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Prophecy

How to be Blessed

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Early in the book of Revelation we find this promise: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Rev. 1:3). This is the first of seven beatitudes in the book (cf. 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14).

1) The Revelation given – a prophecy of future events

2) The Response expected – read, hear, keep

3) The Reason explained – the time of fulfilment is near

4) The Reward promised – the blessing of God

Revelation is the only Bible book promising blessing to those who study and apply it (though there is a general promise regarding meditation on God’s Word in Ps. 1:1-2). Some avoid the book as being too confusing, or too difficult to understand. However it is said to be a “revelation” intended to “show” us things (vs. 1). And since there is a blessing awaiting those who dig into it, we must not cast it aside.

For your meditation, regarding Revelation 1:5-6…

1) We are Cared For – Christ loved us (some manuscripts have a present tense, “loves us”–both are true)

2) We are Cleansed – washed [or set free] from our sins in the blood of Christ

3) We are Commissioned – as kings and priests (or, constituted as a kingdom, and as priests of God).

Let us not be content merely with the first to, to sit and soak and sour until God calls us home. As New Testament priests of God (cf. I Pet. 2: 5, 9) we have a responsibility to offer praise and prayer to Him, and to minister to those around us (Heb. 13:15-16).

Premillennialism and Popular Theology

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Question: Glenn asks, “In his book, The Basis of the Premillennial Faith (1983, second printing), Charles Ryrie says theologians, who support the premillennial interpretation of prophesy, are in a minority. Is this true today? Is Modernism increasing in popularity?

Answer: Let’s take the latter part of your question first. Liberalism and Modernism, though not necessarily identical, both teach a salvation by works. Both reject the verbal inspiration (and infallibility) of Scripture, and its historical accuracy, including its record of supernatural events. Therefore, they usually reject the deity of Christ and deny His resurrection and bodily return to reign as “King of kings and Lord of lords.” If we are talking about Christendom (the professing church at large) this likely represents the majority view.

However, if we are speaking of the true church, the spiritual body of Christ holding to the fundamentals of the apostolic faith, premillennialism is either the majority position, or represents a strong minority. To my knowledge, all the major evangelical Bible schools founded at the end of the 1800’s and in the early 1900’s held this position when they started (e.g. Moody Bible Institute, Bob Jones, Prairie, Briercrest, and little Millar College of the Bible where I taught). Most of them still hold to premillennialism.

Add to this the influence of Dr. Scofield’s teaching, and that of Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer, at Dallas Seminary. Then, factor in the great popularity of Hal Lindsey’s book The Late, Great Planet Earth years ago, and now the best-selling “Left Behind” series, and I would say the premillennial faith is strong and growing stronger. Ryrie’s book came out in 1953, and the book by Hal Lindsey, mentioned above, in 1970. Things changed somewhat in that nearly 20 years, and have changed even more so today.

But having said all that, orthodox Christians will always be in the minority, and unbelief and error will increase as the day of Christ’s coming approaches (Matt. 7:13-14; I Tim. 4:1; II Tim. 3:1, 13). As to differing views true believers hold on the details of prophecy, keep in mind that a view is not true because it is held by the majority, but because it is taught in the Word of God.

The Holy Spirit and the Tribulation

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Question: Juanita asks, “I heard that it says somewhere in the Bible that the Holy Spirit will not be on earth during the Tribulation. Is that so?”

Answer: As God, the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is omnipresent. There is no place where He is not. Thus the references to Him being “sent” and “coming” at Pentecost are merely verbal tools to describe a change in ministry, not so m1|uch a change in location. The Holy Spirit was very much at work in Old Testament times, before He “came” at Pentecost. He was involved in creation (Gen. 1:2; Job 33:4), and of course He inspired the Old Testament Scriptures (II Pet. 1:21). He also came upon and “filled” individuals to equip them for a particular work (Exod. 31:3; Jud. 3:10).

Prior to Pentecost, sinners still needed to be born again through faith, and receive eternal life. That is a work of the Holy Spirit–which is why Christ (pre-Pentecost) could speak to Nicodemus of his need to be born again of the Spirit of God (Jn. 3:5-8). There are, however, some differences with regard to the ministry of the Spirit of God in the present age. His permanent indwelling of believers is new (Jn. 14:16-17), as is His baptizing work of joining Christians to Christ and to one another in His body (I Cor. 12:12-13; Gal. 3:26-28). The church is unique to the present age.

That brings us to what happens after the rapture of the church. Second Thessalonians 2:6-8 says, “Now you know what is restraining, that he [the Antichrist] may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He [meaning, I believe, the Holy Spirit] who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed…” One of the ministries of the Spirit now is to restrain the forces of evil. (Imagine what they will be like when unrestrained!) And one of the chief agencies the Spirit uses to accomplish this is the church, and concerned Christians who speak out against wrong. When the church is taken up, this restraint will come to an end.

However, that does not mean the omnipresent Spirit will no longer be here and at work. One writer says the “taking out of the way” of the Restrainer “refers not to spatial removal…but rather [to] a stepping aside.” I sometimes picture it as the opening of flood gates causing a tide of evil to sweep across the world. Millions will be saved during the Tribulation (those who have not heard the gospel and decisively rejected Christ before the rapture–Rev. 7:13-14; cf. II Thess. 2:9-12). They will be convicted by the Spirit of God, and born of the Spirit. But in many respects, judging from the limited Scripture we have on the subject, His operations seem to revert to what they were in the Old Testament.

Views of the Millennium (Revelation 20)

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Question: Glenn asks, “In Revelation 20 it refers to the 1000-year reign of Christ. Please explain the differences in the beliefs in those who are pre, post and amillennial?”

Answer: The word “millennium” is simply an English form of the Latin words mille annus, meaning a thousand years (taken, of course, from Revelation 20:4, “they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years”).

The Postmillennial View. That through the preaching of the gospel the world will eventually be christianized, bringing in a golden age (a millennium). Then the world will be fit for Christ’s return, and He will come back (“post” meaning after the millennium). This view was popular in the late 1800’s, when new inventions and discoveries signaled great progress. But two world wars dashed the hopes of most postmilliennialists that the world is getting better. There are relatively few of them today. And, of course, the view does not square with Scripture that teaches us “perilous times” will come in the last days, and “evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse” (II Tim. 3:1-5, 13).

The Amillennial View. That there is no such thing as a literal, earthly millennium (“a” meaning no). To hold this view, most amillennialists “spiritualize” the many Bible chapters describing the earthly reign of the Messiah, applying them to the church today in some symbolic sense. For example, consider what Matthew Henry (an amillennialist) does with Isaiah 11:6-9. The passage speaks of the removal of the curse upon creation, and the harmony in the natural world during the earthly reign of Christ. It refers to the wolf and the lamb dwelling together, etc. But Henry says, “Unity or concord [is] intimated in these figurative promises…men of the most fierce and furious dispositions shall have their temper so strangely altered by the grace of Christ that they shall live in love with even the weakest and such as formerly were easy prey.”

That the Lord transforms lives is quite true. The question is whether Isaiah meant that! And I would argue that he did not. The biggest problem with amillennialism is its inconsistent method of interpretation. It treats most of Scripture literally. But when it comes to many prophecies concerning Israel it resorts to “spiritualizing” (allegorizing). But then the question comes: Which Scriptures should be taken literally, and which should not? And who decides? (Matthew Henry decided those are “figurative promises,” but who gave him that right?) As the old interpreters used to say, “If the plain sense makes good sense, seek no other sense.”

The Bible can best be understood with a consistently literal interpretation, duly taking into account figures of speech. (See the article regarding the interpretation of prophecy on the website.) There are approximately 1,000 individual prophecies found in the Word of God. To date, around 500 (or half) of them have been literally fulfilled. That can give us confidence that a plain, natural meaning is intended by the prophets. For example, was Christ literally born in Bethlehem as Micah predicted (Mic. 5:2)? Or are we to treat “Bethlehem” in some spiritual or symbolic way, rather than as a literal town?

