Tackling Pre-Tribulation Dispensational Eschatology

Tackling Pre-Tribulation Dispensational Eschatology

The problem with Pre-Tribulation Dispensationalism (PTD) is that what most believe is only the tip of the iceberg.

Undergirding the “God will rapture us before the tribulation starts, because He has not appointed us to wrath,” is built on a web of conjectures constructed to defend an eschatological doctrine. Instead, eschatology, as with any doctrine, must simply come thorough plain understanding of what the Bible clearly says through careful exegesis. It is easy to make the Bible say things it doesn’t say. Eschatology begins in Genesis and continues through Revelation.

Even though I have studied eschatology for decades the PTD iceberg capsized in my last church. As I mentioned in my last blog, the founding pastor said one night while rummaging around in Titus 2 that the pre-trib rapture isn’t just our hope—it is our ONLY hope. Profoundly mistaken! The church focused so heavily on the pre-trib rapture eschatology (PTRE) that they suffered from Macular Degeneration. It blinded them from the central norms of Christian doctrine. Jesus Christ Himself is our Hope.

If the PTRE is our hope, then what about all the people who have died without being a part of the rapture? They have died without hope if this pastor was correct. Some may say that even they will receive their rapture when the dead are raised. The Bible doesn’t call that a rapture, it calls it the first resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15) The first resurrection is certainly distinct from the rapture, the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air… 1 Thessalonians 4

It wasn’t because of their overemphasis on PTRE that we knew we couldn’t continue to walk with the leaders, rather it was due to the web of exegetical maneuvers performed to get to that doctrine. Before we left I engaged via email with the senior pastor (not the founding pastor).

In the initial email I said that I had a few problems regarding the PTRE. I told him that I had studied all major views and had mulled over the following points for years without finding good answers. I asked if he could help me understand them from a pre-trib perspective, as I saw them as major problems with a PTRE.

The first point was that a major hinge of the PTRE hangs on 1 Thessalonians 5:9. And that although this section begins with eschatology – the Day of the Lord – it transitions to salvation: For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Verse 9 is an equation, which looks like this:

Not appointed to wrath = Salvation through Jesus Christ.

It is not about escaping the wrath of God poured out in the bowl judgments. Rather, it is clearly about salvation through Jesus delivering us from God’s eternal wrath in the Lake of Fire. It is all encompassing whether we are alive or die we live together with Him. This fits with the whole of Scripture.

My second point in question flowed from my first point. PTRE teaches that since we – the church – will not suffer God’s wrath (during the tribulation), we must not be on the earth when His judgments are poured out. I understand that this doctrine flows from 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains [will do so] until he is taken out of the way. 8Then that lawless one will be revealed. Most positions agrees that the “him” being restrained and the “him” revealed is the Antichrist. According to a PTRE the “what” and the “he” restraining the Antichrist is the Holy Spirit. So the Holy Spirit is restraining the revealing of the Antichrist until He (the Holy Spirit) is no longer in the midst [of the earth] to restrain. To say it another way: the Holy Spirit leaves, so the Church leaves with Him, and then the Antichrist steps onto the world stage. (It is an interesting word study on Strong’s 1096 ginomai “he is taken” from 2 Thessalonians 2:7.) It could also be stated that the restrainer is the Holy Spirit working through the Church. When the Church is raptured, the restrainer is “taken” with the Church.

Here’s the problem: According to a PTRE, the Church leaves with the Holy Spirit before the revealing of the Antichrist, so that she will not suffer God’s wrath. BUT, as soon as one person receives Christ during the tribulation the Church is again on the earth subject to God’s tribulation wrath. That person along with all others who receive Christ after the rapture are part of the Church and they are on the earth during the tribulation. Furthermore, without the Holy Spirit’s presence on the earth NO ONE can get saved. Salvation requires regeneration by/through the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, no one can come to the Father unless the Holy Spirit draws them! Therefore, The Holy Spirit MUST still be on the earth during the tribulation.

I told my pastor that in view of the above points I don’t see how the PTRE can hold up under this scrutiny.

His response was that Jesus opens all the seal judgments and that those who become believers during the tribulation are not categorized as “the church,” since the dispensation of the church age ends with the Rapture. They are categorized as “tribulation saints and are treated [by God] differently than those who die in Christ before the Rapture. (Total conjecture.)

My pastor further explained that yes, the Holy Spirit is still present. His presence within Spirit-filled believers is “taken out of the way,” hence the “restraining force of the church” is taken out of the way. The Holy Spirit therefore will no longer restrain evil, opening the door for the Antichrist to implement his one-world-government.

While thanking him for his response I explained that it didn’t solve my problems with the pre-trib rapture. I explained that the Bible does not mention dispensations—ever, rather Scripture reveals God is covenant based. The New Covenant continues through the tribulation, as seen in both Ezekiel 36:25-27 and Jeremiah 31:31-34. Note that both are eschatological in their context and that Jeremiah 31:31-34 is flowing from Jeremiah 30:24-31:1, placing this most definitely at the end-times salvation of Israel. Thus, the New Covenant continues and is the means through which Israel gets saved at the end of the tribulation (Romans 11:25-26). All who come to Christ must come through the New Covenant in His Blood. There is no other way. (Hebrews goes into great detail on this.)

I continued to say I was surprised he believed that those who receive Christ during the Tribulation aren’t part of the Church. The church doesn’t need to be gone in order for the last week of Daniel to be fulfilled. PTD teaches that the Church must be raptured in order for the last week of Daniel to be fulfilled. This is intermixed with circular reasoning that the dispensation of the church is over. When the dispensation of the church is over God can again deal with Israel as a nation fulfilling all the unfulfilled promises to her. There is one week left unfilled of the Daniel 9:24-27 70-week prophesy given to Daniel. The last week of the 70 is fulfilled during the tribulation. The Bible doesn’t teach that the Church must be gone in order for God to deal with Israel. During the tribulation many things come to a head: the fullness of the Gentiles coming into the Kingdom, the fullness of sin reaches it’s height, Israel finally receives her Messiah Jesus, the earth staggers under the weight of sin, and is polluted by its inhabitants (Isaiah 24 is intense), just to name a few. I’ll write more about his in another blog.

Concerning the dispensation of the Church being over, Ephesians 2 is clear that those who are of Israel and we Gentiles are one new man in Christ. Jews and Gentiles together become one new man. (This in no way invalidates the promises made to Israel.) PTRD teaches the word “saints” in Revelation are a different breed—which one must exegete without Biblical support. If someone receives Christ, they are born-again and have the Spirit. If they are born-again and have the Spirit they are part of the Church. To say otherwise is extra-biblical at best. They says these saints are treated differently than believers who die in Christ during the age of the Church. The Bible doesn’t say that they are treated differently. This doctrine is built to benefit a PTRD theology. It cannot be found in Scripture without a thorough manipulation of basic Bible exegesis.

On another note, when would these “tribulation saints” receive their changed bodies? According to 1 Corinthians 15 we are changed at the first resurrection when Christ also meets those who are still alive in the air. If this is when, as PTRD teaches, at the partial coming of Jesus before the tribulation starts, are there two first resurrections, one at the beginning of the tribulation and one at the end? The Bible doesn’t teach there are two First Resurrections/raptures? If the rapture, Israel’s salvation, the First Resurrection, and the coming of Christ were slid to the end of the 1260 day tribulation, it all fits very easily without any hermeneutical gymnastics.

I believe in the promises of God still belonging to Israel, though at the present they are His enemies (Romans 11:28). They killed Messiah Jesus and are presently cut off (Romans 9-11). They will however, at the end of the Tribulation (Ezekiel 36, Jeremiah 31, and Romans 11:25-27) receive Jesus, thus fulfilling “and so all Israel will be saved.”

Concerning the Church being the restraining force: She is NEVER referred to as masculine in the Bible. Therefore, the “what restrains” (2 Thessalonians 2:6) and the “he who now restrains” (2:7) cannot be the church restraining, since 2:7 is masculine. And if the “he” is the Holy Spirit it forces a further impasse. I don’t have a perfect conclusion on the who/what the restrainer is. I understand the reasons why some believe who the restrainer is are:

1. The Holy Spirit: Can’t be for some of the reasons stated above.

2. Michael: Some believe it is Michael since he prevailed in a Heavenly war in Daniel.

3. The three kings who the Antichrist “pulls out by the roots” in Daniel 7:8: They are taken out of the way, since they opposed him.

4. The Church: Since she restrains evil on the earth. 

5. Satan: Since the Greek word ginomai can mean “transitioning from one point (realm, condition) to another,” and could refer to Satan’s being casting out of Heaven. Revelation 12.

6. Governments: Since they will come under the power of the Antichrist.

This was the end of my correspondence with my pastor. I gave him an out and he took it.

There is still much of the iceberg’s underbelly to explore. For example, to make the PTRD work Jesus must have a partial return before the beginning of the tribulation and then a completed return at the Tribulation's end. For now I’ll leave you with 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of [the] archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.

My following blog will deal with Israel’s salvation through the New Covenant at the end of this age, as it is tied to the timing of the rapture, the first resurrection, and the return of Jesus.

Non-Negotiables

NON-NEGOTIABLES

Over the years George and I have moved many times leading us to search for a new home church in our new town. Since we are nondenominational, know the Bible, and believe in the gifts of the Spirit finding a place we fit was difficult. Our journey has been educational, painful at times, and beautiful.

Early in the 2000s the Holy Spirit spoke to me in prayer. He showed me a video where I was walking up a dusty dirt road. It was hot and hard. I glanced down as I strode up that hill and saw my friends enjoying each other’s company in a shady area next to a cool stream. I told the Lord that I wanted to go down there with them instead. He calmly but deliberately told me that it would be hard and painful, but when I got to the top of the hill I’d see His Kingdom more clearly.

I’ve learned a great deal journeying up that dusty road.

Over the next few months I hope to blog about some of what I’ve learned. My writings will range from personal lessons the Lord has taught me to doctrinal issues, and a great deal about the end-times, Israel in the end-times, and the millennial age. I’ve studied Daniel extensively during these years and have to admit that I have become extremely fond of Daniel 9:24-27.

My kick-off is my Non-negotiables. Non-negotiables when choosing a fellowship of believers to run with.

I’m a theology based person who loves the ministry of the Holy Spirit. I love His gifts, I love it when He moves and manifests His presence – I love everything about the Holy Spirit. I love the Bible. I love to study it. I love theology. Theology reveals God. Theology makes me happy. I love eschatology. I love to study it and listen to and read others who know more than I do – even those who are wrong about their conclusion. Yes, I said that. Pre-trib rapture/dispensationalism is wrong. I will have a lot to say about eschatology in further blogs.

Non-negotiables. Apart from the Nicene Creed, which is the foundational aggregate for Christian belief, these are my non-negotiables when looking for a church home:

1. Salvation must be clear. It must be clearly stated as only through faith in the finished work of Jesus. We are completely forgiven and declared righteous through Jesus Christ. He completely fulfilled and satisfied the righteous requirements of the Law. Any works we perform as Christians are due to the inner working of the Holy Spirit within us and through us. They do not improve our standing before the Father.

2. Calvinism. I will not belong to a group of people who adhere to Calvinism. A Calvinist believes in a different God than I do. Their God is not the God of the Bible. Scripture says that Jesus, motivated by love, died for the sins of the WHOLE world, for all sinners, and is not willing that any should perish. We get to choose whether or not to receive Him; His salvation is available, if we want Him. God created humans with a freewill. True love chooses to love. Calvinism doesn’t believe that very basic of all basics.

3. Cessationism: Gifts of the Spirit must be welcomed and pursued. God’s miraculous power is displayed through people from Genesis through Revelation. 1 Corinthians 14 says that believers are to earnestly desire and seek to abound in spiritual gifts. Forbidding speaking tongues is anti-biblical. Acts is full of God demonstrating His power through people. How gifts operate within the church is elder directed.

4. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is the Promise of the Father, which Jesus talked about (Acts 1:4) The  Baptism in the Holy Spirit began in Acts 2— it is the fulfillment of Pentecost, as Jesus’ sacrifice is the fulfillment of Passover. (The church began when Jesus first breathed into His disciples after His resurrection and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” They were at that moment born-again; the church began – the New Covenant was available to all following His resurrection.)

5. Demons INSIDE Christians. I do not tolerate the belief that Christians are or can be indwelt by a demon or demons. This belief directs the whole mindset and paradigm of body ministry. Yes, were are harassed by demons, pursued by demons, deceived by demons, hindered by demons, etc. They want to destroy us. But when we become inhabited by the Holy Spirit – quite literally possessed by the Holy Spirit – there is no longer room for a demon to inhabit the place the Holy Spirit inhabits. God doesn’t have roommates. Many Christians build from erroneous exegesis teaching that demons can inhabit a Christian. They then build deliverance ministries on their foundation of their experience with demons. Demons are liars – they want us to believe their doctrines. 1 (Timothy 4:1) Most of what I hear is based on scriptures like Luke 13:16 (A daughter of Abraham whom Satan had bound for 18 years) and Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30 – both are about a Gentile woman whose daughter was demon-possessed. Jesus said that casting out demons was “the children’s bread” and that He was sent ONLY TO the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Hence, the children’s bread means Israel’s bread, in this context. It doesn’t mean, as some erroneously state, that it is the Christian’s bread, since we are now the children of God. When reading the Gospels it is essential to acknowledge that they (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are all still under the Old Covenant even though they are included under the New Testament heading—Jesus had not yet been crucified, buried, and resurrected. The New Covenant is in His Blood. The New Covenant was not enacted until His resurrection. The first New Covenant believers were in John 20:22 when Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Demons cannot live in a Christian.

6. A Pursuit of God. A community of believers who are intentional about pursuing the Lord through worship, prayer, and true knowledge of the scriptures is a must. I want people around me who will spur me on to go deeper and know Him better. I want to worship with people who want God and want to experience Him.

7. I will NOT be a part of a church whose eschatology is Preterism, Amillennialism, Partial-Preterism, or one that has an overemphasized and misplaced focus on the Pre-trib Rapture/Dispensationalism. I have been a part of three Calvary Chapels. Although all three believed in and taught a pre-trib rapture eschatology, one of them brought it up almost every service. The other two taught it, but it wasn't their main focus. Those two churches as a whole are very sound biblical wonderful churches and I miss them. However, the third one was intolerable for many reasons. One night the founding pastor taught on the pre-trib rapture. When he passed through Titus 2 he said that the pre-trib rapture isn’t just our hope—it is our ONLY hope. One of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard a pastor say. That’s what I mean by an an overemphasized and misplaced focus on Pre-trib/Dispensationalism. I plan to devote an entire blog to that subjest, so I’ll end with that for now.

