April 2004

Christian Chronicles, April 2004 - Volume 7, Issue 100

The Editor's Pen

It is with great joy amid much rejoicing that we present our one hundredth issue of Christian Chronicles. It has been a wonderful blessing to watch this publication grow into the worldwide ministry that it has become. Our names do not appear in this paper because we prefer that God receive whatever glory there may be in it. Neither have we gone begging for money. Jesus never did that, and we feel that it is inappropriate that we do so. While God has kept us on the edge of our collective seat most of the time, He has never once failed to provide the resources to send Christian Chronicles to everyone who has requested it. Our continuance is a testament to His providence. We hope to continue with this work until our service is interrupted by the rapture, whether that be today or a hundred issues later. In the meantime, won’t you all join us in praying Col. 1:18b!

At least once each year we produce an issue devoted solely to prophecy. This, because all of our hope is contained therein. The Day may be very near in which we shall at last meet our Groom face to face and watch as He ascends the throne in the Millennial Temple, there to reign over the entire Earth for a thousand years, with His bride at His service in co-regency with Him. In that Day, righteousness shall spring up from the ground like grass and fall down like showers of rain. We shall rejoice to see His great glory rise over Jerusalem like the sun. If we rejoice over our little works today, what rejoicing shall there be then?

Mid-East Update

What a powder keg. Literally. One never knows, walking down any street in Israel, which passerby might actually be a powder keg. But it is no longer only, or even mostly, in Israel where one must give strangers a wide berth. Iraq is probably the most dangerous place on Earth today.

How quietly the tentacles of terrorism, moving beneath the surface of conventional society, have woven a web around the planet, so that Europeans, Asians, Americans must live with the tiniest web of fear stretched across the pit of the stomach, a small undercurrent flowing just beneath the surface of consciousness. While many in this country may not give it much, or any, conscious thought, there remains the certainty that it happened, seemingly at random on 9/11, and we do not know where to look for the next strike to happen. Small-town America feels safe, imagining that the next strike, like the last, will be against a major city. Al Qaeda would be very much admired in the world of terror if they were able to take out even a small town with some weapon or method of attack that we have not even thought of. No village in the States or anywhere else in the world is safe any longer. One thinks of Bali, or the Philippines or South America. The tentacles of terrorism were already drawing us into catastrophe before we even realized that we were in their grasp.

It is not only Al Qaeda that threatens. Hamas is also a grave danger. Hezbollah has not been as active recently, but it is a sinister threat lurking in the shadows, as poisonous as ever. There are others, some of whom we have heard about, and others that have not struck yet, but are building and planning, secretly.

There is a common thread. Aside from the wacko groups that arise in every society from time to time, it seems that the majority of the major groups are Islamic extremists. If Islam is not the problem, if the Koran does not embrace such violence, then the problem is obviously cultural. Most terror is done in the name of Allah. These are a visceral people, with a deep-seated anger that burns like a coal in their breasts. This is Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau—a filial contest whose end is already written.

It is interesting to examine these things, these possibilities and probabilities, but when one gets to the heart of the matter, he must turn spiritual eyes upon it if he is to understand the titanic struggles taking place on planet Earth.

The serpent has, down through the ages, sought to destroy the Christ. The serpent bruised His heel, but Christ bruised the devil’s head. Today, with the end so near at hand, the battle has become pitched. If the devil can eliminate Israel, to what people would Christ return? Far more than anyone might have imagined, this really is a struggle between good and evil.

It is not that Israel is good and Islam is evil, for Israel is as unrepentant today as they have been for two thousand years. It is not about the people, though it is being played out by people on both sides, but it is about the battle between God and His angels and the devil and his demons. The Middle East Update is this: Swords are clanging and clashing in a raucous noise that we cannot hear! The warfare in the heavens is hotly engaged, and it is spilling over into the lives of real people on the ground.

What Israel is doing with that security fence is equivalent to a man being so frightened that he would build a thirty foot tall, reinforced concrete fence around his house. Despite Israel’s unrepentant state, like any sinning Christian, she has the promise of restoration to complete fellowship with God, and He will assuredly restore her.

