THE SECOND COMING

 

The second coming is the most important coming event mentioned in the Bible. It is mentioned 300 times in the N.T. which is 1 in 25 verses. This is an important event which will unlock our understanding of the end times.

 

There are four different interpretations among Christians in the church today:

1. I won’t be here at all - Pre-Trib- dispensationalists, believe there are different dispensations of God’s working, believe Jews and Church are separate and the O.T. is just history of Jews.    
 

2. I’ll be here for half of it - Mid-Trib - Rapture is at 3.5 years into the tribulation (1Thess 5.9) and the last 3.5 years are the wrath of God period for all those left on the earth.

3. I’ll be here for over half of it - Pre Wrath - Church rapture is sometime after the Antichrist comes to power and defiles the temple, prior to the wrath of God.

4. I’ll be here for the entire event - Post Trib - Rapture and second coming are at the same time. Believers go through tribulation but are spared the wrath of God. Matt 24. 29-31

 

We all agree He is coming back and this has nothing to do with our salvation. There are two resurrections. The Just and the Unjust.

 

PRETRIBULATION - This is the most popular belief among the Church today as 80% of believers adhere to it. We will begin our study with the proof texts the Pre-tribulation believers use and work towards a conclusion from these.

 

Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Rev 3.10 to the church at Philadelphia.

 

What is the hour of temptation? It is not defined here. Does it mean remove? A rule of Bible interpretation must be that unclear scripture be interpreted by clear scripture.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10.13 We see here a way is made to bear temptation or trial.

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1.12 James tells us we are blessed if we endure temptation--then we will receive a crown of life. You get a crown of life after a trial.

 

Pre-tribbers use the word in Rev 3.10 to the church of Philadelphia and apply it to them being taken out. If this scripture applies to them why don’t any of the other messages to the rest of the churches apply? Why aren’t they say “spit out of my mouth” as the next church is? This is taking a verse out of context.

Holy Spirit Removed?

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 1 Thess 2.3-7

They take this scripture out of context. They say the Holy Spirit is removed from the world. What is taken out of the way? The restraint is taken out of the way. It does not say the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth. The Holy Spirit is now restraining, but will at some future day move aside and allow.

If we look at Daniel 10 we see an angel was restrained from getting to Daniel and was helped by Michael. Daniel prayed and it took three weeks for the angel to get to him because he was restrained by the Prince of Persia. When we pray things happen in spiritual places! In this example we can see the Holy Spirit is restraining and will then allow.

 

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess 5.9 Here wrath means punishment or judgments on the specific day of judgment.

For the day is near, Even the day of the Lord is near; It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles. Ezek 30.3

The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. Joel 2.31

 

The “day” has not come yet, and won’t come until….Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 1 Thess 2.1-4

The Antichrist must be revealed first. That doesn’t happen until 3.5 years into this seven year period. See Daniel 9.27 when this happens mid week.

 

So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Matt 24.33 This will be clear to all believers when they see all the signs in Matt 24. Pre-tribbers believe Matt 24 is only happening to Jews who will be saved after the church is raptured. It is the Holy Spirit that reveals the Lord to individuals. They said earlier that the Holy Spirit has gone from the earth. Has He now returned? Where does it say that?

 

When the Lord returns He said we will know because we will all see Him. There is no secret rapture. We will know because the signs of the season are clear to us. Yaweh will come at His appointed time after all the signs are fulfilled. It is going to happen according to His calendar--His feasts.

 

In ancient Israel kings where inaugurated or crowned during the Feast of Trumpets, just as our president is inaugurated after the November election in January.

 

THE TEN VIRGINS - In the parable of the ten virgins, five are unprepared and told to go and buy oil for themselves. They were not ready. When they returned later after buying oil the Lord said He did not know them. Oil is used to light the menorah and Yeshua is the “light of the world”. The Torah is God’s light. The Torah is the word--Jesus was the word made flesh--the Torah made flesh. He fulfilled the law, He did not destroy it. We are to walk as He walked--therefore we too are fulfilling the law.

 

The truth is God’s light. The word (Torah) is truth. All the virgins had light, but only five had enough light to get them through. Understanding the word (Torah) is most important. And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matt 7.23

The Lord knows those who obey and understand His word. Lawlessness is illegality. Sin is the transgression of the law. The Lord is telling those who refuse to obey that He doesn’t know them. These are people in the church He is talking to! Depart from me you who don’t practice what you believe! See Ps 104.35, 1 John 3.4 The five wise virgins knew their Bridegroom--they knew the season He was coming and were prepared.

 

TRIALS AND TRIBULATION - The Bible tells us to expect trials and tribulation and that it purifies and causes us to become holy. Now are we to believe that we don’t experience trial? Everything in the word says trial and tribulation are good for us and allow us to grow in the Lord. Strong’s defines tribulation: to press as grapes; press hard on; a compressed way, to trouble, afflict, distress.

VALUE IN TRIBULATION

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16.33 Also see 1 Peter 1.5-7, 1 Peter 4.1-2, 7

 

…and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 1 Thess 3.2-3 Paul is talking about current and future tribulation.

 

We are going to have tribulation. The Bible is clear on this and repeats it time and time again. Look at the apostles after Jesus’ death. All but one was martyred. (Is this why Paul advised believers not to marry?) Jesus wants our lives to build His kingdom. He came that we would die to ourselves. We have lost this meaning in our society--yet in many places in the world today there is persecution--it is going to come here soon! See James 1.2 and 12 The final tribulation is designed for the bride--to refine her! Look at the Biblical pattern.

 

Israel was in Egypt for all the plagues. They came out at the last hour--the last plague. Look at the tribulation Joseph went through when his brothers sold him into slavery. Look at the apostles and early believers. Look at church history! Burned at the stake for translating the Bible into common language. Look at the pattern: “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance“ Romans 5.3 Tribulation is of value--it draws us closer to our Messiah. We need to be prepared.

 

…strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14.22 (This verse refers to the second coming) This is the tone of the Bible. We have been blessed to live in a free country and not be persecuted--but a generation is soon coming where that will not be true. This is the pattern: Tribulation, then crown! And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”

So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Rev 7.14 Some are going to wash their robes. Pretribbers think this will only be Jews. This is a misconception. Again, if the Holy Spirit is gone from the earth, how would Jews be saved? Remember only the restraint has been removed. We will discuss the Jews further in a moment.

 

Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matt 7.14 In the Greek in Strong’s we see difficult as the word Thlibo as meaning tribulation. This verse now is: “small is the gate and tribulation is the road that leads to life!” Only few find this road or understand it--tribulation leads to a “God life”.

 

In Rev 12.11, 17 the beast goes after one group--the true believers--who hold the commandments of God. Then in Rev 14.12-13 the saints are described as those who obey His commands. We will walk like He walked.

 

POST TRIBULATION SCRIPTURES

Matt 13.24-30 is the parable of the wheat and tares. This is the end--the last day harvest. Notice the tares are gathered first. The armies of Armageddon are brought together like the tares to be burned in the fire of war. See Matt 24.29-31 and Rev 19.11-21. We see Him when He comes: 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 Thess 5.1-4 Paul is saying, be prepared. Remember the virgins.

 

In Genesis 1.14 it says: Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years…” The word for season in Hebrew is Mo’ed or fixed time or season. Specifically a festival, an appointment. The moon, sun, and stars tell us the “time or season” when we are supposed to meet or gather. The feasts of the Lord (Lev 23.2) are His appointed times. There are still three to be fulfilled: Trumpets (Yom Teruah), Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and Tabernacles. (This is another detailed study in order to understand all this.)

 

“You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thess 5.5-6

 

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119.9-11 Verse 10 says with all my heart. He realizes he must walk in the light of the word (Torah) and not in darkness. We will know the season if we walk in the light. Rev 3.3 says: “Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.” He is talking to believers!

 

He comes as a thief to those who do not obey. He comes to those who recognize the times and seasons. They hear the trumpet of warning. “Left behind” is a fraud doctrine. Those who obey know the season--not the 24 hour period. Understanding the feasts of the Lord is a key to what is going to occur and how to be ready.

 

GOD’S CALENDAR - The feasts of the Lord are God’s calendar or appointed times. Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits (all combined in Passover), Pentecost (or Weeks) have already been prophetically fulfilled. There are three remaining feast to be fulfilled on Yeshua’s calendar: Trumpets (Yom Teruah), Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and Tabernacles (Wedding Feast of Bride and Groom).

 

The dead in Christ rise at the sound of the trumpet (Yom Teruah 1 Thess 4.16). The Jews believe this. The Messiah raises His children on that day (the dead), Joseph was released from prison on that day, Israel was released from Egypt on that day, and the final redemption of our people is on that day! Jews believe on Yom Teruah they will be redeemed--that is when Messiah comes. The Talmud says: The resurrection will take place on Rosh Ha Shanna. This is the Feast of Trumpets or Yom Teruah--“the day of the awakening shout.”

 

Trumpets is the only feast that cannot be calculated by a numerical day because it is the only feast that starts on a new moon. A new moon must be “seen” in order to be declared. The new moon is when the moon is dark. The slim sliver, however, is seen on the third day. This is when the new moon is declared. This event, therefore, can take place any time during those three days. It is the day “no man knows.” 1 Thess 4.14-16

 

THE NUMBER ONE PRE-TRIB POSITION: God deals with Israel differently than He deals with the church and all passages that appear to be talking about the saints going through the tribulation are really referring to Jews. Therefore all those saved in the tribulation are Jews. This is totally false. In other words they are saying that the church is raptured out and sitting at a banquet table feasting with the Lord while down on earth Jews are being persecuted and martyred! How preposterous is that? Christians throughout the ages have been the number one persecutor of the Jewish people--now we are partying while they go through the tribulation?

 

Is the New Covenant for Jews or Gentiles? “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Jeremiah 31.31-33 This verse does not mention gentiles when speaking about this new covenant. If we are grafted into Israel, however, than we are part of Israel (Eph 2.11-3.6 and Romans 9-11).

 

Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.” Ezek 11.16 This verse speaks of the dispersion of the lost tribes of Israel. They have lost their identities!

 

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. James 1.1

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 1 Peter 1.1

…for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them. Romans 2.13-15

Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose hearts follow the desire for their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God. Ezek 11.19-21 Ezekiel is talking about the new covenant and being reborn in Jesus. Those who have been grafted into Israel--we are spiritually Jews!

 

In Christ you are either of Israel or you are a pagan (unbeliever). We are grafted into Israel (Romans 11.17, Ephesians 2.11-3.6). The mainline church has forgotten their roots. We are grafted into the commonwealth of Israel. All that we believe is written in the O.T. In the first century Jesus was preached out of the O.T. There was no New Testament. The N.T. is really commentary on the O.T. All the epistles refer to the O.T. or Torah as witness to what they preached concerning Jesus.

 

We are grafted into Israel (Rom 11.24). The olive tree which we were grafted into is Israel. All the twelve tribes were sons of Jacob (Israel). In the O.T. the tribe of Judah is called the Jews (2 Kings 16.5-6) and the northern kingdom is called Israel. The wild tree is being grafted back into Israel--this is us. If you are grafted into the olive tree of Romans 11 then you are grafted into Israel, which allows us to be part of the new covenant. The destiny of today’s nation of Israel, the Jews, is parallel with the church. We are part of them. Ephesians 2 We are the commonwealth of Israel.

 

Gentiles are not allowed into the new covenant. You must become a Hebrew. The true meaning of the word Hebrew is “crossed over”. When we accept Jesus into our new heart we cross over to the olive tree. When the Hebrews left Egypt it says they were a mixed multitude--there were those who had crossed over with them (Gentiles). This is the issue of predestination in a nutshell. We were predestined to be grafted in! Predestination now is easily understood.

 

There is also a study on how the lost ten tribes were scattered throughout the earth and became a large part of the current “gentile” nations. This means that many gentiles may actually be descendants of the children of Israel. This is a study for another day. In the meantime, this fact of our being grafted in is very important. Those who believe in a pre-trib rapture will not be ready when the middle east goes up in flames. We need to be prepared for His coming. Jesus is going to return some fall season during the time of Yom Teruah.

http://www.stevenmcollins.com/ Lost Tribes website

 

Resurrection Twinkling Change

 

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Cor 15.50-53

 

The context of this scripture is Paul discussing the resurrection of the dead with believers who are alive and wondering what happens to those who have died. Then he shows us a mystery--we shall not all sleep (or die) but we shall all be changed in a moment at the last trump. He is telling them not to worry, the dead will be raised at the last trump--but there will be some people alive at this time and all of us will be changed together (dead and living).

 

Then 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18 confirms this: But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For 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 by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

 

Again, Paul is comforting believers who are alive with the facts of what is going to happen when the Lord returns. They are not to worry about those who have already died, they are going to be resurrected first, then we who are alive will meet them and the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. That does not indicate those who are alive and meet in the air must die later. Finally in verse 18, we are to comfort each other with these words.

 

These two scriptures together indicate we will all be changed, the dead and the living, and will remain with the Lord forever after. The group receives equal treatment. Those living at this time are a special generation that does not die. This appears to me as the King’s prerogative. This group has lived through the tribulation and paid a heavy price.

 

Then in Revelation 20.6 it says: Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

The group that is resurrected from the dead and are alive at His coming are those in Rev 20.6. They shall be priests of God and Christ and reign with Him a thousand years.

 

Earlier in Revelation 20.4 it says: And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

 

This group is also going to reign with Christ. It can be read that they have extra responsibility as Judges. This is higher than being a priest. Samuel was a judge and a priest. These have a higher position, and they are singled out from the rest of the group that has been resurrected from the dead with those who were alive and met them in the air. The rest of the dead must wait until the millennium is over as stated in verse 5.

 

I would have to see clear scripture indicating otherwise for me to believe those living at the resurrection die in the millennium--without clear scripture indicating that specific group by name--that is pure speculation. The evidence weighs heavily against such speculation when taken in the context of Paul comforting those who think they’ll be alive when this event occurs.

 

 

Already Dead - Romans 6.4-8

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

 

Col 3.3

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

 

2 Tim 2.11

It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

ORDO AB CHAO

Out of chaos, comes order; one of the oldest mottos of Craft Freemasonry

These days it is very difficult to discern truth. Not all that we see with our eyes is what is really happening. There is a veil covering many of the events of our day. The elite can manufacture events that appear to be isolated but in reality are well planned.

Was the Brexit real or Memorex? Was it a planned event to create chaos? The elite love to live by Ordo Ab Chao. This is how they bring about their desired end. George Soros went long gold and sold many of his stocks just prior to the Brexit vote.

The media had us believing the vote would be to stay but that was not the result. The financial markets had already built in a stay result and when the vote went the opposite way chaos ruled in the Friday markets throughout the world. Now there is political chaos in Britain. Some even want to petition to vote again! What in the world is going on?

We are witnessing a classic event in the order of Ordo Ab Chao. There is hidden motive behind what is happening. The division over this issue in Britain is deep. The division in the United States is deep. The entire world is divided like never before in my life time (I was born after World War II).

Many have been crowing that the European Union is finished. They say this was a vote for freedom and many other countries will follow Britain. Could that be the planned result? Perhaps this is a leaning down of a future more efficient European Union led by Germany.

Shake out the poor needy nations like Greece and Spain. Create a group of strong financial nations that can trade with China and Russia. Then dictate through trade to the former weaker members—make them your slave states. This idea is basically what Hitler was attempting to create in World War II. His fatal mistake was looking at Russia as an enemy rather than as a partner.

Today Germany is moving much closer to Russia and China as trade partners. The rebuilt EU will be the trade power house in tandem with China and Russia. Europe will no longer depend on the United States for protection or trade. The Europeans do not profit by allowing the US to dictate policy to them. Only Europe suffers from the sanctions the US demands from them towards Russia.

The EU that will arise from this temporary chaos will be much stronger than the current version. They will have their own military and conduct trade on their own terms. The United States will not have much influence over them.

The next few years will be quite interesting as this develops. The US will be on the sidelines when their tremendous debt burden implodes. The future lies with a German led EU, Russia, and China. Once this partnership is fully developed the problem in the Middle East with Islam and Israel will become the world’s focus. This is when Biblical prophetic events will begin in earnest.

We are to watch and pray as this slowly develops. An unforeseen event of great magnitude in finance, religion, or war could set these events into action more quickly but for now we need to beware of Ordo Ab Chao in everything that happens.

We certainly are living in the “End Times” but many things must, and will take place, before the “Great and Terrible Day of the Lord” arrives. Stay calm and pray on!

For those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture I ask these questions:

 

1. Where in the Bible is the word rapture? Paul calls it a “gathering together to Him.” In 2 Thess 2.3 Paul says that day won’t come until the man of sin is revealed and sits in the temple. That is way into the tribulation. In verse 8 of this scripture the Lord will destroy the lawless one with the brightness of His coming.

 

2. When is the Lord coming? See 2 Thess 2.8; 1 Corinthians 15.22-24. At the end with those who are with Him at his coming. “The end,” is the key here. This is at the last trumpet 1 Corinthians 15.51-52, John 6.39-44

 

3. When is the resurrection of the dead? That appears in Revelation 19.11-thru-20.7 The Lord appears with his army in Rev 19 and in Rev 20.1-7 this is the first resurrection. This is at the time the battle for Jerusalem is ending at the end of the age.

 

4. Where else besides Rev 19.11-thru Rev 20.7 does it speak of the return of the Lord in the Book of Revelation? Please show me? Nowhere! Only speculation.

 

5. Why would Jesus give us so much information in Matt 24 about great tribulation, false Christ’s, the appearance of the Anti-Christ, and those days being shortened for the elect’s sake if He was taking us out? Please explain that to me. Before He began, His disciples asked him when the end is and what to expect. Where does our Lord say we will be “raptured?” Not once in Matt 24 does he say anything about that.

 

6. If Jesus doesn’t address it, why should we expect it? Note: There is a place of hiding in scripture. This is a separate study.

 

7. What is Jesus trying to tell us in the parable of the wheat and tares in Matt 13.24-30? The tares are being burned at the same time the elect are gathered. That looks like the end of the age to me. Matt 24.36-41 supports this. As for the days of Noah, yes he was in the ark and protected, but he was saved at the same time the wicked were drowning. It happened at the same time! God will be with His people during the tribulation.

 

8. What did Jesus mean when He said, “The servant is not greater than the Master?” If He went to the cross and many of his prophets and disciples went through difficult times, persecution, and death, is He going to give His church a hall pass?

 

9. Why do Peter and Paul talk so much about suffering, persecution, and tribulation in their gospels? Why waste the time if we escape so easily? Why does one group escape and others don’t?

 

The word speaks for itself. This is not my interpretation. I am letting the word speak. Please show me different in the word. I have already given more than 3 witnesses to the truth. In the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses let all be confirmed. I am not twisting the word to my ends. It is speaking clearly. I try very hard to let God’s word speak for itself. The rapture is bunk! It is a deception that began in the 1830’s. It cannot be substantiated  in the word.

 

Things don’t make sense any other way. The resurrection of the dead and the gathering in the air happen at the same time. This is the second coming. There is only one second coming--at the end. Rev 19.11-thru 20.7 There is no secret coming and a subsequent rapture. Show me that scripture. Case closed.

BREXIT IS PROPHETIC BIBLICAL EVENT

We are watching momentous prophetic events this morning as Britain has voted to leave the EU. The issues behind this are many. National sovereignty, immigration, borders, and finance. As I have said many times there is going to be a backlash from Europe on the flood of immigrants and Europe’s borderless mentality. God created borders as we read in Deut 32.7-9 and he scattered the people at the tower of Babel (Gen 11). The EU is a Babel project and it is in direct opposition to God’s plans. God established borders according to the number of Jacob’s twelve sons. He gave Israel a tiny slice of land and the rest of the world to the nations. Even so, the nations want to divide God’s land and He is not very happy about it (Joel 3.1-3).

 

The British are an “Israelite” nation and they have voted to exit. This is going to have far reaching prophetic implications as we move towards the end time battle. This vote will shake the EU and most likely other nations will leave the union. This is another sign of the final beast rising.

This is not the end of the EU by any means. The EU, according to prophecy will be a leaner, more powerful, union that will be led by Germany, and will become a major player in the Middle East wars to come. The weaker nations in the EU will leave allowing the strong nations that are financially stable to move forward. Watch Germany assert itself in the years to come.

 

Margret Thatcher, back in the 1980’s warned Briton that The EU was going to empower Germany and that Germany would dominate the EU. This is exactly what is happening. She said that Europe was attaching itself to Germany and that Germany would eventually get their way. Watch Germany and the Vatican. They will play a huge role in coming prophetic events.

 

The Pope is working hard to bring all religions together as one. He says the Muslims worship the same God as we do. That, of course is false, but the Vatican has eyes on the Holy Land and has for centuries desired to administer the land. The coming EU changes will move the Vatican closer to their dream. On the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem its says, “God has no son.” We do not worship the same God. Watch as the Pope reaches out to Islam and other religions to form a coexisting religion. The book of Revelation is coming to pass before our eyes! The beast is rising.

 

Today was an exciting prophetic day. God is shaking the nations and huge financial and political changes are on the horizon. Read the following articles for further understanding.

https://www.thetrumpet.com/article/13988.2.0.0/bible-prophecy-foretold-a-brexit

https://www.thetrumpet.com/article/13972.2.0.0/britain/is-brexit-the-answer

DAY OF ATONEMENT

 

Lev 16.33 In addition to atonement for the nation of Israel, there are atonements for the altar, the priests, and more. Sin and uncleanness must be cleansed. On this day it is blood atonement that is necessary.

 

Lev 16.6-10 Aaron offers a sin offering for himself and family, then the nation.

There are two goats for sacrifice at this time. The first goat is sacrificed for sin and the second goat is the “scapegoat” that is released in the wilderness for sin. The scapegoat is called Azazel, “the goat that goes away”. Lots are drawn to see which goat is used for which sacrifice.  If the Azazel goat’s lot falls in the right hand that is considered a good omen. This goat is released into the wilderness with a red ribbon on its horn. It symbolizes the Lord taking away our sins. It is taken far from the camp and pushed over a cliff so that it doesn’t return. A red ribbon is also attached to the temple door and if that ribbon turns white, that signifies the sins being forgiven. (Scarlet sins become white as snow.)

 

The Day of Atonement is also called “The fast” as it is the only day Hebrews are required to fast. It is a day of repentance from sin. It is a day of affliction--so the fast. This feast is also called Yom Kippur.

 

The first Pentecost was when Moses went up the mountain and received the ten commandments. When he came down the people were already sinning. They had made the golden calf and were worshipping it. Moses had to go back up the mountain when he broke the ten commandments in anger. (Exodus 32) While up there the second time Moses was concerned for the “great sin” of the people and begged God to forgive them or to blot Moses out of the Book of Life! Moses was that concerned for the people he was ready to die for them.

 

The month of Elul was when Moses went up the second time for 40 days. A biblical month is 30 days. Moses came down on the tenth day of Tishrei, which is the Day of Atonement. This is why Elul is a month of reflection and repentance. The first day of Tishrei is the Feast of Trumpets, the warning blast of the shofar, warning that the Day of Atonement is coming on the 10^th of Tishrei.

 

When Moses came down 40 days later, that was the first Day of Atonement. He told them that God was going to give them a second chance--or new beginning--this is symbolic of the new birth which also is a new beginning. This was the time when Moses’ face shined with the glory of the Lord because he had been “face to face” with God interceding for the people.

 

Five days after this is the Feast of Tabernacles where God comes to dwell among us. It is a celebration of the forgiveness shown on the Day of Atonement where God is forgiving His people for their sins and coming to live or tabernacle with them. So, after that first Day of Atonement, the people gathered offerings to bring before the Lord for five days to build the Tabernacle or tent for God. This was the first Feast of Tabernacles.

 

We see the grace of God all through the Old Testament. The people were not cursed by the law, but the law led them to atone for their sins. The Day of Atonement is a great day of God’s grace towards his people. It was a “born again” experience for the entire nation as atonement was made for them--a new beginning. Just as a credit card covers you until you can make a payment, so the atonement covered the people until the coming Messiah redeems them and pays off the balance. The Messiah takes away our sins. Micah 7.19 says our sins are cast into the sea. The blood atonement is required for forgiveness of sin--this is Jesus the sacrificial lamb. God redeems us. Psalm 49.15--Galatians 3.13

So we see the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, as the day that the nation of Israel is redeemed. Passover was individual redemption--Yom Kippur is national redemption. This is a coming future event at the end of the age!

 

The priest wore white linen (the righteousness of the saints) when he performed his sacrificial duties. Two kids were sacrificed for a sin offering. As the priest performed his duties his clothes became soaked in blood, scarlet sins, so he would wash and change into fresh white linens, white as snow. God takes our sin and turns them white as snow. Our sins are “etched” in stone (the tablets of the ten commands). Jesus comes to save us and our love for Him allows us to now write His law on our hearts. We want to walk righteously because we love him. We joy in it, as our burden is light and our yoke is easy when the law is written on our hearts. Ezekiel 31.31-34

 

So the scapegoat had the red ribbon tied to it and one was also on the temple door. The goat is led into the wilderness and pushed over a cliff so he won’t come back. The red ribbon on the temple door would turn white and the people knew their sins were forgiven.

 

The Talmud says that for forty years prior to the destruction of the temple by the Romans the lot for the scapegoat kept coming up in the left hand, a bad omen. The ribbon on the temple door did not turn white, the temple doors began to open by themselves, and the western light on the Menorah kept going out. They knew something terrible was about to happen. What the Talmud doesn’t mention is that forty years prior to this Jesus was crucified! He had said the temple would be destroyed. Why? Because there was no need for animal sacrifice anymore because Jesus’ death on the cross was “once and for all.” (The Jewish historian Josephus also writes about these omens in his history.)

 

The fifty year event of the Year of Jubilee also takes place on a Day of Atonement every fifty years. Lev 25.9-10. The jubilee trumpet is blown on this day. This is a day of forgiveness of debt. It is a redemption and new beginning where all is restored every fifty years. Those in dept are given a fresh start. It is a proclamation of liberty to captives as spoken of in Isaiah 61.1-2. This is the scripture Jesus read in the synagogue in Luke 4.14-21 on a year of Jubilee! He had just come out of His forty days of testing in the wilderness. After He read this scripture and told the people He was fulfilling this prophecy they took Him outside and tried to throw Him over a cliff--just like they do to the scapegoat! Jesus was the Yom Kippur scapegoat and this event took place on the Day of Atonement.

The Feast of Trumpets (or Teruah which is a shofar blast) is the opening of the book and Yom Kippur is the closing of the book. Jesus opened the book, read the verse, closed the book and sat down.

 

BOOK OF REVELATION AND DAY OF ATONEMENT SIMILARITIES

 

In Leviticus 16 the priest takes burning coals off the altar and puts incense on the mercy seat, sprinkles blood on the mercy seat (eastward, the direction the Messiah will enter the East Gate in Jerusalem). Psalm 141: prayers are incense--Rev 6.9 we see prayers of saints. After the Day of Atonement vengeance is meted out. In Rev 8 and Lev 16 we see prayers as incense. There are seven angels, seven trumpets, seven seals in Revelation. Isaiah 61.1-2 speaks of the day of vengeance. Jesus did not read this part because he was coming as the humble servant. When he comes the second time He is coming as our dread champion. The Book of Revelation is vengeance on the wicked.

 

In Rev 11.15-19 the nations are angry. Vengeance is coming on the wicked. The heavens are opened and we see the ark of God--this is Yom Kippur--entrance into the Holy of Holies. In the spring feast of Passover the people offer a barley offering. At Pentecost there is a wheat offering and at Tabernacles there is a fruit offering. The harvest is at the end of the world. In Matt 13.38-50 we see the gathering of the wheat and tares. The reapers are the angels.

 

In Exodus 23.16 and Rev 14.18 we see the grape harvest, gathering in the harvest at the end of the year and the beginning of the new year, Rosh Ha-Shana

In Lev 16.16-17 there is an atonement for the Holy Place, etc--no one but high priest goes in. In Rev 15.8 no one is allowed in until the seven plagues are fulfilled. In Rev 19 the whore is judged--blood is avenged. The wicked are compared to grapes in the winepress. God is dealing with the wicked here.

 

Prophetically what else happens? This is going to be the day Israel realizes Yeshua is the Messiah. It will be a day of national redemption. (2 Corinthians 3.13-16) The veil will be taken away. An unveiled face sees into the eternal purposes of God. Isaiah 25.7-8 says there is a veil over all of us. Rev 21.4 is still to be fulfilled.

 

God has an eternal purpose and plan for the Jews which the church does not understand. During Yom Kippur God speaks to the high priest face to face. Not all sacrifices in the O.T. were for sin--some were for thanksgiving. Lev 16.34

 

Ezekiel 20.33-35 is a Yom Kippur event. God is going to bring the Jews out with a mighty hand. Also compare Zechariah 12.10 with Rev 1.7, seeing the one whom they have pierced.

 

Hosea 5 is very prophetic. It has been 2 days since Messiah came (two thousand yrs) and on the third day he will raise us up. God is going to His place and won’t come back until the Jews acknowledge their Messiah. We need to pray for the national redemption of Israel so this will happen. On the third day there will be rain--the blessing of God. In Matt 23 Jesus said he won’t come back again until his people say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” They would not at that time and their house was made desolate. Romans 11 says they will be blind until the time of the gentiles is complete. Then all Israel will be saved when as a nation as they mourn, repent and accept Him. When is this day? It is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement!

 

In Romans 10 it says Israel will be saved. In Acts 3 Peter told them to repent and be converted, then the time of refreshing will come. Until Israel accepts the Messiah heaven is holding Jesus back. Romans 11.5 life from the dead.

 

The New Covenant is not just with the gentiles--it is with Israel--we have been grafted in. Before the law was given in stone because the people had hearts of stone--now it is to be written on our hearts. Jeremiah 31.31-34. We should love to obey His commandments and walk it out in the spirit. God has a covenant with Israel that is everlasting.

