THE BIBLE SAYS: "LOOK UP!"

As we see signs of the end times increasing all around us, Luke's warning needs to be shouted from the rooftops, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh" (Lk, 21:28)! 

 

Take earthquakes for example:  from 1986-96, there were "just" 15 earthquakes listed by U.S.G.S. of magnitude 7.0 or greater. But from 1997-07, there were 99 earthquakes with magnitude 7.0 or greater:  that is more than a six-fold increase!

 

America's President, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize before he even entered office, has not served a single day in which our troops were not engaged in combat somewhere in the world.  He has threatened to attack Syria, regardless of the overwhelming opposition of Congress, and even before the U.N. has finished its investigation into al-Assad's use of lethal gas on civilians!

 

In addition, Pope Francis, the leader of over two billion Roman Catholics, has not only declared that atheists and agnostics can go to heaven, he has now cautioned his followers to "lighten-up" on the subjects of abortion, homosexuality, and contraception.  The passage of Scripture that immediately comes to mind is Revelation 3:14-22!

 

I recently have become aware of a remarkably wise and talented young Bible teacher named Scottie Clarke (http://www.youtube.com/user/eternalrhythmflow).  His videos on Bible Prophecy, not only provide a clearer understanding of Eschatology, but they show how God's creations on day four (Gen. 1:14) provide additional signs of the Lord's soon return.  His teaching on the Blood Moon Tetrads, and the constellations of Leo, Virgo, and Ophiuchus, reveal much about the fulfillment of the last three Feasts of Israel (Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles), greatly help in our understanding of Revelation Twelve! 

 

"Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished" (Isa. 51:6).   

THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS

Following the Lord's Second Coming, there is going to be a judgment of the nations.  Many confuse this judgment with the Great White Throne Judgment that takes place following the Millennium (Rev. 20:1-15).  The Judgment of the Nations will take place prior to the Millennium, and will determine who will be permitted to enter into Christ's earthly Kingdom.  Matthew's Gospel presents a clear picture of this particular judgment. 

"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:  and He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. . . . Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Mt. 25:31-34, 41).

Note that Matthew used a simile to describe how Jesus will divide the sheep.  Jesus does not call the sheep "My sheep," for His sheep (the Church) were removed from this planet seven years earlier (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:50-53; 1 Thes. 4:16-17; etc.).

The two groups of people who will stand before Jesus in this judgment, will have lived during the seven-year Tribulation (Dan. 9:27):  the Gentiles who helped the Jews during the final three and a half years of  Daniel's Seventieth Week, when the Jews were on the run (Mt. 25:35-41), and Gentiles who would not respond to the needs of the Jews during that period (Mt. 25:42-45).

There is clearly another difference between the two groups, and that difference tells us why each group acted as they did during the Great Tribulation.  Those who helped them are described as "righteous," and the others must therefore be "unrighteous," because their sentenced to everlasting punishment (Mt. 25:46).  In other words, those who helped the Jews were saved; they had been declared to be righteous, and righteousness is a gift that is the result of faith in the Lord (Rom. 4:3; 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:6; Jam. 2:23; etc.)!

Righteous people are those who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Righteous people do all they can to help God's people:  Israel!

POPE FRANCIS IS WRONG!

Recently, there has been a lot of talk on the social media about Pope Francis' recent comments on his belief that atheists and agnostics could go to heaven.   He stated that as long as they live according to their conscience, they would be accepted by God.  For those of us who believe the Bible is the final Word of God, and that the proclamations of the Pope are not equal to the Bible's teaching, we are not surprised at his statements.  After all, he is just a man to us, and therefore fallible. 

But to Roman Catholics, the words of the Pope are to be accepted as equal to the Bible; in fact, they are sort of "updated versions" of God's revelation to His people.  In other words, the Bible was "a good start," but God is a God of the "now," and as times change, so do His "truths."  There in, is the rub!  The vast majority of Catholics, perhaps over 99%, have never read the Bible!  And for those who fall into that huge percentage, what the Priests, Bishops, and the Pope say, IS truth.

The Pope has failed to recognize that apart from the new birth, a man's conscience cannot be trusted.  1 Timothy 4:1-2 says, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron."  Titus 1:15 says, "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled."

The Word of God is the only valid test of truth; it is not the opinion of one man, a committee of men, or the vast majority of men.  The Apostle Paul commended the Bereans for listening to his preaching with an open mind, but then going home and checking out if what he said matched the teaching of Scripture (Acts 17:11)!  So what does the Bible say about how one "qualifies for heaven?" 

