Good morning, I feel soo pressed for time in what I am doing, trying to reveal what I believe the Holy Spirit has revealed to me through God's Word. I have been studying prophecy for over 25 years. I have read all of the "greats" books plus many others. However, please know this, I am not or ever will I teach a theology of any particular church. As you can see, if you have been with me from the beginning, I discuss alot of things that no one has every talked about or seen in the scriptures. That is because I have spent hours and hours reading and re-reading the Bible, on my knees praying, waking up at two or three in the morning and going back into the Word, and comparing the Bible to the Bible for interpretation. I don't care what anyone else has to say, I want to understanding God's Word through the guidence of the Holy Spirit.
Also, I have decided to use the weekends as "conspiracy time" or as we say in Sunday School "rabbit chasing" . This will be the time that I will throw out ideas of what might happen in the future. So, I am warning you now on the weekends you need to be very open minded. To aid in this fun time, if you look at the top of my blog you will see my email address. Anytime you have a personal question about anything in the Bible just email and I will try to respond quickly.
On a different note, yesterday we talked about how we are very close to a one world currency and when that happens the value of the dollar will plummet. I recommend that you invest in some gold bullion coins. I have been saying this to some of my friend since gold was around $425/oz. Now it is above $900/oz. I believe that if the dollar tanks, gold will go to $2000 or higher. If you like to buy stocks, buy GLD or DGL. It will help protect your IRA or 401K. Please understand this, that the true price of gold today after adjusting for inflation should be $12,000/oz, that is if we went back to the gold standard. After this year, it will be much higher.
Also, before I get going today, please realize that I write all of my blogs off of the top of my head and when I start writing, I usually continue until my brain stops. I am saying this to ask forgiveness for any misspelled words, left out words, etc. Usually, I will not edit it until after I have posted it. Sometimes I might even go back and add a sentence or two.
There is a very important "key phrase" that no one has identified in the Bible that I have seen that is very important. It is "in one hour". Everywhere you see this key phrase it is telling you of a specific time frame as well as a specific time during the seven years of tribulation that things will happen. ALOT of stuff happens during the time frame of "in one hour".
Revelation 17:12,"And the ten horns(10 kings and their kingdoms) which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for "one hour". You can see that this is the beast (government system) that is discussed in Revelation 13:1. If you look at Revelation 13:5, "and there was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies; and authority to act for forty-two months was given him. This system is the one world system that will take over the world. The plan has been in existance for a long time, thru all of the past presidents after Kennedy for sure.
What is this system? It is easy to see if you want to look for it. Look up "the club of Rome". The club of Rome has an agenda to divide the world into TEN economic kingdoms united together under one system. You wonder why NAFTA is important? They have been trying to set up a region that will unite Canada, US, and Mexico. The original club of Rome proposal back in the 1980's didn't have Mexico with us. Now, it seems possible if they destroy the dollar our money will be worth about the same thing as the Peso. If you look carefully, in Revelation 12:3, the dragon only has 7 crowns. Later in Revelation 13, the beast has 10 crowns(same as 10 toes in Daniel). It really sounds like it starts out as the G-7 and turns into something like a G-10.
When does this happen? The kings get authority in the time frame "in one hour". Actually, the one hour is in midheaven. One day in midheaven is equal to one year on earth. So, saving you the calculations, one hour in midheaven is one month on earth. These kings will not stay in power long because as we have seen, 3 kings will be overtaken by the antichrist and become the eighth kingdom(last blog).
Daniel 12:12-13 has the hidden message of the timeframes. Please understand no one has seen this. There are three different time frames mentioned in Revelation. They are:
time, times, and half of time
42 months
1260 days
The problem is that all three of these time frames is equal to three and one-half years. So, every prophecy person that I have ever read think that these are represent the same timeframe. Why would they have different names if they are the same time. The answer is they wouldn't. So, Daniel 12:12-13, "And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1290 days, How blessed is he who keeps wating and attains to the 1335 days." Lots of people believe that the 1290 days starts at the abolishment of the regular sacrifice and goes through the end of the tribulation by 30 days. I believe that it is saying that from the beginning of the tribulation until the abolishment of the regular sacrifice, there will be 1290 days. You see, the other idea breaks the Word of God. We learned that there were only 7 years left out of the seventy weeks of years set aside for the Jews.
Daniel 9:27, "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week(7 years) 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," It is easy to see the sacrifice is stopped in the middle of the tribulation(1290 days into the tribulation). If you start at the beginning of the 7 years of tribulation and go 1335 days, that is when the Jews will be blessed. This is also when the rapture of "those who are alive and remain" are taken. They will be blessed for not taking the mark of the beast. Right after this 1335 days will be the "wrath of God" which is the seven bowl judgements that are discussed in Revelation 16.
1 Thessalonians 5:9, "For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ". This is the promise that lets me know without a doubt that we do not go thru the complete 7 years of tribulation. Revelation 16:1,"Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God upon the earth". No believer will be here for the last seven judgements.
All of this to get to the timeframe of "in one hour". If you draw a line that represents 1260 days or 3 1/2 years. Then, draw another line below it starting at the same point and extending a little further to represent 1290 days, you will see a 30 day difference. That 30 days after the first 3 1/2 years is "in one hour". We already know that the two great witnesses prophesy for the first 1260 days. Revelation 11:11-13, "And after the three and a half days the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were beholding them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "come up here" (rapture of the dead in Christ) And they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies beheld them. And in that hour there was a great earthquake..."
So, we have the time of the two great witnesses for 1260 days(first 3 and 1/2 years), the antichrist kills them and they lie in the streets for 3 and 1/2 days, then they rise up during the thirty day period know as "in one hour" and are raptured up into the clouds. After this, those who are alive and remain on earth that did not take the mark of the beast will be raptured up with those in the clouds after the 1335 days. After this is the wrath of God.
Don't you see it, the rapture of 1 Thessalonians 4 is not at the beginning. So many people have got it wrong. There is also another major proof of it with the key phrase "come up here". We will discuss it next time.
God bless, Dean
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wake Up
Good morning!! I have talked about the fact that we might have to go into the tribulation. If we do we need to be ready to be a witness for Christ. We need to be ready to take a stand and not take the mark of the beast.
I have friends that are Christians that say that all of Revelation has already occured and nothing is left except the return of Christ. Again, this is just as risky as believing in the pre-rapture. You see, no need to prepare.
It is becoming more obvious daily when you read the paper that we are headed straight down a path to a "new world order". It doesn't matter what political side you wish to choose, all people that are in power are there because someone put them there to push their agenda. The new world order or one world government that has one monetary system is being set up quickly. You and I have no say so. I give us two years max, and the dollar will be no more and the new currency system will be in place. This system is described by Revelation as the beast that comes out of the sea. In Daniel it is described as the ten toes in his vision. The last government system will have seven heads, ten horns, and ten diadem. To save the hour and a half discussion of the symbolism, the seven heads are Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, Medio-Persia, Greece, Rome, and one more. Most prophecy scholars do a great job of explaining the first six because they are past events. The problem is they think that the last one will be a revived roman empire. They get that idea from Daniel 9:26, "and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary". You see, in the past the people who destroyed the temple was the Romans. They take this verse to say the antichrist will come out of the revived Roman Empire. That looks possible since we have seen the European countries join together to form a one currency system, the euro. However, they don't consider that every "head" on the beast in the past had a couple of criteria that must be the same for all. Each "head" ruled the entire world and controled the financial system of the world. The last "head" must do the same thing.
The verse in Daniel could easily mean, the prince to come will allow his people to destroy the temple. Therefore, leaving us clueless to where the antichrist will come from according to that verse.
Look at Revelation 17:12, "And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour". (verse 11) "and the beast which was and is not is himself also an eighth, and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction". What does all that mean? I have never seen anyone get this right. He is one of the seven means he is one of the seven heads. Of course that is true because he is the last head of the seven heads. What does it mean, he is an eighth. Daniel 7:24 has the answer. "as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will areise and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings". Hold out your ten fingers to represent the 10 kings. If another king (# 11) comes along and wipes out three of your ten fingers and joins the group, how many kings do you have now. EIGHT. He will become the eighth. Why, when he wipes out the three kings, he gets the three kingdoms and becomes the most dominant king, he is the ruler of the world, the antichrist.
There is no way that this has happened yet. However, wake up. The whole world is trying to change to a one world currency this week with the meeting of the G-20 that is meeting in London.
If there is a one world currency, whoever is in control of that currency system becomes the dictator of the world.
In the last few months, our President has "bailed out" banks, businesses, mortgages, etc. No one seems to notice that he fired the CEO of GM. Wait, that has never been done because in the past we were free. Freedom is vanishing in front of our face. The government is taking over our country and the sheep don't see the wolf in the flock. This plan has been pushed through over the last seven or eight presidents. The government now controls the banks, many of our major companies, AIG, GM, Ford, Fannie Mae, etc. They now have to do what the government tells them. Control the money and I control you.
China and Russia are pushing for a one world currency and China controls many trillions of dollars of our treasury notes. If China starts dumping them, the dollar will devalue as much as 75%. This will destroy all savings, retirement systems, IRA's, etc. However, I believe that they are trying to drain the money from the people before this will actually happen. So, there is one last great cash cow left that they haven't got their hands on. It is the retirement accounts. Our government is proposing to confiscate the IRA's and 401 K's and put them into a "government protected" retirement plan that is run by Social Security. That will be your last sign. The next step is a one world currency and next the mark of the beast.
Gotta go, God bless, Dean
I have friends that are Christians that say that all of Revelation has already occured and nothing is left except the return of Christ. Again, this is just as risky as believing in the pre-rapture. You see, no need to prepare.
It is becoming more obvious daily when you read the paper that we are headed straight down a path to a "new world order". It doesn't matter what political side you wish to choose, all people that are in power are there because someone put them there to push their agenda. The new world order or one world government that has one monetary system is being set up quickly. You and I have no say so. I give us two years max, and the dollar will be no more and the new currency system will be in place. This system is described by Revelation as the beast that comes out of the sea. In Daniel it is described as the ten toes in his vision. The last government system will have seven heads, ten horns, and ten diadem. To save the hour and a half discussion of the symbolism, the seven heads are Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, Medio-Persia, Greece, Rome, and one more. Most prophecy scholars do a great job of explaining the first six because they are past events. The problem is they think that the last one will be a revived roman empire. They get that idea from Daniel 9:26, "and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary". You see, in the past the people who destroyed the temple was the Romans. They take this verse to say the antichrist will come out of the revived Roman Empire. That looks possible since we have seen the European countries join together to form a one currency system, the euro. However, they don't consider that every "head" on the beast in the past had a couple of criteria that must be the same for all. Each "head" ruled the entire world and controled the financial system of the world. The last "head" must do the same thing.
The verse in Daniel could easily mean, the prince to come will allow his people to destroy the temple. Therefore, leaving us clueless to where the antichrist will come from according to that verse.
Look at Revelation 17:12, "And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour". (verse 11) "and the beast which was and is not is himself also an eighth, and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction". What does all that mean? I have never seen anyone get this right. He is one of the seven means he is one of the seven heads. Of course that is true because he is the last head of the seven heads. What does it mean, he is an eighth. Daniel 7:24 has the answer. "as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will areise and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings". Hold out your ten fingers to represent the 10 kings. If another king (# 11) comes along and wipes out three of your ten fingers and joins the group, how many kings do you have now. EIGHT. He will become the eighth. Why, when he wipes out the three kings, he gets the three kingdoms and becomes the most dominant king, he is the ruler of the world, the antichrist.
There is no way that this has happened yet. However, wake up. The whole world is trying to change to a one world currency this week with the meeting of the G-20 that is meeting in London.
If there is a one world currency, whoever is in control of that currency system becomes the dictator of the world.
In the last few months, our President has "bailed out" banks, businesses, mortgages, etc. No one seems to notice that he fired the CEO of GM. Wait, that has never been done because in the past we were free. Freedom is vanishing in front of our face. The government is taking over our country and the sheep don't see the wolf in the flock. This plan has been pushed through over the last seven or eight presidents. The government now controls the banks, many of our major companies, AIG, GM, Ford, Fannie Mae, etc. They now have to do what the government tells them. Control the money and I control you.
China and Russia are pushing for a one world currency and China controls many trillions of dollars of our treasury notes. If China starts dumping them, the dollar will devalue as much as 75%. This will destroy all savings, retirement systems, IRA's, etc. However, I believe that they are trying to drain the money from the people before this will actually happen. So, there is one last great cash cow left that they haven't got their hands on. It is the retirement accounts. Our government is proposing to confiscate the IRA's and 401 K's and put them into a "government protected" retirement plan that is run by Social Security. That will be your last sign. The next step is a one world currency and next the mark of the beast.
Gotta go, God bless, Dean
Monday, March 30, 2009
The Sea of Glass
Today, I wanted to talk to you about the fact that some people will go into the tribulation. Will the Christians go into the tribulation? There are only two possibilities. First, during the dissasters, all of the Christians could be killed so as to be a part of the child that will be caught up to the Throne of God. Second, you are left to go through part of the tribulation. Personally, I believe the second one is true but I hope I am wrong. My thinking is, if I prepare to be a witness during the last days and I am wrong, it is ok. However, I don't prepare to go into the tribulation and we do have to, it could be bad news.
Think about it, God has always used the Jews as examples for us. Sometimes as good examples and sometimes as "don't do what they did". My whole life I struggled with why God allowed 6 million Jews to die in the death camps. Then, it hit me. They are our example of how to go through tribulation even unto death and not deny God. We saw last time that there was a multitude of believers come out of the great tribulation in Revelation 7:14.
Now look at Revelation 15:2"And I saw, as it were, a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had come off victorious from the beast and from his image and from the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God". We see the "sea of glass" again in Revelation 4:6. If we back up to Revelation 4:1, we see the sound of the trumpet and the shout, "come up here". These events are associated with the time of the sixth trumpet(Rev. 9:13) and the death of the two great witnesses(Rev. 11:12) that we have talked of in earlier blogs. We have also talked about how the sea is the sea of gentiles. Look at Revelation 13:1. And I saw a beast(government system) coming up out of the sea(gentile nations) having ten horns and seven heads, and on his heads were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard(Greek empire), and his feet were like those of a bear(Medio-Persian empire), and his mouth like the mouth of a lion(Babylonian empire) . And the dragon gave him power." These are the stages of the "time of the Gentiles" as described in Daniel. They represent the "time of the Gentiles" that we have previously discussed and they come out of the sea of gentiles. The sea is mixed with fire because they have been judged by fire and all of the impurities have been burned off and made pure. If you take sand and put it in the fire, it becomes glass. No impurities, sea of glass, what great symbolism.
So, you see, there is going to be a great multitude who does receive salvation during the tribulation. Do you really think God would not have witnesses to the truth during that time.
What does it take to be saved during that time? If you read Revelation, chaper 2 & 3, you will see a common phrase, "to those who overcome". Overcome what? The answer is in Revelation 14:9. "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God." Revelation 13:17, "And he provides that no one should be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of beast or the number of his name." Daniel 12:12, "How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1335 days". You see, those who go into the tribulation must endure without taking the mark of the beast(which should occur when the child is caught up 75 days into the tribulation) for as long as 1335 days before it is over.
Many will go to their death because they will not take the mark. Can you stand strong and be obedient to Christ and not take the mark? Even if you have to watch them put your family members to death? It would be a great sacrifice and a great witness of your faith that may lead others to Christ. Trust in Him, don't waver, and trust in only the word of God so you can not be deceived.
God bless, Dean
Think about it, God has always used the Jews as examples for us. Sometimes as good examples and sometimes as "don't do what they did". My whole life I struggled with why God allowed 6 million Jews to die in the death camps. Then, it hit me. They are our example of how to go through tribulation even unto death and not deny God. We saw last time that there was a multitude of believers come out of the great tribulation in Revelation 7:14.
Now look at Revelation 15:2"And I saw, as it were, a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had come off victorious from the beast and from his image and from the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God". We see the "sea of glass" again in Revelation 4:6. If we back up to Revelation 4:1, we see the sound of the trumpet and the shout, "come up here". These events are associated with the time of the sixth trumpet(Rev. 9:13) and the death of the two great witnesses(Rev. 11:12) that we have talked of in earlier blogs. We have also talked about how the sea is the sea of gentiles. Look at Revelation 13:1. And I saw a beast(government system) coming up out of the sea(gentile nations) having ten horns and seven heads, and on his heads were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard(Greek empire), and his feet were like those of a bear(Medio-Persian empire), and his mouth like the mouth of a lion(Babylonian empire) . And the dragon gave him power." These are the stages of the "time of the Gentiles" as described in Daniel. They represent the "time of the Gentiles" that we have previously discussed and they come out of the sea of gentiles. The sea is mixed with fire because they have been judged by fire and all of the impurities have been burned off and made pure. If you take sand and put it in the fire, it becomes glass. No impurities, sea of glass, what great symbolism.
So, you see, there is going to be a great multitude who does receive salvation during the tribulation. Do you really think God would not have witnesses to the truth during that time.
What does it take to be saved during that time? If you read Revelation, chaper 2 & 3, you will see a common phrase, "to those who overcome". Overcome what? The answer is in Revelation 14:9. "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God." Revelation 13:17, "And he provides that no one should be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of beast or the number of his name." Daniel 12:12, "How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1335 days". You see, those who go into the tribulation must endure without taking the mark of the beast(which should occur when the child is caught up 75 days into the tribulation) for as long as 1335 days before it is over.
Many will go to their death because they will not take the mark. Can you stand strong and be obedient to Christ and not take the mark? Even if you have to watch them put your family members to death? It would be a great sacrifice and a great witness of your faith that may lead others to Christ. Trust in Him, don't waver, and trust in only the word of God so you can not be deceived.
God bless, Dean
Sunday, March 29, 2009
The Red Dragon
Good morning, It is Sunday morning and I hope that you get the opportunity to go to church or spend so intimate time with God. I would like to lift Olivia up to the Father for healing prayer.
She is 5, and a swingset fell on her last week and she had to have a kidney removed. She is at Memorial Hermann is Houston. She is the daughter of one of my past players. For those who don't know me, I am a basketball coach.
I wanted to continue with the birth of the child from last time. We recognize that the woman was the bride of Christ, which is the nation of Israel. She gave birth to a kingdom of believer that we discovered was the church. All of this happened as symbolism because it was ocurring in heaven. The question I left you with was "is this the rapture". I am sure you got the answer, the answer is no. Why? Because it is not happening on earth. This group of people (believers in Jesus Christ as the savior) is complete at this time. When you die you go to be with Christ. Collectively, all of these believers will be escalated to the throne of God. They are pure, clean, and sin free because of the sacrifice of Jesus' blood (nothing that they have done got them into the kingdom). When this group of believers go, the Holy Spirit goes with them. This happens very early in the tribulation. Most people get this part wrong, they believe that the time, times, and half of time is the last half of the tribulation. Actually, the timeframe of 3 and 1/2 years (time= one year, times = 2 years and 1/2 of time = 1/2 year) ends 1335 days into the tribulation. I need to make a chart to show this to you. Oh, by the way, that is exactly when 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 is occuring.
Now, if we look at Revelation 12:9,"and the great red dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old 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".
As you see, satan is thrown down to earth. This means that satan and his angels are on earth to do as they please. How are satan and his angels here? I believe they are in body form. Satan is now in bodily form as the antichrist. We can see that this occurs in Revelation 8:10, "And the third angel sounded and a great star fell from heaven," Revelation 8:12, " And the fourth angel sounded and a third of the stars were smitten," I believe that these verses are physical occurance and symbolic of the spiritual events taking place. Revelation 9:1, "and the fifth angel sounde and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him." The key to the bottomless is held by Jesus and given to satan to open to let out all of the angels that were locked up when they rebelled with satan. At this time they are released to cause havic on the earth.
All of these things begin early in the tribulation. I believe that 75 days into the tribulation, the child will be born and lifted to God the Father and satan will be cast to earth. It starts at the third trumpet and lasts for 1260 days. It will end after 1335 days when the rapture that is talked about in 1 Thessalonians 4 happens.
Here is the real question. Are you part of the kingdom that is taken up to the throne? To do that it looks like you must be dead. Because this occurs in heaven, not on earth. Then if you aren't dead, where are you? The answer is, you are in the tribulation. Matthew 24:24, "For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect." You see during the tribulation, many people are going to believe a lie and be deceived. It will be hard to decern the truth.
Look at Revelation 7:14,"And I said to him, 'My lord you know,' And he said to me, These are the one who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb."
How do they make it out of the tribulation? We will discuss that next time.
She is 5, and a swingset fell on her last week and she had to have a kidney removed. She is at Memorial Hermann is Houston. She is the daughter of one of my past players. For those who don't know me, I am a basketball coach.
I wanted to continue with the birth of the child from last time. We recognize that the woman was the bride of Christ, which is the nation of Israel. She gave birth to a kingdom of believer that we discovered was the church. All of this happened as symbolism because it was ocurring in heaven. The question I left you with was "is this the rapture". I am sure you got the answer, the answer is no. Why? Because it is not happening on earth. This group of people (believers in Jesus Christ as the savior) is complete at this time. When you die you go to be with Christ. Collectively, all of these believers will be escalated to the throne of God. They are pure, clean, and sin free because of the sacrifice of Jesus' blood (nothing that they have done got them into the kingdom). When this group of believers go, the Holy Spirit goes with them. This happens very early in the tribulation. Most people get this part wrong, they believe that the time, times, and half of time is the last half of the tribulation. Actually, the timeframe of 3 and 1/2 years (time= one year, times = 2 years and 1/2 of time = 1/2 year) ends 1335 days into the tribulation. I need to make a chart to show this to you. Oh, by the way, that is exactly when 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 is occuring.
Now, if we look at Revelation 12:9,"and the great red dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old 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".
As you see, satan is thrown down to earth. This means that satan and his angels are on earth to do as they please. How are satan and his angels here? I believe they are in body form. Satan is now in bodily form as the antichrist. We can see that this occurs in Revelation 8:10, "And the third angel sounded and a great star fell from heaven," Revelation 8:12, " And the fourth angel sounded and a third of the stars were smitten," I believe that these verses are physical occurance and symbolic of the spiritual events taking place. Revelation 9:1, "and the fifth angel sounde and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him." The key to the bottomless is held by Jesus and given to satan to open to let out all of the angels that were locked up when they rebelled with satan. At this time they are released to cause havic on the earth.
All of these things begin early in the tribulation. I believe that 75 days into the tribulation, the child will be born and lifted to God the Father and satan will be cast to earth. It starts at the third trumpet and lasts for 1260 days. It will end after 1335 days when the rapture that is talked about in 1 Thessalonians 4 happens.
Here is the real question. Are you part of the kingdom that is taken up to the throne? To do that it looks like you must be dead. Because this occurs in heaven, not on earth. Then if you aren't dead, where are you? The answer is, you are in the tribulation. Matthew 24:24, "For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect." You see during the tribulation, many people are going to believe a lie and be deceived. It will be hard to decern the truth.
Look at Revelation 7:14,"And I said to him, 'My lord you know,' And he said to me, These are the one who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb."
How do they make it out of the tribulation? We will discuss that next time.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Woman and the Child
I would like to talk about a little known subject from Revelation 12:1-6. "And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven, and threw them to the earth, And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron and her child was caught up to God and to His throne."
There is alot of hidden stuff here that we need to look at. I want to take a good look at the woman and her son. Most people believe this is a reference to Jesus Christ's birth. The problem becomes evident when you see that this is happening in heaven. When you have something described as occuring in heaven, it usually is a symbolic representation of something. For example, anytime a beast is described, it represents a government system.
Personally, I believe the physical birth of Christ on earth is a type of prophecy that represents this event that will occur in heaven during the tribulation period (the last seven years). Mary was a Jew that gave birth to Jesus, who grew up to become the Savior of the world. Mary was not married and according to the Jewish belief, she had to wait 40 days to become pure again after giving birth. Some time after this cleansing period, the wedding feast occurred and Mary became Joseph's bride. This is exactly what is being described in the book of Revelation. This time it is occurring in heaven. The difference is that it is a symbolic message that is being given to us.
Who is this woman that is about to give birth. Mary was a Jew. The woman must represent the Jewish nation before Christ. This seems more obvious when you realize that her crown has 12 stars, representation of the 12 tribes of Israel. She gives birth to a male child. On earth that child was Jesus. He was the beginning of a new belief system, no longer a follower of the law but a faith in the atonement for sin forever by the blood of Christ. So, the child is? The child is the believers. All of the believers in Jesus from the cross until the birth of the child are joined together. When you see that this child is "caught up to God and to His throne" we realize that to be in the presence of God you must be pure, forgiven of sin. God can't look upon sin. So, this group of people has to have been cleansed of their sin through the blood of Christ to be caught up to God. Look at Revelation 1:6, "and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father". We are a group, united in one kingdom (one body). Look at Revelation 2:26-27, "And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, To him I will give authority over the nations and he ( the ones who overcome) shall rule them with a rod of iron". This says that the kingdom of believers who overcome will rule over the nations (during the millinial kingdom) and they will rule with a rod of iron. We will be as guardian angels over the ones who live after the tribulation during the 1000 years of peace on earth.
Wait a minute, if these are Christians and they are "caught up to the throne" this might be the rapture. This occurs in a totally different place during the last seven years than 1 Thessalonians 4 rapture. When does this "caught up" occur? Also, if this kingdom of believers is finished and "caught up to God", is salvation over? We also need to discuss the red dragon.
I guess we will have to discuss that next time.
God bless, Dean
There is alot of hidden stuff here that we need to look at. I want to take a good look at the woman and her son. Most people believe this is a reference to Jesus Christ's birth. The problem becomes evident when you see that this is happening in heaven. When you have something described as occuring in heaven, it usually is a symbolic representation of something. For example, anytime a beast is described, it represents a government system.
Personally, I believe the physical birth of Christ on earth is a type of prophecy that represents this event that will occur in heaven during the tribulation period (the last seven years). Mary was a Jew that gave birth to Jesus, who grew up to become the Savior of the world. Mary was not married and according to the Jewish belief, she had to wait 40 days to become pure again after giving birth. Some time after this cleansing period, the wedding feast occurred and Mary became Joseph's bride. This is exactly what is being described in the book of Revelation. This time it is occurring in heaven. The difference is that it is a symbolic message that is being given to us.
Who is this woman that is about to give birth. Mary was a Jew. The woman must represent the Jewish nation before Christ. This seems more obvious when you realize that her crown has 12 stars, representation of the 12 tribes of Israel. She gives birth to a male child. On earth that child was Jesus. He was the beginning of a new belief system, no longer a follower of the law but a faith in the atonement for sin forever by the blood of Christ. So, the child is? The child is the believers. All of the believers in Jesus from the cross until the birth of the child are joined together. When you see that this child is "caught up to God and to His throne" we realize that to be in the presence of God you must be pure, forgiven of sin. God can't look upon sin. So, this group of people has to have been cleansed of their sin through the blood of Christ to be caught up to God. Look at Revelation 1:6, "and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father". We are a group, united in one kingdom (one body). Look at Revelation 2:26-27, "And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, To him I will give authority over the nations and he ( the ones who overcome) shall rule them with a rod of iron". This says that the kingdom of believers who overcome will rule over the nations (during the millinial kingdom) and they will rule with a rod of iron. We will be as guardian angels over the ones who live after the tribulation during the 1000 years of peace on earth.
Wait a minute, if these are Christians and they are "caught up to the throne" this might be the rapture. This occurs in a totally different place during the last seven years than 1 Thessalonians 4 rapture. When does this "caught up" occur? Also, if this kingdom of believers is finished and "caught up to God", is salvation over? We also need to discuss the red dragon.
I guess we will have to discuss that next time.
God bless, Dean
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The True Age of Jesus
Daniel 9:25, "So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of the 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. Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing"
This verse gives us an exact time frame of the age of Jesus. People have missed it for years. I have always been taught that Jesus was around 32-33 years old. This verse says that there are 62 weeks of years plus 6 weeks of years from the decree to rebuild the temple until Jesus is cut off (crucified). This is 69 weeks of years. 69 times 7 is 483 years.
Many people believe that Nehemiah 2 lets us know that King Artaxerxes made the proclamation in 445 BC to rebuild the temple. Some people believe that it was in 444 BC. If you take the first date and subtract the 483 years you will get 38 Jewish years old. If you use the second date you get 39 Jewish years old. When I first discovered this, I used the 38 Jewish years. Jewish years are 360 days per year. So, I recalculated the age in the modern day calendar. When I did that, I found out that Jesus was 37 years 5 months 13 days and 8.8 hours old. That seemed a little over the top until you read in Matthew of Jesus dying on the cross. The Bible states that Jeus died "in about the ninth hour". (that is pretty close to "about the ninth hour)
If 444 BC is the proclamation, then add one year. I will show that this is probably the better choice in a later blog when I discuss the death of Jesus.
Once I found the approximate age of Jesus I turned my thoughts to the star of Bethlehem. I searched many old texts and found some great information.
First, we need to realize that if Jesus was a little over 37 years old and He died around 32 AD, then, Jesus had to be born in 7BC or earlier. So, I started looking for evidence of Jesus' birth and the star.
I found records from Josephus the historian that recorded that King Herod died on a lunar eclipse. That lunar eclipse was in 4 Bc. If King Herod had made the proclamation to kill all the babies that were two years old or younger, that meant that Jesus had to be born before 6 BC (4BC + 2 years).
Next, I began looking for any astrological events that could have been the star that the wise men saw and recognized as the star of Bethlehem. I found out that there was a great event that happened in 7 BC according to the Chinese records of astrological events. These events were recorded in stone. The wise men were looking for a star in a location that would represent the nation of Israel. In 7 Bc, an alignment of Saturn and Jupiter in Pisces was the what caught the wise men's eye. Pisces, the fish, was the constillation that symbolized Israel. Saturn and Jupiter aligning together would create a bright star, a bright star in Pisces.
When the wise men came in search of the messiah, they went to King Herod and asked if he knew where the promised one was. When they left, the star reappeared and led them to Jesus. The most interesting fact about this alignment is that Saturn and Jupiter joined together and seperated three different times in 7 BC. This would make the Bible right on with its account of the star reappearing to the wise men.
What a deal. The information about the true age of Jesus, His birth, and death have been sitting right there in Daniel for thousands of years and we missed it.
There was a star, there was a birth, and greatest of all, there is a Savior.
I hope that you know Jesus as Savior.
God bless, Dean
PS thanks Irv for your comment on the last blog.
This verse gives us an exact time frame of the age of Jesus. People have missed it for years. I have always been taught that Jesus was around 32-33 years old. This verse says that there are 62 weeks of years plus 6 weeks of years from the decree to rebuild the temple until Jesus is cut off (crucified). This is 69 weeks of years. 69 times 7 is 483 years.
Many people believe that Nehemiah 2 lets us know that King Artaxerxes made the proclamation in 445 BC to rebuild the temple. Some people believe that it was in 444 BC. If you take the first date and subtract the 483 years you will get 38 Jewish years old. If you use the second date you get 39 Jewish years old. When I first discovered this, I used the 38 Jewish years. Jewish years are 360 days per year. So, I recalculated the age in the modern day calendar. When I did that, I found out that Jesus was 37 years 5 months 13 days and 8.8 hours old. That seemed a little over the top until you read in Matthew of Jesus dying on the cross. The Bible states that Jeus died "in about the ninth hour". (that is pretty close to "about the ninth hour)
If 444 BC is the proclamation, then add one year. I will show that this is probably the better choice in a later blog when I discuss the death of Jesus.
Once I found the approximate age of Jesus I turned my thoughts to the star of Bethlehem. I searched many old texts and found some great information.
First, we need to realize that if Jesus was a little over 37 years old and He died around 32 AD, then, Jesus had to be born in 7BC or earlier. So, I started looking for evidence of Jesus' birth and the star.
I found records from Josephus the historian that recorded that King Herod died on a lunar eclipse. That lunar eclipse was in 4 Bc. If King Herod had made the proclamation to kill all the babies that were two years old or younger, that meant that Jesus had to be born before 6 BC (4BC + 2 years).
Next, I began looking for any astrological events that could have been the star that the wise men saw and recognized as the star of Bethlehem. I found out that there was a great event that happened in 7 BC according to the Chinese records of astrological events. These events were recorded in stone. The wise men were looking for a star in a location that would represent the nation of Israel. In 7 Bc, an alignment of Saturn and Jupiter in Pisces was the what caught the wise men's eye. Pisces, the fish, was the constillation that symbolized Israel. Saturn and Jupiter aligning together would create a bright star, a bright star in Pisces.
When the wise men came in search of the messiah, they went to King Herod and asked if he knew where the promised one was. When they left, the star reappeared and led them to Jesus. The most interesting fact about this alignment is that Saturn and Jupiter joined together and seperated three different times in 7 BC. This would make the Bible right on with its account of the star reappearing to the wise men.
What a deal. The information about the true age of Jesus, His birth, and death have been sitting right there in Daniel for thousands of years and we missed it.
There was a star, there was a birth, and greatest of all, there is a Savior.
I hope that you know Jesus as Savior.
God bless, Dean
PS thanks Irv for your comment on the last blog.
Friday, March 20, 2009
the rapture
Sorry, I have taken a few days off due to spring break.
I would like to discuss what some people call the rapture. The main verse that people used to tell about the rapture is 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-17.
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-17,"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethen, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep, For the Lord Himself will descent from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and this we shall always be with the Lord"
You can see the words "caught up" is where the rapture comes from. No one has seen this before but I see three different groups of people. I discovered this when I was reading the verse and the "asleep in Jesus" were coming back in the clouds with Him and the "dead in Christ" came out of the tombs to meet them in the air. The question hit me, "How can I rise up if I am already up there?" The answer is I can't. So, the dead in Christ must be a different group of people.
First, those who are asleep. These are the Christians that have died and as Paul said, "absent from the body is to be present with the Lord". These are the ones who will return with Christ in the clouds.
Group two is the dead in Christ. Most preachers said that this is your physical body coming out of the grave to join with your soul in heaven. I don't think this is it at all. Before Christ, everyone who died went to a holding place called Abraham's bosom. It was divided into two chambers, paradise and hades.
Paradise was for the righteous ones and hades was for the unrighteous. Luke 16:22-31.
Jesus said to the thief on the cross, "today you will be with me in Paradise" After Jesus died and went to Paradise, the people in Paradise were released and they walked the streets of Jerusalem and appeared to many,Matthew 27:52-53. They were released to go to Heaven. Jesus had to be the first of the living dead. Now, when you die, you go to be with the Lord or you go to a place called death. Death is a holding place for the unrighteous ones until the tribulation. Revelation 20:13, "and death and hades gave up the dead which were in them and they were judged, and death and hades were thrown into the lake of fire". This comes after the 1000 years of peace that follows the seven years of tribulation. So, the dead in Christ are the ones who die in the tribulation and do not take the mark of the beast.
Finally, the third group is those who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord. They are alive at His return and they will be snatched up to meet those who return with Jesus. This is definitely the rapture.
The problem I have is most people teach that this time of being snatched up is at the beginning of the tribulation. As there were three groups of people, there are also three timeframes discussed in 1 Thessalonians 4. First is the shout. Second is the voice of the archangel, and third is the trumpet of God. Now, no one else has ever seen this either. When I study prophesy, if you have a key word, like shout, you must put them altogether at the same time frame unless proven otherwise. I believe the shout, is the "come up here" shout discussed in Revelations 4:1, "after these things I looked and behold a door standing open in heaven and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "come up here". Also, in Revelation 11:12, "and they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them "come up here". This voice is talking to the two great witnesses after they have been killed and lie in the streets for 3 and 1/2 days. They rose up and went into heaven in the clouds. The two great witnesses prophesied for 3 and 1/2 years of the tribulation. It is easy to see that the rapture that is discussed in 1 Thessalonians happens during the tribulation. Exactly when will be discussed next time.
The "voice of the archangel" is Michael the archangel. His job is to protect the nation of Israel. He will proclaim, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his had he will also drink of the wine of the wrath of God. We have already learned that the "abomination of desolation" is when the antichrist proclaims himself to be god on earth and makes everyone take the mark. This happens around the middle of the tribulation.
So, again the rapture of 1 Thessalonians 4 is during the tribulation.
The third timeframe is denoted by "the trumpet of God". It is easy to see that there are seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls. The trumpets are in the middle. I believe that the Trumpet of God is the same trumpets that we saw in Revelation 11:12. You can see that after that is the seventh trumpet, the trumpet of God, "the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord". Again, you can see "the wrath of God" which is the last seven bowls is next.
Come on, please tell me you see it fits. Here is the real problem. What if all of the churches are telling the world by preaching, popular movies, and books that the rapture will come first and it doesn't, what will happen? The answer is the world will see a signing of a peace treaty or the rebuilding of the Temple and no rapture. The world will turn away from a religion that lies.
The problem is the Bible didn't lie, man interpreted it wrong.
Here is the verse that the pre-rapture teachers never seem to read, 2 Thessalonians 3-4, "Let no one in any way deceive you, for it(see verse 1, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the gathering together to Him) will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed. Apostasy is the falling away because the world thinks the chuch has lied to them and the man of lawlessness is the antichrist. When is he revealed? At the abomination of desolation which is during the tribulation. Then Christ will return and gather His believers.
Ok, if I am right, some believers will have to go into the tribulation. For once in my life the holocaust makes sense. God used the Jews to give us an example of how to go through tribulation without denying your faith.
God bless, Dean
I would like to discuss what some people call the rapture. The main verse that people used to tell about the rapture is 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-17.
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-17,"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethen, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep, For the Lord Himself will descent from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and this we shall always be with the Lord"
You can see the words "caught up" is where the rapture comes from. No one has seen this before but I see three different groups of people. I discovered this when I was reading the verse and the "asleep in Jesus" were coming back in the clouds with Him and the "dead in Christ" came out of the tombs to meet them in the air. The question hit me, "How can I rise up if I am already up there?" The answer is I can't. So, the dead in Christ must be a different group of people.
First, those who are asleep. These are the Christians that have died and as Paul said, "absent from the body is to be present with the Lord". These are the ones who will return with Christ in the clouds.
Group two is the dead in Christ. Most preachers said that this is your physical body coming out of the grave to join with your soul in heaven. I don't think this is it at all. Before Christ, everyone who died went to a holding place called Abraham's bosom. It was divided into two chambers, paradise and hades.
Paradise was for the righteous ones and hades was for the unrighteous. Luke 16:22-31.
Jesus said to the thief on the cross, "today you will be with me in Paradise" After Jesus died and went to Paradise, the people in Paradise were released and they walked the streets of Jerusalem and appeared to many,Matthew 27:52-53. They were released to go to Heaven. Jesus had to be the first of the living dead. Now, when you die, you go to be with the Lord or you go to a place called death. Death is a holding place for the unrighteous ones until the tribulation. Revelation 20:13, "and death and hades gave up the dead which were in them and they were judged, and death and hades were thrown into the lake of fire". This comes after the 1000 years of peace that follows the seven years of tribulation. So, the dead in Christ are the ones who die in the tribulation and do not take the mark of the beast.
Finally, the third group is those who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord. They are alive at His return and they will be snatched up to meet those who return with Jesus. This is definitely the rapture.
The problem I have is most people teach that this time of being snatched up is at the beginning of the tribulation. As there were three groups of people, there are also three timeframes discussed in 1 Thessalonians 4. First is the shout. Second is the voice of the archangel, and third is the trumpet of God. Now, no one else has ever seen this either. When I study prophesy, if you have a key word, like shout, you must put them altogether at the same time frame unless proven otherwise. I believe the shout, is the "come up here" shout discussed in Revelations 4:1, "after these things I looked and behold a door standing open in heaven and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "come up here". Also, in Revelation 11:12, "and they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them "come up here". This voice is talking to the two great witnesses after they have been killed and lie in the streets for 3 and 1/2 days. They rose up and went into heaven in the clouds. The two great witnesses prophesied for 3 and 1/2 years of the tribulation. It is easy to see that the rapture that is discussed in 1 Thessalonians happens during the tribulation. Exactly when will be discussed next time.
The "voice of the archangel" is Michael the archangel. His job is to protect the nation of Israel. He will proclaim, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his had he will also drink of the wine of the wrath of God. We have already learned that the "abomination of desolation" is when the antichrist proclaims himself to be god on earth and makes everyone take the mark. This happens around the middle of the tribulation.
So, again the rapture of 1 Thessalonians 4 is during the tribulation.
The third timeframe is denoted by "the trumpet of God". It is easy to see that there are seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls. The trumpets are in the middle. I believe that the Trumpet of God is the same trumpets that we saw in Revelation 11:12. You can see that after that is the seventh trumpet, the trumpet of God, "the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord". Again, you can see "the wrath of God" which is the last seven bowls is next.
Come on, please tell me you see it fits. Here is the real problem. What if all of the churches are telling the world by preaching, popular movies, and books that the rapture will come first and it doesn't, what will happen? The answer is the world will see a signing of a peace treaty or the rebuilding of the Temple and no rapture. The world will turn away from a religion that lies.
The problem is the Bible didn't lie, man interpreted it wrong.
Here is the verse that the pre-rapture teachers never seem to read, 2 Thessalonians 3-4, "Let no one in any way deceive you, for it(see verse 1, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the gathering together to Him) will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed. Apostasy is the falling away because the world thinks the chuch has lied to them and the man of lawlessness is the antichrist. When is he revealed? At the abomination of desolation which is during the tribulation. Then Christ will return and gather His believers.
Ok, if I am right, some believers will have to go into the tribulation. For once in my life the holocaust makes sense. God used the Jews to give us an example of how to go through tribulation without denying your faith.
God bless, Dean
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Time of the Gentiles
When is the end of the "time of the Gentiles"?
We need to go to Daniel to learn more about God's timetable for the Jews and the Gentiles. It is like there are two clocks, one for the Jews and another one for the Gentiles. The time of the Jews has been posponed for a little while to allow for salvation of the Gentiles.
Daniel 9:24, "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people(the Jews) and your holy city(Jerusalem), 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."
We have discussed the idea that in this chapter that the weeks mean "weeks of years". The seventy weeks of years would be 70 x 7 = 490 years. After the 490 years is complete sin will be no more.
Daniel 9:25, "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."
You can see that there are 69 weeks of years until the messiah is cut off. At another blog I will show you how to find the true age of Jesus using this verse. But for now, you can see that there is 69 weeks of years and then there is a break. Jesus was crucified on the cross and salvation by grace through the blood of Christ became possible for all. The Gentiles now have a chance of salvation. I believe that this time will extend until the "time of the Gentiles" ends. Afterwards, there will be one more week of years or "seven years" that will be oriented toward turning the Jews back to God. That last seven years is known as the seven years of tribulation.
Revelation 11:1-2 give us an indication of when the time of the Gentiles will end.
"And there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, 'Rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it'. And leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months". This verse would indicate that the time of the Gentiles will end at least three and one-half years into the tribulation. (v.3) "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth".
Most scholars who study Revelation believe that there is a rapture or "taking away" of the Christians and that the rapture occurs before the beginning of the last seven years of tribulation. If the time of the Gentiles will last at least three and one-half years into the tribulation, could it be possible that the rapture doesn't occur at the beginning of the tribulation but rather at the end of the "time of the Gentiles"?
The "forty-two months" is also mentioned in Revelation 13:4. "And there was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies; and authority to act for forty-two months was given him". The person speaking arrogantly is the antichrist, he will put himself on the temple mount and proclaim himself to be god. This is called the abomination of desolation that Jesus warned the disciples about in Matthew 24.
Matthew 24:15-18, "Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let him who is on the housetop not go down to get the things out that are in his house, and let him who is in the field not turn back to get his cloak."
You can see that from the time that the antichrist takes over, the Jewish people will have to flee to the mountains to be protected from the antichrist and that they will stay in the mountains for three and one half years or "forty two months". This will be the end of the time of the gentiles.
We need to go to Daniel to learn more about God's timetable for the Jews and the Gentiles. It is like there are two clocks, one for the Jews and another one for the Gentiles. The time of the Jews has been posponed for a little while to allow for salvation of the Gentiles.
Daniel 9:24, "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people(the Jews) and your holy city(Jerusalem), 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."
We have discussed the idea that in this chapter that the weeks mean "weeks of years". The seventy weeks of years would be 70 x 7 = 490 years. After the 490 years is complete sin will be no more.
Daniel 9:25, "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."
You can see that there are 69 weeks of years until the messiah is cut off. At another blog I will show you how to find the true age of Jesus using this verse. But for now, you can see that there is 69 weeks of years and then there is a break. Jesus was crucified on the cross and salvation by grace through the blood of Christ became possible for all. The Gentiles now have a chance of salvation. I believe that this time will extend until the "time of the Gentiles" ends. Afterwards, there will be one more week of years or "seven years" that will be oriented toward turning the Jews back to God. That last seven years is known as the seven years of tribulation.
Revelation 11:1-2 give us an indication of when the time of the Gentiles will end.
"And there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, 'Rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it'. And leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months". This verse would indicate that the time of the Gentiles will end at least three and one-half years into the tribulation. (v.3) "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth".
Most scholars who study Revelation believe that there is a rapture or "taking away" of the Christians and that the rapture occurs before the beginning of the last seven years of tribulation. If the time of the Gentiles will last at least three and one-half years into the tribulation, could it be possible that the rapture doesn't occur at the beginning of the tribulation but rather at the end of the "time of the Gentiles"?
The "forty-two months" is also mentioned in Revelation 13:4. "And there was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies; and authority to act for forty-two months was given him". The person speaking arrogantly is the antichrist, he will put himself on the temple mount and proclaim himself to be god. This is called the abomination of desolation that Jesus warned the disciples about in Matthew 24.
Matthew 24:15-18, "Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let him who is on the housetop not go down to get the things out that are in his house, and let him who is in the field not turn back to get his cloak."
You can see that from the time that the antichrist takes over, the Jewish people will have to flee to the mountains to be protected from the antichrist and that they will stay in the mountains for three and one half years or "forty two months". This will be the end of the time of the gentiles.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Last time we talked about how Jesus was the strong angel. We see the strong angel appear again in Revelation 10, 1-7. "And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head and his face was like the sun and his feet like pillars of fire, and he had in his hand a little book which was open, and he placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land, and he cried out with a loud voice as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices. And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it and the earth and the things in it and the sea and the things in it that there shall be delay no longer. but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets. "
If you look at Revelation 1:5-8, "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first born of the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood, and He has made us to be a kingdom, priest to His God and Father, to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. "
Revelation 1:14-18, "and His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire; and His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. And in His right hand He held seven stars; and out of His mouth came a sharp two edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man. And He laid His right hand upon me saying, 'Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades. (v20) the seven stars are the seven angels of the seven churches.
Hold on, there is a lot of great stuff here. First you can see the parallels of face and feet looking like they are on fire, you can see the book in His hands, and you can see the "Coming in the clouds" likeness. This is how you study the Bible. If you hear it once, you listen. If you hear it repeated over and over, you believe it. So, you can see how the strong angel is definitely Jesus.
Notice, "I am the first of the living dead" and "I am the first and the last". Does this mean that Jesus will be the last of the living dead? Can He come back physically, and be killed again, this time for the Jews? Why not? If He is the son of God, He can do whatever is needed. When He died on the Cross, Jesus said, "It is finished" In Revelation 10 it said, "the mystery of God is finished". Did you know that Jesus' ministry only lasted three and one-half years on earth before He was crucified? The perfect number is seven. Maybe Jesus will return physically for three and one-half years for the Jews?
In Revelation 11:7-15, "And whe they (the two great witnesses) have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them and overcome them and kill them and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great ciy which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. (v11) and after three and a half days the breath of life from God came into them and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were beholding them. and they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them "Come up here" and they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies beheld them.
Most scholars believe that the two great witnesses are Moses and Elijah. There is really no way to prove it. But, wouldn't it be incredible if Jesus came for the Gentiles the first time and the Jews the second time.
Look at Hebrews 9:28, "so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him".
If we back up to Revelation 10, He put His right foot on the sea and His left foot on the land. The sea is symbolic of the Gentiles and the land is symbolic for the land of Israel. This same event was described in Daniel 12, the only difference was in Daniel, He lifted up His right hand and then His left hand. Why did He lift only His right hand in Revelation? He lifted His right hand up to heaven offering what was under His right foot to the Father, the saved Gentiles or the church. Also, notice in Revelation 1 that He had the stars in His right hand, which was the angels of the seven churches. After this time, there is no more salvation for the Gentiles. A little while latter He will lift up His left hand and offer up the saved Jews to the Father.
Topics to come: when is the end of salvation for the Gentiles? how are the Jews saved? what is the role of the two great withnesses?
We will look at those questions next time. God bless, Dean
If you look at Revelation 1:5-8, "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first born of the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood, and He has made us to be a kingdom, priest to His God and Father, to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. "
Revelation 1:14-18, "and His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire; and His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. And in His right hand He held seven stars; and out of His mouth came a sharp two edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man. And He laid His right hand upon me saying, 'Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades. (v20) the seven stars are the seven angels of the seven churches.
Hold on, there is a lot of great stuff here. First you can see the parallels of face and feet looking like they are on fire, you can see the book in His hands, and you can see the "Coming in the clouds" likeness. This is how you study the Bible. If you hear it once, you listen. If you hear it repeated over and over, you believe it. So, you can see how the strong angel is definitely Jesus.
Notice, "I am the first of the living dead" and "I am the first and the last". Does this mean that Jesus will be the last of the living dead? Can He come back physically, and be killed again, this time for the Jews? Why not? If He is the son of God, He can do whatever is needed. When He died on the Cross, Jesus said, "It is finished" In Revelation 10 it said, "the mystery of God is finished". Did you know that Jesus' ministry only lasted three and one-half years on earth before He was crucified? The perfect number is seven. Maybe Jesus will return physically for three and one-half years for the Jews?
In Revelation 11:7-15, "And whe they (the two great witnesses) have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them and overcome them and kill them and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great ciy which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. (v11) and after three and a half days the breath of life from God came into them and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were beholding them. and they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them "Come up here" and they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies beheld them.
Most scholars believe that the two great witnesses are Moses and Elijah. There is really no way to prove it. But, wouldn't it be incredible if Jesus came for the Gentiles the first time and the Jews the second time.
Look at Hebrews 9:28, "so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him".
If we back up to Revelation 10, He put His right foot on the sea and His left foot on the land. The sea is symbolic of the Gentiles and the land is symbolic for the land of Israel. This same event was described in Daniel 12, the only difference was in Daniel, He lifted up His right hand and then His left hand. Why did He lift only His right hand in Revelation? He lifted His right hand up to heaven offering what was under His right foot to the Father, the saved Gentiles or the church. Also, notice in Revelation 1 that He had the stars in His right hand, which was the angels of the seven churches. After this time, there is no more salvation for the Gentiles. A little while latter He will lift up His left hand and offer up the saved Jews to the Father.
Topics to come: when is the end of salvation for the Gentiles? how are the Jews saved? what is the role of the two great withnesses?
We will look at those questions next time. God bless, Dean
Monday, March 9, 2009
Ok, I am new at this blog thing. Please be patient until I can get the hang of it. I realize that I had saved some but not published them?
There is so many things I would like to teach you that I have a hard time staying on track. I don't want this blog to be so directed that I don't address any questions that might come up in the future. If you have a question I will do my best to address it.
Today, I want to show you how Matthew 24 is like the table of contents for the book of Revelation. Jesus pretty much describes Revelation to the disciples and then 80-85 years later the vision of the last days was given to John to write down.
They say when you address an audience that you should "tell them what you are going to tell them", "tell them", and then "tell them what you told them". The Bible does a good job of that.
In Matthew 24, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?".
Jesus answered,
1) Matthew 24:4-5, See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Christ", and will mislead many.
Revelation 6:1-2, "And I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, 'come', and I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow, and a crown was given to him; and he went out conquering, and to conquer."
How can you conquer without a weapon. The rider on the white horse had a bow, but no arrows. The rider could conquer the earth because he used deception to distort the truth. He could conquer by hiding the truth of the gospel from the people. If you are not saved and die, he wins.
You can see very easily how deception is a great weapon. We have a constitutional right of seperation of church and state, right. Wrong, there is nothing in the constitution that says that.
We have heard it soo long that we think it is the truth. The truth is distorted to divert you from hearing the truth about how salvation is possible. Science is used to hide the truth. Less than a century ago, science always took the neutral position in an idea, the evidence on boths sides was presented, and the facts had to make the decision. Today, that is never done. There is lots of evidence of the Bible being true, such as noah's ark, the red sea crossing, sodom and gomorrah, and many more archological evidences, but most are never talked about. Deception, satan's number one weapon. Have you looked at the evidence on both sides or have you just trusted someone's ideas that they put in your head.
2) Matthew 24:6, "and you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end."
Revelation 6:3-4, "and when He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, 'come' and another , a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men should slay one another; and a great sword was given to him."
This one is easy to see the correlation.
3) Matthew 24: 7, "for nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes."
Revelation 6:5-6, "and when He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, 'come' and I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. and I heard as it were a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, "a quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius,"
I don't know if you know this or not, but a denarius is a days wage. This means that the people would have to work all day just to make enough to eat. That sounds like famine to me.
A majority of the world's population is going without enough food to eat. Much of it is due to political unrest.
Revelation 6:7-8, "and when He broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying 'come', and I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name of Death and Hades was following with him. And authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beast of the earth."
So, you can see that the four horsemen of Revelation are outlined by Jesus in Matthew 24. It is also in Luke 21 and Mark 13. Jesus says in Matthew 24:8, "these are merely the beginning of the birth pangs." Birth pangs will intensify and get closer together telling you of the coming birth. When the pangs get real close together, you know the birth is about to happen.
I believe that these signs help us to know that we are getting closer to the return of Christ. The problem is, you can say we have always had wars, earthquakes, etc. Revelation 5:1-5, tells us when the birth pangs began.
Revelation 5, 1-5, And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "who is worth to open the book and to break its seals?" An no one in heaven, or on the earth, on under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look into it. and I began to weep greatly, because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it, and one of the elders said to me, "stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals"
When did Jesus the Lamb of God,the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, open the seals? After He had overcome the sins of the world, then He broke the seals. You see, these birth pangs started just after Jesus died on the cross. He appeared in heaven, took the scroll and broke the seals. Since then, the power of the four horsemen has increased and conquered the world. Deception, wars, famine, and earthquakes all have continued to intensify and will continue to do so until the return of Christ.
Wait a minute, in Revelation 5:4, no one was found worthy to open the seals on the earth, in heaven, or under the earth. Where was Jesus? I thought He was eternal? Give up? Here is a new insight for you. The only person that did not have to respond to the question of "who is worthy?" is the one asking the question. So, Jesus has to be the strong Angel. No one else has every seen this that I know of. This is going to be important in the future of this study. This is new insight #3.
God bless, Dean
There is so many things I would like to teach you that I have a hard time staying on track. I don't want this blog to be so directed that I don't address any questions that might come up in the future. If you have a question I will do my best to address it.
Today, I want to show you how Matthew 24 is like the table of contents for the book of Revelation. Jesus pretty much describes Revelation to the disciples and then 80-85 years later the vision of the last days was given to John to write down.
They say when you address an audience that you should "tell them what you are going to tell them", "tell them", and then "tell them what you told them". The Bible does a good job of that.
In Matthew 24, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?".
Jesus answered,
1) Matthew 24:4-5, See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Christ", and will mislead many.
Revelation 6:1-2, "And I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, 'come', and I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow, and a crown was given to him; and he went out conquering, and to conquer."
How can you conquer without a weapon. The rider on the white horse had a bow, but no arrows. The rider could conquer the earth because he used deception to distort the truth. He could conquer by hiding the truth of the gospel from the people. If you are not saved and die, he wins.
You can see very easily how deception is a great weapon. We have a constitutional right of seperation of church and state, right. Wrong, there is nothing in the constitution that says that.
We have heard it soo long that we think it is the truth. The truth is distorted to divert you from hearing the truth about how salvation is possible. Science is used to hide the truth. Less than a century ago, science always took the neutral position in an idea, the evidence on boths sides was presented, and the facts had to make the decision. Today, that is never done. There is lots of evidence of the Bible being true, such as noah's ark, the red sea crossing, sodom and gomorrah, and many more archological evidences, but most are never talked about. Deception, satan's number one weapon. Have you looked at the evidence on both sides or have you just trusted someone's ideas that they put in your head.
2) Matthew 24:6, "and you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end."
Revelation 6:3-4, "and when He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, 'come' and another , a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men should slay one another; and a great sword was given to him."
This one is easy to see the correlation.
3) Matthew 24: 7, "for nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes."
Revelation 6:5-6, "and when He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, 'come' and I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. and I heard as it were a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, "a quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius,"
I don't know if you know this or not, but a denarius is a days wage. This means that the people would have to work all day just to make enough to eat. That sounds like famine to me.
A majority of the world's population is going without enough food to eat. Much of it is due to political unrest.
Revelation 6:7-8, "and when He broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying 'come', and I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name of Death and Hades was following with him. And authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beast of the earth."
So, you can see that the four horsemen of Revelation are outlined by Jesus in Matthew 24. It is also in Luke 21 and Mark 13. Jesus says in Matthew 24:8, "these are merely the beginning of the birth pangs." Birth pangs will intensify and get closer together telling you of the coming birth. When the pangs get real close together, you know the birth is about to happen.
I believe that these signs help us to know that we are getting closer to the return of Christ. The problem is, you can say we have always had wars, earthquakes, etc. Revelation 5:1-5, tells us when the birth pangs began.
Revelation 5, 1-5, And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "who is worth to open the book and to break its seals?" An no one in heaven, or on the earth, on under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look into it. and I began to weep greatly, because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it, and one of the elders said to me, "stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals"
When did Jesus the Lamb of God,the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, open the seals? After He had overcome the sins of the world, then He broke the seals. You see, these birth pangs started just after Jesus died on the cross. He appeared in heaven, took the scroll and broke the seals. Since then, the power of the four horsemen has increased and conquered the world. Deception, wars, famine, and earthquakes all have continued to intensify and will continue to do so until the return of Christ.
Wait a minute, in Revelation 5:4, no one was found worthy to open the seals on the earth, in heaven, or under the earth. Where was Jesus? I thought He was eternal? Give up? Here is a new insight for you. The only person that did not have to respond to the question of "who is worthy?" is the one asking the question. So, Jesus has to be the strong Angel. No one else has every seen this that I know of. This is going to be important in the future of this study. This is new insight #3.
God bless, Dean
Saturday, March 7, 2009
In Matthew 24, Jesus is speaking to the disciples about the events of the end time. The real question for a non-believer is "is Jesus really the son of God"?.
I would like you to consider the following:
In 1948 a sheephearder was looking for a lost sheep in the hills outside of Jerusalem. He threw a rock into a cave to try and scare out the sheep if it was in the cave. Instead, he heard a breaking noise. After investigating, he found some clay vessels that contained the dead sea scrolls. Also contained in the pots was the oldest know copy of the book of Isaiah. It was written in 700 BC.
The amazing thing was that the same book that we have today is 99% exact with a "the" and "a" misplaced once in a while. So, we have great evidence that this book was written over 2500 years ago.
There are 300 predictions of the coming of the Messiah in the old testiment, many were in Isaiah. I would like to look at only a few of these.
1. What would be the odds that a person would be born in Bethlehem? Micah 5:2 predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The minimum odds would be 1 in 2000.
2. Isaiah 40:3 predicted that the Messiah would be preceded by a messenger. We know according to the Bible that messenger is John the Baptist. The odds? Maybe 1 in 20.
3. Zechariah 9:9 predicted that the Messiah would come into Jerusalem "riding on a donkey".
Someone who wanted to be king, would not have done that! Odds? Maybe 1-50.
4. Psalms 22:16 predicted that the messiah would be betrayed by a friend. The romans should have killed Him just for talking about building a new kingdom. Odds? 1 in 100.
5. Isaiah 53:5 predicted that He would be pierced for our transgressions. If you were crucified back then, your legs were broke to make sure you died from the weight of the body prohibiting you from breathing. Jesus was pierced in the side to make sure He was dead. I WILL BE TELLING YOU A GREAT REVELATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE ABOUT THIS. Odds?
1 in 10.
6. Zechariah 11:12 predicted that He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. That is the price that they would pay for a slave. The price should have been much higher for someone that was considered a threat to Rome. Odds? Maybe 1in 50.
7. Isaiah 50:6 "I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard, I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting" Prediction of His treatment before His
death. Odds? 1 in 10
8. Isaiah 53:7 "He was oppressed and afflicted yet He did not open His mouth," Prediction of His silence before His accusers. Odds? 1 in 100.
9. Psalms 22:16 predicted that He would be pierced in the hands and the feet. Since crucifixion didn't even exist until 600 years later, this one is pretty big. However, we will give it a 1 in 100 odds.
10. Psalms 22:18 predicted that "they divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing". Odds? 1 in 100>
11. Psalms 34:20 predicted "He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken." Odds?
1-20.
12. Isaiah 53:9, "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death." This one is pretty incredible, because Jesus had no money and was suppose to be buried with the poor in the potter's field, instead at the last minute and rich man offered his grave that had never been used which was very close to the crucification site. Odds? 1 in 1000
If you look at just the 48 major prophecies about the Messiah and see how they were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the odds? 1 in 48 billion that anyone could have fulfilled them all. There are 300.
The odds? No chance.
Please understand that much of what you see today in churches have very little to do with faith in Christ. The Bible says, If you believe in your heart and profess with you mouth that Jesus is Lord and Savior, you will be saved. I know that He is the Son of God, He was sent to the earth to die for man's sins, and He is coming back to claim all of those who truly believe in Him(not necessarily the one's who go to church).
Next time, we can go to Matthew 24 which will help us open up the book of Revelation.
God bless, Dean
I would like you to consider the following:
In 1948 a sheephearder was looking for a lost sheep in the hills outside of Jerusalem. He threw a rock into a cave to try and scare out the sheep if it was in the cave. Instead, he heard a breaking noise. After investigating, he found some clay vessels that contained the dead sea scrolls. Also contained in the pots was the oldest know copy of the book of Isaiah. It was written in 700 BC.
The amazing thing was that the same book that we have today is 99% exact with a "the" and "a" misplaced once in a while. So, we have great evidence that this book was written over 2500 years ago.
There are 300 predictions of the coming of the Messiah in the old testiment, many were in Isaiah. I would like to look at only a few of these.
1. What would be the odds that a person would be born in Bethlehem? Micah 5:2 predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The minimum odds would be 1 in 2000.
2. Isaiah 40:3 predicted that the Messiah would be preceded by a messenger. We know according to the Bible that messenger is John the Baptist. The odds? Maybe 1 in 20.
3. Zechariah 9:9 predicted that the Messiah would come into Jerusalem "riding on a donkey".
Someone who wanted to be king, would not have done that! Odds? Maybe 1-50.
4. Psalms 22:16 predicted that the messiah would be betrayed by a friend. The romans should have killed Him just for talking about building a new kingdom. Odds? 1 in 100.
5. Isaiah 53:5 predicted that He would be pierced for our transgressions. If you were crucified back then, your legs were broke to make sure you died from the weight of the body prohibiting you from breathing. Jesus was pierced in the side to make sure He was dead. I WILL BE TELLING YOU A GREAT REVELATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE ABOUT THIS. Odds?
1 in 10.
6. Zechariah 11:12 predicted that He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. That is the price that they would pay for a slave. The price should have been much higher for someone that was considered a threat to Rome. Odds? Maybe 1in 50.
7. Isaiah 50:6 "I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard, I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting" Prediction of His treatment before His
death. Odds? 1 in 10
8. Isaiah 53:7 "He was oppressed and afflicted yet He did not open His mouth," Prediction of His silence before His accusers. Odds? 1 in 100.
9. Psalms 22:16 predicted that He would be pierced in the hands and the feet. Since crucifixion didn't even exist until 600 years later, this one is pretty big. However, we will give it a 1 in 100 odds.
10. Psalms 22:18 predicted that "they divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing". Odds? 1 in 100>
11. Psalms 34:20 predicted "He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken." Odds?
1-20.
12. Isaiah 53:9, "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death." This one is pretty incredible, because Jesus had no money and was suppose to be buried with the poor in the potter's field, instead at the last minute and rich man offered his grave that had never been used which was very close to the crucification site. Odds? 1 in 1000
If you look at just the 48 major prophecies about the Messiah and see how they were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the odds? 1 in 48 billion that anyone could have fulfilled them all. There are 300.
The odds? No chance.
Please understand that much of what you see today in churches have very little to do with faith in Christ. The Bible says, If you believe in your heart and profess with you mouth that Jesus is Lord and Savior, you will be saved. I know that He is the Son of God, He was sent to the earth to die for man's sins, and He is coming back to claim all of those who truly believe in Him(not necessarily the one's who go to church).
Next time, we can go to Matthew 24 which will help us open up the book of Revelation.
God bless, Dean
Friday, March 6, 2009
There are a couple of things that are important in identifying when the last days on Earth can or will occur according to the Bible. First, we need to look at Matthew 24:14, "and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come". This wasn't even possible until the age of technology and the development of sattelite technology. Today we see many television evangelist that have a program that goes around the world. This should be a big hint that now it is possible for the last days to occur.
Matthew 24:32-34, "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; even so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place". The fig tree is a symbolic meaning for Israel. Israel became a nation again in 1948. The putting for of leaves would have to be when Israel regained Jerusalem in 1967. This verse would indicate that the generation that is alive to see Jerusalem under Jewish control would not pass away. The real question is what time frame is a generation. In the Bible a generation of Jews passed away in the forty years of wandering before they were allowed into the promise land. Seventy to eighty years of age is acknowledged as a life span of man. So, if we use the seventy years from 1967, 2037 would be the maximum time. It would be logical that the end times would start at least a decade before that in order to get the seven years of tribulation in. It is possible that we are that generation that will not pass away before the return of Christ.
In order to better understand the book of Revelation and the end times, Matthew chapter 24 is a good place to start. This chapter is when Jesus was talking to the disciples on the Mount of Olives. It gives many hints to what will happen in the beginning of the tribulation time. So, next time we will take a closer look at Matthew 24. Hope you will join me.
God bless, Dean
Matthew 24:32-34, "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; even so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place". The fig tree is a symbolic meaning for Israel. Israel became a nation again in 1948. The putting for of leaves would have to be when Israel regained Jerusalem in 1967. This verse would indicate that the generation that is alive to see Jerusalem under Jewish control would not pass away. The real question is what time frame is a generation. In the Bible a generation of Jews passed away in the forty years of wandering before they were allowed into the promise land. Seventy to eighty years of age is acknowledged as a life span of man. So, if we use the seventy years from 1967, 2037 would be the maximum time. It would be logical that the end times would start at least a decade before that in order to get the seven years of tribulation in. It is possible that we are that generation that will not pass away before the return of Christ.
In order to better understand the book of Revelation and the end times, Matthew chapter 24 is a good place to start. This chapter is when Jesus was talking to the disciples on the Mount of Olives. It gives many hints to what will happen in the beginning of the tribulation time. So, next time we will take a closer look at Matthew 24. Hope you will join me.
God bless, Dean
Thursday, March 5, 2009
New Insight #2: I mentioned that many times the truth is hidden in a meaning of a parable. Double meaning happens alot in the Bible. The gifts of the wise men is an example. Gold, frankencense, and myrrh. Basically, these were expensive gifts that would provide income to the family for years to come. However, the gifts had spiritual meaning as well. As you probably know Gold symbolized that Jesus would be king, frankencense represented that He would be the intercessory between man and God the Father for our prayers, and myrrh represented that Jesus would die for our sins.
Every time I mention prophecy to people, the number one verse quoted is Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour no one knows". Most say "the Bible says, no one knows the hour or the day" so why study it. Again, this is a great example of a hidden meaning. There are seven feasts celebrated by the Jews. There is only one that no one knows when it will start. That feast is the FEAST OF TRUMPETS. The only way to know when this feast will start is for the high priest to watch for the beginning of the new moon cycle. When the moon first shows a new moon crest, the high priest will blow the trumpet and announce to everyone that the Feast of Trumpets can begin. You see, Jesus is now our high priest. He is telling us that He will return on the Feast of Trumpets. We as Christians are suppost to anxiously await His return and look up as the high priest did looking for the new moon to announce the beginning of the Feast of Trumpets.
There are several verses that indicate that we as Christians can know that the time is near.
John 16:13, "But when He, the Spirit of the truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come." The Holy Spirit was given to us to guide us after the death of Christ on the cross. He can disclose what is to come if you seek Him and study the Bible.
Revelation 3:3, "Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you." This verse indicates that if you will wake up, you will know when Jesus will return. Do you really think Jesus would not want His believers to know and to be telling others so that they too could become Christians before it is too late?
Luke 8:17-18, "For nothing is hidden that shall not become evident, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light".
Every time I mention prophecy to people, the number one verse quoted is Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour no one knows". Most say "the Bible says, no one knows the hour or the day" so why study it. Again, this is a great example of a hidden meaning. There are seven feasts celebrated by the Jews. There is only one that no one knows when it will start. That feast is the FEAST OF TRUMPETS. The only way to know when this feast will start is for the high priest to watch for the beginning of the new moon cycle. When the moon first shows a new moon crest, the high priest will blow the trumpet and announce to everyone that the Feast of Trumpets can begin. You see, Jesus is now our high priest. He is telling us that He will return on the Feast of Trumpets. We as Christians are suppost to anxiously await His return and look up as the high priest did looking for the new moon to announce the beginning of the Feast of Trumpets.
There are several verses that indicate that we as Christians can know that the time is near.
John 16:13, "But when He, the Spirit of the truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come." The Holy Spirit was given to us to guide us after the death of Christ on the cross. He can disclose what is to come if you seek Him and study the Bible.
Revelation 3:3, "Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you." This verse indicates that if you will wake up, you will know when Jesus will return. Do you really think Jesus would not want His believers to know and to be telling others so that they too could become Christians before it is too late?
Luke 8:17-18, "For nothing is hidden that shall not become evident, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light".
New insight #2 is that if we study and ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit we can know that Jesus is returning soon. That should give us a since of urgency to tell others so if they have not accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, that they will do so today. Be like the wise men, look at the signs and the prophecies in the Bible and be prepared for the return of Christ.
In this blog we will be discussing many of the signs and prophecies that will guide us to understand what is going to happen in the last days. I hope you will follow as we go through them. God bless, Dean
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
End Time Prophecy: The Beginning
Today, March 4th, I have decided to start rewriting my book on "end times prophecy". I originally wrote the book in 1995, but I have waited on confirmation that I should get it published. I feel that now is the time.
The name of the book is "Forty New Insights To Bible Prophecy". It all began when I was asked to teach a class on Revelation. I had always been interested in prophecy, studying all of the greats like Hal Lindsey & Grant Jefferies. I have read almost any book written on the subject.
I was raised in the Southern Baptist Church and taught my whole life that there was a rapture and it came at the beginning of the tribulation, afterward came the millenial kingdom. It seemed to fit with most Bible scholars; so, I was ok with it until I began teaching. I wanted to teach the truth, only what God's word had to say. Could that be possible? Prophecy is tricky because usually what man believes is going to happen and what really will happen are total different. So, I began with a plan. My plan was to take a giant piece of computer paper and try to place everything that I read on the paper in the right location according to "key words" and "key phrases" that match up. If it didn't seem to fit, I was not going to force it. I would wait on inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Lots of prayers is a part of that waiting.
So, I began the search for the truth. I still may not know everything; but, I believe that God has revealed many things that other authors seem to have missed. In this quest for the truth, I want to keep all things to the glory of God the Father.
I hope you will join me over the next few months as I go thru my past studies and hopeful new insights and try to see how today relates to the last days of Revelation.
Insight # 1: The first insight happened after I had spent countless hours in the middle of the night researching, reading, re-reading, & re-reading passages and trying to be open to what is really being said. The insight was that when you study Revelation, you have to learn the whole Bible. I believe that this is why the book of Revelation comes with a promise of blessing when you read it. The secret to understanding it is the key words. When you see a word like "star", you need to refer to other chapters of the Bible to understand if "star" is ever used for any other meaning other than the obvious one, such as, Jesus is the morning star.
Revelation is full of symbolism and hidden meanings. That should not be so unusual to you, Jesus used parables the same way. Parables always have a common meaning and, for those with insight, the parable also had spiritual meaning. Many people would totally miss the true meaning. Only through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit does the meaning pop out at you. So, when you start to read Revelation underline the key words. Ask yourself questions, "what does that mean?" and "can it mean something different?".
Over our study you will see that many verses are interpreted by people to say one thing and it could actually have several meanings. We must be open to that and consider all possibilities. We know that we have the correct interpretation when we can find several scriptures to indicate the same meaning.
Most of all, this study is worthless if all we do is satisfy our curiousity. Please share this blog site with others. Hopefully, over the period of the next few months, everyone will see that salvation is only possible thru God's son, Jesus Christ. He has promised that He will return. We should anxiously await His return.
God bless, Dean
The name of the book is "Forty New Insights To Bible Prophecy". It all began when I was asked to teach a class on Revelation. I had always been interested in prophecy, studying all of the greats like Hal Lindsey & Grant Jefferies. I have read almost any book written on the subject.
I was raised in the Southern Baptist Church and taught my whole life that there was a rapture and it came at the beginning of the tribulation, afterward came the millenial kingdom. It seemed to fit with most Bible scholars; so, I was ok with it until I began teaching. I wanted to teach the truth, only what God's word had to say. Could that be possible? Prophecy is tricky because usually what man believes is going to happen and what really will happen are total different. So, I began with a plan. My plan was to take a giant piece of computer paper and try to place everything that I read on the paper in the right location according to "key words" and "key phrases" that match up. If it didn't seem to fit, I was not going to force it. I would wait on inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Lots of prayers is a part of that waiting.
So, I began the search for the truth. I still may not know everything; but, I believe that God has revealed many things that other authors seem to have missed. In this quest for the truth, I want to keep all things to the glory of God the Father.
I hope you will join me over the next few months as I go thru my past studies and hopeful new insights and try to see how today relates to the last days of Revelation.
Insight # 1: The first insight happened after I had spent countless hours in the middle of the night researching, reading, re-reading, & re-reading passages and trying to be open to what is really being said. The insight was that when you study Revelation, you have to learn the whole Bible. I believe that this is why the book of Revelation comes with a promise of blessing when you read it. The secret to understanding it is the key words. When you see a word like "star", you need to refer to other chapters of the Bible to understand if "star" is ever used for any other meaning other than the obvious one, such as, Jesus is the morning star.
Revelation is full of symbolism and hidden meanings. That should not be so unusual to you, Jesus used parables the same way. Parables always have a common meaning and, for those with insight, the parable also had spiritual meaning. Many people would totally miss the true meaning. Only through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit does the meaning pop out at you. So, when you start to read Revelation underline the key words. Ask yourself questions, "what does that mean?" and "can it mean something different?".
Over our study you will see that many verses are interpreted by people to say one thing and it could actually have several meanings. We must be open to that and consider all possibilities. We know that we have the correct interpretation when we can find several scriptures to indicate the same meaning.
Most of all, this study is worthless if all we do is satisfy our curiousity. Please share this blog site with others. Hopefully, over the period of the next few months, everyone will see that salvation is only possible thru God's son, Jesus Christ. He has promised that He will return. We should anxiously await His return.
God bless, Dean
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