Mike Young

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ

Revelation 1:1, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place;

and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, verse 2, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw. Verse 3, Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

Message to the Seven Churches

Revelation 1:4. “John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, verse 5, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—Verse 6. And He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Verse 7. 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. So, it is to be. Amen.

(See Jesus’ corresponding teaching on Revelation 1:7 (above) found in Matthew 24:9-31: “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. 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. And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET BLAST, and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”)

(It is also interesting and important to note that Jesus’ words on these matters from Matthew chapter 24 are found to be in the present and future tense. I the book of the Revelation His words are found to be in the aorist tense, which refers to the past, present and future, simultaneously. In other words, In Matthew chapter 24, Jesus is teaching about present and future events. In Revelation, He is referring to an event which began in the past, is current, and the future is fulfilled although not complete in our present existence – but it is finished!)

 Revelation 1:8, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

(Again, we see a reference to the aorist tense in Revelation 1:8, “who is and who was and who is to come”. Although we have not seen this completed in our reference of time, in God’s economy, it is completed. It is finished! This is how PROPHECY works.)

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Tribulation Seals ONE through FIVE are specifically directed at the Church and Believers in Jesus Christ, with a SIX-FOLD purpose in bringing these events to pass, which is found in Daniel 9, verse 24 .

Then, Tribulation Seals SIX through the SEVENTH Tribulation Bowl judgement, (also known as the GREAT Tribulation or the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord) are judgements directed specifically at the non-believing world.

DANIEL 9 THROUGH REVELATION 22 – IT IS COMPLETE

Daniel 12:5, “Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the stream and the other on that bank of the stream. Verse 6. And someone said to the man

dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?”

(There is no clear distinction of the identity of these ‘two others’ who are ‘dressed in linen’. Some commentators suspect they are angels and if context is to be held on to, they could likely be the angel Gabriel and the angel Michael – the messengers of this prophecy.)

Daniel 12:7. And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time.”

(“A time, times, and half a time” (time=1 year; times=2 years; half a time=½ year; total of 3 ½ years) as referred to in Daniel 12:7 (above here) is a time of oppression against the Jews is also described in Revelation 13:5–7,is during the second half of the “great tribulation”. The Great Tribulation Period begins with the breaking of the 6^th Tribulation Seal (after the rapture) and continues through the 5^th Tribulation Trumpet. The remaining three and one-half years of the Great Tribulation begins with the blowing of the 6^th Tribulation Trumpet, when the beast, or the Antichrist, will gain and increase in power, and ends with the pouring out of the 7^th Tribulation Bow.)

and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.

(There is much debate on the meaning of the final words from Daniel 12:7 (above here), but a simple face-value reading of this same precursor event in the context of Daniel 9:27 and Daniel 11:31 would lead us to see the sequence of prophetic events past, present and future.)

Daniel 12:8. But as for me, I heard but did not understand; so, I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?” Verse 9. And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words will be kept secret and sealed up …until the end time.

(Repeated from Daniel 12:4. Repetition indicates importance.)

Daniel 12:10 “Many will be

purged,

cleansed, and

refined,

 but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.”

(It is important to know the PURPOSE of the tribulation. Daniel 12:10 reveals the purpose of this prophecy and contains a statement concerning God’s SIX-FOLD purpose in bringing these events to pass:

Daniel 9, verse 24 says the PURPOSE is:

1) “to finish transgression,” (that is, to end man’s rebellion toward God)

2) “to put an end to sin,” (that is, to bring an end to sin)

3) “to atone for wickedness,” (that is, to make amends or reparation for wickedness)

4) “to bring in everlasting righteousness,” (that is, the quality of being morally right or justifiable)

5) “to seal up vision and prophecy,” and (that is, to confirm these prophetic visions)

6) “to anoint the most holy.” (that is, to anoint, or to confer divine or holy office upon; in this case the Holy One, Jesus.)

Notice that the results of this six-fold purpose concerns the total eradication of sin and the establishing of righteousness.

The prophecy of the 70 weeks summarizes what happens before Jesus sets up His millennial kingdom.

*Of special note is the third in the list of results: “to atone for wickedness.” Jesus accomplished the atonement for sin by His death on the cross (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17).

Secondly, it is important to know the four-fold PLANNED OUTCOME of the tribulation found in Daniel 12:10, (Which is the purpose of the Tribulation Seals ONE through FIVE): “Many will be

purged,

cleansed, and

refined,

those who have insight will understand.