*  Salvation is a free gift that can only be received by faith in the Giver (Eph. 2:8-9)!
*  Salvation requires faith in Jesus Christ, the ONLY WAY to the Father (Jn. 14:6)!
*  Salvation requires receiving Jesus Christ as LORD (Jn. 1:12; Rom. 10:9-10)!
*  Salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit in a man's heart (Jn. 3:3-8)!

REVELATION'S SCALES AND TIME-LINES

Have you ever tried to help your child make a scale model of our Solar System?  It is nearly impossible!  First of all, in order for your model to have a one inch diameter ball represent the Earth, you would need a ball with the diameter of about thirteen feet, to represent the Sun.  In addition, at that scale, for you to place the planets in their relative orbits, the Earth would be approximately one thousand feet from the Sun.  So instead of you and your child constructing a scale model of the Solar System for Science class, you simply don't try; you take a few coat hangers, and a few Styrofoam balls of varying sizes, and we make what looks like a mobile for a baby's crib.

We have a similar problem when we try to make a time-line of the events in the Book of Revelation. 

*   Two chapters (2:1 - 4:1) represent the Church Age, from its beginning on the Day of Pentecost (Acts. 2:1) until the Rapture of the Church (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:48-53; 1 Thes. 4:16-17; etc.), a period of about two thousand years, so far. 

*   Thirteen chapters (6:1 - 18:24) represent just seven years, known as the Tribulation, the Time of Jacob's Trouble, or Daniel's Seventieth Week (Jer. 30:7; Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:4-29; etc.).  The first five chapters (6 - 10) describe the first three and a half years of a world in distress, but with Israel's "peaceful friend" protecting her (Mt. 24:4-14).  The middle three chapters (11 - 13) show the events surrounding the betrayal of Israel (Dan. 9:27; 12:11; Mt. 24:15; etc.).  The last five chapters (14 - 18) describe the Great Tribulation, the letting-loose of "hell on Earth" (Mt.  24:16-28)!

*   One whole chapter (19) discusses an event which could possibly occur in but an instant:  the Second Coming of Christ (Dan. 2:34-35; 44-45; Mt. 24:29 - 25:46; etc.)!    

*   Just seven verses (20:1-7) represent the one thousand year Millennium; the fulfillment of all prophecy concerning the reign of Israel's Messiah on Earth.

*   Then eight verses (20:8-15) cover the Great White Throne Judgment, and the end of this world as we know it.

*   Two chapters (21 - 22) complete the Book of Revelation by introducing us to our eternal future with God!

 

Regardless of when these things will happen, are you ready?

All who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ look forward to His return!  

WHY ARE MOST CHRISTIANS ARROGANT?

Believers today look at the two disciples on the road to Emmaus and think:  why were they so blind; why were they ignorant of the Old Testament teachings concerning the "Suffering Servant?"  Part of the answer lies in the fact that they were Jews, and therefore, partially blinded to the truth (Rom. 11:25).  Part of the reason is that they did not have the Holy Spirit indwelling them, teaching them about Him.  And finally, part of the answer is that they did not have the New Testament to help them recognize Him.  That is why Jesus said to them, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Lk. 24:25-27). 

THE HOLY SPIRIT:  Why is it that today's believer thinks he is so much smarter than those believers of Jesus' day?  My first response to that question is:  today we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, whose job it is to teach us and remind us of the teachings of Jesus (Jn. 14:26).  However, when given time to think about it, I find that the Apostles, who were filled with the Holy Spirit, were still capable of huge error when it came to doctrine.  For years, from the time of Pentecost's indwelling (Acts 2:1-5), until the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-22), the Church still believed that one had to become a Jew before he could be saved.

THE NEW TESTAMENT:  Of course, today, born again believers also have the New Testament, right?  And yet, if having the Holy Spirit within us, and a copy of the New Testament were enough, then why is it necessary for God to provide the Church with evangelists, pastors, and teachers (Eph. 4:11)?  And even with these gifted believers to teach us, why does it say that we are to be workmen "that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15)?  It is obvious that we, as individual believers, need to be able to discern which evangelists, pastors, and teachers are teaching the truth (Acts 17:11).  The Apostle Paul admonished us prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good (1 Thes. 5:21).

DILIGENT STUDY:  So what does it mean "to prove all things?"  Well, we first need to listen to what is being taught with an open mind, and then, like the Bereans, go home and verify what is being taught by the Word of God.  And there is the rub!  Those of us who grew up in some denominational church, have been "brainwashed" into believing our understanding of truth is correct and all others are wrong.  Our study often results in our own private interpretation of the truth (2 Pet. 1:20).
 

Even with the Holy Spirit, the New Testament, and dedicated study,

a private interpretation of truth will always result in arrogance!

   

 

IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN GOOD?

The other day, a gentleman made a statement on Facebook that not all leaven, mentioned in the Bible is meant to represent sin.  He said he believed leaven can also be good; he referenced Matthew 13:33 as proof, saying that the Kingdom of Heaven is good.   I had never given it much thought, but perhaps the Kingdom of Heaven is not good.  After all, the actual Kingdom Age, the Millennium (Rev. 20:1-9), ends with mankind revolting against Jesus Christ!  In addition, if one looks at the Parables of the Kingdom in Matthew 13, it does not take a Bible scholar to see that much about the Kingdom is NOT good.

Mt. 13:1-23 The Parable of the Sower - God's Word is the seed (the Gospel; Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:3-4), and three categories of men are born again spiritually:  the "stony ground" that bear no fruit due to persecution; the "weedy ground" that bear no fruit due to the cares of this world; and the "good ground" which bear various amounts of fruit.  "Two thirds" are carnal.

Mt. 13:24-30; 36-43 The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares - Again, God's Word is planted, but the "seed of the enemy" is also planted.  Both "crops" claim to be believers, but "most of the wheat acts like tares, and most of the tares act like wheat."  You can't tell them apart!

Mt. 13:31-32 The Parable of the Mustard Seed - The Gospel, the "smallest of seeds," will grow into a mighty tree.  It is so big, that the "fowls of the air" make their nests in it.  The fowls represent Satan and his demonic forces (Compare:  Mt. 13:4, 19; Eph. 6:12).

Mt. 13:33 The Parable of the Leaven - The word "leaven" appears in twenty verses in the Bible, and without exception, it represents some form of sin or corruption.  Look especially at:  Mt. 16:6, 11-12; 1 Cor. 5:6-8; Gal. 5:9!

Mt. 13:44 The Parable of the Hidden Treasure - Based upon the previous parables, I believe the treasure is "hidden" because, out of fear, it has covered; "its light is under a basket" (Mt. 5:14-16; 13:43).

Mt. 13:45-46 The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price - Again, the "pearl" is hidden, and the "merchant" does not say anything about "showing it off" to the world.

Mt. 13:47-50 The Parable of the Net - Notice the "net" contains both "good fish" and "bad fish."  Like the Tares and the Wheat, they will be sorted out at the end. 

 

Is the Kingdom of God good?  Yes and no!  Just make sure you are in it!

MORE BLOOD MOON STUFF!

On the fourth day of Creation, God created the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars also.  Genesis 1:14 states it this way:  "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years."  Most of us think of "seasons" as the four seasons:  Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.  But in Genesis 1:14, it may very well mean something altogether different. 

The word translated "seasons" is the Hebrew מוֹעֵד (mow`ed), is translated differently elsewhere in the Old Testament ("congregation" 150x; "feasts" 23x; "season" 13x; "appointed" 12x; "time" 12x; "assembly" 4x; "solemnity" 4x; "solemn" 2x; "days" 1x; "sign" 1x; and "synagogues" 1x).    

In Leviticus 23, the chapter which describes the seven Feasts of Israel, מוֹעֵד (mow`ed) is always translated "feast" (Lev. 23:2, 4, 37, 44).  Leviticus 23 also has four verses (Lev. 23:6, 34, 39, 41) where the word more commonly translated "feast" was used:  the Hebrew חָג (chag).  חָג (chag) is translated "feast" 56x; "sacrifice" 3x; "feast days" 2x; and "solemnity" 1x.   When we look at the various ways these two words are translated, we see that they have one thing in common:  they all describe some facet of what Israel was to do on its seven Holy Days.

Today, in the Church, there are many who ridicule those of us who watch the created luminaries for "signs of the times."  A perfect example is the reaction to the suggestion that the coming Blood Moon Tetrad in 2014-2015 has anything to do with the prophecies concerning the end times.  A "Blood Moon Tetrad" is when a Lunar eclipse occurs on the Feast of Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles in two consecutive years.  This has only happened twice before from the time of Christ:  1949-50, and 1967-68.  Because both of those two occasions seem to coincide with major events in Jewish History, (1949-50 - Peace Treaty to end first Arab-Israeli War; 1967-68 - Israel won the Six Day War and they captured Jerusalem). 

Could it be possible that, with all the saber-rattling going on in the Middle East, that the Blood Moon Tetrad in 2014-15 will mark what will appear to be a great victory and the beginning of the false peace of the Antichrist (Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:3-15; Rev. 6-11)?  The other two Tetrads had to do with what appeared to be total victory and peace, so why not the next one?

 

If God put the Moon there for a sign and it is ignored, that's on you!