8. Blanket Morality: God says that His leaders are to be above reproach. This too is non-negotiable. 1 Timothy and Titus both list characteristics leaders are to have. Along with those clearly defined in 1 Timothy and Titus I won’t follow someone who is mean, condescending, biblically illiterate, feminine, or who thinks women should be a wall flower. Leaders are to be honest in morality, doctrinal integrity, and character. They must promote life.

Pretty simple really.

Something to Think About

Back in Genesis 11, when the people of the world began to build their Tower of Babel, God said they were of one mind and one purpose. He further said that nothing would be impossible to them. 

Is it possible that AI is creating a similar scenario to the building of the Tower of Babel? Be confident of this: God stopped the Tower of Babel. God is able to step in and stop AI, if He so chooses.

God is the Sovereign. He is the King. Nothing is outside His control. 

Term Paper Module 1: Isaiah 24

Module 1: Isaiah 24

Berta Robison

 

The Bible changes our view of Jerusalem and Israel and its place in the world. Without the Holy Spirit working in us we too would be enemies of God, because the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. No other time in history will this be more obvious than during the end-times. Evil becomes so deeply rooted in all societies that God must step in to bring this age to a close.

Isaiah 24 is considered by many to be a mini revealing of the apocalypse—a glimpse into the end-times—the Revelation of Jesus in a snapshot. I agree. Here in Isaiah 24 we get a peek into the end-time horror that unfolds in the last book of the Bible. And yet in the midst of this horror there are songs heard from the people who know God. Isaiah 24 speaks to the ripening of sin and sinful people, to a city of chaos, to gloom taking over the peoples, and to the LORD devastating and distorting the earth through His judgments. It speaks to a leveling of all people’s economic and social status, to the judging of heavenly hosts and kings of the earth, and gathering them all together for their final judgment after the Millennial Age’s final revolt. And it speaks to the LORD of hosts reigning on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and even talks about the elders who are before His throne. All this in 23 verses!

As I read through Isaiah 24, I find it an astonishing read. Verse 5 says that the earth will be polluted by its inhabitants, because they transgressed laws, violated statutes, and they broke the everlasting covenant. Who would not be grief-stricken after reading this scripture? It should bend our knees. Earth’s inhabitants aren’t just polluting the earth, the inhabitants are themselves the pollutant. Daniel 8:23 speaks to this time: “And in the latter time of their [the four horns] kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise…” Isaiah 24 speaks to the time when transgressors have reached their fullness. Verse 6 sums up the outcome of their perfidiousness: Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left. Can we not hear echoing from the Book of Revelation’s catastrophes in this scripture? Death oozes through the lives of those who hate God, who turn away form the everlasting covenant. Verses 7-13 reveals sin’s payment; it is death—an all encompassing death. All that was to bring joy and gaiety brings gloom. Sin’s wages will be been paid in full.

In verse 10, though no specific city is mentioned, it seems more than appropriate to equate the city of chaos with end-times Babylon. Revelation 17:18 says that Babylon is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth during part of the Tribulation. Here in Isaiah we get a snapshot of Babylon—the harlot of Revelation. She has transitioned from opulence and luxury, power and fame to her true nature—the broken down city of chaos. Where Babylon rules, there is chaos and death—confusion is in her roots.

Verses 14-16 speak of glory in the midst of this darkness. Songs will be heard around the globe, from east to west: Glory to the Righteous One. In the midst of the darkest hour of mankind both the people of God and Heaven agree that His judgments are true and righteous (Revelation 16:7). In verse 16 we can hear Isaiah’s bewilderment as he is torn between the extremes of both the glory and the horror that he sees: “Woe to me! Woe to me! Alas for me! The treacherous deal treacherously...”

Then as we come to the close of Isaiah 24 we see God’s righteous judgment on wickedness. His judgments are seen on the peoples of the earth and even on the hosts heavens. Verse 22 continues: They will be gathered together [Like] prisoners in the dungeon, And will be confined in prison; And after many days they [will] [be] punished. Surely this is Satan and his fallen-ones’ sentence being carried out. It is God’s character to be both patient with sin and a swift righteous Judge when sin is ripe. In Isaiah 24, sin is ripe. In this day the LORD will punish the host of heaven on high, And the kings of the earth on earth. He will gather them all together and lock the prison door for 1000 years. They will be confined to the prison of Hell until the end of the Millennium, knowing full well that the Lake of Fire awaits their arrival.

Verse 23 is the grand finale of this chapter and of the end of this age. For as Jesus came preaching His Kingdom, here we see it established on the Earth. Our Glorious God takes His Throne and reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem. Can it be more obvious why the world hates Jerusalem? They hate God and Jerusalem is His City. Let’s join with God’s purpose; let’s love Jerusalem and pray for her peace. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done, on Earth as in Heaven. Amen.