Daniel 12:11 “And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

Daniel 12:12. “Blessed is the one who is patient and attains to the 1,335 days!”

(In summary:  Sometime after the rapture of the church, the Antichrist enters a treaty with Israel. The rapture occurs just before the breaking of the 6^th Tribulation Seal, and the breaking of that Seal marks the beginning of the Seven-year Great Tribulation period.

 At the midpoint of the tribulation (1,260 days later), the Antichrist breaks the treaty, desecrates the temple, and begins to persecute the Jews. (The midpoint of the Great Tribulation occurs at the blowing of the 6^th Tribulation Trumpet).

At the end of the tribulation (1,260 days after the desecration of the temple), Jesus Christ returns to earth and defeats the forces of the Antichrist (after the pouring out of the 7^th Tribulation bowl).

During the next 30 days (leading up to 1,290 days after the desecration of the temple), Israel is rebuilt, and the earth is restored.

During the next 45 days (leading up to 1,335 days after the desecration of the temple), the Gentile nations are judged for their treatment of Israel.

The dispensation of the millennium begins, and it will last for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:3, 5–6).)

 (NOTE: GotQuestions.Org., offers a very good detailed explanation of these dates and times, although, in my studied opinion, adheres to a dispensational miscalculation of the beginning of the final 7 years of Great Tribulation).

Daniel 12:13. “But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

(Daniel is dismissed in peace, without having his question answered. Daniel is to continue on his pre-planned course, without occupying his thoughts with this secret thing, which Jesus has revealed.)

Let’s conclude with the ‘burning question’ (pun intended) “Is This The End?“, which will help pull the chronology of the Tribulation Period together with the prophesied events as they have occurred and the suspected season of future events. This will compare and discuss world events as mentioned in Biblical eschatological scriptures, such as “wars and rumors of war, earthquakes, famines, the spread of deadly diseases, false christs, cosmic events and catastrophes” and the like.

Click here to proceed to “Is This The End?“.

Your Brother and Friend,

“And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.

“And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” – Revelation 22:6-7

(Return to Part 2)

THE FORETELLING OF THE END OF DAYS

(Gabriel Brings an Answer (539 B.C.))

Daniel 9:20, “While I was still speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and presenting my plea before the LORD my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, verse 21, while I was still speaking in prayer, 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.

Daniel 9:22, “And he instructed me and talked with me and said, “Daniel, I have come now to give you insight with understanding. Verse 23. At the beginning of your pleas the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, because you are highly esteemed; so pay attention to the message and gain understanding of the vision.”

(Seventy Weeks and the Messiah)

Verse 24. “Seventy weeks, (490 years according to the Jewish-Hebrew calendar) have been decreed for your people and your holy city,

to finish the wrongdoing,

to make an end of sin,

to make atonement for guilt,

to bring in everlasting righteousness,

to seal up vision and prophecy,

and to anoint the Most Holy Place.

Daniel 9:25. So, you are to know and understand that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince,

there will be seven weeks (49 years according to the Jewish-Hebrew calendar).

And sixty-two weeks; (434 years according to the Jewish-Hebrew calendar).

It will be built again, with streets and moat, even in times of distress.

Daniel 9:26. “Then after the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, (the crucifixion of Jesus) and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. (the invading armies of Rome destroyed the 2^nd Jewish Temple in 70 A.D.) And its end will come with a flood;

(There are three references to a ‘coming flood’ in eschatological scriptures: Daniel 9:24ff, which refers to an army or a ‘flood of people’; Matthew 24:37ff, which refers to ‘Noah’s flood’; Revelation 12:13ff, which is a metaphor referring to ‘

(a) The Woman’ (Israel),

(b) ‘The Dragon’ (Satan), and ‘

(c) The Child’ (The Messiah, Jesus)).

All three instances are examples of the principles of God’s judgement, the purpose of God’s judgement, the personalities in God’s judgement – when put together, reveals a complete picture of what is to come in the Last Days.

Even to the end, there will be war;

(There have always been wars, and there will be wars even to the end of days. They will increase in intensity and severity and will overlap with other Seal judgements.)

desolations are determined.

(Daniel’s prophecy reveals some of the actions of the Antichrist, the “ruler who will come.” Verse 27 says, “He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’” However, “in the middle of the ‘seven,’ . . . he will set up an abomination that causes desolation” in the temple. Jesus warned of this event in Matthew 24:15. After the Antichrist breaks the covenant with Israel, a time of “great tribulation” begins (Matthew 24:21, NKJV).

Daniel 9:27, “And he (the Antichrist) will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, (Seven years according to the Jewish-Hebrew calendar. This is the final seven years of Daniel’s 70 weeks and the 7 years of The Great Tribulation.)

but in the middle of the week (3 1/2 years according to the Jewish-Hebrew calendar. This is the Midpoint of the Great Tribulation, marked by the blowing of the 6^th Tribulation Trumpet), he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come the one who makes desolate, until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, gushes forth on the one who makes desolate.” (This is the desecration of the Temple altar, or the abomination of desolation).

Michael Brings News Of The Time of the End (539 B.C.)

Daniel 12:1 “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise.

Verse 1 contd.  “And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time;

(Jesus repeats these words to His disciples in Matthew 24: 21: “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again. Verse 22. And if those days had not been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.)

Verse 1 contd. “And at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.”

Daniel 12:2. “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Verse 3. And those who have insight will shine like the glow of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”

(John 5:25, tells us, “Truly, truly, I say to you, a time is coming and even now has arrived, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. Verse 26. For just as the Father has life in Himself, so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; Verse 27, and He gave Him authority to execute judgement, because He is the Son of Man. Verse 28. Do not be amazed at this; for a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, Verse 29, and will come out: those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the bad deeds to a resurrection of judgement.”

 (A record of the fulfillment of Daniel 12:1-2 is found in Mark 15: 50, where we read, “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and gave up His spirit. Verse 51. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split. Verse 52. Also, the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; Verse 53, and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.”)

Daniel 12:4, “But as for you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal up the book until the end of time; many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.”

(The mystery of the words recorded in Daniel chapter 12 remained ‘secret’  – unrevealed and unexplained – until Jesus, The Messiah, revealed them. See the link below here). Now we can know.

NEXT:  Click here for –> THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Click here to return to Part 1)

 

DANIEL’S 70 WEEKS – THE END OF DAYS – THE TRIBULATION PROPHECIES

The Angel Gabriel, in 539 B.C. comes to Daniel in a vision (Daniel 9:20), and instructs Daniel in order to give him insight and understanding of future events which are to finish the wrong-doing (rebellion toward God), to make an end of sin, to make atonement for guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, (through the coming of Jesus, the Messiah), to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.

Gabriel then gives specifics about the timing and length of the End of Days events. Daniel is to know and understand that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks (49 years according to the Jewish-Hebrew calendar), and sixty-two weeks, (434 years according to the Jewish-Hebrew calendar), Jerusalem will be built again, with streets and moat, even in times of distress.

Gabriel even reveals the events of the final 7 years of the coming Great Tribulation judgments, which are foreshadowed by the destruction of the 1^st Jewish Temple.

The Archangel Michael, (539 B.C.) then comes to Daniel and gives what I will call a ‘spiritual perspective’ on these same coming events. Michael’s instruction, however, touches on events that specifically refer to the tribulation and the Great Tribulation period, also known as the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb. (The tribulation period began around the birth of Christ and tribulation seals have continued to be opened, have overlapped and are increasing in intensity – The Great Tribulation, ‘such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again’ is what is referred to by Michael, and begins with the breaking of the 6^th Tribulation Seal.)

Jesus, around the year A.D. 29, spoke to His disciples and revealed these words given to Daniel which have been kept a ‘secret’ for around 569 years.

NOTE:

Tribulation Seals ONE through FIVE are specifically directed at the Church and Believers in Jesus Christ. God’s SIX-FOLD purpose in bringing these events to pass, found in Daniel 9, verse 24 says the PURPOSE is:

1) “to finish transgression,” (that is, to end man’s rebellion toward God)

2) “to put an end to sin,” (that is, to bring an end to sin)

3) “to atone for wickedness,” (that is, to make amends or reparation for wickedness)

4) “to bring in everlasting righteousness,” (that is, the quality of being morally right or justifiable)

5) “to seal up vision and prophecy,” and (that is, to confirm these prophetic visions)

6) “to anoint the most holy.” (that is, to anoint, or to confer divine or holy office upon; in this case the Holy One, Jesus.)

Notice that the results of this six-fold purpose concerns the total eradication of sin and the establishing of righteousness.