 

JOSEPH AS A TYPE OF YESHUA

 

In Genesis 42.8 Joseph’s brothers did not recognize him because he looked like a pagan Egyptian. Today the church is presenting a “pagan” Jesus to Jews--it is time to recognize our Messiah is a Torah observing Jew!

Joseph’s brothers hated him and in John 15.18-19 we see Jesus was hated.

Gen 37.18 Joseph’s brothers want to kill him--Matt 26.4

Gen 37 Judah says let’s sell him for 30 pieces of silver--Matt 26 Jesus sold, Zechariah 11

Gen 37.23 Joseph stripped--Matt 27 Jesus stripped

Gen 39 Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses Joseph--Jesus was falsely accused.

Gen 41.38 Spirit of God in Joseph--spirit in Jesus.

Gen 41.55 Go to Joseph and do what he says--Mary at wedding at Cana--go to Jesus do as He says.

Gen 42.7-8 Joseph knew his brothers, but they did not know him--Jesus came to his own and they knew Him not.

Gen 42.3-9 Judah takes responsibility--”You shall not see my face until--let his blood be on me.” Jews said “let his blood be on us.”

Gen 44 “How do we clear ourselves?” in silver goblet incident. Judah says “let me abide.” Jesus says abide in Me.

Gen 45 When Judah repented, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. “I am Joseph.” When the Jews repent on that day Jesus will reveal Himself to them, “I am Messiah.” The brothers were speechless. So Israel shall mourn.

Joseph says, “Come near I am your brother, this was allowed for good. God sent me before you.”

In Exodus 12.6 the Passover lamb is killed in the evening. Let’s look at the Jews killing Jesus in the light of Joseph telling his brothers not to feel guilty--this happened for a purpose. So Jesus may say to His brothers about His death at their hands, “You were killing the lamb just as you were to do on Passover. You were commanded to kill the lamb. I was that lamb, it was your responsibility to kill me--it was all for good--for the salvation of the world.” Aren’t you glad it didn’t fall on us to kill the lamb? This is the incredible love and grace of God towards Israel.

 

TABERNACLES

 

Tabernacles is five days after the Day of Atonement. It is also called the Feast of the Nations. In Gen 10.1-32 we see the beginning of nations. Deut 32.8 says the borders were set according to the children of Israel. In Gen 10 there were 70 original nations. Israel was to be a nation of priests--intercessors. In Numbers 29.13-32 there are to be 70 bulls sacrificed during Tabernacles. This was to make atonement for the nations! If the gentiles would have known would they have destroyed the temple in 70 AD?

 

Israel makes atonement for themselves on the Day of Atonement and during Tabernacles they make atonement for the nations. This was their priestly duty. In Matt 25 the Lord talks about the sheep and goat nations on the day of judgment. How nations treated Israel will determine whether or not they are allowed into the millennial kingdom where they are going to be taught by the resurrected saints.

 

In Zechariah 14.4 we see the nations observing the Feast of Tabernacles. If they don’t come up to celebrate they will not be blessed. Israel is the apple of God’s eye and this will be a blessed time for them and all the true saints. The church needs to understand they are grafted in. The end times will focus on Jerusalem and the Jews. The church is going to have an important role during this tribulation time.

 

In closing, in 3 John 9-10 John is writing about a Greek who already will not receive Jews in his church--gentiles who received Jews were kicked out of the assembly. Jesus said the gentiles like to lord it over the people, Luke 22.25-26. We need to return to our Hebraic roots and “provoke the Jew to jealousy.”

 

 

 

THE BASIC BELIEFS OF IRENAEUS AND HIPPOLYTUS ON THE ANTICHRIST

A short summary of these two early fathers thoughts on the Antichrist

 

Irenaeus was a disciple of Polycarp, who had been a disciple of the Apostle John. Both he and Polycarp believed they had been accurately taught the apostolic tradition. Irenaeus wrote this of his teacher Polycarp:

 

“But Polycarp  also was not only instructed by apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also, by apostles in Asia, appointed bishop of the Church in Smyrna, whom I also saw in my early youth, for he tarried (on earth) a very long time, and when a very old man, gloriously and most nobly suffering martyrdom, departed this life, always taught the things which he had learned from the apostles, and which the Church has handed down, and which alone are true. (Against Heresies, III, 4)

 

Hippolytus was a disciple of Irenaeus. He too believed he had been accurately taught those things the apostles received from Jesus Christ by revelation. Irenaeus and Hippolytus agree on all the basic points regarding the advent of Christ and the Antichrist, although Hippolytus provides more details. The beliefs they held in common can be briefly summarized as follows:

 

  1. Satan will appear as a man in the person of the Antichrist because he seeks to reign as king over mankind and desires to focus the worship of God on himself.

 

  2. The Antichrist will be a Jew, and will achieve his stated objectives by being accepted as the Christ, the messianic king of the Jews, taking his seat in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, pretending to be God Himself, and thereby becoming the “abomination of desolation” spoken of by the prophet Daniel and also by Jesus. Dan 12.11, Matt 24.15

 

  3. The Antichrist is the “little horn” of the fourth beast mentioned in Daniel 7. He will slay three of the other horns and reign as an eighth with the remaining seven. (Hippolytus explains the three horns are Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia.)

 

  4. The Antichrist will achieve his objectives in the middle of the final seven year period of this age. At that time he will be proclaimed the messianic king of the Jews, and will take his seat as God in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. He will reign for three and one-half years.

 

  5. The Antichrist, during his reign, will deceive the majority of people living on the Earth at the time into believing he is God. However, he will persecute those who refuse to worship him because they are able to see through his delusion.

 

  6. Jesus Christ will return to Earth at the end of the three and one-half year reign of the Antichrist, destroying Satan’s kingdom. The resurrection of the just will occur at that time.

 

The conviction of these two early fathers came from the knowledge that they had received an accurate explanation of the Apostle’s understanding of the message of Scripture which had been handed down by the Apostle John to Polycarp. We should all seriously consider the basis for our own beliefs, rather than hastily discarding these sources.

