Israel Must Stop Sinning Before Christ Returns (continued)

We must be saved from sin.  We become enslaved to sinful habits.  All sins are habitual.  Honest mistakes are not sins, because they are not habitual.  If we still sin, we must continue to look to the cross to stop sinning, to be healed from our sinful habits, so that we no longer sin. We must daily take up our cross and follow Christ. Only then can we inherit eternal life. This journey, or process, is called sanctification.

Romans 6:22-23 HCSB But now, since you have been liberated from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit , which results in sanctification--and the end is eternal life! (23) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are "enslaved to God." This means we do the Father's works.  The fruit of this labor "results in sanctification," which means we become holy.  It means we overcome all our sinful habits.  The result of this journey is eternal life, according to this verse.  The Holy Spirit fills us and changes us on the inside so that we no longer sin.  God can, and will, complete this work that he has begun (Philippians 1:6).

Galatians 6:7-9 HCSB Don't be deceived: God is not mocked.  For whatever a man sows he will also reap, (8) because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. (9) So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up.

We must realize that continued sin is like a disease.  Jesus can heal us from that disease.  If you want to inherit the kingdom and eternal life, you must be completely healed from all sinful habits.  We must believe that Jesus can heal us.  If we say that Jesus can't or won't do this, then we do not fully believe in Jesus for salvation from sin.  Just as the people of Israel looked upon the serpent for healing, we must continually look to the cross for healing.  We must have faith and not doubt.  We must turn our lives completely over to Christ to inherit the kingdom.  If any sinful habits remain, then we have not yet finished our journey back to the Father.  When no sinful habits remain, then we are completely sanctified.  This is necessary before we can receive the gift of eternal life.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (24) He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it .

You Must be Born Again (continued)

When we confess our sins in faith and belief in Jesus Christ, at that point, we are justified.  If we sin again, you must be justified again.  As we do the works of the Father, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies us.  Pastors tend to think the amount of sanctification that occurs, after one's initial justification, does not determine one's final destiny.  This view came about when Luther rejected Purgatory.  If there is no consequence for not completing one's sanctification, then sanctification becomes unimportant.  The completion of sanctification becomes something that is not possible, even though Scripture clearly says otherwise.  That's why born-again Protestants don't believe that we can overcome all our sinful habits.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (24) He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it .

Why then, do most Christians have trouble becoming "blameless" and say it can't be done? John answers that objection in his first epistle (letter - 1st John).  As we will see, living without sin involves living with love.  First John is a book of the Bible of which Evangelicals tend to avoid.  John tells us that if we continue to sin, that we don't even know Jesus.  We saw this verse back in the section on the foolish pastors.

1 John 3:5-6 You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and no sin is in him. (6) Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him and doesn’t know him.

1 John 5:18 We know that whoever is born of God doesn’t sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one doesn’t touch him.

Evangelicals tend to push back against these verses in first John.  They usually point to 1 John 1:8.  Most translations say, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves." The problem is that in English, the word "no" seems to modify "sin".  But in the Greek, the word for "no" is a adverb.  And the word for "sin" is a noun.  The word for "sin" is a verb throughout the rest of John.  But in this verse, it's a noun.  It's like the "sin" in Revelation 18:5 (ESV), "For her sins are heaped high as heaven."

Some translations of 1 John 1:8 say, "If we claim not to have sin, we are deceiving ourselves." This makes it clear that "not" modifies the verb "to have".  But it's still not clear that "sin" in this verse is a noun.  Strong's definition for the verb is to "have, hold, [or] possess." To make it clear than sin is a noun, the verse can be translated as, "If we claim to not hold sin, we are deceiving ourselves." The NET translation says, "If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin." With "sin" being a noun, it's clear that we are talking about past sins.  John is not contradicting himself.  John is not saying those who are born of God continue to sin.

1 John 3:8-10 He who sins is of the devil , for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed: that he might destroy the works of the devil. (9) Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him, and he can’t sin, because he is born of God. (10) In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother.

You Must be Born Again (continued #2)

This is why we must be completely sanctified before we can be glorified.  We must mature in our love through our free will to love.  Our love comes from the Holy Spirit inside us.  It's God's grace.  Our love overwhelms any sinful habits that might remain.  It's like a spring of living water that gushes up inside us to the point of eternal life.

John 4:9-11 The Samaritan woman therefore said to him, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) (10) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” (11) The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. So where do you get that living water?

John 7:37-39 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! (38) He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.” (39) But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified .

Catholics and Eastern Orthodox see salvation as a journey, but more through rituals (sacraments) and prayers to the saints.  Protestants, especially Evangelicals, see salvation as a one-time decision without the need for entire sanctification.  The truth is somewhat in the middle.  I do not believe that Scripture teaches Purgatory.  But I do believe that Scripture teaches a free-grace alternative to Purgatory.

John 3:5-7 ESV Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

As we will see, Jesus is talking about two different types of bodies.  There are bodies of flesh, and there are bodies which Paul calls spiritual bodies.  "That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit." Jesus really is talking about literally being born again into a new body.  Jesus is talking about the resurrection.  We should interpret verse 5 along the same parallelism as is seen in verse 6.  In other words, Jesus is simply clarifying himself.  Being born of water is being born of flesh.  When the mother's water breaks, the baby comes from the womb.  Then later, at the resurrection, we can get a new spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15 is on the resurrection.  Paul also talks about two types of bodies.

1 Corinthians 15:35-44 ESV But someone will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?" (36) You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. (37) And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. (38) But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. (39) For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. (40) There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. (41) There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. (42) So is it with the resurrection of the dead.  What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. (43) It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory.  It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. (44) It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

These words of Paul to the church at Corinth should be interpreted in the context of Paul's own words in Acts 24:15.

Born Again in the Old Testament (continued)

Let's continue with our study of the pregnant woman.  Matthew 24:8 speaks about the beginnings of the birth pains.  The pregnant woman is about the time of the resurrection.  The gathering of the elect (verse 31) is "immediately after the tribulation" (verse 29).  Paul describes the time of the rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:10.  This is in the context of grief over those who have already fallen asleep.  Thus, Paul is talking about the resurrection. The dead in Christ will rise first, before the rapture. In this same context of the resurrection, Paul refers to the pregnant woman in verse 5:3.  We are "born again" when the "earth gives birth to the dead."

Revelation 20:4-6 tells us that the first resurrection is after the tribulation .  And as we have seen, Paul tells us that the rapture is after the resurrection. So, the rapture must also be after the tribulation.

Revelation 12 is all about the metaphor of the pregnant woman.  The head of the woman has a crown of twelve stars.  Twelve is symbolic of the twelve tribes of Israel.  The woman is clothed with the sun, and the moon is under her feet.  This comes from Joseph's dream in Genesis 37:9-10.  In the dream, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bow down to him.  The dream was about his father, mother, and his eleven brothers bowing down to him, which was fulfilled years later after Joseph became a ruler in Egypt. So, the woman is Israel.

