From: TribulationPeriod.com
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PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 120
May 16, 2003
The Two Witnesses
Part 7
It has been established in Parts 1 through 6 that John came and preached in the spirit of Elijah, and was the Elijah for any who believed his message. It was proven that John was the messenger sent to announce the Seed who was the messenger of the covenant, Jesus Christ. It was shown that John and Jesus both preached for Israel to repent, because the kingdom was at hand. But Israel as a nation rejected the message of John and of Jesus. It was clearly stated that if they did not heed their message, the land of Israel would be smitten by a curse. They did not heed it, and the Lord smote the land with a curse. It was a warning that Jesus taught in a parable picturing Israel as a fig tree.
Malachi 4:5,6 – Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: [6] And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a CURSE.
The word used for “earth” is “erets,” which in most cases is translated as “land.” Israel would not repent and turn to the Messiah, so the land was cursed and they were plucked up out of it.
Luke 13:5-9 – I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. [6] He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. [7] Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? [8] And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: [9] And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
The certain man is the Father, the vineyard is the world into which Israel was supposed to spread the promise of a Messianic Seed through Abraham, the fig tree is Israel, and the dresser of the vineyard is the Messiah. Jesus was “journeying toward Jerusalem” at the time he gave this parable of the fig tree. He had labored for three years to see fruit produced by the fig tree in repentance and the receiving him as the Messiah, but had found none. He was soon to be cut off in the extra year, the fourth year, he had requested. And because of the rejection the fig tree Israel dried up under a curse, and was cut off from the land.
Mark 11:12-14 – And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: [13] And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. [14] And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
Mark 11:19-21 – And when even was come, he went out of the city. [20] And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. [21] And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou CURSEDST is withered away.
As the Son of God, he knew there would be no figs on the tree. He used it for an example of what was going to be done to Israel because of their rejection of his message. A day passed between the time the fig tree was cursed, and the time it withered away. It was some 40 years from the time of his rejection until Israel withered away, and was carried from the land. Their temple became spiritually desolate when they rejected him, and physically desolate when Titus destroyed it and carried Israel into captivity.
Matthew 23:37-39 – O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! [38] Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. [39] For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Luke 21:24 – And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
The leaves of Israel were still green when they crucified him, but as he spoke to the women of Jerusalem, who were weeping as they followed him to cross, he warned them that the day was coming for their children when Israel would dry up, and be carried away.
Luke 23:28-31 – But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. [29] For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. [30] Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. [31] For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
Israel is showing leaves again, but still has no fruit.
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 120D
May 21, 2003
The Spirit of Antichrist
The wars in the Middle East are not secular wars – They are religious wars, and for this reason any peace reached between the Palestinians and Israel must be of short duration, and as phony as a three dollar bill. The Islamic faith believes that Jesus was a prophet from Allah, but it does not believe the following Scriptures concerning him as the Son of God. Non-religious wars can be won, and peace can be maintained following them by resolution of the factors that produced them. Religious wars can be halted temporarily, but the factors that produced them will continue until the Second Advent of Jesus Christ.
John 1:1-3,10,14 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. [10] He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. [14] And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
II Corinthians 5:19 – To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Colossians 2:9 – For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
John 14:9 – Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
John 10:30 – I and my Father are one.
The Islamic faith believes Jesus was a prophet from Allah, but they cry out vehemently – ALLAH HAS NO SON – THERE IS ONE GOD, ALLAH, AND MOHAMMED IS HIS PROPHET. The tenant of the Christian faith is that Jesus Christ was the living Son of God, God living in sinless human flesh among us, God come to us in the flesh from the womb of the virgin Mary, God come in the flesh of a sinless man. The Islamic faith vehemently denies, and considers ungodly heresy, the idea that the Son of God has come in human flesh. The Islamic faith is truly a manifestation of antichrist. How can I make this statement with such confidence it is biblically correct? Mohammad was only one of many false prophets that have gone out into the world since the crucifixion and resurrection of the man Christ Jesus.
I John 4:1-4 – Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. [2] Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: [3] And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. [4] Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
If Jesus was not the Son of God, then there is no offering of his sinless flesh for our sins. If his Father was not in him reconciling the world to himself, then we are not reconciled to God through him. Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, has come and departed in sinless flesh and blood for the sins of all who will receive him. To believe otherwise is the spirit of antichrist. The Islamic faith does not believe they have the spirit of Allah or Mohammad living in them. They call America the big devil and Israel the little devil. I think the words Jesus uttered to other unbelieving sons of Abraham in John 8:44 fits the followers of Islam quite well.
John 8:44 – Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Of course, they have a perfect right to believe what they believe, and it would be nice if two such divergent groups could exist on the same earth without any conflict. But I am a realist, and I know they will not because they cannot. However, I am certainly looking forward to the time when Islamic treachery and cunning will finally allow a false peace to come to the Middle East for a brief period of time, because this will give me the assurance that we are rapidly approaching the end of this age, and I can know that my Savior’s catching out program is at hand.
PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 121
May 24, 2003
The Two Witnesses
Part 8
In Parts 1 through 7 an attempt to build a case has been made to show that: (1) The Two Witnesses represent the prophet Elijah and the law giver Moses, (2) They are figuratively representative of the O.T. Assembly of Israel and the local N.T. Assemblies (Churches) of this present age, (3) They are real flesh and blood men, (4) The N.T. Churches are linked to Elijah through John the Baptist, who preached in the spirit of Elijah, and the Assembly of Israel is linked to Moses, who gave them the Law, the first five books of the Old Testament, and (5) John was the Elijah only to those who believed his message that the Messiah had arrived, and the kingdom was at hand. A case has been made to show that one of the two witnesses will preach in the spirit of Elijah, with the same message of repentance that John preached to Israel, a message of repentance. Sackcloth, the garment of repentance, will be the dress of both witnesses.
Revelation 11:3 – And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
I believe Elijah will go into the Negev wilderness with the one-third of Israel that survives the future attack from the north, and that most of them will eventually believe his testimony, and he will become their Elijah.
Malachi 4:5 – Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
When the religious leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask John if he was Elijah, he answered the question directly, saying, “I am not?” He did not lie, for they did not believe his message concerning the Messiah. He was the Elijah only to those who received his message by believing it. Jesus make this spiritual distinction clear in Luke 11:13-15. Only men and women who received John’s message possessed spiritual ears.
Matthew 11:13-15 – For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. [14] And IF ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. [15] He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Since all Israel is still in unbelief, a second Elijah will be sent to them during the last 1260 days before the final battle of Armageddon.
Romans 11:32 – For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
II Corinthians 3:15-17 – But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. [16] Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. [17] Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Immediately after the transformation, where Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus, in answer to a query based on what the unbelieving scribes had stated concerning the coming of Elijah, indicated that their Elijah would eventually come and “restore all things.” John did not “restore all things” during his ministry, so Jesus must be referring to the Messiah of unbelieving Israel, who is yet to come.
Matthew 17:10,11 – And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? [11] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
The restoring, or restitution, of all things will not come to pass until the Second Advent of Jesus, which is still in our future, and will be the times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord among Israel. At the present time the Messiah of Israel has been received into heaven until the times of restitution of all things occurs, which will being in the times of refreshing. Most of Israel will turn to the Lord in the Negev wilderness, and their sins will be blotted out. I believe the message to be preached by the two witnesses is found in Acts 3:17-21.
Acts 3:17-21 – And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. [18] But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. [19] Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; [20] And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: [21] Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 121B
May 27, 2003
Christ’s 2nd Advent And The Temple
There are two words commonly translated as “temple” in the New Testament – HIERON and NAOS.
Temple – HIERON – The word is used of the Jerusalem stone temple itself, and, at times, of the whole compass of the sacred enclosure, including all the other subordinate buildings pertaining to the temple.
Temple – NAOS – Any enclosure surrounding the place where the Spirit of God dwells. In the HIERON, it was the enclosure within the HIERON where the Spirit of God dwelled, namely, the Holy of Holies in the rear of the HIERON, which was separated from the Holy Place by a thick curtain. It was torn from top to bottom by the power of God when Jesus commended his Spirit into his hands. It was his completion of the redemptive work that finished the plan of salvation for all men, and tore open the barrier between the presence of God and man to all who would receive him as the one who finished it.
John 19:30 – When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Matthew 27:50,51 – Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. [51] And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
The word “temple” appears some 24 times in the book of Acts, and it is ALWAYS “HIERON.” It first appears in Acts 2:46. Its last occurrence is in Acts 26:21.
Acts 2:46 – And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Acts 26:21 – For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
The word “NAOS” does not appear in the book of Acts.
There is no question that Paul thoroughly understood the exacting differences between the two words. It is true that, at times, the word “NAOS” is used in the N.T. to refer to the entire temple building, but only because it was a part of it. But let’s take a detailed look at how Paul himself used the words “NAOS” and “HIERON.” Paul used the word “NAOS” eight times in all of his N.T. writings – Seven of these cases follow: See if there is any possible way you could twist these usages by Paul to refer to the stone temple in Jerusalem.
I Corinthians 3:16,17 – Know ye not that ye are the TEMPLE of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? [17] If any man defile the TEMPLE of God, him shall God destroy; for the TEMPLE of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Ephesians 2:21 – In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy TEMPLE in the Lord:
II Corinthians 6:16 – And what agreement hath the TEMPLE of God with idols? for ye are the TEMPLE of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
I Corinthians 6:19 – What? know ye not that YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
None of these usages refer to the stone Jerusalem temple.
Paul did use the word HIERON for the temple located in Jerusalem in the following Scripture.
I Corinthians 9:13 – Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the TEMPLE? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
Paul certainly knew the difference between the two words translated as TEMPLE in the New Testament, and, considering the importance of the eighth and final use of NAOS by Paul in all his writings, I don’t believe a temple will be built in Jerusalem before the 2nd Advent.
II Thessalonians 2:4 – Who opposeth and EXALTETH HIMSELF above ALL that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the TEMPLE (NAOS) of God, SHEWING HIMSELF that he is God.
I believe that Paul’s usage of NAOS in II Thessalonians 2:4 carries the same meaning as Paul intended it to have in I Corinthians 6:19.
I Corinthians 6:19 – What? know ye not that your body is the TEMPLE (NAOS) of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
II Thessalonians 2:4 – Who opposeth and EXALTETH HIMSELF above ALL that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the TEMPLE (NAOS) of God, SHEWING HIMSELF that he is God.
The antichrist will sit in a sinful body of flesh on the temple mount. I now sit in a sinful body of flesh at 204 Hickory in Dardanelle, Arkansas. My body, even though it is sinful, is a temple I received from God in the womb. The antichrist will have received the body in which he dwells by the same process, and from the same God. But inside it will dwell an evil spirit and soul, claiming to be God, and trying to prove it to its self. Jesus was God living in a temple of sinless flesh. He was God incarnate living in a sinless body formed by God in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
Jesus referred to his own body as a temple (NAOS), but the Pharisees and scribes thought he was referring to the Jerusalem temple.
John 2:19-21 – Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this TEMPLE (NAOS), and in three days I will raise it up. [20] Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? [21] But he spake of the TEMPLE OF HIS BODY.
Colossians 2:8-10 – Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. [9] For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. [10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
II Corinthians 5:19 – To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
John 10:30 – I and my Father are one.
John 14:9 – Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
The Devil is the greatest counterfeiter in all of history. His son, the antichrist, will be a man who the world will believe has been resurrected from the dead, after having received a deadly wound by a weapon of war. Jesus was the only begotten Son of God who came in sinless flesh and lived a sinless life. The Devil will come and dwell in the body of the antichrist after he is apparently returned from the dead. When the antichrist sits on the temple mount near the end of the tribulation period, he will be Satan incarnate in sinful flesh, claiming to be God, and trying to prove it to himself.