The Premillennial View (the position of this website). That Christ will come back, visibly, bodily, before (“pre” meaning before) the millennium, ushering in a golden age of peace and plenty on the earth. There is an enormous amount of Scripture describing His earthly reign from the throne of David, and the nature of life on earth at that time. A consistent treatment of the Scriptures (as even some amillennialists will admit) will lead one to be a premillennialist. A good book summarizing the arguments for this position is Ryrie’s little volume The Basis of the Premillennial Faith.

Nations in Eternity: Will there be nations in eternity?

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Question: What is God’s plan for Israel after the Tribulation?

Answer: It’s a great question, and I’m going to take the liberty of expanding it a little to ask: What is God’s plan for the world’s nations (including Israel), in the future?

We need to take a look at how the nations relate especially to two periods, in the plan and program of God: first, the thousand-year Millennium following the Tribulation, and second, the unending eternal state to follow that.

While there is a great deal of Scripture that relates to the Millennium (sometimes called the Kingdom Age), relatively little is said about what things will be like in eternity. We have some clues and brief comments, but for the rest we’ll have to wait and see.

Premillennial Bible expositors and scholars, whom I greatly respect, differ on whether the nations will still exist as separate entities in eternity. The disagreement often centres on the interpretation of Revelation chapters 21 and 22, especially 21:9 to 22:7. The passage includes this descriptive statement:

 “The nations of those who are saved shall walk in its [New Jerusalem’s] light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honour into it….They shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it” (vs. 24, 26).

Here are the two main views taken by premillennialists, regarding whether there will be nations in eternity:

  1. That after describing the beginning of eternity (in 21:1-8), the passage reverts to a discussion of the Millennium. Therefore, in the above verses, we’re seeing the nations and their rulers paying tribute to God during the thousand years of Christ’s earthly reign.
  2. That the passage in question continues on from the creation of the new heavens and new earth (21:1) and it all (including 21:24, 26) describes the eternal state. And that, therefore, it is clear there will indeed be nations in eternity.

I tend to favour this latter view, but not dogmatically. I’m open to more light on the subject.

When the Lord Jesus returns, with His church (I Thess. 4:14) to reign for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-4), He will destroy all the wicked on the earth (Rev. 19:11-21). Only the righteous will survive to have a part in the earthly kingdom.

These will be those of Israel and other nations who have been saved during the Tribulation, and who have survived this terrible time (Matt. 24:13, 22). They will still be in their mortal bodies, but long-lived, and many children will be born to them, over a period of a thousand years of peace and prosperity.

This wonderful conclusion to the world’s history is necessary because it represents the fulfillment of the Old Testament covenants with Israel (such as the Abrahamic Covenant, Gen. 12:1-3, 7, and the Davidic Covenant, II Sam. 7:16)

The Millennium will also witness the victory of the Messiah, and fulfil many prophecies yet unfulfilled regarding His earthly triumph. Where once He was crowned with thorns, He will wear a monarch’s crown (Ps. 2:7-9). And the nation of Israel will be central to His rule (Deut. 26:19; Isa. 2:1-4; 9:6-7; Zeph. 3:20; Lk. 1:31-33).

It is speculated that the city of God, New Jerusalem, will descend and hover over the earthly Jerusalem for that period. While there is no Scripture that precisely says that, it seems to be a logical deduction. The church will be living with Christ in the heavenly city, but when our reign, as glorified saints in resurrection bodies requires it, we’ll be able to descend and conduct our business, returning afterwards to our dwellings in the city (Rev. 5:10; 20:4).

After the final judgment, and the creation of the new heavens and earth (II Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1), the New Jerusalem will descend to a newly created earth more beautiful than Eden, where it will remain forever (Rev, 21:2-3, 5). The New Jerusalem, where the throne of God is, will be central to the earth, but I believe all the earth (and perhaps beyond it) will be a venue for our activities in eternity, as we serve the Lord (Rev. 22:3).

Redeemed Israel will have a place in the New Jerusalem. In fact, the names of the twelve tribes are written on the gates (Rev. 21:12). This is the city “whose builder and maker is God” to which Abraham looked forward (Heb. 11:8-10). The church of Jesus Christ, the Lamb’s bride, will be at home there too (Rev. 19:7-9), dwelling in the “many mansions” prepared for us (Jn. 14:2-3).

Fittingly, the foundations are inscribed with the names of “the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Rev. 21:14). And there are many saved belonging to the Gentile nations, so they have a place there too. (Enoch, Noah, Job, and multitudes of other believers, predate both Israel and the church.)

Some argue that the nations came into being at Babel, as a result of God’s judgment, and therefore are temporary. But it was only the confusion of languages that took place at Babel (Gen. 11:7-8). National distinctions were established after the flood, through the descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Gen. 10:31-32).

Grace was extended to all nations at Pentecost, when the various groups represented heard the word of God in their own languages (Acts 2:7-11). And there is coming a day when all will be able to worship God in one purified language (Zeph. 3:9).

I see no reason why the nations of the world cannot continue to exist eternally. We definitely know that Israel will. The Lord says in Isaiah, “‘As the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,’ says the LORD, ‘so shall your descendants and your name remain’” (Isa. 66:22).

As to other nations, the words of Revelation 21:3 give us a possible reference to them. It says, “He [God] will dwell with them, and they shall be His people.” But, as a number of translators have noted, that last word can be translated “peoples,” referring to many national entities.

Of course there will be no more international tensions between nations in eternity. And the various ethnic groups, purified in heavenly glory and living in perfect harmony, would bring a unique variety to our worship.

Prophecy Studies: Discussion Bible Studies on Prophecy

Prophecy studies are important for the people of God. Prophecies concerning coming events take up a considerable amount of Scripture. The 12 lessons to follow provide discussion questions covering the major events up ahead, according to the Word of God. Though it may be tempting to jump to a lesson whose subject especially interests you, I encourage you to take the studies one at a time in order, so you can see how all these things fit together.

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  1. Jesus Is Coming
  2. The Chosen People
  3. The Times of the Gentiles
  4. The Rapture of the Church
  5. The Signs of the End
  6. The Church in Glory
  7. The Antichrist
  8. The Great Tribulation
  9. Israel in the Tribulation
  10. The Second Coming
  11. The Millennial Kingdom
  12. The Eternal State

The Eternal State (Prophecy Studies #12)

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The Eternal State involves the destiny of all human beings born since the beginning of time. With this lesson we come to the conclusion of our brief look at the subject of Bible prophecy. Perhaps it will be worthwhile to do a brief review of the subjects covered.

Lesson 1. Jesus is Coming. Reminded us of who Christ is, and established the certainty of His return, based upon many passages of Scripture.

Lesson 2. The Chosen People. Dealt with Israel and God’s covenants guaranteeing the Jews a future in their own land, during Messiah’s reign.

Lesson 3. The Times Of The Gentiles. Detailed the Gentile oppression of Israel from the Babylonian Captivity to the end of the Antichrist’s rule.

Lesson 4. The Rapture Of The Church. Described the next event on God’s prophetic calendar, the catching away of the living church to be with Christ.

The Rapture of the Church Before the Tribulation

These studies present the author’s conviction that the Bible teaches the pre-Tribulation rapture of the church. However, there are some who believe the church will be left on earth to go through that terrible time and be raptured at the end of it. The evidence against such a view is too extensive to list here. (In The Rapture Question, John Walvoord offers 50 proofs of his pre-Tribulation position!) Other excellent books on this subject are: Kept from the Hour, by Gerald B. Stanton, The Rapture: Truth or Consequences, by Hal Lindsey, and No Fear of the Storm, by Tim LaHaye. Space does not permit a thorough examination of this subject, but here are a few facts to be considered, defending a pre-tribulation rapture.

