• Partial Rapture, Tribulation RSS Feed

    by Published on 06-02-2015 01:24 AM     Number of Views: 1481 
    1. Categories:
    2. Millennial Kingdom

    [Rev 21:1-8 KJV] 1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

    Revelation 21.5-8 The Difference between the Saved and Those Who Perish


    Even though this subdivision is closely related to the preceding one (vv.2-4), the people in verse 6b are nonetheless quite different from those in verse 3.

    21.5 The one who sits on the throne is most likely God.

    The word “write” means to have it written in this book. Such a command reveals the great significance of this subdivision.

    21.6 “They are come to pass” [ASV]—Whatever is recorded in this book must come to pass. God will bring heaven and earth to His original design. He is the Alpha and the Omega, therefore all shall be fulfilled.

    21.7 The “overcometh” here is not the same as that of chapters 2 and 3, for in chapters 2 and 3 it is an overcoming by works, that is, an overcoming that involves a comparing of believers with believers; whereas here it is an overcoming that involves a comparison of believers with the unbelieving world (cf. 1 John 5.4 which mentions overcoming the world through faith).

    In what respects are the people spoken of in 21.6-8 different from the people who appear in verses 2 and 3? Please note the following observations.

    (1) From 21.3 we learn that John saw in a vision that the tabernacle of God is with men, that is to say, God is dwelling with the many peoples on earth. The people mentioned in 21.6b are said to be those who are athirst after they have heard the good news described above.

    (2) The men shown in verses 2 and 3 are God’s peoples who dwell on the new earth, while those shown in 21.7 are God’s sons who live in the city.

    (3) The men mentioned in 21.3 are simply those peoples on earth who share together the common blessings; but the men referred to in 21.7 are not only sons of God, they are also God’s servants and kings unto Him (22.3,5).

    (4) “They shall be his peoples” (21.3) signifies something corporate and common; “He shall be my son” (21.7) represents something personal and intimate.

    (5) “They shall be his peoples” (21.3) is that which appears to be spoken in the third person, whereas “I will be his God, and he shall be my son” (21.7) seems to be a direct way of speaking.

    (6) The men spoken of in 21.3 dwell on God’s earth, but those mentioned in 21.7 live in God’s house.

    Positional difference among Christians is limited to the time of the millennial kingdom. In the new heaven and new earth, all believers are equally positioned.

    21.8 “The fearful”—these are those who know they can be saved if they believe, yet dare not believe for fear of men. “Unbelieving”—these are those who just do not believe. “Abominable”—a reference to not only those who worship idols but also to those who worship celestial bodies. “Sorcerers”—those who have communications with demons.

    “The lake that burneth with fire and brimstone”—In the new heaven and new earth there is no sea, yet there will still be the lake of fire.
    by Published on 01-07-2015 08:16 AM     Number of Views: 3554 
    1. Categories:
    2. Prophecies,
    3. The Third Temple,
    4. Partial Rapture,
    5. Daniel 9.24-27,
    6. 2022 to 2029

    The 7 Trumpets in Revelation are the Tribulation. Trumpets are loud as the Tribulation will be. Whereas the 7th Trumpet with its 7 Bowls of Wrath are larger than cups, poured silently, because so much happens so quickly as if time stands still in the last trumpet of the 7 year Tribulation, this being Daniel's final seven -- the 70th seven of Daniel's prophecy. The 70th seven (which hasn't happened yet because Dan. 9.24 is unfulfilled) encompasses the parousia of Christ from the first rapture "before the throne" (Rev. 7.9) in 3rd heaven to meeting the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4.14-18) at the last trumpet (cf. 1 Cor. 15.23,50-52) to Jesus stepping down on the mount of olives (Zech. 14.4, Acts 1.11, Rev. 1.7) at the end of the 2,520 days of the Tribulation (7 years x 360 Jewish calendar days). Note: the rapture before the throne for Christians who are prayerful and watchful is before the 1st trumpet is blown (8.7).

    We are told to look for signs before Jesus' 2nd coming. Before the first trumpet is blown 3 things happen in very precise order (Rev. 6.12):

    1) Great earthquake. We know in 2010 Haiti experienced an earthquake where 320,000 people died which is the 2nd most deaths of any earthquake recorded in human history. In 2011 Japan had an earthquake that was the 4th greatest in magnitude ever recorded anywhere on planet earth. Back to back, year over year, this has never happened before. It was a first for the record books. Truly this is a great earthquake that meets the criteria.

    2) Black sackcloth sun. There are 4 kinds of solar eclipses. The rarest is the Hybrid occurring 5% of the time. And there are 3 kinds of hybrids of which the H3 is the rarest occurring 5% of that 5%. The H3 completes itself as a total eclipse to produce that black sackcloth effect. They are even more rare according to NASA when they last 1 minute and 30 seconds or more. Just such a solar eclipse occurred on Nov. 3, 2013. It was the 4th since Christ and won't happen again till 2172.

    3) Red blood moon. NASA records red blood moons as Tetrads when there are two in a single year then two the following year. There were no Tetrads in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. They are even more rare when they land on the 1st feast of Passover and the 7th feast of Tabernacles and again the following year. This is called a Total Lunar Tetrad or Feast Tetrad. The 6th time this happened since Christ was 1949/50. Israel became a nation May 14, 1948. The Armistice treaty was signed in 1949. The 7th since Christ was 1967/68 when Israel reclaimed Jerusalem on June 7, 1967. The 8th is 2014/15 when the construction of the 3rd Temple is coming into view. And it won't happen again till 2582/83 but has no unique solar eclipse attached to it at that time, so the time is now.

    At the end of the Tribulation will be the "sign of the Son of Man" (Matt. 24.30) in the year Jesus steps down on the mount of olives. This would occur a few months before He steps down. One thing in church history is we have never been able to find a convincing sign of the Son of Man until now. On April 13, 2029 asteroid Apophis will come within 25,000 miles of earth which is satellite distance range and most definitely will interrupt some satellite communications. This asteroid is about 3 football fields in length. The last time an asteroid of this size hit earth was about 80,000 years ago. If it entered our atmosphere it would kill tens of millions of people. There will be much fanfare surrounding this event preceding Christ's return.

    The temple in Brazil took 4 years to build at a cost of $300 million. The Tribulation 2022-29 would require the 3rd Temple be completed by Passover so that there would be 2300 days (Dan. 8.14) from Passover 2023 to Tisha B'Av 2029. Construction must begin no later than 2020. Look for this sign that draws you to Christ. Tisha B'Av is vital because that was when the 1st and 2nd Temples were destroyed and where Jesus will reign from in the 3rd Temple over the nations with His overcomers (Jude 14,15; Rev. 2.26,27; 20.4-6) for 1000 years before we move to the New City (Rev. 21).

    After the 2014/15 Tetrad there will be 7 years of plenty (due to extremely low interest rates). Joseph was told that there would be seven years of abundance to prepare Egypt for the seven years of famine that would follow (Gen. 41.25-49). This is a prophetic type of a seven year period of abundance that will precede the Tribulation as a time for the Church and Israel to prepare. This principal of Divine warning to make preparation for a specified period of tribulation is seen in other Biblical examples.

    Every 7 out of 19 years, there are 2,520 days from Feast of Trumpets to Tisha B'Av. The other 12 out of 19 years there are 1260 + 1290 (Dan. 12.11) days from Feast of Trumpets to Day of Atonement. 2015-22 meets the 2,520 days, and the 2022-29 matches the 2,550 days.

    "If therefore thou shalt not watch...thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee" (Rev. 3.3). So the reason you may not perceive this when Jesus returns is because why? Not being a watchful "repentant" Christian (v.3a).
    by Published on 01-05-2015 11:08 PM     Number of Views: 2777 
    1. Categories:
    2. Prophecies,
    3. The Third Temple,
    4. 2022 to 2029

    We are told to watch for signs. If we are not watchful we won't know when Jesus returns (Rev. 3.3). The most amazing thing to me in the Bible eschatologically is Rev. 6.12 in which we are told 3 things happen in precise order before the Tribulation:

    1) Great earthquake. In 2010 Haiti had an earthquake that killed 320,000 people. This is the 2nd most deaths of any earthquake recorded on earth ever. Then in 2011 Japan experienced an earthquake that was the 4th greatest in magnitude ever recorded in earth's history. Back to back, year over year, two such earthquakes of this intensity and damage have never occurred before.

    2) Black sackcloth sun. There are 4 kinds of solar eclipses. The rarest is the Hybrid occurring 5% of the time. And there are 3 kinds of Hybrids, the rarest which is the H3 occurring 5% of that 5% so very rare. The H3 completes itself as a total eclipse to produce that black sackcloth effect. They are even more rare when they last longer than 1 min. 30 sec. according to NASA. On Nov. 3, 2013 this very rare eclipse occurred for the 4th time since Christ. It won't happen again till 2172.

    3) Red blood moon. Red blood moon lunar eclipses are more rare in the form of Tetrads. A Tetrad occurs when you have two red blood moons one year, followed by two more the next year. For example, there was none in the 17th, 18th and 19th century. But they are even more rare when they land on the first Jewish feast (Passover) and the 7th feast (Tabernacles) then doing the exact same thing again the following year. This is called a Total Lunar Tetrad or Feast Tetrad. It won't happen again till 2582/83 (nearly 600 years away), and there is no unique solar eclipse attached to it so the time is now for the Lord's return. "In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know His return is very near, right at the door" (Matt. 24.33). A unique event related to the Jewish nation occurs each time there is a feast Tetrad. The 6th (1949/50) was when Israel became a nation May 1948. The armistice treaty was signed in 1949. The 7th (1967/68) was when Israel took over Jerusalem June 7, 1967. And 2014/15 is the 8th feast Tetrad wherein construction of the 3rd Temple comes into view. You see the pattern: from the land of Israel to the city of Jerusalem to the 3rd Temple where Christ will return to reign in for 1000 years on earth with His overcomers (Jude 14,15; Rev. 2.26,27; 20.4-6). "Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth" (Eccl. 11.2). This agrees with the 7th and 8th Tetrads that are the final ones before Jesus returns. Truly spectacular!

    Joseph was told that there would be seven years of abundance to prepare Egypt for the seven years of famine that would follow (Genesis 41.25-49). This may be a prophetic type of a seven year period of abundance that will precede the Tribulation as a time for the Church and Israel to prepare. This principal of Divine warning to make preparation for a specified period of tribulation is seen in other Biblical examples: http://biblocality.com/forums/content.php?345

    There are 7 x 360 or 2,520 days (2,520 is the smallest number divisible by 2 to 10) from Feast of Trumpets Sept. 14, 2015 to Tisha B'Av Aug. 7, 2022 (Tisha B'Av was when the 1st and 2nd Temples were destroyed) to feast and prepare. The next 7 years after that must be the Tribulation and its famine. We find that there are exactly 2,550 days, 1260 + 1290 (Dan. 12.11), from Feast of Trumpets Sept. 26, 2022 to Day of Atonement Sept. 19, 2029.

    What then is the "sign of the Son of Man" (Matt. 24.30) in the year Jesus returns and steps down on the mount of olives? That sign is on April 13, 2029 asteroid Apophis. This asteroid is 3 football fields in length. The last time this size hit earth was 80,000 years ago. If it were to hit today it would kill tens of millions of people. It is expected to come within satellite distance range, within 25,000 miles of earth, which could affect some satellite communications. I for one can't think of a greater sign than this, can you? Be honest with yourself. This is the most spectacular as it gets in a natural world we inhabit. Much fanfare will be all to do about nothing as it will pass relatively harmlessly.

    The 3rd Temple must be completed by Passover 2023 so that there are 2300 days for the Temple to be cleansed (Dan. 8.14) from Passover 2023 to Tisha B'Av 2029. The temple in Brazil took 4 years to build, costing $300 million. Assuming the 3rd Temple can be completed in 4 years, construction must begin no later than 2020. The Temple Institute better not screw me over with this prediction with further delays! Also expect to see the implant under your skin to buy and sell to become more ubiquitous than now.

    2015 is the 120th Jubilee since Adam was 18 years in 3986 BC (his age of accountability). He was born 4004 BC, determined by adding up the ages in the Bible. It is also a Shemita year in which we have seen in the past two decades a give back that has occurred on the last day of the Jewish calendar Elul 29. On Elul 29, 2008 the DJIA dropped 7%. On Elul 29, 2001 after the twin towers were hit the markets opened after being closed for a week and dropped 7%. Elul 29 in 2015 is Sept. 13 which is a Sunday. The DJIA futures on Sunday will get hammered 7% (or it could be the US Dollar Index). Warning that something would happen was given in 1994 when comet Shoemaker broke into 21 pieces, smashing into Jupiter. The first two sets of 7 pieces led to a massive drop in the DJIA. The completion of this judgment will be 2015 (21 years from 1994) before we head into the 7 years of plenty followed by the 7 years of famine, that is, the 7 year Tribulation with its loudly occurring 7 Trumpets. The ancient Hebrews commemorated 21 days before Tisha B'Av because for those 21 days sacrifices stopped in Israel after which the 3rd Temple was destroyed. They sinned against the Lord by ending their sacrifices which were pointed to Christ's first coming.

    What amazing signs! I don't think we could ask for better signs than these. I know I can't think of anything more astounding and spectacular, can you?

    Praise the Lord for this discernment! Amen.
    by Published on 12-20-2014 10:10 PM     Number of Views: 4466 
    1. Categories:
    2. 2022 to 2029

    Joseph was told that there would be seven years of abundance to prepare Egypt for the seven years of famine that would follow (Genesis 41.25-49). This may be a prophetic type of a seven year period of abundance that will precede the Tribulation as a time for the Church and Israel to prepare. This principal of Divine warning to make preparation for a specified period of tribulation is seen in other Biblical examples:

    1) Noah was warned to prepare food and enter the ark 7 days before the flood began.
    2) Rahab was warned 7 days before the battle of Jericho and so made plans to safeguard her family. She was taken out by the two spies after the 7th trumpet on the 7th day.
    3) Israel was warned to prepare provisions 7 days before they crossed the Jordan to Jericho.
    4) Elisha warned the Shunamite woman about the 7 year famine that was about to occur.
    5) Israel was promised abundant crops before the land was rested on the Sabbatical Year which takes place once every 7 years.

    25 Joseph responded, “Both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. 26 The seven healthy cows and the seven healthy heads of grain both represent seven years of prosperity. 27 The seven thin, scrawny cows that came up later and the seven thin heads of grain, withered by the east wind, represent seven years of famine.

    28 “This will happen just as I have described it, for God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. 29 The next seven years will be a period of great prosperity throughout the land of Egypt. 30 But afterward there will be seven years of famine so great that all the prosperity will be forgotten in Egypt. Famine will destroy the land. 31 This famine will be so severe that even the memory of the good years will be erased. 32 As for having two similar dreams, it means that these events have been decreed by God, and he will soon make them happen.

    33 “Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt. 34 Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years. 35 Have them gather all the food produced in the good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses. Store it away, and guard it so there will be food in the cities. 36 That way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.”

    "Better is a poor but wise youth than an old foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings" (Eccl. 4.13).
    by Published on 09-09-2014 08:11 PM     Number of Views: 2065 
    1. Categories:
    2. 2022 to 2029

    Rev. 6.12 says there will be "a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair and the moon became as blood" before the Tribulation. The Tribulation begins with the first rapture according to readiness "before the throne" in 3rd heaven (7.9) before the 1st trumpet (8.7) of 7 trumpets that comprise the 7 year Tribulation.

    The great earthquake must be a rare one. 320,000 people died in Haiti 2010, the 2nd most deaths of any earthquake on record. Japan 2011 was 9.0 in magnitude, the 4th greatest in magnitude and radiation fallout continues to this day. Back to back, year over year, never has this occurred before in human record.

    There are 4 kinds of solar eclipses. The rarest is the Hybrid occurring 5% of the time. There are 3 types of hybrids. The rarest of all hybrids is the H3 occurring 5% of that 5%. The H3 hybrid completes itself as a total eclipse producing that black sackcloth effect. It is even more rare when NASA says it is the long version lasting more than 1 minute and 30 seconds. The 4th long H3 since Christ was Nov. 3, 2013. It won't happen again till 2172.

    The lunar tetrad that goes red is even more rare when it lands on Passover and Tabernacles, and again, on Passover and Tabernacles over 2 years. The 8th time since Christ is 2014-15. It won't happen again till 2582-83. There is no unique solar eclipse attached to it around 2582-83.

    For a prophecy of Jesus to return to be true, it must occur sometime after these 3 events in Rev. 6.12.

    The year that Jesus steps down on the mount of olives (Zech. 14.4, Acts 1.11, Rev. 1.7) must be in the year of the "sign of the Son of Man" (Matt. 24.30). "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." The most striking sign envisioned to date by anyone on earth is asteroid Apophis April 13, 2029 which is about 3 football fields in length and comes within satellite distance of earth. The last time an asteroid of this size actually hit earth was about 80,000 years ago. Apophis won't hit earth, but if it did hit land, it would kill tens of millions of people.

    Jesus would step down on earth later that year somewhere between Tisha B'Av, Day of Atonement or even Tabernacles, because the last 3 feasts pertain to His second coming.

    If Jesus steps down on earth in 2029 that would indicate the Tribulation starts in 2022 because Daniel's final 7 is also 7 years or 7 x 360 = 2,520 days which is the smallest number divisible by 2 to 10 as God's basic prophetic working unit. So pay attention!

    But the 3rd Temple must be completed with 2300 days (Dan. 8.14) before the end of the Tribulation to be cleansed. There are always 2300 days from Passover to Tisha B'Av, so the 3rd Temple must be completed by Passover 2023. The temple in Brazil that cost 300 million to build took 4 years to construct. Assuming the same for the 3rd Temple, construction would need to begin no later than 2020. Tisha B'Av is an important date because that was when the 1st and 2nd Temples were destroyed.

    Every 7 out of 19 years there are 2,520 days from Feast of Trumpets to Tisha B'Av. The other 12 out of 19 years there are 2,550 days (1260 + 1260 + 30) from Feast of Trumpets to Day of Atonement. There are 2,550 days from Feast of Trumpets Sept. 26, 2022 to Day of Atonement Sept. 19, 2029.

    If it is true there is a 7 year preparatory period from 2015 to 2022 then there should be some Biblical precedence. The story of Joseph may predict a seven year period of abundance given to prepare for the Tribulation.

    Joseph was told that there would be seven years of abundance to prepare Egypt for the seven years of famine that would follow (Genesis 41.25-49). This may be a prophetic type of a seven year period of abundance that will precede the Tribulation as a time for the Church and Israel to prepare. This principal of Divine warning to make preparation for a specified period of tribulation is seen in other Biblical examples:

    1) Noah was warned to prepare food and enter the ark 7 days before the flood began.
    2) Rahab was warned 7 days before the battle of Jericho and so made plans to safeguard her family. She was taken out by the two spies after the 7th trumpet on the 7th day.
    3) Israel was warned to prepare provisions 7 days before they crossed the Jordan to Jericho.
    4) Elisha warned the Shunamite woman about the 7 year famine that was about to occur.
    5) Israel was promised abundant crops before the land was rested on the Sabbatical Year which takes place once every 7 years.
    6) "Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land" (Gen. 41.29,30).

    Another important indicator is that during the current pope according to the Malachy prophecy the Vatican will be nuked in Rev. 17.16: "make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire." Since Rev. 12 to 19 are the details of the major points of the Tribulation from 7 to 11, in the first half of the Tribulation Rev. 8 says "it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea" (v.8). The Vatican is next to the sea. Rome sits on that great mountain - the 7 hilled city: "And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth" (17.9). The woman here, of course, is the great harlot, the Roman Catholic Church, that "makes drunk the nations with the wine of the wrath of her fornications" (14.8). She is so proud with her purple tassels: "And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication" (17.4).

    "There fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp" (v.10). This is the nuclear missile if not a suitcase nuke. "The name of the star is called Wormwood" (v.11). When the Vatican is nuked in the 1st half of the Tribulation somewhere from 2022 to 2026 this will be additional confirmation we are on the right track.

    Of course there is the 7 year treaty that will be established and broken halfway through by the Antichrist erecting himself in the 3rd Temple (2 Thess. 2.4) newly constructed. The invasion of Israel will take place but the Temple will not be harmed (Rev. 11.2). And there will be the implant under the skin to buy and sell which will become pervasive, voluntary at first and later enforced especially during the Great Tribulation (the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation). There is lots more to share, but these are the most significant data points that come to mind and this letter is running long as it is.
    by Published on 09-07-2014 11:12 PM     Number of Views: 1686 
    1. Categories:
    2. Partial Rapture

    This is a simple proof for the first rapture being according to readiness.

    Initial Outline
    The Tribulation is comprised of 7 trumpets from Rev. 7 to 11, and Rev. 12 to 19 give the details of those major points outlined by the Trumpets. The Seals are the past 20 centuries. The 7th Seal opens up the 7 Trumpets of the Tribulation. The 7 bowls of wrath make up the 7th Trumpet. Rev. 5 is the risen Lord recounting the cross as is the 1st Seal. Rev. 4 is the picture of the universe from heaven. Rev. 2 & 3 is the church age. Rev. 20 is the millennial kingdom. Rev. 21 is after that in the New City and New Earth.

    First Rapture Readiness
    The first time we see saints in heaven in Revelation is "before the throne" in 3rd heaven in 7.9. This occurs before the first trumpet of the Tribulation is blown (8.7).

    So who is taken at that time?

    "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left" (Matt. 24.40). "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come" (v.42).

    Who is being spoken to? Believers since it says "your Lord". What are they told to do? "Watch..." So if you don't watch you won't be taken. It's always better to be taken to be with the Lord.

    What other passages say the same thing?

    "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21.36).

    What are "these things"? The Tribulation. Where will those stand who watch and pray always? Rev. 7.9 said "before the throne" in 3rd heaven. Whereas those believers alive and left at the 7th trumpet of the Tribulation will "meet the Lord in the air" (not the throne) according to 1 Thess. 4.14-18 since it is according to completion, not according to reward. This "trump of God" (1 Thess. 4.16) is the last trumpet" (1 Cor. 15.52). Saints go to meet the Lord in the air at the start of the 7th trumpet where there "were great voices in heaven" (Rev. 11.15) then at the end of the 7th trumpet Jesus completely "shall descend from heaven" (1 Thess. 4.16), stepping down on the mount of olives (Zech. 14.4, Acts 1.11, Rev. 1.7).

    If "thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth" (Rev. 3.10).

    If you keep the word of His patience, you will be kept not just from trial and tribulation, but the Tribulation itself - the very hour - that is to come upon the whole world.

    God can't make this promise to Christians during the Tribulation, because many of even the most spiritual Christians will be martyred. Death is in no way akin to being kept from the hour of trial. God would prefer you not see death since death is a result of sin as is the second death Hell.
    by Published on 08-31-2014 02:14 PM     Number of Views: 6420 
    1. Categories:
    2. Millennial Kingdom

    Quote Originally Posted by soterion
    Mark 1:14-15 teaches that the time for the kingdom to be established was fulfilled and that it was at hand when Christ first came, not 2,000+ years later when He will someday return.

    Acts 2:22-36 teaches that Jesus was seated on the throne of David when He was resurrected and exalted to the right hand of God.

    1 Corinthians 15:20-28 teaches that when Christ returns, He will deliver up the kingdom to God. The kingdom will not begin on earth when He comes back; rather, it's existence on the earth will end.
    How do you know the "gospel of the kingdom of God" is the 1000 years where Satan "should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled" (Rev. 20.3)? Are not the nations deceived still now with wars and rumors of wars? Whereas “the kingdom of God is righteous and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14.17). "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison" (Rev. 20.7). Was Satan in prison prior to Jesus? or is Satan in prison now with 10,000 children dying every day due to starvation? Overcomers in Christ "shall reign with him a thousand years" (v.6). Who is reigning over the nations now in the highest positions of government (2.26,27) certainly not believers? Could it be Jesus at the right hand of the Father does not mean He is reigning on earth for 1000 years right now?

    Let us review the things we have already seen previously concerning the kingdom of heaven. After the birth of Christ, there comes one who prepares the way for Him. His name is John, and he proclaims that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The Lord, together with the apostles whom He sends forth, announce the same news. What does it mean? Later on, as noted in chapters 8 and 9, we see that the Lord heals the sick and casts out demons, and that all these are closely related to the nearness of the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5-7 speaks of the nature of the kingdom of heaven: which is, that those who belong to this kingdom are absolutely righteous towards themselves, absolutely gracious towards others, and absolutely pure towards God. In Matthew 10 we learn that the Lord sends out His apostles. And in Matthew 11-12 we see that a great transition begins occurring, as though the kingdom of heaven is now being taken away from the Jews.

    Now with regard to the kingdom of heaven found spoken of in Matthew 13, some interpreters have asserted that the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are the kingdom of heaven in mystery. Such an assertion is logically unsound when it is held up against all the things which we have just seen: how that both John and the Lord as well as His disciples proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, how that the Lord then announces the nature or character of this kingdom, and how after He is rejected by the children of Israel He in the thirteenth chapter is found declaring only the outward boundary of this kingdom (what we see in this age being but the outward appearance). So that chapter 13 does not deal with the character or nature of the kingdom of heaven, for this has already been described in Matthew 5-7.

    Some, on the other hand, contend that all who desire to enter the kingdom of heaven mentioned in chapter 13 must possess the character of the kingdom of heaven as laid down in chapters 5-7. This interpretation again is impossible to accept, since in chapter 13 we have presented the tares, the leaven, and so forth as being in the kingdom of heaven. So that this chapter presents to us nothing but the outward appearance of the kingdom of heaven.

    The kingdom of heaven is not the millennial kingdom; it is the reigning in the millennial kingdom. Let us see that the kingdom of heaven has three different aspects.

    (1) An outward appearance, boundary, or scope as is shown to us in Matthew 13.

    (2) A spiritual reality, that is to say, a kind of spiritual conduct which is formed as a result of learning righteousness and grace progressively under the authority of God and which is elucidated for us in Matthew 5-7; and

    (3) A reigning with Christ in the future millennial kingdom as revealed in the fact of our future reward as told to us in Matthew 5-7.

    Accordingly, we must first of all enter into the sphere or boundary of this kingdom of heaven by being sons of the kingdom; then secondly, we need to have the kind of conduct described for us in Matthew 5-7 – which is to have real spiritual conduct; and lastly, as a consequence we may reign with the Lord.

    Today there are three different kinds of people:

    (1) those who have entered within the sphere of the kingdom of heaven and yet unsaved; these are represented by tares.

    (2) those who have been saved and are in the domain of the kingdom of heaven, ye they fail to keep the teaching of Matthew 5-7.

    (3) those who are saved and also keep the teaching of Matthew 5-7; they truly overcome, and therefore in the future they shall reign with the Lord in the third stage or aspect of the kingdom of heaven.

    A Comparison Between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

    The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God are distinguishable but are not separable. Let us consider in some detail these two descriptive phrases found in Scriptures.

    (1) With certain parables Matthew employs the statement “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto . . . “; but Luke uses the words “The kingdom of God is like. . . . “ for the same parables – thus indicating that the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God are one and the same. Both the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven in these parallel instances refer to the outward domain of the kingdom. On this level, it can be said that the outward appearances of both the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God are alike. Parables such as that of the leaven belong to this category.

    (2) Yet the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God are not synonymous with respect to the second aspect of the kingdom of heaven, inasmuch as what is described in Matthew 5-7 speaks of actual overt behavior whereas “the kingdom of God is righteous and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14.17). The one stresses spiritual conduct; the other inner spiritual condition.

    (3) Even so, in the third aspect of the kingdom of heaven is again similar to the kingdom of God since both refer to the matter of reigning during the millennial kingdom.

    Though the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are similar as regards the first aspect, the kingdom of God covers also the time of which the prophets in the Old Testament speak – for whenever the sovereignty of God is present, His domain is there at the same time. But this characteristic is not applicable to the kingdom of heaven.

    With regard to the third aspect, it is true that the kingdom of God is the same as the kingdom of heaven in that both refer to ruling with Christ in the millennium; yet the kingdom of God extends further on into eternity since in eternity God also reigns – but by that time the kingdom of heaven will have passed away. With respect to the third aspect, therefore, the kingdom of God exists longer than the kingdom of heaven.

    In certain sense it can be said that the kingdom of God includes the kingdom of heaven, but not vic versa.

    So far as the outward official history of the church on earth goes today, there can be said to be the Roman Catholic Church, the national churches, and the private churches. The Roman Catholic Church claims that the entire world is under her domain and that no national church is therefore allowed. The national church such as the Anglican Church asserts that every citizen of the nation belongs to the Church. But due to dissatisfaction with the national churches, there came into being the so-called private churches.

    As regards to the outward sphere, as long as people say they are Christians, no one can drive them out of the kingdom of heaven; for the Lord has not promised to weed out the tares today. At communion or the Lord’s Table or the breaking of bread, however, the church may indeed weed out or separate the unsaved and the wicked from the saved ones. So that in the outward appearance of the kingdom of heaven, such as in a national church, unbelieving people may be included therein, but in the sphere of the believing assembly an unsaved person may be excluded from fellowship. This clarifies the two totally different spheres: that of the outward appearance of the kingdom of heaven and that of the church. Within the boundary of the outward appearance of the kingdom of heaven there may be tares; but within the churches the body of Christ there is only wheat no tares.

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