; 17:9, 10. Satan has and will rule the world until the seventh trumpet blows (11:15). He has inflicted relentless pain on Israel (Dan. 8:24), desiring to kill the woman before she could bring forth the child that would destroy him (see notes on Esth. 3:6–15).
4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.
a. a third of the stars of heaven. Satan’s original rebellion (cf. Is. 14:12ff.; Ezek. 28:11ff.) resulted in one-third of the angelic host joining his insurrection and becoming demons.
b. to devour her Child. Unable to prevent the virgin birth of Christ, Satan tried to kill the child in a general massacre of male children commanded by Herod (Matt. 2:13–18; cf. Luke 4:28, 29).
C. The Male Child, Christ (vs 5-6)
5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
a. a male Child. Jesus Christ in His incarnation was of Jewish descent (Matt. 1:1; 2 Tim. 2:8). Despite Satan’s efforts to destroy Israel and the messianic line, Jesus’ birth took place as predicted by the prophets (cf. Is. 7:14; 9:6; Mic. 5:2).
b. rod of iron. Describes Jesus’ coronation as King over the nations of the world (cf. 11:15; 19:15; Ps. 2:6–9).
c. her Child was caught up to God. Christ’s ascension is in view (Acts 1:9; 2:33; Heb. 1:1–3; 12:2).
6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
a. wilderness. God will protect Israel from Satan by hiding her in the wilderness, perhaps in the region of Moab, Ammon, and Edom, east of Palestine. Interestingly, those countries will be specifically spared from the Antichrist’s attack against the Holy Land (cf. Dan. 11:41).
b. one thousand two hundred and sixty days. At the mid-point of the Tribulation, the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel, puts a stop to temple worship, sets up the abomination of desolation (Dan. 9:27; Matt. 24:15), and devastates Jerusalem (11:2). At that time, many Jews flee for their lives (Matt. 24:16ff.). God will preserve them during the last 1,260 days (42 months; 3½ years) constituting the Great Tribulation. See notes on 3:10; 6:1, 9.
II. Per the opening video discussion, and the details of the above discussion, the conclusion of this article is that “The Woman of Revelation 12” is Israel.
Comments come from the MacArthur study notes. Everyone should have a MacArthur Study Bible.
Left Behind: The Movie – Bruce and Ray’s Salvation – Josho456123 – Published on Jul 13, 2010
(Click onto the image to see the video and the accompanying article)
This article is one of others that can be found in my Word Press blog that teaches, not only about Israel, not only about the end times, not only about Israel “and” the end times, but about Israel “in” the end times. The emphasis that is placed on Israel in these articles is due to the promise of God to Israel in the Abrahamic Covenant, as formed in Genesis 12:1-4, and confirmed in Genesis 13:14-17; 15:1-7,18-21; 17:1-8, and has three main aspects. The third aspect of God’s covenant with Abraham has great emphasis as it relates to non-Jews.
1. Genesis 12:2 (NASB). 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;
2. Genesis 12:3a (NASB). 3a And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse.
3. Genesis 12:3b (NASB). 3b and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
The opening video in this article comes from the movie, “Left Behind 2,” and relates to a pastor, and an airline pilot, both of whom were left behind from the rapture. In the scene, both of the men are shown coming to saving faith in Christ. Neither of these men had been born again at the time of the rapture of the church, so they were “left behind” (John 14:2-3, 1 Corinthians 15:50-54, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 3:3). The movie also shows other unbelievers, whom were also left behind, coming to saving faith in Christ, and becoming a “tribulation force” of believers.
Immediately after all born again believers in Christ are caught up in the rapture, no one will be left on earth that has the indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit. Lacking the individual prompting of God’s Holy Spirit to righteous living, there will be rampant lawlessness throughout the world (John 14:26; 16:8). In a nutshell, godless people will be leading godless nations, which will consist of godless citizens, who will all be under the control of a godless United Nations. The United States of America will no longer be a force of law and order. The hatred of the nations of the world toward Israel will escalate, and will end in a failed world-wide attack on Israel at the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-19:21). The events of this Eleventh Chapter of Revelation take place during the time of the Tribulation, which follows the rapture. During the tribulation all of the people that were not taken to heaven in the rapture (John 14:2,3,6) will come under: (1) the oppression of the antichrist, and (2) the judgments of God. Revelation Chapter 6 shows the beginning of these two events; the antichrist will be a tool of God. In Matthew 24:4-28 Christ speaks to the disciples about the signs of the end of the age; vs 4-14, lists characteristics of the first half of the tribulation period, whereas vs 15-28 deal with the second half (Ryrie Study Bible).
The following scripture texts, along with comments, are from the MacArthur Study Bible. (Everyone should have a MacArthur Study Bible.)
Revelation 11:14
14 The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
Let’s discuss the three woes.
Revelation 8:13 The Three Woes Announced
13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”
8:13 The announcement of the three woes. “Woe, woe, woe.” One for each remaining trumpet blast. Although the first 4 trumpets are unimaginable, they will be nothing like the 3 to come (9:1–21; 11:15ff.).
Revelation 9:12 – First Woe – The Fifth Trumpet – The first of the final 3 trumpets has passed.
12 The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.
9:1-11 (Mine) The fifth trumpet is described in Revelation 9:1-11.
9:4-5 (Ryrie Study Bible) Only the 144,000 will escape the torment on people of the fifth trumpet.
9:12 (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) The fifth trumpet described as the first woe is now to be followed by the two final trumpets, also known as “woes” (cf.8:13).
Revelation 11:11-14 – Second And Third Woes
11 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
11:14 Second woe. The sixth trumpet. The interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets ends (see note on 10:1). Israel’s repentance will shortly usher in the millennial kingdom (Acts 3:19–21; Rom. 11:25, 26). But first will come the final, climactic judgments.
9:13-21 (Mine) The sixth trumpet is found in Revelation 9:13-21.
9:15 (Ryrie Study Bible). One-third of mankind will die during the sixth trumpet.
11:11–14 Third woe. The seventh trumpet. The two witnesses are brought back to life, and then taken up into heaven. Their enemies react in fear, since their resurrection is incontrovertible proof that their message was true and that Jesus is God and Messiah. An earthquake kills seven thousand men. (Compare the earthquake that opened tombs and allowed many to be raised at the time of Christ’s death—Matt. 27:51–53.) The remnant are the “rest,” those who are not killed by the earthquake. Many of them repent and give glory to God. The parenthesis begun with chapter 10 ends here. The third woe is the seventh trumpet, which cometh next (v. 15).
11:15-19 The Third Woe (The Seventh Trumpet— – Christ’s Reign Foreseen).
Revelation 11:15-19
15 Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying, “We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. 18 And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” 19 And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.
11:15-19 (Mine) The seventh trumpet is found in Revelation 11:15-19.
11:15 (Ryrie Study Bible) The end is near enough now that the announcement of it can be made.
11:16-19 (Ryrie Study Bible) The announcement evokes praise among the elders (vv 16-17) and anger from the nations; and soon will come judgment on the dead and the rewarding of the saints.
11:18 (MacArthur) dead…judged. The final outpouring of God’s wrath includes judging the dead (cf. Matt. 25:31–46; John 5:25–29). The judgment has two parts:
(1) God rewards OT saints (Dan. 12:1–3; cf. 22:12; 1 Cor. 3:8; 4:5), the raptured church (1 Cor. 15:51, 52; 1 Thess. 4:13–18), and Tribulation saints (20:4).
(2) God condemns unbelievers to the lake of fire forever (20:15).
It is important to remember a major purpose of the leaders of every congregation.
Ephesians 4:11-12 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
Left Behind 2 Scene – ararat4life – Published on Jan 24, 2009 – a clip from left behind 2 – This video is not my own, it belongs to Cloud Ten pictures.
This article is one of others that can be found in my Word Press blog that teaches “not only about Israel, not only about the end times, not only about Israel ‘and’ the end times, but about Israel ‘in’ the end times’ (from the Old Testament, as well as from the New Testament). The emphasis that is placed on Israel in these articles is due to the promise of God to Israel in the Abrahamic Covenant, as formed in Genesis 12:1-4, and confirmed in Genesis 13:14-17; 15:1-7,18-21; 17:1-8, and has three main aspects. The third aspect of God’s covenant with Abraham has great emphasis as it relates to non-Jews.
1. Genesis 12:2 (NASB). 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;
2. Genesis 12:3a (NASB). 3a And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse.
3. Genesis 12:3b (NASB). 3b and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
The opening video in this post comes from the movie, “Left Behind 2,” and relates to the two witnesses that are discussed in this article (Moses and Elijah?). Rabbi Ben-Judah is confronted with the truth of God’s Word concerning Christ, as being the promised Messiah. The following video shows the effect that God’s Word had on Ben Judah, and on many others, whom also had been left behind after Christ caught up His born again believers in the rapture.
Left Behind 2 movie comments. None of the people that are seen in this Left Behind video had been born again at the time of the rapture of the church (John 14:2-3, 1 Corinthians 15:50-54, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The movie shows some of those people coming to saving faith in Christ, and becoming a “tribulation force” of believers. Rabbi Ben-Judah is one of those “former unbelievers” coming to saving faith in Christ, to include the pastor of African descent (John 3:3; 16-18).
Consider the effect that the Word of God has on Rabbi Ben-Judah in the following video; notice the reaction of the antichrist.
Hebrews 4:12 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Testimony of Ben-Judah – gregorija1 – Published on Jan 4, 2009 – From “Left Behind – Tribulation Force”
Comments on Rabbi Ben-Judah. The following links come from another series of Left Behind movies that followed the videos that are shown in this article.
Dr. Tsion Ben-Judah, who is a character in the Left Behind series, is a Jew, a rabbinical scholar, and former student of Chaim Rosenzweig. Dr. Chaim Rosenzweig (KI-am Rozen-zvieg) is introduced as a chemical engineer and politician from Israel. The reader first meets Dr. Rosenzweig as he is being interviewed by Cameron “Buck” Williams as Global Weekly’s Man Of The Year. Dr. Rosenzweig is a man of science, somewhat stubborn and takes his Israeli heritage lightly. Rosenzweig believes that God is basically an idea. https://leftbehind.fandom.com/wiki/Tsion_Ben-Judah
Dr. Rosenzweig’s character is often used by authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins as a “bridge character.” That is the character of Rosenzweig, through his many contacts, helps bring the other characters of the series together. https://leftbehind.fandom.com/wiki/Chaim_Rosenzweig
Immediately after all born again believers in Christ are caught up in the rapture, no one will be left on earth, that has the indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit. Lacking the individual prompting of God’s Holy Spirit to righteous living, there will be rampant lawlessness throughout the world (John 14:26; 16:8). In a nutshell, godless people will be leading godless nations, which will consist of godless citizens, who will all be under the control of a godless United Nations. The United States of America will no longer be a force of law and order. The hatred of the nations of the world toward Israel will escalate, and will end in a failed world-wide attack on Israel at the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-19:21). The events of this Eleventh Chapter of Revelation take place during the time of the Tribulation, which follows the rapture. During the tribulation all people on earth will come under the oppression of the antichrist, as well as under the judgments of God; Revelation Chapter 6 shows the beginning; the antichrist will act under the control of God. In Matthew 24:4-28 Christ speaks to the disciples about the signs of the end of the age; 4-14, is a list of the characteristics of the first half of the tribulation period, whereas verses 15-28 deal with the second half (Ryrie Study Bible).
The scripture text of Revelation 11:1-13, along with comments, is provided, as follows:
Revelation 11 (NASB) (Unless otherwise noted, comments are from the MacArthur Study Bible. Everyone should have a MacArthur Study Bible.)
The Two Witnesses
1 Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it.
Note. 11:1 Measuring the temple signified God’s ownership of it (cf. 21:15; Zech. 2:1–5). the temple of God. Refers to the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place, not the entire temple complex (cf. v. 2). A rebuilt temple will exist during the time of the Tribulation (Dan. 9:27; 12:11; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:4). altar. The reference to worshipers suggests this is the bronze altar in the courtyard, not the incense altar in the Holy Place, since only the priests were permitted inside the Holy Place (cf. Luke 1:8–10).
2 Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.
Note. 11:2 court which is outside. The court of the Gentiles, separated from the inner court in the Herodian temple by a low wall. Gentiles were forbidden to enter the inner court on penalty of death. That John is instructed not to measure the outer court symbolizes God’s rejection of the unbelieving Gentiles who have oppressed His covenant people. tread the holy city underfoot. Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome all oppressed Jerusalem in ancient times (cf. 2 Kin. 25:8–10; Ps. 79:1; Is. 63:18; Lam. 1:10). This verse refers to the future devastating destruction and oppression of Jerusalem by the forces of the Antichrist. forty-two months. This 3½ year period covers the second half of the Tribulation and coincides with the visibly evil career of the Antichrist (v. 3; 12:6; 13:5). During this same time, the Jews will be sheltered by God in the wilderness (12:6, 14).
3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
Note. 11:3 two witnesses. Individuals granted special power and authority by God to preach a message of judgment and salvation during the second half of the Tribulation. The OT required two or more witnesses to confirm testimony (cf. Deut. 17:6; 19:15; Matt. 18:16; John 8:17; Heb. 10:28), and these two prophets will be the culmination of God’s testimony to Israel: a message of judgment from God and of His gracious offer of the gospel to all who will repent and believe. one thousand two hundred and sixty days. Forty-two months or 3½ years (cf. 12:6; 13:5; see note on v. 2). sackcloth. Coarse, rough cloth made from goat or camel hair. Wearing garments made from it expressed penitence, humility, and mourning (cf. Gen. 37:34; 2 Sam. 3:31; 2 Kin. 6:30; 19:1; Esth. 4:1; Is. 22:12; Jer. 6:26; Matt. 11:21). The witnesses are mourning because of the wretched wickedness of the world, God’s judgment on it, and the desecration of the temple and the holy city by the Antichrist.
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
Note. 11:4 This imagery is drawn from Zech. 3, 4 (see notes there). Zechariah’s vision had both a near fulfillment (the rebuilding of the temple by Joshua and Zerubbabel) and a far future fulfillment (the two witnesses, whose ministry points toward Israel’s final restoration in the Millennium). two olive trees and the two lampstands. Olive oil was commonly used in lamps; together the olive trees and lampstands symbolize the light of spiritual revival. The two witnesses’ preaching will spark a revival, just as Joshua’s and Zerubbabel’s did in Israel after the Babylonian captivity.
5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.
Notes 11:5-6. While it is impossible to be dogmatic about the identity of these two witnesses, several observations suggest they might be Moses and Elijah: 1) like Moses, they strike the earth with plagues, and like Elijah, they have the power to keep it from raining; 2) Jewish tradition expected both Moses (cf. Deut. 18:15–18) and Elijah (cf. Mal. 4:5, 6) to return in the future (cf. John 1:21); 3) both Moses and Elijah were present at the Transfiguration, the preview of Christ’s second coming; 4) both Moses and Elijah used supernatural means to provoke repentance; 5) Elijah was taken up alive into heaven, and God buried Moses’ body where it would never be found; and 6) the length of the drought the two witnesses bring (3½ years; cf. v. 3) is the same as that brought by Elijah (James 5:17).
Note. 11:5 fire proceeds…and devours. Probably this refers to literal fire. These two will be invincible during their ministry, protected by supernatural power. The false prophet will counterfeit this sign (13:3).
Note. 11:6 power to shut heaven. Miracles have often authenticated God’s messengers. Here, bringing a 3½ year drought (as did Elijah before them) will add immeasurable torment to those experiencing the worldwide disasters of the Tribulation—and exacerbate their hatred of the two witnesses. waters to turn them to blood. The earth’s water, already devastated by the effects of the second and third trumpets, will become undrinkable, adding immensely to the suffering caused by the drought.
7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.
Note. 11:7 the beast. The first of 36 references to this person in Revelation, who is none other than the Antichrist (see chap. 13). That he will ascend out of the bottomless pit indicates that his power is satanic. kill them. Their ministry completed, God will withdraw the two witnesses’ supernatural protection. The beast will then be able to accomplish what many had died trying to do.
8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.
Note. 11:8 bodies will lie in the street. Refusing to bury one’s enemies was a way to dishonor and show contempt for them (cf. Acts 14:19). The OT expressly forbids this practice (Deut. 21:22, 23). the great city. Identifying Jerusalem as a city like Sodom and Egypt stresses the city’s wickedness. Its Jewish population will apparently be the focus of the witnesses’ ministry, leading to the conversions of v. 13.
9 Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.
Note. 11:9 three-and-a-half days. The entire world will watch (undoubtedly on the latest form of visual media) and glorify the Antichrist as the bodies of the dead prophets who have been killed begin to decay.
10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
Note. 11:10 rejoice…make merry…send gifts. Wild with joy over the death of their tormentors, those who dwell on the earth (a phrase used 11 times in Revelation to speak of unbelievers) will celebrate the two witnesses’ deaths as a holiday.
11 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.
Note. 11:11 breath of life from God entered them. The festivities, however, are short-lived as God vindicates His faithful witnesses by resurrecting them.
12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.
Note. 11:12 ascended to heaven in a cloud. Some may wonder why God will not allow them to preach, assuming their message would have more force following their resurrection. But that ignores Christ’s clear statement to the contrary (Luke 16:31). enemies saw them. Those who hated and dishonored the two witnesses will watch their vindication.
13 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Note. 11:13 earthquake. God punctuates the ascension of His prophets with a shattering earthquake. The destruction and loss of life may be primarily among the leaders of the Antichrist’s forces. the rest. This refers to the Jews still living, who will not yet have come to faith in Christ. gave glory to the God of heaven. A genuine experience of the salvation of Jews (cf. Luke 17:18, 19), in contrast to those who blaspheme and refuse to glorify God (16:9). This makes a key fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy (12:10; 13:1) and Paul’s (Rom. 11:25–27).
Waltraud Rennebaum – Baruch ata Adonai (Jewish Prayer, Shabbat Song) Waltraud Rennebaum. Published on Jan 12, 2016. “Blessed are You, Adonai our God, ruler of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.” (Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha’olam hamotzi lehem min ha’aretz.) https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/blessings-for-food-drink/
Honoring God, and His Sabbath, and His Chosen People.
Unless otherwise stated, all scriptures in this article were taken from the New American Standard Bible translation, 1995 Update.
I. Shabbat – Friday Sunset To Saturday Sunset.
Genesis 1 – The Creation. Notice that each day begins in the evening.
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
5 And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
8 And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.
13 There was evening and there was morning, a third day.
19 There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
23 There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
31 (a) God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.
32 (b) And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Genesis 2
The Seventh Day Sanctified
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
Consider The Sabbath (Sabbath is the Hebrew word for seventh. Ryrie Study Bible, Genesis 2:2 note.)
Only the seventh day of the week can be the Sabbath. It has been my observation that the Holiness of the Sabbath has been largely discarded by much of Christendom, with a mindset of, “Jews and Seventh Day Adventists do it!” We must not be numb to the significance of Genesis 2:3.
NASB (sanctified); Hebrew (vay·kad·desh); Strong’s (6942 – to be set apart or consecrated)
6942. qadash
Strong’s Concordance
qadash: to be set apart or consecrated
Original Word: קָדַשׁ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: qadash
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-dash’)
Definition: to be set apart or consecrated
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
denominative verb from qodesh
Definition
to be set apart or consecrated
Brown-Driver-Briggs
קָּדַשׁ verb denominative be set apart, consecrated (Gerber238ff.); —
7th day (by God) Genesis 2:3; Exodus 20:11
Leviticus 11:44
Personal Holiness
44 For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.
To not honor God, “that’s not good.” To not honor the Sabbath, “that’s not good, either.” To not honor God’s Chosen People, the Jews, we will take a quick look at that matter.”
God’s Chosen People
Genesis 12:1-3
1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives, And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (verse 3, “I will bless those who bless you.” This passage relates to Abraham and his seed-covenant descendants, the Jews.)
Deuteronomy 14:2
2 For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. (God chose the Jews for the special purpose of bringing the Messiah into the world. The Jews will have a special place of habitation during the Kingdom Age (Re Gen 12:2; 15:18-21)from the Nile River in Egypt to the Euphrates River in Iraq.)
Zechariah 8:20-23
20 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘It will yet be that peoples will come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts; I will also go.” 22 So many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord.’ 23 Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”…… During the thousand-year Kingdom Age, Gentiles will recognize Jews as being blessed by God, vs 23. These Gentiles and Jews will have entered into the time of the millennium in mortal bodies after having accepted Christ during the Tribulation. Jews and Gentiles that were not present during the tribulation, will also be present during the Kingdom Age, but in immortal bodies, ruling and reigning with Christ. Jews will rule over Jews (Luke 22:29-30), and Gentiles will rule over Gentiles (1 Corinthians 6:2). Jews will inhabit their “promised land,” and Gentiles will reside outside of the promised land of the Jews, but will be free to enter it, per Zech 8:22. It will be at the end of the Kingdom Age that the eternal state will begin. The following (II. End Times) discusses the Tribulation, which will precede the Kingdom Age.
II. End Times
Revelation 10:1—11:14 serves as a pause between the sixth trumpet and the seventh trumpet (11:15). The seals and the bowls also have a brief pause between their sixth and seventh judgments (7:1–17; 16:15).
Revelation 10
The Angel and the Little Book
1 I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire; 2 and he had in his hand a little book which was open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land; 3 and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices. 4 When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.” 5 Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven, 6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there will be delay no longer, 7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.
8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” 9 So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he *said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” 10 I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. 11 And they *said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”
Comments follow for Revelation 10:1-11. Notes were considered from the works of Drs. John Walvoord, Charles Ryrie and John MacArthur.
10:1 another mighty angel. The Greek word translated “another” means one of the same kind, that is, a created being. This is not one of the 7 angels responsible for sounding the trumpets (8:2), but one of the highest ranking in heaven.
10:2 little book. The 7 sealed scroll that is the title deed to the earth will be fully opened and all the final judgments made visible. “Right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.” Although Satan has temporarily usurped the sea and the earth, this symbolic act demonstrates that all creation belongs to the Lord and He rules it with sovereign authority.
10:4 Seal up. John was told he must conceal the message of the 7 thunders until God’s time (cf. 22:10; Dan. 8:26, 27; 12:9).
10:5 raised up his hand. This Greek verb appears often in the sense of raising the hand to take an oath or a solemn vow (cf. Dan. 12:7; see notes on Matt. 5:33, 34). The hand is raised toward heaven because that is where God dwells. The angel is taking an oath.
10:6 there should be delay no longer. This initiates the last plagues of the Day of the Lord (11:15), indicating that the time that the disciples anticipated has come (Matt. 24:3; Acts 1:6). The prayers of the saints will be answered (6:9–11; Matt. 6:10).
10:7 the mystery. A Greek term meaning “to shut” or “to close.” In the NT, a “mystery” is a truth that God concealed but has revealed through Christ. Here the mystery is the final consummation of all things as God destroys sinners and establishes His righteous kingdom on earth. “As He declared.” This mystery, though not fully revealed, was declared to God’s prophets (Amos 3:7).
10:9 “Take and eat it.” This act describes taking in God’s Word. John’s reactions show what every believer’s response to God’s judgment should be…great anticipation of God’s glory and our victory, and at the same time, the bitterness of seeing God’s wrath poured out on those who reject His Son. “your stomach bitter.” As he digests what the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments hold in store for the sinner, John becomes nauseated. “sweet as honey in your mouth.” But still God’s final victory and vindication are sweet realities to the believer.
10:11 “prophesy again.” A call for John to warn men about the bitter judgment in the seventh trumpet and the 7 bowls. “peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.” See 7:9 note below.
7:9 “a great multitude.” While the tribulation period will be a time of judgment, it will also be a time of unprecedented redemption (ch 7:14; 6:9–11; 20:4; Is. 11:10; Matt. 24:14). “all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues.” These are all of the earth’s people groups that were left behind from the rapture.
III. Christ Is The Fulfillment Of The Law
Sabbath Worship, as well as all of the other requirements of the Law, have fulfillment in Christ (Matthew 5:17-18).
Paul Wilbur Baruch – Haba Blessed Is He Who Comes – Juan Rodriguez
Published on Dec 12, 2010.
The opening video tells the story of Matthew 23:37-39, which is discussed in this article.
Matthew 23:37-39 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. 38 Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! 39 For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
(See * references at the bottom of this page.)
Introduction
As we study Revelation Chapter 7, it is important to know that Revelation Chapter 6 shows the persecution of Jews and Gentiles whom will have come to faith in Christ after the rapture has taken place (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). We now see in Chapter 7, 144,000 Jews whom have come to saving faith in Christ during the Tribulation, and whom will preach the gospel of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-12), and will share the message of salvation “by belief in Christ” (John 3:16), to others whom also missed the rapture. The gospel of the Kingdom (the thousand-year reign of Christ) will immediately follow the tribulation, and will also be taught (Matthew 24:14) by “these 144,000 Jews.” As unsaved people come to saving faith in Christ, they will find themselves in the gun sites of the forces of the anti-christ. They will also find themselves in the path of the judgments of God that will be released upon the earth (Examples, Revelation 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12; 8:1).
It is important to understand that, “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 (Matt 24:14). It has improperly been taught in many church circles today that, “the Gospel” (1 Corinthians 15:1-12) shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. “The end” will be the end of the Tribulation. The “gospel of the Kingdom” tells of the thousand-year reign of Messiah/Christ. Of course, the “gospel” of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ will also be taught by the 144,000 Jewish missionaries, and by whomever they may disciple. Jews look back to the promise of a Kingdom for Israel, which dates back to Genesis 17:6 (approximately 2069 B.C., Thompson Chain Reference Bible); God will honor that promise which He made to Israel.
It is also important to know that we, in the church age, will not usher in the Kingdom Age. Christians will have nothing to do with the coming of the Kingdom Age. The Kingdom Age will come when Christ returns to earth at the end of the tribulation, and will happen when saved Jews in the Tribulation call upon Christ to return to earth to save them from their persecutions and judgments.
Matthew 23:39 “For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
* Christ’s public teaching ministry was over. He withdrew from national Israel until the time “yet future” when they will recognize Him as Messiah (Rom. 11:23–26). Then Christ quoted from Ps. 118:26.
**** At His second advent, the saved Jewish remnant (the nucleus of the millennial kingdom) will recognize their once-rejected Messiah-King and will welcome His return (Zech 12:10-13:1; Rom 11:26) to set up His earthly rule over Israel and the nations.
Zechariah 12:10 “… so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.
*Israel’s repentance will come because they look to Jesus, the One whom they rejected and crucified (cf. Is. 53:5; John 19:37), in faith at the Second Advent (Rom. 11:25–27).
It is easy to understand that unsaved Israel is the cause of the Tribulation, and not born again believers in Christ of the church age.
Revelation 7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
* 7:1–17 Chapter 7 forms a parenthesis between the sixth seal (6:12–17) and the seventh seal (8:1) and answers the question posed at the end of chap. 6. Two distinct groups will survive the divine fury: 1) 144,000 Jewish evangelists on earth (vv. 1–8) and 2) their converts in heaven (vv. 9–17).
Revelation 7:4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The 144,000 Jewish Evangelists “at the beginning of the Tribulation”
4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:
The discussion of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists reveals that they were successful in leading many others, “whom had been unbelievers,” to saving faith in Christ. We will see in this article that the 144,000 Jews were saved, “through the tribulation.” We see the truth of God’s protection of these 144,000 Jews in Revelation 14:1, where the same number of the Jewish evangelists is seen standing with Christ at the end of the tribulation on Mount Zion (earthly Jerusalem).
Revelation 14:1 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The 144,000 Jewish Evangelists “at the end of the Tribulation”
1 Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.
These Jewish evangelists will be present at the beginning of the tribulation, and will be present at the end of the tribulation. God will protect them. The Jewish evangelists will be saved, “through” the tribulation.
Article Text And Notes
Revelation 7:1-3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
An Interlude
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”
*** 7:3 The judgments are delayed until these 144,000 Jewish people can be “sealed;” i.e., protected supernaturally.
The 144,000 Sealed Jewish Evangelists
4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:
* 7:4 One hundred and forty-four thousand. A missionary corps of redeemed Jews who are instrumental in the salvation of many Jews and Gentiles during the Tribulation (vv. 9–17). They will be the firstfruits of a new redeemed Israel (v. 4; Zech. 12:10). Finally, Israel will be the witness nation she refused to be in the OT (see notes on Rom. 11:25–27). all the tribes of the children of Israel. By sovereign election, God will seal 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes, promising His protection while they accomplish their mission.
5 from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 6 from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 7 from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.
A Multitude from the Tribulation
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;
* 7:9 a great multitude. While the tribulation period will be a time of judgment, it will also be a time of unprecedented redemption (cf. v. 14; 6:9–11; 20:4; Is. 11:10; Matt. 24:14). all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues. All the earth’s people groups. white robes.
10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,“Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
7:11 elders. See note on 4:4. four living creatures. See note on 4:6.
* 4:4 twenty-four elders. Their joint rule with Christ, their white garments (19:7, 8), and their golden crowns (2:10) all seem to indicate that these 24 represent the redeemed (vv. 9–11; 5:5–14; 7:11–17; 11:16–18; 14:3; 19:4). The question is which redeemed? Not Israel, since the nation is not yet saved, glorified, and coronated. That is still to come at this point in the events of the end. Their resurrection and glory will come at the end of the 7 year tribulation time (cf. Dan. 12:1–3). Tribulation saints aren’t yet saved (7:9, 10). Only one group will be complete and glorified at that point—the church. Here elders represent the church, which sings the song of redemption (5:8–10). They are the over-comers who have their crowns and live in the place prepared for them, where they have gone with Jesus (cf. John 14:1–4).
* 4:6 sea of glass. There is no sea in heaven (21:1), but the crystal pavement that serves as the floor of God’s throne stretches out like a great, glistening sea (cf. Ex. 24:10; Ezek. 1:22). four living creatures. Lit. “four living ones or beings.” These are the cherubim (sing., cherub), those angels frequently referred to in the OT in connection with God’s presence, power, and holiness. Although John’s description is not identical to Ezekiel’s, they are obviously both referring to the same supernatural and indescribable beings (Pss. 80:1; 99:1; see notes on Ezek. 1:4–25; 10:15). full of eyes. Although not omniscient—an attribute reserved for God alone—these angels have a comprehensive knowledge and perception. Nothing escapes their scrutiny (cf. v. 8).
12 saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
* 7:14 the great tribulation. See notes on 3:10; 6:1, 9, 12. These people did not go with the raptured church, since they were not yet saved. During the 7 year period they will be saved, martyred, and enter heaven. Though it is a time of unparalleled judgment, it is also a time of unparalleled grace in salvation (cf. Matt. 24:12–14). washed their robes. Cf. 19:8. Salvation’s cleansing is in view (see Titus 2:11–14). blood of the Lamb. This refers to the atoning sacrifice of Christ (cf. 1:5; 5:9; Rom. 3:24, 25; 5:9).
** 7:14 The question has been raised concerning the time pictured in this vision. This picture of the martyrs as being before the throne of the Lamb is similar to Chapters 5 and 6.
** 6:9-11 The vision shifts from earth to Heaven, and John sees a vision of those who will be martyred for their faith in Christ. These martyrs have come from the tribulation scene on earth. The church has already been raptured; the dead in Christ have been raised from the dead before the time pictured here. The plea of the martyrs for righteous judgment is that their persecutors are still living. Additional martyrs will be added to their number. In a word, they are to wait until the time of Christ’s return in power and glory when God will deal in summary judgment with the earth.
2 Corinthians 5:8. “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” The 6:9-11 deceased martyrs are with God in Heaven. The murder is continuing on earth (during the tribulation) of believers in Christ. See 7:15.
15 For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.
* 7:15 His temple. This refers to the “heavenly throne” of God (see note on 11:19). During the Millennium there will also be a temple on earth—a special holy place where God dwells in a partially restored, but still fallen, universe (see Ezek. 40–48). In the final, eternal state with its new heavens and earth, there is no temple; God Himself, who will fill all, will be its temple (21:22). dwell among them. The preferred reading is that He “will spread His tent over them.” God’s presence will become their canopy of shelter to protect them from all the terrors of a fallen world and the indescribable horrors they have experienced on the earth during the time of tribulation.
16 They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
*** 7:15-17 Having died or been martyred during the Tribulation, this great multitude are seen in heaven enjoying its blessings.
* 7:17 shepherd. In a beautiful mix of images, the Lamb has always been the Shepherd (Ps. 23; John 10:14ff.; Heb. 13:20).
As previously stated, God’s promise to Israel is “the Kingdom” which will be fulfilled after the time of tribulation. The promise that has been made to born again believers in Christ of the church age is that we will be taken to heaven to dwell with Christ forever, “prior to the tribulation” (John 14:2-3); wherever Christ may be, “His raptured born again believers will be with Him.”
Consider the following video that discusses the 144,000 Jewish evangelists of the tribulation.
Who are the 144,000, and what power has God given to them?
John Ankerberg Show Published on Sep 28, 2018
From the series “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hindson, and, Dr. Mark Hitchcock. To obtain this entire series, please visit https://www.jashow.org/resources/the-…
Consider the following video that discusses the martyrs of the Tribulation.
Who are the ones who are martyred during the Tribulation period?
John Ankerberg Show Published on Oct 30, 2015
How much prophetic material did God put in the Bible? How many times does the Bible mention Christ’s Second Coming? Where does the Bible teach the doctrine of the Rapture? Where is Imminence (that Christ could return any moment) taught in Scripture?
* MacArthur Study notes.
** Walvoord Study notes.
*** Ryrie Study notes.
**** Unger Commentary notes.
Sweet Beulah Land [Live] – Gaither Music TV – Squire Parsons – Official Video for ‘Sweet Beulah Land [Live]
The message of the opening song is about the catching up of the saints, the Kingdom Age, the new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem. Let’s continue with the following article (Tribulation People – Part II), which tells of the people that will be left behind from the rapture of the church, and who will not have an eternal presence with God. If you have not read “Tribulation People – Part I,” please check the following link:
Isaiah 62:4 King James Version (KJV)
4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
62:4 Hephzibah…Beulah. The terms mean “My delight is in her” and “Married,” reflecting a full restored relationship with the Lord. (MacArthur Study Bible)
2 Corinthians 5:7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight—
5:7 The Christian can hope for a heaven he has not seen. He does so by believing what Scripture says about it and living by that belief (see note on Heb. 11:1; cf. John 20:29). (MacArthur Study Bible)
John 14:2-3, 6 (NASB) Heaven is gained, only through Christ. Christians to be taken there, only by Christ.
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. 6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Let’s consider the second coming of Christ, when Christ will stand on Earth; it will be fearful for those which will be “dwelling on the earth,” who are also called “earth dwellers.” For those whom have not been born again, they will see the second coming of Christ; it will at the end of the tribulation, during which time horrible things will have been happening in all four corners of the earth. For unbelievers, the second coming of Christ will have no joy for them.
Revelation 1:7 New American Standard 1977
BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. Even so. Amen.
MacArthur Study Bible note. they who pierced. “the Jews who were actually responsible for Christ’s death” (Acts 2:22, 23; 3:14, 15). all the tribes…will mourn. The mourning of the rest of the earth’s inhabitants is not that which accompanies genuine repentance (cf. 9:21). It is the result of guilt for sin and fear of punishment (6:16; cf. Gen. 3:8–10).
To know Christ as Lord and Savior guarantees an eternal Presence with Him, and to be protected by Him by being removed from earth before the onset of the persecutions and judgments that will take place during the tribulation. It is important to know that God will be in charge of all of the things that will happen to those on earth that will be left behind from the rapture of the church. Consider that at the beginning of each series of judgments, “seal, trumpet, bowl,” there are statements that identify God as being the designer and conductor of all that will happen. The following verses are examples of God’s involvement in the events of the tribulation.
Revelation 6:1 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The First Seal
1 Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.”
Revelation 8:1-2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Seventh Seal—the Trumpets
8 When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
Revelation 16:8-9 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Fourth Bowl Judgment
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. 9 Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.
After the rapture of the Church, and until the second coming of Christ, the tribulation will bring about the following judgments upon “all whom dwell on the earth,” (Rev 3:10). The earth dwellers will continue to defy God throughout the tribulation (Rev 3:10, 6:10, 8:13, 11:10, 13:8, 13:14, 17:8), even as they see the effects of the persecutions of the anti-christ and the judgments of God, as follows:
The Seven Seals (Rev 6:1-8:6). 1.The Conquerer/The Antichrist 2. Conflict On Earth 3. Scarcity On Earth 4. Widespread Death 5. Martyrdom. 6. Physical Disturbances.
The Seven Trumpets (Rev 8:7-9:21). 1. 1/3 of vegetation burned. 2. 1/3 of the seas struck. 3. The Waters Struck. 4. The Heavens Struck. 5. Increased Demonic Activity. 6. 1/3 Of Mankind Killed..
The Seven Bowls (Rev 15:1-16:21). 1. Painful Sores. 2. The Sea Turns To Blood. 3. The Waters Turn To Blood. 4. Men Are Scorched. 5. Darkness And Pain. 6. Euphrates Dried Up. 7. Greatest Earthquake And Destruction.
The purpose of the tribulation is described in the following verses of scripture.
Jacob’s Distress
Jeremiah 30:7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
7 ‘Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress,
But he will be saved from it.
MacArthur Study Bible note. 30:7 time of Jacob’s trouble. This period of unprecedented difficulty for Israel, as the verse defines, is set in a context of Israel’s final restoration. It is best equated with the time of tribulation (cf. vv. 8, 9) just before Christ’s Second Advent, mentioned elsewhere (Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21, 22) and described in detail by Rev. 6–19.
The Seventieth Week Of Daniel
Daniel 9:20 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Daniel’s Prayer For Israel
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,
John Walvoord note. As Daniel expresses it, it was accomplished “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 for the holy mountain of my God.” My note. It is clear that Daniel’s prayer relates to the sins of Israel, and has nothing to do with born again believers in Christ of the church age.
Daniel 9:24 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Seventy Weeks and the Messiah (Weeks of years)
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.
MacArthur Study Bible. 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.
As is stated in the prophecies of Jeremiah and Daniel, the tribulation happens for the purpose of restoring Israel to fellowship with God. There is nothing stated in scripture about the tribulation having anything to do with the born again body of believers in Christ. Through the tribulation, the leading of God is for Jews to come to saving faith in Christ, as Messiah. May it be that Jews will come to know the truth of Isaiah’s prophecy of Christ being, “God with them.”
Isaiah 7:14 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:23 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”
A few more thoughts about the tribulation, “its purpose, and its inhabitants.”
As we continue with our study of the end times, the understanding of saving faith in Christ will become more important to those of us whom have named Christ as our Lord and Savior, that because of our faith in Christ we will be caught up by Christ prior to the time of the tribulation. For those whom do not have such saving faith in Christ, they will be left behind from the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), and will remain on earth to come under the Godly ordained persecution of the anti-christ and judgments of God. The purpose of the tribulation will be to bring unsaved Israel to a relationship of belief in Christ as Messiah. Gentiles whom will also be left behind, will also have the opportunity to come to saving faith in Christ. There is no purpose for “church age” born again believers in Christ to come under the persecution of the anti-christ or the judgments of God, neither of which will make any believer more holy, or more worthy of eternal life with God. It will only be the sin of unbelief that will cause anyone to be “left behind” (John 1:29, John 3:3). Without the rapture of church, “everyone” in the whole world would be left behind, which would include infants and those whom are unable to make a decision for Christ. For those of us whom have been born again, at the time of our new birth our born again spirit began to dwell within the Spirit of “Father, Son and Holy Spirit;” at the time of our new birth, the Spirit of “Father, Son and Holy Spirit,” began to dwell within our born again spirit (John 14:16-17, 20). At the time of our new birth: we have a new spirit, (2 Cor 5:17), that is as pure as the Spirit of Christ (2 Cor 5:21, 1 John 1:5), with Christ’s Spirit residing in our spirit (Col 1:27). At the time of the catching up of the saints, each deceased or living born again believer in Christ will have their body changed into an eternal, and non-decaying, body (1 Cor 15:50-54). No amount of persecution or judgment can make a born again spirit to be any more holy. Anyone, “without the new birth and saving faith in Christ,” faces an eternity that is described in Revelation 20:10-15.
As you listen to the following song, consider a relationship with Christ … with its heights, depths, and swings of emotion. The closing scripture tells of a born again believer’s walk with Christ, with every such believer being eternally secure in Christ.
I Know Who Holds Tomorrow [Live] – Gaither Music TV – George Younce,Larry Ford – Official Video for ‘I Know Who Holds Tomorrow [Live]
Philippians 3:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
Just Give Me Jesus – Anne Graham Lotz – Carole Inman – Promotional video for Just Give Me Jesus, a free revival for women with Anne Graham Lotz, Fernando Ortega, Jill Briscoe and Stephanie Seefeldt.
Two articles will be used to discuss the subject of “Tribulation People.” The following text is Part I of the study. Part II will soon be published.
An Intimate Relationship With Christ – The Key To Protection From The Tribulation – The Key To Eternal Life In Christ
In the opening video, the words of Anne Graham Lotz are of eternal significance. Consider the words of Christ.
John 17:3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
The significance of having an intimate relationship with Christ is key. If you have such a relationship, your spirit dwells within the Spirit of Christ, and the Spirit of Christ dwells within your spirit. Christ will not be present during the tribulation, neither will anyone be there whose spirit dwells within the Spirit of Christ.
The truth of John 17:3 is a textbook definition of that which is required for anyone to have eternal life. The formula that creates a life, where we will spend an eternity with God, is that of an intimate relationship with God the Father, through God the Son, being empowered by God the Holy Spirit. The first two words of the verse are the power of the verse: “This is!”… Eternal life begins at the time that anyone “knows” God intimately, through belief in Christ as Lord and Savior.
John 3:16 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“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.”
Just as eternal life begins at the time of belief in Christ, there is permanency in that saving relationship of belief.
John 10:28 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
A Definition Of The Tribulation
https://www.chafer.edu/content.cfm?id=389#T
CHAFER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Tribulation – The eschatological seven literal years (Daniel 9:27; Revelation 11:3; 12:6) which is the end of the Age of Israel and of divine discipline against Israel, following the Rapture of the Church, and terminating with the Second Advent of Christ. The Church Age is an intercalation–a period of time inserted into the Age of Israel. The Tribulation is the fulfillment of Israel’s seventieth and last week, the latter half of which is the time of Jacob’s trouble, the Great Tribulation (Daniel 9:24-27; Jeremiah 30:7; Matthew 24:15-21; Revelation 6:1–19:21).
Sources of end times information and study.
All of us read things that have been written by other people. It is important, therefore, for us to select the works of Christian authors whom have shown themselves to be knowledgeable in the things of God’s Word that they speak of publish. It has been my pleasure to have been a student of the end times since 1976. The pastors, lecturers, authors and seminary instructors, of whom I have studied their works and listened to their words, have shown to have an understanding of the end times in which I find agreement.
The following links will show the names of my sources of information, as well as examples of their works and educational status. These theologians have provided a lot of documentation, and ideas, that have helped me to compose and publish my own articles.
We need to be assured that Christ is, “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14/Matthew 1:23). For those, that are left behind from the rapture, they will need to read articles such as this one. They will also need to see videos that show that “Christ wants to be God with them.”
Have you ever been with someone who was dying? I have. I was with my mother when she drew her last breath; my brother died alone. My mother and brother were born again believers in Christ; they went from this life to the Presence of God (2 Corinthians 5:8). But, think about all of the people that will die during the time of the Tribulation, with many of them dying alone.. not having the promise of eternity with God.
All of whom will find themselves in the Tribulation, will have been left behind from the rapture; some of them will accept Christ as Lord and Savior during the tribulation, with no condemnation awaiting them (Romans 8:1); others will stay in their sin of unbelief (John 3:18), and will face the judgment of the Great White Throne Judgment and the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10-15). Those, having become saints during the tribulation, may die to this life but will wake to the blessings of being in the eternal Presence of God (Revelation 7:9-17). Those, not having come to saving faith in Christ, will die to this life and will be awakened to the Presence of the Great White Throne Judgment.
Consider the many people that will suffer and die during the tribulation, with many of them having come to saving faith in Christ. Those who come to belief in Christ will be known as “tribulation saints.” The “unbelievers” will continue to be known as unbelievers, with the Great White Throne Judgment awaiting them. Consider the following verses that tell of the violent deaths that will take place during the tribulation.
Revelation 6:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB) The Fourth Seal—Death
8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.
Revelation 6:9 New American Standard Bible (NASB) The Fifth Seal—Martyrs
9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;
Revelation 9:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB) The Sixth Trumpet—Army from the East
15 And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind (the angels are demons, Ryrie Study Bible).
It is important to know that God will be in charge of the above judgments (Revelation 6:7, 6:9, 9:13).
There are two truths that reveal the joy, or fear, of the return of Christ to earth. One truth of His return (known as the rapture of the church) will be of Christ catching up His born again believers to Heaven. The other truth of His return (known as the second coming of Christ), will be for Him to return to Earth with His raptured believers, “from Heaven”, to judge sin and to set up His thousand-year Kingdom on Earth. The first return, where Christ will return in the air and not stand on Earth, will be joyous for those which have been born again, and will occur prior to the tribulation. The second return, where Christ will stand on Earth, will be fearful for those whom will be “dwelling on the earth,” and who will be known as “earth dwellers;” this return will occur at the end of the tribulation. For those which will have come to belief in Christ during the tribulation, His post-tribulation return will become joyous for them because they will be allowed to enter into the Kingdom of God on Earth (Matt 24:40-41, Jew; 25:34, Gentile); such an entry into the Kingdom was prepared for them, “from the foundation of the world.” John 3:3 is key. “No one can see the kingdom of God without having been born again.”
Let’s consider the joyous return of Christ in the catching up of the church, when Christ comes in the air, but does not stand on Earth. Notice that in the following scripture examples, nothing but good awaits those whom will be raptured up from the earth prior to the tribulation. For church-age born again believers in Christ, they look to the rapture and the good things that will follow. There is nothing of consequence for these born again believers whom will be caught up in the rapture; they will miss the consequences of not having being born again, to come under the Godly ordained persecution of the anti-christ and the judgments of God that will take place during the tribulation. Let’s consider three passages that tell of the catching up of the saints, and the joy that will follow.
John 14:1-6 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Forever with Christ
1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. 4 And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
Note. Christ will come to take His born again believers to the place in Heaven that He has prepared for them (1-4). Christ will personally take His believers to their place in Heaven (5-6). Many people see only the reward of belief in Christ in vs 6; but, it is clear from the verse that Christ will personally take His raptured saints from earth, “to Heaven.” During this journey, the saints will go to the judgment seat of Christ for rewards (2 Cor 5:10), and will continue to the marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19:7-8). Because of the rapture of the church, the saints will be guaranteed a seat at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9), which will take place in the millennial Kingdom after they return from Heaven with Christ for the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19:11-21). The church age saints will not only be taken to heaven by Christ, but they will also rule and reign with Christ on Earth during the thousand-year Kingdom Age (2 Tim 2:12). These raptured saints will come and go, from Heaven to Earth, and from Earth to Heaven. Raptured saints “will not” be present for punishment at the Great White Throne Judgement (Rev 20:10-15), but will have an eternity in the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem, where they will dwell eternally with God (Rev 21:1-5). It is important to know that without the catching up of they saints, none of the above events will take place. Without the rapture taking place, believers in Christ will come under the same persecutions and judgments that are prescribed for the unbelievers of the tribulation.
1 Corinthians 15:50-54 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.
In the above rapture passage, it shows that mortal human beings can not be allowed entry into in Heaven. Deceased and living saints will be given bodies that are changed to be immortal, through the resurrection of the dead saints and the catching up of the living saints. The resurrected and raptured bodies of the saints will be made immortal; they will spend eternity in heaven, and will never die.
“A MYSTERY.” Consider the MacArthur Study Bible note. 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. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+cor+15%3A51&version=NASB
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Those Who Died in Christ
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.
In this last passage about the catching up of the saints, we see the following. We are not to grieve the deaths of saints, “as is the case when unbelievers die.” Christ will descend from heaven; a shout of a trumpet will announce His descent from heaven to earth. He will raise up the bodies of the deceased saints, which are called “the dead in Christ,” and then will “catch up” the saints that are alive. These deceased and living saints will be caught up with Christ in the air, to always be with our Lord. There is no scripture that states that unbelievers will see the coming of Christ in the air to catch up His saints.
Titus 2:13 New American Standard Bible (NASB) The blessed hope
“looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,”
The above passage states that the coming of Christ for His saints will be glorious. Only good things will follow for the caught up saints to experience. Notice the words, “for His saints.” Nothing in the rapture relates to unbelievers.
Part I of “Tribulation People” has been concluded. Part II will soon be published.
Give Me Jesus! (Rev. Billy Graham/Fernando Ortega) – TarHeel4Christ –
CCR Run Through the Jungle – Vietnam footage – atytarenko55
The lives of all of the U.S. armed forces mattered, and matter, who fought in service to our country. At the high point of the Vietnam War, more than half-a-million members of the U.S. military were stationed in South Vietnam. This video shows U.S. soldiers fighting. Once soldiers were let out of helicopters in a combat area, they had a good idea that they soon would be involved in a fire fight. Outside of the 58,220 U.S.A. war dead, there were those missing in action, and those that became POWs. The surviving members of the U.S. armed forces returned to their homes after the war, and are to be given significant honor for the sacrifices that they also made. Yes! Every life mattered, and matters, of those Americans who fought against the spread of communism throughout southeast Asia, per SEATO of 1954.
Of the war casualties, those who were born again found themselves in the immediate, and forever, Presence of God (Luke 16:19-23, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Of those that were not born again, and were war casualties, they found themselves in an immediate state of torments (Luke 16:19-24); later, they will find themselves in the eternal lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). The U.S. military was the major combat force during the Vietnam War. During the tribulation, many nations will have their military involved. At the battle of Armageddon, all of the forces that will be attacking Israel will die, (Zechariah 12:9, 14:12; Revelation 19:11-16, 17-21) and will be taken to the great white throne judgment (Revelation 20:10-15).
