64. Revelation 13 - Bible Study - Part 1

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A GUIDED BIBLE STUDY OF REVELATION 13

Part 1 - Preparatory: Symbolic? Literal?
What's the difference? And which is best?

This is the first guided Bible study** on this blog, and I have selected Revelation 13 because it is a particularly important and interesting chapter, which we can use as an anchor for the chapters both preceding and following. (**This means go get your Bible and open it)

One of the reasons that Bible readers often stop when they get to Revelation, is because of the great use of symbols which start immediately in Chapter One, and often the reader doesn't know whether to take a word or phrase literally or symbolically. For example, in Rev 1:7 it says about Jesus, "Behold he is coming with clouds...". So should the word 'clouds' be taken literally (real clouds) or symbolically, where the word 'clouds' stands for something else, like a cloud of people or angels (or both) returning with Jesus?

We must answer this question first: "Should the Bible be read literally or symbolically?"

The answer is ... YES! The Bible should be read literally when called for, and symbolically when called for. But keep this in mind: more often than not, the symbol stands for something literal, and we are called to determine what the symbol stands for. Sometimes that is difficult, and sometimes it is easy -- like when the interpretation of the symbol is written somewhere nearby in the Bible text.

To understand what two important symbols mean in chapter 13, we are going to have to slip backwards and look at chapter 12, where we have an illustration of an easily understood interpretation of a symbol, and a more difficult one.

First, the difficult one:

12:1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth... 4b. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour the child as soon as it was born. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, where she is to be taken care of for 1,260 days.

Who is this woman? It is not universally agreed. We must use the text surrounding (the context) to help us determine this. The three most important clues are (1) this child was important enough that the dragon (identification yet to come) wanted to kill the child, (2) this woman gave birth to a male child who is to rule all nations with a rod of iron, and (3) her child was caught up to God and to his throne.

Does any of this sound familiar? Almost everyone agrees that this is speaking about Jesus, the baby and then the adult. (1) Certain leaders wanted Jesus killed at the very beginning of his life, (2) the one who is to "rule all nations with a rod of iron" is the Messiah, and (3) it was Jesus who was caught up to God and to his throne.

But what woman was it that gave birth to Jesus? The easy and quick answer is Mary, the mother of Jesus. This, I believe, is the position of the Roman Catholic church. But while Mary may fit some of the characteristics of the woman, she does not seem to fit the last part, where the "woman" flees into the wilderness, the desert, where she is taken care of and nourished for 1,260 days. Elsewhere in this blog I have endeavored to show that the 1,260 days mentioned here seems to be a real period of time, the last 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation. That being so, Mary does not fit.

Another possibility is that the woman is the church. There is a sense that the church can be considered to have started when Israel began as a nation, and Israel in one verse is called the church in the wilderness. In that sense, the church could be considered as having given birth to Jesus Christ. But this view is less 'popular', less favored than it was many years ago. In the usual sense of the word church, Jesus says "I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." In this sense, Jesus gave birth to the church, not the other way around.

And so, the general position of those who are premillennialists is that the woman is Israel. Israel gave birth to the Christ, who was eventually taken up to God and to His throne, and it is Israel herself that will flee into the wilderness during the Great Tribulation and receive protection by God.

But notice that we never could point to a verse that made it quite clear that the woman is a symbol for Israel. It just seemed to be the most reasonable -- and most favored -- conclusion.

And now, for the second symbol, whose activity is interwoven closely with the woman:

3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads, and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born.

Now we have a great red dragon to decode. We could guess about this, but with the great dragon we do not need to guess! All we need to do is look down a few verses, where it continues,

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 But he was defeated, and there was no longer any place found for them in heaven. 9 So the great dragon was cast down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world -- he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

So in this case, we have scripture interpreting scripture, telling us that the dragon is literally Satan, the devil. While the dragon is truly a symbol, it still stands for something or someone literal, namely Satan.

The best principle of interpreting the Bible, is to interpret in the normal, usual sense of the language when it makes sense. And while something is obviously a symbol, it will normally stand for something literal: Israel, Satan, Jesus (a lamb, a lion), the cross (Christ's substitutionary death) and rarely will the symbol remain just a symbol and stay uninterpreted when the whole of scripture is taken into consideration.

So now, as we approach chapter 13, we have some general rules and guidelines to help us understand who is involved, and what is happening in this Bible passage.

Next Lesson:
Part 2. Rev 13:1-2 : Introduction to the Antichrist (Post #66 Link)

(And in subsequent posts, we will go back and look more closely at Chapter 12)
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63. The unholy trinity

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The Holy Trinity, discussed in post #62, existed from all eternity past, and were uncreated. There was never a time that the three members (or if you prefer, three persons) of the Holy Trinity did not exist.

In comparison, the unholy trinity (in lower case) are all created beings, and all three began their existence at a definite point in time
-- although the 'senior' member lived long before the other two members. And this is reason number one, why they are such a poor copy and substitute for the true and Holy Trinity.

Perhaps you never thought about the fact that the Bible mentions
an unholy trinity. A Bible search function like Bible Gateway would never find "unholy trinity" in the Bible. Nor would it find "Holy Trinity" for that matter, or even "Trinity". But the Holy Trinity (the three-in-one-God, who is not three Gods but one God), is there regardless, and the unholy trinity is there as well.

