ESCHATOLOGY; LAST DAY EVENTS
RUSSELL EARL
KELLY, PHD
July 9, 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. REVELATION 20 AND MILLENNIAL VIEWS
2. DANIEL 2; FOCUS ON THE TEN TOES (2:41-45)
3. DANIEL 7; FOCUS ON THE TEN HORNS
4. DANIEL 8 A TYPE OF ANTICHRIST
5. DANIEL 9 FOCUS ON 9:26-27; 70 WEEKS OF
YEARS
6. UNCONDITIONAL PROMISES TO ISRAEL
7. CHURCH AGE AND THE RAPTURE
8. VIEWS OF THE SECOND COMING
9. THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST (BEMA)
10. TRIBULATION, FIRST HALF
11. TRIBULATION, SECOND HALF
12. SECOND COMING IN GLORY
13. INTERLUDE
14. MILLENNIUM; 1000-YEAR REIGN OF CHRIST ON
EARTH
15. GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT; REVELATION 20
16. ETERNITY; REVELATION 21-22
1.
ESCHATOLOGY:
REVELATION 20 AND
MILLENNIUM VIEWS
Only
Revelation 20 specifically states the exact 1000-year (millennial) reign of
Christ on Earth. No other major theological term is repeated as often in
sequence – 6 times in 6 straight verses (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7).
A.
In verses 1-3, the devil will be bound and cast into the bottomless pit for
1000 years. This is “Abaddon” (Rev 9:11 ‘doom’), “Apollyon” (Grk).
B.
In verse 3, life and sin on Earth will continue without Satan.
C.
In verse 4, living believers and resurrected martyrs will reign with Christ on Earth
for 1000 years.
D.
In verses 4-6 the first resurrection is of believers.
E.
In verses 7-8 Satan will be loosed for a season and will gather living
unbelievers and resurrected unbelievers from Hades for one final battle.
F.
In verse 9, Satan’s army will be destroyed by fire.
G.
In verse 10, the devil will be cast into the lake of fire (Gehenna) where
previously the beast and false prophet will have been cast (Rev 19:20).
H.
In verse 11, a great white throne will be seen in outer space.
I.
In verses 12-13 the unbelieving dead from the sea, death and Hades will be
proven deserving of the second death according to their works.
J.
In verse 14, all unbelievers will be cast into the lake of fie (Gehenna).
This
Bible study course is designed to answer the question of whether or not
Revelation 20:1-14 should be totally ignored, interpreted as the Church Age or
interpreted literally in the future.
VIEWS OF LAST-DAY
EVENTS
(ES-CHA-TO-LO-GY)
K.
AMILLENNIALISM: (no literal future millennium)
(1)
The Church has replaced national Israel as God’s chosen people.
(2)
The Church is now “spiritual Israel.”
(3) God’s promises to national Israel
must be spiritually re-interpreted and re-applied to Christians.
(4) Good and evil will exist together
until Jesus returns.
(5) The Church will go through great
tribulation.
(6) Deceased Christians are currently
in heaven with Christ, reigning with him.
(7) Christ’s return will be the end of
life on Earth as we know it.
(8) Christ will bring with him the
resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and the re-creation of the new
heavens and the new earth.
……………………………
PRETERISM: Christ returned spiritually
in A. D. 70 per Matthew 24.
L.
POST-MILLENNIALISM: The Church Age is the Millennium.
(1) The Church has permanently replaced
national Israel as God’schosen people.
(2)
The Church is now “spiritual Israel.“
(3) Life on earth will improve until
Christ returns.
(4) God’s promises to national Israel
must be spiritually re-interpreted and re-applied to the Church.
(5) The Church Age is the spiritual
reign of Christ on Earth.
(6) Christ’s return will immediately
result in final judgment and the eternal state.
(7) This doctrine lost favor after
World War I.
M.
DISPENSATIONAL PREMILLENNIALISM: (the literal millennium is future)
(1) God’s promises to national Israel
are both literal and eventually unconditional concerning end-time events.
(2) The Church is not “spiritual
Israel.”
(3) God’s promises to national Israel
and the Church are very different.
(4) The Church Age is a mystery not
seen by Old Testament prophets.
(5) The Church is a parenthetical
insertion between the 69th and 70th week of God’s final
dealing with national Israel (Dan 9:26-27).
(6) When the last member of the
“mystery body of Christ” has been born-again, Jesus will return for His saints
to “catch up” (Latin: rapture) His body (Acts 15:14; 1 Thes 4:17; 1 Cor
15:51-54).
(7) 7 years of great tribulation will
precede the second coming of Christ with His saints in glory (Rev 6-19).
(8) Christ will literally rule on Earth
for 1000 years (Rev 20).
2.
ESCHATOLOGY:
DANIEL 2:32-47
DANIEL 2 is the foundation of last day
prophecy. Key to this study are verses 40-44. Jesus accepted Daniel as a
prophet (Mt 24:15; 26:64).
A. THE HEAD OF GOLD: BABYLON; 610-539 B. C.
2:32a This image's head was of fine
gold,
2:38 … Thou
art this head of gold.
B.
BREAST AND ARMS OF SILVER: (MEDIA-PERSIA, 539-330 B.C.)
2:32b … his breast and his arms of
silver,
2:39a And
after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee,
C.
BELLY AND THIGHS OF BRASS: GREECE (330 B.C. – 64 B. C.)
2:32c… his belly and his thighs of
brass,
2:39b … and
another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
D.
LEGS OF IRON: ROME (146 B.C. – 476)
2:33a His legs of iron,
2:40 And the
fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces
and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in
pieces and bruise.