II Corinthians 11:13,14 – For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, TRANSFORMING THEMSELVES into the apostles of Christ. [14] And no marvel; for Satan HIMSELF IS TRANSFORMED into an angel of light.
John 5:43 – I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
Revelation 13:3,12,14 – And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. [12] And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. [14] And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Beast was (was alive) – is not (died) – yet is (resurrected)
Revelation 17:8-14 – 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. [9] And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. [10] And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. [11] And the beast that was, and is not, even he IS the eighth, and IS OF the seven, and goeth into perdition. [12] And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. [13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. [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.
The seven mountains are seven governments (kingdoms) that will all have persecuted Israel before the 2nd Advent. When John wrote Revelation, in about 96 A.D., five of the seven kingdoms, which the seven kings represent, had already persecuted Israel in the past. They were, in chronological order, the Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, and Grecian Empires. The sixth, Rome, was in power at the time John was writing, and the seventh kingdom will have the antichrist as its King. However, when he is apparently resurrected from the dead, he will be Satan incarnate in human flesh and, as such, he will also be the eighth king of the same seventh kingdom. The word used for “perdition” means “destruction.” And “none shall help him,” because he will be destroyed, along with the false prophet, at the end of the final battle of Armageddon by the power of Christ’s Second Advent.
Isaiah 14:12-15 – How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! [13] For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: [14] I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. [15] Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Revelation 19:19-21 – And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. [20] And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. [21] And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
The antichrist’s claim to be God incarnate in human flesh will be the final accumulating and consolidation of the spirit of antichrist in a single man, which is the final absolute corruption of the truth of God in Christ. The antichrist’s claim represents the absolute denial that the one who came before him was the Christ, the Son of the living God.
I John 2:18-22 – Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. [19] They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. [20] But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. [21] I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. [22] Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
But there is another reason that I do not believe Paul was referring to a temple of stone in Jerusalem when he used the word NAOS in II Thessalonians 2:4. The same event is found in Daniel 11:45, and what follows it in 12:1 marks it as the latter part of the tribulation period. The word used for PALACE is APPEDEN, and it is never translated as TEMPLE in the Bible. It literally means a “fortress command post.” TABERNACLES is rendered from the word OHEL, which always mean TENTS. The following scripture by Daniel paints the same event that Paul paints in II Thessalonians 2:4 – The antichrist on the temple mount as Satan incarnate sitting in human flesh, between the Mediterranean and Dead Seas, with the countless tents of his great army poised to strike a final death-blow against Israel in the Negev – waiting for his command that will begin the battle of Armageddon. But in spite of his multi million army of flesh, none shall be able to help him, because he is about to be zapped by the direct power of God in his creation.
Daniel 11:45 to 12:1 – And he shall plant the tabernacles of his PALACE (APPEDEN) between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. [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.
Matthew 24:21,22 – For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. [22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Matthew 24:29,30 – 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: [30] 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 admonition that Paul gave to the Elders of the church at Ephesus is sorely needed today. Since Paul spoke these words countless number of grievous wolves have entered in among many flocks, and have drawn away many disciples to follow them, just as Paul said they would in Acts 20:17-31, and there are many flocks led by false teachers. They do not FEED the church of God with MEAT in due season.
Acts 20:28 – Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to FEED the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Matthew 24:44-47 – Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. [45] Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them MEAT in due season? [46] Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. [47]Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over ALL his goods.
The real question that a member of one of the Lord’s churches should be asking is this – How much of the inheritance do I want to inherit? Or, to put it another way – How close to God will you live in heaven?
Revelation 21:7 – He that overcometh shall inherit ALL things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
God has concluded ALL of Israel in unbelief, and while the words “they” and “them” in I Thessalonians can be used to apply to all unbelievers, it is specifically referring to the nation of Israel.
Romans 11:32 – For God hath concluded THEM all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
I Thessalonians 5:3-6 – For when THEY shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon THEM, as travail upon a woman with child; and THEY shall not escape. [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. [5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. [6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
Should atheists, agnostics, or anyone read the book of Revelation? Yes! But the book is written to churches. And the primary applications of the writings are directed to church members. Church members, who will not swallow the MEAT of the word by applying it to their lives, are defiling their garments, which represent their visible, everyday, outer lifestyle testimony to the world. And they are going to live about as close to Jesus in his heavenly kingdom as they lived to him in this present life.
Revelation 3:3,4 – Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. [4] Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
Revelation 22:12-14 – And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. [13] I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. [14] Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
“Quickly” is an adverbial modifier used as a descriptive adjective. It is referring the manner of his coming, not the time or nearness of it. His coming for the saved will be as quick as the blinking of an eye.
PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 122
June 1, 2003
The Two Witnesses
Part 9
The abilities of the two witnesses, to carry out the work they have been given the authority to accomplish by the testimony of God, is outlined in Revelation 11:5,6. Please bear in mind that these abilities, according to the Greek text, does not necessarily infer that they will use them. It simply states they have the abilities and authority to use them, if they so desire. The President of the U.S. has the authority and ability to unleash atomic weapons, but he may never choose to do so. It is the fact that he has both the authority, and the ability, to do so, which has kept our enemies from launching them against us.
Revelation 11:5 – And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Kenneth Wuest’s translation of this verse gives the best understanding of it I have yet encountered.
Revelation 11:5 – And if, as is the case, anyone desires to injure them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and indeed consumes their enemies. And if, as is the case, anyone shall desire to injure them, it is a necessity that in this manner, in the nature of the case, for him to be killed.
The “fire” coming out of their mouth, used as a figure in the Old Testament as “fire” coming out from the lips of a prophet, does not mean literal fire will flow from their lips like a circus flamethrower. I believe this “fire” used in Revelation 12:5 is of the same character as the “fire” from the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet. It refers to the word of God from their mouths foretelling what terrible fire is to come down upon the enemies of Israel.
Jeremiah 5:14 – Wherefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
Jeremiah 23:28,29 – The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord. [29] Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
I rather suspect the two witnesses, as prophets located in the Negev with Israel, will be warning their enemies that if they launch weapons of fiery mass destruction again Israel, they will do the same to them. The brimstone and fire that comes down so often from heaven, following the sixth seal, is an unleashing of natural phenomena by God from His creation, and this is the 1260 day period of the testimony of the two witnesses before Armageddon. The two witnesses will, at times, ask God to produce volcanic eruptions in specific areas in response to the actions of Israel’s enemies.
Revelation 11:6 – These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
Just as it was absolutely necessary for Jesus and His first disciples to perform miracles to show they were from the God of Israel, so will it be necessary for the two witnesses to do the same to prove they come from the same God. The happenings of verses five and six are limited to 1260 days, according to verse three, so the elimination of rain from the atmosphere will happen in this time period. I suspect the rain will be stopped from Dan to Beersheba, where the armies of Antichrist will be located. However, it may be stopped over the entire earth, or in many selected areas. Also, the plagues are likely to be made up of earthquakes, famine, and pestilence. It appears God will advise the two witnesses before these plagues occur, then they will pass it on as His word to the occupants of the world. The miracles listed in verse six were actually performed by Moses and Elijah during their lifetimes. In the vast majority of miracles performed by Moses and Elijah, God let them know beforehand what was going to be done to their enemies, and they went and told them the word God had given them. Although some of these things may be as often as “they will,” I suspect most of them will be announcements of what God has told them He is about to do.
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE 122C
June 4, 2003
The Judgment Seat of Christ
Part I
The inspired words translated as “accepted of him” in II Corinthians 5:9 are “euarestoi auto,” which literally mean “well pleasing to.” The saved will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to be judged as to how well pleasing, or non-pleasing, the things done in their earthly bodies were in the sight of the Lord. Since I have spent more than two years on this web site trying to convince the viewers that, while I did not know the exact time of Christ’s arrival, I was certain it was at our doors, perhaps it is appropriate that I warn those same viewers what is awaiting them if they are saved, namely judgment at their Savior’s Judgment Seat. During the past fifty years, I have listened repeatedly to many expositors on the subject constantly stress it as a judgment seat for rewards, and indeed it is, but it is also for the lack of rewards, and contrary to popular belief, it is also a place of rebuke for those souls who fought against the Spirit of Christ that indwelled the bodies of flesh they occupied.
II Corinthians 5:9-11 – Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. [10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. [11] Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
Paul, after giving an unmistakable discourse in the first eight verses of the fifth chapter of II Corinthians about the glorified body, which all the saved will receive at the rapture, then quickly begins a discourse in verses nine to eleven that warns of the consequences of failing to live a pleasing life in our present body in response to Christ, who indwells it. For those who will not labor for Christ by responding to his indwelling Spirit, there are definite consequences at his heavenly judgment seat, and he is no respecter of persons. I have repeatedly heard a constant stream of references to Christ’s judgment seat as a place where the saved will receive rewards, and indeed it is, but rarely have I heard it mentioned that it is also going to be a place of rebuke for those who would not respond to Christ after salvation, but rather followed the desires of their flesh. Such an individual is vividly pictured in Paul’s first epistle to the church at Corinth, and surely the “terror” of the Lord, found above in verse 11, is the “fire” of his judgment in I Corinthians 3:13-15.
I Corinthians 3:13-15 – Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. [14] If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as BY fire.
“BY” IS “DIA,” and it means “THROUGH” fire. This is hardly a happy camper at the judgment seat of Christ. I certainly do not disagree he will be happy to be where he is, rather than in Hell awaiting the great white throne judgment, but there will be deep agony at Christ’s Bema Seat for those whose works are burned. This man failed to weave an outer robe of works wrought by Christ in him through his soul’s response to his Spirit.
The word “accepted,” in II Corinthians 5:9, is certainly not the Greek word used in Ephesians 1:6, which is “echaritosen,” which means “to be favored by God’s grace.”
Ephesians 1:6 – To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
All the saved are accepted once in Christ, never to be separated from the love of God that is in him.
Romans 8:38,39 – For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The word translated as “accepted” in II Corinthians 5:9 is quite different from Ephesians 1:6. It simply means “well pleasing.” The purpose of our laboring in response to his indwelling Spirit after we are saved is to please him. The greater the frequency, consistency, and willingness of our response, the more pleasing we become to him, and the more joyous our fellowship is with him.
I do not think the judgment seat of Christ is going to be a time when we ALL dance around the flagpole in a very happy state of fantastic joy. It will certainly be that for a few, but not for ALL. Over the years we have come to emphasize it as a place of rewards and great joy – for some, yes – for others – no! The same word translated “terror” in verse 11 is also translated as “terror” in I Peter 3:14.
I Peter 3:14 – But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
Many of God’s children are more afraid of men’s terror than God’s terror. They are afraid and ashamed to give a personal testimony of salvation to others, while others have such little interest in the word of God they are not able to give reasons for the hope they have in them. The verse following I Peter 3:14 makes this point.
I Peter 3:15 – But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Those who are ashamed of Christ, not willing to suffer for him, and who know nothing from his word they can pass on to others, will know the terror of the Lord at his judgment seat. All believers died with Christ, and all of them shall live with him, for their salvation was given by grace through faith.
Galatians 2:20,21 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
But if a saved man or woman, who is dead in Christ, will not suffer for him, then the question becomes this – To what degree will they reign with him? Is the degree to which we are allowed to reign with him not tied to how we respond to him in the life after we are saved? I am not talking about going to heaven – I am talking about what we are given to do after we get there by his amazing grace. You cannot lose your salvation, but you can lose your crown. And is not a crown associated with reigning?
II Timothy 2:11,12 – It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: [12] If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
II Timothy 2:5 – And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
Christ has given believers the victory of salvation as an everlasting gift. He tells believers he will resurrect them in I Corinthians 15:51,52, and then advises them what to do with the victory he has given them in verses 57 and 58. His judgment seat follows the rapture, and those who do not heed his advice in verse 58 will know the terror of his rebuke.
I Corinthians 15:52,57,58 – 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. [57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
I certainly do not envision the Judgment Seat of Christ as a place where the unfaithful are tied to posts and whipped, but I am certain that many will suffer embarrassment for lack of rewards, and others will receive a severe rebuke from Christ for causing great consternation and trouble in God’s work. Remember, the tears are not wiped away AT the Judgment Seat of Christ – that occurs AFTERWARD.
If you, as a child of God, have been flittering your time in the flesh away, you need to wake up, and redeem what time you have left.
Galatians 6:7 – Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Galatians 6:9 – And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
If you have never been saved by grace through faith, you will not appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ. You will appear at the final judgment seat, and your sentence will be as follows.
Revelation 20:15 – And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
If you want to be at the Judgment Seat of Christ, what follows is the only way.
Acts 20:21 – Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:17 – So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Acts 4:12 – Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Romans 10:13 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 123
June 6, 2002
The Two Witnesses
Part 10
We have come a long way in this series. Now we come to an area of great controversy in interpretation. The great controversy revolves around the answer to the question: Who or what is the beast that ascends out of what is said to be a “bottomless pit.”
Revelation 11:7 – And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
The “bottomless pit” is in the heart of the planet earth. Most geometric objects have a bottom. Among objects having a bottom would be the square, the rectangle, the triangle, the prism, the cube, the cylinder, the hexagon, and many others. But the earth is shaped like none of these, it is an oblate spheroid, and has no bottom. If one started digging a bottom would never be found. And, if it were possible dig through it, a person would surface on the opposite side, never having found a bottom. The earth has a center, but is bottomless. The Koine Greek word translated as “bottomless pit” is “abussou,” from which our English word “abyss” is derived. The reason they translated it as “bottomless pit” in the KJV was in harmony with its use in other places in Revelation as a companion to the Koine Greek word “phreatos,” which in the English means “shaft.” One such usage occurs in Revelation 9:1, where the phrase “the bottomless pit” is translated from “phreatos tes abussou.” Phreatos means “shaft,” tes is “of the,” and abussou means “abyss” or “pit.” Sinply stated: “The shaft of the abyss.”
Revelation 9:1 – And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
Please note that the word “earth” appears in this verse. It is translated from “gen,” which means “earth.” I am telling you this because some believe that “the beast” of Revelation 11:7 is the false prophet, the second beast of Revelation 13:11, who comes up out of the “earth.” They say “the earth” in 13:11 is the same as “the abyss” found in 11:7. It does not seem reasonable that John would use “bottomless pit” (abyss), really meaning “the earth, since he had used the words separately when referring to the false prophet of 13:11 and the Antichrist of 11:7.
Revelation 13:11 – And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
The bottomless pit is filled with demonic spirits, fallen angels, with a king over them named “Destroyer” in both Hebrew and Greek. He is over the weapons of Satan’s destruction of the earth and mankind, those weapons being the demonic spirits of the tormenting locusts in Revelation 9:3-11, and the killing spirits of the army of demons in Revelation 9:13-19. He is the Destroyer king of Satan that unleashes the three woes of his destruction upon the earth in the fifth, sixth, and seventh trumpets, which contain the three woes.
Revelation 9:11,12 – And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. [12] One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
After the blowing of the seventh trumpet, the saved of all the ages are found being judged in heaven, while on the earth God’s wrath is about to come upon the demonic hoards that that have been engaged in destroying the earth under the demon king “Destroyer.”
Revelation 11:15 – And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 11:18 – And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
Please note: “AND SHOULDEST DESTROY THEM WHICH DESTROY THE EARTH.”
It is the wrath of God (“thy wrath”) that destroys the Destroyer’s armies with seven vials of wrath.
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 123C
June 10, 2003
TWO PATHS TO FALSE PEACE IN ISRAEL!
NEGOTIATED OR FORCED
Since we first began issuing these Updates there is a single point that I have constantly stressed – THE ARRIVAL OF A FALSE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS DIRECTLY TIED TO TERRORIST GROUPS IN ISRAEL, and they, to a large extent, ARE IN THE HANDS OF SYRIA AND IRAN. THEY CAN STOP THEIR ATTACKS AND LET THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT WITH ISRAEL, OR THEY CAN CONTINUE THEM AND BE WIPED OUT. This set of circumstances is finally coming to a head in the Middle East, and the rest of this year is going to set the stage for the final false peace to come in. Unless Syria and Iran call off Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the al-Aksa Martyrs’ Brigade from their current plan to continue the attacks, none of the three will be left around to call off. I believe Syria, Iran, and the terrorist groups are beginning to recognize this principle. If they fail to call them off, then a false peace will BE FORCED ON THE PALESTINIANS BY ISRAEL – LIKE IT OR NOT! Ariel Sharon is in a tight corner, with his party putting tremendous pressure on him not to accept the Road Map to Peace Plan. Many of the Jewish settlers are up in arms about his allowing the Palestinians to have back most of the West Bank. All he needs is a legitimate excuse to put the full force of the IDF in a massive bloody mopping up of terrorists in all the Palestinian zones. If the terrorist groups continue their activity he will surely do it. From a prospective of what would give Israel the greatest assurance of having a condition of “peace and safety,” I can assure you a FORCED, rather than a NEGOTIATED PEACE, would be the most desirable by far! It is going to go one way or the other before 2005.
I Thessalonians 5:3,4 – For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Under a FORCED false peace, the Israelis would literally destroy the terrorist groups, quickly finish their 370 mile Security Fence as they swerve inside the “green line” of the West Bank to put some 85 percent of all the Jewish settlements on their side of the fence, then force all the Palestinians to live inside the walls of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and finally say, “Now you have your new Palestine state, but we will control who goes in and out.”
Some two and one-half years ago, in Prophecy Update Number 3, I laid out a Middle East scenario for a false peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. I was sure at that time it would be a FORCED PEACE put on by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, or a NEGOTIATED PEACE brought on by cessation of all terrorist activity. I expected the initial attempt to put a FORCED PEACE on the Palestinians to fail, and it did. But if the current activities of the terrorists do not cease, then the current efforts to reach a NEGOTIATED PEACE will fail. And Sharon’s second attempt at a FORCED PEACE will be successful. The following is taken directly from Prophecy Update Number 3.
“So my advice to those who want to get a feel of when the false peace will come is this: WATCH the terrorist groups. When their actions drop to zero, and stay there for a while, you may rest assured it has been as a result of meetings between the leaders of Syria and Iran, and the leaders of the terrorist groups they sponsor. I don’t pay much attention to any leader of Israel or the Palestinians. The terrorist groups are the key to a false peace in the Middle East. When they grasp that by appearing to cease their activities they will be able, at a later time, to kill many Jews, and drive the rest into the Negev, they will settle down and wait for the surprise attack against Israel from the North. Ariel Sharon may try to put a “forced peace” on the Palestinians before the terrorist groups shut down. This was one of the options considered by his party in the past. But it will not work.”
On March 29, 2002 Ariel Sharon sent the IDF roaring into the West Bank to begin Operation Defensive Shield, and it has virtually destroyed the infrastructure of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah’s al-Aksa Martyrs Brigade, but a few cells can remain active until Iran and Syria call them off for a brief period. Prophecy Update 85C in our Prophecy Archives contains a listing of all our updates up to 85C, and you can find many updates pertaining to Operation Defensive Shield. If the terrorist groups keep flaring up, they will be hit with an IDF fury that will make what has happened to them recently look like a Sunday School picnic, and their continuing to block a false peace will also destroy much of the world opinion that has been credited to the justification of their cause. I don’t believe they will risk being branded as the spoilers of the Bush roadmap to peace plan, but if I am wrong, and they do continue suicide bombings, it will give Israel international justification to wipe them out, and I am sure the IDF will take full advantage of the situation to do it. The recent attacks by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the al-Aksa Martyrs’ Brigade are signing their own death warrants.
I am hoping against hope that Iran and Syria, behind closed doors, have been conferring, are still conferring, and will continue to confer with the terrorist groups, until they can convince them of the wisdom in shutting down their activities long enough to lull Israel into believing they finally have achieved a condition of “peace and safety.” There is only one way the Arab nations can drive Israel into the Negev – BY LAUNCHING AN ATTACK THAT CATCHES THEM COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE! And there are only two ways that could happen – WHEN TERRORIST GROUPS IN AND IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF ISRAEL STOP ALL ACTIVITIES AGAINST ISRAELIS, OR WHEN ISRAEL WIPES OUT THE TERRORIST GROUPS AND PUTS A FORCED FALSE PEACE ON THE PALESTINIANS. Either one of these two scenarios will lull Israel into a FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.
When I wrote Prophecy Update Number 3 in 2001, I actually expected what is happening now to happen before the dawning of 2003, but I was about six months too early. The terrorist groups had greater depth in the infrastructures of their overall organization than I anticipated, and it has taken the IDF longer to get them to realize they face extinction if their activities continue. As I stated in a previous update, I have my toes and fingers crossed, hoping they will face reality and cease their attacks for a temporary period of time. If they continue individual suicide bombings, it will be a case where the entire organization is committing suicide, and I think they realize this.
One way or the other, a false peace is coming to Israel. If the terrorist activity stops, it will come by negotiations and the formation of a new internal Palestinian state, where both sides come to an agreement on what the Palestinians receive. However, if the terrorist activity should continue, the terrorist groups will be wiped out, Israel will put as much of the West Bank on their side of the security fence AS THEY THINK IS FAIR, WITHOUT ANY NEGOTIATION, and the Palestinians will have a false peace FORCED ON THEM. THEY WILL ONLY GET WHAT THE ISRAELIS DETERMINE AS FAIR. If you will raise Prophecy Update 85C, you will discover it contains a listing of all Updates up to 85C, and you will find a wealth of information about the Israeli Security Wall now being built around the West Bank, and how it will eventually give Israel a false sense of security.
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 123D
June 11, 2003
What a Difference a “HE” Makes!
Almost 30 years ago I accepted the Pastorate of Dardanelle MBC, while still a Seminary student. I attended the University of Arkansas in Little Rock and Arkansas Tech University during the summers of my time in Seminary because it did not offer summer courses. I graduated from the Seminary in 1975 while enrolled full time at Arkansas Tech University, from which I graduated and began teaching at Dardanelle High School in 1977. I have not changed my beliefs on any of the things I was taught in Seminary concerning salvation, security of the believer, the two church ordinances, or the local identity of the church. However, there are many things I once believed in prophecy, that I am no longer able to teach with any conviction. I came to Dardanelle MBC like Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail, believing I was ready to teach prophecy. As I studied the doctrines of salvation, the church, and the church ordinances I discovered realms of Scripture to validate what I had been taught, but when I began to search for Scriptures that would fit all the diagrams from which I was teaching prophecy, I found very few I did not have to distort. I retired as a synoptic analyst in the National Security Agency, and I know quite well how to put the pieces of a puzzle together to form a whole premise. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are called the Synoptic Gospels, and they can be pieced together synoptically into a Harmony of the Gospels. All the pieces of the salvation-church-ordinances puzzle came together and formed a perfect picture of conformity, but the many pieces of the prophecy puzzle simply would not mesh together, unless I symbolized or spiritualized to a massive degree. I found that in our work there was indeed agreement on the doctrines of salvation, the two church ordinances, and the church itself, but in prophecy I found “first of the weekers,” mid-tribbers,” “seventh trumpers,” “last of the weekers,” split rapturists,” and “progressive rapturists” – Or Pre, Mid, Seventh Trump, Post, Split, and Progressive positions. I knew there had to be a reason for these great divisions, and was hopeful that perhaps the answer might be found in a historical search to see if all of them have always existed and, if not, when did each one arise. What I found staggered me. Before 1827 only three positions were taught – The Last of the Week, the Seventh Trumpet, and the Mid-Tribulation positions – And the Mid-Tribulation position was born in 1788 (See Updates 74A and 73D). During all my research I also discovered something that shocked me down to my toenails – Before 1800 the majority of Bible expositors believed that the “HE” in Daniel 9:27 is not the antichrist, but the true one, Jesus Christ. I am convinced they were correct.