What we are witnessing is Satan’s attempt to change the course of the world in order to avoid the certainty of his utter defeat. The battle that is raging in heaven is being played out before our eyes. Before this battle is over, Israel will be nearly destroyed, only a remnant remaining. What we are seeing today are the opening shots across the bow of eternity. It is the most dramatic period in the history of the Earth, and will culminate in the Jewish Messiah ascending the steps of His throne in Jerusalem. We will not witness much more of these historic events, for it is clear that the times and the seasons are upon us. In his most subtle stroke, the devil will engineer a false peace between Israel and her neighbors, and will use that treaty to try to destroy God’s people.

Fruit of the Vine

And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Th 2:11-12).

Not everyone will be saved. It is sad, but true. There are many who have heard and rejected the Gospel in the Church Age. Those will be sent a strong delusion so that they will believe the lies of Satan, in the person of the Antichrist. Those who have heard the Gospel and rejected it, will not be numbered among the saved during the tribulation period.

Thus, when we bear witness to Christ’s death and resurrection, we are placing those who hear us in grave danger, for those who reject Jesus in this Age will not accept Him during the tribulation. They will endure the terrible judgments of that Day, and then be reserved unto the judgment of the great white throne judgment at the end of the millennial kingdom.

Nevertheless, we should not let this fact hinder us from our labors for the Lord. We are not responsible for those who reject God’s Word, but we bear fruit among those who accept it, and it is on the basis of our labors whether we receive heavenly treasure—not as to whether the person was saved, but whether we performed the ministry of the word of reconciliation to all those to whom we are led to present the Gospel.

Perspectives

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. (1 Th 5:1-4)

The world does not care. In fact, the vast hordes of the professing church neither know nor care. Mention prophecy and see how quickly deaf ears are turned toward you. There is looming large upon the prophetic horizon an event that will shake all the earth to its collective knee. All of the seminaries and great conservative theologians are unable to turn the tide of history with their knowledge. World leaders continue to spiral wildly down the vortex of time into a period of terrible judgment, even though the warning has been issued and declared for nearly two thousand years. Gentile world leaders prefer to listen to those who teach a gradual improvement in man’s essential character, until mankind ushers in its own Utopian millennial kingdom. That is far more appealing to the ego than the actual destruction that the Bible predicts on account of the sin-darkened hearts of a hardened race of men.

As for the professing church, there is a broad and almost complete ignorance of the prophetic Scriptures. The true Church appears to be straightening her spiritual skirts, so to speak, preparatory to meeting her Groom, but the larger body of those who profess to be Christians simply doesn’t care. Any future prophecy is usually portrayed to be fulfilled hundreds or thousands of years distant, so that there appears to be no personal impact from the prophecies of the Bible. Why care about that which does not concern you? Of course, the Gentile world, Israel, and the professing church all have their roles to play during the time of judgment shortly to come, so that it should not be surprising that, with all of the information we are given, they still do not recognize the peril that they are in. “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief!”

What is tribulation for the world is inconceivable blessing for the true Church. The Day of the Lord is coming upon the earth, but the Day of Christ is coming to the Church, very shortly, we pray. As we watch the efforts of the world to effect some sort of comprehensive Middle East peace agreement, our hearts must thrill to the notion that the Day of the Lord begins with the ratification of just such a treaty (Dan 9: 27). Before the Israeli Knesset ratifies that treaty, the true Church will be translated. It cannot be said dogmatically that the treaty currently under negotiation is the treaty that will inaugurate the tribulation. It may be the next one, or perhaps the one after that. Nevertheless, in past times, when prophecy was fulfilled, the geo-political stage arranged itself, unknowingly, in accordance with prophecy, and prophecy was promptly fulfilled. For the true Church, there will be the rejoicing at the judgment seat of Christ as our rewards are distributed, and then a visit to our heavenly home while God judges the earth.

This movement toward Middle East peace began in earnest with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s sudden trip to Jerusalem to meet with Menachem Begin, Israel’s Prime Minister. The Camp David Accords followed, and every United States President since Jimmy Carter has worked, off and on, as a broker for the talks. Some presidents (e.g. Carter, Clinton) have made that treaty one of the great centerpieces of their administrations. Yet we see in the verses above that it is when “they” say, “Peace and safety!” that the judgments will begin to fall. “They” are those referred to in Dan 9:27, and refer to the Israeli leadership, the leader of the nation from which Antichrist arises, and those of Israel’s neighbors who are signatories to the treaty. When they say, “Peace and safety…”

The world cares little, if at all, about the rapture of the Church. Those who have heard of the event believe that it is a silly notion of fanatics, but most have never heard of the rapture. The professing church is the same. Most know nothing about it at all. This is precisely how the devil wants it to be in the world today. He knows what is coming, but he will attempt to manipulate mankind in such a way as to bring on the ultimate struggle between himself and our Lord. For the world, it is the most dire news imaginably, but for the true Church, it is our “blessed hope” (Ti 2:13). The treaty under negotiation is but one of a vast array of indicators by which we may know with some measure of assurance that the times and the seasons are upon us. While we cannot predict the day or the hour of the rapture of the Church, we can understand from what is written that our hope is almost at hand. This should be a time of great activity in the Church, evangelizing as the Holy Spirit grants opportunities, praying always, rejoicing in hope.

The Signs of the Times
~A Compilation by Dave Reagan - Lamb & Lion Ministries~

Many people believe there is nothing that can be known about the timing of the Lord's return because Jesus said He would return like a thief in the night (Mt 24:42-44).

But Paul makes it clear in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 that Jesus' statement does not apply to believers: "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief. . ." He then proceeds to explain why: "for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober." Paul is referring, of course, to the light of the Holy Spirit who indwells all true believers and who can enlighten us through our study of Scripture to know the season of the Lord's return (1 Jn 2:27).

God's Attitude As a matter of fact, God is obligated by His character to warn the world of the imminent return of His Son. The reason is that Jesus is returning in great wrath to "judge and wage war" (Rev 19:11), and God never pours out His wrath without warning.

God does not wish that any should perish, but that all should be brought to repentance (2 Pet 3:9). Therefore, God always warns before He executes His wrath. He warned the world through Noah for 120 years. He warned Sodom and Gomorrah through Abraham. He sent Jonah to warn the pagan city of Nineveh, and He sent Nahum to the same city 150 years later.
Likewise, God is warning the world today that His Son is about to return. He is calling the world to repentance. The message of the hour to unbelievers can be summed up in these words: "Flee from the wrath that is to come by fleeing into the loving arms of Jesus now." Jesus came the first time as an expression of God's love; He came to die for the sins of Mankind. But when He returns, He will come in vengeance to pour out the wrath of God on those who have rejected God's love and grace.

The soon return of Jesus also carries with it a message for believers. Lukewarm Christians and carnal Christians are being called to commit their lives to holiness:

The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts (Rom 13:12-14).

God's Method of Warning God is alerting believers of the soon return of His Son through what are called "signs of the times." These are prophecies concerning world events that we are told to watch for, prophecies that will identify the season of the Lord's return.

The Bible is full of these signs. There are about 500 prophecies in the Old Testament that relate to the Second Coming of the Messiah. In the New Testament, one out of every 25 verses is concerned with the return of Jesus.

In fact, there are so many signs that it is difficult to grasp all of them. The best way I have found to do this is to put them in categories:

1) The Signs of Nature - We are told to watch for earthquakes, famine, pestilence, and signs in the heavens (see Mt 24:7 and Lk 21:11).

This is the least respected category of signs for several reasons. For one thing, many people simply shrug their shoulders and say, "There have always been natural calamities, so what else is new?" Note that Jesus says these signs will be like "birth pangs" (Mt 24:8) that is, they will increase in frequency and intensity as the time draws near for His return. In other words, there will be more intense earthquakes and more frequent ones. That is exactly what is happening today.

Another reason these signs are given little respect is because most Christians are so rationalistic that they do not really believe in the supernatural, and they therefore find it difficult to believe that God speaks to the world through signs of nature. Yet, the Bible teaches this principle from start to finish.

God dealt with the world's sin through a great flood in the days of Noah (Gen 6). He called the nation of Judah to repentance through a terrible locust invasion (Joel 1). In like manner, He called for the nation of Israel to repent by sending drought, wind storms, mildew, locusts, famine and pestilence (Amos 4:6-10). The prophet Haggai pointed to a drought as evidence that God was calling the people to get their priorities in order (Hag 1:10-11).

The New Testament begins with a special light in the heavens marking the birth of the Messiah (Mt 2:2). On the day that Jesus was crucified, there was three hours of darkness and an earthquake (Mt 27:45-51). And when Jesus returns, the earth will experience the greatest earthquake in its history as every mountain is lowered, every valley is raised, and every island is moved (Rev 16:17-21).

God has always spoken through signs of nature, and He continues to do so today. We had better pay close attention to them.

2) The Signs of Society - Jesus said that society will become increasingly lawless and immoral as the time approaches for His return. In fact, He said it would become as evil as it was in the days of Noah (Mt 24:12, 37-39).

Paul paints a chilling picture of end time society in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. He says it will be characterized by three loves the love of self (humanism), the love of money (materialism), and the love of pleasure (hedonism). He then points out that the payoff of this carnal lifestyle will be what the philosophers call nihilism that is, a society wallowing in despair. Men's minds will become depraved (Rom 1:28), and people will call evil good and good evil (Isa 5:20).

We are seeing these prophecies fulfilled before our eyes today as we watch our society reject its Christian heritage and descend into a hellish pit of lawlessness, immorality, and despair. Even worse, we are exporting our nihilism around the world through our immoral and violent movies and television programs.

3) The Spiritual Signs - There are both positive and negative spiritual signs that we are to watch for. The negative ones include the appearance of false christs and their cults (Mt 24:5,11,24), the apostasy of the professing church (2 Thes 2:3), an outbreak of Satanism (1 Tim 4:1), and the persecution of faithful Christians (Mt 24:9)

These negative spiritual signs began to appear in the mid-19th Century when Christian cults started forming. First came the Mormons, then the Jehovah's Witnesses, and then a great variety of spiritualist groups like the Church of Christ Scientists and the Unity Church.

The apostasy of the mainline Christian denominations began in the 1920's when the German school of higher criticism invaded American seminaries and undermined the authority of the Scriptures, teaching that the Bible is Man's search for God rather than God's revelation to Man.

During the 1960's Satanism exploded on the American scene and has since been exported worldwide through American movies, books, and television programs. Dabbling in the occult has become commonplace in the form of astrology, numerology, crystal gazing, transcendental meditation, and channeling. The whole trend has consummated in the appearance of the New Age Movement with its teaching that Man is God.

As society has secularized, true Christianity has come under increasing attack. Judeo-Christian values, once the foundation of Western Civilization, are now openly mocked, and those who still adhere to them are castigated as "intolerant fundamentalists" by the media.

The positive spiritual signs include the proclamation of the Gospel to the whole world (Mt 24:14), a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-32), and spiritual illumination to understand prophecies that have been "sealed up" until the end times (Dan 12:4,9).

As with the negative signs, we are seeing these positive signs fulfilled in our day and time. Through the use of modern technology, the Gospel has been proclaimed throughout the world in this Century, and the Bible has been translated into all major languages.

The great end time pouring out of the Holy Spirit that was prophesied by the prophet Joel has also begun. Joel called it "the latter rain" (Joel 2:23), and he said it would occur after the Jews had returned to their land. The state of Israel was re-established in 1948.

The acceleration in the understanding of Bible prophecy began in 1970 with the publication of Hal Lindsey's book, The Late Great Planet Earth. It seemed to open up to popular understanding many prophecies that had been "sealed up" until the end times (Dan 12:4, 9). Remarkably, it became the number one best seller in the world with the sole exception of the Bible for the next ten years!

4) The Signs of Technology - The book of Daniel says that there will be an explosion of knowledge in the end times and that people will move about quickly (Dan 12:4).