The prophecy of the 70 weeks summarizes what happens before Jesus sets up His millennial kingdom.

*Of special note is the third in the list of results: “to atone for wickedness.” Jesus accomplished the atonement for sin by His death on the cross (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17).

Secondly, it is important to know the four-fold PLANNED OUTCOME of the tribulation and the Great Tribulation found in Daniel 12:10: “Many will be

purged,

cleansed, and

refined,

those who have insight will understand.

Tribulation Seals SIX through the SEVENTH Tribulation Bowl (also known as the GREAT Tribulation or the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord) are judgments directed specifically at the non-believing world.

The book of the Revelation begins with these words: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John.” The Apostle John (the Revelator) gives us the words of Jesus around the year 95 A.D.

Then entire book of the Revelation gives us both an earthly and a heavenly perspective of these Last Days – both by actual detailed and real events and by way of metaphors, similes and idioms. But make no mistake – these are real events which have begun and are increasing in their intensity (even as I write these words). But the events which are occurring and have occurred to this date, will pale in comparison to what is yet to come.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS MULTI-PART LETTER IS TO HELP US PREPARE FOR WHAT IS AT HAND, SO WE ARE SURE TO ENDURE TO THE END – AND BE SAVED (Matthew 24:13).

My prayer and hope is this is an opportunity to simplify, grasp and develop an understanding of the events prophesied as The End of Days (the tribulation and the Great Tribulation), because even a basic understanding of these matters makes it possible to adequately prepare for what has come and is coming to pass: The tribulation periods (i.e., the times of ‘birth pains’), the coming anti-Christ, the Great Tribulation, the Mark of the Beast, (digital currency), the rapture (of believers), the subsequent Seal, Trumpet and Bowl judgment of the earth’s inhabitants for good or for evil, the battle of Armageddon, the casting of Satan and his domain and all the wicked (i.e., non-believers) into the eternal lake of fire, the destruction and the re-creation of a new heavens and earth.)

There are several varying and ‘competing’ views of these matters in various religious denominations. If your view does not move you to obey and complete the commands of Jesus in relation to your salvation and to these matters, you may not have a full understanding of the End Times and the benefits or consequences for readiness or lack thereof. (And, simply saying you are ‘saved’ but without the works that follow salvation is like ‘faith without works’ – it is dead. James 2:14-26.)

I will begin with the first prophecy to Daniel about the coming End of Days. We will find, in these early scriptures, a basic chronological outline of these coming events, and God’s purpose in them.

We will then move to the events which have already begun, those which are yet to come, their effects, benefits and consequences on this world and for every inhabitant of earth.

Before we begin, let’s lay a foundation by looking at a definition of Biblical prophecy:

Prophecy as defined by Easton’s Bible Dictionary  

Prediction, was one of the functions of the prophet. It has been defined as a “miracle of knowledge, a declaration or description or representation of something future, beyond the power of human sagacity to foresee, discern, or conjecture.” (See PROPHET .)

 Prophesy as defined by CHRISTIANITY.COM –

Prophecy at its most fundamental meaning is “a message from God.” Learn why the Bible included prophecies and their significance today!

Prophecy as defined by GotQuestions.Org –

To prophesy is simply to speak prophecy. Prophecy is the noun, and prophesy is the verb. Prophecy at its most basic definition is “a message from God.” So, to prophesy is to proclaim a message from God. The one who does this is, therefore, a prophet. Although foretelling is often associated with prophecy, revealing the future is not a necessary element of prophecy; however, since only God knows the future, any authoritative word about the future must of necessity be a prophecy, that is, a message from God.

Prophecy as defined by the ATS Bible Dictionary –

The foretelling of future events, by inspiration from God. It is very different from a sagacious and happy conjecture as to futurity, and from a vague and equivocal oracle, without any certain meaning. A true prophecy can come only from God; and is the highest proof of the divine origin of the message of which it is a part. A true prophecy may be known by these marks; being announced at a suitable time before the event it foretells;

PROPHECY can be foretold and completed in a single act or event.

PROPHECY can be foretold and may have several ‘foreshadowing’ events before it is completed.

PROPHECY can be foretold, and the fulfillment can be continuous in its unfolding for days, weeks, month, decades or a millennium.

NEXT:  Click here for  –> THE FORETELLING OF THE END OF DAYS.

“Let’s Be Berean” together, in these matters.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young