The firstborn of the pregnant woman (Israel) is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  He is taken up to heaven.  Satan makes war on the rest of her offspring.  These are the people of Israel, including Gentile believers, who are grafted into Israel.  The "earth will give birth to the dead." The people of Israel are the elect .  They will be resurrected with heavenly bodies, like the angels.  They are the wise virgins who overcome all their sinful habits before Christ comes.  They are the Bride of Christ.  They get into the wedding banquet.  They are resurrected at the first resurrection.

But after that, those in the nations who have not yet overcome sin can be resurrected.  They are still under judgment.  The foolish virgins and foolish pastors, saying "Lord, Lord," who believe in Christ, and the false prophets, saying "Lord, Lord," who believe in Christ, will be resurrected in the second resurrection.  They will have natural, mortal, earthly bodies like they have now.  They will live with the nations.  The foolish, who do not overcome their sinful habits, can still be resurrected with mortal bodies.  It's a resurrection of judgment because they are still under judgment.  This second resurrection is in the "same hour" as the first resurrection.  Then at the end of the millennium, the wicked who have rejected Christ will come to life and will be judged.  They will be thrown into the lake of fire where there is "no rest day or night."

Problems with the Pre-Tribulation Rapture (continued)

After Jesus told us about the gathering of the elect, which is after the great tribulation, he gives us a parable that illustrates the fact that we don't know the day or the hour of his coming.  Of course the only "coming" that's mentioned in the text is the one that's after the great tribulation.  The world will be eating, drinking, and giving in marriage when this "coming" occurs.  They won't know the day or the hour.  They will be suddenly destroyed, after the great tribulation.  Thus, it's not great tribulation for the world.  It's great tribulation, which is persecution, for God's people.  God's people will know the timing of Christ's coming.  It's the world that will not know the day or the hour and will be surprised and suddenly destroyed, as in the days of Noah.

This parable, as given by Jesus to illustrate the unknown day and hour, is about a thief in the night (Matthew 24:36-51).  The thief-in-the-night symbol is used later by Peter, by Paul, and by John in Revelation.  The context of the parable requires that the "coming," at an unknown day and hour, be the one and only "coming" mentioned in the text.  It's after the great tribulation.  However, Dispensationalists will insist that this unknown day and hour refers to the "coming" of the pre-tribulational rapture that's not mentioned in the text.  They called it a "secret" coming.  Thus, in their system, the thief-in-the-night symbol must be a reference to the pre-tribulational rapture.

Right after telling us about the rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul uses the thief-in-the-night symbol in chapter 5, verses 1-4.  This is in the same context as the rapture verses of chapter 4.  Remember that the original text did not include chapter and verse numbers.  In verse 1 Paul states that we, as the Church, don't currently know the "times and the seasons" because the day of the Lord will come like a "thief in the night." But will we know later, before Christ's actual appearance?

Paul says that while people are saying "peace and security," sudden destruction comes.  He says it's like the labor pains of a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.  The labor pains is an allusion back to the words of Jesus and the days of Noah.  Thus, Paul is not talking about a gathering that Jesus didn't mention.  It's the same thief-in-the-night coming after the great tribulation.  Then Paul concludes by saying, "But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief" (verse 4).  We will know the day of Christ's post-tribulational coming and won't be surprised and suddenly destroyed with the world.

In Revelation, the thief-in-the-night symbol is used twice.  The first is in the letter to the church at Sardis.  Jesus warns them, "Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If therefore you won’t watch , I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you" (Rev. 3:3).  Jesus associates the lack of watching with sinfulness.  The sinful will not know the day or the hour and will be destroyed when Christ comes, at the end of the great tribulation (persecution).  The sinful world will not suffer this tribulation.  However, since Dispensationalists associate the unknown day an hour with believers and unbelievers alike, they must associate this thief-in-the-night with the pre-tribulational rapture.

Problems with the Pre-Tribulation Rapture (continued #2)

Before Dispensationalism came along, most all of Christendom believed that God permanently rejected the Jewish people.  Jews could convert to become Christian.  But there would be no millennial reign of Christ here on the earth.  This means that the Church replaces Israel.  The Kingdom of God is a heavenly Kingdom.  This is known as supersessionism.  It's called Covenant Theology, which is a part of the Reformed Theology of Luther and Calvin.  The Old Testament prophecies that were given to Israel become allegorically interpreted as fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

With Covenant Theology and supersessionism, any understanding that Israel will reign over all the other nations is removed by using allegories.  But with Millennialism, Gentile Christians should be understood as being grafted into Israel.  The purpose, definition, or "economy" of Israel does not change.  Thus, the Church really is a continuation of Israel.  The Kingdom is here and now but not yet.  It's a kingdom that's in our hearts now.  But in the future it's a Kingdom that will be an earthly reign of Israel over the nations.  Israel includes both Jewish and Gentile individuals.  There is neither Jew nor Greek.  Those who are in Christ are considered to be Abraham's offspring and will inherit all the promises of Abraham in a literal sense.

From this perspective, any distinction between Israel and the Church completely disappears.  Conventional Theologians are correct in that God's people are a continuation of Israel, which is the Church. God's purpose or plan for Israel has not changed.  God's covenants have progressed over the ages.  But with no distinction between Israel and the Church, there is no need for God to switch back to an older covenant or dispensation.  The Dispensational need for a pre-tribulational rapture completely disappears.

The Church is Israel.  But it doesn't replace Old Testament Israel.  God's promises to the patriarchs are still literally fulfilled in the literal Jewish children of Abraham who are chosen by election to be a part of Israel. Gentile believers, who are elect, also become children of Abraham.  There is no difference between Israel and the Church.  Thus, the doctrinal argument for the pre-tribulational rapture completely disappears.

In Romans 11, Paul continues his reasons for why God's word didn't fail when the Jews rejected the Messiah.  He illustrates with the metaphor of the olive tree.  Most of the natural branches were removed so that wild branches could be grafted in.  Some Dispensationalists will argue that the olive tree is not this elected Israel.  But most of the natural branches were broken off of something.  They weren't broken off Christ.  They were broken off of Israel.  Once God revealed Jesus as the Messiah, those who refused to believe were no longer a part of the elected nation of Israel.  And even before that, those who continued in their sin, without the help of the Holy Spirit, were not a part of the elected Israel.  Gentile believers were grafted into Israel and became Abraham's offspring, thus we are a part of the elected Israel.

He who Endures to the End will be Saved (continued)

Matthew 24:13-14 ESV But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (14) And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The foolish pastors of today believe they have preached the Gospel of the Kingdom to most, and in some respects to all, the nations.  But they don't believe this gospel involves enduring to the end.  In past generations, the gospel was more about living "godly" lives with faith in Christ.  During this generation, generally speaking, the gospel that's been preached involves simply making a decision for Christ.  Jesus, however, puts both of these sentences right next to each other.  Is there any possibility that the gospel that's been preached in the nations, during this end-times generation, is lacking something that's very important with regard to salvation?

In the previous section titled, "You Must be Born Again," I brought up the Scripture's teaching about salvation involving: (1) justification, (2) sanctification, and (3) glorification.  I showed that both justification and sanctification are aspects of the journey of salvation.  We are justified each time we need to repent of our sins.  We must be entirely sanctified before we can be glorified.  Foolish pastors just focus on getting people (past-tense) saved.  They think that if you are justified one time, and yet continue to sin, you will go to heaven.  This is simply not taught by Scripture.