There are many Bible prophecies that cannot be understood apart from modern technology. For example, how can the whole world look upon two bodies lying in the streets of Jerusalem (Rev 11:8-9)? Modern television satellite technology makes it easy. How can the False Prophet build an image of the Anti-Christ that appears to be alive (Rev 13:15)? The answer, of course, is the science of robotics. How can the False Prophet require all people on earth to take the mark of the Anti-Christ in order to buy and sell (Rev 13:16-17)? It would not be possible apart from computers and lasers.

Jesus said that the Tribulation will be so terrible that all life on earth would cease to exist if He did not cut the period short (Mt 24:21-22). How could all life be threatened prior to the advent of nuclear weapons? Another reference to nuclear power is likely contained in Luke's statement that men in the end times will "faint from fear" because "the powers of the heavens will be shaken" (Lk 21:26). That certainly sounds like a reference to the splitting of the atom.

5) The Signs of World Politics - The Bible prophesies that there will be a certain pattern of world politics that will characterize the end time geopolitical map.

The focus will be the re-established state of Israel (Zech 12:2-3). It will be besieged by a menacing nation from the "remote parts of the north," the nation of "Rosh" or modern day Russia (Ezek 38:2,6). There will also be a threatening nation to the East that will be capable of sending an army of 200 million namely, China (Rev 9:13-16 and Rev 16:12-13). A third source of danger to Israel will be the Arab nations that immediately surround it. They will covet the land and will try to take it from the Jews (Ezek 35:10 and 36:2).

Another key player on the world political scene in the end times will be a coalition of European nations that will form a confederation centered in the area of the old Roman empire (Dan 2:41-44; 7:7,23-24, and Rev 17:12-13), served by a sinister leader who will arise to lead the West in its conquest of the world.. This confederation will serve as the political base for the rise of the Anti-Christ and the creation of his worldwide kingdom (Dan 7:8).

Other international political signs include wars and rumors of wars (Mt 24:6), civil wars (Mt 24:7), and general international terrorism and lawlessness (Mt 24:12).

6) The Signs of Israel - The signs related to the state of Israel are prolific and very important.

The most frequently repeated prophecy in the Old Testament is the prediction that the Jewish people will be regathered from the "four corners of the earth" in the end times (Isa 11:10-12). The Bible states that a consequence of this regathering will be the re-establishment of the state of Israel (Isa 66:7-8). The Scriptures say that once the Jews are back in their land, the land itself will experience a miracle of reclamation (Isa 35). The desert will bloom and people will exclaim, "This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden" (Ezek 36:35).

Another end time miracle will be the revival of the Hebrew language (Zeph 3:9). Most people are not aware of the fact that when the Jews were dispersed from their land in 70 A.D., they ceased to speak the Hebrew language. The Jews who settled in Europe developed a new language called Yiddish a combination of German and Hebrew. The Jews who migrated to the Mediterranean basin created a language called Ladino a combination of Hebrew and Spanish.

Other significant signs of Israel that we are told to watch for in the end times include the re-occupation of Jerusalem (Lk 21:24), the resurgence of Israeli military strength (Zech 12:6), and the re-focusing of world politics on Israel (Zech 12:3).

All these signs have been fulfilled in this century. The nation has been re-established, the land has been reclaimed, the ancient language has been revived, the Jews are back in Jerusalem, and Israel is the focal point of world politics.

Jesus says in Luke 21:28 that when these signs begin to happen, we should "straighten up and lift up our heads" because "our redemption is drawing near."

The Key Signs The most important signs are the ones that relate to Israel because God uses the Jews throughout the Scriptures as His prophetic time clock. By this I mean that very often when the Lord is revealing an important event that will take place in the future, He will point to the Jewish people and state that when a certain thing happens to them, the important event will also occur.

A good example of this principle can be found in Daniel 9 in the famous "Seventy Weeks of Years" prophecy. The prophet tells us to watch for a decree to be issued that will authorize the rebuilding of Jerusalem. He then says that the Messiah will come sixty-nine weeks of years (483 years) after that decree is issued to the Jewish people.

There are two key prophecies which relate the return of Jesus to events that have occurred in Jewish history since 1948. These two events clearly established the period in which we are now living as the season of the Lord's return.