Who is the member of the unholy trinity that wanted to take the place of God, who planned and schemed before the creation to be like God? To be honored and worshiped as God? It is the deceiver, the devil, the schemer, Satan. He was the most beautiful of all the holy angels, who fell from his high estate, and was cast out of heaven to become (in God's peculiar plan) the prince of this world. And the prince of the power of the air he shall continue to be until Christ comes in glory the second time.

His plans and goals have not changed. Since he apparently cannot corrupt the holy angels any longer, the prince of darkness goes forth to corrupt and destroy the sons of the earth (unbelievers), and to deceive and weaken the sons of God (Christians, believers, the saints)

The second and third members of the unholy trinity will not come into play until the beginning of the tribulation in the last days, although they will surely be born before that time. They will grow up in advance of the tribulation, and likely in advance of the rapture of the saints. For these two members are human, born of mothers and fathers in the normal way, and perhaps not miraculously gifted until their time comes to go forth as arch-deceivers, and arch-enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ. If the time for the return of Christ is near, then surely they are alive even now, though likely unknown.

The second member is revealed in scripture under many names:
the man of sin, the lawless one, the man of lawlessness, the son of destruction, the little horn, the willful king, the prince who is to come, the one who makes desolate, the son of perdition, and is spoken of generally by the term 'antichrist'. The word antichrist means both against-Christ and in-place-of-Christ. He will function in both these two ways.

It is he who will desecrate the latter-day temple, and will set up himself as God, proclaiming that he is God, for he will be empowered and eventually indwelt by Satan himself. It is he who will pursue the Jews to the point of death, and when that plan fails, he will pursue those who have believed in Jesus (Christians) to the death. Descriptions of this person and his actions can be found in many places throughout the Bible. It is said of Jesus that He always does His Father's will, and it will be said of the antichrist that he always does the will of his father, the devil, Satan.

The third member of this unholy alliance is the false prophet, and he is found specifically only in the book of Revelation, and only in these verses: Primarily Rev 13:11-18; but also Rev 16:13; 19:20; 20:2; & 20:10. It is said of the Holy Spirit that he came not to reveal himself, but to reveal and glorify Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It will be said of the false prophet that he came not to reveal himself but to reveal and glorify the antichrist, the son of Satan, the son of destruction.

As the origin of the unholy trinity falls far short in every way when compared to the Holy Trinity, so the ending of the unholy trinity falls far short, as the three are all eventually cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone, at the end of the age.

Very soon we will take a close look at Revelation 13, where the antichrist and false prophet are described in great detail, and back into Revelation 12, where we learn more about the dragon, that old serpent, the devil, Satan.
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62. The Holy Trinity

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Thirty years ago (or maybe more), I looked for all the passages in the Bible where all three of the members of the Holy Trinity were mentioned closely together -- either in the same verse, or in two verses together. There was, if I recall correctly, about fifteen. And since I am an accountant, and also a mathemetician and statistician, I found it particularly statistically interesting that all six of the possibilities of order among the members of the Trinity can be found in the scriptures.

Let me illustrate: If we use "F" for the Father, "S" for the Son, and "H" for the Holy Spirit, then the members of the Trinity can be listed in only six varying orders.

The most traditional for most of us is FSH (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). But there are also five more: FHS, SFH, SHF, HFS, HSF,
and no other.

So does this prove, for example, the inspiration of the Bible? No, probably not. And there might be a naturalness of having the three members of the Holy Trinity, or any two of them, to cluster together in the scripture. For example, we find this set of two more than once: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But here's the thing: It's a probability issue, which makes it at least a curiosity. If I took those three letters in my hand (F, S, H) and randomly cast them onto a table, statistically, it would normally take me from 50 to 75 times to successfully cast all of the six orders listed above. But in the scriptures, it is done in only about 15 passages.

So I conclude a truth which I hold lightly, not tightly, that God is telling us something in making all the possibilites appear in only 15 or so passages. And it is this: that there is an equality in the Godhead which is equally as true as the passages that show an order, i.e. that say that the Son always does what the Father tells him, and that the Holy Spirit has come to point to the Son.

So I am reminded that there surely is a divine order in the Trinity, whenever I see scripture mentioning the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit in order.

And I am reminded that there surely is a divine equality in the Trinity, whenever I see scripture mentioning any of the other orders of relationship.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in any order, world without end, Amen.
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61. Ocean of Debt, America may default

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As I've said elsewhere, I have no intention of spending a lot of time discussing politics and economics since others do it so well. (See my post #47 about The Third Lens [with a tip of the hat to Joel Rosenberg] ) .

However, this linked article is very startling and important, since it puts America's true debt all on one page for once. America is obligated to pay more that the entire annual domestic production of the entire world!

I urge you to read it, and then to do whatever you can do to stem this alarming ocean of debt that will eventually drown America.

The article is called "Falling for the great lie"
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Printable.aspx?ArtId=35993

Please comment!
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60. Link to posting about timing of the rapture...

... on the Last Trumpet Living site, which I
I recommend in my listing in the left hand column.