Pastors who believe in the pre-tribulation rapture often associate the rapture with salvation.  They will sometimes preach that you need to get saved right now because the rapture could occur at any moment.  The requirement of sanctification for salvation is ignored.  These foolish pastors say that you can't completely stop sinning.  That means you can't be completely sanctified.  This verse was quoted in the previous section, "Israel Must Stop Sinning Before Christ Returns," and again in the previous section titled, "You Must be Born Again."

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (24) He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it .

Philippians 2:12 So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

1 Timothy 2:15 But she will be saved through her childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety.

As we have seen, the false doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture, as well as the disconnection of sanctification from salvation, makes "enduring to the end" become completely disconnected from salvation.  Jesus said, "He who endures to the end will be saved." But these foolish pastors just skip over the verse, and instead focus on Christ's next sentence about of the gospel being preached to all the nations.

The Seven Progressive Covenants (continued)

3) God’s covenant with Moses (Deuteronomy 5:1-3) is the Covenant of Law.  The Law of Moses formed a theocracy.  The government laws were also the laws of God.  Any set of governmental laws needs to be changed or revised as times change.  The Law of Moses also included moral laws, such as the Ten Commandments.  These laws are eternal.  They tell us what is good and what is evil.  These laws never become obsolete.

Many of the government laws of Moses were shadows of Christ (Colossians 2:17), who was to come.  Now that Christ has come, they are no longer needed.  In a broader sense, the entire Theocracy of Moses itself was a shadow of Christ.  When Christ returns, he will set up an earthly government (Isaiah 9:6-7).  The government will be on his shoulders.  The words of the King are the Law of the land.  Thus, the laws of that government will be God’s laws.  So it will again be a Theocracy.  The Theocracy of Moses would seem to be a shadow of the future Theocracy of Christ.

4) God’s covenant with Phinehas (Numbers 25:10‑13) is the Covenant of Priests.  When Christ returns, those who will have matured in Christ will be priests and kings over the nations.

5) God’s covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:11b‑16, 2 Chronicles 21:7, Psalm 8:3‑4) is the Covenant of Kings.  This covenant says that a descendant of David will always be on David’s throne.  Of course, Christ is the fulfillment of this covenant.  Today, the kingdom of Christ is in the hearts of those who believe.  The kingdom is in the hearts of the kings and priests to come, but the kingdom is not yet in the nations.  It’s only partially fulfilled.  Likewise, the Covenant of Priests is only partially fulfilled.  When Christ returns, King David’s throne will extend throughout the world as a literal one-world government.

God’s covenants are progressive in nature.  One covenant does not replace the next.  They are partially fulfilled.  When Christ returns, they will all be completely fulfilled.  When Christ comes again, there will again be a Theocracy.

Jeremiah 33:14‑26 shows how the covenants are progressive, and are to be completely fulfilled in the Messianic age.  Verse 17 puts emphasis on the Covenant of Kings, the covenant with David.  Verse 18 emphasizes the Covenant of Priests, the covenant with Phinehas.  Verse 20 speaks of God’s covenant with the day and his covenant with the night.  This is an obvious allusion to the Covenant of Creation, the covenant with Noah.  Finally, verses 22‑26 make strong allusion to the Covenant of Blessing, the covenant with Abraham.

The Seven Progressive Covenants (continued #2)

Israel was given 490 years to stop sinning before the Messiah would come.  But they did so under the Law of Moses. The Law was given on Mount Sinai at the time of Pentecost.  The Law defined sin.  They were told to stop sinning by means of self-control and self-effort.  Israel was scattered to Babylon for 70 years because Israel continued to sin.  At the end of those 70 years, Israel was given 490 years to stop sinning before the Messiah would come.  But Israel continued to sin.

Under the Law, only a few "favored" were given the Holy Spirit.  Everyone else was expected to stop sinning by their own power.  "Grace" means favor.  In the Greek, it's the same word.  But after the crucifixion of Christ, all believers were given the Holy Spirit.  Again, this happened at Pentecost.  Thus, Pentecost is all about the Law.

The presence of the Holy Spirit makes all believers "favored" by God .  Thus, we are saved by grace instead of being under the Law of Moses.  But the requirement remains to overcome all our sinful habits before the Messiah comes.  The Holy Spirit is our Helper (John 13:26) so that we have the Power to stop sinning.  Gentile believers are grafted into Israel.  We stop sinning by faith in that Power.

Titus 2:11-14 ESV For the ["favor" (grace)] of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, (12) training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions , and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, (13) waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (14) who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Under the Law of Moses, God gave us his written words as to what we should and should not do.  To disobey is sin.  Under the New Covenant, we must still overcome all our sinful habits.  But God gives us the Holy Spirit as a Helper to change us on the inside so that we no longer sin.  We lose our desire to sin.  The New Covenant was prophesied to come by Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 ESV "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, (32) not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. (33) But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts .  And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (34) And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD.  For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

Church Unity in the Doctrine of Salvation (continued)

The two most important topics of Scripture is (1) God's redemptive plan for restoring the Kingdom of God, here on the earth, and (2) God's redemptive plan for restoring (saving) individual believers.  Both restorations are highly related and interconnected.  Both restorations are progressive in nature.  The misunderstanding of this progressive nature has been one of the major reasons for divisions in the Church over the centuries.

There has been lots of debate on whether the kingdom of God is here and now, or whether it's a future kingdom.  Is the kingdom purely spiritual in nature, or will it be a real natural earthly kingdom? Did the kingdom come at the time of Pentecost, with the coming of the Holy Spirit? Or will the kingdom come when Christ returns? On the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came, Peter quotes Joel 2:28-32 (Acts 2:17-21).  But unless one makes the use of very strong allegorical interpretations, Joel 2 seems to be talking about the Day of the Lord at Christ's return.

A number of theologians have resolved this issue by saying the kingdom is "here and now but not yet." In other words, it's both.  If it's both, then the Kingdom of God is progressive in nature.  The Gospel of the Kingdom is being progressively preached to all the nations in preparation for Christ to return.  When Christ returns, he will destroy the antichrist and his earthly kingdom.  Then he will set up his own earthly kingdom which will bring peace to the earth.  All the nations will be ruled over from Jerusalem.

What's the purpose of God's kingdom? God's purpose is to bring salvation to all those who obey him and follow him as he reigns.  He is our King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Just as God's kingdom is progressive, our individual salvation is also progressive.  Our salvation is "here and now but not yet." As God is redeeming us individually he is bringing us back to himself.  Likewise, God is redeeming his Creation and establishing his kingdom here on the earth as it was intended to be before sin came.

God's promises of the completion of these two journeys.  These promises are summarized by the seven covenants between God and man.  Even the list of covenants is controversial.  I only consider the covenants that God explicitly states, in Scripture, as covenants.  The first was God's covenant with Noah after the flood.

1 Peter 3:18-22 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit, (19) in whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, (20) who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. (21) This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (22) who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

Church Unity in the Doctrine of Salvation (continued #2)

The following verses indicate that salvation is a journey that leads to eternal life. The journey is required in order to receive eternal life.

Matthew 10:22 You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.

Luke 13:23-24 One said to him, "Lord, are they few who are saved?" He said to them, (24) “Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in and will not be able.

Romans 13:11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed..

1 Thessalonians 5:8-10 But since we belong to the day, let’s be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. (9) For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, (10) who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth, (14) to which he called you through our Good News, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 2:15 But she will be saved through her childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety.

1 Timothy 4:16 Pay attention to yourself and to your teaching. Continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

1 Peter 2:1-3 ESV So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. (2) Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation — (3) if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Jude 1:20-21 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, (21) keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

Philippians 2:12-13 So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (13) For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

Great Tribulation for Two Generations (continued)

I believe, along with the early church fathers, that Paul wrote Hebrews.  Today, seminary students are taught that Paul didn't write Hebrews.  In any case, the writer of Hebrews warns true believers against turning against their faith.  These are true believers because they have shared in the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 6:4-6 ESV For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, (5) and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come , (6) and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

Hebrews 10:26-31 ESV For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. (28) Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. (29) How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? (30) For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." (31)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

This doesn't mean that Christians who fall into sin because of weakness are doomed to the wrath of God.  They can repent of their sins.  Paul is talking about a deliberate and prolonged decision to forsake Christ after they really know Christ through the Holy Spirit.  Even believers have the free will to forsake Christ.  Believers who undergo the persecution of great tribulation really need to seek God and rely on the Holy Spirit.  As Jesus said in the context of the great tribulation, "Those who endure to the end will be saved." In the face of great tribulation, we cannot forsake Christ and have any hope of being resurrected, even in the second resurrection, when Christ returns.

I think that the early Jewish believers understood this gospel, but the assembly of Jewish believers didn't last.  After some time, the disciples, including Peter, went on missionary journeys to the Gentiles.  It's believed that Peter died in Rome. The Jews "[fell] by the edge of the sword, and [were] led captive into all the nations" (Luke 21:24) in 70 AD.  After that first generation of the first century, most believers were Gentiles.

Preterists (not full-preterists) believe that Revelation 20:7 is about Christ's return in the future.  But everything before that verse, they believe, was fulfilled in events leading to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.  Their biggest and very convincing arguments come from comparing verses in Revelation with things recorded by the Jewish historian Josephus regarding the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem.  From their perspective, the antichrist was Nero and the great tribulation was the events leading up to 70 AD.

The Gospel of the Kingdom Preached to All Nations (cont.)

If the discourse in Luke were interpreted on its own, without being merged into Matthew's and Mark's account, we would interpret the discourse in Luke as being given publicly in the temple.  With all these differences, it's easy to interpret these as two separate discourses. Publicly, in the temple, Jesus warns the Jews of armies that would surround Jerusalem and that they would be taken as prisoners to all the nations.

Luke 21:20, 24-25a But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand.  ...  (24) They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations.  Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled . (25a) [then,] there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations...

Most commentators, including futurists, try and reconcile the differences between Matthew / Mark's account with Luke's account.  But verse 24 of Luke's account provides a very natural time-jump to the future, between the two generations. After the "times of the Gentiles are fulfilled" (verse 24), then "there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations..." (verse 25).

The disciples are in shock.  The Jews understood about Jerusalem becoming desolate.  It had happened when they were scattered to Babylon.  But they also knew God would bring them back.  So, they ask him privately, up on the Mount of Olives, what would be the signs of Christ's return after the Jews are taken as prisoners to all the nations.

We have two generations that don't pass away until all the signs for each are fulfilled.  The time between is a second desolation of Jerusalem.  The birth pains of the woman symbolize the rebirth of Israel when the prisoners begin to return to Jerusalem.

The disciples likely interpreted what Jesus said at the temple and on the Mount of Olives as both pertaining to their own generation.  Jesus had hopes of returning in that generation.  The "scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat" (Matthew 23:2).  They must acknowledge Jesus as Messiah before he returns (verses 37-39).  While Israel was scattered nobody sat on that seat.  But today, the Sanhedrin have been re-established.

I believe that during this final preaching to all the nations, there will be a third Great Awakening world-wide.  I believe that those who today sit on the seat of Moses will turn to Jesus as the Messiah during or before the great tribulation.  Once it was clear that the Jews would continue to reject Christ over the course of that first generation, it became obvious that there are really two generations that don't pass away (die) before all the signs of their generation are fulfilled.

Before, the Day of the Lord (continued)

When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, Peter quoted Joel in his sermon.  Peter believed that the Day of the Lord would come very soon, and thus he interpreted the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost as the fulfillment of this passage in Joel.  He understood that God would "pour out his Spirit on all flesh." So he believed the day of Pentecost was just the start of that outpouring.

I'm not saying Peter was wrong in quoting Joel.  I believe the Holy Spirit led him to quote these verses.  Many aspects of Christ's first coming are partial fulfillments of Old Testament prophecies along the lines of "here and now but not yet." The Kingdom of God itself is "here and now but not yet." It's here in our hearts but not yet in the world.

I believe Jesus had real hopes the Jews would accept him as the Messiah.  Paul always preached to the Jews first and then the Gentiles.  So Paul also had real hopes that his people would repent during his lifetime.  Paul even included himself when talking about the rapture saying, "We who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thess. 4:17).  So Peter and Paul were right in quoting Joel's passage about the time just before the Day of the Lord.

Pentecost was, in fact, a precursor to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will occur in the end times, when Joel's prophecy is completely fulfilled.  Pentecost is all about the fulfillment of God's Law.  But it's under the New Covenant, where God's Law is written on our hearts.  Thus, the end-time fulfillment will be an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will be centered on Christ's message of holiness.  People will completely overcome all their sinful habits because of the fact that they are being filled by the Holy Spirit.

The prophecy in Joel, and Peter's quote thereof, include signs in the heavens.  The sun is turned to darkness and the moon to blood.  There is no indication that this happened on Pentecost.  Likewise, I don't think these are literal signs that will occur in these end times.  But I do believe God will pour out his Spirit, like never before, before the Day of the Lord comes.  It's when the Gospel of the Kingdom is preached in every nation.

Ezekiel 38 is the next big prophetic war in Jerusalem.  After Israel became a nation again in 1948, Israel has had to fight small proxy wars against terrorists.  But the Yom Kippur War of 1973 was the last big war against the surrounding nations.  Since then, Israel has lived in safety.  But Ezekiel 38 says Israel will be attacked again, led by Turkey, Iran, Libya, Sudan, and Russia.  God shows up and stops Israel from being destroyed when these Islamic nations attack Jerusalem.  Joel's prophecy tells us the signs of war that are given on the earth: "blood, fire, and billows of smoke." It looks like these events of Ezekiel 38 are lining up in the middle-east already.  Ezekiel 39, on the other hand, tell us about similar signs at the end of the great tribulation.

Elijah Will Restore All Things (continued)

The third of the three verses that used by full-preterists is, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom" (Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:27).  Can this verse also be fulfilled during the end-time generation? Well, no.  Everyone standing there would later taste death.  But remember that Jesus really hoped to return in that generation.  But those who sat on the seat of Moses didn't recognize Jesus as the Messiah during that generation.  So, they tasted death before Christ returned.

