Assume with me, if you can, that you have never thoroughly read a Bible, or that you have only read it for cursory content information.
Please, further assume with me, that by chance these verses are the ones that might have caught your attention:
Matthew 24:4-31, (Jesus), describing a panorama of the tribulation and the Last Days. Jesus 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?” And Jesus answered and said to them, (see Matthew 24:3-4),
(1). “In the Last Days, there will be a rise of false Christs and false prophets.(This was an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35. See Matthew 24:4-5).
(5). In the Last Days, there will be a falling away from the faith. (This has been an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35, and has been increasing to this very day. See Matthew 24:10).
These things, false Christs, wars and rumors of war, famines, earthquakes and plagues, persecutions, martyrs, which Jesus calls the ‘Birth Pangs’ of the tribulation, are nothing new; and from these cited verses, we can plainly see that the first 5 tribulation Seals have been broken, and the effects had begun betweenthe time of the birth of Jesus and A.D 95, and have been overlapping and increasing in their intensity since those early days.
Acts 2:14-17, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last daysit shall be…’(Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).
1 Peter 1:20, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “He, (Jesus), was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.”(Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).
1 Peter 4:7, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “The end of all things is at hand.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).
2 Peter 3:3. (the Apostle Peter), saying, “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days.”(Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).
If these verses say all these things began occurring in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60, and Peter called those days the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.
What would you think?
1 Corinthians 10:11, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “Now these things happened to them as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).
Hebrews 1:2, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).
Hebrews 9:26, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “But as it is, Jesus has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).
If these verses say all these things began occurring in the LAST TIMES, THE DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.
What would you think?
2 Timothy 3:1, (Timothy), saying, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).
If these verses say all these things began occurring in the LAST TIMES, THE DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.
What would you think?
1 John 2:18. (the Apostle John), saying, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour.”(Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).
Revelation 1:9, (The Apostle John), saying, “I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 95 to A.D. 100).
If these verses say that John was a fellow participant IN THE TRIBULATION in the year A.D. 95.
What would you think?
These testimonies clearly tell us that the Last Days, also known as The End of All Things, The End of the Ages, The Last Hour, The Last Times and the tribulation, began at the birth of Christ and these first 5 tribulation Seals have been overlapping and intensifying since those days. (We are still awaiting the breaking of the 6th tribulation seal, also known as the Great and Terrible Day of The Lord, the Wrath of the Lamb and the Great Tribulation.
Luke 12:54,And He was also saying to the crowds, “Whenever you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. Verse 55. And whenever you feel a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way. Verse 56. You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you do not know how to analyze this present time?”
(Presented In a Way So Even You and I Can Understand and Apply Its Truth. These Episodes are not meant to ask and answer just the question “What”, but they are meant to answer the question, “SO WHAT?”)
The interest, and yes, even the demand for teaching on the Book of The Revelation is on the rise. It has always been a wildly popular subject, especially among Christians.
The problem associated with teaching and learning about this Book is its complexity, and the odd and even weird hard-to-understand imagery, and that it cannot be studied and fully understood without references to scores of other scriptures throughout the Bible. The Book of The Revelation explains and foretells the history of all creation, from the beginning to its end. Its scarlet threads can be found woven throughout the prophet books of Daniel, Zechariah, Isaiah, Joel, Amos, Psalms, Zephaniah, and Ezekiel.
As a result, most of those who begin a study on the Book of The Revelation either quit before it is completed or they finish the study with more questions than when they began – and with very little idea of what to do with what they have read and heard.
This task not only seems monumental – it is monumental! It can be likened to the quote and answer, “How do you eat an elephant? One small bite at a time!”
The Book of the Revelation – The Run-up
A study of the Book of the Revelation cannot and should not be studied as a standalone book. Most studies of this Book normally begin with Revelation chapter 1 and verse 1, and will conclude with Revelation chapter 22 and verse 21. Naturally, there are references and cross-references to other books of the Bible which must be made.
However, such a study should be done within the longer narrative of the entire Bible, its historicity, through the lens of eschatology. Otherwise it can be interminably confusing and bewildering, and subject to wide speculation.
As a standalone study, the reader or student can get the main points about God’s Judgements, humankind suffering, salvation and the ultimate destruction of evil. You would read about astronomical and physical cataclysms, great military conflicts, political intrigue, wars and rumors of wars. You can read to experience God supernatural intervention into the affairs of humankind, complete with unintelligible symbolism and imagery.
If, however, it is studied as part of the total narrative of God’s Complete Plan for His creation, from Genesis to the Revelation, you get a more complete understanding of God’s Plan, Purpose, Methods and Reason for the End of Days, God’s Judgements by way of The Great Tribulation, The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and The Wrath of the Lamb.
All of which includes affects you, the reader, directly – as well as all the earth and its inhabitants, the heavens, and the entire cosmos.
The details and the purpose of the book of the Revelation will become clearer if taken in ‘small bites’ – even with the wild imagery, metaphors and the allegories used by an ancient people to describe futuristic technology and events.
So, at the risk of losing readers and students to these videos, I will start with an overview, (small bites), a 12-minute video on this exciting book. This is a 12-minute video, covering chapters one through eleven. A second video, found later in another episode, is also about 12 minutes long and covers chapters twelve through twenty-two. (After viewing these videos, please continue with the following Episodes).
‘Small Bite’ Video #1, An overview of The Book of The Revelation, chapter 1 through chapter 11.
God’s Plan of Perfection through Tribulation – An Illustrated Timeline
GOD’S PLAN & PURPOSE
I heard an evangelist once say and ask, “Jesus is coming back soon. Are you excited?”, to which the congregation exploded in cheers and applause. Then this evangelist became quiet and in a low and serious voice he said, “Too many Christians are doing little more than staring skyward waiting for the Lord to return, but He has told us we are to be busy with His works. So, it is time we stopped looking at the sky and get busy with the Father’s business!”
It is true, in my observations, that far too many Christians are doing little more than waiting around for certain events to occur, which have already begun. The Lord Jesus warned against this in no uncertain terms: “Why do you call me Lord, when you have not done the things I commanded you?”
Let’s clear the confusion and bring God’s bigger picture into sharp focus.
God’s PLAN began in the beginning of time. It came into sharper focus with the birth of Jesus. It has continued to unfold since that day, and we are included in His Plan, and It will conclude exactly as He has PURPOSED.
God’s PLAN is a Plan of Perfection. Throughout all of earth’s history, God has been at work perfecting His creation. There is no event in the history of this world that has not been under God’s control and within His Perfect Plan. He is preparing His Church, those who have surrender themselves to follow and obey Jesus, to spend eternity with Him and with one another in perfect harmony in a new and perfect heaven and earth.
The PURPOSE of God’s plan is found in Daniel 9:24, is to
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.).
We are included in God’s PURPOSE. His method is found in Daniel 12 is that
1) Many will be cleansed,
2) Many will be purified,
3) They will be made spotless and,
4) They will be refined.
Here are just a few of the major Biblical events through which God has been working to accomplish His Plan and His Purpose in and through our lives. (I have selected the major events only, in order to simplify this matter. Here, you can see God’s Hand moving in the affairs of humankind, leading to the End of the Age):
God created them, male and female, with a plan, in Their image with a ‘flaw’, i.e., from Strong’s Bible Hebrew language Concordance – ‘a phantom, an illusion, a vain image, of dubious character’, but with potential; which includes me and you!
Adam and Eve disobeyed. The ‘flaw in their character and imagefrom creation’, which is ‘sin’, had its effect, which continues to this day, but it will have an end.
The arrival of Perfection on earth. Jesus, God in the Flesh, is born and the New Covenant – for you and me – is established. Now the ‘called’ can see and be made into the very image of God. The tribulation begins, and The Eternal Plan enters its final stages.
Jesus is tested and shows those who will follow Him – which includes you and me – how to resist the devil and overcome trial, temptations and tribulation.
Jesus gives the picture of salvation and teaches about the process of sanctification and how we – that is, you and me – are to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven through many tests, trials, temptations and much tribulation.
The invasion of earth has begun. Jesus sends His army of saints – which includes you and me – to set the prisoners free. He sends us with His authority, and He is with us until the end!
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 – and if you are alive at that time, we are included. (The rapture will have occurred).
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 the Great Tribulation, the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, will have begun. (Those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will have escaped these days.)
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. An angel standing in the sun cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid-heaven, “Come, assemble for the great feast of God,so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, both free and slaves, and small and great. Satan, the Beast and those who are not written in the Lambs Book of Life are relegated to the pit and the fires of hell.”
Those who have overcome, are with God eternally – which includes you and me – and, God’s Plan for Perfection has been completed.
Yes, we will experience difficulties, trials and tribulations in this life, but as The Apostle Peter says,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,so that the proof of your faith,which is more precious than gold which perishes, and though you are tested by fire, it may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
No matter at what time you will have lived your earthly life, the outcome for all Christians is the same. Those still alive when Christ returns will be raptured from the earth, those Christians who had passed on from this life will be raised from the grave to join them in the heavens, and we all will spend our eternity with the Lord.
(Please note that I use page links in lieu of footnotes, citations and references. These links also give important details regarding statement and references in this article. I urge you to please use them.)
Whether you know it or not, whether you will believe it or not, and whether you like it or not, there are three urgent things everyone needs to know. There should be no doubt that:
God exists.
There is A Plan for all humanity, the earth, the heavens and the entire cosmos.
Everything is going according to plan – and you are included in The Plan – whether you know it or not, whether you believe it or not, and whether you like it or not.
If you scoff at the THREE MAIN THINGS, then scoff if you must. But it would serve you well to take a closer look, and seriously investigate what is being presented here.
i. GOD EXISTS
There was a time, when in its infancy, science was compatible with religion. (When I speak of religion in this article, I am referring to Christianity). It was inevitable with the passage of time, however, that certain influential atheists, would become influential scientists. Their science would be defined by and framed by their humanist idealism, imagination and secular-humanist worldview. That is to say that since it is their conviction that there is no God, they concurrently would see the world, the universe and the cosmos, strictly as a natural occurrence.
By the way, I have heard it said that it takes faith to believe in God, but that it takes exponentially more faith to believe that everything that exists came from nothing and randomly ‘evolved’ into a precision that defies all reason, logic and science – all by chance; that all of existence has been a series of serendipitous events.
There was a period of about 175 years that America was considered a Christian nation. However, the Christian America thesis would be sidelined after the Scopes Trial of 1925, and it would find a new, yet brief life in the 1970s. It continues to be a burning issue today. Those who now argue that America was founded as a Christian nation inherit a long and consistent tradition.
“It was also in the 19th century that pair-structured phrases “religion and science” and “science and religion” first emerged in the literature. This coincided with the refining of “science” (from the studies of “natural philosophy”) and of “religion” as distinct concepts in the preceding few centuries, partly due to professionalization of the sciences, the Protestant Reformation, colonization, and globalization. Since then the relationship between science and religion has been characterized in terms of “conflict”, “harmony”, “complexity”, and “mutual independence”, among others.” (see the foregoing excerpt from Wikipedia).
It is also interesting that these humanist-atheists-scientists found it expeditious to use the language of the Bible as academic stepping stones to sell their new scientific idealism to succeeding generations – effectively separating God and science in the public mind and coining the new term, ‘creationism’ – a victory for atheists and humanists and a sad acquiescence on the part of Christian apologists and theologians.
For example:
Carl Sagan – Cosmos – Its Only Sacred Truths:
Carl Sagan – Cosmos- Stars – We Are Their Children
Only recently have a few notable Christian apologists offered a sound public rebuttal, which may have galvanized the beliefs of the faithful, but has done little to undo the damage to public perception caused by Saganists. Damage which has obscured the truth of scriptures and which has reached inside the Christian church and community.
