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Saturday, December 24, 2022

THE GREAT PROBLEM OF MALACHI 3:10

 

THE GREAT PROBLEM

OF MALACHI 3:10

By Russell Earl Kelly, PHD

Revised, December 31, 2022

 

THE PROBLEM:

 

Today all of the explanations of Malachi 3:10 in all Bible commentaries make God into a cruel tyrant.

 

Why? They all teach that the sin of the people of Judah in Malachi 3:10 was not bringing the whole food tithe to the one temple storehouse in Jerusalem.

 

Something is very seriously wrong with this explanation.

 

Name your state, province or capital city. Now, pretend that your religion is national like Judah’s and commands all of your members to “bring all of the food tithe into the one storehouse at the capital city.” How would you like it if your church members had to do that? And, how would you like it if your church leaders who needed the tithe for food had to travel to the capital city every time they were hungry?

 

The obvious answer is “Nobody would tolerate such command!” However, that is exactly what the commentary theologians and tithe-teaching pastors tell us that God commanded the people of Judea! In fact, most emphasize on that explanation of “all” in Malachi 3:10!

 

Yet, this is absolutely contrary to both logic and the teaching of God’s Word!

 

If you were an Old Testament Levite-priest under King Solomon, you lived in one of 13 cities inside Judah. However, if you were an ordinary Levite before Israel’s civil war (930 B. C.), you lived in one of 35 non-priestly Levite cities in the remainder of Israel (Josh 21). The northern-most city of Dan was 99 miles from Jerusalem, Jericho is 23 miles away up and down a steep mountain and the southern city of Beersheba is 69 miles from Jerusalem. Only a cruel God would command that kind of travel for food.

 

 

SOLVING THE PROBLEM

 

A.  In Leviticus 27:30-34 the holy tithe was only food from inside God’s holy land of Israel. It was only the tenth of the crops and clean domestic animals. Although money was common, the holy tithe was always only food from inside holy Israel, God’s special property. The holy tithe was neither the “best” nor the “first” …. it was the “tenth”.

 

B. Numbers 18:20-28 is the exact wording of the tithing statute, or ordinance. The holy tithe was to replace land inheritance and wealth for worker-Levites and priest-Levites for their service in the temple. The priest-Levites only received the best one tenth of the whole tithe.

 

C. In Numbers 35 and Joshua 20-21, before the civil war of 930 B. C., there were portions of 48 cities scattered among the other tribes for the Levites to live. Common sense should include these facts in an explanation of Malachi 3:10; the citizens of the tribes would bring the first whole Levitical tithe to the Levitical cities within their own tribes.

 

D.  First Kings 6 describes the storage rooms of Solomon’s temple. Since there are no huge storerooms described for “all” the tithe of Solomon’s prosperous Israel, the first whole Levitical tithe must have been brought by the people to the Levitical cities. This affects a proper interpretation of Malachi 3:10.

 

E. Second Chronicles 31 (circa 720 B. C.) is crucial for understanding Malachi 3:10. While beginning a revival after years of pagan worship in Judah, in 31:4 King Hezekiah mistakenly commanded the people to bring the tithes to Jerusalem. In 31:5-7 the people brought so much that there was no storage space and they “laid them by heaps” in the streets of Jerusalem.

 

In 31:8-9 King Hezekiah realized that something was wrong. Why were there heaps of food rotting in the streets of Jerusalem? He questioned the priests and Levites.

 

This was Solomon’s temple over 250 years later! It still contained no storage facilities for all the tithes of the nation! In 31:11-12 the king commanded that “limited” storage facilities be constructed (in Solomon’s temple). These would be the forerunners of chambers in Zerubbabel’s temple as seen in Nehemiah 13:5. They were quite small, or “limited”, because they only held the tithe for one course of priests and Levites for one week at a time.

 

In 31:13-21 the answer to the problem of Malachi 3:10 is found. The events which followed adding limited tithe chambers to Solomon’s temple are extremely important! Notice that the overflow of the heaps was re-distributed to the cities where the priests and Levites lived! This is logical. This is common sense. This is where the tithes should have been brought from the beginning. The temple was not enlarged to hold “the whole tithe” of the nation! Only a very small portion of the first whole Levitical tithe was later re-supplied to the temple for the weekly course of Levites and priests.

 

The remainder of chapter 31 is extremely important. It explains why Hezekiah’s commandment to bring all tithes to Jerusalem was wrong --- it belonged in the Levitical cities.

 

 

F. Nehemiah 10:35-39 are the best verses in the Bible which prove that the people brought the first Levitical tithe to the cities where the Levites and priests lived. When the “you” of Malachi 1:6-14; 2:1 -9, 13-17 and all of chapters 3 and 4 is understood to refer only to the dishonest priests of Judah, Malachi 3:10 is logical.

 

Notice the difference between 10:29-37a and 10:37b-39. In 10:29-37a the people of Judah swore an oath to bring the first-fruits and firstborn “unto the priests that minister” “unto the chambers of the house of our God.” These were the duplicated chambers first added to Solomon’s temple 250 years after it was built.