 

 

Term Paper: Module 6—Psalm 110

Term Paper:  Module 6—Psalm 110

Psalms 110, in only seven verses, reveals a great deal of the end-time story line. In this psalm we read of the time in which Jesus will return to the earth, from where He will rule, that there are still natural-bodied people on the earth during the Millennial Age, the national salvation of Israel and its timing, how only Jesus could be the One spoken of in this psalm, the last day battle and the slaughter of Jesus’ enemies, the separation of nations, the return of the nations to Jesus, and the eternal humanity of our God-King as He reigns from Zion.

Due to the eschatological density of Ps 110, I used it to teach my end-times Bible study how to identify the end-times story line as they read through the Bible. Psalm 110 is so clear on the end-times story line that even when read alone it brings a concise framework to eschatology. It stands as a marker showing how interwoven this same end-time message is throughout the entirety of the Bible. Without passages like this psalm we would be devoid of how often God spoke to those of old about the second coming of His Son, His day of vengeance, and His return to rule and reign from Jerusalem.

The opening of Ps 110 should not be read too hastily, for it opens with the timing of Jesus’ return: He sits at the Father’s right hand UNTIL His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. In both Acts 7:49 and Is 66:1 the earth is said to be His footstool. When Jesus fills the nations with corpses (6), shattering kings (5) and the chief men over the earth (6), it is at this time that His enemies become a footstool for His feet. Both Ez 38-39 and Rev 19 show this mass annihilation of His enemies is after the second half of the tribulation (1260 days), fitting nicely with the extra 30 days of Daniel 12’s 1290 days. These extra 30 days follow the return of Jesus to the earth, the rapture of the church, and the 1^st resurrection, all which occur at the tribulation’s end. Daniel’s extra 30 days are the Day of His wrath (5)—the Day of His vengeance (Is 61:2)—the pouring out of the bowls of wrath (Rev 16). Spoken within the 7^th bowl is “it is done” with subsequent massive apocalyptic catastrophes. Isaiah 63:1-6 says that after His return, Jesus slaughters His enemies on His way up to Jerusalem via the Mt. of Olives.

How is it that after the opening act of Ps 110 we read that Jesus will rule in the midst of His enemies? How can He rule in the midst of His enemies, if He has annihilated them? Yes, Jesus has killed the Antichrist and all those in allegiance with him, and He has bound Satan for 1000 years, but there are still natural-bodied people on the earth during the Millennium. These are the people who did not receive either Jesus nor the mark of the beast, and therefore they still have a sin nature. If they had received Jesus they would have been raptured at His return. Revelation 22:15 says that outside the City (New Jerusalem during the Millennium) are dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. Some of these will make Jesus their king during the Millennium, others will not. Those who won’t will join Satan against Jesus at the final deception. (Rev 20) These are of those footstool enemies of whom Ps 110:2 speaks.

Can a nation be born in a day, asks Is 66:8? Rom 11:25-26 tells of the national salvation of Israel: all Israel will be saved when the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. This means that after the last Gentile receives Christ, Israel, as a nation, will finally receive her Messiah. (Jer 31:31-34, 50:20, Is 33, 60:21) Psalm 110:3 frames this truth nicely: Your people [the nation of Israel] will volunteer freely in the day of Your power. The ending of verse 3: the womb of the dawn is quite poetic, yet must be kept tethered to the end-time story line. The dawn opens the millennial new day. What gives birth to the new day is the tribulation. Thus, the tribulation is the womb that gives birth to the New Day Millennial Age.

The citation of Melchizedek as relating to this King-Messiah-Warrior of Ps 110 is clearly emphasizing the uniqueness of this Man, and reveals that He is both Priest and King. It was illegal under the old order to be both priest and king, yet here this One is both—as is Melchizedek. (Heb 7:1)

Another unique element resides within Ps 110: the divinity and the humanity of this One of whom the psalm is written. Verse 7 has a shocking statement when viewed from the Old Covenant side of the Cross: He drinks water from the brook. This Melchizedek-like King of Ps 110 also drinks water from the brook! Does God need to drink water? And yet, Ps110 identifies its One as sitting at the Father’s right hand (1), thus making Him God; as ruling from Zion (2), thus making Him Messiah (Hebrews 1:8); as a priest like Melchizedek (4), thus making Him eternal (Hebrews 7), and yet drinking water. This One to whom all Israel awaits is both God and Man! He is our Priest-King, Christ Jesus.

Term Paper: Module 5 Revelation 21

 Term Paper: Module 5 Revelation 21

Revelation 21 is an obvious end-times chapter, but not what usually comes to mind when we hear the phase “end-times.” Revelation 21 prophesies to both the Millennial Age and post Millennial Age. It speaks to the time after the rebels are incinerated by the fire of God and sentenced to the judgment of the second death. Satan is thrown into the Lake of Fire where the Antichrist and false prophet await his arrival—Sheol opening its mouth to receive him (Isaiah 14:9). It speaks to the dawning of the New—the New Heavens and the New Earth—wherein dwell righteousness. All that is evil has been judged—no more tears, no more death, mourning, crying, nor pain. 7000 years later, the desire of God reigns—God dwells with man. The former is gone; the new has come. Thundering from the Throne is heard, “No more death… Behold I make all things new.”

This “new” is not a complete abolition of the old but a transformation—a new birth. As we consider what God means by a new heavens and a new earth we must anchor in the account of Noah as defined by Peter in 2 Peter 3. In Peter’s description the earth was destroyed in Noah’s flood. It wasn’t annihilated, the earth was cleansed of evil, as it will be at the end of the Millennium with God’s final blow to the rebels. God views righteousness as a “new.” Examples of this are: Noah’s flood in Genesis 6 as it cleansed the earth of the evil, in Christ we become the righteousness of God and are defined as a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17, 5:21), and in the New Heavens and New Earth “wherein dwells righteousness (2 peter 3:13).

In Verse 1 God says there is “no sea” in the New. This takes me to Ezekiel 28 where God pronounces judgment on the King of Tyre, an indicant of Satan. In Ezekiel 28:2 Satan says through the king of Tyre, “I sit in the seat of gods in the heart of the seas.” I see a tie between this statement and the “no more sea” statement in Revelation 21, differing with Mike’s point that it is about dividing peoples.

Revelation 21 stands as the headwaters revealing of the City of God. Its flow waters the whole Bible—the wedding processional, if you will. Without Revelation 21 we would lack the definitive revealing of the City as The Bride. There are hints elsewhere, but here we see her—His one—clothed as a bride adorned for her husband. How glorious she must be. Breathtaking, I’m sure. God Himself adorns her beauty. Abraham saw this city, God’s city—God’s bride—and chose to give his life in search for her. It changed his pursuit—and therefore, his destiny. This would be the outcome for us if we too could see her, even if just a glimpse; it would change us. It would narrow the way we walk and the things we pursue. She is that beautiful—that glorious. She is that one Christ Jesus gave His life for. She was worth it to Him. Because of this, one of my main prays has become, “Show me Your City and the Lion Who sits on its Throne.”

Why was Babel built on the plain in Shinar and not on a mountain, since it was to reach into the heavens? Verse 9 gives us insight, since New Jerusalem is on a plain. Satan has seen New Jerusalem. Satan wants what God has, as we clearly see in Isaiah 14’s “I will” statements. If he can’t have it, he imitates it. Babel was man’s attempt, birthed in the heart of Satan, to build his city to reach heaven. Revelation 20:7-10 describes Satan’s last attempt to have this city; instead, he meets his final demise.

Our destiny as the Church is wrapped up in Israel’s destiny. We together are the one new man Ephesians 2:15 talks about. We see this so clearly in Revelation 21’s description of the Bride. Verses 9-12 show us that Israel and the church are both part of the Bride. These four scriptures changed my decades-long understanding of the Bride as just the church. This City, the Bride, has gates inscribed with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. (I wonder if Dan is there or if he is replaced with Joseph or his sons.) Her foundation stones are adorned with the names of the Lamb’s apostles. (Again I wonder if Matthias was written or Paul.) This leads me to believe that at least some parts of both Israel and the Church are the Bride. She is comprised of those who made themselves ready, and not the “Ahabs” of Israel or of the ekklésia who shrunk back (Hebrews 10). In Ephesians 5 Paul also speaks of marriage as typifying Christ and His church. Could this include Israel? They too were God’s called out ones. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says of ἐκκλησία that in the Septuagint ekklésia is often equivalent to קָהָל, the assembly of the Israelites. I firmly believe that all the Bride must come through Jesus Christ, but how Israel does that is a mystery. Surely its thread must reach into Hosea 2: In that day..."I will betroth you to Me forever…”

The High Priest Thread

The High Priest Thread

A couple months ago I decided to read the Bible beginning to end. I got through Genesis 3. Rapid reading through the Bible is not something I do well. Getting stuck in details, cross referencing, and Greek/Hebrew meanings makes it nearly impossible for me.

Let’s back up a year. Last summer I took a class on the Millennial sacrifices found in Ezekiel 40-48. Very fascinating and I agree with most of what the teacher said—I think. However the teacher emphasized the priestly role of Adam in the Garden. In fact he made the priestly role of Adam the intent of Moses/God penning Creation in Genesis. He said that Creation is not mostly about the beginning of the earth and how it was created, rather it’s about why it was created. Furthermore, the accounting of Creation was to mainly show Adam’s high priestly role in the Garden, and therefore mankind’s high priestly role on the earth—God’s intent for man since the beginning. His emphasis got my head shaking and angered my husband, in fact he wouldn’t continue listening. I mulled this teacher’s message for over a year, again listened to his series, and then wrote him a response. My position is that Genesis (which means the origin or coming into being of something (Merriam-Webster)) is the historical record from beginning to end concerning (including, but not limited to) God, the God/man relationship, the earth, sin, judgment, faith, and Israel. If there is a high priest in the Garden then it is God, not Adam.