In my post, “The Day Of The Lord – Conflict In The Tribulation – Matthew 24-25,” it was made clear that Jews are the the focus of God’s attention during the times of: birth pangs, tribulation, great tribulation, and the second coming of Christ for judgment. Gentiles are in the discussion, but only as an oppressive force whose goal is to decimate God’s chosen people, the Jews (Deuteronomy 14:2). Shown also are gentiles which will come to saving faith in Christ, and will protect the Jews during the tribulation. All whom are seen in Matthew 24-25 are Jew and Gentile. All had not had a personal relationship of saving faith in Christ at the time of the catching up of the saints (John 14:1-6, 1 Corinthians 15:50-54, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The birth pangs, tribulation, great tribulation and second coming of Christ for judgment, which are placed in a one-chapter Matthew 24 capsule, are explained in greater detail in other areas of God’s Word; we will discuss those areas. It is true that many people will be left behind on earth when the catching up of the saints occurs. Jews, and any others, who come to saving faith in Christ during the tribulation will come under great persecution of the anti-christ; they will also come under the judgments of God. A never-ending truth of comfort for those “tribulation saints,” (those who come to saving faith in Christ during the tribulation) is that of John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
In this article we will discuss the Tribulation. Conflict during the tribulation will be widespread, and will not be confined to the Battle of Armageddon, as the following scriptures will show. In this article, Israel will come under much more conflict, than will Gentiles.
Revelation 6:7-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Fourth Of All Mankind Killed
The Fourth Seal—Death
7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” 8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.
Comment. (MacArthur Study Bible) 6:8 pale horse. “Pale,” the Gr. word from which the Eng. word “chlorophyll” comes, describes the pale, ashen-green, pallor characteristic of the decomposition of a corpse. God grants this horseman the authority to bring death to 25 percent of the world’s population. Hades. See note on Luke 16:23. The place of the dead, which is identified as a common and fitting partner for death (20:13; see note on 1:18).
Revelation 9:15-16 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 200 Million Man Army
15 And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.
Revelation 9:18 New American Standard Bible (NASB) One third of all mankind killed
18 A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths.
The four angels are demons, as holy angels are not bound; they kill a third of the world’s population. The loosing of the four angels resulted in releasing an army of 200 million…mounted troops. Years ago Red China claimed to have had an army of 200 million (Time, May 21, 1965, p. 35). (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) (Mine: the apostle John heard the number of the troops.) It is amazing that in the song, “Run Through The Jungle,”we find these words: “Two hundred million guns are loaded, Satan cries,”Take aim.”
Revelation 11:1-2 English Standard Version (ESV) Gentiles will persecute the Jews
1 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
Comment: (MacArthur Study Bible) A rebuilt temple will exist during the time of the Tribulation (Dan. 9:27; 12:11; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:4). (Mine) Even though a temple will be in Jerusalem during the tribulation, the presence of God will not inhabit that temple. Solomon’s Temple was destroyed in 586 B.C. by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians. The Prophet Ezekiel had a vision of the Glory of God leaving the temple in 592 B.C. (Ezekiel 10:18). The Glory of God will not return to the temple, until the Millennial Temple is built, as was seen in a vision to Ezekiel in 573 B.C. (Ezekiel 43:4).
Let’s consider the following attacks that will come upon Israel. It is important to know that even though Satan is shown as pursuing and attacking Jews, that the forces of the anti-christ will be doing the pursuing of Israel, and of anyone whom will have come to saving faith in Christ during the tribulation.
A truth that is ignored by much of today’s world is exposed in Revelation, Chapter 12. We will address this topic with a question. That question is, “who is the woman of Revelation ?” Let us consider the question, the answer, and its relation to Israel coming under the persecution of the anti-christ.
Let’s consider the woman.
Revelation 12:1 English Standard Version (ESV) The Woman and the Dragon
1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
Comment: John Walvoord Commentary. The woman does not represent Christ, nor the church in general, but rather Israel as the matrix from which Christ came.
Revelation 12:13 English Standard Version (ESV)
13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.
Comment: John Walvoord Commentary. The immediate aftermath of Satan’s being cast out of heaven is his persecution of the woman who brought forth the man-child. This apparently is the beginning of the great tribulation of which Christ warned Israel in Matthew 24:15-22. This had its foreshadowing in Herod’s slaughter of the infants following the birth of Christ (Matt. 2:16). It seems here to refer specifically to the great tribulation which is yet future. The persecution of Israel is a part of the satanic program to thwart and hinder the work of God.
Consider the relentless persecution that will be thrust by satan on Jews, and on anyone that has come to saving faith in Christ.
Revelation 12:17 English Standard Version (ESV)
17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.
Comment: MacArthur Study Bible. Satan will turn his frustrated rage against every follower of the Lamb he can find—Jew or Gentile. commandments of God…testimony of Jesus. The revealed truth from God and Christ contained in Scripture. Obedience to God’s Word always marks a genuine believer. Cf. John 8:32.
Consider how much the hatred of Israel will be expanded throughout the world, as Israel is attacked at the end of the tribulation, when the second coming of Christ to earth for judgment occurs. The following three passages of scripture take place at that Battle of Armageddon.
Zechariah 12:2-3 English Standard Version (ESV) Battle Of Armageddon
2 “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. 3 On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it.
Comment: MacArthur Study Bible. “cup of drunkenness.” Jerusalem is pictured as a large basin from which the nations will figuratively drink with eagerness, only to find themselves becoming intoxicated, disoriented, and thus easy prey for divine judgment at the end of Daniel’s 70th week in the battle of Armageddon when nations gather to attack Jerusalem (cf. Ezek. 38:1–6, 14–16; Dan. 11:40–44; Rev. 9:13–16; 14:20; 16:12–16).
Zechariah 14:1-5 English Standard Version (ESV) The Battle Of Armageddon
1 Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. 5 ..Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.
Comment: MacArthur Study Bible. 14:1 the day of the Lord is coming. The “Day of the Lord” is a technical term for God’s wrath unleashed against sinners. Here, Zechariah is looking at the Day of the Lord when His wrath is unleashed against the whole world of sinners, which results in the establishment of the Lord’s millennial reign on earth. 14:2 I will gather all the nations. God Himself will gather the nations, using them to purge, refine, and judge (cf. Rev. 16:13, 14, 16). 14:3, 4 His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. To prevent the eradication of His remnant, the Lord will personally intervene to fight against the gathered nations. Jesus will literally return to the Mt. of Olives, just as the angels announced at His ascension (cf. Acts 1:11).
Revelation 19:19 English Standard Version (ESV) The Battle Of Armageddon
19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army.
Comment: MacArthur Study Bible. 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).
When we read about all of the nations of the world that will come against Israel during the tribulation, it will not be just in the field of battle that such hostile attitudes will be shown toward Jews, and to Gentiles who have come to saving faith in Christ. Such opposition to God’s people will be common in all four corners of the earth. Consider the words of scripture that tell about the situation that will escalate. It is very clear that such attacks on God’s people are getting worse in our world today, and will continue with even greater severity as the time of the tribulation approaches.
Matthew 24:21-22 English Standard Version (ESV)
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
Comment: Moody Bible Commentary.”unless those days had been cut short.” This statement means that God would not allow the days to go on for an undetermined time. This shows that God is sovereign over the length of the great tribulation. The elect are Jews (Deuteronomy 14:2). The experience of believing Israel is in view here, not that of the church.
My comment. It is important to understand the increasing severity of the conditions of the Great Tribulation, as to how they will affect all people that will be present on earth (Matt 24:21, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.”). It is also important to know that only those whom will not have been born again at the time of the rapture of the saints, will be left behind on earth to be present during the tribulation. The purpose of the tribulation is for God to draw unsaved Jews to saving faith in Christ (Daniel 9:20, 24; 25-27). Born again believers in Christ will have already been drawn to saving faith in Christ at the time of the rapture, which will precede the tribulation.
Soldiers, young men. Soldiers on the ground; soldiers in the air. Soldiers planning the fight; soldiers going to the fight; soldiers in the fight. Soldiers in large trucks; soldiers in small trucks; soldiers in helicopters. Soldiers walking; soldiers running. Soldiers shooting at the enemy; the enemy shooting back. Expressions on the faces of soldiers. The expression of one young soldier seated in a helicopter “taking him to the fight” sticks in my mind; I wonder….. In this video footage of soldiers at Khe Sanh Combat Base, South Vietnam, most of the soldiers are very young, with most of them being in their early twenties, some older. The ones that survived the war, and are alive today, would be in their early to mid-seventies, and older. Many of the soldiers went to war, having previously accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior; the death that they suffered in war was a step leading them to the Presence of Christ for rewards (2 Corinthians 5:8). In the coming “Day Of The Lord” during the Tribulation, there will be war. No place on Earth will be safe. Of those soldiers, whom will be left behind from the rapture of the saints, it will be because they had not been born again. At the time of the deaths of the unsaved tribulation soldiers, their presence will be at the great white throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).
II. DAY OF THE LORD
A. “The Day Of The Lord” is a time ahead of us that will include war, which will be a part of the Tribulation. There will also be a time of peace, which will be a part of the Millennium.
B. Revelation 6:4, New Living Translation
Then another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to take peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere.
C. Per J. Dwight Pentecost (Deceased), “Things To Come,””The Day Of The Lord,” pp 230-231, “The Day Of The Lord” will consist of (1) the tribulation, (2) the second coming of Christ, (3) and the thousand-year millennial reign of Christ on earth (also known as the Kingdom Age and the millennium). The Day Of The Lord is that extended period of time beginning with God’s dealing with Israel after the rapture at the beginning of the tribulation period and extending through the second advent and the millennial age unto the creation of the new heavens and new earth after the millennium.
D. There are total opposite conditions that will exist during the Day Of The Lord in , (1) the Tribulation, and in (2) the Millennium. Consider the following two passages of scripture.
E. Joel 3:9-10 New Living Translation (NLT) – Day Of The Lord – Tribulation – War
9 Say to the nations far and wide: “Get ready for war! Call out your best warriors. Let all your fighting men advance for the attack. 10 Hammer your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Train even your weaklings to be warriors.
F. Isaiah 2:4 New Living Translation (NLT) – Day Of The Lord – Millennium – Peace
4 The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation,
nor train for war anymore.
III. SCRIPTURAL BASIS FOR THE TRIBULATIONS
A. All of us read research material that has been written by other people. Whenever we undertake a study of scripture, such as that of the end times, it is important for us to know that the authors of our reference material have been provided by scholars whom have been found to be well-grounded, and highly respected by other scholars, in their studies and application of scripture.
B. The Day Of the Lord will follow the Day of Grace. During the Day Of The Lord, the Judgments of God will be poured out on all of the earth. At the beginning of the Day Of The Lord, Christ will descend form Heaven with His previously raptured saints. Judgment will be executed on the foes of Christ. Christ will take possession of the earth, with His accompanying saints assisting Him, which will last for one thousand years (millennium).
C. The following scriptures discuss The Day Of The Lord, as well as many others. Notice God’s judgment in each verse.
1. Isaiah 13:9 New American Standard 1977
Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, Cruel, with fury and burning anger, To make the land a desolation; And He will exterminate its sinners from it.
2. Thessalonians 5:2 New American Standard Bible
For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
3. Peter 3:10 New American Standard 1977
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
D. The Day Of The Lord is included in the Tribulation. The following verses show such a time placement of the Tribulation in the Day Of The Lord. Nations of the world will attacking Israel; the United States Of America will be a part of the attacking force. Notice that the conversation that took place on the Mount Olives was private, only among Christ and His Jewish disciples; it was about a future series of events that relate to Israel and the Jews. The message of Christ would not be witnessed to Gentiles until “Acts 10:34-44, 41 A.D., by Peter; and Acts 13:42-49, 45 A.D., by Paul,” (Dates from Scofield Study Bible). The gospel message of Peter on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41) was preached to Jews (Acts 2:5-14).
IV. MOUNT OF OLIVES DISCOURSE
A. Matthew 24:3 NASB “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?”
1. “A private conversation among Christ and His disciples.”
V. BIRTH PANGS
A. Matthew 24:6-8 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.
1. “War. Cosmic disturbances. Global unrest. Jews and Israel will be objects of the anti-christ’s hate.”
VI. TRIBULATION
A. Matthew 24:9 NASB 9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
1. “Tribulation begins. Israel and Jews are the targets of the tribulation.”
VII. GREAT TRIBULATION
A. Matthew 24:21 NASB 21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now,
1. “Great tribulation begins; greater than any other since creation.”
B. Matthew 24:22 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.
1. Matthew 24:22 NASB Jews and Gentiles that miss the rapture, but come to accept Christ as savior, during the Tribulation, will be exterminated by the forces of the anti-christ. Without the return of Christ to save “the saved Jews,” no saved Jew or saved Gentile will survive the genocide of the anti-christ. Jews are the elect of God (Deu 14:2).
VIII. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST – Judgment
A. Matthew 24:29-31 NASB 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 for entry into the Kingdom of for judgment, and death.”
1. AFTER THE TRIBULATION. Cosmic disturbances take place. Christ returns to earth with great power of glory (Dan 7:13; Zech 14:1-4; Rev 19:11-21). Those whom had rejected Christ will see Him at his return (Revelation 1:7). Angels gather up the Jews (elect) from all of the earth for judgment.
IX. JUDGMENTS OF CHRIST – LIFE AND DEATH – JEWS
A. Taken And Left Behind
1. Matthew 24:36-41 NASB 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 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.
2. Matt 24:36-41. “One taken, and one left.” THIS IS NOT THE RAPTURE. THIS IS THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. Mt 24:40-41 tells about Jews that are left behind from the rapture. One Jew will be taken to judgment, and death; the other Jew will be left behind to enter the Kingdom, and have eternal life. Those Jews that are left behind to enter the Kingdom are “real Israel” (Romans 11:26); they have been born again (John 3:3); they are believers in Christ (John 3:16). The only way that anyone can enter the Kingdom of God is to be born again (John 3:3). “No one knows the day or hour,” relates to the second coming of Christ, and is not addressed in verses relating to the rapture. “The flood came and took them all away,” relates to the people of Noah’s time who were not righteous.”
a. John Walvoord (Deceased), commentary on Matthew (24:39)”took them all away,” ‘referring to the judgment of unbelievers (in Noah’s time); so at the second coming, some will be taken away for judgment,’ “for judgment preceding the establishment of the kingdom.”
b. John Walvoord, commentary on Matthew, (24:40), “the one who is left (righteous Jew), is left to enter the Kingdom; the one who is taken (unrighteous Jew), is taken to judgment.” This is in keeping with the illustration of the time of Noah when the ones taken away (in the flood) are the unbelievers. Because at the rapture believers will be taken out of the world, some have confused this (teaching of Mt 24:39-40) with the rapture of the church.
X. JUDGMENTS OF CHRIST – LIFE AND DEATH – GENTILES
A. The Judgment Of The Nations/Gentiles. The Sheep and Goat Judgment.
1. Matthew 25:31-33 (NASB) 31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
a. Tribulation Gentiles will also have the same treatment as that of the tribulation Jews . Those whom accepted Christ as Savior during the tribulation will be left behind to inherit the Kingdom and eternal life (Matt 25:34). Those Gentiles whom did not accept Christ during the tribulation will be taken to judgment and death (Matt 25:41) (The context of the Gentile judgment is Mt 25:31-46). “All the nations,” relates to the gentiles of the world. The sheep, “on the right,” are gentiles whom have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, and have been born again. The goats, “on the left,” are gentiles whom have not accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, and have “not” been born again. vs 32, “nations” relates to those whom are, “distinct from Israel, Gentiles;” they are not specific nations. https://biblehub.com/greek/1484.htm
2. Matthew 25:34-40 (NASB) – 34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
a. “Unto The Least Of These,” is often taught to relate to today’s “day to day” benevolence. However, in this passage, Christ is discussing gentiles in the tribulation whom have shown compassion to “these brothers of mine,” whom are “Jews.” The gentiles show that by showing compassion on the Jews during the tribulation, that they (gentiles) have come to saving faith in Christ. “Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you,” relates to the Kingdom Age as being a predetermined place of dwelling for unbelieving gentiles, whom will miss the rapture, but will come to saving faith in Christ during the tribulation. Through belief in Christ, through the new birth, these “tribulation gentile saints,” will enter the Kingdom age and continue on into the new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem. At the time of their new birth, these gentiles inherit eternal life.
3. Matthew 25:41-46 (NASB) – 41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44 Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
a. Those tribulation gentiles, whom did not show compassion toward the Jews of the tribulation (God’s chosen people), had not been born again; they had not come to saving faith in Christ. As a consequences of their not being born again, these gentiles will be taken to judgment and the lake of fire (Rev 20:11-15). vs 46 also restates the reward of eternal life for those whom will have been born again during the tribulation.
XI. Please consider the following video discussion on The Day Of The Lord by Dr. Renald Showers.
Vietnam War – Music Video – Riders on the Storm – Info from the author of the video, Flying Dutchman – Published on Jan 27, 2018 – Dedicated to the soldiers who fought and died during the Vietnam War. Brave young men who served their country, which many of them never received a “welcome home” or a “thank you” from its country.
In the video we see men of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. They may be enlistees or draftees. They may be active duty, reserve or national guard. I call them heroes!