 

Nehemiah 10:37a-39 is the key to understanding Malachi 3:10. Verse 37b states “and we should bring … the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.” Again, of utmost importance for understanding Malachi 3:10, the tithes (not the first-fruits or firstborn) were brought to the cities of Judah where the Levites and priests needed them for food!

 

Read Nehemiah 10:38-39 with the context of Numbers 18:25-28. After 930 B. C. the only Levitical cities remaining of the original 48 were 13 priests’ cities in Judah. When the priests and Levites travelled every 24th week to minister in the temple, the Levites carried the priests’ share (one per cent) to the temple for them. This is the only portion of the tithe brought to the temple and it was brought (not by the people as many mis-interpret Malachi 3:10) but by the Levites per verse 39.

 

 

G. Nehemiah 13:4-12 proves conclusively that “all” of the tithe of the people, or the “whole” tithe was never intended to be brought to the temple in Jerusalem.

 

While governor Nehemiah was away (13:6), the high priest Eliashib emptied the large storeroom which partially held tithes and moved his pagan friend into it 13:4-5). This is a crucial text for understanding Malachi 3:10. This one room only contained the Levites’ portion of the tithe.

 

In addition to the Levites’ portion of the tithes, that singular chamber also held “food offerings, frankincense, vessels and wine” (13:5). Notice in 13:10 that only the Levites (not the priests) had returned to their fields for something to eat. All of the priests had been involved in the theft of the Levites’ portion of the tithe. Since that chamber could not possibly hold “all” the tithe described in 2 Chronicles 31 as “heaps” in the streets of Jerusalem, then “all” the tithe in Malachi 3:10 must only refer to that portion of the Levites’ tithe which the priests under Eliashib had removed!

 

Since verse 5 does not include the daily food tithes for the weekly rotation of the priests, those must have been kept elsewhere.

 

Nehemiah 13:12-13 reflects an emergency restocking. It does not negate 10:37a-38 and does not refer to the whole tithe because it is clear in Second Chronicles 31:6 that there were not enough storage facilities for the tithes.

 

Nehemiah 13 is probably the context of Malachi 3:8-10. In Nehemiah 13:28-30 Nehemiah cleansed both the priests and Levites.

 

 

H. Malachi 3:6-10 has been misinterpreted by Bible teachers. This is due to a failure to link the preceding texts from First Kings 6, Second Chronicles 31, Nehemiah 10, Nehemiah 10 and 13 and Malachi 1:6; 2:1 to 3:5 and logic.

 

Please study the following comments carefully.  Any logical explanation from readers will be much appreciated.

 

1.          Malachi 3:6’s “sons of Jacob” is a reference only to the Levitical priests. Since 10 of the 12 tribes had been lost, the text cannot refer to all 12 tribes. Priests are legitimate “sons of Jacob.” See the same reference in Nehemiah 13:28.

 

2.          The persons being addressed as “you” in 3:6 remain the priests from 1:6-14; 2:1-9 and 2:13 to the end of Malachi. Therefore, God is consistent in continuing to rebuke the priests for stealing the tithe in 1:6-14 and Nehemiah 13:5.

 

3.          In Malachi 3:8 “robbed me in tithes and offerings” adds to 1:6-14 where the priests robbed God in impure sacrifices. It is also a reference to Nehemiah 13:5-10 where the priests had removed the Levites’ tithes from the storeroom and caused the Levites to return to their fields. The priests were not complaining and had their tithe food.

 

4.          In Malachi 3:9 “the whole nation” can also read “the whole nation of you (priests) as translated in the NAS, RSV and NIV. Every priest had obeyed their high priest, Eliashib, and was involved in the robbery.  According to 1:14 and Numbers 18:25-28, the Levites had given the priests the best of their herds.

 

5.          Most important, in Malachi 3:10 “all the tithe” is only a reference to all the tithes which had been removed by the priests in Nehemiah 13:5. God was commanding the priests to return all the tithe they had robbed from Him which had caused the Levites to return to their fields (Neh 13:10).

 

6.          Conclusion: Studied together, all of First Kings 6, all of Second Chronicles 31, Nehemiah 10:37a-38 and Nehemiah 13:4-12 prove that Malachi 3:10’s “storehouse” was, at the most, two large rooms combined. Almost 300 years earlier, King Hezekiah realized that Solomon’s temple had no storage facilities for the “whole tithe” of the much-smaller nation of Judah (2 Chronicles 31:1-19). Therefore, common sense teaches that “all the tithe” cannot possibly refer to all of the tithe of all of the nation.

 

Second Chronicles 31 clearly teaches that Solomon’s temple had no facilities to hold the whole tithe of the whole nation. King Hezekiah correctly returned the vast majority to the cities where the priests and Levites required the tithes.

 

Nehemiah 10:37b-38 is correct --- the people were always commanded to bring the tithe to the Levitical cities. In turn the Levites brought the very small portions of the priests’ tithe to the temple for their one-week rotation.