Full-preterists argue that if Christ didn't return in that generation, it would make Christ be a false prophet.  However, there is a fulfillment just a few days later, that connects directly to the coming of Elijah.  And it's Elijah who will come to restore all things.  In this context, the restoration of all things is the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom, which makes the true Church ready for Christ to return.  This coming Great Awakening will also lead the Jews in Israel into recognizing Jesus as the Messiah.  Those who sit on the seat of Moses will accept this gospel and recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

As you can see, this verse that's used by full-preterists is in all three of the synoptic gospels (Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:27).  In all three cases, the very next verse begins an account of the Mount of Transfiguration.  (We must remember that chapter and verse numbers were not in the original Greek texts.) Peter, James, and John had been standing with Jesus when he said some would not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.  Six days later they saw Jesus transformed, with has face shining like the sun.  This is Jesus coming in his kingdom.

Matthew 16:28-17:3 ESV Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. (17:1) And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. (17:2) And he was transfigured before them , and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. (17:3) And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah , talking with him.

While coming down the mountain, the disciples ask about the coming of Elijah.

Matthew 17:9-13 ESV And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead." (10) And the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?" (11) He answered, "Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. (12) But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased.  So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands." (13) Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

Let the Reader Understand (continued)

The week of the covenant is not part of the seventy.  It's after where the text describes the end in verse 26b.  However, 62+7 is 69.  This leaves one week prior to the end of the seventy before the Day of the Lord.  But only a few find this narrow gate of holiness.  Christ's Bride will have listened to the Gospel of the Kingdom, but most will not overcome all their sinful habits.  Therefore, when the Day of the Lord comes, Christ makes a covenant for one more week with the many.  The end is basically extended for seven more years in addition to the seventy.  During that week is the great tribulation, which is a one-world government run by the antichrist.  It's great tribulation for those who have listened to the Gospel of the Kingdom but have not yet overcome all their sinful habits.  But great persecution brings holiness for those who endure to the end.

There is another reason the week of the covenant is not part of the seventy.  It doesn't fit Daniel's prayer.  He brings up Jeremiah's prophecy that the desolation of Jerusalem would last 70 years (Daniel 9:2).  He confesses that Jerusalem is desolate because of Israel's sins.  He prays for the forgiveness of Israel's sins, and for the desolation of Jerusalem to come to an end.  This vision was given in answer to Daniel's prayer.  Seventy weeks of years are given for Israel to stop sinning during which the Jews could return to Jerusalem and the dispersion would end.  During the seventy weeks, Jerusalem is not trampled on by the Gentiles.  But during the week of the covenant, Jerusalem is again trampled on by the Gentiles (Rev 11:1-2).  So, it's after the seventy weeks.

The Messiah comes after the seven weeks.  Then there is this mystery of the 70th week, that's not mentioned in the text, which is before the Day of the Lord.  After that, we have the week of the covenant which includes the great tribulation.  This sounds very much like Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dream.  There were seven years of plentiful harvest followed by seven years of famine.  It's a week of harvest in the Great Awakening followed by a week of tribulation where no one can work.

John 9:4-5 I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. The night is coming when no one can work. (5) While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Here is a summary of the timeline as outlined by this prophecy of seventy weeks. The events related to the signs in the heavens occur twice, each of which corresponds to Christ's coming and two attacks on Jerusalem.

1) Sixty-two weeks from the decree of Cyrus to the circumcision of the Messiah.

2) Jerusalem is trampled on by the Gentiles (Rome) beginning after the death of Herod the Great.  The Messiah grows up and preaches.  He is crucified and is raised from death on the third day.  The Messiah's Church (assembly) begins to grow.

Two Kingdoms in Daniel's Seventy Weeks (continued)

Israel was scattered to Babylon seventy years because of 490 years of disobedience.  The captivity lasted 70 years.  Then Israel was given another 490 years to stop sinning.  (Refer back to the section titled, "Israel Must Stop Sinning Before Christ Returns.") After the 490 years is the Day of the Lord.  Christians, as believers, are grafted into Israel.  That means we must also stop sinning before the Messiah comes again.

We look to the cross of Christ to stop sinning.  We have all sinned and deserve God's wrath.  But Jesus paid the ransom, on the cross, by his blood, so that our sins can be forgiven.  We must look to the cross and repent of our sins.  This means we must have faith in Jesus to overcome all our sinful habits.  We must have faith to stop sinning.  And yet many, if not most, of our pastors say you can't completely stop sinning.

Sure, we don't have the ability to overcome all our own sinful habits.  But as believers, we receive the Holy Spirit as a Helper.  The blood of Jesus Christ gives us the Power to overcome all our sinful habits.  We can't save ourselves.  We can't stop sinning on our own.  But God can save us by working in us to overcome all our sinful habits.  As we do the Father's works, the Holy Spirit changes us on the inside to become like Jesus Christ, who did not sin. Thus, by Christ's blood we are in the process of being saved.  Without this faith in the cross, which leads to this holiness, nobody will be able to see the Lord.  Without this holiness, nobody will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

Shortly before the Day of the Lord is before the 490 years are completed. Before the Day of the Lord, after the seven weeks of Daniel 9, the signs of the sixth seal of Revelation will occur.  Also, Israel will be attacked by the surrounding Islamic nations including those listed in Ezekiel 38.  The invading armies are literally defeated by the very presence of God, which will terrify the world.  This will lead to a Great Awakening during which God will pour out his Spirit on all flesh (Joel 2:31).  These are the days in which Elijah will restore all things.  (See the previous section titled, "Elijah Will Restore All Things.")

Those who hear God's voice will begin to see and understand God's presence in the stopping of Israel's destruction.  They will not be terrified by the signs related to the sixth seal.  They will understand that these signs truly are the beginning of Christ's return.  Those who hear God's voice will not be terrified about Christ's return and his earthly reign over the world. Those who hear Christ's voice are not just believers.  Many unbelievers are not hardened to the point where they no longer hear Christ's voice.  They will become believers.  However, many believers are really foolish virgins and wolves in sheep clothing.  They think they know God's will, but actually don't hear Christ's voice. They will fall away from their faith.  The wheat and the tares (weeds) grow up together, but will be separated in the end times (Matthew 13:24-30).  Over the course of this coming Great Awakening, almost everyone will either become believers, or they will become hardened to the point of no longer hearing Christ's voice.

Election and Free Will (continued)

Many Calvinist (election) preachers use Romans 9 as a primary text.  We need to look at Romans 9 in its context.  Romans 1 to 8 is all about grace.  For a verse by verse detailed look at Romans 1 to 8, refer to my book titled, " Romans Under New Light".

The new covenant of grace was prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-37.  We have the new covenant, but what about the prophesied kingdom of God? What about the earthly reign of the Messiah? Since Israel rejected the Messiah, did God's word fail? This question is asked and answered by Paul in Romans 9 to 11.  Given this overall context of Romans, is Romans 9 taken out of context when a Calvinistic election of individuals is preached?