The Vietnam War began. Members of the US armed forces, and allies, were called to serve in Vietnam; others were called to support the war effort from neighboring countries. For brevity purposes, I will call the men in the video, “troops.” They are seen wearing helmets, flop hats, tropical fatigues, flak jackets and jungle boots. They are equipped with rifles and ammo belts. They may have fired pistols and machine guns; they may have thrown grenades. Many of the troops were carried to the fight by helicopters. Those wounded were carried by their fellow troops to places where they, and those killed in action, were taken away by the same helicopters. Troops crawled through jungles, walked in water up to their chests, and walked through rice paddies; hard-sole jungle boots protected the troops from hidden punji sticks. Troops were fired upon by the enemy; they returned fire. Tanks and artillery weapons fired on enemy locations further away. Airplanes dropped bombs. Machine gunners on helicopters fired on enemy soldiers. Just prior to the end of the war, helicopters were thrown into the South China Sea so that the enemy could not make use of them. The Vietnam War ended. The youngest of those whom were seen in the video would most likely been born around 1950. Americans wept as they read the names of the war dead on Vietnam memorial walls. https://www.virtualwall.org/iAlpha.htm
I found the names, pictures, and details of death, of two of my friends. One was in the US Army; the other was in the US Marine Corps. Both were born in 1947; both were killed in action in 1968.
In 1969, Look Magazine published an article that showed pictures of the American war dead in Vietnam that had occurred in the previous week. The casualties were males, young men, with most of them being in the age group of less than twenty-three years old; those that were killed that week were about two-hundred twenty-nine in number. Many of the men that were drafted left jobs, homes, families and church fellowships to serve their country.
Another war will come in the future, that may not be “too far distant.” It will have a quick spiritual defeat, that will come at the hands of Christ (Rev 19:15), that comes as a campaign is being carried on by “all who have gone to war against Jerusalem” (Zech 14:12). That war will be known as “the Battle of Armageddon” (Rev 16:16); some have called it “the campaign of Armageddon.” All of the advanced weaponry, and tactics of war, will be brought against the nation of Israel but, to no avail. Christ will be greater than any rifle, rocket or bomb. All of the foes of Israel will die! Their eternity will be in the lake of fire (Rev 20:10-15).
The US involvement in Vietnam was from 1950 until the last US combat troops were withdrawn in 1973; Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon were the commanders in Chief. There were more than 540,000 US troops stationed in South Vietnam in 1967. 58,220 US troops died in the war. During the war in Vietnam War, US forces were stationed in South Vietnam, as well as in other areas of Southeast Asia such as Thailand, Guam, Okinawa and in the Philippines.
The time of the Vietnam War was during that of the Cold War with Russia and its socialist counterparts. Other US troops were stationed at bases throughout the world. While war in Vietnam is largely remembered as a contest between North and South Vietnam, with the United States intervening on behalf of the latter, both factions enjoyed considerable help from a host of other world powers, large and small. https://militaryhistorynow.com/2013/10/02/the-international-vietnam-war-the-other-world-powers-that-fought-in-south-east-asia/ The total war casualties, of both sides, was 1,273,230, which covers the time period of 1954-1975. Non-combat deaths totaled about 500,000 https://www.historynet.com/vietnam-war
The Tribulation – In the verses of Matthew 24 and 25, Christ is talking to Jews about things that will happen to Jews after the rapture has taken place; only unsaved Jews and Gentiles will remain on the earth during the tribulation. The things that are stated in Matthew 24 are an outline of the time of the future tribulation. The book of Revelation, Chapters 6-19, shows a more detailed account of the things that will happen during the tribulation.
Matthew 24:5-12 New American Standard Bible (vs 9, Tribulation)
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.
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.
Let’s look in greater detail at some of the things that will happen on earth during the tribulation. Notice that God is making the things happen that will bring His judgment upon the earth.
Revelation 6:7-8 New American Standard Bible (Seal judgments; severe; 1/4 of mankind killed)
7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” 8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.
.
Revelation 9:13-15 New American Standard Bible (Trumpet judgments; more severe; 1/3 of mankind killed).
13 Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.
Matthew 24:21 New American Standard Bible (Great Tribulation; consider its severity)
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.
Revelation 16 New American Standard Version (Bowl judgments; most severe)
1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.
16 And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.
21 And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, *came down from heaven upon men;
Revelation 19:11, 19, 21 New American Standard Version (The final assault on Jerusalem ends with all attackers being killed by Christ)
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. (Christ is the rider)
The war begins. The war ends.
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. (the armies are unsaved international coalition armed forces)
21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse (all unsaved troops, including their unsaved chaplains, will die)
Remember that the above judgments (seals, trumpets and bowls) are poured out on the earth under the authority of God. No church age, born again believers in Christ, will be present while these things are happening.
At the end of the tribulation, the number of military combat deaths will be, “all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem,” (Zech 14:1-3, 12; Rev 19:15, 19-21). The non-combat deaths will include all of those whom do not know Christ as Messiah, and Lord and Savior, whom will be residing in all four corners of the earth Matt 24:29-31 (Jews); 40-41 (Jews); 25:31-34, 41, 46 (Gentiles). The righteous of Mt 25:46 will be those former unbelievers, that were left behind from the rapture, that came to saving faith in Christ during the tribulation; they are known as tribulation saints.
U.S. military personnel will be a part of the ungodly forces at the Battle of Armageddon. All that are present for that battle will be unsaved, including their unsaved chaplains, and will die, and will come under the jurisdiction of the “Great White Throne Judgment,” Rev 20:10-15. The sentence will be “confinement for all of eternity” in the lake of fire. These unsaved tribulation era people, combatant and non-combatant, will never see the Kingdom of God; from their physical location on earth in the tribulation, they will be taken to judgment. The same judgment has been set for everyone, of all times, whomever has not been born again. The remedy is to be born again (John 3:3); to believe in Christ (John 3:16); to have the indwelling Spirit of God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) (John 14:16,17, 20); to be prompted by the Holy Spirit to righteous living (John 15:26-27; 16:7-11); to have an intimate relationship with God, the Father, and God, the Son, being empowered by God, the Holy Spirit (John 17:3).
John 3:3 New American Standard Bible
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.”
John 3:16 New American Standard
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.
John 14:16-17,20 New American Standard Bible
16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
John 15:26-27 New American Standard Bible
26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, 27 and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
John 16:7-11 New American Standard Bible
7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
John 17:3 New American Standard Bible
3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
If we have been born again, we know Christ as Lord and Savior. If we know Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have been born again.
During the time that I spent in Thailand and in the Philippines, during the Vietnam War, I remember those times as being times of national unity. We were not a hyphenated nation, we were “Americans.” Consider the unity that is shown in the faces of the following video. Please look very closely; or, you might miss somebody.
Lee Greenwood – A Prayer for America – Yankee Stadium Memorial (23 Sept 2001)) – God Bless the USA
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Mamas and The Papas – Monday Monday (Hollywood Palace, 1966). “Monday, Monday” is a 1966 song written by John Phillips and recorded by “The Mamas & The Papas.” The group was formed by husband and wife John and Michelle Phillips, formerly of the New Journeymen, and Denny Doherty, formerly of the Mugwumps. Both of these earlier acts were folk groups active from 1964 to 1965. The last member to join was Cass Elliot, Doherty’s bandmate in the Mugwumps.
In the song the lyrics are very telling of the subject of this article. Consider the words, “Monday Monday, could you leave and not take me?” There are other words in the song that relate to our “day to day” thoughts of life. Consider what it would be like if suddenly you were missing, and no one could figure out where you went. This same scenario is waiting to happen to millions of people, “and it will happen!” For those whom will be “doing the looking” for their missing loved ones and friends, they will begin a time of life that they will never have thought of, and will face conditions that will be more horrifying than anything that “science fiction” would have never dreamed of!
There is nothing in prophetic studies that tells of things that will precede such an absence of so many people from our world. But, as it relates to the time element that will be required for such an event to occur, we find the following prophetic scripture, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,” (1 Corinthians 15:52). The following video shows what it will be like when “those missing,” will be missing. Notice that the setting in the video is that of a church building! Please understand that the event that is being shown is not that of the second coming of Christ, where He will stand on the earth.
See the following three passages. The catching up of the church is also “the gathering, 2 Thes 2:1).
John 14:3 New Living Translation (NLT)
3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
1 Corinthians 15:52 New Living Translation (NLT)
52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 New Living Translation (NLT)
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
Consider the purposes for the catching up of all born again believers in Christ. The believers at the Church in Thessalonica had a fear that “The Day of the Lord” had come, and that they were in “The Day Of The Lord.” They also had a concern that the man of sin (the anti-christ) had been revealed.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Man of Lawlessness
1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
Note. vs 1 and 2. The Thessalonian Christians thought that they had missed the event which is shown in the above video. They thought that Christ had already come in the air to catch them up, to take them to the presence of God the Father, which would remove them from the persecution of the anti-christ and the divine judgment of God. These Thessalonians believed that they were living in the time of “the Day of the Lord.” https://bible.org/seriespage/chapter-8-revelation-man-sin Consider the following verses that relate to the Feast Of Tabernacles, which is a fall feast of the Jews. The feast is also known as the Feast of Booths and the Feast of Ingathering.
The Jewish feast of Ingathering/Tabernacles/Booths: Lev 23:33-43; Ex 23:16-17; Deu 16:13-16; Neh 8:13-18; Num 29:12-40; John 7:2. The feast of tabernacles will fulfillment in Christ in Zech 14:16-19.
Note. vs 3 and 4: The man of sin can not be revealed until there will be an apostasy. The word, “apostasy,” will be discussed to show that it is God, and only God, who is in control of the timing of the catching up of the saints. No person, or persons, by their actions or thoughts, will determine the timing of God, for anything. We will now consult the Lexicon comments of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 which is provided by BibleHub.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 New American Standard 1977
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.
NASB Greek Origin
the apostasy ἀποστασία (apostasia) from aphistémi
aphistémi: to lead away, to depart from
868. aphistémi
Strong’s Concordance
aphistémi: to lead away, to depart from
Original Word: ἀφίστημι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: aphistémi
Phonetic Spelling: (af-is’-tay-mee)
Definition: to lead away, to depart from
Usage: I make to stand away, draw away, repel, take up a position away from, withdraw from, leave, abstain from.
In any Biblical application, the sovereignty of God must be the primary factor of concern.
Psalm 103:19 New American Standard 1977
The LORD has established His throne in the heavens; And His sovereignty rules over all.
Jeremiah 18:6 New American Standard 1977
“Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
In the case of 2 Thes: “vs 2 the Day of the Lord will not come, vs 3 unless the apostasy comes first,” the sovereignty of must MUST be the determining factor.
Day Of The Lord. The Day of the Lord is a period of time in which God will deal with wicked men directly and dramatically in fearful judgment. But the day designated in Scripture as “the day of the Lord” is coming when God will punish human sin, and He will deal in wrath and in judgment with a Christ-rejecting world. One thing we are sure of, that God in His own way will bring every soul into judgment. The Day of the Lord, according to the Old Testament, is a time of God’s judgment and a time of God’s dealing with the world in its sin. The Day of the Lord is also a time of deliverance and blessing for Israel. The millennium—the whole kingdom reign of Christ on earth—in which Christ personally directs the government of the world, is also included in the Day of the Lord. How are Christians related to this judgment? Verse 4 states: “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” Christians, of course, do not know when the Day of the Lord is coming either The best explanation is that we will not be here. When the Day of the Lord comes, we will be in glory. https://bible.org/seriespage/chapter-5-day-lord
In creation, we see that everything that God had created was “very good.” (Gen 1:31). After the fall of Adam, and the resulting curse upon the earth, we see that God planned a redemption for His fallen world: ”
Genesis 3:14-15 New American Standard 1977
14 And the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly shall you go, And dust shall you eat All the days of your life; 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”
MacArthur study note:
3:15 After cursing the physical serpent, God turned to the spiritual serpent, the lying seducer, Satan, and cursed him. bruise your head…bruise His heel. Satan could only “bruise” Christ’s heel (cause Him to suffer), while Christ will bruise Satan’s head (destroy him with a fatal blow).
In the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem, we see the completed work of God that was done because of the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden. In the Revelation to John, God tells of his continuing work:
Revelation 21:5 New American Standard 1977
“Behold, I am making all things new.”
From the point in time of the creation of the world (Gen 1:31), until the time of its being made new again, it was only God that was “in charge of construction.” Mankind does not have, and will not have, anything to do with the things of God’s sovereignty. In relation to 2 Thessalonians 2:3, it will not be a falling away from the Word of God that will cause God to catch up the born again believers in Christ. Much, to the contrary, it will be the sole decision of God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), that will be responsible for the catching up of the saints taking place. Consider two of the most convincing proofs that tell of the saints, “whom will be missing.” From the Lexicon we find the Greek word “868.maphistémi,” “to lead away, to depart from.”
Consider a sheep pen that is full of sheep, and that they are under the care of their Shepherd.
John 19:2-4 New American Standard 1977
2 “He who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3 “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. 4. “When he puts forth all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
868 “to lead away.” Christ will lead all of His born again believers out of the sheep pen of earth.
868 “to depart from.” Through the leading of Christ, all of His born again believers will depart from the sheep pen of the world.
In both instances of 868, it will be the rapture of the church that will be the tool that Christ will use to remove His believers from this world, and then take them to the third heaven, to the Presence of God the Father (2 Cor 5:10).
Consider the purposes for the catching up of the born again believers in Christ. The believers at the Church in Thessalonica had a fear that “The Day of the Lord” had come, and they were concerned that they were in “The Day Of The Lord.” The following information was drawn from a discussion that was provided by
Dr. David Reagan and Nathan E. Jones on a special television episode of Christ in Prophecy.
The Four Purposes for the Tribulation
The signs of the times indicate that we are on the threshold of the Tribulation, a time of unparalleled carnage that will befall the earth. The earth will plunge into a period of time that the Bible describes will be the most horrific period in all of human history.
What is the Tribulation, and what are its purposes?
One of the names the Bible gives for the coming worst time period in all of human history is the Tribulation.
It is because of the time of tribulation that will come upon the earth, that the born again believers in Christ will be removed from the earth. It will be God’s decision to bring upon the earth, the oppressive acts of the anti-christ, and the judgments of God (Rev 6:1-19:21). Consider the four purposes.
The first purpose for the Tribulation concerns the wrath of God. God’s anger has reached the lip of the cup. God’s very nature is patience, but His wrath will eventually pour out when His anger has finally reached its limit. God’s anger will finally consume the world in what the Bible calls the Day of the Lord. So, the first purpose involves the punishment for the world’s sin.
The second purpose for the Tribulation concerns bringing a remnant of the Jewish people back to know God and His Son, Jesus, as their Messiah.
The third purpose for the Tribulation involves the Gentiles, for they too will come to know the Lord as their Savior.
The fourth reason for the Tribulation, I think, is also the paramount reason for the Tribulation — Jesus returns. I am talking about Christ’s Second Coming. Jesus finally comes back to earth. When Jesus returns, He defeats Satan and the Antichrist, and He sets up His Millennial Kingdom for a thousand years.
(end of program)
Consider the things that will happen after the born again believers in Christ have been caught up from this earth, and the tribulation begins. All of these things will happen because of God’s plan, and because of the reasons that are stated in the Old Testament of the Bible, as follows.
Jeremiah 30:7 New American Standard 1977
‘Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, But he will be saved from it.
Daniel 9 discusses the tribulation (539 B.C., Thompson Chain Reference Bible).
Daniel 9:20-23 New American Standard 1977
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 And 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.
Daniel 9:24 is the beginning verse of scripture that relates the tribulation to the Jews and Israel.
New Living Translation
24 “A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
The church, and believers in Christ, did not come into being until the year 30 A.D. (Ryrie Study Bible). Acts Chapter 2 shows the birthday of the church.
2 Corinthians was written in 56 A.D. (Ryrie Study Bible).
2 Cor 5:21 states that Christ became sin, so that believers in Christ will become the righteousness of Christ. Notice that Christ did not become a sinner; He became “sin” so that He could pay the sin debt, that born again believers would have to pay, had they not been born again.
Romans 8:1 states that there is no condemnation for those whom are in Christ. By being born again (John 3:3), such a person has a spirit that is as perfect as the Spirit of Christ. Anyone whom has been born again, literally has their spirit dwelling within the Spirit of Christ (John 14:20).
Summing it up, God does not have a problem with anyone whose Spirit is as perfect and sinless as that of the Spirit of God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). The primary purpose for the Tribulation is for Jews whom have not been born again, to be born again, to accept Christ as Messiah. Until that happens, Jews, and Gentiles, whom have not been born again, “are sin.” They need Christ to pay their sin debt; and, He will, pay their sin debt, as soon as they accept Him as Lord and Savior (John 3:16-18). Eternal life for each person begins at the time of the new birth, which is the acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior (John 17:3).
In future articles, we will discuss more about the anti-christ and the tribulation, the millennium and the eternal state. The following video shows the conditions of the world that will be present after the catching up of the born again believers in Christ occurs. There will be no babies or young children left on planet earth. There will be no people left on earth whom have been born again. There will be no people left on the earth that were not able to make a decision to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. The subject of the new birth and the rapture of the church is a serious one. John 3:3, “you must be born again!”
Left Behind Official Trailer #1 (2014) – Nicolas Cage Movie HD
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1. Fastest car: Thrust SSC, a super-sonic, jet-propelled car — 763.035 mph (1,227.986 kph). Set on a one-mile track at Black Rock Desert, Nevada in 1997.