The State of Israel

The first is the re-establishment of the state of Israel which occurred on May 14, 1948. Jesus singled out this event as the one that would signal His soon return.

His prophecy is contained in the fig tree parable (Mt 24:32-35) which He presented in His Olivet Discourse. The day before He delivered this speech, He had put a curse on a barren fig tree, causing it to wither (Mt 21:28-29). This was a symbolic prophecy that God would soon pour out His wrath upon the Jewish people because of their spiritual barrenness in rejecting His Son.

The next day Jesus reminded His disciples of the fig tree. He said to watch for it to bloom again. In other words, He said watch for the rebirth of Israel. He indicated that when the fig tree blooms again, He would be at the gates of Heaven, ready to return (Mt 24:33).

Equally significant, He added an interesting observation: "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place" (Mt 24:34). What generation? The generation that sees the fig tree blossom. We are that generation. The fig tree has blossomed. Jesus is at the gates.

The City of Jerusalem The second key event was prophesied by Jesus in the same speech, as recorded by Luke: "[The Jews] will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled" (Lk 21:24).
The first half of this prophecy was fulfilled in 70 A.D., forty years after Jesus spoke the words. In that year the Romans under Titus conquered Jerusalem and dispersed the Jews among the nations. Jerusalem remained under Gentile occupation for 1,897 years until June 7, 1967, when Israel won the city back during the Six Day War.
The Jewish re-occupation of the city of Jerusalem is proof positive that we are living in the season of the Lord's return. Jesus said it would mark the end of the Gentile Age.

A Call to Action There is no way to escape the conclusion that we are living on borrowed time.

The signs of the times are upon us, and they are shouting for our attention!

Revelation Outlined

Revelation, the last book in God’s Holy Word, the Bible. It is one of the least read and understood books in the entire Bible. In these last years, many books have been written, and many movies made, that have added to the confusion of this most beautiful book. Many of the books and movies are found in the fiction sections of bookstores. Revelation is not fiction! Rather, Satan has spent much time clouding and confusing the great truths of this book, so that we might miss the special blessing promised by the Author in Rev 1:3: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of his prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

The Introduction—Revelation, Chapter one. The book begins with the introduction of its Author. Verse one tells us that this is the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. It is not the Book of Revelations, as so many call it, as if it revealed many things, but it is the revelation of a Person, Jesus Christ. Rev 22:16 identifies Jesus Himself as the Author of the book.

The History of the Church—Revelation two and three. The seven churches represent the history of Christendom from the birth of the Church to the rapture. Not only do we find seven letters to seven real local churches, but we also find seven distinct periods in the Church Age: 1.) EPHESUS—Rev 2:1-7 covers the time from around 33A.D. to around 100 A.D.; 2.) SMYRNA—Rev 2:8-11 covers the time from around 100 A.D. to 312 A.D.; 3.) PERGAMOS—Rev 2:12-17 covers the period from 312 to 606A.D.; 4.) THYATIRA—covers the time from 606 to 1520 A.D.; 5.) SARDIS—Rev 3:1-6 covers the Church Age from 1520 into the Tribulation; 6.) PHILADELPHIA—Rev 3:7-13 began around 1750 and extends to the rapture; and, 7.) LAODICEA—began around 1900 and will extend into the Tribulation.

The Rapture of the Church—Revelation 4:1-3. “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here and I will show you things which must be hereafter.” The statement, “after this,” tells us that after the Church has run its course on Earth, we will hear the trumpet and the shout, “Come up here!” 1 Thess 4:16-17 tells us of this blessed event, giving us several particulars concerning it. 1 Cor 15 is known as the great resurrection chapter of the Bible, and provides additional information as to the way it occurs, specifically in 15:50-53.

The Church in Heaven—Revelation 4:4-11. In this scene, the twenty-four elders, representing the Church, without any OT saints, seated around the throne of God, glorified and crowned. In verse ten, the Church is seen casting her crowns before the throne, praising our Groom and Savior.