  1. The nature and purpose of the Tribulation–it has to do with God’s judgment of the unbelieving nations of the world, and with His renewed program for Israel in preparation for her Messiah’s reign. The church is not directly related to either objective.
  2. New Testament Christians looked for the rapture to occur at any time. The imminence of the rapture argues against Christians having to endure the events of Revelation 6-18 and years of unparalleled earthly judgment first.
  3. Not one single Bible passage describes a rapture that takes place at the end of the Tribulation. This is strange indeed if God should have prepared us to live through the seven years on earth! On the contrary, First Thessalonians 4 and 5 presents events in the order followed in these studies. First, there is the rapture of the church (Chapter 4). Then the judgment of the “Day of the Lord” follows, with a significant switch in pronouns from “we” and “us” (believers, 4:15, 17) to “they” and “them” (unbelievers, 5:3). This pattern is at least suggested in Revelation, as well, since John, a member of the body of Christ, is caught up into heaven (Rev. 4:1) and observes the earthly judgments from there.
  4. We are told to “comfort” one another concerning the future. This makes sense if we expect to be caught up into the presence of Christ. But it is difficult to see how we can find comfort in the unparalleled earthly judgments described in Revelation.
  5. If the rapture were to occur at the end of the Tribulation, no one would be left to populate the Millennium! All the unsaved will be destroyed at Christ’s coming, and consigned to “everlasting fire.” Only believers will enter the kingdom. And if they are to be raptured just before, they all would receive glorified, resurrection bodies. But it is clear from many Scriptures that those who enter the kingdom are still in their mortal bodies. Many children will be born to the citizens of the earthly kingdom. And some will actually die during the thousand years. (Neither of these is true of glorified saints.)

Lesson 5. The Signs Of The End. Listed the many signs given to Israel that will precede the second coming of Christ to the earth. (Logically, Lessons 5 and 6 would be better in reverse order.)

Lesson 6. The Church In Glory. Talked about how Christians will be rewarded for their life and service for Christ at His judgment seat.

Lesson 7. The Antichrist. Depicted the rise and fall of Satan’s counterfeit Christ and his false prophet, during the Tribulation.

Lesson 8. The Great Tribulation. Outlined God’s wrath upon the unsaved and the terrible judgments of the Tribulation, ending at Armageddon.

Lesson 9. Israel In The Tribulation. Showed how God will return to His plan for Israel, and how He will protect a believing remnant saved during the Tribulation.

Lesson 10. The Second Coming. Dealt with Christ’s return to the earth, His destruction of His enemies at Armageddon, and His judgment of the nations.

Lesson 11. The Millennium Kingdom. Described the earthly thousand-year reign of Christ, its great blessing and its key purposes.

Lesson 12. Now, we turn our attention to “The Eternal State.”

1) What two kinds of resurrection does Jesus describe (Jn. 5:29)?

Insight: The division between “those who have done good” and “those who have done evil” is not suggesting a salvation by works. It is simply a way of describing the righteous and the unrighteous. The righteousness by which we are saved is credited to our account through faith, on the basis of what Christ has done for us (II Cor. 5:21).

2) What does the Bible call this “resurrection of life” in Revelation 20:5-6?

Insight: This “first” resurrection has several phases. Christ is the “firstfruits” of it (I Cor. 15:20). Then the dead in Christ rise at the time of the rapture, with Christians who are alive at the time receiving their resurrection bodies without passing through death (I Cor. 15:23; I Thess. 4:16-17). The resurrection of Old Testament saints, and the martyrs of the Tribulation, takes place at the beginning of the Millennium (Cf. Dan. 12:1-2). All of this is included in “the first resurrection,” Leaving only the unsaved of all the ages to be dealt with. Read Revelation 20:11-15, concerning the unbelieving dead.

3) To what place is this vast group summoned (Rev. 20:11)?

Insight: This is God’s eternal throne. Its location seems to be somehow outside the material universe, since the present earth and heaven flee away from it. God will supernaturally shelter and preserve us through this, and the creation of the new heaven and earth (21:1).

4) Where will the unsaved dead be sent after they are judged (Rev. 20:15)?

5) On what basis will they be condemned to this destiny (Rev. 20:15)?

Insight: This is elsewhere called “the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev. 21:27). There are also other “books” involved in this judgment, perhaps a record of the earthly life of each unsaved person. Even their inner thoughts and motives will be exposed (I Cor. 4:5). Possibly there will be degrees of punishment according to how each has lived, but all will be lost, without exception. This is what Jesus calls “the resurrection of condemnation” (Jn. 5:29) and Daniel describes as awaking “to shame and everlasting contempt” (Dan. 12:2).

6) According to Revelation 20:14 what else will be consigned to the lake of fire, in addition to the unsaved?

Insight: The significance of this is first that there will be no more death. The unsaved who are condemned to eternal punishment will not die. Theirs will be an endless torment. And “Hades” (a better translation than “hell” in this case) is the present temporary abode of the unsaved dead. (In the sense that it is a place of burning torment, it is similar to their final destiny, cf. Lk. 16:23-24.) They are already being punished, but they still await their final judgment at the Great White Throne. The point here is that there will be no more temporary place for them after this. Where they are sent they will be forever.

7) What else is the lake of fire called (Rev. 21:14)?

Insight: Death involves a separation of some kind. The first death involves a temporary separation of the spirit from the body. All of us will experience this, unless we are “alive and remain” at the time of the rapture. Then our spirits will be tabernacled in new, resurrection bodies. The second death, however, is for all of the unsaved. It will involve the eternal separation of the person from God’s revealed presence and from fellowship with Him.

Insight: It is vitally important to realize that when the Bible talks about individuals “perishing” or being “destroyed” in hell, it does not mean they will be annihilated and cease to exist. When Jesus says we should “fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28), He uses the Greek word apollumi (the same word is translated “perish” in John 3:16). It means to bring to ruin, and cast aside as worthless. Appropriately, the Greek word translated “hell” in the above verse is gehenna which originally referred to the Valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem. It was the city garbage dump, where all the dead animals, and the filth and refuse of the city was cast. What a symbol of the wasted eternity hell will be for countless lost souls!

8) Demonstrating that people are not annihilated in hell: who are sent there before the Millennium (Rev. 19:20) and still there a thousand years later (Rev. 20:10)?

Insight: Nor is there any room for repentance in hell, or any second chance to be saved (Jn. 3:36). When God has consigned the unsaved to a lost eternity He declares, “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still.” In other words, the condition is permanent. So is the state of the righteous, because the verse goes on, “He who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still” (Rev. 22:11).

9) How does the number of the lost (sadly) compare with the number who will be saved (Matt. 7:13-14)?

10) What are two characteristics of hell described in the following verses (things that will be felt and seen) (Matt. 25:41; or see Mk. 9:43; Rev. 14:11)?

¤ Also Matt. 8:12; 25:41 (or see Mk. 9:43; Jude 1:13; Rev. 14:11)

Insight: A fire that burns but does not consume–such as Moses saw at the burning bush (Exod. 3:2), and a fire that provides no cheering light (perhaps like nuclear energy or radio activity?). What a dreadful scene!

11) What will God do, after the judgment of the Great White Throne (Rev. 21:1)?

Insight: The destruction of the old universe is described graphically in Second Peter. “The heavens will pass away with a great noise….both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up….The heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat” (II Pet. 3:10, 12). We could not understand such massive destruction until the discovery of nuclear fission. We now know that the atoms (elements) of which the material universe is made contain inconceivably great amounts of energy, waiting to be released.

Insight: It seems that Satan has not only polluted earth with his wickedness. In some way the heavens have been affected as well (cf. Job 15:15). He is ”the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2), and we know he still has some limited access to God (Job 1:6; Rev. 12:10). So God will destroy the entire old creation, with any vestiges of sin’s corruption, and make all things new, from which Satan and his evil host are banished forever.

12) What is one unusual characteristic about the new earth (Rev. 21:1)?

13) According to Peter, what will the spiritual character of this new creation be (II Pet. 3:13)?

Insight: Until very recently (with the invention of weapons such as intercontinental missiles) the seas and oceans formed a natural barrier between populated areas–a barrier that could only be crossed with some difficulty. This may have been a further provision of the Lord to keep people apart (as the diversity of languages at Babel has done), and thus less likely to unite in more wickedness and destroy one another. But on the new earth “where [only] righteousness dwells” such barriers will be unnecessary.

14) What will become a prominent feature on the new earth (Rev. 21:2-3)?

Insight: This city is what we commonly know as “heaven”–the place where God’s throne is. With the new creation, and sin’s very presence totally banished, God’s dwelling place will descend to the earth and be permanently located there. The size of the city is given as twelve thousand furlongs square (Rev. 21:16), roughly equivalent to 1500 miles square–an area equal to about half the size of the United States. It is also 1500 miles high! (Some believe it will be a pyramid shape, with the throne of God situated at the topmost point.) This city is the location of the “many mansions” prepared for us by Christ (Jn. 14:2-3).

15) What two features of the heavenly city are mentioned (Rev. 22:1-2)?

Insight: The leaves “for the healing of the nations” have puzzled commentators, since heaven will surely have no diseases to be cured (cf. Rev. 21:4). However, the Greek word therapeia (which gives us our English word “therapeutic”) may simply indicate that the leaves give refreshment and added vitality to all who partake of them. The Bible explains no further.

Insight: Several times heaven is called a “paradise”–a word meaning a beautiful well-watered park (Lk. 23:43; II Cor. 12:2; Rev. 2:7). It suggests that the new creation will involve a return to the loveliness of Eden, only it will be more glorious still. Will there also be animals in the new creation? We cannot say for certain. The Bible does speak of angelic horsemen (II Kgs. 2:11-12), and of Christ coming to earth riding upon a horse (Rev. 19:11). And we are told that God is going to make “all things new” (Rev. 21:5). Perhaps this will include animals as well.

16) What two kinds of things will be absent from the new creation?

¤ Rev. 21:4

¤ Rev. 21:27

17) What is another unique characteristic of the heavenly city (Rev. 22:5)?

Insight: Note that this says nothing of the role of the sun, moon and stars in other places on the new earth. It refers to the glory light of God that fills the city itself. The Bible does not say the sun ceases to exist, only that its light is not needed in the New Jerusalem. Perhaps there will be a regular movement of planets and stars that can be observed elsewhere.

18) Though the New Jerusalem will be a city of gold, it will be gold with what peculiar characteristic (Rev. 21:18, 21)?

Insight: Before God’s throne there will be an open area John describes as “a sea of glass” (Rev. 4:6). All of this gives a picture of total transparency, a city in which light shines freely throughout. It will also mean that the glory of God can be seen from anywhere. One commentator adds an interesting thought that the city can be transparent because no one has anything to hide.

Insight: The city will be populated by angels, by the church, and by the saints of other ages (called “just men made perfect” in Heb. 12:22-23). Twelve foundation stones of the city are inscribed with the names of the twelve apostles (Rev. 21:14). Twelve gates give access to the city from all sides. The gates bear the names of the twelve tribes of Israel (Rev. 21:12). Thus both Israel and the church are represented in the decor, indicating both are at home there.

19) What is said to be waiting for believers in heaven (I Pet. 1:3-4)?

20) What is said about our activities in the new creation (Rev. 22:3)?

Insight: Worship, praise, and heavenly music will be a part of our service (Rev. 5:13, etc.). And it would seem there will be countless opportunities for fellowship, and a discussion of God’s many blessings with saints of all the ages (perhaps as Jesus talked with Moses and Elijah, Matt. 17:3). More than this, God has not seen fit to tell us. However, it is bound to be an eternally joyful and fulfilling existence, with “pleasures forevermore” (Ps. 16:11).

21) What will be the most blessed feature of eternity (Rev. 22:4; compare I Cor. 13:12, or I Jn. 3:2)?

Insight: In Revelation 10:6 an angel says, according to the old King James Version, “Time shall be no longer.” This has led some to conclude that the eternal state will be timeless–that time will cease to exist. However, a better translation of the words is “There shall be delay no longer.” That is, no more time will pass before the completion of God’s plan (vs. 7). In fact, eternity is not timeless, but rather time without end, an infinity of time. Only God exists in an eternal now, outside of time (Isa. 57:15). For us, His creatures, time is a necessary part of the physical creation, just as space is. Events will still take place in space and time.

Insight: The Bible declares that all are sinners who fall short of God’s righteous standard (Rom. 3:23). Those sins must be paid for. There is only one way to escape having to pay that debt ourselves. To spend an eternity of blessing in the heavenly kingdom and not an eternity of torment in the lake of fire, each individual must personally trust in God’s provision for sin.

22) What is that one and only provision (I Cor. 15:3; I Pet. 3:18; Acts 4:12; Jn. 1:12)?

The Millennial Kingdom (Prophecy Studies #11)

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The Millennial Kingdom brings us to the end of present history. It concerns the Kingdom Age, or what is also known as the Millennium. “Millennium” is the English form of the Latin words mille annus, meaning a thousand years. This designation is taken from Revelation 20:4, where John observed the saints living and reigning with Christ “for a thousand years.” What is in view is the earthly reign of Christ, which comes after Armageddon, and before the beginning of the eternal state.

It is well to remind ourselves at this point that no interpretation of Bible prophecy can answer all the questions, or completely explain every passage of Scripture on the subject. We “know in part” (I Cor. 13:12). However, a careful and literal interpretation of the Bible will provide a logical and consistent view of future events that is correct in all the essential details. For simplicity’s sake, we have not dealt much with opposing views, in this series. But one of the areas on which there is disagreement is the Millennium. Here are the three main positions.

Postmillennialism teaches that Christ will not come back until after the Millennium. That it is up to Christians to conquer the world for Christ, and as we do, things will get better and better, until society is “christianized.” Then the Lord will return and claim the kingdom His servants have prepared for Him. Postlmillennialism was quite popular in the 1800s, when it seemed like a golden age might be just around the corner. Two world wars have done much to dim this hope, and there are few postmillennialists today–though their numbers have had a recent resurgence. God’s Word does not tell us the world will get better and better. It says “in the last days perilous times will come….[and] evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse” (II Tim. 3:1, 13).

Amillennialism teaches that there is no such thing as a millennium, no earthly reign of Christ yet to come. Most of those who are liberal in theology are amillennialists. (They also deny Christ’s virgin birth, and His bodily resurrection, so it is not surprising they reject His coming again to reign.) However, there are also evangelicals who hold this view of prophecy. They come to this conclusion by rejecting the distinction between Israel and the church. Israel, to them, is simply the “Old Testament church.” And all the great covenants God made with Israel, and the many promises, are simply symbolic, and are to be fulfilled by us in a “spiritual” sense. The great problem with this latter view is that it interprets some Scripture literally, and other passages are spiritualized. But this puts an understanding of God’s Word at the whim of the interpreter. Who determines which verses are only meant in a “spiritual” or symbolic way? Such an approach to the Bible is truly dangerous. If the plain text does not actually mean what it says, we can make it mean almost anything!

Premillennialism (the view followed in this series) teaches that Christ will return before the Millennium and set up a literal kingdom on earth. The Scriptures teaching about this future time are extensive. Many passages clearly predict an earthly kingdom of peace and plenty, ruled over by the Messiah, and in which Israel is specially blessed. Isaiah says, “Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder….Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom…(Isa. 9:6-7).The angel Gabriel confirms that Christ will be given “the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob” (Lk. 1:31-33). It is an unjustified leap to turn the throne of David into God’s throne in heaven, and Israel into the church. (Especially when Christ Himself says that, seated at the right hand of the Father, He is not yet seated on the throne that has been promised to Him, Rev. 3:21). Israel is not the church. God has His specific plan for each.

Insight: As we compare Scripture with Scripture, three distinct purposes can be seen for the Kingdom Age, or the Millennium. First, there is a purpose related to the physical seed of Abraham, the nation of Israel.

1) What promise did the Lord make to Abraham (Gen. 15:18)?

2) How long was this possession to be theirs (Gen. 17:8)?

3) Centuries later, what did the prophet Amos predict (Amos 9:14-15)?

Insight: Though Israel has been cast out of her land by the Lord several times, He has not forgotten His promise. Her final regathering has begun, and restoration will take place when Christ returns to put down Israel’s enemies, when “in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives” (Zech. 14:3-4). “The Lord shall be King over all the earth,” and Zechariah describes the literal rebuilding of Israel at that time, saying, “No longer shall there be utter destruction, but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited” (Zech. 14:9-10). This hasn’t happened yet. But if God keeps His promises to Israel, it will happen.

Insight: A second purpose of God in the Kingdom Age is the earthly exaltation of His Son. In the same place where Christ was once rejected and crowned with thorns, He will be exalted and His rule will be obeyed. “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed….[But God says] “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion” (Ps. 2:2, 6). He will receive the nations as His inheritance, and rule them with a rod of iron (vs. 8-9). Then it will be said, “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ” (Rev. 11:15).

Insight: The third purpose of the Millennium will be discussed in a moment. First, consider some of the things the Bible says about conditions during this time. One of these concerns the removal of the curse placed upon creation in Genesis 3:17-19.

4) What are some things this will mean in terms of changes in nature (Isa. 11:6-9)?

5) What else will happen in the natural world (Isa. 35:1-2)?

6) How will human age spans differ in the Millennium (Isa. 65:19-20)?

Insight: There are several things worthy of note in this passage. The meaning is that if someone dies at the age of a hundred, he will be seen as merely a “child.” Death will be uncommon, and will mainly result from the Lord striking down an individual for doing evil. Otherwise, many may live right through the entire Millennium. (Remember that in the beginning the age spans approached a thousand years. Adam lived to be 930, and Methuselah 969, Gen. 5:5, 27.) The reality of death–even under unusual circumstances–reminds us that those who are on earth as the Kingdom is ushered in are still in their mortal bodies. This is confirmed by the fact that many children will be born during the thousand years (Isa. 65:23; Ezek. 47:21-22; Zech. 8:4-5; 10:8). Earth’s population will rapidly recover from the seven years of terrible Tribulation.

Insight: With Israel once more in possession of her land, and unmolested by her enemies, a Millennial temple will be constructed. There the Jews will worship somewhat according to the Old Testament pattern, including the use of animal sacrifices. However, with this difference: the ceremonies, instead of pointing forward to the cross, will look backward to it, in remembrance and praise (much as the Lord’s Supper does for us now). This temple is described in detail in Ezekiel 40:1–47:12. Unlike the temple of New Testament times that had become “a den of thieves,” or the temple of the Tribulation that will be desecrated by the Antichrist, the glory of the Lord will be seen in this Millennial temple (Ezek. 42:4).

7) What kind of reign will Christ have, according to the following verses (Isa. 9:7; Ps. 46:8-10)?

8) Who will assist Christ in His rule over the earth (Rev. 5:9-10; 20:4)?

Insight: Some of the details here are yet unknown. We of the Church Age will be in our resurrection bodies, and yet have responsibility over mortals still on earth. We know that after the Millennium, and after the creation of the “new heaven and new earth,” the heavenly city will descend to the earth (Rev. 21:1-2). Some believe that during the Millennium the New Jerusalem will be brought into position over the earth (perhaps above the earthly Jerusalem) hovering there as a huge satellite city. While this is only a theory, it is certainly possible. Then, the glorified saints would have their residence in the “many mansions” (Jn. 14:2), but have access to the earth to carry out their responsibilities there. Christ certainly carried out a ministry on earth in His glorified body–following His resurrection (as did Moses and Elijah, briefly, Matt. 17:1-3).

Insight: At the beginning of the Millennium, there will be weapons of war scattered across the earth. The Bible speaks in terms of bows and spears–weapons known in ancient times. It is possible that, with the mass devastation of the Tribulation, there will be a return to these former weapons. Or perhaps we are to understand these things as representing the modern day equivalent–bullets and nuclear bombs.

9) What is one thing that will be done with the weapons of war?

9b) And for how long (Ezek. 39:9-10)?

9c) What practical purpose could this serve (compare Rev. 8:7)?

10) What else will be done with these weapons (Isa. 2:4)?

Insight: This age of unparalleled peace will also be a time of abounding material prosperity (Jer. 31:12; Ezek. 34:26; Zech. 8:11-12).

11) What blessing will restored Israel experience in the Millennium (Ezek. 36:27-28; and 39:28-29)?

Insight: In Zephaniah 3:9 the Lord says He will “restore to the peoples a pure language.” Some see this as a removal of the judgment of Babel, so that all the peoples of the earth can serve the Lord in unity, and worship Him with one voice.

12) What will be the spiritual character of Israel during this time (Isa. 60:21)?

Insight: This will also be true of the Gentiles nations (Ps. 22:27-28; Mal. 1:11).

13) What about people’s knowledge of the things of God, at this time (Isa. 2:2-3; 11:9)?

Insight: All peoples will enjoy a unique revelation of the presence and power of God on earth, in that day (Isa. 60:1-3; Zech. 2:10-11).

14) What will be the prevailing mood of the age (Isa. 9:3; 52:9; 61:7)?

15) What else will characterize the Millennium (Zech. 14:16)?

16) The feast of tabernacles was originally a celebration of what (Lev. 23:34, 42-43)? (The “booths” were temporary shelters of branches and grass, etc.)

17) Why do you think this celebration will be kept during the Kingdom Age? (Possible clue: Rev. 12:13-14.)

Insight: Note that “all nations” are involved. Though Israel is specially blessed, in keeping with God’s promises, all peoples will be included in worship. No more will the temple be exclusively a Jewish centre. In that day, God’s house “shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isa. 56:7). The Lord will even use some Gentiles as priests and Levites (Isa. 66:20-21).

18) What will happen to any who refuse to worship the Lord or keep the feast of Tabernacles (Zech. 14:17-18)?

Insight: This is an example of the way Christ will rule with a rod of iron. Obedience will be mandatory (but that does not mean each heart will be transformed).

19) What will become of the devil during the Millennium (Rev. 20:1-3)?

Insight: The Millennial Kingdom fulfills God’s covenants with Israel, and fulfills His purpose to exalt His Son as King over all nations. But this period has a third purpose. It is God’s final test of mankind’s willingness to obey and serve Him.

Only believers will enter the Kingdom Age (since all God’s enemies will be destroyed). But millions will be born during this time. As with all who have been born on earth, they will need salvation through faith in Christ. Many will trust in Him. But others will refuse. Christ’s “iron rule” will keep these people in check, but they will not be truly born again. In the Church Age, Satan, “the god of this age,” has blinded the minds of unbelievers (II Cor. 4:4). During the thousand years, they will not be able to blame the devil for their condition, so this removes the final excuse of unbelievers, “The devil made me do it!”

20) What will happen when Satan is released from his prison, at the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20:7-9)?

Insight: Those who have remained unregenerate will seize the opportunity to rebel against Christ, but the rebellion will quickly be put down. “Gog and Magog” are spoken of in Ezekiel 38–39, where Magog seems to represent Russia and her allies, and “Gog” is the ruler of this people. Ezekiel describes a battle which takes place before Armageddon, in which Gog and Magog are destroyed. This is not the same battle as John describes in Revelation 20:8-9, where all nations are involved. The use of the terms Gog and Magog in Revelation is not explained. But perhaps it recalls the earlier defeat, much the same as we sometimes talk about people reaching their “Waterloo,” recalling Wellington’s defeat of Napoleon.

Insight: Thus the utter depravity of the human heart will be displayed for the final time on earth. The philosophy that man is “naturally good” will be repudiated forever.

21) There is a point that God has been seeking to make with man since the very beginning. Based on the following verses, what is it (II Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:13; or see Jn. 15:5)?

Insight: The Millennial Kingdom is virtually an ideal earthly environment, though because of the presence of fallen human beings, it is not perfect. Even so, many of the conditions evident in the Millennium will continue on into the eternal state. The experience of the saints within the New Jerusalem will be that heaven has already begun for them. Nevertheless, there are a couple of matters to be dealt with before eternity is ushered in. These will be discussed in the next and final lesson in this series.

The Second Coming (Prophecy Studies #10)

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The Second Coming of Christ is clearly taught in Scripture. And in our study of prophecy we have come to that great subject.

Even though we sometimes speak of either or both the rapture and the second coming in similar terms–as the return of Christ— the two are distinct and different.

  1. The rapture occurs at the beginning of the Tribulation, the second coming takes place seven years later, at the end of the Tribulation.
  2. Jesus predicts certain signs that will be evident before His second coming, but there are no necessary signs to take place before the rapture.
  3. We look forward to the rapture happening at any moment, while the second coming won’t occur until the events of Revelation 6-18 take place, and the Antichrist has had his day.
  4. At the rapture, Christ will be unseen by the unbelieving world. At His second coming, “every eye shall see Him.”
  5. The rapture is Christ’s catching away of His church unto Himself. At the second coming, He descends in glory with His church.
  6. At the rapture, Christ comes as a Bridegroom to claim His bride (the church). At His second coming He returns as King of kings to claim His throne and His earthly kingdom.

Irenaeus wrote of the second coming as follows, back before 200 AD: “When this Antichrist shall have devastated all things in this world, he will reign for three years and six months, and sit in the temple at Jerusalem; and then the Lord will come from heaven in the clouds, in the glory of the Father, sending this man and those who followed him into the lake of fire; but bringing in for the righteous the times of the kingdom…and restoring to Abraham the promised inheritance.”

The second coming will fulfil the promise of Acts 1:11, that “this same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” And it will fulfil a prayer that has been uttered countless times that “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). It’s an event Daniel witnessed in a vision of which he wrote, “Behold, One like the Son of Man, coming in the clouds of heaven!…Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away” (Dan. 7:13-14).

It’s what Job longed for when he said, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth….In my flesh [that is, in a resurrection body] I shall see God” (Job 19:25-26). And it’s what godly Enoch foresaw, long before the time of Job, when he said, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all” (Jude 14-15). That is the event we shall study in this lesson.

1) What will appear at the time of Christ’s coming in glory? And what result will it have (Matt. 24:30)?

Insight: What this sign will be is not known, but its meaning will be unmistakable. Perhaps it will be the shekinah, the glory light that shone above the ark of the covenant, revealing the presence of God (Ps. 80:1), but this time shining over all the earth. There will be a huge processional, as Christ descends with the armies of heaven, and the resurrected church in attendance. Some think perhaps it will take many hours to descend through the sky, and as the earth revolves beneath, all will see the glory of His coming, as we now see the sun when the earth rotates on its axis. Whatever the exact details, the armies gathered at Armageddon will divert their attention from one another in a futile attempt to prevent Christ from claiming His earthly throne.

(Please read Psalm 2:1-6, with this scene in mind.)

2) What is the Father’s response to man’s attempt to keep His Son from reigning? And why (Ps. 2:4)?

Insight: In verse 7 of the psalm the Father says, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You [brought You forth].” There is a sense in which Christ was the Son of God from all eternity. But this expression is used in Scripture in a number of ways. At His first coming, He was brought forth from the womb of Mary. After His crucifixion, Christ was “begotten” (brought forth) from the tomb (Acts 13:33). In the context here, Christ is brought forth on earth as the rightful King (vs. 8).

3) What will the Son do to those who oppose His rule (Ps. 2:9)?

(Next, please read Revelation 19:11-21, to see how the Apostle John describes this scene.)

4) What two names are given to the One who descends from heaven at this time (Rev. 19:11, 13)?

Insight: The fact that He is wearing a blood-stained garment may seem to be a reminder of His death, when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” the first time (Jn. 1:14). But it is more likely as the result of the trampling down of His enemies (cf. Rev. 14:19-20).

5) What are two other names given to this Person (Rev. 19:12, 16)?

6) What two tasks does Christ undertake at His return (Rev. 19:11)?

Insight: Christ came the first time “full of grace” (Jn. 1:14). But this is quite a different picture.

7) According to Rev. 19:15, what does Christ come to dispense at this time?

Insight: The “sharp sword” coming from the mouth of the Lord in John’s vision likely depicts His word of judgment. He will not grapple and struggle with the enemy. He need only speak and they will be destroyed. The One who once spoke and worlds came into being (Heb. 12:1-2) will now utter the word that brings about the destruction of His enemies.

8) Who attempts to make war against Christ (Rev. 19:19)?

9) What gruesome invitation is given to “the supper of the great God” (Rev. 19:17-18, not to be confused with the marriage supper of the Lamb)?

10) What will happen to the Beast (the Antichrist) and his false prophet (Rev. 19:20)?

11) And what happens to the armies gathered at Armageddon (Rev. 19:21)?

Insight: This scene of bloody and terrible destruction is also prophesied in Ezekiel 39:17-20. There we learn that not only the birds, but also “the beasts of the field” (undomesticated animals) will partake in God’s “supper.” Recall that during the Tribulation death will come by “the beasts of the earth” (Rev. 6:8). Here they are given a grisly opportunity to satisfy their thirst for blood. Take a few moments to read about what follows–Ezekiel 39:21-29.

12) What does the Lord do at this time? And with whom (Ezek. 39:27, 29)?

Insight: When God first called Abraham and made a covenant with him, He said, “I will bless those who bless you [including the nation of Israel to come from Abraham], and I will curse him who curses you” (Gen. 12:3). In sovereign grace, God has made Israel a specially chosen nation (I Chron. 16:13), calling her “Israel My glory” (Isa. 46:13). She is “the apple of His eye” (Zech. 2:8). Since the beginning, God has showered special favour upon the Jews, above all other peoples (the Gentile nations). In the eyes of men, this may not seem “fair,” but the Lord owes us no explanation (Rom. 9:9-15). And returning to His program of Israel in this future day, God will hold other peoples accountable for how they have treated the Jews–especially during the Great Tribulation.

13) What will the Lord do, at this time (Joel 3:1-2)?

14) What are two things that the Lord says belong to Him (Joel 3:2)?

Insight: God’s declaration “They have also divided up My land” is a startling condemnation of the current struggle in the Holy Land. Arabs, Palestinians and Jews argue over the territory, and divide it between them. But the Lord says that is “My land,” and I have given it into the permanent custody of the nation of Israel (Gen. 13:14-15).

Insight: The event described in Joel is known in prophecy as the Judgment of the Nations. This is an earthly judgment to determine who has a right to enter into the Kingdom Age. All peoples of the earth will be brought together to face this earthly judgment, following the destruction of the rebel armies at Armageddon. Israel as a nation will be judged (Ezek. 20:36-38). And for the rest, the chief question will be, “How have you treated My Chosen People?” The same event is described in a little different way in Matthew 25.

15) To what is the Lord’s division of earth’s peoples compared (Matt. 25:31-32)?

Insight: In Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, this judgment is pictured as separating wheat and tares. In Matthew 25, two groups are formed, one gathered on the Lord’s right hand, and the other on His left hand.

16) What will happen to those on His right (Matt. 25:34)?

Insight: Keep in mind that these are not resurrected saints. They are those who have survived the seven-year Tribulation (Matt. 24:13, 22). They are still in their mortal bodies, and are about to enter into the Millennial Kingdom.

17) What will happen to those on His left (Matt. 25:41)?

18) What issue is the determining factor in this judgment (Matt. 25:40)?

19) What things have been done for “My brethren” (Matt. 25:35-36)?

Insight: This verse is often used today in a general way–to say that any act of kindness we do in Jesus’ name will be blessed. This is true (cf. Mk. 9:41). But the passage in Matthew is prophetic, and has a primary application to a future event. “My brethren,” in the context, refers to Christ’s own earthly people, the Jews. And as we have seen elsewhere, how the other peoples of earth have treated Israel will be the basis for this judgment. It is not that there is no issue of faith in Christ involved. There is. But in the Tribulation, a time when any who profess allegiance to Christ will face persecution, imprisonment and death, the chief way of demonstrating that faith in Christ will be to assist others who are loyal to Him, especially the Jews.

Insight: This same event is prophesied in Zephaniah Chapter 3, where the prophet says Jehovah will “gather the nations to My assembly of kingdoms” (vs. 8). After He pours out on the wicked His “fierce anger,” the righteous will be prepared to enter into the Kingdom Age. God says, “Then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the Lord” (vs. 9). Some suggest this simply means a new holiness in worship. However, there seems a possibility that it refers to a restoration of one unified language for all the peoples of the earth–a return to the way things were before the judgment at the tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1-9). This could be a key factor in uniting the nations during Christ’s earthly reign.

20) What reassurance does the Lord give to Israel at this time (Zeph. 3:15)?

21) And what is Israel encouraged to do, by the Lord (Zeph. 3:14)?

Insight: There are many other references to this (Isa. 51:11; Jer. 31:12, etc.). If you were to attend a service in an orthodox Jewish synagogue today, you would hear lots of singing, but no instruments are ever used. You would be told this is based on Psalm 137, which speaks of the time when the Jews were in captivity. “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it” (Ps. 137:1-2). In other words, they put away their instruments, because they didn’t feel like making music. And the orthodox rabbi would tell you, “We don’t use instruments now, but when Messiah comes we will sing like we’ve never sung before, and we’ll play like we’ve never played before!”

22) What beautiful picture is given to us of the Lord consoling His people after all they have come through (Zeph. 3:17)?

Israel In The Tribulation (Prophecy Studies #9)

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Israel in the Tribulation experiences the loving chastisement of God. The presence of Israel in the Tribulation is established by Jeremiah (Jer. 30:5-7) and confirmed by Daniel (Dan. 9:24-27, where the prophecy of the “Seventy Weeks” is “for your people and for your holy city”). In Matthew 24-25, Jesus also deals with the Jews who will face this terrible trial. However, we begin our study in the book of Revelation, Chapter 12.

Insight: Concerning the seven-sealed scroll. In the book of Revelation, John describes a scroll in the right hand of God the Father, sealed with seven seals (5:1). The scroll is almost certainly the title deed to the earth. (This use of a sealed scroll to certify property ownership is found elsewhere in Scripture, Jer. 32:6-15). Hebrew title deeds required a minimum of three seals, placed there by three separate witnesses. The more important the deed, the more witness seals were required. Since seven, in Scripture, is the number of completeness, this scroll is represented as fully witnessed.

Could it be that the witness comes from the seven-fold Spirit before the throne (1:4; 3:1; 4:5–a depiction of the Holy Spirit in all His fullness)? (This way of describing the Spirit of God may be related to His seven titles in the book of Isaiah, Isa. 11:2.) His role as the Witness in this case would be in keeping with His ministry elsewhere as the One who testifies to the truth (cf. Jn. 15:26). This would mean the full triune Godhead is involved in this transaction, since the Father hands the scroll to the Son (vs. 5-7).

As each of the seals on this scroll is broken by the Son of God, judgment is poured out on the earth. In fact, all of the earthly judgments of the book of Revelation are released in this way, since the seventh seal incorporates the seven trumpet judgments (8:1-2), and the seventh trumpet announcing Christ’s coming earthly reign (11:15) introduces the seven bowl judgments which follow in rapid succession to complete the full measure of God’s wrath (15:1; 16:1).

The judgments on earthly powers are logically connected to the meaning of the scroll. If it represents Christ’s ownership and Lordship over all the earth, the unbelieving earth is rightly condemned because of its rejection of that Lordship. In this judgment the church has no part (since our salvation itself requires at least a basic acceptance of His Lordship, Rom. 10:9; I Cor. 12:3). But as a nation that also rejected Christ, Israel certainly does have a place in the Tribulation.

1) What visionary sign does John see (Rev. 12:1)?

2) What notable thing does this person do (Rev. 12:5)?

3) Based on what we know from other Scriptures, what is the identity of the Child (Ps. 2:7-9; Rev. 19:11-16)?

Insight: Some commentators have suggested that the “woman” is therefore Mary. However, the experiences described in Rev. 12:6 and following are certainly never recorded of Mary.

4) In a broader sense, whom does the Bible say produced the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 9:4-5)?

Insight: This identification of the “woman” as Israel is confirmed by other things. For example: the use of the sun, moon and stars to symbolize the sons of Jacob (Gen. 37:9); the use of the number twelve which corresponds to Israel’s twelve tribes; God’s protection of Israel in the “wilderness” (Rev. 12:6, 14) paralleling her Old Testament experience; and the repeated use of the word “woman” in the Old Testament to refer to Israel (Isa. 54:5-6; Jer. 4:31; Mic. 4:9-10, etc.). Though the church is to be the bride of Christ, she is never specifically called a “woman.” Added to that, it is not the church which produced Christ (as in Rev. 12:5), but Christ who produced the church!

5) In John’s vision, who opposes Israel? And what does he hope to do with the Child that comes forth from her (Rev. 12:3-4, 9)?

Insight: Some suggest that “a third of the stars of heaven” (Rev. 12:4) perhaps represents the number of angels who originally rebelled with Lucifer (the devil).

6) What will happen to Israel in the latter half of the Tribulation (Rev. 12:6, 13-14)?

Insight: In Edom, the fortress city of Petra (Sela, in Hebrew) is carved out of solid rock, and is almost inaccessible. Some prophetic scholars to think it will be the place God sends the believing remnant of Israel to protect her from Satan and the Antichrist (who will fail to conquer Edom, Dan. 11:41). Jesus Himself urges this flight of the Jews in Matthew 24:16. As God provided water and manna for Israel in the wilderness long before, and protected her from her enemies, so He will care for the believing remnant of Israel in this terrible time.

Revelation 12:15-16 speaks of Satan attacking this Jewish remnant with something “like a flood” and God again protecting them. Some take this to be a literal flood of water, but the word “like” allows for it to be a symbolic flood, perhaps an attack by the Antichrist’s forces.

Insight: The Tribulation will be a time of spiritual repentance and revival for Israel as a nation. At the present time, in the Church Age, individual Jews are saved through faith in Christ, and become a part of the body of Christ (Gal. 3:26-28). But Israel as a nation is blind to the claims of Christ. This blindness, in part, is a judgment of God upon her unbelief (Isa. 6:9-11), and has been used by God in this age for the salvation of the Gentiles (Acts 28:25-28; Rom. 11:25). After the church is caught up to be with Christ, God will return again to His plans for Israel as a nation. He promises her restoration in the last days (Deut. 4:30-31; Rom. 11:26-29).

7) What will be the response of Israel at this time (Zech. 12:9-10)?

Insight: During the Tribulation, God will use a large number of believing Jews as His servants, protecting them so that they can carry on a ministry in spite of danger from the earthly judgments and from satanic attack. Two particular individuals are mentioned separately in Revelation Chapter 11.

8) How long will these two men testify Rev. 11:3)?

9) What happens to those who try to oppose their “testimony” during this time (Rev. 11:5-6)?

10) What finally happens to the two witnesses (Rev. 11:7)?

Insight: Some believe the time period in vs. 3 refers to the first half of the seven year Tribulation period, rather than the latter half. Their deaths would thus correspond to the beginning of the latter three and a half years, and may be the first brutal act of the Antichrist when he breaks his covenant with Israel.

11) Where has all of this apparently taken place (Rev. 11:8)?

12) What effect will the death of the two witnesses have on the people of the earth?

12b) In what way will they commemorate the event (Rev. 11:9-10)?

Insight: Various attempts have been made to identify these two men. Some say they are Enoch and Elijah come back to earth, since both ascended to heaven without dying. Others see them as Moses and Elijah, because of the similarity to the miracles worked by these men. The Bible does promise that Elijah’s ministry will precede the coming of Christ (Mal. 4:4-6), but this can apparently be fulfilled if one comes “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (as was said of John the Baptist, Lk. 1:17)–which to two certainly do. The bottom line is the identity of the two witnesses is uncertain.

Insight: This local ministry is to be augmented by the conscription of 144,000 Jewish believers, 12,000 from each tribe (Rev. 11:1-14).

13) What does God do for these Jews (Rev. 7:3)?

Insight: This seal seems to protect them in some way from the judgments to come (Rev. 9:4), and from Satan and the Antichrist. Their work, carried on in the latter part of the Tribulation, when the seven trumpet judgments and the seven bowl judgments occur, seems to be similar to that of the seventy witnesses Jesus sent out during His time on earth (Lk. 10:1). (Interestingly, some ancient texts of the New Testament give this latter number as 72, rather than 70. And 72 x 2,000 = 144,000.) In the ministry of the seventy: 1) They are sent out in pairs (Lk.10:1) as at least two are required by Jewish law to confirm the truth of a witness (Deut. 19:15); 2) Satan’s power is overcome by them (Lk. 10:18-19); 3) The witnesses are given miraculous protection (Lk. 10:19); 4) They are to announce “the kingdom of God has come near” (Lk. 10:9). This is “the gospel [good news] of the kingdom” which will be proclaimed during the Tribulation (Matt. 24:14), likely by the 144,000. Their success is indicated by the multitudes who are saved, not only of Jews, but of every nation (Rev. 7:9-10, 13-14). The 144,000 will be rewarded for their faithfulness when Christ returns to reign from Mount Zion (Rev. 14:1-5).

Insight: Those who are saved in the Tribulation will be saved “by grace through faith,” just as we are today (Eph. 2:8-9)–and as all are, at any time in history, for that matter. They will be saved on the basis of the shed blood of Christ (Rev. 7:14; 12:11), and by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (because no one will see God’s kingdom apart from the new birth, Jn. 3:3). The Spirit’s “restraining” of evil through the church (II Thess. 2:6-7) will end when the church is raptured, but this does not mean the Holy Spirit is no longer present or at work in the Tribulation. He will convict Israel of her rejection of Christ (Zech. 12:10; 13:1), and regenerate all who believe.

Insight: Why is only Israel involved in this witness? Long ago, Jehovah God designed that the Jews be His witnesses to the nations of the world (Isa. 44:6-8). Though they failed in this responsibility before, the believing remnant will courageously stand for the truth in the Tribulation. That this task is given to Israel, and that Satan’s assault is upon Israel (Rev. 12:13), is a further evidence that the church is not present.

As a final passage, please turn to Matthew 25. The position taken in this study is that the Olivet Discourse (Chapters 24 and 25) concerns what will happen to Israel in the Tribulation. Thus Jesus is teaching His people what they can expect on earth, after the church is raptured. Many signs will indicate the soon return of the Messiah. And special danger awaits the Jews when the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel and demands the worship of his image, set up in the holy place of the rebuilt temple (Matt. 24:15). The 24th chapter describes the return of Christ (vs. 30), and encourages the Jews to be watching for this great event (vs. 42, 44). The parable of the ten virgins (Matt. 25:1-13) speaks to this same issue.

14) For what event are the ten virgins to be prepared (Matt. 25:1)?

Insight: “The kingdom of heaven” is not a reference to heaven, but to heaven’s (or God’s) rule over the earth. It includes both believers and unbelievers (Matt. 13:47-50), since God is sovereign over all.

15) In the prophetic picture described in a previous lesson, who is the Bridegroom, and who is His bride (Rev. 19:7)?

Insight: This indicates that the marriage supper (the celebration) will take place on the earth, in the Millennial Kingdom, after Christ returns to reign, with His church.

16) Why are five of the young women described as “foolish” (Matt. 25:3)?

17) And what happens to the foolish ones when the Bridegroom suddenly appears (Matt. 25:8)?

Insight: The ten virgins (representing Israel) are among “those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:9)–that is, they are invited guests. When dealing with a parable, it is not always the case that every detail has some specific meaning. (Some details are simply needed to make a coherent story.) But it is possible the oil in the lamps of the virgins is a picture of the Holy Spirit. Anointing with oil us used in Scripture as a symbol of the sanctifying and empowering presence of the Spirit (I Sam. 16:13; Isa. 61:1; I Jn. 2:20, 27, etc.). If this is a correct interpretation, it is one more indication of the activity of the Holy Spirit in the Tribulation.

18) What response does the Bridegroom make to those without the “oil” (Matt. 25:12)?

19) What is the meaning of this statement (Jn. 10:27-28; II Tim. 2:19)?

20) What is the moral of this story for the Jewish people (Matt. 25:13)?

Insight: While the parable of the ten virgins speaks of Israel’s spiritual preparedness for Christ’s coming, the following parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30) has a slightly different focus. Those who are truly looking for the Lord’s coming will also be active in serving Him. Of course this applies to Christians in the Church Age, but in the context it is again an exhortation to Israel and perhaps including others who will put their faith in Christ during the Tribulation.

21) In the story, when the master is about to go on a journey (vs. 14), what does he do with his three servants (Matt. 25:15)?

Insight: A talent in this case does not mean a special skill. It is a unit of weight, weighing between 58 and 80 pounds. And the word “money” in Matt. 25:18 means literally “silver money.” Thus a considerable fortune was involved.

22) When the master returns (vs. 19), what kind of conduct meets with his approval (Matt. 25:20-23)?

23) What behaviour causes the master to respond in anger (Matt. 25:24-30)?

Insight: This parable is not teaching that it is possible to be saved by works. But it is an indication that works reveal the state of one’s heart. As Jesus says, “by their fruits you will know them” (Matt. 7:20). The master describes the third servant as “wicked” (Matt. 25:26). Perhaps he even doubted whether the master would return at all. To invest the money or place it in a bank would likely require that he identify it as belonging to his master, and being invested on his behalf. By simply burying the money, he may have hoped to keep it for himself if the master failed to come back.

Insight: Even when a passage has a primary application to some specific group other than ourselves, it always contains principles and lessons that we can take as our own. (This is true of all Scripture.)

24) What does Matthew 25:20 and 22 suggest about what God expects of different individuals in our service for Christ until He comes again?

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