 

Sources:

 

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/hippolytus-christ.html

 

http://www.gnosis.org/library/advh5.htm - start at chapter XXV

HIPPOLYTUS OF ROME (170 – 235 AD) AND THE END TIMES

We continue with examining the perspective of some early church fathers on the end times

 

Hippolytus of Rome (170 – 235) was the most important 3rd-century theologian in the Christian Church in Rome,

where he was probably born. He was a disciple of Irenaeus, who was said to be a disciple of Polycarp (69-155 AD).

He came into conflict with the popes of his time and seems to have headed a schismatic group as a rival bishop of Rome. For that reason he is sometimes considered the first Anti-pope. He opposed the Roman bishops who softened the penitential system to accommodate the large number of new pagan converts to the church. However, he was very probably reconciled to the Church when he died as a martyr. He is the person usually understood to be meant by Saint Hippolytus. Here I present some of his thoughts without any of my comments.

 

On going through tribulation by the Anti-Christ

But now we shall speak of what is before us. For such measures will he, too, devise, seeking to afflict the saints in every way…And he (Anti-Christ), being puffed up with pride by their subservience, will begin to dispatch missives against the saints, commanding to cut them all off everywhere, on the ground of their refusal to reverence and worship him as God….

Now, concerning the tribulation of the persecution which is to fall upon the Church from the adversary, John also speaks thus: "And I saw a great and wondrous sign in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. And she, being with child, cries, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man-child, who is to rule all the nations: and the child was caught up unto God and to His throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath the place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. And then when the dragon saw it, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man-child.

 

And those, "she, being with child, cries, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered," mean that the Church will not cease to bear from her heart the Word that is persecuted by the unbelieving in the world.

 

"And the dragon," he says, "saw and persecuted the woman which brought forth the man-child. And to the woman were given two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent." That refers to the one thousand two hundred and threescore days (the half of the week) during which the tyrant is to reign and persecute the Church, which flees from city to city, and seeks conceal-meat in the wilderness among the mountains, possessed of no other defense than the two wings of the great eagle, that is to say, the faith of Jesus Christ, who, in stretching forth His holy hands on the holy tree, unfolded two wings, the right and the left, and called to Him all who believed upon Him, and covered them as a hen her chickens. For by the mouth of Malachi also He speaks thus: "And unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings."

 

The Lord also says, "When ye shall see the abomination of desolation stand in the holy place (whoso readeth, let him understand), then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains, and let him which is on the housetop not come down to take his clothes; neither let him which is in the field return back to take anything out of his house. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved."

 

On the Anti-Christ

As his tribe, then, and his manifestation, and his destruction, have been set forth in these words, and as his name has also been indicated mystically, let us look also at his action. For he will call together all the people to himself, out of every country of the dispersion, making them his own, as though they were his own children, and promising to restore their country, and establish again their kingdom and nation, in order that he may be worshipped by them as God, as the prophet says: "He will collect his whole kingdom, from the rising of the sun even to its setting: they whom he summons and they whom he does not summon shall march with him." And Jeremiah speaks of him thus in a parable: "The partridge cried, (and) gathered what he did not hatch, making himself riches without judgment: in the midst of his days they shall leave him, and at his end he shall be a fool."

 

It will not be detrimental, therefore, to the course of our present argument, if we explain the art of that creature, and show that the prophet has not spoken without a purpose in using the parable (or similitude) of the creature. For as the partridge is a vainglorious creature, when it sees near at hand the nest of another partridge with young in it, and with the parent-bird away on the wing in quest of food, it imitates the cry of the other bird, and calls the young to itself; and they, taking it to be their own parent, run to it. And it delights itself proudly in the alien pullets as in its own. But when the real parent-bird returns, and calls them with its own familiar cry, the young recognise it, and forsake the deceiver, and betake themselves to the real parent. This thing, then, the prophet has adopted as a simile, applying it in a similar manner to Antichrist. For he will allure mankind to himself, wishing to gain possession of those who are not his own, and promising deliverance to all, while he is unable to save himself.

 

He then, having gathered to himself the unbelieving everywhere throughout the world, comes at their call to persecute the saints, their enemies and antagonists, as the apostle and evangelist says: "There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city, who came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her."

 

Now, as our Lord Jesus Christ, who is also God, was prophesied of under the figure of a lion, on account of His royalty and glory, in the same way have the Scriptures also aforetime spoken of Antichrist as a lion, on account of his tyranny and violence. For the deceiver seeks to liken himself in all things to the Son of God. Christ is a lion, so Antichrist is also a lion; Christ is a king, so Antichrist is also a king. The Saviour was manifested as a lamb; so he too, in like manner, will appear as a lamb, though within he is a wolf. The Saviour came into the World in the circumcision, and he will come in the same manner. The Lord sent apostles among all the nations, and he in like manner will send false apostles. The Saviour gathered together the sheep that were scattered abroad, and he in like manner will bring together a people that is scattered abroad. The Lord gave a seal to those who believed on Him, and he will give one like manner. The Saviour appeared in the form of man, and he too will come in the form of a man. The Saviour raised up and showed His holy flesh like a temple, and he will raise a temple of stone in Jerusalem.

 

The Second Coming

For as two advents of our Lord and Savior are indicated in the Scriptures, the one being His first advent in the flesh, which took place without honor by reason of His being set at nought, as Isaiah spake of Him aforetime, saying, "We saw Him, and He had no form nor comeliness, but His form was despised (and) rejected (lit. = deficient) above all men; a man smitten and familiar with bearing infirmity, (for His face was turned away); He was despised, and esteemed not." But His second advent is announced as glorious, when He shall come from heaven with the host of angels, and the glory of His Father, as the prophet saith, "Ye shall see the King in glory;" and, "I saw one like the Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven; and he came to the Ancient of days, and he was brought to Him. And there were given Him dominion, and honour, and glory, and the kingdom; all tribes and languages shall serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away."

 

Thus we have two witnesses, Irenaeus and Hippolytus, from the earliest church fathers on the Tribulation period.