……….
CHURCH AGE: (32 – REMOVAL). Since the
fourth kingdom Roman Empire did not dissolve into a confederation of 10
nations, there is an obvious gap between verses 40 and 41. Compare Isaiah
61:1-2 c.f. Luke 4:18-19; Daniel 9:26 c.f. 27; Ephesians 2:9-10; 3:4-6; 1 Peter
1:10-12; 2:9-10.
……….
E.
FEET AND TOES OF IRON AND CLAY (MODERN EUROPE)
Daniel 2:41-44 is an unfulfilled
prophecy of the second coming of Christ in glory to restore national Israel.
After Western Rome disintegrated in 475 A. D., modern Europe began coming into
existence for over 1000 years.
2:33b … his feet part of iron and part
of clay.
2:41 And
whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron,
the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the
iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
2:42 And as
the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall
be partly strong, and partly broken.
2:43 And
whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves
with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is
not mixed with clay.
2:44 And
in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which
shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people,
but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall
stand for ever.
Rev 17:12
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.
**Most
important, 2:44 says that God’s kingdom will not be established until after the
former Roman Empire has been reassembled into a weak confederacy. History
reveals that Europe has been semi-week and semi-strong for many centuries
already. Therefore, this sign of Christ’s return in glory is already present.
F.
STONE STRIKES THE IMAGE ON ITS FEET DUING A WEAK CONFEDERACY AND
DESTROYS IT.
Contrary to what many teach, the
“stone” is not the Church at Christ’s first coming. First, Daniel is not about
the Church. Second, the Roman Empire was not in a weakened state in A. D. 33.
Third, the Roman Empire did not peak until A. D. 180.
2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was
cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron
and clay, and brake them to pieces.
2:45a
Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without
hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver,
and the gold;
G.
FORMER KINGDOMS DISAPPEAR
2:35a Then was the iron, the clay, the
brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the
chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no
place was found for them:
H.
STONE FILLS THE WHOLE EARTH
2:35b … and the stone that smote the
image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
Note: This cannot refer to the Church. The
kingdom of God will spread to the entire earth after Christ’s second coming in
glory.
I.
UNCONDITIONAL PROPHECY
2:45b … the great God hath made known
to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and
the interpretation thereof sure.
3.
DANEL 7
Daniel
7 adds to chapter 2. It introduces the Antichrist who will enter last-day
history following some kind of crisis in the revived confederacy of Western
Europe.
HISTORICAL
ACCURACY:
7:1
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions
of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the
matters.
7:2
Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the
four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
7:3
And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
A.
LION OF BABYLON (610-539 B. C.)
7:4
The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings
thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon
the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
B. BEAR OF MEDIA-lPERSIA (539-330 B. C.)
7:5
And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on
one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and
they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
[Media
arose first; Persia dominated; overthrew 3 kingdoms]
C. LEOPARD OF GREECE (330-164 B. C.)
7:6
After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of
it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given
to it.
[Alexander’s generals of Greece, Macedonia,
Seleucid (Syria), Egypt]
D.
DRAGON OF ROME (146 B. C. TO A. D. 476)
7:7a
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and
terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and
brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was
diverse from all the beasts that were before it; … (7:19)
7:23 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.
……….
CHURCH
AGE GAP (A. D. 32 TO REMOVAL); Dan 2:44-45; 9:26-27; Isa 61:1-2)
……….
E. TEN HORNS OF ROME (future, Rev 17:12)
Again,
the original Roman Empire did not disintegrate into 10 weaker nations and
Revelation 17:12 confirms it is future.
7:7b
… and it had ten horns. (7:20)
7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom
are ten kings that shall arise …
Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 that the
time of Antichrist was yet future.
F. LITTLE HORN (future; Rev 17:12, 20)
Antichrist
will replace and/or control 3 of the 10 kingdoms.
7:8
I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little
horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots:
and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking
great things.
7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war
with the saints, and prevailed against them;
7:24 … and another shall rise after them; and
he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
7:25 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. Compare
(9:26-27; 12:11-12; Rev 11:2-3; 12:6, 7, 14; 13:5.
G. GOD’S JUDGMENT OF THE HORNS; TRIBULATION
(Revelation 13-19)
7:9
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit,
whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool:
his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
7:10
A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands
ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the
judgment was set, and the books were opened.
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.
7:26 But the judgment shall sit, and they
shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
H. DESTRUCTION OF MAN’S KINGDOMS
7:12
As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet
their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
I. SON OF MAN REIGNS FOREVER; Mt 24:30; 26:62-66
7:13
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with
the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him
near before him.
7:14
And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people,
nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting
dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be
destroyed.
7:18
But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom
for ever, even for ever and ever.
7:22 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.
7:27 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.
4.
DANIEL 8
Daniel
8 is important for Bible prophecy because Jesus twice quoted Daniel’s
antichrist as a type of the last day antichrist (Mt 24:15; 26:64).
HISTORICAL
ACCURACY:
8:1
In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me,
even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.
8:2
And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan
in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I
was by the river of Ulai.
A. RAM OF MEDIA-PERSIA (539 B. C. TO B. C. 330)
8:3
Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river
a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than
the other, and the higher came up last.
8:4
I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts
might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his
hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
8:20 The ram which thou sawest having two
horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
B. GOAT OF GREECE (B. C. 330 TO B. C. 64)
8:5a
And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of
the whole earth, and touched not the ground …
8:21a And the rough goat is the king of
Grecia …
C. ALEXANDER THE GREAT OF GREECE (356 – 323 B.
C.)
8:5b
… and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
8:6
And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had there seen standing
before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
8:7
And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against
him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the
ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon
him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
8:8a
8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great
horn was broken …
8:21b …and the great horn that is between his
eyes is the first king.
D. GREECE, MACEDONIA, SELEUCID SYRIA, EGYPT (323
– 64 B. C.)
8:8b
… and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
8:22 Now that being broken, whereas four
stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his
power.
E. ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES (B. C. 175 – B. C.
164)
8:9
And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding
great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
8:10
And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the
host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
8:11
Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily
sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
8:12
And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of
transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and
prospered.
8:13
Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint
which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily
sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and
the host to be trodden under foot?
8:14
And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then
shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
8:23 And in the latter time of their
kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce
countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not
by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and
practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
8:25 And through his policy also he shall
cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart,
and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince
of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. [Compare Daniel 2:45.]
8:26 And the vision of the evening and the
morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall
be for many days.
8:17
… Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
8:18
Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the
ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
8:19
And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the
indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.
Note:
While portions of chapters 8 and 9 may have a primary reference to Antiochus
Epiphanes, Jesus made it clear that their final applicatyin refers to a future
antichrist. Compare 8:19 and 8:26 with
Matthew 24:15 and 26:54 also quoted in Mark.
5.
DANIEL 9:24-27
Daniel 9:24-27 is one of the Bible’s best examples of fulfilled
prophecy which proves the existence of God. U
Using known Hebrew calendar adjustments, it reaches forward to a
prophesied event recorded in Nehemiah, chapter two and correctly
extends forward to the exact year of Christ’s crucifixion.
A. A 490 period of
prophetic weeks of years is introduced: 7 x 70 = 490.
Dan 9:24a Seventy weeks
are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city …
The 490 years of prophetic time only
refers to national Israel (thy people) and Jerusalem (thy holy city) – not the
church.
B. Daniel 9:24b …
(1) “to finish the transgression
(2)
to make an end of sins
(3)
to make reconciliation for iniquity
(4)
to bring in everlasting righteousness
(5)
to seal up the vision and prophecy,
(6)
to anoint the most Holy”
Six things will be accomplished within
the period of the “490”weeks of prophetic years. Although sin persists during
the Millennium, most see these being fulfilled concerning Israel either at
Calvary or during the 7-year Great Tribulation.
C. Dan 9:25a Know
therefore and understand that, from the going forth of the commandment to
restore and to build Jerusalem
Nehemiah 2:8 And a letter [from the
Persian king] unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me
timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to
the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall
enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon
me [B. C. 445-444]. [Compare Ezra
1:1-4 and 7 [B. C. 539].
D. Dan 9:25b … unto the Messiah
the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street
shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
7 weeks + 62 (threescore and two
weeks)= 69 x 7 weeks of years = 483 prophetic years would reach “unto the time
of Messiah the Prince.”
Using the decree of Nehemiah 2 to begin
at B. C. 445-444 and subtracting it from 483 yields 38-39 A. D. (to when one
year is added to allow for no year “0”). Although this should be close
enough to prove that God’s hand was in the prophecy, the prophecy is even more
precise.
In 1894 Sir Robert Anderson wrote The
Coming Prince. He argued that Hebrews used a calendar of 360 days with
twelve 30-day months. He then multiplied 483 years times 360 days to conclude
that 173,880 prophetic day of years were involved.
[483 x 360 = 173,880 prophetic years]
Prophetic days of years are converted
into literal years by dividing 173,880 by 365.25.
(173,880 / 365.25 yields 476 years plus
a few days.
When Nehemiah 2’s date of 445-444 B. C.
is subtracted from 476 years, the result is A. D. 31-32 --- the best historical
dates for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This proves God’s Word is inspired.
[476 – 445-444 B. C. = A. D. 31-32]
HEBREW CALENDARS: Jews knew from
surrounding nations that a solar year was 365 ¼ days long. Therefore, Hebrews
were forced to add extra days to their calendar in order to keep the Passover
lined up with the third full moon of the new year. Because the lunar cycle
alternated 29- and 30-day months, they also added an extra month 4 times every
11 years and later 7 times every 19 years. This would give them 365 ¼ days year.
Mark 1:15 and Galatians 4:4w-5 suggest
that the Jews may have already made similar calculations and expected the
Messiah soon.
Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the
gospel.
Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the
time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.
E. Dan 9:26a And after
threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself…
MESSIAH WILL DIE AFTER THE 69TH
WEEK (483RD YEAR): The prophecy says that Messiah will be “cut
off” “after” the 69 weeks had been fulfilled (7 + 62).
F. Dan 9:26b … and the
people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the
sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the
war desolations are determined.
JERUSALEM AND TEMPLE DESTROYED IN
70 A. D.: Almost everybody agrees that 9:26b refers to pagan Rome, Titus
Vespasian and the destruction of the Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 A. D.
…..
G. THE SEQUENCE REQUIRES A
TIME GAP: The sequence of events is extremely important. The literal biblical
order is:
(1) The 69th week ends (Dan
9:25).
(2) Messiah will be cut off after the
69th week ends (Dan 9:26a).
(3) Jerusalem and the temple will be
destroyed in A. D. 70 (Dan 9:26b).
(4) The 70th week will begin
after A. D. 70 A. D. (Dan 9:27).
a) “He” in 9:27 refers to the nearest
antecedent “Prince” of 9:26, a type of anti-Christ.
b) “He” (Anti-Christ will make and
break a future 7-year covenant with Israel.
c) it is noteworthy that God does not
break covenants
(5) The Most Holy will anointed at the
end of the 70th week (9:24). This probably refers to the Millennial
temple.