2. Fastest production car: The Bugatti Veyron Super Sport — 267.81 mph (431.072 kph). Set in 2010.
3. Fastest motorcycle (official): BUB – Lucky 7 Streamliner — 367.382 mph (591.244 kph). Set at Bonneville Speedway, Utah in 2009.
4. Fastest motorcycle (unofficial): Top Oil-Ack Attack streamliner — 376.363 mph (605.697 kph). Set at Bonneville Speedway, Utah in 2010.Fastest boat: Spirit of Australia speedboat — 317.596 mph (511.13 kph). Set in 1970.
5. Fastest helicopter: Westland Lynx 800 G-Lynx — 249.1 mph (401 kph). Set in 1986.
6. Fastest manned spacecraft: Apollo 10 — 24,790 mph. (39,896 kph). Set in 1969.
7. The speed of sound. If we consider the atmosphere on a standard day at sea level static conditions, the speed of sound is about 761 mph, or 1100 feet/second. https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/sound.html
8. The speed of light. The speed of light in a vacuum is 186,282 miles per second (299,792 kilometers per second), and in theory nothing can travel faster than light. In miles per hour, light speed is, well, a lot: about 670,616,629 mph. If you could travel at the speed of light, you could go around the Earth 7.5 times in one second. https://www.space.com/15830-light-speed.html
All of the above facts on speed are very interesting. But, let’s also consider the following terms that relate to “eye blinking speed.” Such speed is part of the equation of 1 Corinthians 15:52. Consider the following terms: “in the blink of an eye; suddenly, quicker than the blink of an eye; in a moment, in the blink of an eye; in a moment, faster than an eye can blink; like the blink of an eye; in an instant, in a split second,” all of which come from different Bible translations. Probably the best known “eye blinking” wording of 1 Corinthians 15:52 is, “in the twinkling of an eye.” This article will address the speed of “an eye,” as it relates to the end of times study. The context of 1 Corinthians 15:52 will be discussed in this article; other scriptures will be addressed that also act to explain the subject. Future articles will discuss the subjects of, “tribulation, millennium and eternal state,” which relate to the events that will follow, “the blinking of an eye.” “Translation” relates to the changing of mortal bodies, those which are decaying and dying (the kind that we all possess), into immortal bodies, those which will never decay or die (the kind that anyone would want to possess, and is available, “for the asking,”… read on!). The words of 1 Corinthians 15:52 that describe the translation process are, “we will be changed.” The context of believers in Christ being translated is stated in 1 Corinthians 15:35-57.
1 Corinthians 15:52 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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.
How quickly will the rapture take place? The word, “rapture,” is an action word, and is derived from the following (Rapturo, Harpazo, Rapture):
English NASB translation: “will be caught.” Greek: ἁρπαγησόμεθα(arpagēsometha); Strong’s Lexicon: 726: to seize, catch up, snatch away; Origin: from a prim. root harp- https://biblehub.com/lexicon/1_thessalonians/4-17.htm
“harpazo,” is the Greek word “ἁρπαγησόμεθα (arpagēsometha),” which means, “to seize, catch up, snatch away.” https://biblehub.com/greek/726.htm Consider the following flow of information. Notice that a transliteration is one word into which a number of other words are condensed.
harpazó: to seize, catch up, snatch away
Original Word: ἁρπάζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: harpazó
Phonetic Spelling: (har-pad’-zo)
Definition: to seize, catch up, snatch away
Usage: I seize, snatch, obtain by robbery.
HELPS Word-studies
726 harpázō – properly, seize by force; snatch up, suddenly and decisively – like someone seizing bounty (spoil, a prize); to take by an open display of force (i.e. not covertly or secretly).
So, why are we having this discussion on the translation of our bodies? Well, let’s consider the dilemma.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 says that we have a spirit, soul and body. Our spirit is the first part of us that is finished, and is present within our embryo, upon our being conceived. Our spirit influences our soul (our mind, emotions, consciousness), which influences the things that we say, think, and do. Our mind begins to develop prior to birth, and continues to develop after we are born. Our body, our “eyes, nose and toes,” are developing from the time of conception until, and after, the moment of our birth.
After God completed the creation of our world, the condition of the world was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). That condition related to everything that God created, whether natural, mineral, physical, animal, human; things of the mind, of speech, of heart beat, of blood flow; things of the sky, ground, water, and anything else of creation that can be considered. All of God’s creation was very good, perfect, without error or defect.
After God created Adam (Genesis 2:7), He told Adam that if he were to eat of “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” that he (Adam) would die (Gen 2:17). God made Eve from Adam’s rib (Gen 2:22). Eve tells the first lie (Gen 2:3). Eve eats from the tree, and “gives Adam a bite,” (Gen 3:6). At that point in time, Adam and Eve begin a life-long death spiral, with the curse of death spreading to all of mankind, from Adam and Eve, to their children, to you and me today (Romans 5:12-13; 1 Cor 15:22). Due to the fall of Adam, a curse came upon all that found perfection within the Garden of Eden in Gen Chapters 1-2, to include every part of each person’s body, soul and spirit; with sickness, illness, death and other bodily ailments, which were not present until the fall of Adam and Eve, becoming a major source of suffering in the lives of all humans and animals (Gen 3:14-19).
Life does not become “life,” at any governmental determined time; see below.
Biogenesis is the production of new living organisms or organelles. Conceptually, biogenesis is primarily attributed to Louis Pasteur and encompasses the belief that complex living things come only from other living things, by means of reproduction. That is, life does not spontaneously arise from non-living material, which was the position held by spontaneous https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogenesis
Let’s consider God’s solution for the dilemma from which all of mankind finds itself.
John 3:3 New Living Translation (NLT) We must be born again, spiritually.
3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
vs 3: The eternal Kingdom of God, is one of perfection. In order for mankind to enter the eternal state of the New Heaven, New Earth, and the New Jerusalem, each person must not be flawed, in any way, from the fall of Adam, and the curse which followed. We must be born again, and be given a spirit that is as pure as the Spirit of Christ. We must be given a body that is eternal, not dying, and not decaying (per 1 Corinthians 15:50-54.)
John 3:8 New Living Translation (NLT) God’s Holy Spirit causes the new birth of the spirit to take place.
8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”
John 3:16 New Living Translation (NLT) If we have been born again, we will believe in Christ as our Lord and Savior. If we believe in Christ, we have been born again.
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:18 New Living Translation (NLT) Anyone not having believed in Christ, is judged to be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev 20:10-15). Anyone having believed in Christ, has the expectant hope of being taken by Christ to the Presence of God the Father (1 Thes 4:13-18).
18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.
Romans 8:1 New Living Translation (NLT) No born again believer in Christ will ever come under the condemnation of the lake of fire (Rev 19:10-15).
8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
It is only through the catching up of the saints by Christ, that anyone will be taken from earth to the Presence of God (John 14:1-6). It is only because of the new birth that anyone will be caught up by Christ and taken to the Presence of God (John 3:3). It is only because of the new birth and the catching up of the saints, that anybody will go before God at the Bema judgment (Judgment Seat Of Christ) for eternal rewards (2 Cor 5:10). From the Bema judgment, the caught up saints (the bride of Christ 2 Cor 11:2) will be taken to the Marriage Of The Lamb (Rev 19:7-8). From the Marriage of the Lamb, Christ and His bride will descend from the third heaven to earth for the Battle of Armageddon, where Christ will defeat the forces that are attacking Jerusalem at the end of the tribulation (Rev 19:11-21; Zech 14:1-4: Matt 24:29-30). It is only through the new birth and the catching up of the saints, that the believers in Christ will be taken to the eternal state of the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem (John 14:2-4; Rev 21:1-2).
It is important to know that the scriptures that relate to the catching up of the saints were/are written to people whom know Christ as their Lord and Savior, which means that they “have been/will have been” born again. Let’s consider the three passages that we have discussed.
John 14:1-6: This passage relates to Christ, and His Jewish born again believers, on the evening which preceded his crucifixion and death. See information on the Darby Translation below.
John 14:1-6 Darby Translation (DARBY)
1 Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe on God, believe also on me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many abodes; were it not so, I had told you: for I go to prepare you a place; 3 and if I go and shall prepare you a place, I am coming again and shall receive you to myself, that where I am ye also may be.
4 And ye know where I go, and ye know the way. 5 Thomas says to him, Lord, we know not where thou goest, and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus says to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father unless by me.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Darby Translation (DARBY). This passage comes from the letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the born again believers in Christ (the saints/the church), at the church at Thessalonica (1 Thes 1:1).
13 But we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are fallen asleep, to the end that ye be not grieved even as also the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus has died and has risen again, so also God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 15 (For this we say to you in [the] word of [the] Lord, that *we*, the living, who remain to the coming of the Lord, are in no way to anticipate those who have fallen asleep; 16 for the Lord himself, with an assembling shout, with archangel’s voice and with trump of God, shall descend from heaven; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; 17 then *we*, the living who remain, shall be caught up together with them in [the] clouds, to meet the Lord in [the] air; and thus we shall be always with [the] Lord. 18 So encourage one another with these words.).
1 Corinthians 15:50-54 Darby Translation (DARBY). This passage comes from the letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the born again believers in Christ (the saints/the church), at the church at Corinth (1 Cor 1:1-2).
50 But this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s kingdom, nor does corruption inherit incorruptibility. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in an instant, in [the] twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and *we* shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must needs put on incorruptibility, and this mortal put on immortality. 54 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruptibility, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the word written: Death has been swallowed up in victory.
In this discussion on 1 Corinthians 15:52, as shown in the second video, there are four distinguished theologians on the Jon Ankerberg Show that are involved in the discussion on the subject of “the twinkling of an eye.” Those men are Jon Ankerberg, Ed Hindson, Ron Rhodes, and Mark Hitchcock; Mark addresses this issue. Consider the backgrounds of each of these men. John Ankerberg (M.Div, D.Min.); Ed Hindson (Th.D., D.Phil.); Ron Rhodes (Th.M., Th.D.); Mark Hitchcock (J.D.,Th.M., Ph.D.). The Library Page of this blog tells more about each man.
Let’s consider the action of the verses that surround 1 Cor 15:52.
1 Corinthians 15:50-57 New Living Translation (NLT)
50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let’s consider the human situation that necessitates having a body that is mortal, decaying and dying.
vs 50. Our present physical bodies will not be allowed entry into the eternal Kingdom Of God where mortal and dying bodies can not exist within a perfect state of eternal life (Rev 21:4).
It is important to know that only born again believers in Christ will be caught up by Christ and taken to the Presence of God, the Father, in the third heaven (2 Cor 12:2). It is also important to know that Christ can cause any person’s spirit to be born again, per the example of the disciples (Matt 10:1; the disciples didn’t go through any classes; Christ called them.); and the wording of John 3:8, (“you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit” NLT.)
Let’s consider the process by which believers in Christ (saints in Christ), will be made able to inhabit the eternal state of the Kingdom of God.
vs 51. A promise to all born again believers in Christ: “We will not all die;” we will be transformed/translated/changed.”
vs 52-53. The translation process will happen very fast, in the “blink of an eye.” At the time of the sound of the trumpet, which announces the coming of Christ from heaven for His born again believers,” deceased believers will be raised from the places where their bodily remains may inhabit (regardless of the state of decay), and will begin an immortal and eternal state of life which will be free from any kind of sickness, illness or debility. After all deceased believers have been “raised from death,” and made alive, all believers in Christ will be transformed and given bodies that will never die. Immediately, “in the twinkling of an eye,” all living saints (believers in Christ) will be freed from their dying, decaying, debilitated bodies, and given bodies that will be immortal, and that will never experience any kind of sickness, illness, or debility.
Consider that which makes the defeat of death possible.
54. The enemy of all whom have ever been born into this life will finally be defeated. For those whom have believed in Christ as their Lord and Savior, and have been born again, they will never again have to come “face to face” with death. It is through Christ that “death,” which is the greatest enemy of all human beings, will be defeated, and never, ever, be able to raise its ugly head, again.
In addition to the benefit of being caught up by Christ, and taken to the Presence of God, those whom have been born again have the following spiritual benefits.
1. Our spirit will dwell within the Spirit of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and will be taught by God’s Holy Spirit (John 14:20; 26; 16:7-8). 2. Our spirit will be a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). 3. Our spirit will be as righteous as the Spirit of Christ (2 Cor 5:21). 4. The Spirit of Christ, being within our spirit, will be our expectant hope of eternal life (Col 1:27). 5. Our spirit will be perfect within the Spirit of Christ (Col 1:28). 6. When we were conceived and born, our spiritual condition was that of darkness (John 1:3). 7. Because we have a spirit that dwells within the Spirit of God the, “Father, Son and Holy Spirit,” we are no longer in a condition of darkness, but are now in a condition of light, which permits us to live within the Spirit of God (1 John 1:5). 8. By having our spirit dwelling within the Spirit of Christ, no one will ever be able to remove us from dwelling within His Presence (John 10:27-30). 9. At the time of our new birth, we begin our eternal spiritual life: “this ‘is’ eternal life,” (John 17:3).
Consider the eternal state in which born again believers in Christ will live forever. It will be a place where death, sin, sickness or debility will not be allowed to exist.
Revelation 21:1-4 New Living Translation (NLT)
The New Jerusalem
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
Conclusion.
Let’s reconsider the question of, “how fast is fast?” After I have given the question much thought, through much deliberation and prayer, I will have to share my conclusion of the matter. The conclusion in relation to the contents of this article is that, “fast is fast;” it is “God-fast!” Nothing can be any faster than when Christ returns to earth from Heaven to catch up His saints, to change their mortal bodies into immortal bodies, to take them to the Presence of God (John 14:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54).
It is important to know that God has a plan for Israel, and a plan for the Church. Israel is a nation; the church is not a nation. God has not replaced Israel with the Church; He has not given the promises and blessings to the Church that he made covenant to Israel; such teaching is known as replacement theology, and is designed by Satan to undermine God’s love for Israel, “His Chosen People” (Deuteronomy 14:2). The timeline for the rapture is based on God’s timeline for Israel. The purpose of the tribulation is based on God’s purposes for Israel, which do not include the Church. Nothing that the church has done, has not done, will do, or will not do, will hasten or delay the day in which God catches up the born again believers in Christ and takes them to His Presence in the third heaven. The purposes and details for the tribulation are written in the Old Testament. The time of the tribulation is known as “Jacob’s distress” and “Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7); it will be discussed in future writings, and will point to Israel (Daniel 9:2, 20) as being the reason for the tribulation. Also shown in prophecy will be God’s deliverance of Israel from, “Jacob’s distress.”
The judgments of God on the earth during the tribulation will be very severe. God will not place “the bride of Christ,” infants, young children, or anyone unable to make a decision for Christ, in the midst of the judgments that He will unleash on the earth (Rev 6:1-17; 8:1-7; 16:1-3). The purpose of the tribulation is for God to judge sin and to draw unbelieving Jews to accept Christ as their Messiah. The payment for the sin of the bride of Christ, the church, was made on the cross by Christ (2 Cor 5:21).
The only sin that will cause anyone to find themself in the tribulation is the sin of unbelief (John 3:16-18).
ABOUT THE DARBY BOOK LIST COPYRIGHT
Version Information
The Darby Bible was first published in 1890 by John Nelson Darby, an Anglo-Irish Bible teacher associated with the early years of the Plymouth Brethren. Darby also published translations of the Bible in French and German.
J. N. Darby’s purpose was, as he states in the preface to his English New Testament, to make a modern translation for the unlearned who have neither access to manuscript texts nor training and knowledge of ancient languages of the Scriptures. Darby’s translation work was not intended to be read aloud. His work was for study and private use. In his own oral ministry he generally used the English KJV Bible.
This Bible is in the public domain in the United States. We are making it available in the same format in which we acquired it as a public service.
Our closing video is that of a song that tells of the catching up of the saints.
The Happy Goodmans – I Believe He’s Coming Back [Live]
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The subject of the end times, especially the study of the millennium, requires a great deal of study. There are many highly respected theologians that have written on the time and details of the Kingdom Age, also known as the millennium, and the millennial reign of Christ. Most of the authors that I have chosen for research purposes, have been found to be very knowledgeable of eschatology (end times study), and are “in sync” with their conclusions. However, I have found some differences in their findings, such as those that I have found in their research of the millennium; but, those differences are minor, as they fit into the overall subject of the end times. This article on, “Consider The Journey-Another Millennium Perspective,” will provide a point of view on the millennium, in which I find total agreement. It is a view that is sound, and is supported by the research of such highly respected theologians as, Charles C. Ryrie, Ph.D., Paul David Freed, Ph.D., Dwight J. Pentecost, Th.D., and John F. Walvoord, Th.D., all of Dallas Theological Seminary. It is through the end times expertise of the aforementioned scholars that I have been able to write, with great confidence, this article on such a challenging element of eschatology. By the way, you will come to see that the song, “Beulah Land,” actually relates to the eternal “heavenly state” of the “new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem” (Revelation 21:1-2). The millennium, however, which relates to a time of “earthly” existence, covers a time period of only “one thousand years.” A credible source document that I have used, more than any other, in the preparation of this article is, “Things To Come, 1958, J.Dwight Pentecost, Th.D., forward by John W. Walvoord, Th.D.; both of Dallas Theological Seminary.)” “Things To Come” is a book that everyone should also consider for a study on the subject of the end times; Chapter XXXI offers great insight into the study of the millennium.