In case you have been unduly influenced by the “Saginists” of the science world, let me present you a case in favor of the fact that GOD DOES EXIST.
The Bible states that, “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel – (which means God with us.)” Isaiah 7:14.
Again, the Bible says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6.
These are the odds against – yes, AGAINST – Jesus Christ having sent by God, born, live on earth and fulfilled just 48 of the over 450 prophecies written about Him.
In order to give you some perspective, consider that electrons are very small objects. They’re smaller than atoms. It would take 2.5 TIMES of 10 to just the 15th power of them, laid side by side, to make one inch. Even if we counted 250 of these electrons each minute, and counted day and night, it would still take 19 million years just to count a line of electrons one-inch long. NINETEEN MILLION YEARS!
Read that again, please. Why is that significant?
It is significant because it gives us evidence that the Bible is true and correct when it says that Christ Jesus came to earth and is the Savior of the world.
Just think about it: It is a scientific and a mathematical impossibility that HAS COME TO PASS!
(And by the way, it gives you evidence, if you choose to pay attention, that your life can be eternal with the only LIFE Source which gives eternal Peace, Safety, Security, Joy and fulfillment the universe has ever known or ever will know.)
ii. There is A Plan.
The Bible, when read as a whole, reveal an amazing narrative reaching back in time to creation and extending in time to the conclusion and rebirth of all things.
The logical question to ask, I believe is, can you prove it? I will rely on one source and refer to another to validate this point.
THE ONE SOURCE
The Bible lays out God’s complete plan, from before creation through the end of the age and into the creation of a new heaven and a new earth. His is a ‘Plan of Perfecting’. God is perfecting all who would believe and follow Jesus in humble submission in preparation for us to live with Him, worship Him and to rule with Him for all eternity.
Most theologians and Bible apologists will outline the Bible by giving a book-by-book topical overview and details of events contained in the individual books, which is probably the very best way to study the entire Bible. However, considering that the Bible (New American Standard version) contains 782,815 words, composing 31,103 verses and 1,189 chapters and 66 books written by 40 authors over a span of 1,500 years, (and further complicating this matter, there are about fifty mainline versions of the Bible, not counting revisions), it is easy to see how one could fail to see ‘the forest’ for the many trees of words, verses, chapters and recorded events.
(The forest is the entire body of work of the Bible which is a straight line from the beginning of creation to end of all things and into a new creation.)
(ANOTHER SOURCE – Note: this small section is not included in the audio).
Scientist say, on the one hand, that all things had a beginning – including time and space – and they named it the Big Bang. Then on the other hand certain leading scientists are beginning to speculate that perhaps something existed before the ‘Big Bang’. But, they all agree that everything will likely end in an event they are calling the Big Crunch. So, at least on two points there is agreement: There was a beginning and there will be an end.
Scientists are quick to point out that they are still learning and what they know may change and that is just the nature of science. (Oh, my). That means we can depend on scientific truth, sort of.
That it is true until it is not – and this validates my point about the existence of God. Science says it is right, until it is not!
The Bible says it is right because it is God-breathed, yesterday, today and forever!
THE JOURNEY TO PERFECTION
If you will patiently walk with me, I will take you on an amazing journey. A journey from the beginning of time through recorded world and Biblical histories. We will identify important past Bible prophecies and correlate them to the actual past world events; then we will compare both prophecies and histories to one specific prophecy known as ‘Daniel’s Seventy Weeks’, which will bring us to current events and the final epoch of time known by various names, such as, “The Last Days”, “The End The Age” the “Latter Days” and “The Tribulation”, which are now unfolding with frightening accuracy.
I will not stop there, however. I will conclude by laying out a successful response to these events, a plan of action by which you can both survive and thrive in these final days.
Finally, there is an event coming which is so fantastic as to be unbelievable. But I will show the evidence leading to this event, known as the ‘Rapture’ and I will even help you calculate the odds of its occurrence. You will then be faced with the most monumental decision you have ever faced.
The Purposeof God’s Eternal Plan is “Perfection”. He is maturing and perfecting His people into His image, ultimately to live in Perfect harmony with Him and with one another, in a New and Perfect heaven and earth.
“Because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14
Each and every chapter, verse and word in the Bible, when viewed within this context of God’s Eternal Plan of Perfection, begins to make perfect sense.
This journey is not any easy one. In fact, it is impossibly difficult. It is something only God can accomplish; and as difficult as it is, and at times, terror filled, it is also filled with purpose with a glorious end.
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.
iii. EVERYTHNING IS GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN
The world has entered the final epoch of time, known by various names, such as, “The Last Days”, “The End The Age” the “Latter Days” and “The Tribulation Period”, which was marked by the birth of Jesus. There are reportedly visible and observable signs and ancient writings to help you. However, most people either don’t recognize the signs or writings or don’t believe. Even among those who believe these prophecies are coming to pass and see the signs, few know what they are seeing, where they are leading or what to do in response.
The best description of the purpose, length and, outcome of this end time, variously known as the “birth pains”, the tribulation and finally, the Great Tribulation.
Here is a Biblical outline of the seals broken up to this very day:
the 3rd Tribulation Seal – Famine. (This Seal was broken around A.D. 1 to A.D. 95, and is overlapping seals 1 through 2, and seals 4 and 5 amd is intensifying).
the 4th Tribulation Seal – Death. (This Seal was broken around A.D. 1 to A.D. 95, and is overlapping seals 1 through 3 and seal 5, and is intensifying).
We are on the precipice of the opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal which triggers the beginning of the period known as the Great Tribulation or the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb – which will continue with the breaking of tribulation seal 7, then the blowing of the 7 tribulation trumpets, and ending with the pouring out of the 7 tribulation bowls.
The Opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal is The BEGINNING OF the 7 years
Whether you know it or not, whether you believe it or not and whether you like it or not, you are included in God’s Plan.
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
AS THE SHEEP
“And He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left. 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.”
AS THE GOAT
“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
“These (on My left hand) will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous (those on My right hand) into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46).
Dear friends, you and I get one chance at this. The Bible says “And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27).
“The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).
If you will “confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting insalvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)
THERE are times of ‘birth pains’ & tribulation AND THEN THERE WILL BE GREAT
There are many differing views, much debate, disagreements, and apparent contradictions regarding the doctrines of the Last Days, the Rapture and the tribulation.
So, what does the Bible actually say about this End of Days?
More specifically, what did Jesus tell His disciples and the rest of the listening and believing world what about what is coming? What we can expect to happen? What are we to do in order to ‘get ready’ and ‘stay ready’ until He returns to claim His Church?
There are those who will tell you that the seven years of tribulation are coming with the breaking of the first of seven seals, and that the rapture is imminent. There is a distinction here that is often overlooked. So, let me repeat: Some are saying that the 7 years of the tribulation will begin with the breaking of the 1st tribulation seal – followed by the breaking of seals 2 through 7, then the blowing of the 7 tribulation trumpets, and ending with the pouring out of the 7 tribulation bowls.
However, there is clear and staggering evidence that the Last Days began in our around A.D. 1 through A.D. 95 and that tribulation seals 1 through 5 have been progressively opened, are overlapping and intensifying to this day. And that we are on the precipice of the opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal which signals the beginning of the period known as the Great Tribulation or the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb – which will continue with the breaking of tribulation seal 7, then the blowing of the 7 tribulation trumpets, and ending with the pouring out of the 7 tribulation bowls.
“Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.”
(This was spoken around A.D. 30 – around 2,000 years ago, and there has been ongoing and intensifying persecution of Christians to this day. Compare this to the 5th tribulation seal as found in Revelation 6:9-11 and referenced by Jesus in Matthew 24:9-12.)
“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.”
(This seven-year period of Great tribulation has not yet occurred, but with a careful study, one can see that the tribulations as referenced by the words, “for then there will be a great tribulation” are the tribulation seals 1 through 5 (see Revelation 6:1-11), which are also referenced by Jesus in Matthew 24:9-12, which have been occurring and are continuing to occur. But Seals 6 and 7 are the beginning of The Great Tribulation, a.k.a., The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb, which begin with the 6th Tribulation Seal and will conclude with the 7th Bowl Judgment.)
“But immediately after thetribulation 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.”
(This is speaking of the tribulation that will come after the tribulation events that have already occurred and continue to occur, as being described by Jesus in Matthew 24:1-28, (i.e., tribulation seals 1 through 5). These “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” have not occurred yet, but with a careful study, one can see that the tribulations spoken of in Seals 1 through 5 have occurred and are continuing to occur, but Seals 6 and 7 have not occurred.)
“For those days will be such a time of tribulation as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will again.”
(In order to get the chronology right, please read Mark 13:1-27. There will be tribulations and then will come “such a time of tribulation as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will again.” I.e., there will be tribulations then there will be a Great Tribulation, a.k.a. The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb, which begin with the 6th Tribulation Seal and will conclude with the 7th Bowl Judgment.)
“But in those days, after that tribulation (referring to the events that have already occurred), THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT.”
(In order to get the chronology right, please read Mark 13:1-27. There will be tribulations and then will come “be such a time of tribulation as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will again.” I.e., there will be tribulations then there will be a Great Tribulation, a.k.a. The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb, which begin with the 6th Tribulation Seal and will conclude with the 7th Bowl Judgment.)
“I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”
“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
“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.”
THESE ARE THE ONES WHO SAY SO
The Last Days and the opening of the tribulation Seals began in our around A.D. 30 according to the words spoken by Jesus, the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy :
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-foldPLANNED 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.”
(SPECIAL NOTE: Tribulation Seal 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.)
WHY DO THESE THINGS MATTER?
They matter because many Christians are sitting idly waiting for an event that has already begun, and they are not DOING what He told them to do and therefore are in grave danger.
They matter because some of our family, friends and neighbors are completely unaware or just don’t believe that Christ will return and God’s final judgments will sentence them to outer darkness.
They matter because as Christians, our faith, our convictions and our behavior are speaking louder than our words.
They matter because being ready for His Return is proof of True Christianity, and only a True Believer in Christ will be guaranteed to join Christ at the sound of His Great Trumpet call and escape the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.
They matter because being ready requires believing and doing what He has instructed us to do in preparation for His return.
They matter because He has warned that “Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’”
WHO ELSE IS SEEING AND SAYING THESE THINGS?
Corrie Ten Boom speaks out about a prevailing tribulation and rapture view.
David Rosenthal and Zion’s Hope. One of the first, most accurate, and persistent advocates of the Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church can be found at Zion’s Hope, with videos on this site.)
Pastor Jack Hibbs, senior pastor of Cavalry Chapel of Chino Hills, California is an advocate saying we are NOW in the Last Days and the End of Days period known as the Great Tribulation, the Great and Terrible Day of the LORD or the Wrath of the Lamb.
Pastor Hibbs is informing and warning about the current Marxist-style Globalist movement, which is being led by the U.N., the U.N.’s Agenda 2030, UNESCO and their sustainable development goals, and the World Economic Forum. (Please also see “The One World Government – How It Is Fitting Together”.)
I offer this article to say that these things matter in our preparation and readiness for Jesus’ return. They should alert us to get ready and stay ready.
What these things don’t change or affect is the steady guarantee of our salvation in Christ. My concern, which I believe should be all our concern, is that when the time comes we all will hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant”, and not the fateful words, “Why do you call me Lord when you do not what I say?”
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
PS: It is written – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”(Ephesians 2:8-9). There is no way anyone can earn their salvation through works. But what we continually practice in our lives, reveals the true intentions of our heart. Please, get ready and stay ready for His return by serving God and obeying the Words of Jesus. Let’s pray for one another to be strengthened.
Do you ever wonder what will happen on earth in the years and months just before the Rapture?
If you don’t wonder then it is probably due to one of two reasons: (1) You don’t care. (2) You believe what you’ve been hearing about the ‘pre-tribulation rapture’ taking place before the 1st Tribulation Seal is broken.
Well, if you fit into either or both these 2 reasons, then news on both counts.
On the first count, Jesus says you take care and be ready (Matthew 24:42 ff) or you will be left behind.
And, on the second count, the 1st Seal, according to the testimonies of Jesus and the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy, are found in :
Jesus says, in Matthew 24:9–13, that a day is coming when “They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
“At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”
Now, pay close attention to what Jesus, Himself, says in Revelation chapters one, two and three about enduring and overcoming. Jesus is speaking to the seven Churches in these chapters – and remember – the time of tribulation has begun (in or around A.D. 1 to A.D. 95) and the Church is still on the earth at that time, receiving instruction from Jesus. And a clear, plain face-value reading of Matthew chapter 24 will tell you that the Church will remain on earth until the breaking of the 6th Seal of the Tribulation (please, read it).
– The Revelation of Jesus Christ – Things which must soon take place –Words of the prophecy
This letter 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, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 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.”
Be aware that John was writing of FUTURE events because the Temple had already been destroyed the first time, 26 years before John wrote the book of The Revelation.
So, we must ask the one most important question, “Why is Jesus warning the churches and His followers of something that is coming, in the Book of Revelation, if they would not endure it?”
Until then, “The ones who have an ear, let them hear”.
Jesus tells the Churches (the followers of Christ), that until the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal, they must OVERCOME.
Revelation 2:7 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’
To him who overcomes: Jesus made this promise to him who overcomes – but what does this “Overcomer” overcome? We usually think of overcoming in dramatic terms of overcoming sin and in spiritual warfare, but here Jesus is speaking of overcoming coldness of heart and lack of love marked by leaving their first love of Jesus.
I will give to eat from the tree of life: The promise for these “Overcomers” was a return to Eden, a restoration to God’s Presence, and eternal life. This was meant, first in the eternal sense of making it to heaven, which was no small promise to a people threatened with the removal of Jesus’ presence.
It is also meant in the sense of seeing the effects of the curse cancelled in our own lives though Jesus’ redeeming act of love.
Revelation 2:11‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’
He who overcomes: This was a promise for “Overcomers”. This promise is for those who overcome the threat of persecution, and the presence of persecution.
We might say that we overcome by our close association with Jesus, but, it is that very association that brings both persecution and salvation. Jesus is the ultimate “Overcomer”, as He says, In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Shall not be hurt by the second death: Those who overcome by the power and presence of Jesus within them, will never be hurt by the second death. The second death is hell, the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14 and 21:8). Though Satan will threaten and attack your life, Jesus promises His “Overcomers” that death is conquered for them.
Revelation 2:17 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’
To him who overcomes: The one who overcomes this spirit of accommodation to false teaching and living will receive hidden manna. This is God’s perfect provision, the true bread from heaven (John 6:35).
And I will give him a white stone: In the ancient world, the use of a white stone had many associations. A white stone could be a ticket to a banquet, a sign of friendship, evidence of having been counted, or as a sign of acquittal in a court of law. Jesus may have any one of these meanings in mind, but at the very least we know that it has the assurance of blessing.
Revelation 2:26 ‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;
He who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end: Even when there is the immoral and idolatrous influence of a Jezebel, Christians can overcome and keep Jesus’ works until the end. We must not become overly discouraged at immorality and idolatry around us, even among Christians. God’s work will still go on through His “Overcomers”.
To him I will give power over the nations: Jesus promised that His people will reign with Him. Here, there is a special promise to those who overcome the threat of immorality and idolatry. To them, Jesus offered a share in His own kingdom.
“The word for ‘rule’ (Greek = ‘poimanei’) literally means ‘to shepherd.’
Their rule will not be simply that of executing judgment, but also that of administering mercy and direction.”
I will give him the morning star: Jesus offered them a reward greater than the kingdom. He offered them the reward of Himself, because He is the Morning Star (Revelation 22:16).
Revelation 3:5 ‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments: Jesus identified the “Overcomers” with those few names who have not defiled their garments (Revelation 3:4). These “Overcomers” would wear white garments, received from Jesus.
Jesus explained the absolute necessity of this being clothed by God with His garments of purity and righteousness in His parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:11-14).
Real righteousness is receiving God’s covering instead of trying to cover ourselves. Adam and Eve tried to cover their own sin (Genesis 3:7) but God provided them with a covering that came from sacrifice (Genesis 3:21).
And I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life: By this, the “Overcomers” were assured of their heavenly citizenship. In the ancient world, death or a criminal conviction could blot out the name of an ancient citizen from the city’s book of the living, which was the city register.
But I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels: This was an amazing promise. It simply makes sense that we should be willing to confess the name of Jesus, but it is amazing that He would not be ashamed to confess us!
Revelation 3:12 ‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.”
He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar: “Overcomers” were told that they would be as a pillar in the temple of My God. Pillars were pictures of strength, stability, and dignified beauty.
He shall go out no more: The “Overcomer” would have a place of permanence and stability with God, in contrast to an uncertain place in this world.
I will write on him the name of My God… I will write on him My new name: The “Overcomer” also received many names – of God, the New Jerusalem, and the new name of Jesus. These names are marks of identification because they show who we belong to. They are marks of intimacy, because they show we are privileged to know Him in ways others are not.
Revelation 3:21 ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
To him who overcomes: Jesus’ promise to the “Overcomer”, even at Laodicea, showed that we don’t have to be Christians who are compromising and lukewarm. If we are, we can change and become one of Jesus’ overcomers.
I will grant to sit with Me on My throne: Those who overcome the battle against indifference, compromise, and self-reliance, receive a special reward. They enjoy a place with the enthroned Jesus (as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne).
Revelation 21:5 “And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Verse 6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
Verse7 “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.
Verse 8 “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Jesus is telling His Followers that they must “Endure to the end” and“Overcome”. We are nearing that time.
And they will prophesy. (Acts 2:17-18 and Joel 2:28-29))
There are testimonies, warnings and plain statements regarding at time in the Bible known as the Last Days or the End of the Age. For example, Jesus gives us an account of the Last Days and The End of the Age from two distinct perspectives. We need to look at a Biblical comparison and correlation of The Seals of the Tribulation as seen in the book of Matthew and correlated with the book of The Revelation (1). So we can know the sequence of these events that may be prepared and ready at all times. (2). It is also important so that we will not be taken by surprise or frightened and lose focus and composure; (3). It is also a reminder that we are to inform and warn others of the present and coming judgements. To Wit:
Matthew 24:1-5 tells us, “As Jesus 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?”
Revelation 1:1-3, which was written around A.D. 95 says, “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, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw. 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.”
Verse 4. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who [c]is to come, and from the [d]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 [e]His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Verse 7. BEHOLD, HE IS COMING
Jesus and these same disciples testified that these present and coming prophetic judgments and events may have already begun. in or around the birth of Christ or as late as A.D. 95, calling them “events of These Last Days”:
Hebrews 1:2,“but in these last daysHe (God) has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”
(This was written by the Apostle Paul, is written in the present tense, in or around the year A.D. 70 and is referred to as these last days ).
Hebrews 9:26,“For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, He (Christ) has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”
(These events were occuring in or around A.D. 30. The book of Hebrews is written by the Apostle Paul, and is written in the past and present tense, in or around A.D. 70 and is referred to as the end of the ages.)
Acts 2:14-17, “But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.”
(This occurred in or around A.D. 60 and as written in the past and present tense, by Peter the Apostle, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and is referred to as being ‘in the last days’).
2 Timothy 3:1,“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.’
(This was written by the Apostle Timothy, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in or around the year A.D. 67, was written in the present tense and is referred to as being ‘in the last days‘.)
1 Peter 1:20-21,” He (Jesus) was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”
(This is written in the past tense was recorded in or around A.D. 90, and is referred to, by the Apostle Peter, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as being ‘in the last times ‘.)
1 Peter 4:7,“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
(This is written in the past tense was recorded in or around A.D. 90, and is referred to, by the Apostle Peter, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as being ‘the end of all things‘.)
2 Peter 3:3,“Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.
(This is written in the future tense as a testimony about. things that were already beginning to occur, and was recorded in or around A.D. 90. This is referred to, by the Apostle Peter, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as being ‘in the last days‘.)
1 John 2:18, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, sonow many antichrists have (already) come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.“
(This is written in the present tense was recorded in or around A.D. 90, and is referred to, by the Apostle John, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as referred to as being in ‘the last hour‘.)
Matthew 24:29-31, ““But immediately afterthe 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.”
This is written in the future tense was recorded in or around A.D. 70, and is referred to, by the Apostle Matthew, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as referred to as being in ‘afterthe tribulation of those days’ , speaking of the tribulation of those days already referred to (above here.)
RECAP:
Seals ONE through FIVE have been broken, progressively, up until this day.
(CONCLUSION: These events (the breaking of Tribulation Seals 1 through 5) began in or around the birth of Christ or as late as A.D. 95, and have been overlapping and intensifying. We are still waiting for the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal as described in Matthew 24:29-31 and Revelation 6:12-16)
Considering the ‘seasons’ which we have entered, and considering the Seal which is upon us, this prophecy from Isaiah 61 is being fulfilled. This is the calling of the Shofar to gather around and begin the final assault!
NOW, HEAR THE VOICE OF THE LORD:
The Spirit of the Lord GOD has come upon us, because the LORD is anointing and commissioning us to bring good news to the humble and afflicted;
He is sending us to bind up the wounds of the brokenhearted, to proclaim release from confinement and condemnation to the physical and spiritual captives, and freedom to prisoners, to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, that is a day of salvation (49:8), and the year of His redeemed (63:4), and the day of vengeance and retribution of our God, so that we will no longer be prey to the nations, and the predators of the earth will not devour us; but we will live safely, and no one will make us afraid in this day of the Messiah’s reign.
To comfort all who mourn, To grant to those who mourn in Zion the following: To give them a turban instead of dust [on their heads, a sign of mourning, the oil of joy instead of mourning, The garment expressive of praise instead of a disheartened spirit. So, we will be called the trees of righteousness strong and magnificent, distinguished for integrity, justice, and right standing with God,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
We then will rebuild the ancient ruins, and we will raise up and restore the former desolations; And they will renew the legacy of the ruined cities, the spiritual desolations, deserted spiritual settlements, of many generations.
Strangers will stand and feed our flocks, and foreigners will be our farmers and our vinedressers.
And we shall be called the priests of the LORD; People will speak of us as the ministers of our God. We will eat the wealth of nations, And we will boast of their riches.
Instead of our former shame we will have a double portion; And instead of humiliation we will shout for joy over our portion.
Therefore, in this our land, we will possess double what we have forfeited; everlasting joy will be ours. (personalized from Isaiah 61)
(Then, at The Breaking of The Sixth Tribulation Seal (See Matthew 24:29-31))
‘I, (GOD), WILL DISPLAY WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE
AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW,
BLOOD, FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.
‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS
AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD,
BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD COMES.
‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’ (Acts 2:18-20 and Joel 2:30-32, Matthew 24:29-31)
The Lord is calling and. I am inviting you into the ranks of His earthly army. I am inviting you to join together as an earthly contingent of God’s heavenly armies to join in this final assault.
What does this mean?
First know, that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, contending only with physical opponents, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly and supernatural places.
Secondly know that we will encounter physical opponents who are of the spiritual forces of wickedness, but it is not ours to destroy them physically, but We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, being ready to punish every act of disobedience, when our own obedience as a church is complete.
The time has come that the Church is no longer to be an idle building, a gathering place for pleasure and entertainment.
“The Apostle Paul says the foundation of this building called the church is made up of the prophets and the Apostles, that is, the Old Testament prophets and New Testament Apostles. Why? It’s because the prophets and Apostles are the agents of revelation by whom God speaks to His people. They delivered the Word of God. Another way of saying this is that the foundation of the church is the Word of God.