God has given us a new covenant of grace.  Given this fact, why did Israel reject the Messiah? Paul answers his own question by explaining election.  There is a remnant of Jews who believe in Jesus.  But in this context, it's an election of Israel as a nation.  It's not about the election of individuals for salvation.  In the Old Testament, election is about God's chosen people.  Individuals must still obey God's voice to participate in this corporate election. It has never been about an irresistible election of individuals.

After explaining the corporate election of Israel, Paul tells us why God's word has not failed.  God has not rejected Israel forever.  God is bringing salvation to the Gentiles to make ethnic Israel envious.  He uses the metaphor of the olive tree (Romans 11:11-24).  Most of the natural ethnic branches were broken off Israel to make room for the wild branches from the Gentiles (nations).  But have the Jews ever become envious of Christianity? Ethnic Israel has remained hardened until the fullness of the Gentiles has come into the Olive Tree of Israel (Romans 11:25).

Some Jews have become Messianic Jews.  They have accepted Jesus as their Messiah but still consider themselves to be Jews.  This was also true of the early Jewish believers.  They considered themselves to be a sect of Judaism called the 'way'.  Messianic Judaism has been growing during this end-time generation.  But the Messianic Jews are still only a remnant.  Israel is still hardened.  For the most part, they still react very negatively towards the idea that Jesus could be their Messiah.  They have not become envious of Christians.  The end-time harvest of Gentiles, as the Spirit is poured out on all flesh, will bring about that envy.  When Israel accepts Jesus as their Messiah, Elijah will have restored all things.

To accomplish God's purpose of electing a nation, he shows mercy to some individuals, and hardens the hearts of others.  But as we will see, that doesn't mean they stay hardened forever.  We all start out with hardened hearts because everyone has sinned, and those sins chain us and take away our free will.  But God can break those chains of sin and give us the free will to accept or reject Christ.

The Blood of Christ is a Ransom for Everyone (continued)

If this doesn't happen before we die, then it can happen after the resurrection, because everyone has been ransomed from the grave. Jesus is the second Adam for everyone ! Does this mean everyone will inherit eternal life? No, because some will lose their salvation and will be tormented in the lake of fire.  But what would it take for that to happen? What does it take for a child to lose his relationship with his loving Father?

Can a five-year old tell his Father, "You are not my daddy?" The Father would gently correct him.  Can a twelve-year old tell his Father, "I hate you! You are not my Father!" No, the Father would punish the rebellious teenager, but he would still be a son to the Father.  Can a thirty-year old man tell his Father, "You are not my Father?" At this stage, probably yes.  The Father would reluctantly let his son go.  And since that relationship was redeemed by the death of Jesus, the adult son would not be able to return.  It would require the crucifixion of Christ all over again (Hebrews 6:4-6).

God's continual work saves us.  And it's through our continual faith. It's not our own works that no man can boast.  This means God's work changes us on the inside, it's not our own work, so that no man can boast.  And the faith by which we are saved is the continual faith that God can, and will, change us to be like Christ.  Salvation, grace, and faith are not one-time decisions.  Salvation (change) is a journey (process) unto completion.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 KJV For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. (22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Some people continue to be hardened, and continue in their disobedience to the Father, even to the point of death.  But they will be resurrected at a time when Christ himself is reigning over the world.  This will hopefully show them the truth about the loving Father, and their hearts will be unhardened.  Many people, throughout all the generations, never had the opportunity to hear about Christ. They will get their chance.

Others will have heard but did not understand.  Or perhaps they lived a life under the deceit of Satan because they were born into a culture where Christianity was not the dominant religion.

This includes all generations of all people living under other religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism.  But when Christ returns, Satan will be locked up so he can no longer deceive the Father's children. The nations will be resurrected to live in Christ's kingdom.  This is the second resurrection , which is in the same "hour" as the resurrection of the saints (John 5:28-29).

The Mark of the Beast (continued)

What if Jesus Christ were to return in a UFO and stop Israel from being destroyed at a time when the United States stands by and does nothing? The world would be terrified, especially as events occur that correspond to the signs in the heavens.  But then, a popular well-known far-left-leaning messianic-like political figure, who sides with the Muslim nations against Israel, stands up to condemn Israel.  As it becomes clear that it's Jesus Christ who shows up to protect Israel, the antichrist will condemn and blaspheme Jesus Christ, along with those who live in heaven.  Over the course of the next seven years, there would be a huge world-wide Awakening for Jesus Christ.  Many people will turn to Jesus Christ for salvation and holiness.  The Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached to all the nations.  This Good News of the Kingdom includes the fact that Jesus Christ will, in fact, literally take over the government of all the nations.

Isaiah 9:6-7 For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will perform this.

Many pastors today allegorically interpret verses like this, saying it's fulfilled spiritually in the Church, which replaces Israel.  But the Gospel of the Kingdom makes it clear that this is literal, and is soon to be fulfilled. How will the governments of the world respond? At first, many of the emerging right-leaning governments will resist the left's push for globalism.  For example, Donald Trump pushes nationalism and not globalism in his MAGA movement.  This will allow the Great Awakening to proceed for seven years as God's Spirit is poured out on all flesh.  But then the end will come and the world will unite in their hate of Jesus Christ and of God's people.

Eventually, the antichrist will unite the world under the United Nations in a one-world government.  He will side with the Muslim nations against Israel.  The world will be divided into ten unions of nations, each of which is similar to the European Union.  Each union of nations will have a ruler, with each being controlled by the antichrist from the United Nations.  The middle-east Muslim nations will be one of these unions, with Turkey heading the Islamic Caliphate (Gog / second beast / false prophet).  Sharia (Islamic) Law will become the law of the United Nations.  Christians and Jews will be persecuted in the great tribulation.  Those who endure to the end will be saved.  Many will be martyred for not taking the mark of the beast.  But they will be resurrected, at the end of the great tribulation, to reign with Christ in his millennial Kingdom.

Two Beasts in Revelation (continued)

The Club of Rome is a think-tank of the United Nations.  In 1973, the Club of Rome proposed a global order that divided the world into 10 trading regions.  These are like the European Union, which began as a trading region.  Another region is believed to be the North American Union, which consists of Canada, the United States, and Mexico.  Many people believe these trading unions are intended to be the basis of a New World Order that eventually becomes a one-world government, all of which are under the United Nations.  This is certainly the globalist vision of the West.  Nations like Russia and China are unlikely to join.  But as Ronald Reagan pointed out in a speech to the United Nations, "Our differences worldwide would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside this world." ( UN Speech ).  The appearance of the host of heaven in UFOs, ruled by Jesus Christ, would quickly bring about this one-world government.

So, is the Antichrist a global ruler, or is the Antichrist a middle-east centric Islamic Antichrist, which is simply the Islamic Mahdi? I believe the answer is that both are true.  There will be two Antichrists.  The word "antichrist" is not found in Revelation.  The term "beast" refers to the Antichrist or his kingdom.  But Revelation 13, which introduces the "beast," speaks of two different beasts.  Later in Revelation, the second beast is referred to as the false prophet.  Most commentators have assumed the false prophet is simply a side-kick of the Antichrist.  But what if this first beast is also a ruler, just as the term "beast" suggests?

The first beast comes out of the sea.  In Revelation 17:1, the great prostitute sits on many waters.  Verse 15 says the waters "are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages." Thus, I believe the fact that the first beast comes out of the sea means he rules over every "nation, tribe, people, and language" of the globe.

The second beast comes out of the earth, or the land.  This means he rules over the land of the middle-east.  Being the "false prophet " means he is also a religious ruler.  In Islam, there is no distinction between a governmental ruler and a religious ruler.  An Islamic Caliphate would do both.  Thus, the false prophet can be both a prophet of a false religion as well as a governmental ruler.

The first beast has seven heads and ten horns.  This is explained in Revelation 17.

Revelation 17:9-14 Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. (10) They are seven kings. Five have fallen, the one is, the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must continue a little while. (11) The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction. (12) The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. (13) These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast. (14) These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and those who are with him are called chosen and faithful.”

Two Beasts in Revelation (continued #2)

The Lion (Daniel 7:4) is England and the United States.  The Lion has wings of an eagle.  The wings are torn off.  It stands up on two feet like a man.  It is given the heart of a man.  The symbol of England is the Lion, standing up like a man.  The eagle wings represent the United States, torn off from England at the US Revolutionary War.

The Bear (Daniel 7:5) is Russia.  The Bear has three ribs in its mouth.  The three ribs are the Baltic States which were absorbed into the USSR (Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia).  These states were absorbed into the USSR unlike any of the other states of the old Soviet Union.  The Bear is told to eat it’s fill of flesh.  Joseph Stalin executed 1 million political offenders, 14.5 million needlessly starved to death.  9.5 million were deported, exiled, or imprisoned in work camps.  An estimated 5 million were sent to “Gulag Archipelago” never to return alive.

The Leopard (Daniel 7:6) is the European Union.  It has four wings like a bird on its back.  It has four heads and is given authority to rule.  The EU was originally a series of economic treaties that are turning into a federalization of states, similar to the United States.  The EU began with the Treaty of Rome, in 1957.  These were the four states of France, West Germany, Italy, and Benelux.  (Benelux is Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxemburg.) The four wings, and possibly the four heads, are these four original states.

The fourth beast (Daniel 7:7) is the United Nations.  The fourth beast is like no other beast.  It's different from the former three.  The fourth beast is terrifying and frightening and very powerful.  It has large iron teeth.  It will crush and devour its victims and trample underfoot whatever was left.  This beast has the ten horns.  The fourth beast is the kingdom of the antichrist.

Daniel 7:7 ESV After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

The UN is a government that is different from the other three beasts (Daniel 7:7).  This government rules all the nations of the world, but does not have its own geographical boundaries.  The UN is a government, but it has not had the military power needed to enforce its "resolutions." In other words, it does not yet have its teeth.  However, the fourth beast will have large iron teeth that will crush and devour its victims. The UN has more resolutions against Israel than any other nation.  UN resolutions are considered international law, but the UN is not always able to enforce its laws.  More and more, however, that is changing.  The militaries of the world are shifting to the United Nations.  The UN was formed right after World War II.  We have been under a one-world government for the entire end-time baby-boom generation.  But its power has been slowly increasing, like the slow boiling of water with a frog in the pot.

The Few and the Covenant with the Many (continued)

The first four seals reveal horses, each with a different color.  Zechariah 1:7-17 depicts horses of different colors, whose riders are sent to patrol the Earth.  The vision is stated as being related to the restoration of Jerusalem.  Zechariah 6:1-8 is a vision of four chariots of horses, each of which are the colors as given in first four seals of Revelation 6.  The four chariots are said to be "the four winds of the sky, which go out from standing before the Lord of all the earth" (Zech. 6:5).  In Zechariah, directions are assigned to each of the four chariots.  These can be mapped to the horses of Revelation 6 based on the color of the horses.  They represent the state of the world after Israel became a nation and continuing throughout the baby-boom end-time generation.

1) The white horse (first seal) goes west of Jerusalem.  It's a "conqueror bent on conquest" and represents the West including the United States.  Today, we see this coming to a climax with the expansion of NATO and the resulting war in Ukraine.

2) The red horse (second seal) goes east of Jerusalem.  It's "power to take peace from the earth." The People's Republic of China has power to take peace from the earth.

3) The black horse (third seal) goes north of Jerusalem.  It's rider is "holding a pair of scales in his hands." This represents bad economy.  The old USSR fell because of bad economy, being unable to compete with the West in the cold war.

4) The pale horse (fourth seal) goes south of Jerusalem.  It's "death and Hades." It "kills by sword, famine, plague, and wild beasts.  This horse represents wars, famine, AIDS, and wild beasts.  It's representative of Africa, which is south of Jerusalem.  But the "authority" of these plagues is extended from Africa to "one fourth of the earth." As the authority extended around the world, I believe it included COVID-19.

5) The fifth seal is about the martyrs for Christ that have occurred as missionaries during this baby-boom end-time generation.  They are told that more martyrs will come.

6) The sixth seal corresponds to the blood-moon signs.  There is more discussion about these signs in the next section titled, "Signs in the Heavens."

7) The seventh seal (Rev. 8:1) corresponds to silence in heaven for half an hour.  I believe this is the time between the sixth seal and the time when God pours out his Spirit on all flesh, which could very well begin at Pentecost.

You can't read and understand the scroll until all seven seals are opened.  All seven of the seals must be opened by Christ before the Church, as a whole, begins to understand the timing of the end.  It's the mystery that was written on the scroll in Daniel 12 and Revelation 5-6.  It's a true understanding of what Daniel was told but didn't understand.  All seven seals must be opened before God pours out his Spirit on all flesh.

When or What is the End? (continued)

The end comes suddenly, like a thief in the night, at a time when the world is not expecting it.  From the context of Daniel 12:10, we know that the end comes when the world is not expecting destruction.  None of the wicked will understand the answer to the very same question as the disciples were asking.  Currently, even the wise do not know the day and the time.  But before the time comes, the wise disciples will know and not be surprised by the timing of the end.

In the time and culture of Jesus, the "last day" was a term that related to the "end of the age," or "the age to come." I believe this term was in reference to the Jewish belief in a week of millennial days.  The ancient Jews believed there is four thousand years from Adam to the coming of the Messiah.  Then the Messianic age would last for two thousand years.  During the Sabbath of this week, the entire earth would be desolate.  The early Christian fathers had a similar belief.  They believed in six millennial days from Adam to the return of Christ.  Then Christ will reign for a thousand years.  This gives new insight to the fact that Jesus referred to himself as "Lord of the Sabbath."

After the 70 weeks, after the end of the age, we have the week of the covenant, which itself is the "end." Then, the Messianic "age to come" lasts for a 1000 years.  Thus, there seems to be a seven-year gap between this age and the age to come.  The Sabbath of the millennial week seems to be set aside.  It's separated from the six millennial days by a period of seven years.  You can also say the "end of the age" lasts seven years.  This fits the pattern in Revelation of the seals, trumpets, and bowls of wrath.  For each, the six are notably separated from the seventh.