The Seven-sealed Book—Revelation, Chapter 5. This chapter is the key to understanding the whole of the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus, slain from the foundation of the world, is the only One worthy to break the seals on the scroll that reveals the terms of redemption for a fallen race. As in the story of Ruth, Jesus was our near Kinsman, He had the redemption price, and He was willing to pay it.

The first half of the Tribulation Period—Revelation, Chapters 6-10. Commonly known as the 70th week of Daniel, this period begins the worst catastrophe in the history of the world. God so wanted us to know the length of this period that He said it would be two periods or three and one-half years, or two periods of 42 months, or two periods of 1,260 days. While expressed in three different terms, each set of two periods equals seven years.

Parenthetical Portion—Revelation 11-13. This section of the book provides an introduction to and some detail concerning the chief participants in the last half of the Tribulation period.

The Great Tribulation—Revelation 14. “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, now was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (12:7-9). At this point, Satan releases all his fury against mankind.

The Second Coming of Christ—Revelation 19:11-21. This is the answer to the angel’s promise of Acts 1:10-11, where the angels promised that Jesus would return to the earth just as He had left.

The Millennial Kingdom—Revelation 20. Satan is bound for a thousand years and Christ reigns over the entire earth, the Church Age saints ruling over the nations with Him, and all of the Jews established in their land. This is the fulfillment of the many prophecies of peace given in the Scriptures.

The Final Judgment—Revelation 20:11-15. The Great White Throne Judgment is the final judgment of the unsaved — no saved persons will be judged in this judgment, but only the lost of all the ages.

Eternity—Revelation 21-22. This is the estate of both the lost and the saved; hell for unbelievers and heaven for the saved. Church Age saints will inhabit the New Jerusalem, Israel will inhabit her land, the Nations will populate the New Earth, and Jesus will sit on His throne in the New Jerusalem, sovereign over all His creation.

Our prayer is that each of you, our subscribers, know this great God and Savior whom we worship, and whose Word we teach, that you may join us in heaven for all eternity, blessed forever!

The Pretribulation Rapture

There is one central basis for the pretribulation rapture position. J. Dwight Pentecost, in his book Things to Come, states, “Pretribulation rapturism rests on one major premise – the literal method of interpretation of the Scriptures.” Even those who believe in a mid- or post tribulation rapture openly admit that if the Bible is to be taken literally, then the rapture of the Church will indeed precede the tribulation period. We know that this method of interpretation is correct, for then, and only then, does the authority come from God alone, rather than from the imaginations of men. The conclusion that we will meet our Lord in the air prior to the “time of Jacob’s trouble” is based on the following Biblical truths:

The Nature of the 70^th Week – The 70^th week is the final week spoken of in the prophecy to Daniel concerning his people, the Jews, and his holy city, Jerusalem (Dan. 9:24-27). The two purposes the Bible gives for this last week are to (1) test those who dwell on the earth and (2) to prepare Israel for her King. This final week is said to be characterized, from beginning to end, by: wrath, judgment, indignation, punishment, trial, trouble, destruction and darkness. In first Thessalonians 5, Paul is focusing on the beginning of the Day of the Lord, which is the Tribulation. He then concludes by saying, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ”…”whether we are awake or asleep” (v. 9-10). Considering the context, the salvation spoken of is from the tribulation that will come upon the whole earth, rather than salvation from hell. Also, it is salvation from “the wrath of the Lamb” (Rev. 6:16-17), which will be poured out on the whole world.

The Nature of the Church – The Church is Christ’s bride, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, and she is, thus, His body. The “wrath of the Lamb” will not be poured out upon His own body. Also, the Church is absent from Revelation 4:1 to 19:11 during the outpouring of God’s wrath, just as Noah and his family were absent, safe in the ark, during God’s judgment of the earth with a flood. Throughout this section, the Jews are the focus and the Gentiles are present. But there is no mention of the Church after John is told, “Come up here!” Furthermore, the Bible says nowhere that the Church must go through the Tribulation nor do the Epistles give Christians any specific instruction concerning that time. Jesus, on the other hand, did give instruction saying, “Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.” This is clearly not instruction given to Christians, for we are not under the law, but under grace. As Christians we look not for tribulation, but for "His Son from heaven who has delivered us from the wrath to come" (I Thessalonians 1:10).