 

 

IRENAEUS SPEAKS ABOUT THE END TIMES

 

Irenaeus (born c. 120/140, Asia Minor — died c. 200/203) was an early church father who was a disciple of Polycarp. Although little is known about Polycarp, he was a disciple of the Apostle John. Therefore Irenaeus was one degree from the Apostle John. It is important to understand how the first generation of believers thought since they were so close to the Apostle’s time. These men did not attempt to change or add to the gospel, but “carried on” the traditions of the elders. Irenaeus attempts to let the Bible interpret itself, so it is revealing to hear his explanation of the word.

 

On going through tribulation:

And therefore throughout all time, man, having been molded at the beginning by the hands of God, that is, of the Son and of the Spirit, is made after the image and likeness of God: the chaff, indeed, which is the apostasy, being cast away; but the wheat, that is, those who bring forth fruit to God in faith, being gathered into the barn. And for this cause tribulation is necessary for those who are saved, that having been after a manner broken up, and rendered fine, and sprinkled over by the patience of the Word of God, and set on fire [for purification], they may be fitted for the royal banquet. As a certain man of ours said, when he was condemned to the wild beasts because of his testimony with respect to God: "I am the wheat of Christ, and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of God."

Interesting that persecution is purification. Paul said we share in the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. The church will truly be the salt of the earth during the tribulation.

 

He teaches us what the ten horns shall be which were seen by Daniel, telling us that thus it had been said to him: "And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet, but shall receive power as if kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and give their strength and power to the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, because He is the Lord of lords and the King of kings." It is manifest, therefore, that of these [potentates], he who is to come shall slay three, and subject the remainder to his power, and that he shall be himself the eighth among them. And they shall lay Babylon waste, and burn her with fire, and shall give their kingdom to the beast, and put the Church to flight. After that they shall be destroyed by the coming of our Lord.

The church will go through difficult times, the meeting in the air not occurring until the resurrection of the dead at the end of the age.

 

On the Beast

And all who dwell upon the earth worshipped him, [every one] whose name was not written in the book of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any one have ears, let him hear. If any one shall lead into captivity, he shall go into captivity. If any shall slay with the sword, he must be slain with the sword. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints." After this he likewise describes his armor-bearer, whom he also terms a false prophet: "He spake as a dragon, and exercised all the power of the first beast in his sight, and caused the earth, and those that dwell therein, to adore the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he shall perform great wonders, so that he can even cause fire to descend from heaven upon the earth in the sight of men, and he shall lead the inhabitants of the earth astray." Let no one imagine that he performs these wonders by divine power, but by the working of magic. And we must not be surprised if, since the demons and apostate spirits are at his service, he through their means performs wonders, by which he leads the inhabitants of the earth astray.

Just go to your local Barnes and Noble Book store and see the many books on paranormal activity geared towards the teenager and you will understand how easily they will be deceived.

 

The Church is taken up at the end--after over coming

“In the previous books I have set forth the causes for which God permitted these things to be made, and have pointed out that all such have been created for the benefit of that human nature which is saved, ripening for immortality that which is [possessed] of its own free will and its own power, and preparing and rendering it more adapted for eternal subjection to God. And therefore the creation is suited to [the wants of] man; for man was not made for its sake, but creation for the sake of man. Those nations however, who did not of themselves raise up their eyes unto heaven, nor returned thanks to their Maker, nor wished to behold the light of truth, but who were like blind mice concealed in the depths of ignorance, the word justly reckons "as waste water from a sink, and as the turning-weight of a balance--in fact, as nothing;"

 “So far useful and serviceable to the just, as stubble conduces towards the growth of the wheat, and its straw, by means of combustion, serves for working gold. And therefore, when in the end the Church shall be suddenly caught up from this, it is said, "There shall be tribulation such as has not been since the beginning, neither shall be." For this is the last contest of the righteous, in which, when they overcome they are crowned with incorruption.

This sudden catching up is at the last trumpet at the end of the age when Jesus comes with His angels/army, the resurrection of the dead taking place simultaneously. The wicked (tares) are then burned. (Armageddon)

 

Resurrection of the Just and reward for suffering

For it is just that in that very creation in which they toiled or were afflicted, being proved in every way by suffering, they should receive the reward of their suffering; and that in the creation in which they were slain because of their love to God, in that they should be revived again; and that in the creation in which they endured servitude, in that they should reign. For God is rich in all things, and all things are His. It is fitting, therefore, that the creation itself, being restored to its primeval condition, should without restraint be under the dominion of the righteous; and the apostle has made this plain in the Epistle to the Romans, when he thus speaks: "For the expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature has been subjected to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope; since the creature itself shall also be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God."

Those who live and die during the tribulation (believers) will have an excellent reward for their faithfulness.

 

We receive our inheritance at the end of the age at the resurrection of the just:

John, therefore, did distinctly foresee the first "resurrection of the just," and the inheritance in the kingdom of the earth; and what the prophets have prophesied concerning it harmonize [with his vision]. For the Lord also taught these things, when He promised that He would have the mixed cup new with His disciples in the kingdom. The apostle, too, has confessed that the creation shall be free from the bondage of corruption, [so as to pass] into the liberty of the sons of God.

 

 And in all these things, and by them all, the same God the Father is manifested, who fashioned man, and gave promise of the inheritance of the earth to the fathers, who brought it (the creature) forth [from bondage] at the resurrection of the just, and fulfils the promises for the kingdom of His Son; subsequently bestowing in a paternal manner those things which neither the eye has seen, nor the ear has heard, nor has [thought concerning them] arisen within the heart of man, For there is the one Son, who accomplished His Father's will; and one human race also in which the mysteries of God are wrought, "which the angels desire to look into;" and they are not able to search out the wisdom of God, by means of Which His handiwork, confirmed and incorporated with His Son, is brought to perfection; that His offspring, the First-begotten Word, should descend to the creature (facturam), that is, to what had been molded (plasma), and that it should be contained by Him; and, on the other hand, the creature should contain the Word, and ascend to Him, passing beyond the angels, and be made after the image and likeness of God.

At the end of the age the sword of the word will divide the hearts of all men. There will be wheat gathered in and the tares burned. The saints inherit the Kingdom and reign as kings and priests with the Lord during the millennial period.

 

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