“That’s why we must pay close attention to our doctrine of Scripture. The attacks launched against the integrity, authority, sufficiency, and trustworthiness of Scripture are attacks not upon a side alcove of this building. They don’t put a dent in the roof of the church. They’re attacks on the church’s very foundation. To have a church without Apostolic authority, without the Word of God as its foundation, is to build a church on sand rather than on rock. The foundation of the prophets and the Apostles is necessary for the entire edifice of the church to stand securely.
“Paul continues the building metaphor in Ephesians 2:20b: “Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone.” Christ is the cornerstone, the point that holds the foundation together. Take out the cornerstone, and everything falls apart. “In [Christ] the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Eph. 2:21–22). The church is a new temple built in Christ, by Christ, and for Christ. Obviously, Paul isn’t saying the church is a building made out of mortar and brick, but that we are the stones, the living stones, as 1 Peter 2:5 tells us. Each believer is part of this church just as each stone is part of a building. The church, the new temple, is still under construction. Every day, new stones are added. This new temple will not be finished until Jesus returns to consummate His kingdom. Christ is still building His church, not by adding cement but by adding people who are the stones that hold together in Him.
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
“The Apostle Paul explains the doctrine of the church so that we might understand what God has done and so that we may understand who we are. And in calling us to understand who we are and what we’re called to do, Paul says that we’re the church. We’re the church that God ordained from the foundation of the world. We’re His people; we‘re His household, so let the church be the church.
“Christ is the cornerstone, the point that holds the foundation together.
“We’re living in a time of crisis. Many Christians are decrying the decadence of American culture and complaining about the government and its value system. I understand that, but if we want to be concerned for our nation and culture, our priority must be the renewal of the church. We are the light of the world.
“Government merely reflects and echoes the customs embraced by the people in a given generation. In a real sense, our government is exactly what we want it to be, or it wouldn’t be there. Change in culture doesn’t always come from the top down. It often comes from the bottom up. The change we need to work for, chiefly, is renewal within the church. As the church becomes the fellowship of citizens of heaven who manifest what it means to be the household of Christ, and when the church walks according to the power of the Holy Spirit—then the people of God will shine as the light of the world. When people see that light, they will give glory to God (Matt. 5:16). This will change the world. But Paul says, first of all, let the church be the church. We must remember who we are, who the foundation is, who the cornerstone is, who the head of our building is, who the Lord of the church is.
“Do we love the church? I doubt if there have been many times in our history when there has been as much anger, hostility, disappointment, and disillusionment with the institutional church as there is today. It’s hard not to be critical of the church because in many ways the church has failed us. But if the church has failed, that means we have failed. We are called to serve the church in the power of God the Holy Spirit.
“We, the church, have been made for this task by the indwelling presence and power of God’s Spirit. Yet, we are called not so much to rise up but to bow down. And if we bow down to our Lord, as Paul says in Ephesians 3:14, the church will be the church, and our light will pierce the darkness.” (the foregoing in quotes is from Ligonier.com, by R.C. Sproul)
PUTTING OUT THE CALL
This is an all-volunteer force. I you need financial support, you will eventually have to raise that funding as you go.
This is not a call to build buildings, to establish religious corporations nor to leash ourselves to any 501-c-3 contract. This is not a hierarchy of priests. You are like living stones, being built up into a spiritual house for a holy and dedicated priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture:
You are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A CONSECRATED NATION, A special PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies, the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were NOT A PEOPLE at all, but now you are GOD’S PEOPLE; once you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
We will consider others as more important that ourselves. We will continually and faithfully devote ourselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to eating meals together and to prayers. Day after day we will meet, continuing with one mind, and breaking bread in various private homes. We will eat their meals together with joy and generous hearts.
I am putting out the call, first for:
Apostles: The title apostle comes from the Greek word apostolos which means “a messenger, one sent forth with orders”. It refers to one who has been delegated authority by another in a foreign land. Apostles were the first leaders of the Church; they were commissioned by Jesus to initiate and direct the preaching of the gospel. (There is no passage in the Bible saying this gift was temporary nor that is has ceased)
Prophets: In the New Testament, the office of prophet is to equip the saints for the work of service through exhortation, edification, and consolation (1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 14:3 Ephesians 4:11). The prophet’s corresponding gift is prophecy. Prophecy is “reporting something from God’s Word that God brings to your mind”.
Prophecy is addressed to the human understanding “he who prophesies speaks to men,” Corinthians 14:1-25. The prophet “edifies the church” (14:4).
Evangelists: An evangelist is one who devotes himself to preaching the gospel. In the New Testament, evangelists preached from city to city, church to church.
Pastors: This term derives from a Greek word for “shepherd”. Pastoral Gifts include integrity and compassion.
(The tasks of a Near Eastern shepherd were to watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep to defend the sheep from attackers to heal the wounded and sick sheep to find and save lost or trapped sheep to love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust.
During World War II, a shepherd was a pilot who guided another pilot whose plane was partially disabled back to the base or carrier by flying alongside him to maintain visual contact.)
Teachers: Someone who devotes his or her life to preaching and teaching the Christian faith. When teaching is provided for the Church by God, two gifts are actually given—to the Church is given a teacher and along with the teacher comes a divine capacity to teach.
Also, Those with the spiritual gift of Service: The word translated as “ministry” is diakonia, which can also be translated “service”. Since there are many types of ministries and service to the Church, this then describes a broad array of gifts rather than a single gift.
Those with the spiritual gift of Exhortation: The ability to motivate Christians “to patient endurance, brotherly love, and good works”.
Those with the spiritual gift of Giving: Those with this gift share their own possessions with others with extraordinary generosity. While all Christians should be givers, those possessing this gift will go beyond this normal giving.
Those with the spiritual gift of Overseeing: This gift speaks to the various roles found in the Church. While many think of roles such as administration, management of funds, strategy planning, etc. as functions outside of the supernatural realm, in reality individuals in these positions are just as in need of supernatural empowerment as are ministers of the gospel. This is sometimes inappropriately called ‘leadership’.
Those with the spiritual gift of Mercy: Possibly identical to the gift of helps, the mercy-shower possesses a ministry of visitation, prayer, and compassion to the poor and sick.
Those with the spiritual gift of a Word of wisdom: An utterance or message of wisdom supernaturally granted to an individual. For Paul, wisdom refers to “the knowledge of the great Christian mysteries: the Incarnation, Passion, and Resurrection of Christ, and the indwelling in the believer of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2; Ephesians 1:17)”.
Those with the spiritual gift of a Word of knowledge: The knowledge referred to is often said to relate to understanding Christian doctrine or scriptural truth. It is sometimes said to be connected with the ministry of teachers.
Those with the spiritual gift of Faith: This refers to that strong or special faith “which removes mountains, casts out devils (Matthew 17:19–20), and faces the most cruel martyrdom without flinching”. It is distinguished from the “saving” and “normal” Christian faith.
Those with the spiritual gift of Gifts of healing: The ability to supernaturally minister healing to others. The plural indicates the variety of sickness healed and the many forms the gift takes, such as healing by anointing with oil, by the laying on of hands, by saying the name of Jesus or by the sign of the cross.
Those with the spiritual gift of Working of miracles: The performance of deeds beyond ordinary human ability by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Visions. An outpouring of this gift is prophesied in Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17 and is expected to increase and be of great value in the “last days”.
Those with the spiritual gift of Discerning of spirits: The capacity to discern, distinguish, or to discriminate the source of a spiritual manifestation—whether it emanates from a good or evil spirit. It seemed to have been particularly associated with prophecy as it would be necessary to know whether a prophetic utterance was truly inspired by God.
Those with the spiritual gift of Helps: This gift has to do with service to the sick and the poor. Possessor of this gift has a “spiritual burden and a God-given love for the needy and afflicted”.
Those with the spiritual gift of Administration: Also called the gift of governing, the Greek word translated “governments” is “kubernesis”, the verb form of which means “to steer” or “to be a helmsman”. This gift then refers to the God-given capacity to oversee or guide the Church through storms and difficult seas.
CONCLUSION
This is not meant to be and is not a ‘new movement’. It is a continuation of the Church that Jesus built, as the Bible describes it. There are to no assumptions to be made about anything that is not written in the Bible (such as special or new revelations, unwritten words of knowledge, new prophetic words, cessation, reformation, replacement). If the Bible is silent, we are silent. Where the Bible speaks, we speak.
We must become (recreate in our own lives) what Jesus created as His Church. The fruit of the Spirit, the result of His presence within us, is love and unselfish concern for others, joy, inner peace, patience, not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Remembering that those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified and are crucifying the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.
We must strive to remember that as we claim to live by the Holy Spirit, we will also walk by the Spirit with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit. We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another.
Pray that, following the lead and example of Jesus, as our numbers grow, God’s influence will become an irresistible force as the day of His return draws ever-so-near.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
(Please reply in confidence, below. I will reply and we will begin the Assembly.)
The news of the day is the heinous attacks on innocents in Israel by the demonic terrorists, Hamas, in Gaza. There is speculation swirling in the smoke and columns of fire from the rocket attacks that this could be the ‘beginning of the end’ as prophesied in scriptures (The Last Days).
The swift, decisive and appropriately violent response by Israel would make it seem that this will at least be the end of Hamas as a terror group, and should send a strong message to Iran and other terrorist states. But if this unprovoked attack and murder of innocent men, women, children and babies spreads, it could begin to look like prophecies regarding Israel and the End of Days are coming to pass.
There are events, however, which must take place to confirm or disprove these kinds of speculations, but this could very well the precursor or harbinger, of things to come.
Revelation 12:1-17
The Woman
“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was pregnant, and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.
The “woman” represents Israel. According to Joseph’s dream (Genesis 37:9-11), the sun represented Jacob, the moon represented Joseph’s mother Rachel, and the eleven stars were the sons of Israel which bowed down to Joseph. In this sign with twelve stars, Joseph is now among the other tribes of Israel.
The Child is Jesus. The pain described refers to the travail of Israel at the time of Jesus’ birth (under Roman occupation and oppression).
The Red Dragon, Satan
Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven crowns. And his tail *swept away a third of the stars of heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her Child.
A red dragon “symbolically suggests” an actual person will come to power on earth, with fierce power and a murderous nature. This is a picture of the complete evil with hideous strength.”
The revived Roman Empire is in view, here. The seven heads and ten horns refer to the original ten kingdoms of which three were subdued by the little horn of Daniel 7:8, who is to be identified with the world ruler of the great tribulation who reigns over the revived Roman Empire.”
Seven diadems on his heads: This dragon (person and political power) had great power (seven heads and ten horns) and claimed royal authority (seven diadems). The crowns represent his presumptive claims of royal authority against the true King.
His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven: Many believe this describes one-third of the angelic host in league with Satan (his angels of Revelation 12:9). This army of angelic beings in league with Satan makes up the world of demonic spirits.
The Male Child, Christ
And she gave birth to a Son, a male, who is going to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there [c]she would be nourished for 1,260 days.
A male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron refers to Jesus Christ, the Messiah. He rules the world with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:9 and Revelation 19:15) refers to the triumphant return of Jesus. By stating the starting point and ending point of Jesus’ earthly work, John alluded to all that stood in between.
After a conflict with the Prince of this world (Satan and his evil accomplices), who came and tried Him, but found nothing in Him, the Son of the woman (Jesus the Christ) was taken up to heaven and sat on the right hand of God (Ephesians 1:20). Words can hardly be plainer than these.
“She would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days” is a reference to a three and one-half year period connects these events with the final seven years of the Daniel 9 prophecy. Since Revelation 12:5 describes the ascension of Jesus, and Revelation 12:6 describes yet-to-occur events in the 70th week of Daniel, between these two verses lies hundreds of years sometimes known as the “Age of Grace” (our current period).