H. OUT OF SEQUENCE ERROR:
Those who teach that the 70 weeks were Israel’s last chance to accept its
Messiah end the entire 70-week period with the events immediately surrounding
Calvary between 30-34 A. D. They then teach that 9:26b is an out-of-sequence
parenthetical description of the events of 70 A. D. They then teach that
national Israel is henceforth completely out of the scope of biblical prophecy
and the Church has replaced it as “spiritual” Israel.
(1) The 69th week ends (Dan
9:25).
(2) Messiah is cut off; Christ is
crucified (Dan 9:26a).
(3) Jerusalem and the temple are
destroyed in 70 A. D. (Dan 9:26b).
(4) Point #3 is out of sequence;
the 70th week concerns Christ.
a) “He” in 9:27 is Jesus beginning 7
last years of ministry to Israel.
b) “He” in 9:27 is Jesus who desolates
the Temple by his death.
(5) The interpretation that the Church
has replaced national Israel is wrong for many reasons:
a) Scores of God’s unconditional
promises to Israel as a nation have not been fulfilled.
b) There are too many differences
between national Israel and the Church to blend them into one.
c) The prophecies of Daniel 2 and 7
concerned nations which ruled Israel and there are no grounds for a change to a
spiritual nation. A
d) Daniel 9:24 does not allow for a
change from national Israel to the Church.
e) The Church began over 150 years
before the Roman Empire peaked. There was no disintegration into 10 kingdoms.
f) Revelation 17:12 says the 10
kingdoms are not yet.
6.
UNCONDITIONAL PROMISES
TO ISRAEL
The following texts all unconditionally promise that God will never
abandon national Israel as His chosen nation. These are just a small portion of
available texts. Although the timing of the fulfillment is conditional, the
inevitable fulfillment is unconditional. This fact is THE major dividing-point
between amillennialists, post-millennialists and premillennialists
(dispensationalists). Israel is very much still a major part of future prophecy
and the last days.
GEN 13:15 … all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it,
and to thy seed forever.
2 SAMUEL 7:16 [To DAVID] And thine house and thy kingdom shall be
established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
AMOS 9:12 Israel shall rule all nations.
AMOS 9:15 Israel will “no more be pulled up out of its land”
ISA 2:2 [JERUSALEM TEMPLE] And it shall come to pass in the last
days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of
the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow
unto it.
ISA 2:3 [GENTILES WORSHIP IN THE TEMPLE] And many people shall go
and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of
the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his
paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from
Jerusalem.
ISA 11:6 ANIMALS will be tame and live together on earth.
ISA 24:23 the LORD will rule from Jerusalem, Zion
ISA 49:16 God will not forget Israel; it is graven on His palms.
ISA 54:3 Israel’s seed will inherit the land of the Gentiles.
ISAIAH 60-66 MESSIANIC REIGN ON EARTH
MICAH 4:1 In the last days God will establish his throne in
Jerusalem and other nations will come to it.
MIC 4:2 JERUSALEM is the focus of worship in the last days.
MIC 4:7 YAHWEH will rule from Jerusalem forever.
MIC 5:5-7 When last-day Assyria invades Israel, 7 shepherds will
defend it and conquer them.
JOEL 3:1-14 After the scattered of Israel return, God will gather
all nations.
JOEL 3:20 “Judah shall dwell forever and Jerusalem from generation
to generation.”
JEREMIAH 14: 7, 21 Do not forsake us “for thy name’s sake;
remember your covenant with us.”
JER 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise
unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall
execute judgment and justice in the earth.
JER 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell
safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR
RIGHTEOUSNESS.
JER 30:3 For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring
again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I
will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and
they shall possess it.”
JER 30:11 God will never “make a full end” of Israel.
JER 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make
a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of
Judah.
[JER 31:31-34 is quoted in Hebrews 8:8-13 as the New Covenant.]
*JER 31:35-36 God’s covenant with the houses of Israel and Judah
is as sure as the existence of the sun, moon and stars.
EZE 16:60-62 God will remember His covenant with Israel and will
again establish them.
EZE 20:44 God deals with Israel “for my name’s sale” (because of
His unconditional promises) and not because of its actions.
EZE 36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus
saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for
mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye
went.
EZE 36:25-26 Cleanse Israel and give them a new heart.
EZE 36:28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your
fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
EZE 37:24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they
all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe
my statutes, and do them.
EZE 37:25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given
unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall
dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for
ever: and my servant David shall be their prince forever.
DAN 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven
set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall
not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these
kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
DAN 7:27 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.
DAN 9:17-19 [Daniel’s prayer for people of Jerusalem.] not for our
sakes but for your name’s sake.
ZECH 10:6-12 Judah and Ephraim to be restored.
ZECH 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they
shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one
mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is
in bitterness for his firstborn.
ZECH 13:1 [Israel will accept Jesus of David as Messiah.]
ZECH 14:3 YAHWEH will intervene for Israel.
ZECH 14:4 YAHWEH will stand upon the Mount of Olives and split it.
ZECH 14:8 Living waters will flow from Jerusalem.
ZECH 14:9 YAHWEH will be king of all the earth.
ZECH 14:16 The remnant of the Gentiles will worship in Jerusalem.
MATT
23:39 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.
ACTS
1:6-7 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord,
wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto
them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath
put in his own power.
REVELATION
7 [12,000 from each tribe of Israel plus an innumerable multitude of others
REVELATION
21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates
twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve
tribes of the children of Israel.
7.
THE CHURCH AGE AND
RAPTURE
Alongside
the biblical teaching that national Israel is still very much in God’s plans
for the future is the biblical teaching that the Church is quite different from
national Israel and has different promises and a different prophetic timeline
for its removal. There are simply too many differences between God’s promises
to national Israel and God’s promises to the Church to ignore.
A. AN UNGRASPED MYSTERY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
Gen
12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee:
and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Isa
60:3 (1-7) And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the
brightness of thy rising.
Zech
14:16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations
which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the
King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
Mal
1:11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my
name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be
offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the
heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.
B. A MYSTERY HIDDEN TO OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS
Israel
is a nation; the Church is the mystery body of Christ (Eph 5:23; Col 1:18). The
prophets did not understand that God would someday include Gentiles in all of
His blessings). The Church Age is between the 69th and 70th
week of God’s plan for national Israel. When the Church is complete, Christ
will “catch it up” to heaven and finish His plan for Israel.
1
PETER 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1
Pet 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently,
who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1
Pet 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was
in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and
the glory that should follow.
1
Pet 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto
us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that
have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven;
which things the angels desire to look into.
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.
Romans
16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and
the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery,
which was kept secret since the world began,
Romans
16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets,
according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations
for the obedience of faith.
EPHESIANS
1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his
good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph
1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather
together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which
are on earth; even in him.
[Ephesians 2 all] [Col 2 all]
EPHESIANS
3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery
of Christ)
EPHESIANS
3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it
is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
EPHESINS
3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and
partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel ...
EPHESIANS
5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the
church: and he is the saviour of the body.
COLOSSIANS
1:18 Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
C. THE CHURCH WILL BE KEPT FROM WRATH, ISRAEL
WILL NOT.
1
THESSALONIANS 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the
dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
1
THESSALONIANS 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath , but to obtain
salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.
REVELATION
3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee
from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try
them that dwell upon the earth.
D. THE CHURCH WILL BE CAUGHT UP (Latin: RAPTURED)
1
THESSALONIANS 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have
no hope.
1
THES 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1
THES 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are
alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them
which are asleep.
1
THES 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first:
1
THES 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up [Latin:
rapture] together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and
so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1
CORINTHIANS 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we
shall all be changed,
1
Cor 15:52 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.
1
Cor 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must
put on immortality.
1
Cor 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this
mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying
that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
E. COMPARING THE RAPTURE AND THE SECOND COMING IN GLORY
(1) RAPTURE: Meets believers in the air. 1 Thes 4:15-17;
Acts 1:9-11
(1) SECOND COMING: Meets Israel on
earth, Zech 14:4-5; Rev 19
(2) RAPTURE: Christ does not touch
earth. Acts 1:11
(2) SECOND COMING: Christ comes to stay
for 1000 years. Rev 20; Mal 3:2-4
(3) RAPTURE: For the church. 1 Thes
4:15-17; 1 Cor 15:51-55
(3) SECOND COMING: For Israel and
tribulation saints. Rev 19; Mal 3:2-4
(4) RAPTURE: To keep promises to the
church. Jn 14:1-3
(4) SECOND COMING: To keep promises to
Israel through OT prophets.
(5) RAPTURE: “With” souls of saints to
get bodies. 1 Thess 4:14-18
(5) SECOND COMING: "With: saints
and angelic armies. Rev 19
(6) RAPTURE: “Church” an O.T. “mystery” Rom 16:25; Eph 5:32
(6) SECOND COMING: Natural Israel not a
mystery; always God's nation.
(7) RAPTURE: Kept from final wrath of
great tribulation. 1 Thes 1:10; 5:9; Rev 3:10
(7) SECOND COMING: Except for the
144,000. All o thers suffer the great
tribulation. Rev 6-18
(8) RAPTURE: IMMINENT: At any time: no
prophecy yet to be fulfilled.
(8) SECOND COMING: After last day
apostasy, revelation of antichrist, and many prophecies fulfilled. Eze
36:31-33.
F.
REJECTING THE MID-TRIBUATION RAPTURE
(1) The theory ignores the difference between
God’s promises to the Church and His promises to Israel. The 7-year tribulation
period is specifically for Israel and Jerusalem (Dan 9:24).
(2) The 7 churches are prominent in Revelation 2
and 3. The Church is seen in heaven in
chapters 4 and 5 (5:8-10). It is not seen in chapters 6-18. Christ will come
with His saints in Revelation 19:14.
(3) The worldwide effects of the 7 seals are
part of the wrath of God, or the Day of the Lord. God has promised that the church will be kept
from wrath (1 Thes 1:10; 5:9 and Rev 3:10).
(4) While the 144,000 Hebrews will be
protected from the wrath of God (Rev 7:3-8), the great multitude of others will
not be protected from the wrath of God (Rev 7:9-17). “They have come out of
great tribulation” (Rev 7:14).
8.
VIEWS OF THE SECOND
COMING (A REVIEW)
A. POST-MILLENNIAL: The church age is the
millennium. Life will get better and better until Christ returns.
B. AMILLENNIAL: There is no millennium. Good and
evil will exist together. The church will go through a time of great
tribulation before Christ returns.
C. PRETERISM:
The Second Coming of Christ was spiritual in A. D. 70 when pagan Rome
destroyed the Jerusalem Temple. The resurrection is a spiritual event.
D. PRE-MILLENNIAL: The 1000-year millennial
reign of Christ on Earth is future and literal. The Church Age will end with
the catching up (rapture).
(1) POST-TRIBULATION RAPTURE:
At the end of 7-year great tribulation.
(2) MID-TRIBULATION RAPTURE: Rev 11 witnesses
are a type
In the middle of the 7-year great
tribulation.
(3) PARTIAL-RAPTURE; Heb 9:28
Only active Christians will be taken out of
wrath.
(4) PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE:
Before the 7-year great tribulation.
1 Th 1:10; 5:9; Rev 3:10
9.
THE BEMA:
JUDGMENT SEAT OF
CHRIST
The
Bema is the judgment seat of the righteous. It does not determine
whether or not one has been saved (John 3:16-19). It determines the eternal
degrees of rewards of the righteous. Many believe it will take place in heaven
during the 7-year tribulation on Earth.
A. Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy
brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand
before the judgment seat of Christ.
B. 2 Cor 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.
C. 1 Cor 3:12 Now if any man build upon this
foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1
Cor 3:13 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.
1
Cor 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall
receive a reward.
1
Cor 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he
himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
D. CROWNS (WREATHS; STE-PHA-NOS)
CROWN OF VICTORY; 1 COR 9:25
CROWN OF LIFE; REV 2:10
CROWN OF GLORY; 1 PET 5:2-4
CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; 2 TIM 4:8
CROWN OF REJOICING; 2 THESS 2:19-20`
10.
TRIBULATION: FIRST HALF
A.
There will be a falling away from true faith after the Church is removed.
2 Thes 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any
means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first …
…..
2 Tim 3:1 This know also, that in the last
days perilous times shall come.
2 Tim 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their
own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy,
2 Tim 3:3 Without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are
good,
B.
The pause between the 69th and 70th week between Daniel
9:26 and 9:27 ends with the removal of the mystery body of Christ.
Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks
shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince
that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof
shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Dan 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.
C.
The Holy Spirit’s function as a “withholding” power to protect the Church ends,
but His function of convicting and indwelling remains.
2 Thes 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth
that he might be revealed in his time.
2 Thes 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.
2 Thes 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be
revealed …
D. The iron Roman Empire has been revived as a
weak union of iron and clay.
Dan 2:41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and
toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but
there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the
iron mixed with miry clay.
Dan 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were
part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and
partly broken.
Dan 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed
with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they
shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
E. The weak revived Roman Empire initially will
have ten rulers (Dan 7:
Dan 7:7 After this I saw in the night
visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong
exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and
stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts
that were before it; and it had ten horns.
F. The first eleven chapters of Revelation cover
the first 3 ½ yeas (42 months, 1260 days) of the 70 week of Daniel 9:27.
G.
The whole house of Israel is un-armed and at peace – dwelling in unwalled villages.
Compare Ezekiel 38:11.
H. A false worldwide worship system will emerge.
[Already formed in Revelation 13, 17-18.]
I. Worldwide disorder will follow the removal
of the Church.
(1) 1st seal: rider on white horse
conquers; Rev 6:2
(2) 2nd seal: rider on red horse
brings war; Rev 6:3-4
(3) 3rd seal: rider on black horse
brings famine; Rev 6:5-6
(4) 4th seal: rider on pale horse
brings death; Rev 6:7-8
(5) 5th seal: martyrs ask for
revenge; Rev 6:9-11
(6) 6th seal: earthquake; signs in
heavens; rulers cry out; Rev 6:12-17
J.
Crisis will result in an antichrist person taking control of the confederacy.
Dan 7:24 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.
K. Since Israel has been re-born as a nation
since 1948, the stage is set for fulfillment.
Ezek 37:11 Then he said unto me, Son of man,
these bones are the whole house of Israel …
L.
Antichrist will make a 7-year covenant with Israel.
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant
with many for one week …
M. 144,000 Israelites and an innumerable
multitude of others will be saved.
Rev 7:1-8; 144,000 Hebrews are sealed and
immune from suffering.
Rev 7:9-17 a great multitude is saved out of
all nations. These will suffer and many will die during the tribulation time.
N. Great upheavals of nature from 7 seals will
kill much human, animal, sea and vegetable life on Earth. Only the 144,000 are
immune.
O.
The 7th seal contains 7 trumpet plagues (Rev 8:2).
(1) The prayers of saints will be answered
(Rev 8:3-4).
(2) The 1st trumpet will bring hail and blood
to kill 1/3 trees and all grass (Rev 8:7)
(3) The 2nd trumpet will have a
burning mountain destroy 1/3 sea life and ships (Rev 8:8-9).
(4) The 3rd trumpet will have a
star named Wormwood poison 1/3 fresh water and kill many men (Rev 8:10-11).
(5) The 4th trumpet will darken
1/3 sun, moon and stars (Rev 8:12).
(6) The 5th trumpet will release
scorpion-like beasts from the bottomless pit to torment those without the seal
of God for 5 months. [Includes Christians] Rev 8:1-11). First woe.
(7) The 6th trumpet will allow 200
million from across Euphrates to kill 1/3 men [including Christians] (Rev
9:12-21).
Q.
A little book of secrets is eaten (Rev 10). Compare Daniel 8:26; 11:45 to 12:4.
R.
A new temple will have been built. Gentiles will control Jerusalem for 42
months --- but not the temple (Rev 11:1-2).
S.
Two witnesses will preach in Jerusalem during the first 1260 days (Rev 11:6).
11.
TRIBULATION: SECOND
HALF
A. Revelation 12 is a cosmic overview of the
entire conflict between God and Satan ending with Israel fleeing and hiding for
3 ½ times, 42 months or 1260 days (12:14).
B. Jerusalem will become a burden to all nations
(Zech 12:1-2; 14:1-2).
C. The final 3 ½ years of the great tribulation
will begin when the two witnesses of Revelation 11 are killed and resurrected
(11:4-13). This may trigger Antichrist to break his 7-year covenant.
Rev 11:11 And after three days and an half
the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet;
and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Rev 11:12 And they heard a great voice from
heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a
cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
Rev 11:13 And the same hour was there a
great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the
earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted,
and gave glory to the God of heaven.
D.
In the middle of his 7-year covenant with Israel, Antichrist will break the
covenant and will sit as God in the temple.
Dan 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.
E. Like Antiochus IV of Daniel 8:9-14,
Antichrist will occupy the temple and demand to be worshipped as God. This will
be the second greater fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy.
Matt 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the
abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the
holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
2 Thes 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any
means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first,
and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2 Thes 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 of God, shewing himself that he is God.
F. Israel will flee to the wilderness (Rev
12:14-16).
Matt 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea
flee into the mountains.
G. Revelation 13
(1)
Covers 3 ½ years of Antichrist’s rise to power using a false prophet and
false religious system to control Earth and commerce. It ends with Christians
awaiting a death sentence. Like Daniel 7, he will have 7 heads and 10 horns.
Also like Daniel 7, he will have
features of a lion, bear, leopard and dragon (Rev 13:1-2).
(2) A powerful false prophet will perform
false miracles to deceive the world. The mark of obedience to Antichrist is 666
(Rev 13:11-18).
H. Revelation 14 covers the fates of the 144,000
Israelites, God’s final call to unbelievers
and ends with God’s wrath on the invading armies at Armageddon.
(1) Jesus will be seen standing upon Mount
Zion with the 144,000 in safety (14:1-5)
(2) God will give unbelievers one last chance
to be saved or spend eternity in torment with those who worshipped the beast
(14:6-11).
(3) Tribulation martyrs will be seen in
heaven (14:12; 15:1-3).
(4) Many more martyrs are yet to come (14:13).
Compare 18:4.
(5) Reaping of the final wrath of God will
begin (14:14-19).
(6) Chapter 14 ends in the Battle of
Armageddon with blood to the horses’ bridles outside the city (14:20).
I. Revelation 15 adds details to the wrath of
God first seen in 14:13.
(1) The tribulation martyrs are seen in
heaven (15:2-4). Compare 18:4.
[None can be saved afterwards; living
Christians are still on Earth.]
(2)
Temple scene in heaven (15:1, 5-8).
J.
Revelation 16 covers the 7 vials of wrath will only be poured out on those with
the mark of the beast (16:1).
(1)
The first vial will cause a terrible sore (16:2; Zech 14:12).
(2)
The second vial will cause sea life to die (16:3).
(3)
The third vial will cause fresh water life to die. The angelS declare
God to be righteous for His judgment (16:4-7).
(4)
The fourth vial will cause the Sun to scorch (16:8-9).
(5)
The fifth vial will cause painful darkness on the seat of the beast
(16:10-11).
(6)
The sixth angel will cause unclean spirits like demons to cause the
Euphrates’ River to dry up and cause the beasts’ allies to gather for the
Battle of Armageddon (16:12-16). See 14:20.
(7) The seventh vial (16:7-21) will cause:
a. “It
is done” (16:17). Compare 18:4). Salvation time has ended.
b.
demons will gather the kings of the east and of the whole world to a
place called Armageddon (Joel 3:1-10; Eze 38-39; Zech 12:2b; 14:1-2a; Rev
16:13-16).
c. the greatest earthquake ever will split
Antichrist’s city into three parts and destroy the cities of the nations. Every
island and mountain will be leveled (Rev 16:16-19).
d.
Babylon will split into three parts (16:19)
e. the
cities of the nations fell (16:19)
f. A
great plague of hailstones will fall upon men and they will blaspheme God (Rev
16:21).
g.
Half of Jerusalem will fall and (half) its citizens will be removed
(Zech 14:2b).
ARMAGEDDON BEGINS
h.
all islands and mountains disappeared (16:20)
i.
exceeding great hailstones (16:21)
K. Revelation 17-18 describes Antichrist’s false
church system during the tribulation period and its destruction at
approximately the same time as the Battle of Armageddon.
(1) It will be a Earth-wide church-state
organization (17:2).
(2) The Antichrist beast will support the
false church (17:3).
(3) The false church will be called “Babylon
the Great” (17:4-5, 18).
(4) The false church will be directly
responsible for martyring the saints (17:7; Dan 7:25).
(5) The Antichrist beast will be Satan
himself (17:8).
(6) The 7 heads of the beast are 7 mountains
on which the woman sits (17:9).
(7) 7 kings: 5 fallen, 1 is, 1 yet to come, 8th
is of the 7 (17:10-11).
?Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia,
Greece/Rome/Rome resurrected?
(8) 10 kings not yet; beast gives
power one hour (17:12-14).
(9) 10 kings destroy the whore (17:15-16).
All others mourns for her (18:9-24).
(10) This is all God’s plan (17:17).
(11) An angel proclaims “Babylon is fallen”
--- fulfilling 14:8 (18:1-3).
(12) A last call will be heard to “Come out
of her, my people” (18:4). Compare 15:2-4.
12.
RETURN OF CHRIST IN
GLORY
A. Jesus, the stone cut out without hands, will
return in the time period when the Roman Empire will be loosely reunited by
Antichrist (Dan 2:44-45; 7:20-24).
B.
The 10 horns of Daniel 7 (toes of Daniel 2) are still future when the book of
Revelation was written (Rev 17:12-14).
C. Jesus will return when Israel is back in its
land. This began to be fulfilled in 1948 (Eze 36:18; Mt 24:14-31). Ezekiel is
addressed to the whole house of Israel --- not just Judah.
D. Jesus will return in glory with all His
saints and angels and is seen by all (Rev 19:11-15). This event will probably
last several months according to Zechariah 12-14 and Daniel 2:44-45.
E.
Jesus will return while all nations are invading Israel and besieging Jerusalem
(Rev 16:14; Zech 14:1-4).
F.
Jesus will literally stand upon Mount Zion. The mountain will split east to
west with a great valley between (Zech 14:4).
G.
The Israelites will flee to the valley for protection (Zech 14:5).
This
is the middle of the Day of the Lord.
H.
The enemy will go mad and its horses will go blind (Zech 12:4; 14:15).
I.
The people of Jerusalem will regather and fight back (Zech 12:5-6).
J.
Jesus will destroy all unbelievers (Mal 4:1; Zech 12:7-9; 2 Thes 2:8; Rev
19:15).
K.
The invading soldiers will have their flesh melt away (Zech 14:12; Rev 16:2).
L.
The invading soldiers will also begin fighting each other (Zech 14:12).
M.
Antichrist and his false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire (Gehenna)
(Rev 19:19-20).
N.
The remainder of Antichrist’s army and worshippers will be slain by Christ (Rev
19:21). Jesus will fight against His enemies with pestilence, fire, brimstone
and hailstone (Eze 38:22).
13.
INTERLDE
BETWEEN THE SECOND
COMING
IN GLORY AND THE
MILLENNIUM
A. War booty will make Jerusalem rich (Zech
14:15).
B. Judah and Jerusalem will accept Christ as
their Messiah. They will “look upon Him whom they have pierced” and mourn for
Him as a firstborn (Zech 12:10). There will be great mourning (Zech 12:11-14;
13:1-6).
C.
A period of cleanup will follow the second coming of Christ in glory (Eze
39:9-14; Rev 19:17-18).
14.
THE MILLENNIUM,
THOUSAND-YEAR
REIGN OF MESSIAH ON
EARTH
A. Only born-again Christians will enter the
Millennium as un-resurrected saints (Rev 19:19-21). These are the survivors of
the great tribulation, Antichrist and God’s wrath. Since many of their subsequent
children will not be saved.
B.
The Lord will be king over all Earth (Zech 14:9).
C. There will be no mountains (Zech 14:10; Rev
16:15).).
D. Jerusalem will be the center of world-wide
worship (Isa 2:2-4; 11:1-12; Micah 4:2-3; 5:1-9; Zech 14:16-21).
E. Satan will be cast into the bottomless pit
for 1000 years (Rev 20:1-3).
F. All Israel will fully return from being
scattered (Jer 23:3-6; Deu 30:2-3; Amos 9:11-15; Hos 14:4-9; Rom 11:26).
G.
The tribulation martyrs will reign with Christ (Rev 20:4).
H.
The 12 apostles will rule the 12 tribes of Israel (Mt 19:28).
I.
Gentile Christians will rule the remainder of Earth under the direction of
Jerusalem (I Cor 6:2). [The first resurrection has several phases and is for
the righteous only.]
J.
The land of Israel will be extremely fruitful (Joel 3:18-21; Isaiah 60-66 all).
K. A memorial temple will be built (Eze 40-43).
L. Animals and snakes will not be harmful (Isa
11:6-9).
M. There will be no weapons during the 1000
years (Isa 2:4; Joel 3:10; Mic 4:3).
N.
Messiah will rule with a rod of iron (Isa 60:12; Ps 2:9; Dan 2:44-45; 7:14, 18,
27; Rev 19:15).
O. God’s glory will replace the glory of the sun
and moon and there will be no night (in Jerusalem) (Isa 60:19-20).
P. All Hebrews will be priests in the memorial
temple (Isa 61:6; Ex 19:5-6).
Q. At the end of the 1000 years Satan will be
loosed and gather the wicked from all nations to attack Jerusalem (Rev
20:7-9a).
R. God will destroy the wicked (Rev 20:9b).
S. Satan will be cast into the lake of fire
(Gehenna) (Rev 20:10).
15.
THE GREAT WHITE
THRONE JUDGMENT
A. The judgment verdict of unbelievers occurs
when they reject the gospel (John 3:16-18; 16:8-9).
B. The final judgment declaration of unbelievers
will occur in outer space (Rev 20:11a).
C. Earth and its atmosphere will disappear (Rev
20:11b).
D. The bodies and souls of all unbelievers
constitute the second resurrection (John 5:29; Rev 20:6, 12, 13).
E. Unbelievers will be judged according to their
words because they rejected Christ and their names were not found in the book
of life (John 3:16-18; Rev 20:12-15).
F. Death and Hell (Hades) will be cast into the
lake of fire (Gehenna) (Rev 20:14).
16.
ETERNITY
A. God will create a new heaven and a new earth
with no oceans (Rev 21:1).
B. A new Jerusalem will descend to the new
Earth. God will dwell with mankind in all His glory (Rev 21:2-3).
C. Eternity (Rev 21-22).
Russell
Earl Kelly, PHD
1211
Bluefield Ave
Elizabethton,
Tn 37643
russkellyphd@yahoo.com
www.tithing-russkelly.com/theology
706-401-1276