Daniel 9:27 – And HE shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week HE shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations HE shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
I was fully aware of all this by 1992, but out of cowardice as to what I knew I would face from the bulk of my brethren, I would only teach it at the church I have pastored since 1974. My cowardice did not cause me to lie to the brethren – I simply stopped talking about the first three and one-half years of Daniel’s 70th week in my lectures, stopped presenting the worldwide antichrist empire that is taught today, and honed in on the last 1260 days of the tribulation period. I have believed the Seventh Trumpet position since 1982, and the “HE” of Daniel 9:27 as Jesus since 1992. Knowing that I must soon face my Savior, and give account of all I have taught from his Word, I decided to publicly declare what I believe about Daniel 9:27, for better or for worse. Many of the men who taught me prophecy, whom I love and deeply respect, may well denounce me and regret ever having known me, but I will one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ and, in all conscience, I cannot continue to keep this to myself. I was taught synoptic analysis in the AWS and NSA, and contextual analysis in Seminary. The synoptic subject of the contextual discourse in every verse of Daniel 9:24 to 27 is the Messiah the Prince, Jesus Christ. In verse 24 Jesus is “the most Holy” who is anointed. In verse 25 Jesus is “the Messiah the Prince.” In verse 26 Jesus is identified as “Messiah” who is cut off. And in verse 27 Jesus is the “he” who confirmed God’s blood covenant at his death in the “midst” of the last week of Daniel’s 70 weeks of years. Jesus has already confirmed most of the first three and one-half of the last week of seven prophetic years. The prophet Isaiah, who wrote some 150 years before Daniel, whose writings were probably in Daniel’s possession when he wrote during Babylonian captivity, wrote of the one who would fulfill the “covenant” of Daniel 9:27.
Isaiah 42:6 – I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
Simeon clearly revealed Jesus as the one who had come to fulfill the covenant to his people Israel, and as a light to lighten the Gentiles.
Luke 2:25-32 – And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. [26] And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. [27] And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, [28] Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, [29] Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: [30] For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, [31] Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; [32] A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
The word “he” in Daniel 9:27 does not refer back to the “prince that shall come” in Daniel 9:26 – That prince has already come, and the ones he led destroyed the temple and the city of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The “he” refers not to a coming antichrist, but to the contextual subject of each verse from 24 to 27 – Messiah the Prince, Jesus Christ. I am not waiting for an antichrist to destroy a sanctuary that was destroyed in Jerusalem more than 1900 years ago. I am waiting for the return of a Messiah who was cut off for my sins in the “midst” of Daniel’s last week after having fulfilled most of the first three and one-half years of it. The covenant was finished when the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and a token sign of its fulfillment was manifested by resurrection of many of the Old Testament saints, who came out of their graves after his resurrection.
John 19:30 – When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Matthew 27:50-53 – Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. [51] And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; [52] And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, [53] And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
You will find a thorough verse-by-verse exposition of Daniel 9:24 to 27 in our Prophecy Archives in Prophecy Updates 55, 56, 57, and 58, but I will, in this Update, exposit on verse 27 as it relates to Christ.
Daniel 9:27 – And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
“He” is used three times. In each case it pertains to Jesus the Messiah. ”He” began to “confirm the covenant” with the “many” who would believe he was the one sent to confirm it when he was baptized in water by John, and he completed the covenant when he was crucified in his baptism by fire at Golgotha in the “midst” of Daniel’s 70th week, some three and one-half years after his water baptism. His water baptism pictured what would finish the covenant some three and one-half years later when he died, was buried, and then resurrected to complete the covenant. I am of the opinion he fulfilled the covenant during the first 1185 days of Daniel’s last week, and that the remaining 1335 days will begin when Israel actually believes it has “peace and safety.”
“He” caused “the sacrifice and oblation to cease” being acceptable to his Father when he became the true sacrifice that made void all the offerings, which had only pictured what he would do to confirm the covenant.
“He” made the Temple and its offerings spiritually desolate because of “the overspreading of abominations” he had twice cleaned out of it. The Temple had become a den of thieves and those who ministered in it had turned into blind guides.
Matthew 23:37,38 – O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! [38] Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Matthew 21:12,13 – And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, [13] And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Matthew 23:23,24 – Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. [24] Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
“He” has made the Temple and all its sacrifices “desolate, even unto the consummation” of this present age. They will not be restored until Jesus returns at his Second Advent.
Matthew 23:38,39 – Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. [39] For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
The “consummation” of this present age will end when “that determined will be poured upon the desolate” men and women of this present age of the Gentiles who are spiritually desolate, having not the Spirit of Christ. And that determined will be poured out on the antichrist, who will be in a position where no one can help him, as well as his false prophet, and both will then be cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. The battle of Armageddon is the consummation of this age, and the last days of the tribulation period will see Michael the Archangel deal with the forces of evil during the pouring out of the vials of wrath.
Romans 2:28,29 – For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: [29] But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Daniel 11:45 to 12:1 – And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. [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.
Matthew 24:21 – For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Revelation 19:19,20 – And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. [20] And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Daniel 7:11 – I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
Daniel’s 70 weeks of years clock stopped ticking when Jesus the Messiah was cut off in the “midst” of the last week. The Hebrew word “midst” in a seven year week could mean any time between the end of the third year and the beginning of the fifth year, in other words, at any time during the fourth year. I believe Jesus fulfilled the first 1185 days of the 2520 days in Daniel’s 70th week, and only 1335 days remain. When the Israelis actually believe they have “peace and safety” enough to actually “say” it, then the clock will start to tick again, and they will thereafter be attacked some 1260 days before the final battle of Armageddon.
I Thessalonians 5:3,4 – For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Revelation 12:6 – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Revelation 11:2 – But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Revelation 13:5 – And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
I was astounded to discover how much of our prophetic teaching about the antichrist’s reign, the tribulation period, the time of the rapture, and a multiplicity of all things related to prophecy, are all tied primarily to the interpretation that the “he” of Daniel is the antichrist. I have made my choice – I believe the majority of the prophetic teachers before 1800 were correct – I believe the “he” is Jesus. This has been a hard choice for me to make – what a difference a “he” makes!
PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 124
June 13, 2003
The Two Witnesses
Part 11
In Part 10 an attempt was made to prove the beast of Revelation 11:3 comes up the shafts of the abyss (pit) in the interior of the earth, and that he is the antichrist as opposed to the false prophet. In the book of Revelation, at times, the beast is the final evil empire itself. However, at times it refers to its final king, a person, who is antichrist. In Revelation 11:7 it refers to the antichrist as a person.
Revelation 11:7 – And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
I am convinced that the antichrist himself represents the king of the seventh head on John’s first beast. And that he will suffer a killing wound by a weapon of war and die physically, after which he will apparently be resurrected from the dead. Whether the resurrection will be phony or genuine, I cannot say, but the world will believe it.
Revelation 13:3,4 – And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. [4] And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
A “deadly” wound is one that leads to a man’s death. He will apparently die stone cold dead, and then return to life. This is what the world has always wanted to see as a mass congregation, a man who actually comes back from the dead. They will worship this man as being from the true God, but in reality they will be worshipping the one who indwells him, the Dragon Satan. They will worship Satan through his son antichrist by the leadership of the spirit of the false prophet, an ungodly false trinity that counterfeits the true trinity. And it is easy to understand why they wonder after him, saying, “who is able to make war with him.” How do you defeat a man who can keep coming back to life?
The premise of him being a resurrected man appears several times in Revelation.
Revelation 13:12,14 – And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. [14] And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
By Chapter 17 the seventh head, on the beast in Chapter 13, which was bleeding, has stopped bleeding, and the 10 horns have surrendered their crowns to it. The color of the beast has changed to scarlet, the color of blood, and this may signify the antichrist as informing the world his blood from the deadly wound was shed for their freedom. And it has long been taught that when Satan counterfeits the works of God, he tries to paint as authentic a duplicate as possible.
Revelation 13:1 – And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Revelation 17:3 – So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
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.
The antichrist was (was alive), and is not (he died from a deadly wound), and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit (be resurrected by coming up the shaft from the abyss), and shall go into perdition (the lake of fire burning with brimstone). The antichrist that was (was alive), and is not (he died), and yet is (he came back to life). When does he go into perdition (final destruction by God)?
Revelation 19:20 – And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
The bleeding head on the beast of Chapter 13, and the healed head on the beast in Chapter 17, are the seventh and eighth kings, who are one and the same, and both are the antichrist. The first five horns represent the kings of the Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, and Grecian Empires that came before John, and the sixth horn represents the kings of the Roman Empire, which existed in John’s day. All of these empires had an effect on Israel in varying degrees of persecution. The seventh empire that is now afflicting Israel is an Islamic Empire, and soon it will also have a king. He will be the seventh king, but will die from a deadly wound, which will end his reign as the seventh king. But he will return from the dead to also be the eighth and last of the kings that afflict Israel.
Revelation 17:10,11 – And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. [11] And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 124A
June 15, 2003
Running Backward to Be Able to Run Forward
It was only by running backwards in time, to prophetic teachers prior to 1900, that has caused me to see cleared track lines ahead in the prophetic lanes of interpretation. Please look in our Prophecy Update Archives at Prophecy Update Number 123D, and then consider this Update. The majority of writers of the 18th and 19th centuries believed the “he” of Daniel 9:27 was Christ, and some continued to teach it into the early 20th century, but the majority headed rapidly toward a minority after 1827. I intend to list several of the things that are involved if the “HE” in Daniel 9:27 is NOT the antichrist.
1. The tribulation period will not have two back-to-back 1260-day periods totaling 2520 days.
2. Jesus has already fulfilled most of the first 1260-day period, so there will not be a false peace period of 1260 days.
3. The Temple does not have to be rebuilt for antichrist to sit in.
4. The antichrist does not have to be a Jew since Israel will not have to accept him as the Messiah who signs a peace treaty that lasts for the first three and one-half years.
5. The Temple sacrifices and oblations do not have to be reinitiated before Jesus returns.
Daniel 9:27 – And HE shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
I realize that probably more than 95 percent of the prophetic teachers of the 21st century believe the “HE” is the antichrist, but I am hopeful that they will at least be aware of the possibility it may be Christ. Why? I am persuaded that the arrival of the antichrist is at our doors, and we are about to find out whether the ancient or the new prophetic teachers were correct. I believe we should be prepared for either eventuality. Yes, I do indeed believe the older teachings were correct, but believe me, I know well the present day teachings, and am prepared for the antichrist they present.
Most of the books stating Jesus was the “he” are no longer in print, and can only be found in the archives of colleges, universities, and seminaries that chose to maintain such ancient manuscripts. They abound in the old libraries of major institutions of higher learning in England, where I was stationed from 1958 to 1961. Since such books are not available to many in this country, I will list three of the best known older expositors on the book of Daniel, whose books are still available to the general public, and who held the position that the “he” of Daniel 9:27 is Jesus Christ, not the antichrist, and that he fulfilled the first three and one-half years during his earthly ministry.
Albert Barnes – “Barnes’ Notes on the Old and New Testaments,” 1851, (Volume II on the Book of Daniel)
B.H. Carroll – “An Interpretation of the English Bible,” (Volume 3 in the 6 Volume Set – The Book of Daniel)
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown – “Commentary on the Old and New Testaments,” 1861, (Volume 2 in the 3 volume Set)
The massive commentary set of Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown had, in 1861, continued to maintain the pre-1800 majority view that the “he” of Daniel 9:27 was indeed the Messiah, stating clearly that “he” was Jesus Christ. They wrote, “The confirmation of the covenant was assigned to Him (Christ).” They also indicated that the “consummation” in Daniel 9:27 extends to the end of the age of the Gentiles, at which time Christ’s Second Advent would restore the kingdom, “when Israel shall be at the head of all humanity.” They attribute the taking away of “the sacrifice and oblation’ to Christ.
John the Baptist was the messenger who prepared the way before the Messiah, who was God’s messenger of the covenant of light that made it possible for men to no longer dwell in spiritual darkness. The messenger of the covenant, Jesus Christ, the “HE” of Daniel 9:27, has confirmed the covenant of the same verse, sealing it in his own blood. Jesus, the Lord, is the Light of John 1:7-9, the messenger of the covenant in Malachi 3:1, all of the three uses of “he” in Daniel 9:27, the covenant to the people and light to the Gentiles in Isaiah 42:6, the covenant consolation of Israel in Luke 2:25, the one who confirmed the covenant of salvation in Luke 2:30, the glory of Israel that has shown light to the Gentiles in Luke 2:32, and the one whose resurrection proved the everlasting covenant confirmation through his blood.
John 1:6-9 – There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [7] The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. [8] He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. [9] That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Malachi 3:1 – Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
Daniel 9:27 – And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Isaiah 42:6 – I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
Luke 2:25-32 – And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. [26] And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. [27] And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, [28] Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, [29] Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: [30] For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, [31] Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; [32] A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Hebrews 13:20 – Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Daniel 9:27 – And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the MIDST of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
DANIEL’S 70TH WEEK (See Prophecy Updates 55 to 58 and 123B)
ONE WEEK IS EQUAL TO SEVEN YEARS
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MIDST
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 124C
June 18, 2003
Daniel’s Time of the End – 1260, 1290, and 1335 Days
“The Time of the End” of This Age
We are advised in Daniel 12:4 that the words pertaining to “THE TIME OF THE END” were to be sealed until those times arrived, and that from the time the book was written until THE TIME OF THE END arrived, man’s knowledge of God’s creation would be increased. The increase of our knowledge since 600 B.C. has manifested a thousand fold over.
Daniel 12:4 – But thou, 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.
We are ALSO told in Daniel 11:40,41 that, at this TIME OF THE END, the antichrist (King of the North) would push south through Israel.
Daniel 11:40,41 – And at THE TIME OF THE END shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. [41] He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
Daniel then asks, in 12:7, how long it was going to be to THE END of these wonders (From the time of the attack of the King of the North to the TIME OF THE END of this age which ends when the kingdom come in). Daniel is then told that from the time of the attack to THE END of the age there will be a time, times, and half of a time. He will scatter the power of the Jews into the Negev for a time, times, and half of a times, and, at the end of that time all the things of which he informed Daniel will be finished.
Daniel 12:7 – And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a TIME, TIMES, AND AN HALF; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
TIME (1 YEAR) + TIMES (2 YEARS) + ½ OF A TIME (1/2 YEAR) = 3 AND ½ PROPHETIC YEARS OF 360 DAYS = 1260 DAYS = 42 PROPHETIC MONTHS
THE TIME OF THE END IS FINISHED WHEN JESUS RETURNS AT HIS SECOND ADVANT AFTER THE ANTICHRIST AND 10 ISLAMIC HORNS DRIVE ISRAEL INTO THE NEGEV FOR TIME, TIMES, AND HALF A TIME. THE “SAINTS” AT THE TIME OF DANIEL’S WRITINGS WERE THOSE BELIEVERS AMONG THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL.
Daniel 7:21-28 – I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; [22] Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. [23] Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. [24] And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. [25] And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a TIME, AND TIMES, AND THE DIVIDING OF TIME. [26] But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. [27] And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. [28] Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
THE END OF THESE THINGS pertaining to THE TIME OF THE END, when the TIME, TIMES, AND HALF A TIME are FINISHED, IS THE END OF THIS PRESENT AGE.
Daniel 12:8-10 – And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? [9] And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till THE TIME OF THE END. [10] Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
Daniel’s 70 weeks of years clock stopped when Christ took away the daily sacrifice by sacrificing himself. The daily sacrifice was only a picture of what Jesus would do to confirm the covenant in his blood. Once he confirmed the covenant eternally by his one-time sacrifice at the end of his 1185 day ministry, which began when he was baptized by John, animal sacrifice was replaced by what it had pictured Messiah would do.
Daniel 9:27 – And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Daniel’s clock will begin to tick off the last 1335 days of his 70th week of 2520 days when Israel thinks they have made a peace by their own power, but God will scatter their power in the Negev for a period of 1260 days. The Abomination of Desolation, which is the person of the antichrist standing on the Temple Mount claiming to be God after his return from Egypt, occurs 1290 days after the 1335 days begin to be ticked off (Some 45 days before Christ’s Second Advent). Those Jews who survive this last 45 days, in which the vials of wrath are poured out, will indeed be blessed by being allowed to enter the 1000-year reign of Christ as believers. Daniel and all the other Old Testament will stand in their blessed allotment of reward in the great land grant God promised their father Abraham.
Daniel 12:11-13 – And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. [12] Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. [13] But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
Genesis 15:18 – In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
Ezekiel 47:17,19 – And the border from the sea shall be Hazar-enan, the border of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of Hamath. And this is the north side. [19] And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And this is the south side southward.
Daniel 12:11-13 – And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. [12] Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. [13] But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
P = Peace 75 Days W = War 1260 Days
P-75-W End of War
|————————-1260—————————–|
|——————————-1290——————-|AD-45-|
|——————————-1335—————————–|
AD = The Abomination of Desolation Second Advant
1335 DAYS = 75 DAYS OF PEACE + 1260 DAYS IN THE WAR
1290 DAYS = 1335 DAYS – 45 DAYS
The Abomination of Desolation appears on the Temple Mount 45
days before the Second Advent of Christ.
75 days after Israel thinks its has peace the war begins.
1260 days will be the length of the war with Israel in the Negev.
1290 days after Israel thinks it has peace, antichrist sets on the Temple
Mount as the Abomination of Desolation, and the seven vials of wrath
are poured out on the desolate after the rapture.
1335 days after Israel thinks it has peace the 2nd Advent occurs.
Revelation 12:6 – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 125
A Series on the Judgment Seat of Christ
June 20, 2003
Part 2
Created in Christ Unto Good Works
II Corinthians 5:10,11 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. [11] Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
The praise of God will be bestowed upon those who followed the Spirit of Christ in them to allow him to do good works in them, which they were created in him to perform. The terror of God will be bestowed by rebuke to those who followed the flesh rather than Christ’s indwelling Spirit.
Ephesians 2:8-10 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
God’s Spiritual workmanship is his creation of his Son in us, so that it is possible for him to perform good works in us as our saved soul responds to his Spirit. Salvation by grace through faith is a good and perfect gift given from above by God, who does not vary in his promise, nor change it in time like the moving shadow on a sundial. A man cannot receive it or manufacture it – it MUST be given to him from heaven, and it his will that we be born from above by his word of truth. Only then can a man work the righteousness of God by his Spirit working in him.
James 1:17 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
John 3:7,27 – Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. [27] John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
James 1:18,19 – Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. [19] Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: [20] For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
We were created in Christ Jesus so that we could learn to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath by responding to his Spirit in us. If we respond to the flesh we reap the crop it grows, which is temporal. If we respond to Christ’s indwelling Spirit we reap the crop he grows, which is eternal.
Galatians 6:7 – Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Doers of the word sow to the Spirit and reap an eternal spiritual crop. Those who hear the word, but don’t practice it, sow to the flesh and reap a temporal crop in the present life.
James 1:22 – But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
II Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
The Spiritual workmanship of God that saved our souls was a work in which he spiritually crucified us with his Son, and spiritually resurrected us by the life of his Son he placed in us. There has never, and will never, be any man who could live a perfect, sinless life of absolute faith. I have the faith of the Son of God living in me. If I yield to his Spirit, I sow to an eternal spiritual crop. If I yield to the flesh, I sow to a temporal earthly crop. A saved man or woman who is obedient to the Word of God is sowing an eternal crop. A saved man or woman who is obedient to the flesh is sowing a corruptible crop. I have an incorruptible seed in me from above that saved my soul. It is God’s will that I yield to that seed for a crop that will not pass away.
Galatians 2:20,21 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
If our saved soul lives it’s life in the flesh sowing to the flesh, it reaps a corruptible crop that lasts only for this life. If our saved soul lives it’s life sowing to the Spirit, it reaps a crop that lasts forever in its eternal life.
Galatians 6:8,9 – For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. [9] And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 125C
June 24, 2003
One or Two Wars Before Armageddon?
As a young man, living in the pre-Hal Linsey books age, I was taught that only one war occurred during the “latter days” before Armageddon. It was a war that began in the Middle East when the antichrist attacked the nation of Israel, and ended some 3 and ½ years later with the final battle of this age – Armageddon. But I now find myself surrounded by a large array of preachers and teachers who are convinced that the war led by Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and found in Ezekiel 38 and 39, occurs before the war that commences some 3 and ½ years before the battle of Armageddon, and that the antichrist is not Gog, but comes out the war led by Gog, and then leads 10 European Union nations against Israel. They teach that when Gog and his armies come against Israel they will be slaughtered, and that Israel will be absolutely successful in thoroughly routing them. Perhaps I overlooked it, but in all my years of looking in many old musty religious archives, I never found a manuscript published before 1812 that taught there were two back-to-back wars just before the battle of Armageddon. It would seem to me that the arrival of Napoleon in Europe set the stage for a shift from bringing the antichrist out of the southern flank of the old Roman Empire to a new scheme of bringing him out of the northern flank. This shift necessitated the invention of two wars. I do not believe the shift should ever have been made. I believe the attack of the antichrist is found in the following Scriptures, and I believe the attack occurs 1260 days before the end of this age at Armageddon.
Ezekiel 38:10,11 – Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: [11] And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
Daniel 7:24,25 – And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. [25] And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Daniel 11:41 – He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
Micah 5:5 – 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.
Zechariah 13:8 – And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
Revelation 13:5,6 – And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. [6] And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Revelation 17:12.13 – And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. [13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
I believe that the following names all apply to the antichrist: He is Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal in Ezekiel 38 and 39, the eleventh horn in Daniel 7, the king of the north in Daniel 11:40, the Assyrian in Micah 5, the seventh wounded head on the beast in Revelation 13, and the eighth head on the beast in Revelation 17.
The 3 and ½ year war in all the accounts follows a certain pattern from start to finish.
(1) The initial attack occurs, and is successful.
(2) After Jerusalem falls, the Lord begins to fight for Israel.
(3) The Lord fights for Israel for 3 and ½ years.
(4) God protects Israel in the Negev during that period.
(5) The Lord leaves most of the enemy bodies on the hills of Israel at the final battle of Armageddon.
Ezekiel 38:8,9 (1) – After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. [9] Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
Zechariah 13:8 (1) – And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
Zechariah 14:2,3 (2) – For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. [3] Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
Daniel 7:25 (3) – And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Revelation 12:6 (4) – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Ezekiel 39:1-5 (5) – Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: [2] And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: [3] And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. [4] Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. [5] Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God.
Revelation 19:17-21 (5) – And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; [18] That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. [19] And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. [20] And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. [21] And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Ezekiel 38:1,2 – And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
Gog is a person, the antichrist. Magog is a land, the land of Magog. God tells Ezekiel to set his face against a person, Gog, and against a land, Magog, which is Russia. Gog is NOT the chief prince of Magog (Russia). He is the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. At the time of Ezekiel’s writings the descendants of Magog were settled in Russia, while the descendants of Meshech and Tubal were settled in Syria. The antichrist will come out of Syria to launch the initial attack. Some 3 and ½ years later Magog (Russia) will come down to join him at Armageddon.
To make a long story short – I believe there is only one war, the war that begins when Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, attacks Israel, and ends three and one-half years later when Magog (Russia), along with all of Europe, Eurasia, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, comes down to join him against Israel at the final battle of Armageddon – Only to find the bodies of their great armies end up as buzzard bait on the hills of Israel.
BUT AM I PREPARED TO BE WRONG? CERTAINLY! WHAT WILL I DO IF THERE ARE TWO WARS? WELL, I WILL JUST SAY I WAS WRONG, AND WAIT FOR ANTICHRIST TO COME OUT OF THE FIRST WAR, THAT IS, IF I AM STILL HERE.
BUT WHAT IF THERE IS ONLY ONE WAR? WELL, ONLY ONE THIRD OF ISRAEL WILL SURVIVE, JERUSALEM WILL FALL, ISRAEL WILL BE DRIVEN INTO THE NEGEV, AND YOU WILL BE WAITING FOR AN ANTICHRIST THAT IS ALREADY ON THE SCENE, THAT IS, IF YOU ARE STILL HERE.
My advice is to be prepared for either eventuality, even one that may be quite different from how many of these verses are commonly interpreted. I think that falls under the category of “watching.”
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 126
June 27. 2003
A Series on the Judgment Seat of Christ
Part 3
The Reaping of Two Kinds of Crops
II Corinthians 5:10,11 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. [11] Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
After being born of corruptible seed, our only hope to escape hell, and to insure our presence in heaven before Christ’s judgment seat, is to be born from above by the receipt of God’s incorruptible seed, the living Word, the Spirit of his Son, Jesus Christ, as the savior of our soul. We MUST have Christ’s new birth Spirit in us before we can sow a spiritual crop in response to him.
John 3:7 – Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
I Peter 1:23 – Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Once we receive a born again spirit by the incorruptible Seed, it dwells alongside our soul, and the eternally saved soul can either sow by the corruptible seed in the flesh around it by responding to it, and in so doing produce a corrupt crop that lasts only for this life, or the saved soul can respond (sow) to the new incorruptible Seed dwelling alongside it, and thereby reap an eternal crop for the life following Christ’s judgment seat. It most assuredly pays great spiritual benefits to the saved soul that sows a crop in response to the Seed dwelling alongside it.
Galatians 6:7-9 –Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. [9] And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
The crop that a saved soul reaps at Christ’s judgment seat has eternal consequences as to the degree of joy it experiences eternally in heaven. All will be happy, but some will be happier than others. And if our saved soul responds (sows) to the corruptible seed in the flesh of its physical carnal birth, and does not “lay aside” the things in verse one of the Scripture following I Peter 1:23, it will reap a crop that will not be a part of its life following the judgment seat of Christ. But if our eternally saved soul responds (sows) to the newly implanted incorruptible Seed, the Spirit of Christ, then it reaps a spiritual crop that goes into its life that follows Christ’s judgment seat.
1 Peter 1:24 to 2:1 – For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: [25] But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. [1] Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
And it is the saved soul’s response to the sincere milk of God’s word that causes it to keep on coming to the living Word to sow a crop that is pleasing to God because it obeys his word. A corrupted seed can only produce a corrupt crop, and corrupted fruit or vegetables have a very bad taste. Am uncorrupted seed produces a gracious crop of vegetables or fruit, and they have a pleasant taste. The Lord knows how to plant and produce a crop that tastes good. And when you taste what his seed grew in you, you keep coming back for more and more. In fact, the “To whom coming” in verse four, in the original language, directs us “to keep on coming.”
I Peter 2:2-4 – As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: [3] If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. [4] To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
And the saved soul is to produce its crop in one of the Lord’s churches that preaches and teaches the truth. It matters to God where, how, and for whom you grow his crop.
Colossians 3:23,24 – And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; [24] Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
I Peter 2:5 – Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:22 – In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
I Timothy 3:14,15 – These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: [15] But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Ephesians 3:21 – Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 126A
June 29, 2003
Now More Than 2002 Prophetic Years Since the Cross
See Birth Pang Number 34 In Our Birth Pang Archive
THE GENTILE AGE WILL END WITH TIME + TIMES + ½ TIME
A PROPHETIC YEAR HAS 360 DAYS
JUNE STATUS OF THE GENTILE AGE IN THE YEAR 2003!
Christ Jerusalem Second
Crucified Falls ???? Advent
|______________________________|_______________________|
|_______More Than 2002 ________| Time + Times + ½ Time = |
|_______Prophetic Years_________|_ 3 & ½ Prophetic Years__ |
| |
Time of Gentile ______________________________Time of Gentile
Age Begins At Age No More
The Cross Armageddon
THE GENTILE AGE ENDS WITH TIME, TIMES, AND A HALF!
SOON TIME FOR THIS AGE WILL BE NO MORE!
Please do not take the chart shown above as being one that can be used for any type of “time setting” as to the year Jesus will return, or the year the city of Jerusalem will fall, or the year the rapture will occur, or the year any prophetic event will occur. It is merely intended to show that all these events are drawing closer with each passing day. I do believe we are drawing “nigh” to the time of an attack against Jerusalem, and that it could occur between 2005 and 2008, but I can only say with certainty from the Scriptures that it is drawing “nigh.”
Revelation 10:5,6 – And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, [6] And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, THAT THERE SHOULD BE TIME no longer:
The Age of the Gentiles began when Israel rejected their Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the living Son of God. They rejected both their King and his Kingdom. The Age of the Gentiles will end when the saved are caught out, and all of the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord. At Messiah’s Second Advent his chosen people, the nation of Israel, will begin to reign over all the physical kingdoms of this world.
Matthew 23:37-39 – O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! [38] Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. [39] For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Verse 37 – They would not receive him as their Messiah.
Verse 38 – He rejected Israel and its sacrifices.
Verse 39 – He would restore them at his Second Advent.
We have been living in the Age of the Gentiles since his rejection of Israel. But soon time will be no more for the Age of the Gentiles. When the fullness of our time comes in, then there will be no more time left in our hourglass.
Romans 11:25 – 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.
The final sands of time in our Gentile Age will trickle out during the period of time when the Jews are undergoing a time of testing in the Negev wilderness, which will last for a time, times, and half a time. During this time the antichrist will control Israel from Dan to Beersheba.
Daniel 7:19-27 – Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; [20] And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. [21] I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; [22] Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. [23] Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. [24] And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. [25] And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a TIME and TIMES and THE DIVIDING OF TIME. [26] But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. [27] And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
A TIME equals 1 year, TIMES equals 2 years, and THE DIVIDING OF TIME equals ½ year. So, the last three and one-half years of the Age of the Gentiles will be spent by the Jews in the Negev wilderness, blocked in by the antichrist to the north.
Revelation 12:14 – And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a TIME, AND TIMES, AND HALF A TIME, from the face of the serpent.
Now ALL of this does have an end, and THE TIME, TIMES, AND HALF A TIME will close the Age of the Gentiles, thereby ending the mystery of Daniel 12:7.
Daniel 12:7 – And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for A TIME, TIMES, AND AN HALF; and WHEN he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE FINISHED.
The TIME, TIMES, AND AN HALF will finish The Age of the Gentiles, and ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE FINISHED that culminated in Daniel 11:45 to 12:1.
Daniel 11:45 to 12:1 – And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. [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.
Daniel heard one messenger ask how much time would pass before the wonders, which he had just described, would come to an end.
Daniel 12:6 – And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
And the man clothed in linen answered the question by informing him that from the time the king of the north entered Israel in Daniel 11:40,41, until the end of these wonders, a time, times, and a half would pass. When these 3 and ½ years pass, there will be no more time left in the age of the Gentiles.
Daniel 12:6 – And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
The man clothed in linen has remarkable authority in that he holds up both his hands to heaven, and takes an oath by the Almighty God of heaven.
Daniel 12:7 – And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a TIME, TIMES, AND AN HALF; and when he shall have accomplished to SCATTER the power of the holy people, ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE FINISHED.
The word translated SCATTER is NAPHATS, which means to dash into pieces, to disperse, or to scatter. The nation of Israel today is secular, and their faith is not in the God of Israel, but in the power of their own IDF, and the alliance they have with the United States. God is going to dash their self-confidence into small pieces, and scatter them in the Negev wilderness for a time, times, and a half.
I am persuaded the man dressed in linen is directly tied to the messenger who lifts up his hand to heaven and takes an oath by the God of heaven in Revelation 10:5-7.
Revelation 10:5-7 – And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, [6] And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that THERE SHOULD BE TIME NO LONGER: [7] But in the days of the voice of the SEVENTH angel, when HE shall begin to sound, the MYSTERY of God should be FINISHED, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
I believe that many of the mysteries of God, which prophets desired to know during their lifetimes, will be revealed when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord. And one mystery that will most assuredly be cleared up, when the seventh angel begins to sound, is the mystery Paul showed in I Corinthians 15:51.
I Corinthians 15:51 – Behold, I shew you A MYSTERY; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
Revelation 11:15 – And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
The blowing of the seventh trumpet will mark a catching out of all the saved souls left on earth at that time, and a resurrection of all the bodies of those souls that are waiting for them in heaven. They will judged by Christ in heaven for their works while the seven vials of wrath are poured out on the earth. While they are judged in heaven, God pours out his wrath on those who destroyed the earth by immorally defiling it.
Revelation 11:18 – And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
Revelation 16:1 – And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
Matthew 16:2-4 – He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. [3] And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the SIGNS OF THE TIMES? [4] A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
Jonah was cut off from the land of the living for three days and three nights. Jesus was cut off from the land of the living for three days and three nights in the heart of the earth,
Matthew 12:40 – For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The sign of the death of Christ for our sins, which were buried with him, and his resurrection from the dead after three days and three nights in the heart of the earth to be our eternal intercessor with the Father, is the sign a man or woman either believes or rejects. Those who believe it are made dead to the condemnation for sin by being spiritually crucified with him, spiritually buried with him, and spiritually resurrected with him at that point in time, and he is then forever their Advocate and Savior by God’s amazing grace.
Galatians 2:20,21 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Romans 4:6-8 – Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, [7] Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. [8] Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 126B
July 1, 2003
The Manifestation of the Sons of God
Why Are So Many Earthquakes Being Reported?
I John 3:1,2 – Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called THE SONS OF GOD: therefore the world knoweth us not, BECAUSE it knew him not. [2] Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM; for we shall see him as he is.
I Corinthians 15:50-52 – Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all BE CHANGED, [52] 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.
Romans 8:19,22 – For the earnest expectation of the CREATURE waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. [22] For we know that the whole CREATION groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
CREATION & CREATURE are the same word in Greek, KTISIS, which means THE CREATION.
God’s creation has been groaning and travailing in pain, since the fall of Satan and Adam, for its final redeemer, the Creator, to come in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ. The groaning of the earth from the fall of Satan has been physically heard from the screeching of the world’s tectonic plates releasing its tension through earthquakes, and the rumbling of the indigestion from its molten stomach by the magma poured on its surface in the form of lava. The personification of the earth as a woman is certainly not unusual in the Scriptures. The Spirit, through the prophet Daniel, indicated that man would run to and fro on the earth, under the earth, and above part of his creation, and, in so doing, would have a great increase in his knowledge of its composition, and in the functioning of its parts. Daniel links the time of the manifestation of the sons of God in their glorified bodies as being associated with the time the knowledge explosion will have reached its peak.
Daniel 12:3,4 – And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. [4] But thou, 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.
The same Spirit who inspired Daniel to write this is the same Spirit that was in Christ in all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and who was there with the Son and Father, when all things were created.