The Angel, Michael
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,
“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. For this reason, rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”
And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time, times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent. And the serpent hurled water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon had hurled out of his mouth. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Around the mid-point and concluding near the end of the Great Tribulation period, (from the 7th Tribulation Trumpet to the 7th Tribulation Bowl of Wrath), God will turn the tide against Satan – first in heaven, then on earth. The formation of that battle is already taking place and it will deny Satan access to heaven.
THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE – compared to Matthew 24
Matthew 24:15-28, “So when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION [the appalling sacrilege that astonishes and makes desolate], spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains [for refuge]. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things that are in his house [because there will not be enough time]. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. And woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! Pray that your flight [from persecution and suffering] will not be in winter, or on a Sabbath [when Jewish laws prohibit travel]. For at that time there will be a great tribulation (pressure, distress, oppression), such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will [again]. And if those days [of tribulation] had not been cut short, no human life would be saved; but for the sake of the elect (God’s chosen ones) those days will be shortened. Then if anyone says to you [during the great tribulation], ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and they will provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones). Listen carefully, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out there, or, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms [of a house],’ do not believe it. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming [in glory] of the Son of Man [everyone will see Him clearly]. Wherever the corpse is, there the [e]vultures will flock together.”
THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE as seen in Luke 21
The Return of Christ
Luke 21:25-28, “There will be signs (attesting miracles) in the sun and moon and stars; and on the earth [there will be] distress and anguish among nations, in perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea and the waves, people fainting from fear and expectation of the [dreadful] things coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with [transcendent, overwhelming] power [subduing the nations] and with great glory. Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as] your redemption is drawing near.”
THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE compared to Matthew 24
Matthew 24:29-31, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT PROVIDE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And at that time the sign of the Son of Man [coming in His glory] will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth [and especially Israel] will mourn [regretting their rebellion and rejection of the Messiah], and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN with power and great glory [in brilliance and splendor]. And He will send His angels with A LOUD TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect (God’s chosen ones) from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
WARS AND RUMORS OF WAR – THE COMING INVASION OF ISRAEL?
WHO ARE THE ‘PLAYERS’?
When we see this invasion of Israel by the joint forces of Russia, Iran and her proxies, forces from Turkey, the Republic of Georgia, Ethiopia, Libya and Northern Africa, and the Caucuses, we can know this time has come. This is when God will intervene
Luke 21:20 tells us, “when you see Jerusalem surrounded by [hostile] armies, then understand [with confident assurance] that her (Israel’s) complete destruction is near.”
We can see who these hostile invading armies are, by readingEzekiel chapter 38:1,
“And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Verse 2. “Son of man, set your face against Gog of the land of Magog(current day Russia),the chief ruler of Meshech(southern Russia and Ukraine and possibly the Republic of Georgia)and Tubal(central Turkey), and prophesy against him,
Verse 3, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief ruler of Meshech and Tubal.
Verse 4. I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them magnificently clothed in full armor, a great horde with buckler (small shield) and [large] shield, all of them wielding swords;
Verse 5. Persia(Iran), Cush(Ethiopia),and Put(Libya, N. Africa)with them, all of them with shield and helmet;
Verse 6.Gomer(southern Russia)and all its troops; Beth-togarmah(the Caucuses region of Armenia and Georgia)from the remote parts of the north and all its troops–many peoples with you.
These are the 10 Nation Confederation to watch, (THE HEADS), of the BEAST Ezekiel 38, of Daniel 7,9 and Revelation 17. All are Islamic, the Center of which is MECCA:
Nation #1. Gog: A Reubenite, son of Shemaiah, the prophetic prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and Magog. Gog is identified as a descendant of the prophet Joel, and in Ezekiel 38–39, he is the chief prince of the tribes of Meshech and Tubal in the land of Magog, the mountainous region between Cappadocia and Media (Russia.).
Nation #2. Magog: The 2nd son of Japheth, grandson of Noah, and progenitor of several tribes northward from Israel; the mountainous region between Cappadocia and Media and habitation of the descendants of Magog, son of Japheth and grandson of Noah. (Russia.)
Nation #3. Rosh: “the Prince of Rosh” is Asiatic Russia receives confirmation from the Imperial Dictionary. “Evidence exists of an ancient people called Rosh, or Rhos, supposed to be the original stem from which the Russia or modern Russians have derived their race and name.” The scholar, Bishop Lowther says: “Rosh, taken as a proper name, in Ezekiel, signifies the inhabitants of Scythia, from whom modern Russians derived their name. We must conclude therefore, that Ezekiel’s “episode of Gog’s invasion” (A. B. Davidson) points irrefutably and undeniably to the Russians.
Nation #4. Meschach: Was a Chaldean. The Chaldeans inhabited the coastal area near the Persian Gulf. About 630 Nabopolassar became king of the Chaldeans and in 626 he forced the Assyrians out of Uruk and crowned himself king of Babylonia. Modern day Turkey.
Nation #5. Tubal: a region in east Asia Minor, perhaps nearly equal to Cappadocia
Nation #6. Persia:Iran
Nation #7. Cush (Ethiopia): located on either side or both sides of the Red Sea. As such, “Cush” is alternately identified in scripture with the Kingdom of Kush or ancient Ethiopia.
Nation #8. Put (Libya): Ancient Libya. In this sense, Libya was the whole known African continent to the west of the Nile Valley and extended south of Egypt. Herodotus described the inhabitants of Libya as two peoples: The Libyans in northern Africa and the Ethiopians in the south.
Nation #9. Gomer: (was the wife of the prophet Hosea (8th century BC), mentioned in the Hebrew Bible‘s Book of Hosea (1:3). Hosea 1:2 refers to her alternatively as a “promiscuous woman” (NIV), a “harlot” (NASB), and a “whore” (KJV) but Hosea is told to marry her according to Divine appointment. She is also described as the daughter of Diblaim.) The Hebrew name Gomer refers to the Cimmerians, who dwelt in what is now southern Russia, “beyond the Caucusus”, and attacked Assyria in the late 7th century BC.
Nation #10. Beth-Togarmah: Togarmah is a city mentioned in Assyrian and Hittite texts. It was north of Carchemish on an Assyrian trade route. It may be related to modern Gurun between the Halys and Euphrates Rivers. (Georgia, Chechnya, Turkey/Armenia.)
Because of the length and complexity of the scriptures regarding the invasion of Israel in the Last Days from the book of The Revelation, I will simply recap these events by linking to the appropriate verses, and a detailed commentary with videos by Zion’s Hope (David Rosenthal) at the end of this page..
Just know that the destruction of the Antichrist, the beast and their invading armies and demonic forces will be thoroughly defeated and cast into the eternal lake of fire (Revelation 16 through 20) after the 7th Tribulation Bowl is poured out.
It is also worthy to note that there is some ‘controversy’ or discussion about the “2nd Coming” or the SECOND ADVENT of Jesus Christ. Matthew 24:29-31 (and similarly in Luke 21) record these words, “But immediately after the tribulation of those days (it is important to note the words ‘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.” This is clearly Jesus appearing, which will occur after the 5th Tribulation Seal and at the moment of the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal and is spoken of in the future tense. By all appearances we are well into the 5th Tribulation Seal and are very near the 6th Seal, so the ‘future tense’ of this verse can easily be considered to be from this day (10/11/2023) until His appearing – which could be immanent.
Then, in Revelation 19:11-16 we read, “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. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 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. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Many commentators believe these verses describe the 2nd Advent of Christ. But clearly, taking Matthew 24:29-31 into account, this would be a THIRD advent, which would be incorrect. This is NOT a new advent or a new coming of Christ, but it is Jesus, who has already returned to gather His Elect (Matthew 24:31) and is seen sitting on horse, judging and waging war against the nations!
CONCLUSION – THE LONG VIEW
The events of the “Last Days” began as early as the birth and/or the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus, as reported by Jesus and the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy in or around 2 B.C. through A.D. 95, and found in:
These events will conclude at the end of the pouring out of the Tribulation Bowls at the end of the SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION period, the Great and Terrible Day of The Lord.
We are seeing clear and distinct signs of the final days before His return and the beginning of the Great Tribulation. If you are His disciple, you do not need to be afraid. He is your protector. Your weapons and shield are the words of your testimony and the Blood of the Lamb.
When the time comes, He will give you words of wisdom to say, which no one can resist. Be brave and courageous.
If you have not already, now is the time, now is the day of your salvation. Turn to Jesus in humble submission and exchange your life for His, today – this moment. Find your peace, safety, sanctuary and salvation in Him!
If you have already given yourself and your life to God by His grace and through faith in Jesus, now is the time to complete your calling.
Do not wait for others to do the work of your calling – not the preacher, pastor, deacon, elder or friend. It is your calling and your joy to serve the Living God today.
YOU,“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Jesus, believe in Him, and obey His words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that He has commanded you; and lo, He is with you always [remaining with you perpetually–regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”
Next, let’s confirm the meaning of scriptures related to the END OF THE AGE or THE LAST DAYS by correlating and comparing the Tribulation Seals of Judement, from Matthew chapter 24 with the book of The Revelation chapters 6, 7 and eight through COMPARISON and CONTEXT!
(NOTE: Jesus, in the book of Matthew gives a present view looking to the future – Jesus, in The book of The Revelation gives a panorama of a continuous past, present and future.)
After reading each of the following verses, please ask and answer, “What is REALLY Going On?
What is REALLY Going On – in Matthew 24:1 –5, “As Jesus 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?” And Jesus answered and said to them. “See to it that no one misleads you. “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.
Revelation 6:1-2, “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!” I looked, and behold…”
Seal 1 – Matthew 24:6-7 – also in Revelation 6:1 – 6:3 – WARS & RUMORS OF WAR, RIDER ON WHITE HORSE.
What is REALLY Going On – in the FirstSeal in Matthew 24?
Matthew 24:6. “And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
“You will behearing of wars and rumors of wars -Matthew 24:6”
(future tense – spoken in A.D. 30).
(has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).
What is REALLY Going On – in the FirstSeal in Matthew 24?
Matthew 24:7-8, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against – Matthew 24:7”
(future tense – spoken in A.D. 30) .
(has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur have been are increasing in intensity to this day).
What is REALLY Going On – in the FirstSeal in Revelation 6?
Revelation 6:1–2, 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.” I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
“A white horse rider went out conquering and to conquer – Revelation 6:2”
(Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D.)
(has been occurring since A.D. 95, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).
What is REALLY Going On – in the Second and ThirdSeals in Matthew 24?
Matthew 24:7-8, “…and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.
and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
(has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).
“But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
(This is the beginning – in or around A.D. 30,and they have been continuing to occur and are increasing in intensity to this day).
What is REALLY Going On – in the Second and Third Seals in Revelation 6?
Revelation 6:3-4. “When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
“A red horse went out to take peace from the earth and people would kill one another – Revelation 6:4”
(Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95)
(has been occurring since A.D. 95, are continuing to occur and has been increasing in intensity to this day).
People would kill one another.
(Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
(has been occurring since A.D. 95, are continuing to occur and has been increasing intensity to this day).
-The Completion of the Second & Third TribulationSeals –
Seal 4: Matthew 24:9 – also in Revelation 6:7 – PERSECUTION, DISEASE, FAMINE, DEATH.
What is REALLY Going On – in the FourthSeal in Matthew 24?
Matthew 24:9, “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
“Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
(has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).
What is REALLY Going On – in the FourthSeal in Revelation 6?
Revelation 6:7-8, “When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” 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.”
An ashen horse of death.
Death by sword, famine, pestilence and wild beasts.