The millennium is one of the key parts of “The Day Of The Lord.” “The Day Of The Lord,” which is the major theme of the prophetic book of Joel, involves God’s special intervention in the affairs of human history. Included events are God’s intervention in the affairs of Israel (Ryrie Study Bible, Dr. Charles C. Ryrie, Th.D., Ph. D.)…. Israel will praise the Lord during the Millennium. The Day Of The Lord is a time that God may judge or bless. It is a time that will begin with the seven-year tribulation, which could be called the “judgment phase,” and will continue throughout the entire thousand-year reign of Christ, which could be called the “blessing phase.” The Day Of The Lord will stretch all the way from the rapture to the end of the millennium. It will commence with a time of wrath and judgment on a wicked and Christ-rejecting world, and will culminate in a time of peace and prosperity in which Christ will be in the midst of the earth, and bring blessing to the nation of Israel. The millennium will end with judgment (Rev 20:9-15) (John Walvoord, commentary, 1&2 Thessalonians).
The Day of the Lord is a period of time in which God will deal with wicked men directly and dramatically in fearful judgment. In 1 Thessalonians 5, the Day of the Lord is used in the sense of an extended period of time. The Day of the Lord, according to the Old Testament, is a time of God’s judgment and a time of God’s dealing with the world in its sin. The Day of the Lord is also a time of deliverance and blessing for Israel. The millennium—the whole kingdom reign of Christ on earth—in which Christ personally directs the government of the world, is also included in the Day of the Lord. Paul is telling the Thessalonians that the Day of the Lord is going to come, and this follows immediately the passage which dealt with the coming of Christ for His church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) (John Walvoord, Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians).
Here is the order of events of the Day Of The Lord: “Rapture Of The Church By Christ. Tribulation. Second Coming Of Christ. Millennium.” Following the events of the Millennium will be the destruction of our world (1 Peter 3:10), and the gift of God to those whom have been born again, which will be the eternal state,” of the new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem (Rev 21:1-2). Notice that “the earthly Jerusalem,” and the remainder of our present world will be destroyed prior to the appearance of the “new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem.”
It is important to know that the “Kingdom Age, the earthly millennium, the rule and reign of Christ,” is the same one thousand-year period that immediately follows the tribulation and second coming of Christ, where He sets foot on the earth, for the purposes of judgment of sin, and the establishment of the Kingdom Age. The rapture precedes the tribulation, and is the event where Christ comes in the air to catch up His deceased and living saints of the church age. During the time of the millennium, the Old Testament saints, the church-age saints, and the tribulation saints, all of whom will have immortal, resurrection bodies, will reside in the heavenly Jerusalem of the eternal state (Rev 21:1-2); they will continue residing there throughout eternity, but will have access to the earth.
The new Jerusalem, “the heavenly Jerusalem,” will come down out of heaven by God and will be the abode of all of the saints (Heb 12:22-24); it is the place that Christ is preparing for His people (John 14:2). During the millennium, the New Jerusalem will be suspended over the earth; it will be the dwelling place of all believers during eternity, as is emphasized in Rev 21:1-8 (Ryrie Study Bible note, Rev 21:2). Those residents of the heavenly, New Jerusalem, will rule and reign with Christ during the time of the earthly millennium (Jews, Matt 19:28, and Gentiles, Rev 20:4-6). They will be able to go to and from the heavenly earth, to the earth of the millennium, as they reign with Christ.
Born again, living and deceased, believers of the church age will reside in the eternal state throughout the duration of the millennium, due to their having immortal bodies (resurrected, and changed bodies), given to them at the time of the rapture of the church (1 Cor 15:50-54). Those, whom will be born again during the tribulation, will be allowed to enter the millennium at the end of the tribulation, Jews (Matt 24:40-41) and Gentiles (Matt 25:34-40); they will enter without having immortal resurrection bodies. These tribulation saints were unbelievers at the time of the rapture of the church, and were left behind to endure the tyranny of the anti-christ and the judgments of God. By entering the millennium in mortal bodies, these tribulation saints will bear children, whom will also have to come to saving faith in Christ, and be born again, in order for them to enter the eternal state. All born again mortal people in the tribulation will be given immortal bodies, and will be allowed to enter the eternal state (Rev 21:1-2). Children whom are born during the millennium, but never come to saving faith in Christ, never having been being born again, “will not” enter the eternal state (Rev 21:1-2), but will find their eternity in the Lake Of Fire (Rev 20:7-15).
Consider a heavenly city, the Heavenly Jerusalem. Hebrews 11:10, 11:16, 12:22-24, Galatians 4:26, Revelation 3:12, 21:2, 21:10. The Heavenly Jerusalem will be the destination for all raptured and resurrected saints at the time of the second coming of Christ. The raptured living saints are those in John 14:1-6, 1 Corinthians 15:50-54, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15, 17-18. The resurrected saints are (1) all Old Testament resurrected saints (Daniel 12:1-2), (2) New Testament resurrected deceased saints (1 Corinthians 15:50-52, and 1 Thessalonians 4:16), (3) tribulation martyred, deceased and resurrected saints (Revelation 20:4); they will occupy the heavenly Jerusalem “during the millennium.” These saints will have access to the “earthly Jerusalem” during the millennium, where they will rule and reign with Christ. Resurrected Jews will rule over the Kingdom Age Jews (Matthew 19:28). Resurrected Gentiles will rule over Kingdom Age Gentiles (Revelation 20:6). Left-behind saved Jews will occupy the land that was promised to Abraham. Left-behind saved Gentiles will be able to travel through the land of Israel (Genesis 15:18-20), but will reside outside of those boundaries (Zechariah 8:20-23, 14:9-21). Unfallen angels will also occupy the heavenly Jerusalem “during the millennium,” and will have access to the “earthly Jerusalem” during the millennium.
Consider a place that Christ has prepared for the raptured and resurrected believers in Christ (John 14:2), and for all saints of all times. At the time of the rapture of the church (catching up of the saints), those saints will be taken by Christ to the Presence of God in the third heaven (2 Corinthians 5:10), where they will receive heavenly rewards. Next, they will accompany Christ to the Marriage of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-8). Then, Christ and His bride (the born again believers in Christ), will descend from heaven to earth for the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-20); Christ wins this spiritual battle (Revelation 19:15,21). After the victory, all of the raptured and resurrected saints will meet at the Marriage Supper (Rev 19:9) during the millennium, in the heavenly new earth. Only born again people will enter the earthly kingdom, but sin will develop and flourish. This is because of those whom will be born during the Kingdom Age, but will not be born again. There will be death on earth during the earthly Kingdom Age (Isaiah 65:20). However there will be no death in the heavenly eternal state (Revelation 21:4), neither during the time of the millennium, nor during eternity.
Consider the tribulation Jews and Gentiles that are allowed to go into the Kingdom Age on earth. They will have been born again, but will enter the Kingdom Age in mortal bodies; therefore, they will be able to have children. The children that will be born during the Kingdom age will be born with a need to be born again, and will be given instruction by Christ (Isaiah 2:3). Not all of these people will come to faith in Christ during the millennium; they will be a part of an attack on those whom will have come to faith in Christ, at the millennial age Battle of Gog and Magog (Revelation 20:7-9). Those whom will come to saving faith in Christ, will be given immortal bodies, and will be allowed to enter the eternal state of the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-2, 7, 8).
Consider a place that has been prepared by God for those Jews (Matthew 24:39-41), and Gentiles (Matthew 25:34), whom will miss the rapture and will be born again during the tribulation. Those whom will be born again (John 3:3) and come to saving faith in Christ during the tribulation, will be allowed to enter the Kingdom Age on earth during the millennium. But, because these left-behind Gentiles and Jews will not have been raptured or resurrected, they will not initially be allowed to enter the eternal state of the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-2). However, because these tribulation saints had been born again, they will be given immortal bodies so that they can enter the eternal state.
Consider a look into the eternal state (Ryrie Study Bible notes).
Rev 21:1. A new heaven and a new earth. The present creation will be destroyed so that it may be cleansed from all the effects of sin (2 Peter 3:7, 10, 12).
Rev 21:3-4. People will enjoy a new intimacy with God, and the elimination of those sorrows that sin brings.
Rev 21:8. Those, whose lives can be characterized in these ways will be cast into the lake of fire because they have shown themselves to be unbelievers.
Rev 21:11. The city will shine with the Glory of God, which will allow that Glory to shine brilliantly.
Rev 21:12-14. Though both Jewish saints and Christian saints will inhabit the city, the names of the twelve tribes and the twelve apostles are a witness to their continued distinction.
Let’s not forget the unfallen angels, and their importance in the return of Christ and His bride at the time of the Battle of Armageddon, which has also been called the campaign of Armageddon.
Matthew 24:29-31 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Glorious Return
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.
24:31 from one end of heaven to the other. All the “elect” 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). (MacArthur Study Bible note).
My note. Angels will be sent throughout the world to gather the elect (Jews, Deuteronomy 14:2). These will be Jews of the tribulation. They will be taken to the Presence of Christ (Matt 24:29-31). One will be left behind to enter the millennial kingdom. One will be taken in judgment (Matt 24:40-41). Initially, those whom are taken, face death (Luke 17:37). At the end of the millennium they will be raised to go before the great white throne judgment (Rev 20:10-15).
Notice that the tribulation precedes the second coming of Christ and the millennium. Notice, also, that the event of Matt 24:40-41 is not the rapture of the church.
As I close this article, I would like for you to consider the events which will lead up to the millennium. The following video will show an assortment of events which are very close to those which God’s Word tells about the tribulation and great tribulation. Consider the Words of Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Matthew 24:21 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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.
The great tribulation will be the last half of the seven years of tribulation, which will take place after the rapture of the church takes place. Conditions on earth will become increasingly more severe. Millions of people will be missing. No one whom is left on earth will be a born again believer in Christ. Liberal theologians will be interviewed on CNN, MSNBC, and other such networks, explaining that global warming, or alien abductions, are the cause of all of the people being missing. Disorder will be the order of the day. Chaos and violence will sweep the earth. A new world order of, “one world government – one world leader,” will be established. Cosmic disturbances, of all sorts, will erupt and make the flood of Noah’s time look like a day at the beach (Gen 7:10-24). The entire world will attack Israel. Of the soldiers that will be involved in the attack on God’s Holy land, none will have a relationship with Christ. So, what is my advice for those of whom have no relationship with Christ? The answer is found in John 3:3, “you must be born again; and in John 3:16,”you must believe in Christ as your Lord and Savior,” otherwise, you will face God’s judgments which will fall on everyone whom is left on the earth (Rev 3:10). Born again believers in Christ, little children, and those whom are unable to make a decision to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, will be removed from the earth prior to the events of the tribulation taking place, and will begin a time of presence and intimacy with God, that will last throughout all eternity.
BEULAH – bu’-la (be`ulah “married”). Beulah Land relates to a time and place on earth after the tribulation has ended when all born again Jews and Gentiles find themselves in the Kingdom Age, also known as the millennium. It will be a time when Christ, the Messiah, will rule over all of the earth for one thousand years. Beulah Land is also a name symbolically applied to Israel: “Thy land (shall be called) Beulah …. thy land shall be married. …. so shall thy sons marry thee” (Isaiah 62:4). In this figure, frequently used since Hosea, the prophet wishes to express the future prosperity of Israel. The land once desolate shall again be populated. https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/beulah/
During the Kingdom Age, for those whom will have entered with resurrected bodies, or resurrection bodies (e.g., 1 Corinthians 15:50-54), there will be no sickness or death.
Beulah Land is also a stop on the way to the eternal state of the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-2). All born again believers in Christ/Messiah will go from the Kingdom Age into the eternal state; they will expect the following: “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4).
The second video tells of things that will happen immediately after the catching of up of the born again believers in Christ occurs (John 14:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54). This series of articles will discuss the events that lead to, and follow, “the catching up of the true spiritual church.” The “catching up” of the saints (born again believers in Christ) is also known as the rapture (English), harpazo (Greek) and rapio/raptura (Latin).”
The Bible is God’s story of a journey, “from a garden to a city, with a cross in between.” Within the pages of the Bible is a timeline that begins in the garden of Eden, and travels throughout time until it reaches the eternal state of the “New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem;” this blog will focus on key stops along the way.
Much of this Blog focuses on the Jews of the Old Testament, whom are known in Scripture as “God’s Chosen People” (Deuteronomy 14:2), and their waiting for a Messiah who will rule and reign in a coming Messianic governed kingdom. You will see Blog posts telling of the coming of the Jewish Messiah, who was born a Jew, who also died a Jew, was resurrected a Jew, ascended to Heaven as a Jew, and will return to Earth as a Jew who will rule and reign in His Messianic Kingdom. Many articles that you will find posted in this Blog will show God speaking to Jews through Jewish prophets about “future things” that relate to a Messianic King, who will rule and reign on Earth during the thousand-year Kingdom Age, also known as the Millennium (thousand years). Articles in this Blog identify Christ, our Lord and Savior, as being the Messianic King, whom is also known as “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16). At the end of the Messianic Kingdom, “Satan,” whom had been bound for most of the thousand years, emerges and leads an assault against Christ and righteousness. Christ wins this battle (Battle of Gog and Magog, Rev 20:7-9), and Satan loses! At that time, all righteous people, of all time, enter into the eternal state of the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem, which is at the end of the Journey that began at the Garden of Eden. God the Father and God the Son “are” the Temple (Rev 21:22), “and are” the light (21:23-24). Ezekiel 47:12 pictures the New Jerusalem as the new and perfect “Eden.” Per Rev 22:3,”There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him.” We are told in Scripture that Christ is “God with us,” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23), and that He is “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6).
As pleasant as is the picture that is painted above, there is another picture that also needs to be painted. That second picture tells about all of the people whom will not find their eternity in the eternal state of “New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem.” Because of the seriousness of the outcome of both “pictures,” no punches will be held back in these articles. The second picture will show things of this world that may lead a husband and wife to put themselves, and their children, on a road that will not take them to the eternal state where they can spend eternal bliss with God. Instead, the second picture will show such people, whose journey ends at the Great White Throne Judgment. There, they will be cast into “the lake of fire,” which burns forever and ever.” With them, will be Satan, the anti-Christ, the false prophet, and all others who were not born again, whose names were not found written in the book of life (Revelation 20:10-15).
The following information is too serious to not be stated. Parents, this is as real as a heart attack! Some of you may need to take corrective actions now! Consider the things that affect the minds of your children.
Conditions that will exist in the Eternal State of Revelation 21-22, and those that will not exist, are shown in the following verses.
Revelation 21:1-3 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The New Creation
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God.
The following conditions will be present in the Eternal State for the righteous people of all time.
Revelation 21:4 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
God is active in making the Eternal State perfect.
Revelation 21:5 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”
Unrighteous people will not be present in the Eternal State.
Revelation 21:8 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
8 But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Question: Why are cowards unrighteous? It is because they will not have trusted in Christ as their Lord and Savior. It is also because they will have not been born again, which would have given them a perfect spirit, which would have allowed them to be given a righteous and perfect eternal resurrection body and soul (to complement their perfect spirit).
Consider the born-gain experience, and results.
John 3:3 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
It’s simple. If anyone believes in Christ as Lord and Savior, they have been born again. If they have been born again, they believe in Christ.
John 3:16-18 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
The new birth puts our spirit into the Spirit of Christ, due to our spirit being a perfect and holy spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!
In order for our spirit to be put into the Spirit of “God the Father/God the Son/God the Holy Spirit,” we must have a spirit that is as perfect as the Spirit of “God the Father/God the Son/God the Holy Spirit.”
1 John 1:5 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him.
The perfection of the Eternal State will not allow anything, or anyone, that is not as spiritually pure as God to enter, where only righteousness is present. Only people whom have been made to be righteous, by being born again, will be allowed to enter the Eternal State (Revelation 21:4).
A consistent lifestyle of one, or more, of the following conditions are proof of a person whom has not been born again, and identifies such a person as one whom will not enter the Eternal State.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (Christian Standard Bible)
9 Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, 10 no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom.
But, people can change. They can place their trust in Christ and be born again.
1 Corinthians 6:11 (Christian Standard Bible)
11 And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
The Democrat Party supports and promotes homosexuality and abortion on demand. That party is now supporting legislation which will make it lawful to kill an unborn baby, even during and after the birth of the child. Such legislation recently passed by New York, attempted by Virginia, and under consideration by other states, identify those goals. Nobody having a lifestyle of supporting homosexuality, or abortion on demand, has been born again. Such people do not have the Spirit of God dwelling with their spirit, promoting them to live righteously (John 14:16-17, 16:7-8). In essence, such people will stand in line at the great white throne judgment, and will spend eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-15).
Parents, “it’s up to you” to teach Godly things to your children (Deuteronomy 6:5-9).