Distinctions Between the Rapture and the Second Advent — At the rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air; at the Second Advent, He descends to the Mount of Olives (1 Th 4:17; Zech 14:4). The rapture is imminent; the Second Coming occurs seven years after the 70th week of Daniel begins. The rapture is a mystery of the Church Age (1 Cor 15:51); the Second Advent is the subject of extensive OT prophecy. There is no dealing with Satan or demons at the Rapture; at the Second Advent, Satan is bound in the bottomless pit (Rev 20:2). At the rapture, believers go to heaven (1 Th 4:17); at the Second Coming, they return to Earth with Christ (1 Th 3:13; Col 3:4; 2 Th 4:13; Zech 14:5).

There are many more reasons to accept the doctrine of a pretribulation rapture, but space does not permit an exhaustive examination of the doctrine.

Interpreting Prohphecy

A person’s entire understanding of prophecy is determined by the method he uses to interpret the Scriptures. The more stringently one adheres to a plain, or normal, interpretation, the more conservative he becomes in his theology. The more one allegorizes the Scriptures, the more liberal he is. Liberal theology presents several differing views of things to come, depending upon the allegory employed, whereas Conservative theologians agree broadly on a single prophetic structure.

God chose human language as the preferred method of revealing Himself to man. How ironic, if He did not say what He meant for us to understand, but cloaked it in mystery, so that nothing meant what it said. The purpose of language being to transmit a word or thought from one mind to another, it seems transparent that God intended for those who study His Word to do so by reading what is actually written. If a normal interpretive method yields a sensible, orderly, and congruous understanding of things to come, then there seems little reason to suppose that we should use our imaginations to attempt to construct a different scenario. Conservatives use this plain approach to interpretation, not only because it makes sense, but also because, when one looks at the world stage, he finds that the Earth is ordered today in accordance with that which was prophesied. Given that virtually every prophecy that has ever been fulfilled in the past was fulfilled in a literal way, it seems strange indeed that anyone would suggest that the few remaining prophecies will be fulfilled in some allegorical way. Yet, that is what Liberal theologians do. There are a host of reasons why a plain, or normal, interpretation is the desired method. Space does not permit a full exposition of this important doctrine.

It is entirely possible to be politically liberal and theologically conservative. Whatever one’s politics, common sense dictates that, as someone once said, “If it makes sense as it is, don’t make nonsense out of it!” The Bible speaks in plain language, so that unbelievers are left without excuse. The devil twisted God’s Word in the Garden of Eden, and he continues to attempt to use that method today to divert mankind from the simple truth of the Bible. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Things to Come

While there are many details given in the Scriptures for a broad spectrum of prophecies, there are not all that many events yet to occur. One must know the order of the prophesied events if he is to connect the details with their appropriate prophesied events. Ten major events remain to be fulfilled:

1. The rapture of the Church Age saints—to remain with the Lord in heaven seven years

2. Tribulation on Earth and rejoicing in heaven—God’s wrath poured out in judg- ments on the Earth, while the Church Age saints enjoy their eternal home

3. The Second Advent of Christ and resurrection of Old Testament saints—Gentile world dominion destroyed

4. Millennial Kingdom—Church Age saints reign with Christ over the cities and na- tions of Earth, Israel enjoys blessed peace in her own land

5. Satan is loosed and leads a rebellion against Christ—rebels are destroyed by fire from heaven—Satan cast into hell; the unsaved dead are resurrected to face judg- ment

6. Great white throne judgment—the judgment of the unsaved and their condemna- tion

7. Heavens and Earth destroyed—the elements shall melt with fervent heat

8. New heavens and earth are created—no sea, no shadow of turning

9. New Jerusalem descends—home of all Church Age saints, seat of God’s eternal Kingdom throne

10. Eternal state—Church saints in New Jerusalem, suspended above the Earth; Israel sovereign in her own land; Gentile saints of all ages (except the Church Age) liv- ing in the nations of New Earth; Christ sovereign over all as Lord of Lords and King of kings.