My purpose in writing this blog is to lead the reader to see that Jesus is likely the High Priest in the Garden and the One who walked in its cool of the day. Some of what I write will be conjecture—reasonable conjecture— and something I hope interests you as it does me.

Let’s discuss the High Priest. Hebrews is clear that Jesus is THE Eternal High Priest. Hebrews reveals that the earthly tabernacle was only a shadow of what is in Heaven. (8:5, 9:23-25) Jesus is the High Priest of Heaven and He serves a Temple in Heaven that is real—the original—the eternal—not made with hands, that is, not of this creation (9:11). Everything on Earth done through the Old Testament priests was only to vaguely reflect the reality in Heaven. These heavenly reflections on Earth are called “shadows.” Just as natural objects cast shadows when light stands behind them, so too do the Heavenly realities cast shadows on earth when the Light of God shines behind the real in Heaven. Jesus ONCE FOR ALL did what earthly priests’ sacrifices could never do, though offered year after year. Jesus ONCE FOR ALL entered the Heavenly temple with His own blood. He accomplished what their sacrifices could never do by taking away sin; their sacrifices only covered sin. Hebrews 9:11-12

In our Bible study home group we are studying Hebrews, my very favorite book in the Bible. As stated above, Hebrews clearly reveals Jesus as the High Priest, Who ONCE FOR ALL was sacrificed for us. His blood did what the blood of bull and goats, or the ashes of the heifer could never do. It is through His blood we have forgiveness of sin. He also ever lives to make intersession for us. The job of a Levitical priest was to offer sacrifices on behalf of the people for their sins—to cover their sins, but not to do away with their sins. Ephesians 1:7 states the Jesus fully pardons, having made full payment for our sin. Jesus is of a different order than the Levitical Priesthood of Aaron—Jesus is of the priestly order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek, Priest of God Most High, just shows up one day and Abraham was so blown away that he just gave him stuff. (I still wonder what Melchizedek did with all Abraham’s offerings.)

The first blood ever shed on Earth was by God. God killed an animal to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness. Think about that for a moment. God killed one of His own creation—the first death ever(!)— the first blood ever shed(!)—was by God to cover nakedness resulting from sin. He then made garments for Adam and Eve. He didn’t just snap His finger and have cloths appear—He made them. It’s all actually very sad. This sacrifice for sin was a foreshadowing of what God would do in the future. Jesus, our High Priest shed His blood not to cover for sin, but to fully forgive sin.

Something in Genesis startled me this time as I read, and it is where I got stuck. Genesis 3:8. It states: They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. They didn’t just hear the sound of God, they heard Him walking. This means that He had substance. He wasn’t just a wind that was heard, like you’d hear wind blowing in the trees—Whoever this manifestation of the Godhead was He had substance. Furthermore, He was walking, not hovering, not blowing, not just a presence manifesting—no He was walking in the Garden. He could be heard and what was heard was defined as walking. I propose that this is none other than Jesus. God walked on the earth in the Person of Jesus.

What else leads me to believe that it was Jesus in the Garden is that Jesus is Creator God. When I say this I don’t set aside all the points in Scripture that talk about the Three-in-One God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the biblical thread they were all involved in Creation. However, the New Testament clearly states: 1. Jesus is God (John 1); 2. Jesus created all things (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16-17). The Bible begins in Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… And although the Scriptures express the whole Godhead’s involvement in Creation, the New Testament is not shy to proclaim Jesus as Creator. Jesus told the Jews in John 8:58: “before Abraham was born, I am" equating Himself with the I AM of Exodus 3:14. We know from John 1 and Colossians 3:16 that Jesus Christ created all things—He is Creator God. I don’t believe that as He walked on Earth 2000 years ago it was for the first time. I believe it was Jesus Adam heard walking in the Garden in the cool of the day. And that when the blood of the first animal was shed to cover for sin it was Jesus, the High Priest of Heaven, Who shed that blood as a first fruits, so to speak, of what was to come.

Could the reason God rested on the 7^th day point to the humanity of Christ? We know God doesn’t get tired and doesn’t need to rest. Creating things didn’t wear Him out and yet God rested. Why?

Is the Tribulation 3½ years or 7 years—What Changed My Mind

 Is the Tribulation 3½ years or 7 years—What Changed My Mind

In 1980 I received Christ in a church that taught the tribulation was 3½ years. I understand their position well and also where this doctrine’s roots are in Scripture. As the years have passed and my knowledge of end-times has increased, I now see a 7-year tribulation in Scripture. So changed my mind?

Daniel 9 is really the headwaters of nearly all eschatological views. Whether you are Amillennial, Partial Preterist or full, Postmillennial, Historic Premillennial, or Dispensational nearly all boil down to how one handles Daniel 9.