 

If every Levite and priest ministered in the temple every 24th week (4% of the time) and the wives and younger children stayed home (2% of the total), only 2% of the Levites and priests needed tithes at the temple at any one time.

 

God never commanded anybody other than dishonest priests in Malachi’s time to “bring ye all the tithe into the storehouse.”

 

Russell Earl Kelly, PHD

russkellyphd@yahoo.com

 

Monday, August 22, 2022

Symbols Around the Throne of God

 

SYMBOLS AROUND THE THONE OF GOD

By Russell Earl Kelly, PHD

Augusts 22, 2022

 

Ezekiel 1:4-10

5 four living creatures had the likeness of a man

6 And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.

7 feet like calves

8 hands of a man under their wings

10 each had four faces

(Ezekiel is on the south side facing north)

SOUTH: a man (nearest Ezekiel facing north)

EAST: a lion on the right side facing east

WEST: An ox on the left side facing west

NORH: an eagle (facing away to the north)

 

……………………………………………

Revelation 4:4-10

4:4  24 elders around the throne (church)

4:6 round about the throne, were four beasts

John is to the East facing West. The Temple opened to the East and worshippers entered facing West. The shewbread was on the North on John’s right side.

7 LION facing East nearest John

CALF facing West farthest away from John

MAN facing South to John’s left

EAGLE facing North to John’s right

………………………………………………………….

NUMBERS 2 ISRAEL AROUND THE TABERNACLE

Num 2:1-3:5

2 Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house

3 JUDAH: EAST, 5 ISSACHAR, 7 ZEBULUN

10 REUBEN: SOUTH; 12 SIMEON; 14 GAD

……………………………………

17 LEVITES WITH THE TABERNACLE 

………………………………….

1 EPHRAIM: WEST, 20 MANASSEH, 22 BENJAMIN

25 DAN: NORTH, 27 ASHER, 29 NAPHTALI

In Isaiah 14:13 heaven is described as the “sides of the north” and Psalm 48:2 describes Mount Zion as the “sides of the north.”

…………………………………

REVELATION 21:12-13

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:

13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

…..

The symbolism is hard to ignore. The heavenly New Jerusalem will have 12 gates aligned exactly as the 12 tribes of Israel camped around the Tabernacle in the wilderness in Numbers 2.

…………………………………………………………………………….

 

 

 

 

The standards, or flags, did not necessarily match the blessings of Jacob in Genesis 49 nor the blessings of Moses in Deuteronomy 33. Judah’s lion flag was consistent with the blessing. Reuben’s man flag was based on the meaning of his name and not water. Ephraim’s calf flag was not related to the blessing of a fruitful bough described by Jacob. And Dan’s eagle flag differed from Jacob’s reference to a snake and Moses’ reference to a lion’s whelp (Deu 33:22).

………………………………………………………………………….

THE THEOLOGICAL SYMBOLISM:

 

LION: EAST: JUDAH: MATTHEW: Jesus is King of Kings

MAN: SOUTH: REUBEN: LUKE: Jesus is the Son of Man

OX: WEST: EPHRAIM: MARK: Jesus is the Servant

EAGLE: NORTH: DAN: JOHN: Jesus is the Son of God

 

A NEW WAY TO STUDY GOD'S WORD

PARTICIPLES:

A BETTER WAY TO STUDY

AND

UNDERSTAND THE NEW TESTAMENT

By: Russell Earl Kelly, PHD

March 17, 2023

Participles. What are they? When do we use them in English? Does God use them in the Greek New Testament? How important are they?

 

Look it up. “Participles” are verb-nouns we use in English to denote continuous non-stop action. We formerly called them “gerunds” many years ago in English class. To my great surprise, God uses them quite often --- much more than we do --- in the Greek New Testament.

 

For example, “believeth” and “believes” are almost always participles which should be translated “believing.” They signify continuous action; they do not signify one-time action and that is very important in God’s Word. God inspired participles of almost every verb in the New Testament. He inspired over 85 participles for “believeth” and “believes” alone. He must be disappointed that English translators only left the “ing” meaning in five (5) of the 85 occurrences.

 

What difference does that make? Much indeed!  For example, instead of “whosoever believeth” in John 3:16, it should read “the (one) continuously believing” in Him should have everlasting life.  This real meaning of participles is found in 45 of the most important “believe” texts in God’s Word.

 

“The (one or ones) continuously believing” in Jesus Christ are “the ones continuously having” (another participle): everlasting life, justification by faith, imputed righteousness, spiritual peace,  sonship with God, righteousness and every other major salvation promise.

Sunday, July 24, 2022

The Plot of Top Gun is 3rd Generation

 The plot of Top Gun, Maverick, is its 3rd usage. The first was a WWII war movie about the British Mosquito bomber. (see Mosquito Squadron).  The second was Star Wars' first movie.  All three involve an impossible bombing run down a low-level slot beneath enemy guns to hit a difficult target and end with a vertical climb. The wooden Mosquito bomber set the standard. 

Thursday, July 21, 2022

ESCHATOLOGY: LAST DAY EVENTS

 

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