Daniel's prayer in Daniel 9 was for the desolation of Jerusalem to come to an end.  The vision of 70 weeks is given in direct response to that prayer.  As discussed in the section titled, "Let the Reader Understand (continued)," the week of the covenant cannot be part of the 70 because when you interpret it in the content of that prayer, it must be 70 weeks of non-desolation for Jerusalem.  The "abomination of desolation," and the stopping of the sacrifice and offering, simply doesn't fit Daniel's prayer.

Most futurist interpretations of Daniel 9 include the week of the covenant as part of the 70 weeks.  This means the "end" of the 70 weeks must be after the great tribulation.  With this assumption in place, pre-tribulation rapture advocates have a very strong argument.  They argue that with all the trumpets, and bowels of wrath, how can the time of the end be characterized as a time when people are eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage? But when the end is understood as encompassing the entire seven-year period, this pre-tribulational argument disappears.

Signs in the Heavens (continued)

This verse in Isaiah is referenced Jesus when he spoke of the signs in the heavens.  He says it's after the great tribulation (Matthew 24:29).

Isaiah 13:6-13 Wail, for Yahweh’s day is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. (7) Therefore all hands will be feeble, and everyone’s heart will melt. (8) They will be dismayed. Pangs and sorrows will seize them. They will be in pain like a woman in labor. They will look in amazement one at another. Their faces will be faces of flame. (9) Behold, the day of Yahweh comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger; to make the land a desolation, and to destroy its sinners out of it. (10) For the stars of the sky and its constellations will not give their light. The sun will be darkened in its going out, and the moon will not cause its light to shine. (11) I will punish the world for their evil , and the wicked for their iniquity. I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will humble the arrogance of the terrible. (12) I will make people more rare than fine gold, even a person than the pure gold of Ophir. (13) Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place in Yahweh of Armies’ wrath, and in the day of his fierce anger.

Again, I don't believe the sun or moon is literally darkened.  But the people are terrified as the wrath of God is poured out on them.  This terror begins with with the sixth seal.  Heavenly beings are defeated and thrown down to the earth.  After the great tribulation, these signs in the heavens occur again as the wrath of God is poured out on those of the earth who maintain their stance against Christ and continue their sinfulness.  Here is the other passage in Isaiah, that Jesus quotes, in reference to signs in the heavens after the great tribulation.

Isaiah 34:1-5 ESV Draw near, O nations, to hear, and give attention, O peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that fills it; the world, and all that comes from it. (2) For the Lord is enraged against all the nations, and furious against all their host; he has devoted them to destruction , has given them over for slaughter. (3) Their slain shall be cast out, and the stench of their corpses shall rise; the mountains shall flow with their blood. (4) All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll.  All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree . (5) For my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; behold, it descends for judgment upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction.

Notice the similarities between this verse and the sixth seal.  The sky rolls up like a scroll.  The host of heaven fall, like leaves falling from the fig tree.  But I don't believe this verse in Isaiah is the same event as the sixth seal.  Jesus places this event as being "after the tribulation of those days" (Matthew 24:29-31).

Inheriting the Kingdom (Eternal Life) (continued)

Ephesians 5:3-5 ESV But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. (4) Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (5) For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

There have been books written about the supposed difference between the gospel of Jesus and the gospel of Paul.  Dispensationalists tend to believe that the gospel changed at Pentecost because of grace.  That's because Protestants don't understand that grace is the ongoing presence and/or work of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus was speaking to an audience of Jews in hopes that they would repent (stop sinning) so that the Kingdom of Heaven would come in that generation.  But Paul put more emphasis on grace instead of law.  Grace for all believers came after Christ's ministry.  Paul was speaking primarily to Gentiles who were hearing about the Kingdom of Heaven for the first time.  Paul was speaking after Pentecost, after the Holy Spirit was given to all believers.  But the need to overcome had not changed.  I've covered the three verses where Paul lists sinful natures that prevent people from inheriting the kingdom.  These three verses are somewhat confusing for Protestant Evangelicals.

As we have seen, the blood of Christ is a ransom for everyone.  People who die in their sins can still be resurrected.  Unless you becomes and enemy of God, you will be resurrected.  But that doesn't mean you will inherit the kingdom .  Those who inherit the kingdom will reign with Christ over the nations during his millennial reign.

Revelation 2:26 He who overcomes, and he who keeps my works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations .

Paul consistently speaks of salvation as being by grace and through faith.  But as we have seen, this is a journey that must be completed before the Messiah comes, or before one dies.  If not, you can still be resurrected but you won't inherit the kingdom.  There is one other verse of Paul that speaks of inheriting the kingdom.

1 Cor. 15:50-53 Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s Kingdom; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable. (51) Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, (52) 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 will be changed. (53) For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

As we have seen, in the section titled, "the Few and the Covenant with Many," the "last trumpet" refers to the the "last jubilee." Paul is making reference back to the 70 weeks of Daniel 9. The last end-times seven-week period is a jubilee.  It's the "last jubilee." In Hebrew, jubilee means "trumpet, or blowing of the trumpet."

Inheriting the Kingdom (Eternal Life) (continued #2)

Was the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45-46) really a free gift?

The merchant in this passage sold everything he owned to buy the Pearl of Great Price.  Was he ripped off because he bought something that is given freely to everyone?

What about the man who found a treasure hidden in the field? (Matthew 13:44) He sold everything he had to buy that piece of land.  The treasure is the kingdom of heaven.

Salvation is a free gift (Romans 3:24, 5:15-17, 6:23), but these men sold everything they had to inherit the kingdom.  Does this mean that inheriting the kingdom is different from salvation? “The kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it” (Matthew 11:12 NIV).

To those who are saved by his blood, Christ gives a directive to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness.  You can't seek something that is already yours.  Salvation is a free gift, but inheriting the kingdom requires lots of work.  As we do the Father's work, the Holy Spirit fills us and changes us on the inside.  Over time, you become "perfect as your Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48).

This would make sense to the ancient Jew, who focused on the resurrection instead of immediate transportation to heaven or hell upon death.  They focused on being a part of Israel and ruling with Christ as priests and kings in the age to come after the resurrection.  The resurrection, which is to be saved from the grave, is a free gift.  But ruling over the nations is only for those who overcome sin (Revelation 2:26-27).  The resurrection does not guarantee inheritance of the kingdom.  Those who don't overcome sin, despite possessing faith in Christ, will be included with the nations at the resurrection, but will not reign with Christ over the nations.

The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)

The difference between simple salvation and inheriting the kingdom can be seen in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).  The word "prodigal" means extravagantly wasteful.  The younger son received his inheritance in full, and wasted it.  The older son spent his life working for his father.  The younger son’s return filled his father with joy, and he celebrates the return of his son.  The younger son would have been happy to simply work as one of the father's servants, but instead he is forgiven, restored, and given a celebration.

One thing is often overlooked in this parable.  The father tells his older son, "Everything I have is yours." The older son still has his inheritance.  However, the younger son receives his life back.  The father tells the older son, "your brother was dead, and is alive." In other words, the younger son will be resurrected.  He has received salvation as a free gift, but he has still lost his inheritance.