First a little background on Daniel: The setting for Daniel 9 is Babylon where Daniel, as a young man, had been taken captive during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. Now as an old man he was reading the Book of Jeremiah. As he read he understood that there were to be 70 years of captivity due to the sin of Judah—the Southern Kingdom of Israel. (The Northern Kingdom, referred to as Israel, had already been taken captive by Assyria under Sennacherib.) Daniel’s response when realizing there were only a couple years left of the 70-year captivity are in verses 9:3-19. Verses 3-4 read: So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek [Him by] prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed…Gabriel shows up while Daniel is praying. He came to give Daniel instruction, to talk with him, and to give insight with understanding. (21-22).

A week in Jewish culture was either a week of days or years (7 days or 7 years). Daniel’s 70-week prophecy is weeks of years or 490 years. They are not consecutive years, rather they are prophetic years where the clock only ticks when certain conditions are met. (Likely when Israel is in the land, they have jurisdiction over Jerusalem, and the temple is functioning: Mike Bickle.) Following is what Gabriel said and is referred to as Daniel’s 70-week prophecy: (Verse 26 is what changed my mind on the 3½-year tribulation versus a 7-year tribulation.)

24"Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy [place]. 25"So you are to know and discern [that] from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince [there will be] seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. 26"Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end [will come] with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. 27"And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations [will come] one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." Daniel 9

Verse 26 clearly says that Messiah will be cut off (die) after the 69^th week. That is clear. This means that after Jesus died there was still one full week of years left (or 7 years). He didn’t fulfill ½ of the last 7 years of the 70 during His ministry years. But let’s look at why people assume He did. Daniel 9:27 says:

27"And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering.

I was taught that it was Jesus in verse 27 who made a firm covenant for one week and who put a stop to sacrifice and grain offerings by the His blood in the New Covenant half way through the last week (Luke 22:20, Hebrews 9-10). Thus, fulfilling the first ½ week in His ministry years and the last ½ week during the 3½-year tribulation. But how can Jesus be the one spoken of in both verses 26 and 27? The math doesn’t work, and when verse 26 is so clear that Messiah is cut off after the 69^th week—not after the 69½ week! Furthermore, Jesus’ Covenant is eternal and not for a week!

I conclude, along with many others, that the tribulation is the last week of years—7 years. And that the one who confirms a covenant with the many in verse 27 is the anti-Christ. Isn’t it odd that the dispute is whether verse 27 is speaking about Jesus or the anti-Christ!

Following is some further study, if you’re interested:

During these 490 years it is important to understand these basic points. The 70 Weeks have been decreed for:

Verse 24:

1. Your people (the Jews) and your holy city (Jerusalem)
2. to finish the transgression,(likely their rejection of Messiah)
3. to make an end of sin,
4. to make atonement for iniquity,
5. to bring in everlasting righteousness,
6. to seal up vision and prophecy and
7. to anoint the most holy [place].

Verse 25:

1.  … from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince [there will be] seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;(For a total of 69 weeks, leaving one 7-year week left. Jesus rebuked the leaders of Jerusalem for not knowing the time of their visitation in Luke 19:41-44. All they had to do was add the years for a definitive time a Messiah’s (first) coming.)
2. it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.(Nehemiah)

Verse 26:

1. “Then after the sixty-two ((7 + (62 × 7))or after the 69^th week)weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing,(Messiah will die.)
2. and the people of the prince(anti-Christ; likely ancient-Roman descent) who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary(Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD).
3. And its (Jerusalem’s) end [will come] with a flood (flood usually means peoples—nations);
4. even to the end (another end distinct from the destruction of the city above) there will be war; desolations are determined.

Verse 27:

1. “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week,(Jesus’ Covenant did not last a week—it lasts eternally. This is why I believe it is the anti-Christ making a 7-year covenant with the nations at the beginning of the 7-year tribulation. Some translations say that “he will confirm a covenant with the many for a week.” So there could already be a covenant that is confirmed by the anti-Christ or one that the anti-Christ makes firm for 7-years. At this time he is allowing (probably prompting) the Jews to sacrifice in the yet-to-be-built Temple.)
2. but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; (Many believe that this is Jesus fulfilling the Old Covenant Law of sacrifice, but as stated above, it is not. It is the anti-Christ breaking his covenant with the nations and forcing the Jews to stop sacrificing in the yet-to-be-built Temple.)
3. and on the wing of abominations [will come] one who makes desolate,(Jesus spoke of the Abomination of Desolation standing in the holy place (Matthew 24:15, 21) and that at that time …)“there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.” Therefore this cannot be 70 AD.)
4. even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” (This is the complete end of the anti-Christ and his kingdom at the end of the 1290 days Daniel prophesied about in Daniel 12:11. Here God says that instead of only 1260 days, as stated in the Book of Revelation, there is actually another 30 days. These extra 30 days are where the bowls of wrath are poured out on the anti-Christ and his kingdom; the church is raptured at the end of the 1260. She is not on the earth during the last 30 days or at least has new bodies so the bowls of God’s wrath does not touch her.)

 

The following chart if from IHOPKC: