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July 21, 2018 |
| Introduction to Prophecy | ||
Most churches teach very little prophecy. This is unfortunate for various reasons. One of which is that the apostles taught it in the churches they started. Then they wrote letters to those churches with the expectation that the readers would understand their references to prophetic future events. These letters are books of the Bible that we read.
When Christians don't understand the basics of prophecy they can't understand those references, or worse, they misunderstand what the apostles are saying.
The apostles frequently used references to the end-times, not to teach the prophecies, but to support other points they were making. Sometimes these were subtle references (ex. 2 Peter 1:19). Without the expected understanding, the point is lost.
The purpose of this study is to provide the basic framework of the prophetic future to help us understand when the apostles are referring to it and to understand their message. In establishing that framework we'll address the major end-time events and, as much as possible, put them into a time frame.
We also make connections between some of these events and a single three-chapter book, 2nd Peter, to see how these events are used to make other points.
The prophetic future event the apostles spoke of most, by far, is the Second Coming, the promised return of the Messiah. This is the hope of the church. This is the time of our reward and the time of our rest.
That isn't where we will start though. Instead we'll begin with the basic time frame, which comes from Daniel. Then we will be able to fit specific events into that.
Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. 25 So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. 26 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
27 And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate. (Daniel 9:24-27)
Verses 24 through 26 are a very exact prophecy for when the Messiah would die. It gives a starting point and the length of time until his death. The starting point comes when the people of Israel are allowed to return to Israel from Babylon. The unit of measure for the time is one that every Jew would know but few Christians understand.
In Hebrew there is a name for a period of 7 days. In English we call that a week. In Hebrew there is a name for a period of 7 years, a week of years - Shemitah. We don't have a word like that. We sometimes use the word "Sabbatical" but that's a little different and not always 7 years. The Shemitah was given by God as a specific 7 year period that repeats and is tied to debt forgiveness and other things. That Shemitah period is the measure.
The angel says to Daniel that the Messiah will die (be cut off) 69 Shemitahs (483 years) after Israel is allowed to return home. The date of that proclamation is well established in history but the dates of Jesus birth and death are not. 483 years from that proclamation is 32 AD which seems like a very reasonable date for Jesus' death.
There is one more Shemitah but it isn't tied to the others. The angel mentioned "the prince to come" whom we know as the antiChrist. He describes timing of the 70th week in relation to that person. Since that person hasn't come, we know the 70th week hasn't come.
This prophecy gives us a few events to put on this 7 year time frame:
From other verses we understand these 7 years will be a time of Tribulation, a time of great trouble and suffering, that life will be difficult during the first half and horrible during the second. The word Tribulation is a key word to remember.
We often call this 70th week the end-times. The Apostles thought of it as the end of end-times. They compared the whole of the end-times to a pregnant woman. Things happen slowly for a long time but near the end everything happens too quickly.
For if we believe that Yeshua died and arose, in this way also God shall bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Yeshua. 15 But this we say to you by the word of Our Lord, that we, those who remain at the coming of Our Lord, we who have life, shall not overtake those who are asleep; 16 Because Our Lord shall descend from Heaven with a command and with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet blast of God, and the dead who are in the Messiah shall rise first; 17 and then we who remain, who have life, we shall be carried away with them together in clouds to a meeting of Our Lord in the air, and in this way, we shall always be with Our Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)
Before we dig into this description of end-times events, it's important to understand that Paul isn't teaching about these events. Just like Peter, he is using end-times events to make an unrelated point, how to comfort the faithful when someone has died. The following are the verses immediately before and after the verse above.
13 I want you to know my brethren, that you should not have sorrow for those who are asleep, as do the rest of mankind who have no hope.
…
18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13,18)
Going back to the verses for this section, he says:
There are two main views on the timing of the Second Coming events described above and they sometimes use the term Rapture in different ways.
Pre-tribulation Rapture - backers believe there are two Second Comings. The first happens at the beginning of the Tribulation period and includes a Resurrection and Rapture. Some people use the word "Rapture" to describe only this idea of a pre-Tribulation rising to meet Jesus. Other people use it to refer to any rising to meet Jesus.
Backers believe the second Second Coming occurs at the end of the Tribulation period and includes a Resurrection and Rapture. Opinions vary as to who is included in each Rapture event.
There is no direct Bible support for this view. Support comes from hidden meanings and unusual interpretations of select verses. Therefore the first Rapture is sometimes called the Secret Rapture.
Post-tribulation Rapture - backers believe there is only one Second Coming and that comes at the end of the Tribulation period.
And we have also the true word of prophecy, upon which you do well to gaze, as at a lamp that shines in a dark place, until the day will shine and the Sun will rise in your hearts, … (2 Peter 1:19)
Peter makes a veiled reference to the new bodies received at the Second Coming. His point is that we should read the Bible now as it will guide us like a light in darkness until the Sun overwhelms that darkness in us.
And as you knew this first, that in the end of days, scoffers would come who scoff while they walk according to their own lusts, 4 and they say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For from when our forefathers fell asleep, everything continues in the same way from the beginning of creation." (2 Peter 3:3-4)
Peter uses this reference to the Second Coming to prepare the faithful. His point is that they should expect people to ridicule the idea of the Second Coming and the promises associated with it. They will say things like "this promise has been going on for 2000 years and nothing has happened yet. Nothing out of the ordinary ever happens. Every day is pretty much like another and always has been since creation."
But we beg of you, my brethren, concerning the arrival of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah and concerning our assembling unto him, 2 that you would not be soon shaken in your minds, neither be troubled, either from word, nor from a spirit, neither from an epistle that is as if from us, namely, that, "Behold, The Day of Our Lord has arrived." 3 Let no man deceive you by any means, to the effect that surely no revolt will first come and the Man of Sin, the son of Destruction, be revealed, 4 he who opposes and exalts himself against everything that is called God and religion, just as he will sit in the Temple of God, as God, and will show concerning himself as if he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was with you, I said these things to you?
6 And now you know what controls, that he may be revealed in his time. 7 The mystery of evil has even now begun to work within, only if that which now controls will be taken from the midst; 8 And then that Evil One will be revealed, whom our Lord Yeshua will consume with a breath of his mouth, and will destroy him by the revelation of his coming. 9 For the coming of that one is in the activity of Satan in all power, signs and false wonders, 10 and in all the error of evil which is in the perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth in which they would have life. 11 Because of this, God sent them the activity of delusion that they would believe lies. 12 And all those who believed not the truth, but chose evil, will be judged. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)
Paul covers a wide range of events and times in these verses to address a problem in his time. Some people have been saying the Messiah has come (Second Coming / Day of our Lord). Paul is telling his listeners, if they hear that, it is not true and he explains why not.
He mentions two events that must occur first, there must be a revolt (against God) and the antiChrist must be revealed. This revolt is often called the Great Falling Away. We aren't given the reason but there will be a sudden turning away from God, and this includes the believers, unbelievers, and churches. This happens, or at least begins, around the A mark on the chart.
Paul gives us part of the reason. Something or someone is holding back Satan until the time is right. Paul says "that which now controls will be taken from the midst." Only God could hold back Satan, though other possibilities have been suggested. It is the Holy Spirit that will be removed or cease in his role. With him gone, the antiChrist arises and the world is quickly deceived.
Paul says, because they did not receive the love of the truth, God will allow a delusion to come to them, and it will carry them away. None the less, Paul says, they will be responsible for choosing evil.
Notice what Paul is doing here. He is using the chronology of end-times events to correct a false teaching.
2nd Peter doesn’t refer directly to this event but instead describes an ongoing process that leads to it.
But there were also lying Prophets among the [Old Testament] people, as there shall be lying teachers also among you, those who bring destructive heresies and deny the Lord who bought them, […]. 2 And many will go after their abominations, because of which, the way of truth will be blasphemed. (2 Peter 2:1,2)
Once again Peter is using prophecy to make a bigger point. He is charging them to be strong in the faith. He is forewarning them to be prepared for these false teachers. He makes clear the seriousness of the threat by saying "many [in the church] will go after their abominations".
The result will be churches built on false teachers. The apostles saw this happen in their time; we see it in ours. The Great Falling Away, however, will be a greater and sudden change.
And I saw another Angel from Heaven who had with him the key of the Abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he seized the Dragon and the Ancient Serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 And he cast him into the Abyss and shut and sealed the top of it so that he would not again seduce all the nations; after these things it is granted to release him for a little season.
4 And I saw seats, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them, and these souls who were cut off for the testimony of Yeshua and for the word of God, and because they did not worship the Beast, neither its image, nor received a mark between their eyes or on their hands, they lived and reigned with the Messiah for 1000 years; 5 And this is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he, whoever has part in the first resurrection, and the second death has no authority over these, but they shall be priests of God and of the Messiah, and they shall reign with him 1000 years. 7 And whenever the 1000 years are finished, Satan will be released from his imprisonment, 8 And he will go forth to seduce all the nations in the four corners of Earth: Gog and Magog, to gather them to war, … (Revelation 20:1-7)
The messiah returns for a purpose, to bring into existence the final phase of the Kingdom of God. Prior to this time the kingdom had been a spiritual kingdom - a people joined together by the Holy Spirit. Now it becomes physical and Jesus rules the entire world with us assisting. This begins at the D mark on the chart.
The Bible doesn't say why this reign must happen and why Satan must be locked up during this time and unable to act. It seems to be part of an indictment that is being put together against Satan. The idea seems to be to show that the world can live in peace and love … as long as God rules and as he isn't interfering. As soon as he is released he immediately causes trouble again.
During this period, sin is not allowed and it is immediately punished. A little thought shows us how different the world will be without hate, crime and war. The Bible uses the phrase, "they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks." (Isaiah 2:4)
Other things occur during this period. The temple that Ezekiel described over 6 chapters is built and serves as a worship center.
The verses say this period will last one thousand years. This is said once in words and three times in digits. That should be enough witnesses but there are still some people who think it will only last for one day.
And I saw a Great White Throne and him sitting at the top of it, from whose face the Earth and the Heavens fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, who stood before the throne, and scrolls were opened, and another scroll was opened, which is of the Judgment, and the dead were judged from those things that were written in the scrolls, according to their works. 13 And the Sea yielded the dead which were in it, and Death and Sheol yielded the dead which were with them, and they were judged, one by one, according to their works. 14 And Death and Sheol were cast into the Lake of Fire - this which is the Second Death. 15 And whoever was not found inscribed in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)
And I saw new Heavens and a new Earth, for the former Heavens and the former Earth had departed, and the Sea was no more. 2 And I saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, descending from Heaven from beside God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice from Heaven that said, "Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with the children of men, and he dwells with them and they shall be his people and the same God is with them and shall be their God." (Revelation 21:1-3)
Judgment Day is fairly straightforward - the dead are rounded up and judged. Those who have no savior are thrown in the Lake of Fire, which is the Second Death.
A large part of Revelation is events described in the 7 sealed scroll and the little scroll. The is heavy symbolic obscuration in those sections but it is reduced in chapters 20 - 22, which are quoted from here. Presumably this reduction is so the basics of this part can be understood by everyone.
We are only left to consider the depth of the meaning of "Lake of Fire", "Second Death", and some other terms. The obvious meaning is "not good." The depth and details of how bad it is will be left for another study.
These verses do contain some other notable points. The current Earth and Heavens are no longer acceptable to God sitting on his throne. They are described as fleeing but after the judgment we see the appearance of New Earth and New Heavens. This is the Revelation way of describing that they have undergone a complete renewal and nothing of the old remains. Other verses describe this process in different ways as we'll see later.
The New Earth and New Heavens will be our forever home. John describes watching New Jerusalem descend from Heaven to Earth to be with us.
The lord Yahweh knows to deliver from suffering those who reverence him, but he keeps the evil for the day of judgment while they are being tormented (2 Peter 2:9)
Peter refers to the "day of judgment" as part of a larger point he has been making. He says "there shall be lying teachers also among you" and he refers to "those who bring destructive heresies." The larger point though is these teachers are "bringing upon themselves speedy destruction."
He says God delivers his people from these torments of the wicked and reserves torment for them. In making that point, he refers to Noah, who was tormented by the people of the first world, and Lot, who was tormented by the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. He says not even the angels who turned away from God will escape what is stored up for them. This verse above summarizes the point, God will deliver the righteous. but the evil will see Judgment Day.
He also makes an interesting point about when their torment begins: before Judgment Day.
But the Heavens and the Earth which are now, by his word are stored up as for fire and are kept for the day of judgment and of the destruction of wicked people. (2 Peter 3:7)
But the day of the lord Yahweh comes as a thief in which the Heavens suddenly pass away, but the elements being set on fire shall be destroyed and the Earth and the works that are in it shall be discovered. (2 Peter 3:10)
While you expect and eagerly desire the coming of the Day of God in which the Heavens, being tested by fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements, when set on fire, shall melt. 13 But according to his promise, we look for the new Heavens and the new Earth, in which dwells righteousness. (2 Peter 3:12-13)
These three sets of verses are linked together and are even linked to 2 Peter 2:9 above, but here he refers to other aspects of Judgment Day. In the first set he says the Heavens and the Earth are destined to be destroyed as though by fire. This will happen on Judgment Day when the wicked are also destroyed.
In the second set he adds detail to that.
In the third set he introduces our new hope: the new Heavens and the new Earth "in which dwells righteousness" and only righteousness.
He uses the references above to support these other points about the wicked false teachers who will come: