FROM THE BOOK OF ROMANS

BAD NEWS FROM GOD'S WORD:  GOD JUDGES SINNERS 

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:  there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (3:10, 12).  "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (3:23).  "For the wages of sin is death" (6:23a).

 

GOOD NEWS FROM GOD'S WORD:  GOD PAID FOR OUR SIN 

" But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (5:8).  "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (6:23b).  "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (1:16-17).

 

GREAT NEWS FROM GOD'S WORD:  SALVATION IS BUT A CALL AWAY

"But what saith it? The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the Word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (10:8-13).

 

THE BEST NEWS FROM GOD'S WORD:  GOD'S SPIRIT WILL LIVE IN US

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:   By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (5:1-2).  "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you" (8:1-11).

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  MAKE "THE CALL!"

KEY VERSES IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Revelation 1:1-2 - "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John:  who bare record of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw."

Revelation 1:10-11 - "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest (present tense), write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia (present tense); unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."

Revelation 1:19-20 - "Write the things which thou hast seen (past tense), and the things which are (present tense), and the things which shall be hereafter (future tense).  The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." 

Note:  To the Apostle John, Ch. 1 is past tense (see 1:20); Ch. 2-3 are present tense (see 3:20); Ch. 4-22 are future tense (see 4:1).

Revelation 4:1-2 - "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter (future tense).  And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne."

Revelation 9:17 - "And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone."

Revelation 17:1 - "And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters."

Revelation 21:9-10 - "And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God."

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.

Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

LORD, WHY AM I STILL HERE?

John 14:1-6 - "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.  Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?  Jesus saith unto him, I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."

1 Corinthians 15:50-54 - "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."

2 Corinthians 5:1-8 - "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:  if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.  For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.  Now He that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, Who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:  For we walk by faith, not by sight:  we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

Philippians 1:20-24 - "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor:  yet what I shall choose I (know) not.  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:  nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you."

MT. 24:4-30; DAN. 9:27; REV. CH. 6-18 - THE TRIBULATION

THE FIRST HALF OF THE TRIBULATION - ISRAEL AT PEACE

(Mt. 24:4-14; Dan. 9:27a; Rev. Ch. 6-12)

"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ [Jews still awaiting their Messiah]; and shall deceive many.  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars [but not experience them]: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted [Mk. 13:9; Lk.21:12 - "in the synagogues"], and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake.  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

 

IN THE MIDST OF THE TRIBULATION - ISRAEL'S EYES OPENED

(Mt. 24:15-20; Dan. 9:27b; Rom. 11:25; Rev. Ch. 13)

"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, whoso readeth, let him understand:  then let them which be in Judaea [ISRAEL] flee into the mountains:  let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:  neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.  And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!  But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day."

THE SECOND HALF OF THE TRIBULATION - ISRAEL IN HIDING

(Mt. 24:21-27; Rev. Ch. 14-18)

"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened [to 3 1/2 years].  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there [Jews still waiting for Christ]; believe it not.  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  Behold, I have told you before.  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not.  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be...."

 

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

(Mt. 24:29-30; Rev. 19:11-21)

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

THE "SAVED" ARE BORN OF GOD BY FAITH

John 1:10-13 - "(Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.  He came unto His own (the Jewish people), and His own received Him not.  But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:  which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

John 3:3, 5-7, 14-16 - "Jesus...said...Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God...I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again...as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

1 Peter 1:18-23 - "...ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot:  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.  Seeing ye have purified your souls...being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever."

Romans 10:8-13 - "...the Word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

 

If you skimmed over these verses, go back and read them again, slowly!

You should know these things, and share them with your family, friends, and enemies!

REVELATION'S THREE TENSES

The key to understanding the Book of Revelation, is found in verse nineteen of the first chapter.  It reads:  "Write the things which thou hast seen (past tense), and the things which are (present tense), and the things which shall be hereafter (future tense)."  At that exact time, John had seen (past tense) chapter one, verses twelve through eighteen.  Chapters two and three describe John's present world; specifically, John was to write seven letters (or perhaps one letter addressed to seven churches in Asia Minor.  Beginning with Revelation 4:1, John began seeing the "things which must be hereafter."  Not only does Revelation 1:19 clearly show there is an order or sequence to the book, there are eight verses throughout the rest of the book which emphasize the sequential order of things;

Revelation 4:1 - "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter."
Revelation 7:1 - " And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree."
Revelation 7:9 - "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands."
Revelation 11:11 - "And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them."
Revelation 15:5 - "And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened."
Revelation 18:1 - "And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory."
Revelation 19:1 - "And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God."
Revelation 20:3 - "And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."

In addition to these verses showing that the Book of Revelation has a time-line, there are twenty-four verses that contain the words "And I saw" (Rev. 5:1, 2; 6:1, 2; 7:2; 8:2; 9:1; 10:1; 13:3; 14:6; 15:1, 2; 16:13; 17:3, 6; 19:11, 17, 19; 20:1, 4, 11, 12; 21:1, 22).

Knowing that Revelation is sequential, helps the Bible student to understand that the Rapture (pictured in Ch. 4:1); the Tribulation (Ch. 6-18 - with the Mid-Tribulation Abomination of Desolation being found in Ch. 13 as per Dan. 9:27 and Mt. 25:15); Christ's Second Coming (Ch. 19); Christ's Millennial Kingdom (Ch. 20); and the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem (Ch. 21)!

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy...."

"Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book."

(Rev. 1:3 and 22:7)!

THE BOOK OF LIFE

While studying the Book of Revelation in "Sunday School" this morning, we began discussing the "Lamb's Book of Life."  We were in agreement that it was written from the very foundation of this world.  However, none of us know exactly what the book lists; some believe it is the name of all who would accept the Lord's free gift of salvation, while others questioned that based upon the fact that names can be blotted out of it, and that is inconsistent with our belief in the Security of the Believer.  Others seem to think it is a list of all those who are alive, and that "the blotting out" occurs when a person dies.  I must confess that I do not know what it lists, so I leave it up to you to decide.  Here are all the verses I could find on the subject - if any of you are one hundred percent sure that you know, please feel free to enlighten us.  God bless all who love Him and His Word!

Exodus 33:31-33 - "And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.  Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written.  And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book."

Psalm 69:28 - "Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous."

Daniel 12:1 - "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book."

Philippians 4:3 - "And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the Gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life."

Revelation 3:5 - "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels."

Revelation 13:8 - "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

Revelation 17:8 - "The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is."

Revelation 20:12, 15 - "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

Revelation 21:27 - "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."

Revelation 22:19 - "And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

PROPHECY DESCRIBING OUR TIMES

If you want to know how accurate the Bible is, simply read 2 Timothy 3:1-5, and then watch the evening news!  Paul wrote:

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

In another place (Rom. 1:18-32), Paul explained how the world has become so anti-God; he wrote:

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.  For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:  who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

 

If these passages describe your life -

REPENT, and CALL UPON THE LORD TO SAVE YOU!

JESUS: OUR PASSOVER LAMB

This year, the Jews are celebrating the Feast of Passover today, April 22nd.  It is the first of seven "Feasts of the Lord," and it memorializes forever, the event that caused Pharaoh to free the Jews from Egyptian bondage (Ex. 12:1-14; Lev. 23:1-5; Num. 9:1-14; Deut. 16:1-6). 

Note:  Passover is mentioned seventeen times between 2 Chronicles 30:1 - 35:19; and also in Joshua, 2 Kings, Ezra, and Ezekiel.

However, Christians recognize that the Feast of Passover is much more than a memorial to Israel's Exodus from Egypt.  The unblemished lamb that was sacrificed, and the blood that was a sign that those living within the dwelling were protected, "covered" if you will, was a "type," a picture of what would take place some 1500 years later on a cross!   Jesus, sinless (Dan. 9:26; Heb. 4:15), as the true Lamb of God, shed His blood to provide forgiveness for the sins of the world!

JESUS - THE LAMB OF GOD, OUR PASSOVER   

"These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world....And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him.  And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon Whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.  And I saw, and bare record that (Jesus) is the Son of God.  Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God" (Jn. 1:28-29, 32-36)!

Note:  Jesus is identified as "the Lamb" over twenty times in the Book of Revelation.

"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.  For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:  therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Cor. 5:7-8).

While Jews all over the world will be partaking in the Passover Seder, Christians remember the sacrifice of Jesus for us with Communion, or The Lord's Supper.  The Apostle Paul wrote:

"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread:  and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.  After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come" (1 Cor. 11:23-26).

The Passover looks back, while the Lord's Supper points to His return!

LET NO ONE SAY I DID NOT WARN YOU!

The Tribulation (Mt. 24:1-28; a.k.a. "The Time of Jacob's Trouble" - Jer. 30:7; and "Daniel's Seventieth Week" - Dan. 9:24, 27), will be played out over a seven year period, a period which begins when the Antichrist agrees to a peace covenant with Israel (Dan. 9:27).  The Book of Revelation begins with one of many angels in the book, giving the Apostle John a "vision" of what God has planned for the future; John wrote: 

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John:  Who bare record of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw" (Rev. 1:1-2).

In addition to many references to the working of the Lord's angels, there are basically seven "characters" within the book.  They are:
 

The God of Judgment  See Rev. chs. 6, 8, 9, 16

The Nation Israel (also called "the WOMAN")  See Rev. 12

The Dragon (a.k.a. "the DEVIL"; "SATAN"; "that OLD SERPENT")  See Rev. 12:2; 20:2

The Man of Sin (also called the BEAST and the ANTICHRIST)  See Rev. 13:1-10; 2 Th. 2

The False Prophet (also called "the SECOND BEAST")   See Rev. l3:11-l8

The Other Nations of the world  See Zech.12:9; 14:2; Mt. 25:31-46

The Coming King  See Rev. chs. 4-5 and 19:11-16

 

There is one character who will not be found on earth during the tribulation:  The Lord's bride, THE CHURCH.  God has promised in Revelation 3:10 to keep the true church, those who are born again, from this time of tribulation and trouble that will come upon the whole world.  Revelation chapters 4-18 talk about the time of tribulation, but in none of these chapters is the Church even mentioned.  Jesus Christ will come to take His Church to heaven before the tribulation begins in what has become known as the Rapture (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:50-52; 1 Th. 4:16-17).

 

All will experience the Tribulation: 

Born again believers will view it being by Christ's side.

The professing church (religious, but not saved), non-believers, and Israel,

will have to endure it!  Accept Christ while there is still time!

THE PENDING ISLAMIC ATTACK ON ISRAEL

Long ago the prophet Ezekiel predicted that in the latter days the people of Israel would be invaded by a great confederacy of nations coming down from the north.  Those who will attack the people of Israel are identified in Ezekiel 38:2 - "Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince (literally 'the prince of Rosh') of Meshech and Tubal."  Their identity:

1) MAGOG--this term was used to describe the region where the descendants of Magog lived.  Magog was a son of Japheth, Noah's son (Gen. 9:18, 27; 10:2).  Josephus, the Jewish historian, says that the descendants of Magog were "by the Greeks called Scythians" (Ant. i.6.1).  The Scythians  lived to the north of the Black Sea and the Caucasus Mountains.  This area was part of the Soviet Union, and today, it includes Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.  Afghanistan could also be part of this territory. All of these nations are dominated by Islam with a combined total population in excess of sixty million.

2) ROSH--Bible scholars differ on whether or not the name "Russia" is from "Rosh."  Nevertheless, the territory itself, is modern Russia and a section of Turkey according to Clyde Billington [Clyde E. Billington Jr., "The Rosh People in History and Prophecy (Part Three)," Michigan Theological Journal 4 (1993), 59, 61].

3) MESHECH was another son of Japheth (Gen. 10:2).  The descendants of this man lived for centuries in Asia Minor, and later were pushed northward by their enemies into the mountainous area southeast of the Black Sea.  Today this area borders on Russia.

4) TUBAL was another son of Japheth (Gen. 10:2).  The descendants of this man also lived in Asia Minor, not far from the Black Sea. The descendants of Tubal and Meshech probably lived close to each other, because in the Scriptures the two names are almost always found together.  Mark Hitchcock said the following about the identification of the locality of Tubal and Meshech:  "The preferred identification is that Meshech and Tubal are the ancient Moschoi and Tibarenoi in Greek writings or Tabal and Musku in Assyrian inscriptions. the ancient locations are in modern Turkey" [The Battle of Gog and Magog, by Mark Hitchcock (paper presented at the Pre-Trib. conference), p. 8].

GOG seems to be a man, the leader of this great invasion.  It seems evident that he is an individual because he is addressed directly by God (Ezek. 38:14; 39:1) and he is also called a prince (Ezek. 38:2; 39:1).

In addition, these nations are named:  "Persia (Iran), Ethiopia (Sudan), and Libya (Libya), with them; all of them with shield and helmet:  Gomer and...Togarmah (Turkey) of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee" (Ezek. 38:5-6).

THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF THE CHURCH?

According to Acts 2:1-47, the Church was "born" on the day the Jews celebrated the Feast of Pentecost fifty days after the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:15-22).  And even though the Church has already celebrated the Crucifixion, the Burial, and the Resurrection of Jesus ("Good Friday," through "Easter"), the Jewish calendar says that the Feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First-fruits, the feasts which are the basis for those holy days, will actually be April 22-30, 2016.  That means the Feast of Pentecost will occur on May 15, 2016.  Why such a discrepancy?  Because 2016 is a leap year, and it happens to coincide with the year the Jewish calendar has 13 months (the leap year is called Adar Beit).

Now before my readers accuse me of "date-setting" (I have no idea when the Rapture of the Church will actually occur - I am merely attempting to suggest the possibility it could happen on Pentecost of this year, or any of many years to come!), so please just allow me to state the basis upon which I believe it could be on a Feast of Pentecost.

Of the seven Feasts of the Lord (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First-fruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles), only one is totally unique in that it stands alone.  The first three feasts occur in the first month of the Jewish calendar (Nissan or Aviv), and the last three occur in the seventh month (Tishri or Ethanim).  But the Feast of Pentecost (actually "the Feast of Weeks" or Shavuot - Lev. 23:17) occurs by itself.  There does not appear to be much said about this feast, but it is one of three that requires Jews to go to Jerusalem.  Deuteronomy 16:16 says, "Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which He shall choose; in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and in the Feast of Weeks, and in the Feast of Tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty."  That explains why we are told in Acts 2:5-11, that there were Jews in Jerusalem from "every nation" on the day the Church was "born."  They all wondered what was going on because the Church was a complete mystery to Israel (Eph. 5:32).

The Feast of Weeks, Pentecost, is the only feast that allows leaven.  In fact, it is mandatory that the two loaves be leavened (Lev. 23:17).  Because the Church is made up of imperfect Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ, I believe each loaf represents one of the two.  Leaven is always connected in some way with sin and false doctrine (Hos. 7:4; Mt. 16:12; 1 Cor. 5:6-8; Gal. 5:9; etc.).  It is clear from Romans 7:15-25; 1 Jn. 18-10; etc., that born again believers still sin.  Therefore, the loaves represent the two groups of less than perfect believers!

Because the Church Age has lasted nearly 2000 years, and it appears to be a parenthetical period between Daniel's Sixty-ninth and Seventieth Week (Dan. 9:24-27), a pause, why then could it not be Raptured on a Day of Pentecost; Daniel's prophecy simply resuming where it left off?  Like I said before, I don't know when the Rapture will happen, whether it will be on a Pentecost, or not, but the world is certainly as bad as it was in the days of Noah (Mt. 24:37-38)!  We don't know when He will come for us, but I am hoping it will be soon, maybe even May 15th!

Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20)! 

FROM WHAT ARE BELIEVERS SAVED?

Born again believers often speak about people being saved, but rarely do you hear them mention exactly from what are we saved.  The Book of Revelation makes it clear, that we are saved from the Tribulation which is soon to come on this world (Jer. 30:7; Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:1-29; Rev. 6 - 18).
 

FROM WHAT ARE BELIEVERS SAVED?

1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9 - "And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."

Revelation 6:16-17 - "And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:  for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"

HOW DOES ONE BECOME SAVED?
 

 Acts 2:21 - "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 16:31-34 - "And (the jailer) brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.  And they spake unto him the Word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house."Romans 10:9-13 - "...if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Watching today's news that is filled with examples of wickedness, war, disease, earthquakes, etc., I honestly believe that the return of  the Lord Jesus Christ could occur at any time!  If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I pray you will do so now!  He loves you, and wants save you from the certain judgment which is about to come upon the whole earth!  Today may be the last opportunity you have to believe and trust in the Lord! 

He loves you and died for your sins to prove it!

  

HEAVEN OR HELL: YOU CHOOSE!

The next event on God's time-table, will be the removal of His Church in what is commonly known as The Rapture.  All genuine born again believers, both the living and dead, will leave this earth and meet Jesus in the clouds.  We know this from the following:

Acts 1:9-11 - "And when (Jesus) had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (who) also said, 'Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.'"

John 14:1-3 - "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:  and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Following the Rapture, God will again focus upon His people, Israel!  The prophet Daniel was told that Israel would experience "70 weeks" (these are actually weeks of years, or 490 yrs.).  The first seven "weeks," (49 yrs.) involve the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple; then there will be "sixty-two weeks" (434 yrs.) between the completion of the Temple, and Christ's Crucifixion (a total of 69 weeks or 483 yrs. - Dan. 9:25-26).  One "week" remains to be fulfilled.  Following the Rapture of the Church, God's people, Israel, will make a seven-year covenant with the Antichrist, who promises Israel peace and the freedom to worship God in a new Temple, but three and a half years into it, He reneges on his promise, and demands Israel to worship him (Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:15; Rev. 13:1-18).  This seven-year period is known as The Tribulation, or The Time of Jacob's Trouble (Mt. 24:29; Jer. 30:7). 

 

Jesus died for your sin, but His Father raised Him from the dead according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:23).  You have a choice.  You can believe in Jesus, and be with Jesus in heaven during the Tribulation, or you can deny Him and experience seven years of "hell on earth!"  Since no one knows when the Rapture will occur, my advice is to trust in Jesus today, while there is still time! 

GOD LOVES BOTH THE JEWS AND THE GENTILES!

Paul was inspired to write Romans Chapter Eleven, so that the Roman believers would not be ignorant concerning the "mystery" of Israel’s partial blindness during this present Church Age.  A mystery is that which was formerly hidden, but has now been revealed (Eph. 3:4-5; 3:9; Col. 1:26; Rom. 16:26).  Paul is speaking about a special thing that God is doing among the Gentiles, between the two advents of Christ, and during this time, Israel, as a whole, is spiritually blinded.  Concerning Israel’s blindness (2 Cor. 3:14-16). Throughout the Church Age, God has opened the eyes of some individual Jews, and many have come to the Lord Jesus.  But I believe that blindness will be removed from all Jews when, in the middle of the seven-year Tribulation, they see the Antichrist commit the abomination of desolation (Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:15).
  
Paul was warning the Gentiles not to be puffed up with pride ("lest ye should be wise in your own conceits"), and to prevent this, the Gentile believers needed to understand God’s present and future program for Israel.  Paul makes two major points with respect to Israel’s blindness: 1) Her blindness is partial, not total, and 2) Her blindness is temporary, not permanent.  It lasts "until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in" (v.25).  The fullness of Israel (v.12) will take place after the fullness of the Gentiles (v.25).  What is the "fullness of the Gentiles"?  It is not the same as "the times of the Gentiles":

THE FULLNESS OF THE GENTILES (Rom. 11:25), involves the relationship of the Gentiles to the Church during this present age.  God is adding to His Church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47), and primarily (though not exclusively) it is the Gentiles who are being added to His body. When the full number of Gentiles comes in, then the Rapture of the Church will take place (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:50-52; 1 Thess. 4:13-18 - then the body of Christ will be complete!).

2) THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES (Lk. 21:24), involves the relationship of the Gentiles to the nation Israel.  As it says in Luke 21:24, "Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."  The Scofield Bible defines this period of time as follows: "The Times of the Gentiles is that long period beginning with the Babylonian captivity of Judah, under Nebuchadnezzar, and it will be brought to an end at the destruction of Gentile world-power by the ‘Stone cut out without hands’ (Dan. 2:34,35,44); that is, at the coming of the Lord in His glory (Rev. 19:11,21).  Until that time, Jerusalem will remain subject to Gentile rule (Luke 21:24)."

 

Israel's "blindness" has made way for the Gentiles to see the truth of the Gospel!

Thanks be to God for sacrificing His Son that we might see!  

THE TWO RESURRECTIONS

THE RESURRECTION OF BELIEVERS IN CHRIST

All saved people will be a part of the resurrection of life (the first resurrection).  God will give each saved person a new resurrection body that will be perfectly designed for the believer to live in throughout eternity.  This resurrection body is described in 1 Corinthians 15:35-54.  Those who take part in the first resurrection (saved people) are not all raised up at the same time.  Question:  Who was the first Person to be raised up (1 Cor. 15:23).  Answer:  Christ was raised up first. He is the One who leads the "RESURRECTION PARADE."  Other groups of saved people will follow in their proper order (1 Cor. 15:23): 

1.  Christ is first (1 Cor. 15:23).
2.  The "dead in Christ" (believers in Christ who have died) will be raised up at the time of the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:16 and 1 Cor. 15:52).  Those Christians who are living on earth at the time of the rapture will also "be changed" and receive new bodies (1 Cor. 15:51-52).
 3.  Old Testament believers will be raised up after the time of tribulation (about seven years after the rapture) according to Daniel 12:1-2.  Believers who die during the tribulation will also be raised up at this time according to Revelation 20:4.
4.  We must assume that those who are saved during the 1000 year kingdom will receive new bodies at the end of the Kingdom (although there is no verse that specifically mentions this).

Note:  In Matthew 27:52-53 we learn about a very unique event which took place immediately after the resurrection of Jesus Christ in or around the city of Jerusalem:  "And many bodies of the saints that slept arose [were raised], and came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."   Matthew is the only  Gospel writer who mentions this event.  We know nothing about this event except for what is here said.  Notice that they were raised up bodily and came out of their graves three days later.  These who were raised were "saints" (believers), not unsaved people.  They appeared to many people in Jerusalem.  Whether these saints were raised like Lazarus, only to die again, or whether they were raised up in a permanent resurrection body is not stated.

THE RESURRECTION OF NON-BELIEVERS IN CHRIST

All of the unsaved people will be part of the resurrection of damnation (or judgment), according to John 5:29. Those who take part in the second resurrection will all be raised at the same time. They will be raised to stand before the GREAT WHITE THRONE and before the HOLY GOD who sits upon it. This will include all the unsaved who have ever lived, from wicked Cain (1 Jn. 3:12) to the last group of rebels described in Revelation 20:7-9. These people will be given a resurrection body that will be perfectly designed for hell so that they will be able to suffer the torments of the lake of fire forever (to suffer and to burn but to never be consumed in the burning).

By trusting in the death of Jesus for my sin, and believing that His Father raised Him from the dead, I recognize that Jesus is worthy to be my Lord, and that I owe my entire life to Him!  I heard and believed (Rom. 10:8-17)!  If you are reading this, it is not too late to trust in Jesus! 

THE RAPTURE DIFFERS FROM CHRIST'S SECOND COMING

GOD'S TIMING FOR THE EVENT

The Rapture - Before the seven-year Tribulation - Rev. 3:10.
His 2nd Coming - After the Tribulation - Mt. 24:29-30.

 

THE DURATION OF THE EVENT

The Rapture - "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" - 1 Cor. 15:52.
His 2nd Coming - Time enough for armies to gather against Him - Rev. 19:19.

 

THE DATE OF THE EVENT

The Rapture - No man knows the day or the hour - Mt. 24:36.

His 2nd Coming - Exactly 7 yrs. after the covenant is confirmed - Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:29.

THE PRECEDING SIGNS OF THE EVENT

The Rapture - None -  Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Titus 2:13.
His 2nd Coming - "Immediately after the Tribulation" - Mt. 24:29.

 

THE VISIBILITY OF THE EVENT

The Rapture - Seen only by born again believers - 1 Thess. 4:17; 1 Jn. 3:2.
His 2nd Coming - Every eye shall see Him - Rev. 1:7; Mt. 24:27-30.

 

THE LOCATION OF THE EVENT

The Rapture - "We shall meet the Lord in the air" - 1 Thess. 4:16-17.
His 2nd Coming - He will return to the Mount of Olives - Zech. 14:4.

THE ASSOCIATED JUDGMENT

The Rapture - The Judgment Seat of Christ - 2 Tim. 4:1, 8; 1 Pet. 1:7.
His 2nd Coming - The judgment of the nations - Mt. 25:31-46.

 

THE IDENTITY OF WHO STAYS AND WHO GOES

The Rapture - Believers go; unbelievers stay - 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; Jn.14:3.
His 2nd Coming - Unbelieves go; believers stay - Mt. 24:37-41; Lk. 17:34-37.

THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST'S COMING

The Rapture - To claim His bride, the Church - Jn. 14:3; 1 Thess. 4:17.
His 2nd Coming - To claim His kingdom -  Lk. 19:22; Rev. 19:11-20:15.

THE STATE OF THE BELIEVER'S BODY

The Rapture - Believers receive a glorified body - 1 Cor. 15:52-53; 1 Thess. 4:17.
His 2nd Coming - The "sheep" enter His kingdom in their physical bodies - Mt. 25:31-46.

ANGELS

While the Word of God says that there are "an innumerable company of angels" (Heb. 12:22), and yet, there are but four named angels in the King James Bible; they are:

1.  Michael, the only angel called an "archangel" (Jude 1:9), appears to be God's warrior whose job it is to protect the children of Israel.  He is mentioned by name five times:

Daniel 10:13 - Michael "helps" a "man" whom, it would seem to be a pre-incarnation appearance of Jesus Christ (compare Dan. 10:10 with Mt. 17:2; Rev. 1:13-15).
Daniel 10:21 - Michael is described to Daniel, a Jew, as "your Prince."
Daniel 12:1 - Michael stands up "for the children of thy people."
Jude 1:9 - Michael contended with Satan over the body of Moses. 
Revelation 12:7 - Michael overcomes Satan and casts him out of heaven.

2.  Gabriel, who "stands in the presence of God" (Lk. 1:19), is mentioned by name, four times.  In each, he is sent by God to enlighten someone:

Daniel 8:16 - Gabriel was sent to enlighten Daniel.
Daniel 9:21 - Gabriel was again sent to enlighten Daniel.
Luke 1:19 - Gabriel was sent to enlighten Zacharias, the father of John the baptizer.
Luke 1:26 - Gabriel was sent to enlighten Mary concerning her Son, Jesus.

3.  Lucifer, who was cast out of heaven (Isa. 14:12), a.k.a. "the great dragon...that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan" (Rev. 12:9), and "the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan" (Rev. 20:2).

Job 1:6-7; 2:1-2 - Lucifer prowls the earth, "seeking whom he may devour" (1 Pet. 5:8).
Isaiah 14:12-15 - Lucifer aspires to be equal with God, our heavenly Father.
Luke 11:14 - Lucifer is also called Beelzebub, "the chief of the devils."
Revelation 12:10 - Lucifer "the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."

4.  Abaddon, or Apollyon, is mentioned in only one passage, and he is the leader of  the locust-like creatures reserved as a "plague" on rebellious men during the Tribulation.  He is released by the "fifth angel" (Rev. 9:1-2).  

Revelation 9:11 - Abaddon, or Apollyone, is "the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon."

While one third of the angels of heaven fell with Satan (Rev. 12:3-4), two thirds of the angels are loyal to God (Rev. 19:14; Lk. 2:13-15; etc.).  Some of these are often called "guardian angels," and are commonly thought to stand guard protecting each of us.  However, that is not the case; "guardian angels" stand in the presence of God, awaiting His command to intercede for us.  Matthew wrote:  "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven" (Mt. 18:10). 

And finally, when a born again believer dies, he or she DOES NOT GROW WINGS!

We return to God's original plan:  we receive our glorified bodies!  

At last, we are made in the image and likeness of God !

(Gen. 1:26-27; 1 Jn. 3:2) 

MATTHEW TWENTY-FOUR - THE TRIBULATION

The Tribulation a.k.a. The Time of Jacob's Trouble - Mt. 24:3-29

"And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be?  And what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the (age)?"

 

   Israel at Peace - Protected by the Antichrist - The First Half of Daniel's 70th Week

"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars (but not experience them): see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.  Then shall they (Jews) deliver you (those converted after the Rapture of the Church - Rev. 7:14) up to (the synagogues - see Mk. 13:9; Lk. 21:11) be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake.  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world (by the 144,000 and the two witnesses - Rev. 7:4; 11:3-12) for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

 

The Eyes of Israel Opened by the Abomination of Desolation
  - Dan. 9:27; Rom. 11:25

"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:  Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:  Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.  And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!  But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day:  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.  For there shall arise false Christs (Jews in hiding still waiting for their Messiah), and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  Behold, I have told you before.  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not.  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be....And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

 

Praise the Lord!  The Church is not appointed to wrath (1 Th. 4:13-18; 5:9)!

THE TALE OF TWO CITY CHURCHES

It is the best of times, and the worst of times!  Forgetting the downward spiral of spirituality, sanity, economics, politics, morals, racial hatred, etc., born again believers are witnessing the days (maybe hours or even seconds) before Christ's coming to remove His true Church - those saved by trusting in Jesus as both Lord and Savior (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 Th. 4:13-18; etc.)!  Because we are living in the Church Age, an age known for God's mercy and grace, the Church will be removed before Daniel's Seventieth Week, a.k.a. Time of Jacob's Trouble (Dan. 9:24-27; Jer. 30:7; Mt. 24:1-28; 1 Th. 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 6:16-17; etc.). 

The worst of times is seen in Christ's description of the days leading up to "Noah's Flood," being just like those of our world's headlines today (Mt. 24:37-38; Heb. 11:7; 1 Pet. 3:20; etc.).  Moses wrote: 

"And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.  And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth Me that I have made them" (Gen. 6:5-7).

In Revelation 3:7-22, the Apostle John describes the end-time church being of two types of churches, or having two types of church members; those who are faithful in following Christ in the face of persecution ("the church in Philadelphia" - first century Asia Minor), and the church "playing church" even to the point of excluding Christ Himself ("the church of Laodiceans - also first century Asia Minor - Laodicea means "the people rule" instead of Christ ruling as with the church in Philadelphia.  "Laodicea" is what has been described as "church-anity," while "Philadelphia" is the true, biblical Christianity.  John wrote in Revelation Chapter Three:

[7-10] "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write....I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My Word, and hast not denied My name....Because thou hast kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."

[14-20] "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write....Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me."

Today is the day salvation is being offered to you!

Born again believers in Christ are not appointed to experience God's wrath!

"Christians in name only" will experience His wrath as other unbelievers!

BELIEVE IS ALWAYS PRESENT TENSE

Salvation is the result of believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ - those who truly believe in Him have eternal life - because, the truly saved never stop believing in Him.  It is not "once saved, always saved" - it is "the security of the believer!"  Do you believe?  You are saved!  If you are saved, you will continue to believe - it is the work of God in you (Rom. 8:28-29; Eph. 1:10; 2:10; 4:30; Phil. 1:6; etc.).

Romans 1:16 - "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that BELIEVETH; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 3:26 - "To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which BELIEVETH in Jesus."

Romans 4:5 - "But to him that worketh not, but BELIEVETH on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

Romans 4:24 - "But for us also, to whom (righteousness) shall be imputed, IF we BELIEVE on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead...."

Romans 6:8 - "Now IF we be dead with Christ, we BELIEVE that we shall also live with Him...."

Romans 9:33 - "As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling-stone and rock of offence: and whosoever BELIEVETH on Him shall not be ashamed."

Romans 10:9-10 - "That  IF thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt BELIEVE in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man  BELIEVETH unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.."

1 Corinthians 15:2 - "By which also ye are saved, IF ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have BELIEVED in vain."

1 Thessalonians 4:14 - "For IF we BELIEVE that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him."

1 Peter 2:6 - "Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that BELIEVETH on Him shall not be confounded."

 

1 John 5:1 - "Whosoever BELIEVETH that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him."

 

1 John 5:5 - "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that BELIEVETH that Jesus is the Son of God?"

1 John 5:10 - "He that BELIEVETH on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son."

1 John 5:13 - "These things have I written unto you that BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may (continue to) BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God."

GRASP WHAT THE LORD REVEALS TO YOU FROM HIS WORD

The Book of Revelation can be very difficult to understand, and to be quite honest, I seriously doubt that those who have written commentaries on it, fully comprehend what it reveals.  The writers often use the words:  "could mean,"  "might mean," "perhaps," "I believe it is telling us," etc.; words which, in themselves, show they are often just making educated guesses as to the meaning of the texts.  In saying that, let me be very clear that I do not profess to know enough about what the Lord revealed to us through the Apostle John's vision, to even begin to be dogmatic about it!  What I am about to write are merely observations that I believe to be true.

To begin, I believe the book describes two separate locations.  Most passages refer to events that will take place on earth, and they are written chronologically.  On the other hand, there are what I see as parenthetical passages, which have to do with events taking place in heaven, and they are not governed by time.  Let me explain.

There are transitional words throughout the book, such as "after" (4:1; 7:1, 9; 11:11; 15:5; 18:1, 14; 19:1; 20:3).  In fact, Revelation 1:19, the key verse in understanding how the book is divided by time, says:  "Write the things which thou hast seen (past tense), and the things which are (present tense), and the things which shall be hereafter (future tense)...."  I, like most students of the book, believe that to John, Chapter One is past tense; Chapters Two and Three have to do with the present Church Age (some believe the seven churches also represent the history of the Church throughout its time on earth); and Chapters Four through Twenty-two describe future events.

However, within the chronological passages addressing earthly events, are passages focused upon things occurring in heaven (4:1 - 6:1; 7:1-3; 9-17; 10:1-11; 14:1-20; 19:1-10).  These passages should not be viewed as time-bound; some obviously are not occurring where they are placed in the text (compare 14:8 with 18:2, 10, 21; and 16:17 with 21:6; etc.).

It has often been said that the best way to interpret the Scriptures is by comparing Scripture with Scripture.  This is especially true for the Book of Revelation.  There are two key passages needed to rightly divide John's Revelation:  Daniel 9:24-27 reveals that there is a parenthetical period between the Sixty-ninth "week" (483 years from the command to rebuild Jerusalem and the Crucifixion of the Messiah), and the Seventieth "week" (the Tribulation or Time of Jacob's Trouble).  In addition, one must consider Matthew 24:1-29 to understand the events which take place before the Abomination of Desolation, and after it.  This division is seen in Daniel 9:27 and Matthew 24:15.  Note also that after Chapter Three of Revelation, the Church is not mentioned a single time between 4:1 and Christ's Second Coming (Chapter 19).  Verse 4:1 appears to be a picture of the Rapture of the Church (see Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Th. 4:16-17).

While I have been blessed to be saved, to have lived long enough to study Bible Prophecy for over forty years, my understanding has barely "scratched the surface!"  The Apostle Paul wrote, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."  Anyone who claims to be an expert on the believer's future, is only fooling himself!  
 

TWO MODERN DAY FALSE TEACHINGS

There are thousands of false religions in our world today, and sadly, many of them profess to be Christian.  Denominations abound, each with one or two doctrines that separate them from the rest.  It is my view, however, that the only people who are genuine Christians, are born again believers.  That is, individuals, who regardless of their affiliation, understand that salvation is the free gift offered to all who will put their trust in the finished work of Christ - He died for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried, and He was raised from the dead according to the same Scriptures (Eph. 2:8; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; etc.)!  No works we can do will save us, nor will works keep us saved; we are saved and kept by the will of God (Jn. 1:11-13; Rom. 8:35-39; Eph. 1:10; 2:9-10; 4:30; Phil. 1:6; etc.)!  It is quite possible that there are born again believers in many, if not all denominations of the church, and God has seen fit to use them there to share the truth about Him.  However, based upon my observation of how things work, the moment they share the truth within their churches, they will be rejected and the Lord will lead them to a sound, biblical ministry.  Darkness can not afford to allow light to remain. 

One of the two modern day false teachings, Replacement Theology, has slithered its way into the vast majority of churches.  Basically, it teaches that because Israel rejected Jesus Christ, that God no longer considers the Jews His people, but has replaced them with the Church.  These are folks who fail to comprehend dispensations, and who totally ignore Daniel 9:24-27.  In this passage, we find that 483 years (69 "weeks") has passed, but there remains one "week," which is appointed to the Jewish people:  The Seven-year Tribulation (Mt. 24:1-29; Rev. 6 - 18; a.k.a. The Time of Jacob's Trouble - Jer. 30:7).  Following the Tribulation, Christ literally rules over the Davidic Kingdom for 1000 years, the Kingdom for which Israel has been longing (Rev. 20:1-15)!  They also forget that Romans chapters 9-11 speak of the Jews being "temporarily set aside" so the Gentiles might be saved!  Following the "times of the Gentiles," all Israel will be saved (Rom. 11:23-36)!

The other rapidly growing false teaching is known as the "Hebrew Roots Movement."  It claims to be Christian, but it advocates the return and adherence to the first century walk of faith and obedience to the Torah, including observing the Jewish Feasts of the Lord, Sabbath worship, and the use of Hebrew names for God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  In other words, it says that Christians are still bound by the Law of Moses.  This movement is not new by any means of the imagination.  The Apostle Paul spent much of his time dealing with such folks.  In fact, the entire Book of Galatians is Paul's argument against it!  The early Church struggled with such false teachings within the disciples themselves.  It was not until Acts 15 that Paul was able to convince them that the Jewish Law did not apply to Christianity.  Finally, the best indication that God is not "fond" of the Hebrew Roots Movement, is that the truth about salvation is written in the GREEK New Testament!

His name is Jesus - He is Lord - He is coming again for His Church! 

HIS RESURRECTION CHANGED THEIR MINDS

Even though Mary and Joseph were told by the angel, the identity of the Child Mary was to deliver, it was not until after His Resurrection that His family came to fully believe in Jesus (Mt. 1:20-23; Lk. 1:23-35).  Observe the sudden change that takes place in His family's understanding of Who He is after His Resurrection and Ascension.

Luke 2:18-19 - "And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."

Luke 2:33 - "And Joseph and His mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of Him."

Luke 2:48-51 - "And when they saw Him, they were amazed: and His mother said unto Him, Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us?  Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.  And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought Me?  Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?  And they understood not the saying which He spake unto them.  And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but His mother kept all these sayings in her heart."

Matthew 13:55-57 - "Is not this the carpenter's son?  Is not His mother called Mary?  And His brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?  (Note:  His "brethren" and His disciples are not the same people - see John 7:3-5 below)!  And His sisters, are they not all with us?  Whence then hath this man all these things?  And they were offended in Him.  But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in His own country, and in His own house."

John 7:3-5 - "His brethren therefore said unto Him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that Thy disciples also may see the works that Thou doest.  For there is no man that doeth anything in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly.  IF Thou do these things, show Thyself to the world.  For neither did his brethren believe in Him."

He was crucified, buried, and was raised from the dead,

all according to the Scriptures! (1 Cor. 15:3-4)

Acts 1:13-14 - "And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.  These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren."  (Note:  Acts 2:4 says they were ALL filled with the Holy Ghost)!

 

Jesus convinced those most difficult to convince - His own family!

IT IS ALL ABOUT THE POWER OF GOD

The Power of the Resurrection

Matthew 22:29 - "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God."
  

The Power (Authority) of God's Son

Luke 22:69 - "Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God."
 

The Powerful Message that saves the lost

Romans 1:16 - "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." 

The Power and Wisdom of the Cross

1 Corinthians 1:18, 24; 2:5 - "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God....But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God....That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."
 

The Power for the believer

2 Corinthians 6:7; 13:4 - "By the Word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left....For though He was crucified through weakness, yet He liveth by the power of God.  For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you."

The Power to withstand persecution

2 Timothy 1:8 - "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God." 

The Power that keeps us saved

1 Peter 1:3-5 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 

 

His power overcame death; His power saves the lost; His power keeps us saved!

THE CHURCH AGE

When Jesus was about to ascend to heaven, He told His disciples to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all nations (Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15).  And yet, it took the Apostles years to come to realize that the Church was to be made up of both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 15).  It is amazing that, with all their focus upon converting the Jews to faith in Jesus, they seemed oblivious to the fact that God was about to set Israel aside and to focus upon reaching the Gentiles.  They did not understand that there was to be a huge gap between Daniel's Sixty-ninth Week, and the Seventieth (Dan. 9:24-27)!  They did not understand that the two loaves containing leaven used to celebrate Pentecost, represented the Church made up of imperfect Jews and Gentiles (Lev. 23:15-23; Acts 2:1-47)!

Today, the Church is aware of these things.  We even have the witness of the history of the early Church, to show the transition from just a Jewish faith, to an "open to all" faith.  Of note, is that the word "synagogue" appears sixty-eight times in the New Testament, and yet it appears only twice after the Book of Acts, and both of them have a negative connotation, referring to it as the "synagogue of Satan" (Rev. 2:9 and 3:9).  It was not until the Peter learned that the Gentiles were to be a part of the Church in Acts 10, and that the Apostle Paul was specifically called to be the Apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15; 18:6; 22:21; 26:16-17; Rom. 11:13; Gal. 2:7-9; etc.), that the Church was open to "whosoever" would believe in Jesus!

But just in case the Church begins to believe the Jews are no longer the "people of God," the Apostle Paul wrote this:

"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:  for this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.  As concerning the Gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.  For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:  even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all" (Rom. 11:25-32).

Replacement Theology is a false teaching;

the Church Age is but a "parenthetical gap"

before Daniel's Seventieth Week, the Tribulation!

THE TIME OF THE END

Daniel 12:4, 8-9 - "...O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.  And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end."

Matthew 24:3-14 - "...the disciples came unto (Jesus) privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be?  And what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake.  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

Romans 1:28-32 - "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

2 Timothy 3:1-5 - "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

2 Peter 3:3-7 - "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming?  For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:  whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:  but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

Foretold!

Matthew 16:21 - "From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day."

Matthew 17:22-23 - "And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:  and they shall kill Him, and the third day He shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry."

Luke 9:22 - "Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day."

Fulfilled!

 

Acts 2:24, 32 - "Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses."

 

Acts 3:15, 26 - "And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.  Unto you first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities."

 

Acts 4:10 - "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole."

 

Acts 5:30 - "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, Whom ye slew and hanged on a tree."

 

Acts 10:40 - "Him God raised up the third day, and showed Him openly."

 

Acts 13:29-30, 33 - "And when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree, and laid Him in a sepulchre.  But God raised Him from the dead.  God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second Psalm, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten thee."

 

Acts 17:31 - "Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man Whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead."

 

Cowards at the cross, courageously proclaimed Jesus risen three day later!

 



THE SAVED KNOW HIM AS LORD

Acts 10:36 - "The Word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ:  He is Lord of all!"

Romans 14:8-9 - "For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead and living."

Philippians 2:5-11 - "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

2 Peter 1:11 - "For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

2 Peter 3:2, 18 - "That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior.  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.

Revelation 17:14 - "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful."

Romans 10:9-10

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

JUST TEN OF MANY PASSAGES ON CHRIST'S SECOND COMING

Matthew 16:27 - "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works."

Matthew 24:3, 29-30 - "And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be?  And what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world? - Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

Matthew 25:31-32 - "When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory:  And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats."

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

1 Thessalonians 5:2 - "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night."
Titus 2:13 - "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ."

Hebrews 9:28 - "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

Revelation 1:7 - "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.  Even so, Amen."
Revelation 3:7-11 - "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My Word, and hast not denied My name.  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.  Because thou hast kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

Revelation 19:11-16 - "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.  And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

JESUS LITERALLY FULFILLED ALL THE PROPHECIES ON HIS FIRST COMING!
HE WILL LITERALLY FULFILL ALL THOSE CONCERNING HIS SECOND COMING!