The following video tells of the event (the rapture of the church) that will precede the things that are shown in the opening video of this article.
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 (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Consider “the dead in Christ,” 1 Thessalonians 4:16,” and “the dead,” Revelation 20:12.
“The dead in Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16.” 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.”
The “dead in Christ” are those deceased believers in Christ whom will be resurrected and taken to the Presence of God at the time of the rapture. The living born again believers in Christ will immediately be caught up and taken to God’s Presence in the third heaven .
“The dead.” Revelation 20:12. “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.”
“The dead,” are all of those whom have not been born again, and are standing before God at the end of the Millennium, at the great white throne judgment. As opposed to “the dead in Christ,” whom had their sin debt paid by Christ, these whom are “unbelieving and unborn again” must pay their own debt, which comes from the judgment of God at Revelation 20:15.
Should anyone choose to pay their own debt sin?
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 5:8
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:1
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 10:9
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:13
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
John 3:16
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.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Should not everyone call on Christ, in belief, to save them, thereby paying their sin debt?
“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.” (1 Corinthians 15:52 New American Standard Bible)
The opening video of this post is very illustrative, and true, of the things that will take place on earth, after the catching up of the saints occurs, and a seven year time of tribulation begins (John 14:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The video shows things on earth that will take place after all of the born again believers in Christ, whom are known as “the church,” are suddenly removed from the earth. Confusion, chaos and violence will be rampant, and will lead to a time in world history that will be like that of none prior. For those, whom dwell upon the earth (earth dwellers, Revelation 3:10), the judgments of God will be poured out in the form of: an ungodly conqueror, conflict on earth, worldwide scarcity and famine, widespread death, martyrdom, cosmic disturbances, and other judgments of God that will lead to the second coming of Christ at the Battle of Armageddon.
Those “whom dwell on the earth,” did not accept Christ as their Lord and Savior prior to the catching up of the church; in essence, “they were not born again.” Small children, infants, and other people not having the mental capacity to make a decision to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, will be made to be born again by God. There will be those whom are are left behind, that will accept Christ. But, there will be earth dwellers whom will continue to defy God, even as they see His judgments being poured out on the earth (Rev 3:10, 6:10, 8:13, 11:10, 13:8, 13:14, 17:8). The primary reason for the tribulation, as described in these opening two paragraphs, is for a time when God will judge sin, and will draw unbelieving Jews to accept Christ as their Messiah. The second half of the seven-year tribulation period is described by Christ in the following verse:
Matthew 24:21 (NASB)
“For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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.
The above song and verses tell of the day when Christ will come from Heaven in the air, and will catch up from earth, those whom know Him as Lord and Savior, the living, and those whom have known Him as Lord and Savior, those deceased; Christ will take them back to Heaven with Him to the third heaven *. This event is also written in John 14:1-6 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-55. This event precedes the time of tribulation, at the end of which time Christ, and His caught up believers, will return to earth at the Battle of Armageddon, and the physical second coming of Christ, where He will stand on earth and judge sin and where our Lord will set up His Kingdom Age (Matthew 24:29-31). In the Kingdom Age, the believers in Christ will rule and reign with Him on earth for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4). At the end of the Kingdom Age of 1,000 years, believers in Christ will enter the eternal state of the new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem, where we will have an eternal presence with Christ, in total perfection (Revelation 21:1-5; 22:1-2). In the eternal state, there will be no more curse from the sin of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:17; Revelation 22:1-5). We will “see Christ,” and serve Him….forever.
* The first heaven, where the birds fly. The second heaven, where astronauts fly. The third heaven, where God dwells and has no need of flying. The eternal state will be that of the new heaven.
A shofar is an instrument made from the horn of a ram or other kosher animal. It was used in ancient Israel to announce the New Moon (Rosh Chodesh) and call people together. It was also blown on Rosh Hashanah, marking the beginning of the New Year, signifying both need to wake up to the call to repentance, and in connection with the portion read on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, the Binding of Isaac (Genesis, chapter 22) in which Abraham sacrifices a ram in place of his son, Isaac. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-shofar
The sound of the trumpet will also be heard in future times, such as:
“The rapture of the church.”
This will be when born again believers in Christ will be removed from the earth, to protect them from the judgments of God which will take place during the following seven years of tribulation. When the rapture takes place, deceased believers in Christ will be resurrected/raised up from their bodily places of death. The dead and living will be taken immediately to the third heaven to the Judgment Seat of Christ for rewards (2 Cor 5:10), and for the marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19:7-8). It will be from the marriage of the lamb that Christ and His bride will return to earth for the battle of Armageddon, at the second coming of Christ to earth (Revelation 19:11-21; Zechariah 14:1-15).
Trumpet Sounded At The Rapture
Consider the following verses that tell of the sound of the trumpet that will be heard during the times above.
The trumpet will be sounded at the catching up/snatching away of the born again believers in Christ, whether dead or alive. These people have been born again due to their belief in Christ as their Lord and Savior. This is not the second coming of Christ, where He will stand on the earth at the end of the tribulation. In these verses, Christ comes in the air and takes His born again saints to the Presence of God the Father, in the third heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:50-54 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
50 For I assure you, my brothers, it is utterly impossible for flesh and blood to possess the kingdom of God. The transitory could never possess the everlasting.
The dead and the living will be fitted for immortality
51-53 Listen, and I will tell you a secret. We shall not all die, but suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, every one of us will be changed as the trumpet sounds! The trumpet will sound and the dead shall be raised beyond the reach of corruption, and we who are still alive shall suddenly be utterly changed. For this perishable nature of ours must be wrapped in imperishability, these bodies which are mortal must be wrapped in immortality.
54 So when the perishable is lost in the imperishable, the mortal lost in the immortal, this saying will come true: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’ ‘O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
God’s message regarding those who have died
13-18 Now we don’t want you, my brothers, to be in any doubt about those who “fall asleep” in death, or to grieve over them like men who have no hope. After all, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again from death, then we can believe that God will just as surely bring with Jesus all who are “asleep” in him. Here we have a definite message from the Lord. It is that those who are still living when he comes will not in any way precede those who have previously fallen asleep. One word of command, one shout from the archangel, one blast from the trumpet of God and the Lord himself will come down from Heaven! Those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise, and then we who are still living on the earth will be swept up with them into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And after that we shall be with him for ever. 18 God has given me this message on the matter, so by all means use it to encourage one another.
“The trumpet will be sounded during the tribulation.”
This will happen as God pours out his judgments on the earth.
God’s judgments on the world during the time of tribulation.
Revelation 8:1-13 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
The seventh seal: complete silence
1 Then, when he had broken the seventh seal, there was utter silence in Heaven for what seemed to me half-an-hour.
The vision of the seven trumpeters
2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand in the presence of God, and seven trumpets were put into their hands.
3-6 Then another angel came and stood by the altar holding a golden censer. He was given a great quantity of incense to add to the prayers of all the saints, to be laid upon the golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the incense rose up before God from the angel’s hand, mingled with the prayers of the saints. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it upon the earth. And at that there were thunderings and noises, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. Then the seven angels who were holding the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.
The first trumpet: hail and fire
7 The first angel blew his trumpet. Hail and fire mingled with blood appeared, and were hurled upon the earth. One-third of the earth was burnt up, one-third of all the trees was burnt up, and every blade of green grass was burnt up.
The second trumpet: The blazing mountain
8-9 The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a vast mountain blazing with fire was thrown into the sea. A third-part of the sea turned into blood, a third of all live creatures in the sea died, and a third-part of all shipping was destroyed.
The third trumpet: The poisonous star
10-11 Then the third angel blew his trumpet and there fell from the sky a huge star blazing like a torch. It fell upon a third of the rivers and springs of water. The name of the star is said to be Apsinthus. A third of all the waters turned into wormwood, and many people died because the waters had become so bitter.
The fourth trumpet: Light from the sky diminishes
12 The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third-part of the sun, a third-part of the moon and a third of the stars were struck. A third-part of the light of each of them was darkened, so that light by day and light by night were both diminished by a third-part.
The cry of pity from mid-heaven
13 Then in my vision I saw a solitary eagle flying in mid-heaven, crying in a loud voice, “Alas, alas, alas for the inhabitants of the earth for there are three more trumpet blasts which the three angels shall sound!”
Revelation 9:1-21 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
The fifth trumpet: The fathomless pit
1 The fifth angel blew his trumpet. I saw a star, that had fallen down from Heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the fathomless pit.
2 Then he opened the pit and smoke like the smoke of a vast furnace rose out of it, so that the light of the sun and the air itself grew dark from the smoke of the pit.
3-5 Then out of the smoke emerged locusts to descend upon the earth. They were given powers like those of earthly scorpions. They had orders to do no harm to any grass, green thing or tree upon the earth, but to injure only those human beings who did not bear the seal of God upon their foreheads. They were given no power to kill men, but only to torture them for five months. The torture they could inflict was like the pain of a scorpion’s sting.
6 In those days men will seek death but they will never find it; they will long to die but death will elude them.
7-11 These locusts looked to me in my vision like horses prepared for battle, On their heads were what appeared to be crowns like gold; their faces were like human faces, and they had long hair like women. Their teeth were like lion’s teeth, their breasts were like iron-breastplates, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of a host of chariots and horses charging into battle. They have tails and stings like scorpions, and it is in their tails that they possess the power to injure men for five months. They have as their king the angel of the pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek Apollyon, (meaning the destroyer).
12 The first disaster is now past, but I see two more approaching.
The sixth trumpet: the destroying angels
13-14 Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a solitary voice speaking from the four corners of the golden altar that stands in the presence of God. And it said to the sixth angel who held the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!”
15 Then these four angels who had been held ready for the hour, the day, the month and the year, were set free to kill a third-part of all mankind.
16-19 The number of their horsemen was two hundred million—I heard what their number was. In my vision I saw these horses and their riders, and their breastplates were fiery-red, blue and yellow. The horses’ heads looked to me like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths poured fire and smoke and sulphur. A third of all mankind died from the fearful effects of these three, the fire, the smoke and the sulphur which pours out of their mouths. For the power of these horses lies in their mouths and in their tails. Indeed their tails are like serpents with heads, and with these they inflict injury.
20-21 The rest of mankind, who did not die in this fearful destruction, neither repented of the works of their own hands nor ceased to worship evil powers and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone or wood, which can neither see nor hear nor move. Neither did they repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual sins, nor of their thieving.
“The trumpet will be sounded at the end of the tribulation.”
This will happen as Christ returns to earth to gather the Jews from all corners of the world, whether dead or alive. The following are the living Jews which did not know Christ as their Lord and Savior at the time of the rapture. They have spent the last seven years in the tribulation, where some were born again, due to their coming to saving faith in Christ as their Lord and Savior. Other Jews, during that same seven-year period, were not born again and had not come to saving faith in Christ as Lord and Savior. The deceased Jews, living and deceased, are discussed below in Daniel 12:1-2. As you read the following verses, consider their separate destinies in eternity.
Matthew 24:29-31 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
The following verses describe the events of the second coming of Christ to earth, accompanied by His born again believers, which were caught up to the third heaven in the rapture. In the rapture, the saints are caught up with Christ to Heaven. In the second coming, the saints return to earth with Christ from the marriage of the lamb in the third heaven (Rev 19:7-8).
At the end of time the Son of Man will return (This relates to the end of the time that people will live on the earth before the kingdom age begins.)
29-31 “Immediately after the misery of those days ‘the sun will be darkened, the moon will fail to give her light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heaven will be shaken’. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will wring their hands as they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky in power and great splendour. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet-call and they will gather his chosen from the four winds—from one end of the heavens to the other. (vs 31, the chosen people are Jews).
Matthew 24:40-41 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
Two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left behind. Two women will be grinding at the hand-mill; one is taken and one is left behind. (The ones that are taken, are taken to immediate death and future judgment for eternity (Rev 20:10-15). The ones that are left behind are left behind to enter the Kingdom Age, which also is known as the thousand-year reign of Christ, the millennium. This is not the rapture of the church. The eternal destiny of the ones that are left behind is the new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem (Rev 21:1-2).
The plight of the deceased Jews, whether they are born again, or not born again, is mentioned in the following verses. Please remember that this occurrence also takes place at the end of the tribulation when Christ returns to earth from the third heaven with his caught up saints, whether resurrected or raptured.
Daniel 12:1-2 The Message (MSG)
The Worst Trouble the World Has Ever Seen
12 1-2 “‘That’s when Michael, the great angel-prince, champion of your people, will step in. It will be a time of trouble, the worst trouble the world has ever seen. But your people will be saved from the trouble, every last one found written in the Book. Many who have been long dead and buried will wake up, some to eternal life, others to eternal shame. (Notice that the context of this passage relates to Israel “your people.” The time trouble is the tribulation. Those saved from the trouble are those which have been born again and caught up (1 Thes 4:13-18). The book of life is the Lamb’s book of life which has written in it all of the saved from all times (Rev 17:8). The deceased born again Jews will be raised to eternal life. The deceased Jews whom have not been born again will be raised to eternal torment, Luke 16:22-24; Rev 20:15.)
Jews or Gentiles who missed the rapture but came to saving faith in Christ during the tribulation and were martyred will be raised from death for an eternity of blessings and presence with God (Rev 20:4).
Revelation 20:4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
We have learned about Christ, our Lord and Savior. Now, let’s worship Him.
Philippians 2:9-11 New King James Version (NKJV)
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The subjects of the rapture of the church and of the second coming of Christ have been discussed many times, and by many people, but it has been my experience that a lot of bad information has been passed around during those studies and times of discussion. Through a lot of personal observation and study, I have found that many people use the two terms, rapture and 2nd coming, interchangeably, without providing sound documentation for having come to their conclusions. It is easy for any student of scripture to observe that Christ discussed “Jewish things” with Jews. Data on the speaker in the video is shown at the bottom of this page.
In the context of this 24th Chapter of Matthew the term “elect” refers to Jews (Deuteronomy 7:6). In Paul’s letters, he relates to the elect as being “the called” of the born again Body of Christ, which is the spiritual church of Christ. In relation to the rapture/catching up of the church, the event deals with Christ coming down from heaven, not landing on Earth, but calling His born-again body of Christ, the spiritual church, up to heaven where it will receive rewards at the judgment seat of Christ, and take place in the marriage of the Lamb. During the time of “rapture, rewards, and marriage of the Lamb,” the tribulation is taking place on Earth. The second coming of Christ relates to Christ coming from Heaven to Earth, (with His saints who were raptured, and have been in the third Heaven with Him during the time of tribulation on earth) where He will stand on the Mount of Olives. On His descent to Earth, Christ will win a spiritual battle at the Battle of Armageddon and set up his Millennial reign (1,000 years). The Kingdom Age (John 3:3) is the same as the Millennium. In this 24th Chapter of Matthew, Christ uses Jewish terms to explain His second coming to Jews.
A discussion of the “lead up” to the second coming of Christ is shown in the following verses of scripture. Christ will be shown to physically return to earth, and to stand on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. From there He will judge sin and will set up His earthly Kingdom, which is also known at the thousand-year reign of Christ (the millennium).
Matthew 24:1-31 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Signs of Christ’s Return (which occurs after the rapture of the church)
1 Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. 2 And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”
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.
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. 13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.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.
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), 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. 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. 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.
The Glorious Return
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.
The “elect,” the Jews, are the objects of this passage. Christ is seen by everyone on earth as He returns to earth. The elect of verse 31 are Jews (dead and alive), and are gathered together from all areas of the earth (the regathering of Israel). These conditions of atmospheric rebellion will not be discussed with the future Christians by the Apostle Paul as something that they will have to endure, which is because born again believers in Christ will not have to undergo the judgments that relate to the tribulation.
The following passages of scripture also tell of the second coming of Christ, to stand on the earth.
Zechariah 14:1-4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
God Will Battle Jerusalem’s Foes
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
Christ returns to earth and stands on the Mount of Olives; he was seated on the Mount of Olives while he was speaking with His disciples in Matthew Chapter 24:3.
Revelation 19:14-21 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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 mid heaven, “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.
Rev 19 is the same occurrence as that of Zechariah 14:1-4. In this passage, it shows that the armies of heaven (the saints which had been raptured) will be with Christ during His descent to Earth.
In conclusion, it is easy to understand that Christ uses Matthew Chapter 24 to explain the events of His return to earth, in that which we call “The Second Coming Of Christ.” In John 14:1-6, Jesus discusses the rapture of the church with His disciples, who will soon become his apostles, and who will convey the same message to the gentiles and unbelieving Jews, as they carry out their ministry as apostles.
For those whom are alive now, and have not come to saving faith in Christ, if the rapture of the church were to occur,”RIGHT NOW,” a bleak future is staring them, “straight in their faces!”
Consider those which show no evidence in their lives that they have been born again. Prayer and evangelism are needed to reach those whom do not know Christ as their Lord and Savior. But, we must understand that in their present state of life these people demonstrate open hostility to the gospel of Christ, by not only believing that it is okay to kill unborn babies, but are also by promoting the idea of using the force of law to accomplish such murders and by using tax payer dollars to finance those murders. Consider the following proponents of killing unborn babies.
Eternity 