This comprehensive article discusses the difference between the pre-tribulational view (pre-trib), mid-trib, post-trib, and pre-wrath views of when Jesus is coming back to gather up/snatch up/rapture his church. Note that all the authors I referred to in an earlier post subscribe to the pre-tribulational view, as does Last Trumpet Living.

Here's the link: http://www.lasttrumpetliving.com/opinion/rapture-pre-tribulation/

I'll also have a post on the timing of the rapture among the next few posts.
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59. Daniel 11:31-36 about the Antichrist,

and about the desecration of the temple,
and about the response of believers.

In Daniel 11:32, in the KJV we find this verse:

32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries; but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

This is a good example of a Bible passage that is barely understandable in the KJV. For example, what does it mean when it says that "those who know their God" should "do exploits"?

Interestingly, this passage is in the midst of a section considered
to be a description of the actions of the Antichrist of the last days.
If then, if those who become believers during the tribulation can be called upon to do certain things while enduring such persecution, martyrdom, chaos, and suffering, how much more should we be able to do them in our life of relative leisure.

Here are the surrounding verses, so we can pick up the context (Daniel 11:31-36):

31"Armed forces from him* will arise, and will desecrate (defile) the temple sanctuary and fortress, and will abolish the regular daily sacrifice [of the Jews]. Then they** will set up the abomination of [or, that causes] desolation. 32 By flattery and smooth words he* will corrupt and seduce those who [willfully] violate the covenant; but the people who know their God will display strength and take action. 33 Those among the [Jewish] people who are wise will give understanding and insight to many; though for a time they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder. 34 Now when they fall they will receive little help***, and many who are not sincere will join them. 35 Some of those who have insight will fall, so that they may be refined, purged and made pure until the time of the end; because [all this] is still to come at the appointed time.

36"Then the king**** will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the one true and living God. He will prosper until the indignation (or, wrath) is finished, for that which is decreed and determined will be done.

* 'him' and 'he' may have a double meaning, both (1) a wicked ruler before the time of Jesus (see below), and (2) the Antichrist of the last days.
** 'they' means the forces of the evil ruler.
*** or, 'receive a little help'. Omitting the 'a' seems better in context.
**** 'the king' here is usually considered to be the Antichrist alone, a turning point in the complete passage, rather than sharing characteristics with Antiochus Epiphanes. In some versions, this king is called "the willful king".

It is important to know that 160-170 years before Jesus Christ came the first time, that there was a wicked ruler in the area surrounding Jerusalem known as Antiochus Epiphanes (an TIE o kus ~ e PIF an eez) who was determined to crush the Jews into submission in every way possible. During the campaign to take Jerusalem, Antiochus and his armies killed over 40,000 Jews. The spiritual low point of Antiochus' reign came when during 166 BC, he erected an altar to Zeus in the Jewish temple, and sacrificed a swine on it. To the Jews, who were prohibited by Antiochus from using their temple, this abominable action desecrated, defiled, and polluted their temple.

And yet, they were advised by Daniel that "the people who know their God will display strength and take action". This could only mean the Jews, since there were no Christians 166 years before Christ. And devout Jews took this admonition to heart, and strong men among them (the Maccabee family) indeed took action and eventually cleared out Antiochus and his armies from Jerusalem. The temple was restored and rededicated for sacrificial use during the time of the Maccabees.

We'll look at this verse again in a later post where we consider everything that Daniel has written about the Antichrist, which is considerable. As for now, let us likewise take this admonition to heart, and display strength and take action when and where needed for our God.

Finally, we will at some point discuss "double fulfillment" passages, where a passage about an event or person in the past can also refer to an event or person in the future. This particularly occurs in the Biblical prophetic passages.
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58. And one more thing. . .

...be occupied until he comes.

In Luke 19:12-14, Jesus told this illustration (from the King James Version [KJV]):

"12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds [minas], and said unto them, Occupy till I come . 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us."

Now when we consider the word "occupy", we generally think of an army occupation of a country, and so we interpret the parable to mean that Jesus is telling us to occupy the earth much as the U.S. Army occupies Iraq, keeping it safe and orderly until Jesus comes again. This is the viewpoint that is brought about by the 1611 King James Version translation, and while it may be true, it is almost universally agreed that this interpretation of the passage is not what is meant.

What it really means can be seen in almost all the other versions, whether older or contemporary. Here, are the various Bible version translations of the highlighted part of the above verse (Jesus had just given them a large sum of money -- each of the ten minas being worth about 2-3 months wages) and then he said to them:

NASB: Do business with this until I come back.
NIV: Put this money to work until I come back.
NKJV: Do business until I come.
NLT: Invest this while I am gone.
NCV: Do business with this money until I come back.
CEV: Use this to earn more money until I get back.
The Message: Operate with this until I return.
Amplified: Buy and sell with this while I go and then return.
Rheims: Trade till I come.
NAB: Engage in trade with these until I return.
NRSV: Do business with these until I come back.
ESV: Engage in business until I come.

And the newest version, The Expanded Bible (TExB): Do business with [Invest; Trade with] this money until I get back.

It can be clearly seen that he is telling them a parable about the obedient life using a business illustration which is lost in the KJV: do business, invest this, operate with this, buy and sell, trade, engage in trade, engage in business, trade with.

It is the "Good steward / Good employee / Good servant" illustration again. The gifts that God has given us we are to put to good use, that we may give the proceeds back to God with interest and to others, even more than was initially given to us.

And I would add, if you appreciate and value the KJV and hate to give it up, just tweak this verse a little bit to say "Be occupied until I come", and then do it!
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57. What sort of people should we be. . .

. . .since all these things will be dissolved? 2 Pet 3:11

There are some Bible passages about the end times that are particularly helpful in telling us what sort of lives we should live,
and what sort of people we should be, as we wait for God's Son from heaven, in the light of the things that are coming upon the earth. Some of the verses relate to (1) His glorious appearing (Titus 2:13), and others to (2) the catastrophic events that will usher in the new heavens and the new earth at the end of the age.

2 Peter 3:1-4 reminds us that in the last days scoffers will come mocking, following their own sinful desires, and saying: "Why hasn't he shown up yet like he promised? Things are exactly the same since the beginning of creation." (paraphrase)

But 2 Pet 3:5-7 suggests here's where they are wrong: "Just because the things promised haven't happened yet, doesn't mean they are not going to happen. After all, God created all things by the power of his Word, and the flood happened in the same way. And by that same Word, all things are held in reserve for the fire that is to come on the day of judgment and destruction -- The Day of the Lord" (paraphrase)

And why is God holding up fulfilling his promises about wrath and judgment against wicked men? 2 Pet 3:9 tells us "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some people consider slowness, but is very patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Finally in this passage, Peter comes to the place where he tells us how we as believers should live:

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a great roar, and the heavenly bodies (or, the very elements themselves) will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

"Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of people you ought to be living lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies (or elements) will melt as they burn. But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

"Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these things, be diligent to be found in him without any spot or blemish, and at peace." (2 Pet 3:10-14)

And Peter adds in 2 Pet 3:18, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever, to the day of eternity. Amen."

In short, because of the wrath and judgment coming upon the earth, we should live our lives in holiness and godliness.

But the scriptures also tell us that because of the coming glorious appearing of Jesus which we wait for, we should live life in the very same way:

"Beloved, we are now God's children. And while it is not clear what we will be like when he appears, we know this: that we will be like him, because we will (finally) see him as he is! And all those who have this hope within them, purify themselves just as he is pure!" (1 John 3:2-3)

And finally, 2 Corinthians ch 6 gives believers many promises about the relationship that God the Father will have with us when we live obediently. He adds in 2 Cor 7:1,

"Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

Brothers and sisters, let us commit ourselves to these things!
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56. Q & A for the author/writer of this blog.

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Q - Are the views on this blog your own views?

A1 - In one sense, YES. The words are almost exclusively my own, and if and when the words depend heavily upon someone else, their name is credited in the blogpost. Still, I'm the writer, the author, the proclaimer of what is written in this blog, whether good or bad.

A2 - But in a more important sense, these are NOT my own views.
The prophetic world view expressed in the blog is not my own, and was begun two millennia ago. It is called Premillennialism which means that I believe that Jesus will come back before the Millennium (and that there actually IS a thousand-year period called the Millennium). And, within premillennialism, it belongs to a subset called pretribulationalism, which means that I believe that Jesus is coming back before the 7-year tribulation period for His church, his saints, his saved-ones (and that there actually IS a 7-year period of tribulation, terror, and chaos).

Q - Who holds this view besides yourself?

A- This is the view that is held by such pastors, authors, speakers, and theologians as John MacArthur, David Jeremiah, Tim Lahaye, Mark Hitchcock, Joel Rosenberg, Joel Richardson, Adrian Rogers (deceased), Chuck Swindoll, John Walvoord (deceased), John Hagee, Charles Ryrie, David Reagan, Jack Van Impe, Hal Lindsay, and (in general) the Southern Baptist Convention, almost all Bible churches, and MANY others.

Q - Do you agree with everything that they believe?

A- Concerning the end time events and views, almost so, because 35 years of study have convinced me that the Biblical facts and events fit together best in this framework. I would say that the above named people probably agree with each other on 90-95% of the important features and beliefs of the pre-mill pre-trib position, and that I agree with that same 90-95%. Still, I may point out from time to time a difference, or what I consider a weak point in the pre-mill pre-trib prophetic view. And some of those listed may hold views in areas other than Biblical prophecy with which I do not agree.

Q - Are you a Southern Baptist?

A - No, I am a conservative Presbyterian who happens to be pre-mill and pre-trib, which is admittedly unusual (but not heretical). I am an elder and teacher in the PCA (an evangelical, fully Bible-believing Christ-honoring denomination). In my early Christian years, I was a member and teacher in a Bible church (non-denominational), and was operations manager for a publisher of Christian Bible study books, both of which had a pre-mill pre-trib orientation.

Q - How would you answer those who say that the pre-mill pre-trib view is actually a recent position dating from the 1830's?

A - I would be the first to admit that it got a kick-start under the study and teaching of John Nelson Darby in the 1830's but can be found in almost every century before that, in the songs of Isaac Watts, very much written about in the writings of the early church fathers (90 - 200 AD), and most of all, in the Bible!

Q - Finally, what is the purpose of this blogsite, compared to other end-times blogsites?

A - The goals and purposes of this site are more modest than most end-time sites, in that other sites are more comprehensive, more all-inclusive, and (in my view) new posts come from them so quickly and often that it is almost impossible to keep up with all of it. Many other sites (some of which I have recommended in the left hand column of this blogpage) are excellent informational sites.

The Future History blogsite tends to have one or two posts a day, as opposed to 10-30, and tends to be a teaching blogsite, as opposed to an informational blogsite -- and will also tend to be scripturally oriented, as opposed to being event oriented. Finally, I hope it will continue to allow and foster a dialogue, where I can respond to the comments and questions that are posted.

That's it for now, friends, feel free to ask any more questions or comment on any post.

For much more information on the millennial views and tribulational views, see posts such as #27, 29, 39, 40, 45, 49, 51, & 52, and parts of other posts. Oh, why not just start at post #1. See post #46 for the reasons why. Click here.
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55. Q&A- Matthew 24 and the 7-year tribulation

This question about post #52 came from a reader, which I thought was worth a new post: "Could you not infer that Matt. 24 refers to the 7 years of tribulation since Jesus quotes Daniel 9 concerning the abomination of desolation? This event in the middle of the 70th week seems to mark the beginning of the "great tribulation". I take this to be the last 3 1/2 years, but the events described by Jesus are the 7 years of tribulation."

A discussion on Matthew 24 is worth many posts, the main reason being that there seems to be a double fulfillment: (1) in the far past when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in AD 68-70, and (2) still in the future, during the 7 year tribulation period. And yes, we will cover this issue more, for sure!

I think that Matthew 24 covers the seven year tribulation plus a period of undetermined (and undeterminable) length preceding it, yet he omits any mention of a pre-trib rapture at what many of us would consider the proper chronological point. In Matthew's defense, I'd state that not every writer is bound to cover every topic at what we would consider the appropriate point, which makes the Bible seem much like a puzzle, finding the pieces in various places to make up the whole picture.

Yes, surely the Daniel 9:27 and Matt 24:15 verses can be linked (since Matthew says so!), and yes, the abomination of desolation event is surely part of the events that occur at the midpoint of the tribulation. 2 Thess 2:3-4 also occurs at that time. And about those midpoint events, Matthew adds "When you see these things, then ... flee ...". And it is at that point that Matthew says in 24:21, "and then there will be great tribulation, the worst of all time, past, present, and future." . Notice that when we say 'Matthew says' we are really saying 'Jesus says', since this is a chapter-long teaching by Jesus.

Jesus does not seem to give us a clear starting point for the tribulation. In fact, he sort of glides into the tribulation with his discussion about "the end is not yet", "the beginning of birth pangs", & "and then the end will come". These last words take place seemingly at the halfway point, if Matthew 24 is in chronological order, which it may not be! The whole book of Matthew is more in thematic order than the chronological order that Luke is in. (Luke's purpose was to "compile an orderly account")

In comparison, note that in Revelation, the start of the tribulation itself is quite clear -- in Rev 6:1-2 when the white horse with the pseudo-christ, the false christ, the Antichrist rides forth to conquer, at the first of the trumpets, which is the first of the 21 plagues of the tribulation in Revelation.

If you'd like to discuss further, add a comment to this post.
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54. The Centrality of Israel to World Events

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How much more important the U.S.A. seems than tiny Israel, when we consider the natural realm of world events. The USA has about 48 times the population, (307,000,000 vs 6,300,000), and about 375 times the land mass, (3,000,000 sq miles vs 8,000 sq miles) not counting Alaska.

Israel (8,000 sq mi) is smaller than Massachusetts (10,500 sq mi), and at the West Bank is even narrower (about 14 miles) than tiny Rhode Island. [An illustration useful primarily for North Texas readers, is that Israel at its narrowest, is about as wide as the distance between downtown Dallas and the sports complex in Arlington]

And yet, the Bible makes the claim that everything in our world revolves around Israel. And it claims even more: that the events in Israel are centered in Jerusalem, and even more, that the issues and events in Jerusalem are centered at the temple mount where the various Jewish temples have been over the ages, and where it is claimed there will be one (or two) yet future Jewish temples.

That would seem to be an impossibility, since (supposedly) sitting on the Biblical temple mount is the beautiful golden-domed Dome of the Rock, Islam's third most holy site, as well as the smaller Al-Aksa Mosque. The construction of these two Islamic holy sites date from 690-760 AD.

Here's where I give my usual disclaimer: I'll have much more to say about this in future posts.

True, but for now I'll add this:
Keep your eye on Israel, and focus even more closely on Jerusalem -- and even more closely on the temple mount, where the Islamic holy sites are, and where temple promoters intend to build the next Jewish temple.

And as Psalm 122:6-7 says,

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they prosper who love you. May there be peace within your walls, and security within your citadels"

And as much as it depends upon you, encourage the USA and its leaders to promote peace in Israel, but not at the cost of the one commodity Israel does not have: namely, land.
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53. Current events with future implications

Note: This is a repost of a previous post, put here for those who do not go back and read from post #1. This was originally post #9

If “future events cast their shadows backwards” (see Post #2), then some events that are going to happen in the near future (2-5 years) must have their origins (in part) occurring in the present time, or even earlier. A short list of trends that are happening now that could have major implications in the near future would include:

1. The return of Russian militancy and dominance
2. The belligerence of the new nuclear hopefuls
3. The renewed increase in wars and possibilities of wars
4. The growing riches in Israel
5. The growing pressure on Israel
6. The global rise of militant Islam
7. The rise in America of a stealth Islam
8. The global movement toward a cashless society
9. Growing government intrusion and interference with life and liberty
10. The increase in famines and earthquakes
11. An increase in the velocity of the trends themselves

This may seem like a fairly diverse list, where the items listed only have one thing in common: their current upward trend. But there is a second common factor that is not so readily apparent: the Bible speaks of most of these events happening in increasing measure as the end-times approach. These trends should be watched for increases and deviances. As the days and weeks go on, we will look at each of these trends in single posts or multiple posts.
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52. The 3 1/2 year Great Tribulation

...the longest post so far, by far, so go get a cup of coffee (or coke or tea) and I'll see you right back here.

This post continues the discussion about the future 7-year period of tribulation, terror, chaos, and disaster coming upon the earth -- worse than any that happened before or ever shall happen -- brought about by various factors which include (1) unbelieving mankind, (2) the unleashed forces of nature, (3) Satan and his legions of evil spirits, (4) the good and mighty angels under God's direction, (5) the Lord Jesus Christ, and (6) God the Father himself. It does not appear that those who become believers during the tribulation play any role in unleashing the horrors and chaos of the tribulation, but are only the innocent recipients of the devastation and chaos.

The main topic of this post, however, will not be the 7-year tribulation itself, but rather the two three and a half year periods into which the 7-year tribulation period is divided.

Back in post #45 "Is the 7-year tribulation clearly mentioned in the
NT? ", as part of the answer, I said this:

In its simplest form, in Daniel 9:24 it says it will take 490 years (70 'sevens' of years) for God to accomplish 6 (or 7) things in His program for Israel. 483 of those years (69 'sevens' of years) have already occurred in God’s program, but the final 7 years have not yet happened. That 7-year period is still future.

In a future post [this is now that post], I will list and discuss all the Biblical references to 3 ½ years (half the 7-year period), and how the 3 ½ year-long events relate to the 7-year tribulation period, but here I will say simply that most pre-millennialists believe that the 7-year period is the entire tribulation period, and the last half (3 ½ year portion) is the great tribulation.

Interestingly, there are no verses in the New Testament which refer to the "7-year" tribulation. All the NT references (and all in Revelation) are about a three and a half year period, described variously as (1) "1,260 days", (2) "42 months" or "forty-two months", or (3) "time, times, and half a time". There are no New Testament references to "three and a half years" except those in Luke 4:25 and James 5:17, where it mentions an earlier (and lesser) time of trouble where Elijah the Old Testament prophet prevented the heavens from raining for 3 1/2 years. That period could be considered a forerunner and foretaste of the Great tribulation coming in the latter days.

One housekeeping issue needing discussion is whether all these terms above are equal. If we use our current calendar of 365 (and 366) days per year, they are not equal. But if we use the prophetic calendar, which from time to time has been the calendar in actual use, we will use 360 days instead of 365 (each month has 30 days). With this calendar,
(1) 360 days per year times 3 1/2 years = 1260 days,
(2) and 3 1/2 years times 12 mos per year = 42 months,
(3) and "time (a year), times (two years), and half a time (half a year)" = three and a half years.
Therefore, all the periods equal the same amount of time.

In the entire Bible, there are only seven verses that use the three descriptions listed above, which I am here listing in order in the Bible, with a short commentary following each one:

Starting in DANIEL:

(1) Daniel 7:25: "He will speak lofty words against the Most High [God], and will oppress and abuse the saints of the Most High, and will try to change the times and the laws. The saints will be given over to him for a time, times, and half a time."

This is one of the earliest prophecies given about the Antichrist, which shows his arrogance against God, his hatred of believers, his intention to change world systems, and his determination to annihilate the saints of God. The phrase "time, times, and half a time" is generally considered to mean "a year, years, and half a year", with the "years" being interpreted as two years. (1 plus 2 plus 1/2 equals 3 1/2).

(2) Daniel 12:7: [And the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, was asked "How long will it be before these astonishing things are finished?"] 7 And [the man] lifted up his right hand, with his left hand toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it would be for a time, times, and half a time. And when the power of the holy people is completely shattered [comes to an end], all these things will be finished.

The "man" clothed in linen is most likely an angel, perhaps Gabriel who is called a man elsewhere in Daniel (vs 9:20), and is most often God's messenger to deliver God's special messages to those on earth. All the events that have been shown so far in Daniel lead a different being on the scene to ask when will all these things be completed. The messenger angel replies that all these terrible events will occupy 3 1/2 years until the power of the saints is completely crushed.

Moving to REVELATION:

(3) Revelation 11:1-2: Then I was given a staff like a measuring rod and was told (some versions add 'by an angel'), "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and [count] those who worship there. 2 But do not measure the court outside of the temple; leave that out, for it has been given to the Gentiles [the nations]; and they will trample on the holy city for forty-two months.

The "I" in verse 11:1 is the apostle John who, while still "in the spirit", has been given the staff in his vision. Two things are in view here, (1) the temple of God (there is not one currently standing), and (2) the holy city Jerusalem which will house the temple yet to be built. This temple will be the fourth temple in Jerusalem, following (1) Solomon's temple, (2) Ezra's temple -- the temple of the exiles, (3) Herod's temple, and (4) the tribulation temple mentioned in this verse. There will apparently be a fifth temple, the Millennial temple, if the tribulation temple does not survive the tribulation disasters. And the event that happens in the 3 1/2 years mentioned is the trampling down of the holy city Jerusalem by the nations of the world (gentiles = non-Jewish nations). By extension, the temple may be trodden down by the nations also.

Here is something to consider as we move through these 7 verses. Are the events mentioned going to occur during the first 3 1/2 years, or during the second 3 1/2 years, or some in both, or don't we have enough information to know? I will give you my view at the end of this post (which differs from the view taken in the "Left Behind" series of books).

(4) Revelation 11:3 : And I will give power [and authority] to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.

This verse 11:3 directly follows the previous verse, and must surely occupy the same space in time. If verse 11:2's "42 months" is the first half of the tribulation, then surely verse 11:3's "1,260 days" is the same period. If verse 11:2 refers to the last half of the 7 years, then so must verse 11:3. The verses could not be linked any closer together. The verses following the above verse (11:4-6) explain the two prophet's mission, power, and indestructibility during their time of witnessing.

(5) Revelation 12:6 : Then the woman fled into the wilderness [desert], where she had a place prepared for her by God, where she is to be taken care of for 1,260 days.

In the first five verses of chapter 12, John the Apostle sees an amazing sign in heaven. Simplified, it involves a woman, a male child waiting to be born, and a terrible red dragon. As she prepares to deliver the child, the dragon positions himself to devour the child as it is born. But the child was snatched up to the throne of God. Who are these three? Are they merely symbolic? In Rev 12:9, we are told that the dragon is Satan, the devil. Yes, the dragon is a symbol, but not 'merely' a symbol. The symbol refers to an actual literal someone, the devil, Satan.

Who is the male child? In Rev 12:5 we are told that this child is to rule all nations with a rod of iron. Comparing scripture with scripture (a good policy!) we find that it is the Messiah who will do this. Messiah means Christ, and vice-versa. So we have the woman left. Who is this woman who gave birth to the Messiah/Christ that Satan wanted to devour? It is generally taken that this is Israel who gave birth to the Messiah.

So it is Israel that is going to flee to the wilderness, where she will be protected for 1,260 days. Who will she be fleeing from? From Satan for sure, but it would also seem she will need protection from the nations that are trampling Jerusalem. But there is more:

(6) Revelation 12:13-14 : Now when the dragon (Satan, aka the serpent) saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman (Israel) who had given birth to the male child (Christ). 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to the place where she will be taken care of for a time, times, and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.

Revelation 12:14 sounds like the same event in 12:6 just above, and with essentially the same cast of characters and information, except that it adds that Satan is persecuting the woman some time after he was cast out of heaven. And when was that? There are Biblical passages that seem somewhat contradictory about the timing of Satan having been cast out of heaven. This may be explained by the different relationships that he has had with heaven over time:

First, before the creation of the world, before Satan attempted to usurp God's authority and demanded to be like the most high, he lived and walked in the presence of God, perhaps the fairest of all fair angels. Second, after the creation of the world, he was cast out of heaven for his arrogance, audacity and pride, and banished to earth which became his main base of operations (John 12:30, "prince of this world"), but he still had access to heaven and to God (see book of Job, chapters 1 & 2). This casting out of heaven may be the one that Jesus refers to when he said "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." Third, his permission to enter heaven and approach God was cut off at the cross. We do not find him having access to heaven any more after the resurrection of Christ. This is his current situation where he yet rules the demons, and deceives, harasses, and empowers those of mankind who rebel against the true and living God (Eph 2:2, "Prince of the power of the air"). Fourth, and still future after the battle of Armageddon, he will be cast into the abyss (the bottomless pit) which is the dwelling place of dead men and of demons; and finally, after a short time of release on the earth, Fifth, after the millennium, Satan will be thrown into hell, into the lake of burning sulfur, where he will remain throughout eternity.

And last, (7) Revelation 13:1-4, And I saw a beast rising out of the sea ... and to it the dragon (Satan) gave his power, his throne, and great authority... and the whole earth worshiped the dragon, and they likewise worshiped the beast ... 5 And the beast was given a mouth speaking exceedingly haughty and blasphemous words, and he was permitted to exercise authority [over mankind, including believers] for forty-two months.

The final piece of the "three and a half year" puzzle is here laid out on the board of Biblical prophecy, and a very important piece it is. For this beast mentioned here in this chapter of Revelation can be none other than the Antichrist. It is clear from the surrounding verses, that Satan is the one who gives the Antichrist his power, which, during the tribulation period will be that of Satan himself.

The only other verse of the seven that mentions the doings of the Antichrist is the first one, Daniel 7:25, where it says "He will speak lofty words against the Most High [God], and will oppress and abuse the saints of the Most High, and will try to change the times and the laws. The saints will be given over to him for a time, times, and half a time."

This thirteenth chapter of Revelation deals almost exclusively with the Antichrist and his right-hand man, the False Prophet, and we will look at it extensively in a later post.

By way of reminder, this post is primarily a survey of the seven passages that specifically mention the three and a half year period during the tribulation. There are hundreds of other verses that describe the events that will go on during the tribulation, which we will look at in the future. And we have one item more to discuss now: do these events occur during the first 3 1/2 years, the second 3 1/2 years, or some in the first half, and some in the second?

The "Left Behind" series written by Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins have placed some of these events during the first half, but most notably, the time of the two witnesses mentioned in Revelation 11:3, verse #4 in our list above. I have not read their reasons for that placement, although I have read the "Left Behind" series twice now, and appreciate the care and concern with which they have dealt with these sensitive and difficult issues.

But here is an alternative view: Since (1) the first half of the seven years will be a time of relative peace for Israel and Jerusalem (due to the 7 year peace treaty that begins the tribulation period), and since (2) the breaking of the treaty by the Antichrist is what begins the second half (the Great tribulation), and since (3) Revelation 11:2 appears to occur after the breaking of the treaty ("holy city trampled underfoot for 42 months"), and because (4) Revelation 11:2 and 11:3 seem so intricately linked, then the (5) two witnesses of 11:3 must surely be testifying in Jerusalem during the Antichrist's attacks of the second half.

And how like God, to have these special prophets testifying and witnessing during the worst part, as Noah testified prior to the great flood, and as Isaiah did before the taking away of Israel by Assyria, and as Jeremiah and Ezekiel did prior to and during the removal of Judah by Babylon, and as the New Testament apostles and prophets did during the time of the Caesar's wrath against the early church -- then how like God to have his two miracle-working, fire-breathing, God-empowered, indestructable dual prophets to be a spectacular and burdensome thorn in the side of the Antichrist and his False Prophet during the last 42 months of the tribulation.

For the reason of simplicity itself, and holding to the possibility that the mention of the three and a half years is primarily to define a single 3 1/2 year period, I believe that all seven of the verses above and their surrounding verses, all refer to the second half of the tribulation period, the Great tribulation.

Do you think otherwise? Please post your reasons as a comment, and we'll discuss it here or on another post.
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51. When will the Rapture happen...

... in relation to the tribulation?

This is a very complicated issue. It is worthy of a second topic, "Why must there be a tribulation?" -- which is a very good question that will be answered later in still another post.

Yes, I realize I have said that about a lot of topics, but I've addressed a number of those already. So sometimes we'll need to continue diving right into the middle of a subject before all the preparatory or introductory information has been posted.

So I ask again, when will the rapture happen in relation to the tribulation? Will it be before the tribulation begins (pre-trib), at the midpoint of the tribulation (mid-trib), or at or near the very end (post-trib) -- or at some other time, like right before God accelerates the destruction of the earth by man and beast and angel and God himself (pre-wrath).

By way of reminder, I have mentioned a couple of times that the tribulation appears to be for a 7-year period, and also, there seems to be a conglomeration of events that happen at or near the halfway point -- at the 3 1/2 year point. There are many premillennialists that say that this last half should be called the Great Tribulation.

Matthew 24:21 says "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not occurred on the earth until now, nor ever will be"

Below I have pasted part of the condensed version of the Future History, showing many of the events during and surrounding the tribulation (from Post #29).

You can see that I (and most premillennialists) hold to the view that the rapture (at A.) occurs before the tribulation begins (at C.). But some premillennialists hold the the rapture occurs only before the Great Tribulation -- at the midpoint (at E.). And just a few premillennialists place the rapture at or near the end of the tribulation (at H.)

A. The Great Disappearance/The Rapture of the Church
B. The Russia Coalition War/Anti-Israel Coalition Devastated
C. Global Leader-Antichrist emerges/makes 7 year peace pact to protect Israel
D. Catastrophic events on earth and in the heavens/Israel builds temple
E. Global Leader-Antichrist profanes the Jewish Temple, breaks peace pact after 3 1/2 years.
F. Terrible persecution is increased against Jews and Christians, since they are not aligned with OneWorldFaith.
G. Disasters from the heavens and from the abyss ravage earth/world prepares for war against Israel.
H. Armies come together at Armaggedon, bloodbath occurs on 7th anniversary of peace pact.

So I won't be answering the question here -- that will take many posts into the future. But here I have given an overview of the various possibilities.

I tend to agree with the vocal majority, that the rapture of the church will occur before the tribulation, which happens before the millennium begins. So I hold to a pre-mill pre-trib position, and future posts will discuss why I do so.
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50. Q: Where have I been? A: A Special Project.

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Hi, again.
I've been involved in a special project for the last 10 days or so, that's why there is only a few (two?) blogposts during that time. Wife and I finally sold a property we'd been trying to sell for over a year, and have been taking care of all the odds and ends about the property itself and the sale. There are so many documents of various kinds around our computer, I wanted to clear out both the desk area and my mind before I began again here.

I owe you readers Part Two about the timing of the rapture, as to whether it is before the tribulation, in the middle somewhere, or after the tribulation. Good people, spiritual people, knowledgeable people, have lined up with different positions about this issue. We addressed the rapture in Post #49 right below here, and post #51 will complete our current Prophecy 101 level overview, which (if all goes well) I should post by tomorrow night (8/6). Then we'll be off and running again on a regular basis.

God's richest blessings to you as we await his coming,
Perhaps today,

Larry
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