WHEN I WAS IN PRISON YOU VISITED ME

It is our desire to be helpful to those in prison who indicate an interest in receiving spiritual help, even the good news of salvation centering in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ, God's only Savior.  We also want to see these men and women continue in God's Word by means of personal Bible study.  From our experience we have found that inmates often profit from doing Bible studies by way of correspondence.  They have plenty of time to devote to Bible study and they also enjoy receiving mail.

We are presently working with hundreds of inmates throughout the country by way of our Bible correspondence course.  A large number of these have completed hundreds and in some cases even thousands of pages of Bible study materials.  Each prisoner receives a certificate upon completion of each course of study.  Perhaps you can help us.  If you know of someone in prison or in a correctional institution, you may want to consider sending them the following document which can easily be printed out from your computer:

 

http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/mevangel/prisonm.htm

 

Gospel of John Bible Study--If the inmate does not have a Bible, it might be necessary to also send him a copy of the Gospel of John (KJV version) which is all that he needs to complete this Bible Study.   This brief Bible study exposes a person to God's plan of salvation using only verses found in the Gospel of John.

If the inmate completes this study and sends it back to us (as per the instructions), then we will correct it and send him the beginning of a much lengthier Bible study dealing with such important subjects as inspiration of the Bible, the sinfulness of man, salvation through Christ, justification, redemption, sanctification, holy living, eternal security, etc.

As long as the inmate completes the lesson and sends it back to us, he will continue to receive additional lessons.  Some of our prisoners have done thousands of pages of Bible studies.  Often we provide postage and envelopes for the inmates as well (as God provides).

 

Your concern for the lost should be for ALL the lost.

TWO RESURRECTIONS

THE FIRST RESURRECTION: 

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. Who was the first Person to be raised up (1 Cor. 15:23)? Christ was raised up first. He was the One who led the "RESURRECTION PARADE." Other groups of saved people will follow in their proper ORDER (1 Cor. 15:23):

Christ was the first to rise from the dead in a glorified body (1 Corinthians 15:23).  The "dead in Christ" (members of the Church who have died) will be raised up at the time of the Rapture (1 Thes. 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 (see 1 Cor. 15:51-52). 

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 (Rev. 20:4).  We must assume that those who are saved during the 1000 year Kingdom will receive new bodies at the end of the Kingdom Age, although there is no verse that specifically mentions this.

THE SECOND RESURRECTION: 

All of the unsaved people will be part of the Resurrection of Damnation (the Second Resurrection), 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 (Rev. 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).

Faith in Jesus allows you to "fly first class!"

THE ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE OF "NINE - ELEVEN"

The most important "9-11" that I know, has nothing to do with an event which occurred twelve years ago today.  The most important "9-11," the one with eternal significance, is the following "9-11" reference found in the writings of the Apostle Paul.  He wrote:  "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" (Phil. 2:9-11).

It is going to happen!  Every single person who has ever lived, will acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord!  The Prophet Isaiah wrote, "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.  I have sworn by Myself, the Word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear" (Isa. 45:22-23).  And in another place, the Apostle Paul stated it this way:  "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:11-12).

Because the born again believer has already knelt and acknowledged Jesus as his Lord, he joyfully awaits the time when he will see Jesus.  Not only do we long to see His face, but we also long for the time when we are no longer tempted by sin.  The Scripture tells us that we will be changed into His likeness; we will no longer be mortal or corruptible, but we will be like Him (1 Jn. 3:2)!

Paul wrote:  "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I shew 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"(1 Cor. 15:50-53)! 

The question is, will you kneel before Him now, or will you do so at the judgment?

HE IS LORD OF ALL WHO ARE SAVED! ROMANS 10:8-13

King James Version:  "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."

Young's Literal Translation:  "But what doth it say? `Nigh thee is the saying -- in thy mouth, and in thy heart:' that is, the saying of the faith, that we preach; that if thou mayest confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and mayest believe in thy heart that God did raise Him out of the dead, thou shalt be saved, for with the heart doth `one' believe to righteousness, and with the mouth is confession made to salvation; for the Writing saith, `Every one who is believing on Him shall not be ashamed,' for there is no difference between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord of all `is' rich to all those calling upon Him, for every one -- whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, he shall be saved."

New International Version:  "But what does it say?  “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:  If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.  As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

New Living Translation:  "In fact, it says, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.”  And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.  As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.”  Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on Him.  For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”

If Jesus is not your Lord, you are not born again!

ISRAEL'S BLIND TRANSLATORS

It is amazing to us today, that Israel did not realize that their Messiah would be killed when He came.  But perhaps the reason why can be understood by reading the Jewish translation of Daniel's prophecies.  The Tanakh says this in Daniel 9:24-27: 

"Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city until the measure of transgression is filled and that of sin complete, until iniquity is expiated, and eternal righteousness ushered in; and prophetic vision ratified, and the Holy of Holies anointed.  You must know and understand:  From the issuance of the word to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the [time of the] anointed leader is seven weeks; and for sixty-two weeks it will be rebuilt, square and moat, but in a time of distress.  And after those sixty-two weeks, the anointed one will disappear and vanish.  The army of a leader who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary, but its end will come through a flood.  Desolation is decreed until the end of war.  During one week he will make a firm covenant with many.  For half a week he will put a stop to the sacrifice and the meal offering.  At the corner [of the altar] will be an appalling abomination until the decreed destruction will be poured down upon the appalling thing."

Is it any wonder?  Their translation says their Messiah will "disappear and vanish."  He doesn't die.  He doesn't spend three nights and days in the grave.  He doesn't rise from the dead.  He just disappears!  The Jews are unable to comprehend the truth because they do not have the Gospel!  And, after all, it is only the Gospel that has the power to save lost souls (Rom. 1:16; 10:17; 1 Cor. 15:1-4)!

In addition, without a proper translation of the text, there is no distinguishable connection between Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and the first three Feasts of Israel:  Passover (Lev. 23:5; 1 Cor. 5:7); Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:6; Jn. 6:35/Heb. 4:15); and First Fruits (Lev. 23:10; 1 Cor. 15:20)!

Fortunately for Israel, their partial blindness (Rom. 11:25) will be removed and they will see their Messiah arrive, and establish a one thousand year Kingdom of Israel on Earth (Rev. 20:1-6)!

 

Won't it be great to witness Israel's joy at His coming?!  I can't wait!

ANTICHRIST, ANTIOCHUS, ASSYRIAN: INTERESTING!

Daniel's prophecy of future empires, is revealed in his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream in the second chapter.  The image's head was of fine gold (Babylon - Dan. 2:38), his breast and his arms of silver (Medo-Persia - Dan. 5:28), his belly and his thighs of brass (Greece - Dan. 8:20), his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay (Rome - Dan. 9:26 - We know this is Rome, because it is identified by stating it will kill the Messiah and destroy Jerusalem - Rome did that in circa A.D. 30 and A.D. 70).  "The people of the prince that shall come" were Roman citizens, but that does not mean the future prince must be from Rome; it means he must be from someplace controlled by the Roman Empire at the time of Christ's Crucifixion. 

There is an interesting factor about the identity of the future prince, that is lost in the English translation of the Bible.  The text reads, "And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.  And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men:  but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay" (Dan. 2:42-43).  The words "mixed" and "mingle" are English translations of the Aramaic Hebrew עֲרַב (`arab)! 

When one couples that "coincidence" with Micah 5:5-6, the idea that the Antichrist may be of Arab descent suddenly seems reasonable.  Micah wrote, "And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.  And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders." 

And just who is this One who will deliver Israel from the Assyrian?  Daniel tells us:  "Thou sawest till that a Stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.  Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the Stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth" (Dan. 2:32-35).  At the end of the seven-year Tribulation, Jesus, represented over and over again as a mighty Stone in God's Word, will destroy His enemies (Mt. 24:29-30; Rev. 19:11-21; etc.)!

 

Antiochus Epiphanes, a type of Antichrist, ruled the area that was Assyria!

MYSTERY BABYLON

When we think of Babylon, most of us forget that its root is from the Hebrew בָּבֶל (Babel).  Because a "y" has replaced the "e" in the spelling of Babylon, we fail to recognize "Babel" is a combination of two Hebrew words, the latter of which is "El," a name of God.  An article (p. 703) in the David A. Wood, Tim LaHaye Prophecy Study Bible, has a note on the figurative use of the name:  

"The word "Babylon" may mean 'confusion' or 'the gate of God.'  During the building of the tower of Babel, God confused the language; thus, the definition of 'confusion' is fitting.  The other meaning of Babylon, 'gate of God,' suggests self-redemption."

"Self-redemption" is another word for "religion."  Religion, all religion, is man's effort to satisfy the requirements necessary to appease a god.  Genuine Christianity, often referred to as a Father/child relationship with God, understands that nothing man can do, or avoid doing, will qualify him to spend eternity with God; we simply accept the gift of salvation provided for us by Christ's death, burial, and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 2:8-9)!  With that in mind, let's take another look at the person riding on the back of the Beast in Revelation 17. 

Her name will be "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Rev. 17:5).
 
MYSTERY - Many believe she is the Roman Catholic Church due to her seven "mysteries": 
*  Baptism (works - needed for salvation);
*  Confirmation (works - needed to receive the Holy Spirit);
*  Eucharist (works - needed to continue be saved);
*  Penance (works - needed to "stay saved" because sins "un-save you");
*  Matrimony (works - without it, you are sinning sexually);
*  Anointing the sick (works - for healing);
*  Holy Orders (required for ordination as a deacon, priest, or bishop); 

BABYLON THE GREAT:  The world's largest religion requiring works as a gate to God.

THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS:  The religion which spawned thousands of religions.

ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH:  The religion that worships a woman.

Becoming a child of God requires one thing:  FAITH

(Jn. 1:12; 3:16; Rom. 10:9; Gal. 3:1-3; Eph. 2:8-9; etc.)!

 

BABYLON THE GREAT

In the Old Testament, the key passages describing Babylon's ultimate demise, are found in the books of Isaiah (13:1-22); and Jeremiah (51:1-64).  In the end, her end, she will be as Sodom and Gomorrah!  The New Testament has very little to say about Babylon.  It is mentioned three times in the genealogy of Jesus (Mt. 1:11, 12, 17); once in reference to Israel's Babylonian Captivity (Acts 7:43); once as the place where Peter wrote his first epistle (1 Pet. 5:13); and six times in John's vision of the Great Tribulation (Mt. 24:21; Rev. 14:8; 16:9; 17:5; 18:2, 10, 21).  In other words, The Book of Revelation is the only New Testament source of end-times information about a city called "Babylon."

The name, "Babylon," rightly describes the city's origins, and our understanding of its demise!  "Babylon" is translated from the Hebrew בָּבֶל (Babel), and from the Greek Βαβυλών (Babylōn), both meaning "confusion,"  It began with God "confusing men's languages," and it will supposedly end with God's judgment.  But, there is a question as to whether or not the future city described in the New Testament is actually Babylon.  Many theologians believe both Peter and John were using the term metaphorically for Rome, due to the persecution of the Church by Rome's Emperor, Nero.  Peter is believed to have been martyred in Rome not long after penning his first epistle, and John was in exile at the time of his writing of the Book of Revelation, for "troubling Rome."

That John was speaking of Rome when he penned his description of "Babylon," can be seen in a few "clues" from his text: 
*   The city is said to sit upon seven mountains or hills (Rev. 17:9), and Rome is known as the "city which sits upon seven hills."
*   The actual city known as Babylon was about one hundred miles from what could be called a sea (the Persian Gulf), whereas, Rome was built on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.  In order for the merchant ships to observe her destruction, John must have been speaking of Rome (Rev. 18:17-19).
*   Tertullian, Irenaeus, and Jerome use Babylon as representing the Roman Empire.
*   Ultimately, the Bible says so:  "And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth" (Rev. 17:18)!!!  Notice that John used the present tense; Rome reigned at that time!

I am not a scholar by any means, but I can read!

  

THE ANTICHRIST AND HIS PROPHET

There are two individuals in the Scriptures that are called "the son of perdition":  Judas Iscariot (Jn. 17:12), and the Antichrist (2 Thes. 2:3).  "Perdition" is translated from the Greek ἀπώλεια (apōleia), which means "destruction" or "ruin."  It is actually translated "destruction" five times (Mt. 7:13; Rom. 9:22; Phil. 3:19; 2 Pet. 2:1; 3:16).  Another translation of ἀπώλεια is very telling; it is translated "waste" in reference to the "waste" of money at the anointing of Jesus (Mt. 26:8; Mk. 14:4).  According to Judas, the spikenard was worth 300 pence (about a year's salary - cp. Jn. 12:3-5 w/ Mt. 20:2-13).  While I cannot prove this, I am convinced that it was not until Judas became possessed by Satan that he actually became "the son of perdition" (Jn. 13:27). 

We seem to see the same thing occur to the Antichrist following his "mortal head wound"; notice we are told it is the wounded Beast that has been empowered by Satan (Rev. 13:1-4).  Perhaps it is this very "possession" that marks the turning point in Daniel's Seventieth Week (Dan. 9:27).  The Antichrist arrives on the scene in Revelation 6:2, and for three and a half years, he protects Israel (Dan. 9:27a; Mt. 24:3-14; Rev. 6 - 11).  But in Revelation 12 - 13, three and a half years later, suddenly he is described as blasphemous, anti-Israel, and he commits the Abomination of Desolation (Dan. 9:27b; Mt. 24:15-28; Rev. 13:1-10). 

Last night, Pastor was teaching about another sudden change which occurs.  He was teaching on the difference between how the "kings of the earth" felt about the woman called "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Rev. 17:5; 18:2), before she was "destroyed," and after.  [Note:  In addition to her name, Babylon the great, we know "she" is the same person by comparing the description of her in the two chapters (Rev. 17:4; 18:16)]. 

Pastor described "her" as being the Laodicean Church, the one-world church made up entirely of the "tares" following the Rapture of the true Church (Mt. 13:24-30, 36-43; Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 3:14-22).  The "kings of the earth" hate her (Rev. 17:16).  But in the following chapter, "she" is represented as having to do with the world economy, and when "she" collapses, the "kings of the earth" mourn her "passing" (Rev. 18:9).

That "got me to a-thinkin'," what one character in Revelation has to do with both the control of the world religion (the worship of the Beast - Rev. 13:12), and the world economy (the mark of the Beast - Rev. 13:16-18)?  It is the False Prophet!  Could the "fall" of the religion of the Antichrist be the destruction of the Vatican, and the destruction of the world economy be the destruction of the very city in which the Vatican stands today:  Rome?

Just some thoughts of an old man; Happy Feast of Trumpets! 

     

THE NATION THAT WILL NOT DIE

The continued existence of the nation of Israel is quite remarkable. Suppose a man is being bothered by a mosquito. This man slaps the mosquito, but it doesn’t die. He then smacks it with a newspaper, but it doesn’t die. He then strikes it with a fly swatter, but that does not kill the pest either. He tries spraying it with bug killer, but it still lives. He captures it in a jar and takes the jar 25 miles away from his home and buries it in the ground. One week later this same mosquito is back on the man’s arm! The mosquito cannot be destroyed!

There is a nation that is like this imaginary mosquito. It is a nation that cannot be killed or destroyed. Many attempts have been made to destroy this nation but all these attempts have failed. This nation lives on. It is a miracle nation! It is the most amazing nation on the face of the earth. It is the nation of ISRAEL— the JEWISH NATION.

 

The survival of the nation of Israel is remarkable, especially when we consider many of the other ancient nations who have not survived and who have lost their national identity.  Consider, for example, the seven nations mentioned in Deuteronomy 7:1. Are any of these nations in existence today?  What about the Philistines?   What about the Assyrians?   What about the Babylonians?   Certainly there are individuals who have descended from these nations who are alive today, but these nations have not maintained their national identity.

 

As Paul Van Gorder has pointed out, "You never hear anyone speak of an English Frenchman or a French Englishman or an Italian Frenchman.  But there are English Jews, French Jews, German Jews, and American Jews....To the Jew belongs an indestructible separateness.  This cannot be said of any other people on earth" [Is God Through With the Jew, RBC Booklet, p.2].   Of Israel it was predicted: "The people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned [numbered] among the nations (Numbers 23:9).  What other nation or people has been scattered among the nations and yet has maintained its national identify and distinctiveness?

 

The fact that Israel has maintained its national identity,

after having its people scattered throughout the world for almost 1900 years,

demonstrates the providential hand, and the loving care of

Jehovah, the one true God.

PENTECOST'S HARVEST

I do not usually include illustrations with my posts, but since I wish to address what it represents, it will probably make more sense than what I have to say.  I am not sure to whom I should give credit for the drawing, but I am grateful to be able to use it.

 

God told Moses that Israel was to celebrate seven feast days (Lev. 23:1-2).  These seven appointed times for the congregation of Israel, had a dual purpose:  first, they were sacred times in Israel's annual calendar wherein they were to remember God's interaction with them as His people; and second, they would later be recognized as prophecies concerning Israel's and the Gentile's future. 

 

The first three Feasts of Israel represented the First Advent of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God.  Jesus, knowing full well that Israel would reject and kill Him (Jn. 1:11-12; 29, 36; Rev. 13:8), and knowing God would raise Him from the dead (Ps. 16:10; Mt. 12:40), was willing to "endure the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:2)!

 

Christians already know, and Israel will soon discover, that the last three Feasts represent Christ's Second Advent, which will include His gathering of Israel (Trumpets - Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:3-15; Rev. 6 - 11), His bringing Israel to their knees and to faith in Him (Atonement - Mt. 24:15-29; Rev. 12 - 18), and His reigning for 1000 years here on Earth (Tabernacles - Rev. 20:1-6).

 

The middle Feast of Israel, the fourth, did not belong with the Spring Feasts, or with the Autumn Feasts; it was unique.  In fact, its prophetic meaning was, and still is, a mystery to Israel (Rom. 16:25; Eph. 5:32; etc.).  The Feast of Wave Loaves (Pentecost) was the only feast that allowed leaven to be used; in fact, leaven was mandatory (Lev. 23:17).  When Israel would be in their land, there would be a harvest.  Israel is in their land, and the Church, made up of imperfect born again Jews and Gentiles, will be "harvested," that is, taken in the Rapture of the Church (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:48-53; 1 Thes. 4:16-17)!

 

The Church is so blessed to understand the mysteries of God! 
    

THE SEQUENCE OF THE TRUMPET JUDGMENTS

Following the thirty minutes of silence in heaven (Rev. 8:1), seven trumpets were given to seven angels who were standing before God (8:2).  According to my understanding, the sounding of each of the seven trumpets announces the following:

The first trumpet (8:7) - hail and fire mingled with blood cause a third part of the trees and all the grass to be burnt up.

The second trumpet (8:8-9) - a great mountain causes a third part of the sea to become blood and one third of all sea life and a third of all ships to be destroyed.

The third trumpet (8:10-11) - a great star named "wormwood" ("Chernobyl" in Russian) causes a third of fresh water sources to become contaminated.

The fourth trumpet (8:12) - one third of the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars become darkened.

[The announcement that the last three trumpets will be "Woes" (8:13).]

 

The fifth trumpet / the first "Woe" (9:1-12) - demonic, scorpion-like locusts torment for five months, all who are not sealed by God. 

 

The sixth trumpet / the second "Woe" (9:13 - 11:14) - a 200,000,000 horsemen army kills one third of all mankind - the mystery of the "little book" - the culmination of the three and a half year preaching of the two witnesses, that is, their death, resurrection, and ascension.

 

The seventh trumpet / the third "Woe" (11:15 - 14:20) - Israel's Child ascends to His throne - Israel in the wilderness for next three and a half years - the Antichrist, "possessed by Satan," commits the Abomination of Desolation - the False Prophet establishes the "mark" and idol worship - the final preaching of the Gospel - the announcement of the coming of the "wrath of God" (this phrase appears seven times AFTER the middle of the Tribulation (14:10, 19; 15:1, 7; 16:1, 19; 19:15).

THE END: THREE AND A HALF YEARS OF HELL ON EARTH

Things will be looking up!  Israel will be guaranteed, by the one whose goal it to rule the world, that she can live peacefully within her borders for seven years (Dan. 9:27).  All around her, there will be talk of war, and in many places, war will actually be raging, but not in Israel (Mt. 24:6).  And around the world, in diverse places, people will be suffering from famines, pestilences (plagues), and numerous earthquakes, but not Israel (Mt. 24:8).  Israel will even have a new Temple, and will have resumed offering animal sacrifices!  Yes, the Gentiles will still be all over the place, but they will respect the sacred areas of the Temple (Rev. 11:1-2).  In fact, you might say that Israel will have it made.  Except for one little "teeny-weeny" problem:  there will be two guys who will be making everyone miserable!  

The two culprits will claim they are prophets from God, and they will spend three and a half years telling the whole world they are going to hell if they will not repent, and recognize Jesus Christ as their King (Mt. 24:14; Rev. 11:3).  Many will try to kill them, but every attempt will be thwarted by them, and believe this or not, they will defeat their would be assassins by breathing fire on them like some sort of mythical dragon (Rev. 11:5)!  That's not all; they will have somehow figured out a way to stop rain from falling, and they will even have the power to produce plagues wherever and whenever they want (Rev. 11:6)!  Not only will Israel be miserable, but the whole world will be willing to give anything for someone to shut them up!

Then it will happen!  The man believed to be the savior of the world, will himself be attacked by a sword-wielding madman, and though it will be a mortal blow, he miraculously will be healed (Rev. 13:3, 14).  Something will happen to him; it will be as though Satan will have taken over his body (Rev. 13:4).  He will not only be healed, but with Satan empowering him, he will be able to kill the "two thorns" (Rev. 11:7)!"  Thinking he had won, the whole world, including Israel, will celebrate their deaths (Rev. 11:9-10).  The celebration will come to an abrupt end when the two dead prophets stand to their feet, and the whole world watches them ascend into heaven (Rev. 11:11-12). 

For the first three and a half years of the seven year agreement, they will have preached the Gospel, and now, the last half of the seven years, which Jesus call "the end," will have begun.  He said, "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" (Mt. 24:14)!  Now, all of a sudden, the Antichrist will desecrate the Holy Temple, and he will declare himself to be god (Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:15; Rev. 13:4-8).  For three and a half years, Israel will be on the run.  But thanks to the faithful witness of those two men, and the blasphemous actions of the Antichrist, their eyes will have been opened, and they will understand that Jesus was, is, and always will be, their Messiah (Rom. 11:25-26)!  Even if they are caught and killed, they know they will spend eternity with the God of their fathers!
     

"The end" is the beginning of Israel's Great Tribulation!