(has been occurring since A.D. 95, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity and will culminate with over one-fourth of earth’s inhabitants killed).
– The Completion of the FourthTribulationSeal –
Seal 5: Matthew 24:10-15 – also in Revelation 6:9– APOSTASY, FALSE PROPHETS, HATRED, LAWLESSNESS, ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, GREAT EARTHQUAKES, MARTYRS, DEATH.
What is REALLY Going On – in the FifthSeal in Matthew 24?
Matthew 24:10-15, “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will ariseand will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 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.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. (this is the last of the prophecies to come).
Many will fall away and hate one another (the great Apostasy).
(has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).
False prophets will arise and mislead many..
(has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).
(A past event foreshadowing the future event which marks the last of the prophecies and the coming End).
What is REALLY Going On – in the FifthSeal in Revelation 6?
Revelation 6:9-11, “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; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.”
Persecutions, martyrs and death of the saints of God.
(has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity until the end).
– The Completion of the FifthTribulationSeal –
Seal 6:Matthew 24:29-31 – also in Revelation 6:12– COSMIC CATACLYSMS after the tribulation of the previous days, TERROR, SUN DARKENED, MOON WILL NOT SHINE, STARS WILL FALL, HEAVENS SHAKEN, SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN, SON COMING ON THE CLOUDS, GREAT TRUMPET BLAST, GATHERING OF THE ELECT, RAPTURE.
What is REALLY Going On – in the SixthSeal in Matthew 24?
“But immediatelyafterthetribulationofthosedaysTHE 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.
“But immediatelyafterthetribulationofthosedays
(A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND
(A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND
(A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and
(A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then
(A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and
(A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. And
(A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET BLAST, and
(A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
(A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
What is REALLY Going On – in the SixthSeal in Revelation 6?
Revelation 6:12-17, “I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrathhas come, and who is able to stand?”
There was a great earthquake.
(Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95)
(has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
The sun became black
(Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95)
(has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
The moon became like blood.
(Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95)
(has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
The stars fell from the sky.
(Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
(has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
The sky was split apart like a scroll.
(Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
(has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
Every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
(Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
(has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
Him who sits on the throne.
(Present historical tense; is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
(It has always been this, from the past to the present).
Hide us from The Wrath of the Lamb.
(Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
(has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
The Great Day of Wrath has come.
Notice this is in the Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95)
(has been occurring since A.D. 95, are continuing to occur and has been increasing in intensity).(A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
An Interlude between the 6th Tribulation Seal and the 7th Tribulation Seal. (the last of the prophecies yet to come)
What is REALLY Going On – in the SixthSeal in Revelation 7?
Revelation 7:1 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. 2And 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, 3saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”
What is REALLY Going On – in the SixthSeal in Revelation 7?
The 144,000 Sealed
Revelation 7:4-5 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:
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 – The Rapture
What is REALLY Going On – WHAT IS GOING ON in the SixthSeal in Revelation 7?
Who is the ‘great multitude’
Revelation 7:9-16, “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; 10and they cry out with a loud voice,
What is REALLY Going On – in the SixthSeal in Revelation 7?
Where is this great multitude?
saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 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,
saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
Where did this great multitude come from?
“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?”
“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.
“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. “They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17for 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.”
All of these final events have culminated with the elect of God having been raptured before the Throne of God and in their eternal home, God’s Eternal Tabernacle.
– The Completion of the SixthTribulationSeal –
Seal 7: Revelation – SILENCE IN HEAVEN for half an hour, SEVEN ANGELS and SEVEN TRUMPETS, PEALS OF THUNDER, SOUNDS AND FLASHES OF LIGHTENING AND AN EARTHQUAKE.
What is REALLY Going On – in the SeventhSeal in Matthew 24?
Silence. (Jesus will continue in Matthew with instruction of recognizing the times and days, preparing for these Last Days and the Blessings and Consequences for not preparing ahead of time – preparing NOW!
The scene now moves to the heavens (see Revelation chapter 8).
What is REALLY Going On – in the SeventhSeal in Revelation 8?
Revelation 8:1-2, “When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
A lull in the cosmic and terrestrial storms.
7 angels standing BEFORE GOD and 7 trumpets are given to them. (These are the 7 trumpets of judgment).
Revelation 8:3-5, “Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
There are testimonies, warnings and plain statements regarding at time in the Bible known as the Last Days or the End of the Age. For example, Jesus gives us an account of the Last Days and The End of the Age from two distinct perspectives. We need to look at a Biblical comparison and correlation of The Seals of the Tribulation as seen in the book of Matthew and correlated with the book of The Revelation (1). So we can know the sequence of these events that may be prepared and ready at all times. (2). It is also important so that we will not be taken by surprise or frightened and lose focus and composure; (3). It is also a reminder that we are to inform and warn others of the present and coming judgements. To Wit:
Matthew 24:1-5 tells us, “As Jesus 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?”
Revelation 1:1-3, which was written around A.D. 95 says, “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, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw. 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.”
Verse 4. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who [c]is to come, and from the [d]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 [e]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.
These words were written sometime around A.D. 90. Over 1,900 years have passed since this prophecy was written, and according to the God-breathed and Holy Spirit inspired Word of God. The first ‘contradiction’, if that is possible, is if these were ‘to soon take place’.
(Please Note: Many protestant denominations will interpret Revelation 1:7 as being fulfilled in Revelation 19:11 as “Jesus’ Second coming’. It is important, when establishing a Biblical timeline, to get the chronology right. Please compare Matthew 24:30 and Revelation 19:11
Matthew 24:30-31, “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.”
And,
Revelation 19:11-16, “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.His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.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.And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Matthew 24:30, is when 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 will occur at the beginning of the 7-year period of the Great Tribulation period. This is when Jesus 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. THIS IS THE ONE AND ONLY 2ND ADVENT – AND THE GATHERING (rapture) OF HIS ELECT (CHOSEN).
Revelation 19:11, is when theheaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages waris to occur at the end of the Bowls of Wrath, which is at the end of the 7-year Great tribulation period.This is when Jesus ‘judges and wages war’. JESUS HAS ALREADY RETURNED AND GATHERED HIS ELECT (HIS CHOSEN) AND IS NOW DEFEATING THE BEAST, THE ANTICHRIST AND ALL WHO RELIEVED THE MARK OF THE BEAST, and is casting them into the lake of fire.
Jesus and these same disciples testified that these present and coming prophetic judgments and events may havealreadybegun.in or around A.D. 30, calling them “events of These Last Days”:
Hebrews 1:2,“but in these last daysHe (God) has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”
(This was written by the Apostle Paul, is written in the present tense, in or around the year A.D. 70 and is referred to as these last days).
Hebrews 9:26,“For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own,for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, He (Christ) has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”
(These events were occuring in or around A.D. 30. The book of Hebrews is written by the Apostle Paul, and is written in the past and present tense, in or around A.D. 70 and is referred to as the end of the ages.)
Acts 2:14-17, “But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”
(This occurred in or around A.D. 60 and as written in the past and present tense, by Peter the Apostle, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and is referred to as being ‘in the last days’).
2 Timothy 3:1,“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.‘
(This was written by the Apostle Timothy, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in or around the year A.D. 67, was written in the present tense and is referred to as being ‘in the last days‘.)
1 Peter 1:20-21,“He (Jesus) was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of youwho through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”
(This is written in the past tense was recorded in or around A.D. 90, and is referred to, by the Apostle Peter, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as being ‘in the last times‘.)
1 Peter 4:7,“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
(This is written in the past tense was recorded in or around A.D. 90, and is referred to, by the Apostle Peter, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as being ‘the end of all things‘.)
2 Peter 3:3,“Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.
(This is written in the future tense as a testimony about. things that were already beginning to occur, and was recorded in or around A.D. 90. This is referred to, by the Apostle Peter, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as being ‘in the last days‘.)
1 John 2:18, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, sonow many antichrists have (already) come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.“
(This is written in the present tense was recorded in or around A.D. 90, and is referred to, by the Apostle John, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as referred to as being in ‘the last hour‘.)
Matthew 24:29-31, ““But immediately afterthe tribulation of those daysthe sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, andthe 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.”
(This is written in the future tense was recorded in or around A.D. 70, and is referred to, by the Apostle Matthew, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as referred to as being in ‘afterthe tribulation of those days’ , speaking of the tribulation of those days already referred to (above here.)
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
It is important because this illustrates the correct timeline and timing of these events. ‘NOT THE DAY NOR THE HOUR’, because no one knows the exact day or hour, not even Jesus, but the Father alone knows. But, this does give us an accurate description of the fig tree: “as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near;. (Matthew 24:32)
It is important because we must be mentally, physically and spiritually of and ready for the things that are upon us so we do not faint or fall away.
It is important because the context, the uses and meanings of these various words which refer to Tribulation affect our attitudes and our motivation for GETTING and STAYING READY for His return. They also affect our view of the timing of the coming Tribulation and the Great Tribulation.
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Why does it matter “when” the tribulation starts or “when” Christians are to be raptured into the heavens?
It matters because being ready for His Return is proof of True Christianity, and only a True Believer in Christ will be guaranteed to join Christ at the sound of His Great Trumpet call and escape the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.
It matters because being ready requires believing and doing what He has instructed us to do in preparation for His return.
It matters because He has warned that “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
It matters because many Christians are sitting idly waiting for an event that has already begun and they are not DOING what He told them to do and therefore are in grave danger.
It matters because some of our family, friends and neighbors are completely unaware or just don’t believe that Christ will return and God’s final judgments will sentence them to outer darkness.
It matters because as Christians, our faith, our convictions and our behaviors are speaking louder than our words – and if we truly believe these things are coming to pass – we need to be getting ready
Finally, there is are two huge misconceptions or misunderstanding and in some churches, a false teaching that (#1), the Rapture will occur before the appearing of the Antichrist.
HOWEVER, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 clearly says, “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,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.No one is to deceive you in any way! For it (the day of the Lord) will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,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.”
And (#2), the second big misconception is that the ‘mark of the beast’ will be given and this will occur prior to the rapture, when at that time no one will be able to buy or sell without that mark’.
However, Revelation 3:16-17 says, He will “cause all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.” Therefore, the Antichrist gives his ‘mark’ after the Seal Judgments, after the Rapture, and just after the 6th Tribulation Trumpet Judgment and at the blowing of 7th Trumpet Judgment – which is the Mid-Point of the Great Tribulation – which is after three and one half years of the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation period.
I mention these two misconceptions because they are included in the chronology of the last days.
Coming next: Confirm scriptures with scriptures regarding the Last Days by correlating and comparing the Tribulation Seals from Matthew chapter 24 with the book of The Revelation chapters 6, 7 and eight.
(Jesus, in the book of Matthew gives a present view looking to the future – Jesus, in The book of The Revelation gives a panorama of a continuous past, present and future.)
A mystery or secret doctrine of which initiation is necessary; in the New Testament. The counsels of God, once hidden but now revealed in the Gospel or some fact thereof; the Christian revelation generally; particular truths or details of the Christian revelation.
The Revelation
An uncovering, an unveiling, revealing, revelation, disclosure. The book of the Revelation begins with John the Revelator addressing the seven churches in Asia.
What follows is an amazing prophetic insight of God’s plan and purpose for His creation from Genesis to the End of the Age.
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.
Verse 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.”
Verse 8. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
I have color-coded certain words and phrases in these verses to draw attention to the Mystery of the Apocalypse. Others are color-coded in red to draw attention to their obvious and transcendent truth.
THE WORD OF GOD – THE ONLY WAY TO SAFETY AND SUCCESS
The cosmos and this world and everything in them, which God created from the beginning, were ‘Good’. God called all of His creation ‘Good’, and all things were ‘good’ because the process and the outcome of creation was perfectly in accordance to God’s Will, His Plan and His Purpose.