Colossians 2:9 – For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
John 1:1-3 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Man has indeed run to and fro in the earth, under the earth, and above the earth, and experienced an unbelievable knowledge explosion in the last 100 years. We now know what produces earthquakes, and all the other things associated with the earth’s functioning parts. Jesus walked on this earth as its creator. He knew everything there was to know about it. He knew its past and its future. He knew that man would eventually discover the rest of the world, and then spread across it. He knew the world’s population would pass six billion in 1999. He knew that man’s immorality in sexual conduct would cause 42 million cases of HIV to exist on the earth in 2003. He knew seismic tomography would be able to photograph the earth to its core before the dawn of the twenty-first century. He knew that a very efficient worldwide seismological system of reporting earthquakes would come into being, and that earthquakes would be reported in places they had never been reported before, because of the new system, and man spreading into many areas that had never felt a human foot. He knew that many more earthquakes would be reported than ever before, and that this would continue right up to the time of his coming. He also indicated that just before his coming the whole tectonic structure was set for a massive readjustment, which geologists have labeled as a period of “isostasy” that occurs between long intervals of time. I believe it is what the Bible identifies as the tribulation period. So, with all this in mind, let’s take a look at what Jesus said about the pattern earthquakes would follow in the beginning of sorrows, which was to eventually lead into the tribulation period.
Matthew 24:7,8 – For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in DIVERS places. [8] All these are the beginning of SORROWS.
There are two key words in this verse we must take into account concerning earthquakes.
(1) DIVERS, meaning many different places,
(2) And SORROWS, meaning the pains of a woman giving birth.
The Lord indicated that earthquakes would be on the increase like a woman’s birth pains. He did not say WHY they would increase in number. He just said they would be increasing in number. He was the only man on earth at the time that knew WHY! Now, because of our knowledge explosion, we know WHY, or at least PART of WHY! There is no way an atheistic scientist can prove they aren’t, and there is no way a Christian scientist can prove they are – Why? Because the atheistic will normally tell you the increase in earthquakes is due totally to all the reasons I listed previously, and a Christian will normally tell you the increase is not totally due to all the reasons I gave earlier. Quite frankly, I am convinced that, while most of the unbelievable increase is due to those reasons listed, some of it is due to the hand of the Lord in his creation. But the question of WHY is mute because the increase in the number reported is fantastic, and Jesus did not say WHY, he just said it would happen, and IT IS!
I will list the latest available earthquake statistics I have from the U.S. Geological Survey. They leave no doubt the number is increasing. “Why” is of no great consequence. For Jesus to know that man would spread across this earth, and establish the seismological system of earthquake reporting we have today, is more than sufficient to prove to me he is the living Son of God. I am listing increases across the board in three different categories to show the increase extends through all the data.
Worldwide Earthquakes .1 to 5.0 in Seven Year Increments from 1967 to 2002 were as follows: 1967 to 1974 – 10846**1974 to 1981 – 25541**1981 to 1988 – 38343**1988 to 1995 – 82635**1995 to 2002 – 119152
Worldwide Earthquakes 4.0 to 5.0 in Seven Year Increments from 1967 to 2002 were as follows: 1967 to 1974 – 9651**1974 to 1981 – 19068**1981 to 1988 – 26590**1988 to 1995 – 31747**1995 to 2002 – 54463
Worldwide Earthquakes 4.0 to 10.0 in Seven Year Increments from 1967 to 2002 were as follows: 1967 to 1974 – 15704**1974 to 1981 – 30151**1981 to 1988 – 37999**1988 to 1995 – 43202**1995 to 2002 – 63734
Quite frankly, I do not believe the increase of our technology has caused ALL of this increase. It just doesn’t justify as large an increase in the number of earthquakes compared to the technological rate of advancement. I am convinced that part of the increase has been due to the hand of God in his creation. However, it is really a mute question. The earthquakes are occurring in many different places they have never been reported before, and the reports are increasing in number like the birth pangs of a woman in childbirth, and only the Son of God could have predicted that almost 2000 years ago.
July 2, 2003
Fulness of the Gentiles = Judgment of God
THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENDING OF GENTILE CONTROL OF JERUSALEM. HOWEVER, THE AGE OF THE GENTILES CAN ONLY BE ENDED AT THE SECOND ADVENT OF JESUS. THE AGE OF THE GENTILES ENDS WHEN THE FULNESS OF THE GENTILES COMES IN, BUT THE FULFILLMENT OF THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES FOR JERUSALEM CAME IN JUNE OF 1967.
Luke 21:24 – And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and JERUSALEM shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
The times of the Gentile control of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount ended in June of 1967, but they will once again control it for the last 1260 days prior to the Second Advent.
Matthew 23:7,8 – For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. [8] All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Romans 11:25 – 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. (This occurs when Christ ends the battle of Armageddon at this 2nd Advent)
Genesis 15:14-16 – And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. [15] And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. [16] But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is NOT YET FULL.
The Lord was longsuffering toward the Amorites as their depravity steadily increased in their acts of ungodly idolatry, but when it reached a level so decadent in moral degradation that he could no longer be justified in withholding judgment, he took away their place in the land. He was also long suffering toward Sodom and Gomorrah, until their acts of Sodomy passed the level of his being just in holding off their judgment – And when it came it was terrifying.
God was also longsuffering on the pre-flood race before he sent the judgment of the flood upon them for their Sodomy and other ungodly conduct.
Romans 1:24-32 – Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. [26] 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: [27] 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. [28] 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; [29] Being filled with all unrighteousness, and fornication, and wickedness, and covetousness, and maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, [30] Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, and disobedient to parents, [31] Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, and unmerciful: [32] 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.
The sins of this post-flood race have now reached the level described as existing before he sent the flood judgment upon mankind. The cities of this present world have now reached the sin levels of Sodom and Gomorrah. And the recent Supreme Court decision concerning Sodomy, a bad name derived from the conduct of the city of Sodom, has now legitimized it, and opened the door for a time of judgment quite similar to that poured out on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Genesis 19:4-14 – But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: [5] And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. [6] And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, [7] And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. [8] Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. [9] And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. [10] But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. [11] And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. [12] And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: [13] For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it. [14] And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
We have reached the time described by Peter as the attitude of mankind in the last days.
II Peter 3:3,4,8,9 – Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, [4] 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. [8] But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is LONGSUFFERING to us-ward, not willing that ANY should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
His longsuffering is about to play out. Soon the judgment that came on Sodom and Gomorrah is suddenly and abruptly coming on the cities of this world. On a certain day a certain man named Lot went out of a certain place, and fire and brimstone came down in judgment. One a certain day, a man named Jesus Christ is also coming out of a certain place, and fire and brimstone is coming down on the CITIES AND NATIONS of this planet.
Luke 17:28-30 – Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; [29] But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. [30] Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
Revelation 6:12 – And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Revelation 8:7 – The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
Revelation 16:16-20 – And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. [17] And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. [18] And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. [19] And the great city was divided into three parts, and THE CITIES (PLURAL) OF THE NATIONS (PLURAL) fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. [20] And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
Luke 21:25-28 – And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; [26] Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. [27] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for YOUR REDEMPTION draweth nigh.
Do you have THIS REDEMPTION that is drawing nigh?
Ephesians 1:6,7 – To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. [7] In whom WE HAVE REDEMPTION through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 127C
July 9, 2003
A Judgment of Living Goats & Sheep After Armageddon!
Matthew 24:29,30 – 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: [30] 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: [32] 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:
I was taught initially that this Scripture pertained to the time when Jesus would return to the earth and judge all of the nations on the planet. All of the nations, which were good to Israel, would be rewarded, and those who did not would be punished. When I saw the sheep nations, who were good to Israel, inherited eternal life in God’s kingdom for doing so, but the goat nations, who did not, departed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels, I naturally asked the question, doesn’t that seem like salvation by works. And, I was told in a nice way, of course, that the Lord would take care of all things like that, and one day we would see his wisdom in taking that action. And, in all honesty, we will certainly know more about what the Scriptures meant in the sweet by and by. However, while we are waiting, may I suggest a different interpretation than the one I was taught as a youth? And, may I add, that I most assuredly do believe that God would have us support the nation of Israel in every way, but I don’t use Matthew 25:31-46 to support that belief. So what do I believe about the Scripture in question?
This is not an individual judgment of each one of the some 200 nations on the earth based on how they treated Israel during the tribulation period. The word used for NATIONS is ETHNE, from which our English word ETHNIC is derived. This is a judgment on individuals from the many ethnic groups on this planet. The judgment is to determine if they go into the millennium as saved men and women in sinful bodies of flesh, or if their bodies go to the grave and their souls go to hell.
Matthew 24:41 – 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:
Matthew 25:46 – And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
This cannot be a judgment on each individual nation based on how they treated Israel. Why not? This would have certain nations going into everlasting punishment in hell, and others going into everlasting life in heaven, and it would be based on their works in relation to how they treated Israel. This is an individual judgment of all women and men on the earth from every ethnic group in every nation on this earth.
There will be people saved in the tribulation period after the rapture. They will receive the indwelling Spirit of Christ when they are saved, and the following Scripture will apply to them.
Philippians 2:13 – For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
It will be God’s Spirit working in them that causes them to minister to fellow believers being persecuted during the period from the rapture to the Second Advent.
Those who had Christ’s Spirit ministered to brothers and sisters in Christ. Those without his Spirit did not minister to believers. So those who ministered by the leadership of his Spirit go into the millennial reign in bodies of sinful flesh, and those who did not go into the everlasting punishment of hell. The faith that saved the ones after the rapture will be a true saving faith, and it will manifest itself in the attitude of believers toward all their brothers and sisters in Christ. We are saved by a living, loving faith, not a dead one.
James 2:15-18 – If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, [16] And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? [17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. [18] Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
With all this in mind, let’s take a line-by-line look at the separation of the goats and the sheep, which are all together in one massive ethnic group following Armageddon. The sheep have the Spirit – The goats are void of the Spirit. The sheep ministered by the Spirit in them after the rapture. The goats did not have the Spirit in them to minister.
Matthew 25:31-46 – 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: [32] 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: [33] And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. [34] 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: [35] For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: [36] Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. [37] Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? [38] When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? [39] Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? [40] And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. [41] 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: [42] For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: [43] I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. [44] Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? [45] Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. [46] And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
John 3:7 – Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye MUST be born again.
James 2:26 – For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 128
July 11, 2003
The Judgment Seat of Christ
Part 5
Our Works Do Follow Us!
II Corinthians 5:10-11 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. [11] Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
We are all born of the seed of corrupted flesh and blood, which we received from our forefather Adam. For this reason we are born corrupted in body, soul, and spirit. That is why our spirit and soul must be born again to give us a new “heart.” The “heart” consists of our spirit and soul. But even after our soul is saved when we are born again, being made perfect in the spirit, we are still totally corrupt in our flesh. Our corruptible flesh cannot enter into the kingdom. Nor will any works generated in response to our flesh by our saved soul, ever be allowed to follow us into the kingdom.
I Corinthians 15:50 – Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
I Peter 1:23 – Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
My soul was saved by grace through faith. And the new birth was the workmanship of God, who created me in Christ Jesus for the purpose of sowing to produce a crop of good works by the power of his Son, so that the glory might be of God.
Ephesians 2:8-10 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
And the sowing and crop production of good works is to be carried out in one of his local churches by the power of Christ Jesus in us.
Ephesians 3:21 – Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Every day my saved soul either sows by the Spirit of Christ in me to produce an incorruptible crop, or it sows to the flesh around it to produce a corruptible crop. The corruptible crop cannot get passed the judgment seat of Christ, but the incorruptible spiritual crop goes into the kingdom.
Galatians 6:7-9 –Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. [9] And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
What kind of a crop is your saved soul producing? How much of it will get by the judgment seat of Christ?
Christ’s churches are facing a time of great testing in the tribulation period. Will you faint, or will you allow Jesus to produce a crop in you during this period?
Revelation 12:17 – And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 14:12,13 – Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. [13] And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
I Corinthians 15:58 – Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 128B
July 14, 2003
MICHAEL, THE GREAT ARCHANGEL PRINCE OF GOD, SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN APPOINTED AS THE GUARDIAN OF GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE – THE NATION OF ISRAEL!
Apparently, the Archangel Michael was appointed as the guardian angel of God’s chosen people, the longsuffering nation of Israel. It also appears that since Israel rejected its Messiah, Michael has let it suffer great affliction for some 2003 prophetic years of 360 days. It would seem he has let the spirit of antichrist work through all nations to bring a pattern of prosecution and affliction upon the nation of Israel unlike any persecution brought on any other nation, with the Nazi holocaust bearing witness to its severity. It also appears he will continue to let this pattern continue until he stands up for them near the end of the last 1260 days of the Gentile age, and begins to defend them during a time of trouble unlike any other experienced in history. When the antichrist plants his command post (appeden) on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem near the end of the 1260 days, surrounded by the tents (ohel) of his multi-million Armageddon army, and prepares to launch the final battle of this age with a view of forever destroying Israel, then Michael will stand up, and begin to defend Israel against the Devil indwelt antichrist.
Daniel 11:45 to 12:1 – And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. [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.
It was Michael who came to exercise his power to allow the angel Gabriel to bypass one of Satan’s powerful fallen angels, the prince of Persia, in order to deliver a latter day vision to Daniel concerning God’s people.
Daniel 10:13,14 – But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. [14] Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
It appears that Michael, after being responsible for Satan being cast out of heaven to begin the last 1260-days of this age, will then continue to let Satan persecute Israel, most likely in the form of being Satan incarnate in the body of the antichrist. During this period of time the wrath of Satan on the earth will be manifested on the earth during the three woes of the fifth, sixth, and seventh trumpet. This will be the time when Satan knows he only has a short time left to operate against mankind.
Revelation 12:6-9,12-14 – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. [7] And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, [8] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. [9] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. [12] Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, HAVING GREAT WRATH, because he knoweth that he hath but A SHORT TIME. [13] And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. [14] And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Time = 1 year times = 2 years half a time = ½ year Total = 3 and ½ prophetic years of 360 days. This is the same time period in Daniel 7:25.
Israel will be persecuted, but will be kept safe in the Negev from direct frontal attack by the forces of antichrist during this period. They will be given into the antichrist’s hand in that he will keep them trapped there, but they will be kept from harm and nourished by God. At the time of Daniel’s writings, the Israelis were the saints of God.
Daniel 7:21,25 – I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; [25] And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. (3 and ½ prophetic years)
Michael will be taken out of the way in that he stands aside during this period of time, and lets the antichrist keep Israel trapped in the Negev, where it experiences tremendous physiological and psychological stress for some 1260 days. I believe Michael is the “HE” in the following verse.
II Thessalonians 2:7 – For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only HE who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
But Michael will again stand up as Israel’s protector at the end of the tribulation period, and the antichrist will be devastated. He will come to his end, and no one will be able to help him.
Daniel 11:45 to 12:1 – And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. [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.
Revelation 19:19-21 – And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. [20] And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
I have difficulty in interpreting II Thessalonians 2:7 as the omnipresent Spirit of Almighty God being taken out of the way by some force of a greater magnitude.
II Thessalonians 2:7 – For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
I certainly am not implying that Michael is “letting” it happen without resistance. He is indeed resisting the spirit of antichrist, and will most assuredly continue to do so until Satan is cast down permanently to the earth. At this time he will be taken out of the way, and Satan’s wrath will come on the earth until Michael stands up and defends Israel. The “having great wrath” in Revelation 12:12 is what God responds to in the last phrase of 11:15 – “and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.”
The construction of II Thessalonians 2:7 in the original language is not easy to translate. The best understanding of it I render as: “only there is one that restrains now, until he be taken out of the way.”
To clarify what I believe this verse teaches, please allow me to put it in as understandable a mode as possible. It teaches that Michael has been successfully restraining Satan from venting his full wrath on the earth’s inhabitants for a long time, but during the three woes of the fifth, sixth, and seventh trumpets, his restraining power will be taken out of Satan’s way, and mankind will experience Satan’s wrath. The wrath of God follows on the forces of Satan and his followers in the seven vials of wrath. I do not believe God’s wrath will be poured out on the nation of Israel in the Negev. (See Update Number 82A in the Archives).
As I have stated, II Thessalonians 2:7 is a difficult passage to translate. The KJV translators had to supply words to cross a long Greek bridge into the English language. In order to present the full exposition of this verse to the reader, using each Greek word, and supplying the English words necessary to cross the bridge, I present the following translation: “For the mystery of the lawlessness already operates, only (there is) the (one) restraining it just now (who will continue to restrain it) until out of (the) midst (he) comes.” I interpret the one who comes out of the midst of mankind as the protector of Israel, mankind, and the earth, to be the archangel Michael. His being taken out of the way allows the three woes to come on the earth in the form of Satan’s wrath. The warning of these woes coming upon mankind is announced by an angel of the Lord flying through the midst of heaven. Satan’s wrath comes on the earth before the vials of Revelation. God’s wrath comes upon the lost during the vials of Revelation.
Revelation 8:13 – And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 129
July 18, 2003
Part 6
Resurrected to Attain to the First Resurrection
II Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
After the believer has experienced resurrection by being crucified with Christ, he or she is set free to attain more and more of the personality and ways of Christ, and is expected to continue to attain until departure by natural physical death, or the change at the first resurrection. It is during this time in the fleshly body that the soul either does the good works of Christ, or it does the bad works of the flesh, depending on whether it begins seeking to attain spiritual growth in Christ, or simply continues seeking to attain only the desires of the flesh.
Philippians 3:8,9 – Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, [9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Paul knows he will be found in Christ, because he does not have any righteousness of his own. He is very much aware it was the faith of Christ the man in his Father that attained the only righteousness ever earned by any man born of woman. Now that Paul has been crucified and resurrected with Christ, he knows Christ is alive in him, and he wants to live his life by the faith of the one who indwells him.
Galatians 2:20 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Paul knows he has Christ living in him. He knows he has the righteousness of God by faith imputed to him by his Son who indwells him. Now he can know him intimately because he has been resurrected in him by the new birth. And now he can attain spiritual grown by exercising the power of Christ given him in his resurrection, since he has already been made conformable to him when he was resurrected with him at the time of his being born again. And now, by that power, Paul is determined to continue to attain that spiritual growth in Christ until the time of his departure from his physical body, or the time of the first resurrection of the dead in Christ.
Philippines 3:10,11 – That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; [11] If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Paul knew that all the saved were going to be changed at the first resurrection. He also knew that all of the saved had the complete assurance that the victory, which had already obtained their eternal salvation, was paid for in full by Christ at Calvary. But he was acutely aware that the glorified body would be given to each individual as it pleased God. And knowing God to be just, and one who would not be mocked, Paul gave the following advice to the church members at Corinth.
I Corinthians 15:38,51,57,58 – [38] But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Paul knew full well that the virtuous characteristics of being stedfast, unmovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord were not in vain in the Lord. This is spiritual growth marked by endurance, which is what we are to keep on attaining toward until our souls depart from our bodies or the first resurrection occurs. We will never attain perfection in this life, but we can run the race set before us by the power of Christ in us. We will never apprehend his perfection, but we can seek to come to an understanding of his love that reached down, and apprehended us to run the race for the same Father he won it for at Calvary. We can forget those things that are behind, fasten our spiritual eyes on the finish, and run the race for the high calling by Christ’s power in us.
Philippians 3:11-14 – If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. [12] Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. [13] Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, [14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul was still fighting at the finish. He was still running at the finish. He was still keeping the faith at the finish. Christ has already won the fight. Christ has already finished first and won the race. Christ has already kept the faith perfectly. God accepted what he did, and gave us the victory in him. So we don’t have to be worried when we get knocked down, we just have to keep getting up. We don’t have to be worried when we stumble and fall, we just have to get up and keep on running. And if we do drop out of the faith once delivered to the saints, we just have to repent and return to it. We are to keep on attaining after we are saved.
II Timothy 4:6-8 – For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. [7] I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: [8] Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 129C
Atomic War in Israel – Yes or No?
July 23, 2003
One of the main reasons I wrote three books on prophecy in the late seventies and early eighties was to establish a case advocated by teachers of the pre-World War II era. It was, simply stated, that man would not destroy the earth with his weaponry, but rather that God would destroy the earth by the use of this own power. I am certain that the horrifying changes in the topography of Israel, as well as the terrifying destruction of the antichrist’s forces at Armageddon, are by the awesome power of God, not atomic, chemical, or biological weapons of man. The lifting of the land from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem, the breaking up of Jerusalem into three sections, the splitting of the Mount of Olives, and the consuming of the flesh, tongues, and eyes of the antichrist’s men are natural phenomena unleashed by God, not by man. All the Scriptures dealing with these phenomena unleashed by God are covered in the Birth Pang Archives.
There are many advocates of a great atomic, chemical, and biological war in Israel when the antichrist attacks 1260 days before Armageddon. It might happen at the time of Armageddon, but the initial attack will start what amounts to a non-nuclear, non-chemical, and non-biological war. So why am I so confident and outspoken about this being the case?
Israel has more than 200 extremely well concealed missile silos in the Negev between Beersheba and the Gulf of Aqabah.
It has more than 300 nuclear, chemical, and biological warheads to mount on Jericho missiles.
The Jericho is a very accurate missile, and can hit a target in any Islamic country from Morocco to Pakistan and from Turkey to Yemen.
Israel has an excellent anti-missile defense to protect its array of silos, warheads, and missiles. It is able to pick up an incoming enemy missile launched from Syria before it reaches it maximum altitude.
So why do I believe this array of WMD will not be unleashed by Israel when it is attacked? Because the Israeli War Contingency Plan of Israel directs that WMD will never be launched against a foreign nation unless they are first launched against Israel.
So how do I know the Islamic countries will not launch WMD in their initial attack? All of them are well aware of what is listed in (1) through (5)! The Soviet Union, which it existed, shared Israeli intelligence information with Syria, which it collected over a long period of time from its hundreds of spy satellites it launched from pads between Moscow and the White Sea, and on the eastern side of the Aral Sea. Syria, in turn, has shared it with most of the other Islamic countries around Israel. Only a leader possessed of rank insanity would ever launch WMD first against Israel, which is why I was so relieved when Saddam Hussein was taken out of the way.
Many believe the United States will quickly rush to the aid of Israel, and, as the world’s greatest power, will immediately deliver her from any kind of attack she can’t handle. There are two problems with this idea:
The United States believes Israel can defeat any Islamic attack on its own without any help from us. After all, Israel has easily done so in three previous wars.
This will be a lightning Jihad, and better coordinated than any of the previous wars, and this time Israel will have a Palestinian state attacking it from within, while the other Islamic nations come in from outside its borders. It will probably last less than a couple of weeks, and Jerusalem is likely to fall within four days. By the time we decide they must have our help it will be too late because they will have occupied most of the land from Dan to Beersheba.
By this time it would take months, as it did in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Freedom Iraq, to get sufficient American troops on the ground to do any good.
What was the character of the past three wars? They were all very short in duration, and they all ended abruptly in a truce. That will be the case in this war. The United States knows that the Negev is the place where Israel will flee. When we believe they are safely in the Negev, we will be more than willing to accept a truce to give us time to think about what to do, and Israel will remain trapped in the Negev for some three and one-half years.