It may sound odd to say, but the scriptures about creation, particularly the creation of Adam and Eve, found in the Book of Genesis, seem to contain several contradictions.
THE FIRST ‘CONTRADICTION’
Revelation 1:1, says, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place…” These words were written sometime around A.D. 90. Over 1,900 years have passed since this prophecy was written, and according to the God-breathed and Holy Spirit inspired Word of God. The first ‘contradiction’, if that is possible, is if these were ‘to soon take place’, why haven’t they? But that is the wrong question to ask.
The right question to ask is,“Is this is more rock-solid evidence that the breaking of the first tribulation seals began at the birth of Christ and ‘the things which must soon take place’began to appear around the time John the Apostle wrote his Apocalypse?”
This prophetic statement, “the things which must soon take plac” fits perfectly with the words of Jesus and the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy, written around A.D. 30. They illustrate, by the use of the TENSE of the words, the timing of certain events (I.e., when they began). Please read and study this carefully. These statements are found in :
“but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.“
“Last (days): from Strong’s concordance #2078:ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).
“for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
“End of the ages”: from Strong’s concordance #4930,syntéleia (from 4862/sýn, “close together with” and 5055/teléō, “complete, consummate”) – culmination (completion), i.e. when the parts come together into a whole (“consummation“) – “an end involving many parts” (B. F. Westcott). See 4931 (synteléō). that ushers in a new time-era/age (Mt 13:39,40,49,24:3, 28:20).
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh”
“Last (days): from Strong’s concordance #2078:ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.”
“Last (days): from Strong’s concordance #2078:ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).
“He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.”
“Last (days): from Strong’s concordance #2078:ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).
“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.”
End (of all things): from Strong’s concordance #5056:télos (a neuter noun) – properly, consummation (the end-goal, purpose), such as closure with all its results. [This root (tel-) means “reaching the end (aim).” It is well-illustrated with the old pirate’s telescope, unfolding (extending out) one stage at a time to function at full-strength (capacity effectiveness).]
“knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.”
“Last (days): from Strong’s concordance #2078:ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).
“Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.”
“Last (hour): from Strong’s concordance #2078:ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).
All of the cited verses were spoken and written sometime as early as A.D. 30 as late as A.D. 69. This illustrates and informs us that these are the times of the “beginning of sorrows”, a.k.a, the early days of tribulation (small ‘t’) – Seals ONE through FIVE are distinct from the SIXTH and SEVENTH Tribulation Seals which are the beginning of the final 7 years of Great Tribulation, and include the 7 Trumpet Judgements and the 7 Bowl Judgements – also known as “Daniel’s 70th Week”, “The Great Tribulation”, “The Days of Wrath” or “The Day of The Lord”.
So, in this case there is no contradiction. It is a clear and positive explanation of the timing of ‘the beginning of the End of all Things’ – The tribulation had begun. We are now standing at the precipice of the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal – which is the beginning of the final 7 years!
THE SECOND ‘CONTRADICTION’ – BACK TO THE BEGINNING
So, what does Genesis and the creation of man and woman have to do with the tribulation, the Revelation and the End of all Things? It shows that God planned all things to occur just has they have occurred from the very beginning. He planned it all.
Man and woman were created ‘in His image’ but as crazy as it sounds, the Hebrew language reveals, they were created with a flaw. They were created with a ‘as a mere image or a shadowed reflection of the Perfect God; an illusion with a dubious character’; but they were created with the potential of perfection.
This is shown as Adam and Eve sinned and doomed all humankind to live under the curse of sin. But, this was God’s plan all along, so He provided a solution, a Savior, His Son, Jesus. And the plan of Perfecting began.
Genesis 1:1, says, “In the beginning God, (Elohim), created the heavens and the earth. Verse 2. And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Verse 3. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. Verse 4. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. Verse 5. God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening and there was morning, one day.” And, God saw that it was good. (etcetera).
THE MAJOR EVENT
Then, in Genesis 1:26, “God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness.”
This is a major event. The seminal event in all creation. God is making a creature He calls ‘mankind’ in His, (Their), own image and according to Their likeness.
AN ODD THING
In the midst of His creation work, an odd thing occurs. This is an event, an occurrence in the creation of mankind, which is completely overlooked by the vast majority, if not all, Bible teachers. This is a bit technical, but please pay particular attention, as this is a game-changer.
Genesis 1, Verse 27. “So, God created manin His own image, in theimageof God He created him; male and female He created them.”
It may seem tedious to look at the wording of this verse, as it was written in the original Hebrew language, but it is vitally important for our understanding of God’s Design, plan and purpose:
Verse 27. “So created God, manin His own image, in theimage of God, He created him, male and female, He created them.”
man =adam, from ‘adam’; man, mankind. ruddy, i.e. A human being (an individual or the species, mankind.
In Him own image = tselem = an image; a mere, empty, image, semblance; image, vain show, from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e., an illusion, a resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol, an image, a vain shew, of dubious character.
In the image = tselem = an image; a mere, empty, image, semblance; image, vain show, from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e., an illusion, a resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol, an image, a vain shew, of dubious character.
Genesis 1, Verse 27 , in other words, says, “So, God, signifying that this is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, created, shaped through a formative process to make man, that is, mankind, ruddy, i.e., a human being, an individual of the species of mankind, in His own image, in the image; a mere, empty, image, semblance; image, vain show, from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e., an illusion, a resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol, an image, a vain shew, of dubious character, of God, yet having potential of being very great, mighty, and consisting as a plural in the ordinary sense, He created him, shaped, created, through a formative process; male and female He created them.”
RECAP:
God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, created, shaped and formed mankind.
God created mankind ‘in His Own image’, which initially was a mere faint image of Himself; a vain representation, a shadow of the Original; an icon, a phantom pattern, an illusion, a mere resemblance; a being of dubious nature.
God has deliberately made man and woman with a flaw, and destined them to fail.
God would, through a formative process which would take a millennium, provide a way for man and woman to be redeemed and recreated into His perfect image through a Savior, His Son, Jesus.
Once again, there is no contradiction. God created man and woman with a flaw – He created you and me with a flaw – and destined us to fail WITH A PURPOSE. He also provided a Savior to redeem you from failure. Through all time, God is perfecting His creation, man and woman, into the very image of Jesus the Christ,
The Purpose of God’s Eternal Plan is “Perfection”. He is maturing and perfecting you into His image, ultimately to live in Perfect harmony with Him and with one another, in a New and Perfect heaven and earth.
“Because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14
Each and every chapter, verse and word in the Bible, when viewed within this context of God’s Eternal Plan of Perfection, begins to make perfect sense.
Read it. Know it. Believe it. Live it.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
PS: This description of the Apocalypse comes from a careful and painstaking, decades-long study. I did not come to these conclusions easily; it was done through much prayer, study, labor and criticism.
Why does it matter “when” the tribulation starts or “when” Christians are to be raptured into heavens?
It matters because being ready for His Return is proof of True Christianity and only a True Believer in Christ will be guaranteed to join Christ at the sound of His Great Trumpet call and escape the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.
It matters because being ready requires believing and doing what He has instructed us to do in preparation for His return.
It matters because He has warned that “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
It matters because many Christians are sitting idly waiting for an event that has already begun and they are not DOING what He told them to do and therefore are in grave danger.
It matters because some of our family, friends and neighbors are completely unaware or just don’t believe that Christ will return and God’s final judgments will sentence them to outer darkness.
Because, as Christians, our faith, our convictions and our behavior Are speaking louder than our words.
Now I am certain – no, make that ‘I am galvanized’ in my certainty, and I believe you may come to the same conclusions given the same dedication to uncovering the truth.
Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 55
“The Parable of the Fig Tree – He is Near”
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, thisgeneration will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
The Words of Jesus, Matthew 24:32-35.
These verses, by way of metaphor, give us important instructions about the timing of Jesus return and the end of the age and God’s Eternal nature.
However, you must be able to understand that these words of Jesus are Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional and can only be spiritually discerned and can only be acted upon by way of The Spirit of God as they are manifested in the natural world.
Also, these verse should be included as part of a much larger teaching. Here are topical headings of this entire teaching, beginning in Matthew 24:1, which gives us the ‘big picture’:
1. Jesus Foretells The Destruction of the Temple. (This is prophetic, metaphorical and literal.)
2. Jesus’ Disciples ask Him About the sign of His coming and of the End of The Age.
3. Jesus Tells of The Signs, which, although originated in the Spiritual world, are literally manifested in the natural world, leading to of the End of the Age.
4. Jesus Foretells of The Abomination of Desolation. This is the literal manifestation of the final global defiance of and rebellion against God.
5. Jesus Tells of The Coming of the Son of Man. This is the sign that it is finished, this time for the world and creation. The Son is coming to remove His Elect from the earth and take us to our Heavenly home, to defeat the two beasts and the antichrist and to exact His Judgement on earth.
6. Jesus instructs how we can know the season of His return and the End of The Age by using the Fig Tree as a metaphor. Those who have ears to hear, must listen and heed His Words. 7. Jesus Instructs that No One Knows That Day and Hour of His Return and the End of The Age, but that we are to Stay Ready.
8. Jesus teaches about the reward and the consequences of readiness through The Parable of the Ten Virgins.
9. Jesus Teaches About the cost of being slothful, tardy and fearful and the rewards of faithfulness, trust and responsibility.
10. Jesus tells of the Final Judgment, gives the metaphor of the separation of the sheep, (the righteous) and the goats (the condemned) and the rewards of eternal life or eternal punishment.
11. Jesus reveals the plot of His crucifixion and death.
You are born, you live and you will die. You will have one chance at this. Knowing the sequence of events, the rewards of righteousness and the consequences of rebelliousness is paramount to your survival, both now and eternally.
THE RESCUE OF THE RIGHTEOUS
If you are a believer and follower of Christ, alive on earth when the Sixth Seal is broken, you will be one of those remaining, the remnant, who will live through the most amazing of experiences.
You will see the sun darkened.
The moon will go dark.
Stars falling from heaven.
The heavens shaken.
The sign of the son of man in the heaven.
The people of earth mourning.
Jesus coming on the clouds with power.
You will hear the angels and the trumpet call.
Angels will gather you (Rapture you) with the elect from the four corners of the earth.
Jesus has just told about the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal and the ‘Gathering of the Elect from the four winds of the earth’ (the Rapture), now He tells us what it will be like just before the rapture and the beginning of the final 7 years of judgment:
Matthew 24:36, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
A description of the coming Rapture of the saints and of those left behind – So will be the coming of the Son of man – you also must be ready.
For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
The Reward of the Faithful Servant
They were all called ‘servants’ but only the ones who did what the Master said are rewarded. The wicked disobedient will be cut to pieces and put with the hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24:45, “Who then is the faithful and wise servant*, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
The Punishment of the Wicked
But if that wicked servant* says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Reward of the Wise and the Rejection of the Foolish
They were all expecting to meet the bridegroom (Jesus) but only the wise were allowed into the wedding party. The foolish were left alone.
Matthew 25:1, “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’
But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
The Rewards of the Faithful and the Punishment Fearful Servants
They were all called ‘servants’ of the Master. But only the faithful are rewarded and the fearful are counted as worthless and are cast into the outer darkness.
Matthew 25:14, “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So, take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The Final Judgment
The faithful sheep on His right and the goats on His left. The sheep who showed compassion, mercy and servanthood are welcomed into the kingdom prepared for them since the foundation of the world.
The unfaithful goats on His left are told to depart from Him, and are called cursed, and sent into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels
Matthew 25:31, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
The Plot to Kill Jesus
With His teaching and instructing completed, Jesus reveals that everything we have heard which is planned ahead of time will be set into motion with His crucifixion. The fuse is lit. Nothing will ever be the same again.
Matthew26:1, “When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
(Please note: I am using page links in lieu of footnotes and references to important details in this study. You can stop the audio to follow a link, then resume the audio when you are ready. Also, it is best to start this series on Part 1 in order to get the proper chronology and process as found in the Bible.)
ESCHATOLOGY – The Study of the End Times – Part VI.
Judged by the conditions around the world today, it seems that this fifth scroll seal has now been broken, and we are moving inexorably toward the great tribulation also known as the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord with a breaking of the sixth tribulation seal.
A CAUTION AND A WARNING: When you see a great persecution of Christians, many falling away from faith in Jesus,hating and betraying one another; in conjunction with wars and rumors of wars, an increase in earthquakes, famines, disease, a dangerous and dramatic increase in lawlessness; a rise of many false prophets and many being led astray from the Gospel of Christ, you will know the fifth seal of the tribulation has been broken, and we are nearing the end.
Matthew 24,Verse 13. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
PART VII.
THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – part (d):
Verse 14. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL MARKER:
We can tell when the gospel has finally been proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations because then the end will come; as told in Matthew 13:40,“Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. Verse 41, The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, Verse 42, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”.
And, in Matthew 13:49, “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, Verse 50, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Revelation 20:15, “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
NOTE: CHRONOLOGICAL MARKERS are useful for identifying events in their chronological order, which can help us identify our placement on God’s End of Days ‘calendar’.
CREATION – THE FALL – SIN – DEATH – REDEMPTION – TRIBULATIONS – THE DAY OF WRATH – JUDGMENT – BOOK OF LIFE – LAKE OF FIRE – A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH.
One of the prevalent eschatological teaching (study on the matters of the end of the age) is the Pre-tribulation Rapture and Premillennialism. it was originated by John Nelson Darby in 1833. Darby is considered to be the father of modern Dispensationalism and Futurism. Pre-tribulationrapture theology was popularized extensively in the 1830s by John Nelson Darby and the Plymouth Brethren, and further popularized in the United States in the early 20th century by the wide circulation of the Scofield Reference Bible.
Other eschatological views include:
Preterism (1554–1613)
Historicism (mid 1500s)
Futurism (mid 1500s)
From these views spring major theological positions of
Because there are a myriad of Church denominational and doctrinal positions, it is understandable that so many differing eschatological views have emerged.
But, with the passage of time, historical events and particularly religious, social, economic, and political developments are revealing the frightening accuracies and the realities of Biblical prophecies which are coming to life and are bringing Biblical prophecies into focus. A reassessment is under way.
In the meantime, however, most theologians and Bible teachers doggedly adhere to their sixteenth century, long-held denominational-based and man-invented views of Biblical eschatology, despite the clarity of scriptures when viewed outside of denominational bias and when examining the emerging evidence to the contrary.
For example, there are those who call themselves Bible teachers or theologians who teach and claim that all Biblical eschatology is metaphorical, and idiomatic, analogical or parables used to explain natural events and their outcomes. This puts Jesus and His Teachings in the category of fantasies, fairytales and lies – although the Bible clearly warns otherwise.
Others teach there will be a 2nd advent of Christ, however, they would have you believe that the second coming will be ‘in secret’, and that Jesus’ visible and actual 2nd coming will not occur until the battles of Armageddon.
And if that isn’t enough, others teach that there will be BOTH a visible 2nd coming as described in Matthew chapter 24, and a visible 3rd advent (coming) of Christ when He will defeat Satan at the battle of Armageddon. And, things get even more convoluted when it comes to the various denominational doctrines of The Millennium.
Most of these same preachers, pastors and ‘bible teachers’ will tell you that the entire tribulation period is a yet-to-be experienced, future event, putting you at ease when Jesus clearly teaches the very opposite thing. Jesus warns that you must be on the alert, standing at the ready at all times, during “these last days”! (See Matthew 24:36-44)
There have always been debates on these matters, reaching back centuries, some erupting in to divisive arguments, growing into hatreds and even schisms within the Church. Sometime in the 1600s the phrase “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity” emerged (the authorship is disputed). Then, on June 29, 1959 The phrase in its current form is found in Pope John XXIII’s encyclical Ad Petri Cathedram, where he uses it favorably. It has been somewhat successful in the Church’s attempts to ‘agree to disagree’ and accepting that each church can hold their own eschatological positions without the infighting, There continues to be, however, widespread disagreement due to denominational differences.
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
You might ask, “why does it matter when the tribulation starts or when Christians are to be raptured into heavens (if at all)?
It matters because Jesus says it in plain face-value language. And, He says that we are to be ready. Believing the plain language of the Bible and being ready for His Return is proof of True Christianity and only a True Believer in Christ will be guaranteed to join Christ at the sound of His Great Trumpet call and escape the coming ‘Great and Terrible Day of the Lord’.
It matters because being ready requires believing and doing what He has instructed us to do in preparation for His return.
It matters because He has warned that “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
It matters because many Christians are sitting idly waiting for an event that has already begun and they are not DOING what He told them to do and therefore are in grave danger.
It matters because some of our family, friends and neighbors are completely unaware or just don’t believe that Christ will return and God’s final judgments will sentence them to outer darkness.
It matters Because, as Christians, our faith, our convictions and our behavior Are speaking louder than our words.
And, it matters, especially ‘in these last days’ because, there is a convergence and a concurrence of events and propheciesoccurring as never been seen before and they are increasing in frequency and intensity.
Alarming events have, from time to time, caused people to wonder if the End of Days as spoken of in the Bible had arrived. But, never, have events coincided with prophetic fulfillment as we now see. Once a Tribulation event begins, it may continue for days, weeks, months, years or decades. Then, as a second or third event occurs, events may overlap and occur simultaneously.
Additionally, it is important to note that when a Tribulation Seal is broken, ana an event or a series of events occur which can last for long periods of time. Most of these tribulation related events will continue to occur until the “Consummation of the Age”. (See The Sixth Tribulation Seal)
Now, specifically regarding the approaching SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST, Revelation 1:7, tells us, “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen.” English Standard Version.
(Revelation 1:7, REPEATED in the Amplified Bible Version: BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes, that is the nations of the earth will mourn over Him, realizing their sin and guilt, and anticipating the coming wrath. So, it is to be. Amen.”
Jesus also teaches, in Matthew 24:20-31, “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 [a]elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”
THE EVIDENCE
First in Revelation 1:7, John is warning that the return of Jesus is imminent and that on that occasion “every eye will see Him” which precludes a ‘secret appearing’. These words along with testimonies of other Apostles, confirm that the ‘tribulation period’ began as early as the birth of Christ and the early tribulation seals were broken (opened) immediately following Jesus’ birth.
Secondly, John’s words mirror and are confirmed by the words of Jesusfound in Matthew 24:29-31. These words of encouragement and warning lead to the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal which is the beginning of the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb (the beginning of the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation, as distinct from the ‘birth pains’ and the breaking of the first 5 tribulation seals.)
HEAR THE WORDS OF JOHN THE REVELATOR, (John of Patmos), “I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” (see Revelation 1:9) John is clearly telling us that in or around the year A.D. 95 the tribulation was well under way.
These words of John found in Revelation 1:9 and his reference to the fact the tribulation is under way, he is participating in the early stages of the tribulation period and his words are echoed and confirmed by:
The Apostle Paul, in Hebrews 1:2, “In these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”
This was written Around A.D. 60.
The Apostle Paul, in Hebrews 9:26, “For then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
This was written Around A.D. 60.
The Apostle Peter, in Acts 2:14, “But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. Verse 15. “For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; verse 16, but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
Verse 17. ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says,
‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,
AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;”
This was written Around AD 60.
The Apostle Paul, in, 2 Timothy 3:1, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. Verse 2. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, verse 3, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, verse 4, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, verse 5, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.”
This was written Around AD 60.
The Apostle Peter, in 1 Peter 1:20, “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you”.
The Apostle Paul, in 1 Peter 4:7, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Verse 8. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Verse 9. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
This was written Around AD 60.
The Apostle Peter, in 2 Peter 3:3, “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, verse 4, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?”
This was written Around AD 60.
The Apostle Matthew, in Matthew 24:3, tells us, “As Jesus 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?”
This was written Around AD 60.
The Apostle John, in 1 John 2:18, tells us, “Children, it is the last hour [the end of this age]; and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists (false teachers) have appeared, which confirms our belief that it is the last hour.”
This was written around AD 90.
The Apostle John, in Revelation 1:9, tells us, “I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”
This was written around AD 95.
SO, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?
I will approach this question using a 3-fold-ministrhy approach.
You are either a conscript in God’s army or an enemy of the Cross of Christ. As a Christian, you are involved in a cosmic battle, a spiritual war fighting for souls, minds and the lives of every person born during your time on planet earth. You may not have thought about it this way, and you may not like hearing it now, but that is exactly what is going on.
It is important to acknowledge, that though we walk in the flesh as mortal men and women, we are not carrying on spiritual warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. The weapons of our warfare are not physical weapons of flesh and blood. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, being ready to punish every act of disobedience, when your own obedience as a Christian is complete.
Put on the full armor of God for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier, so that you may be able to successfully stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood contending only with physical opponents, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly supernatural places. (See Ephesians 6:10-17)
(Please Note: The corresponding verses in the books of Matthew and Revelation are color-coded for your reference and convenience).
Matthew 24:9, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. Verse 10, And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. Verse 11, And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. Verse 12, And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.”
As corresponding to:
Revelation 6:9, “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; Verse 10, and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Verse 11. And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.”
AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL MARKER:
The events Jesus describes in verses 9 through 12 had already begun in His day and His disciples suffered this ‘tribulation’ (internal pressure of a tribulation, especially when feeling there is “no way of escape”) of persecution, alienation because of Jesus’ name, the rise of false prophets, lawlessness and death.
Jesus goes into greater detail in the sixth chapter of the book of Revelation, verses nine through 12, regarding this time of tribulation, death, hatred and the falling away of Christians from one another and from faith in God. This is a description of the breaking of the fifth seal of the tribulation scroll, which is the great apostasy, the great falling away from the faith and the great persecution of the Church.
Let’s remember, as the tribulation seals are broken (open), the effects of each seal will overlap with the preceding seals and the effects will compound and intensify, leading us to the 6th Tribulation Seal, also known as the beginning of The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb.
NOTE: CHRONOLOGICAL MARKERS are useful for identifying events in their chronological order, which can help us identify our placement on God’s End of Days ‘calendar’.
Matthew 24:4-31, (Jesus), describing a panorama of the tribulation and the Last Days. Jesus 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?” And Jesus answered and said to them, (see Matthew 24:3-4),
God created all things with a plan, which includes me and you! (He never needs a re-do).
God created them, male and female, with a plan, in Their 
Adam and Eve disobeyed. The ‘flaw in their character and 
The Abrahamic Covenant is an unconditional covenant. God binding Himself to Abraham and his descendants.
God was sorry He made them. He was grieved. But it was His plan all along. (God is omniscient and omnipresent).
The ‘flaw of sin’ reemerges as pride and rebellion toward God. Instead of destroying them, this time God scattered them.
God prepares the world for Jesus with Isaac through Abraham.
The arrival of Perfection on earth. Jesus, God in the Flesh, is born and the New Covenant – for you and me – is established. Now the ‘called’ can see and be made into the very image of God. The tribulation begins, and The Eternal Plan enters its final stages.
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 – and if you are alive at that time, we are included. (The rapture will have occurred).
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 the Great Tribulation, the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, will have begun. (Those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will have escaped these days.)
The Red Dragon, Satan
The Angel, Michael
A CAUTION AND A WARNING: When you see a great 
CHRONOLOGICAL MARKERS are useful for identifying events in their chronological order, which can help us identify our placement on God’s End of Days ‘calendar’.
THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – part 3:
