HIStory, Our Future: Stumbling Blocks
Last Updated:
05/31/2008 16:41
|
The
HIStory, Our
Future: Pearls for the Bride Bible study
    
   
 
There are scriptures that are commonly accepted one way, but I believe the
Bible explains further to provide more depth and reveal some amazing details.
All interpretation is taken from the Bible itself so as to preserve
the original meaning and intent and reveal some pearls of wisdom in
scripture. Prophetically, we will see several cases where certain
mindsets can cause one to examine scripture with a lens other than
that which wrote it and therefore provide a different picture of
events.
I believe some of these views seem valid
because God wrote in stumbling stones in Bible prophecy that will
prevent the proud from understanding or accepting some scripture. I
could always be wrong, I am only human you know and I'm certainly not
proud. I just believe what the Bible says first and foremost. I am
seeing it when taken as written, explain in great detail what people
have been trying to figure out. I believe this is simply because the
time is short and we are close to the end, closer than most think.
If the Holy Spirit leads us into ALL truth, then why
so many different answers for the same scripture?
Isaiah 28:9-14
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to
understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and
drawn from the breasts. For
precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon
line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to
this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may
cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they
would not hear. But the word of
the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon
precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and
there a little; that they might go, and fall backward,
and be broken, and snared, and taken. Wherefore hear the word of
the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in
Jerusalem.
What this is saying is that doctrine is not
built on just one verse, but the whole council of God. The less of
that council of God comes to remembrance, the less scriptures are
used to build doctrine, snaring those who build beliefs on just one
or two passages.
The Word of God, all of it, must be taken into
account. A good example of this is the
first resurrection. If we take just one scripture,
Revelation 20:4,5 at face
value, it appears that the first time anyone is resurrected is after
Christ has returned in glory and Satan is bound. HOWEVER, that isn't
the only scripture that explains the times surrounding the end or
God's design. Our understanding must be based on all scripture
working together to show the whole picture, or at least more of it.
Knowing that the bride of Christ is not appointed to wrath, and that
the marriage is in heaven before Christ returns in glory, and we are
the bride of Christ, all comes together and if scripture must be
100% accurate, then every scripture must be taken as written and
connected somehow with the other precepts found here a little and
there a little throughout the Word of God.
I believe it is in this way that God reveals His Word only to those
that love it, because those that hate God don't search the
scriptures daily, they trip over the stumbling blocks placed there
by dispersing precepts throughout the scripture and err in their
doctrines or criticisms of God's Word.As
always, hold yourselves to
Acts 17:11 and validate whether these things are so in
scripture for yourself. If you believe I am in error, please share
Biblically why with me. I may have to change to fit scripture I
haven't taken into account yet. I'm willing, as long as the Bible
dictates.
|
God's Plans vs.
Satan's Plans |
Matthew 24:29-31
| Abomination of Desolation to The Day of
the Lord |
|
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
|
"he" of Daniel 9:27
|
Dispensationalism
| Eternal Israel vs. National Israel
|
Stumblingblocks in the Bible
Romans 9:30-33
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after
righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which
is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath
not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it
not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled
at that stumblingstone;
As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a
stumblingstone and rock of offence: and
whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
The just live by faith.
Habakkuk 2:1-4 |
Romans 1:16-19 |
Galatians 3:6-15 |
Hebrews 10:30-38 Faith without works is dead,
James 2:14-26, but works without faith is nothing. The Jews were so
focused on following the Law to obtain righteousness, but the Law was designed
that none can follow it fully, and without following it fully, they aren't
justified. Only through faith in the shed blood of Christ are we justified.
Christ is the chief cornerstone that the builders rejected.
1 Peter 2:1-11The stumblingstone was the Law for them that tried to be justified through
works of following the Law perfectly.
Romans 11:1-15
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am
an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not
cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith
of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, Lord,
they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left
alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him?
I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to
the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a
remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is
it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of
works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. What then?
Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath
obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God
hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and
ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let
their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a
stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back
alway. I say then, Have they stumbled
that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall
salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of
them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to
you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine
office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh,
and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the
reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from
the dead?
Romans 11 is extremely important for the Christian to really
understand. It shows how Israel is always the natural branch and the Gentiles
are always the wild branches. Both are broken off in unbelief and both can be
grafted back onto the root, which is Christ, through faith in His sacrifice.What's interesting from the section above is that King David requested the
stumblingblock for his people Israel. He requested their blindness, which
started at the
triumphal entry and will end at the
fullness
of the Gentiles.
Romans 11:25 This blindness was to cause them to fall so that
salvation could come to the Gentiles. We as Gentile Christians are supposed to
provoke the Jews to jealousy. Looking at church history, it looks more like
we've been provoking them to fear.
They certainly aren't jealous of us now, but I think that's where the
fullness of the Gentiles comes in. I believe our fullness marks the harpazo,
and by our harpazo, Israel will be unblinded and begin to realize in their
affliction that the New Testament is right. Then they will be jealous because
the bride of Christ will have been
harpazod off the earth
just before God's wrath.
Romans 14:7-17
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For
whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the
Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end
Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the
dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou
set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment
seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every
knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every
one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge
one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a
stumblingblock or
an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of
itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is
unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not
charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not
then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and
drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
This passage shows us that we are capable of placing stumblingblocks in
front of others. It's in regards to clean and unclean foods. The Jews were
very restricted as to what they could eat. Many still live under these
restrictions today eating only kosher foods. According to scripture, there is
no unclean food. However, some people still view it as unclean and we are to
respect that.
1 Corinthians
1:17-31
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not
with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none
effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;
but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I
will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the
understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where
is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this
world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God,
it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we
preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a
stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks
foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ
the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is
stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise
men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God
hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God
hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are
mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised,
hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things
that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are
ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness,
and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He
that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
This is the stumblingblock, the chief cornerstone that is Christ from
Romans 9:30-33 above.
1 Corinthians 8
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have
knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any
man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to
know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. As
concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in
sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that
there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods,
whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But
to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in
him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience
of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their
conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God: for
neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the
worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your's become a
stumblingblock to
them that are weak. For if any man see
thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the
conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are
offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish,
for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound
their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my
brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make
my brother to offend.
What I believe this is teaching us is that it's not the physical food that
is bad or wrong, but the spiritual nature that can cause corruption. Those who
do not understand this place significance on the spiritual nature of these
things and do eat them without Christ as the focus, but those idols to which
they were offered. Those with a solid foundation in Christ have that freedom
in Christ. Those without that solid foundation and relationship may be led
astray in their hearts. With greater understanding comes greater
responsibility.
1 Peter 2:1-11
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and
hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the
sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have
tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone,
disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as
lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer
up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore
also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief
corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be
confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them
which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is
made the head of the corner, And a
stone of stumbling, and a
rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient:
whereunto also they were appointed. But
ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out
of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people,
but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have
obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims,
abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Reading the Word of God is central to really knowing Him. In the Bible are
written all the ways of God. If we are to obey those ways in order to know
Him, then we should desire to soak in the Word and grow in the knowledge and
understanding of Christ and His plans for us. For some, Christ is the
stumbling block. They typically don't like the idea of One God, especially not
the Jewish God, nor His Son Yeshua (Jesus) the Christ. To them it is
foolishness and they are disobedient to the Word which instructs them in the
way to live in love and peace under God's authority and Love.
1 John 2:1-11
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin
not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and
not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And
hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and
the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the
love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he
abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I
write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from
the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the
beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in
him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now
shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in
darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light,
and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his
brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he
goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
Here it is laid out plainly, we know that we know Christ if we keep His
commandments. The Law is
shadows of
love. By following the Law, our lives are kept free of those things of the
flesh which cause conflict and strife, those things in
Galatians 5:19-21. I believe
Matthew 22:35-40 says it all in regards to the two commandments upon
which all the Law hangs, Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor
as yourself. These are the centerpieces of who the true Christian is and it
all centers around Love. Each of the 10 Commandments represent the Spirit of
God, showing forth the fruits of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-26 By obeying the 10 Commandments, not stealing, not
murdering, etc, we are living in peace with each other.
Revelation
2:12-17
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These
things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works,
and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast
my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas
was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I
have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the
doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before
the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and
to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the
doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will
come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my
mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna,
and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which
no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Those who obey the Word will get a white stone with a new name that only
they and God know. That's a personal relationship on a very personal level,
and something special that each person will have with just God and just God
with them. What a loving God we serve!
Scriptural Stumbling Blocks in
Bible Prophecy
Looking through the scriptures above, we see that the stumbling blocks that
we commonly trip over are from assumptions we make or beliefs based on not
having the full information. I believe the Bible interprets itself in all
cases. This eliminates the need for us as believers to require anything but
knowledge of the whole council of God's Word to interpret those things written
later on. I ask that if you come across a link for a definition that you
follow it to my more detailed explanation. If you're truly going to understand
what I'm presenting, you need to see the background information that led me to
my conclusion.If God only wants those that truly love Him to understand then He has to
spread the
pearls of wisdom
in scripture throughout the Bible so that only by research and deep study of
His Word, with the guidance of its author the Holy Spirit, will you truly
understand the deep meanings and implications. So you need to ask for His
guidance in prayer before continuing. If we love Him, we will obey
Him. 1 John 2:1-11 What these pearls do is
clarify scripture for us and literally lay out the future. This is the
promised understanding He has given us in His Word.
Amos 3:7 I pray you are as edified and built up in faith by the
amazing detail of God's Word as I still am to this day. All glory to God with
thanks to my Comforter the Holy Spirit sent by Christ who died so I could be
in His Love forever.
Please follow the links to the Bible studies when listed if you haven't
already. To understand how the pieces fit together, we must understand each
piece completely first. Only then can we truly understand how to put it with
another piece that has been studied to see how they fit. There are many
interpretations out there. I've interpreted with scripture and posted it in
those studies to clarify my foundation for building upon. I do this so that
you are assured of Biblical accuracy. Please let me know if you find any
problems. This is a search for Truth we are on. I can learn from you as well
as I don't know it all. Keep watching!
God's Plans vs. Satan's Plans
This is just a quick breakdown more fully explained at the
70th
Week of Daniel page regarding God's week vs. Satan's week.
The
Abomination of Desolation to the Day of the Lord
Matthew 24:29-31 -
AoD to the Sixth Seal
This
passage is pivotal to the understanding of the timing of the
sixth seal. It also reveals
the clarity of scripture regarding the order of events surrounding
this pivotal time in history as the day of the Lord and God's wrath
comes suddenly and unexpectedly on those not watching. I recommend
you read the
great tribulation Bible
study to understand the full scope of what "tribulation" is being
spoken of in verse 29.
There's much debate about when the sixth
seal takes place. Some place it at the end just before Christ
returns in glory, others like myself place it in the middle of the
70th week of Daniel. Why? The first place we will look is scripture
for timing.
Matthew
24:29-31
Immediately after the tribulation of those days
shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her
light, and the stars shall fall from heaven,
and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in
heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and
they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a
great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his
elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Sixth seal
about 30 days after the
abomination of desolation
[Matthew
24:15-22]
God's wrath [Isaiah
13:10-13 |
Day of the Lord]
start:
Revelation 6:12-17
| end:
Revelation 16:17
Christ's return in glory
Revelation 19:11-21
The "tribulation of those days" is
Matthew 24:15-29, which the Bible labels the
time of Jacob's
trouble. This time of Jacob's
trouble is what a remnant of Israel is saved out of.
Zechariah 13:8,9 This is connected directly to
starting at the abomination of desolation. So the "tribulation of those
days" begins at the abomination of desolation and when taking the other
unparalleled times spoken of in history,
Jeremiah 30:4-7 and
Daniel 12:1, we see that this time is specifically for
Israel. This is also proven in the warning only to those in Judea to run
to the mountains when the abomination of desolation takes place.
This next passage clarifies how
Satan's wrath, the great tribulation, is split into two focuses. First on
Israel in Judea (according to Christ) at the abomination of desolation.
Then once Israel is protected, the dragon turns worldwide to go after the
Jewish remnant and those with the testimony of Christ. Verses 13-16
Revelation 12:13-17
[Time of Jacob's
trouble]
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted
the woman which brought forth the man child. [Israel,
2/3 Cut off
Zechariah 13:8]
[Just
before the sixth seal]
14-16 And to the woman
[1/3 Israel Remnant "all of Israel"
Zechariah 13:9]
were given two wings of a great eagle,
that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is
nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the
serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after
the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the
earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the
flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
[Last 41
months of antichrist's reign: Christ's return in glory
Revelation 19:20]
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the
remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
This transition time after Israel is
protected for the remainder of the 70th week of Daniel, is when God's wrath
comes upon the children of disobedience. That is called the day of the Lord,
and comes after the sixth seal, which
Matthew 24:29 places "immediately after" the time of Jacob's trouble,
which according to the exact day prophecies, can only be a maximum of 30 days,
but that time is cut short.
Matthew 24:22 |
Mark 13:20 |
Daniel 12:1 |
Jeremiah 30:7 It can only be 30 days because:
Daniel
12:11
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be
taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall
be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
[1290 days: abomination of desolation to
end of 70th week of Daniel]
Revelation 13:5
And the beast which I saw was like unto a
leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth
of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great
authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death;
and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they
worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to
make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great
things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty
and two months.
[1260 days: Dragon cast down/gives beast power to
Christ's return in glory
Revelation 19:20]
Revelation 12:13,14
And when the dragon saw that he was cast
unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly
into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time,
and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
[1260 days: Protected from dragon in
the wilderness to end of 70th week of Daniel]
Matthew
24:15,21
15 When ye therefore shall see
the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the
holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning
of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
[Places timing of dragon giving the beast his power
to the abomination of desolation, which is then tied through Daniel 9:27 to
the "midst of the week," the 70th week of Daniel]
We have a sun/moon/star event that matches that of
the sixth seal immediately after Israel is protected in the wilderness.
Revelation 6:12-17
And I beheld when he had
opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and
the sun became black as sackcloth
of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the
earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is
shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is
rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their
places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and
the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free
man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said
to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him
that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great
day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Sixth Seal and the Day of the Lord
The
day of the
Lord is
God's wrath
coming on the earth. As Christians, we have a promise to know the times if
we're watching.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I
write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so
cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and
safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman
with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren,
are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of
the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but
let us watch and be sober.
Therefore, if at the sixth seal those who don't have understanding of
scripture perceive God's coming wrath, then in order for scripture to be
correct, that wrath must come suddenly at the sixth seal. If you have not done
so yet, please read the Bible study on the
sixth seal.
In relation to the sixth seal, the day of the Lord occurs
on the same day as I will show from scripture.
Isaiah 2:12-21
For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon
every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is
lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars
of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks
of Bashan, And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the
hills that are lifted up, And upon every high tower, and upon
every fenced wall, And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon
all pleasant pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed
down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD
alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols he shall
utterly abolish. And they shall go into the holes of the
rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD,
and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake
terribly the earth. In that day a man
shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which
they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to
the bats; To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the
tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the
glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the
earth.
Compare this
to...
Revelation 6:12-17
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo,
there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as
sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars
of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her
untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the
heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and
every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And
the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and
the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and
every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of
the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us,
and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and
from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath
is come; and who shall be able to stand?
This
happens at the sixth seal.
Isaiah 2:12-21
ties that hiding for fear of the LORD to the day of the Lord, when
He rises to shake the earth. Isaiah
13:6-13 also makes this connection...
Isaiah 13:6-13
Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come
as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all
hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: And they shall
be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall
be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one
at another; their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the
day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger,
to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners
thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the
constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall
be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her
light to shine. And I will punish the world for their
evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the
arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the
haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious
than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore
I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall
remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts,
and in the day of his fierce anger.
To me, this
connects the sixth seal with the day of the Lord. The day of the
Lord comes as destruction from the Almighty. The first trumpet
follows the seventh seal, the last one needing to be broken to open
the scroll written on both sides. More on that
here. Hail mixed with fire and blood followed by an
asteroid striking the sea is certainly going to cause sudden
destruction and shake the earth not to mention the following
trumpets such as the demon locusts being loosed on the earth and
the subsequent next three woes.
1
Thessalonians 5:1-6
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have
no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly
that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden
destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with
child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren,
are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a
thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the
children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and
be sober.
Therefore, if at the sixth seal those who
don't have understanding of scripture perceive God's coming wrath,
then in order for scripture to be correct, that wrath must come
suddenly at the sixth seal. If you have not done so yet, please read
the Bible study on the
sixth seal.
The stumbling block is, if we read
Matthew 24:29-31
without researching what the powers of heaven being shaken means, we
can easily be led to think that the gathering of
Matthew 24:30,31
takes place at the sixth seal and is referring to the harpazo. This
leads to the faulty belief that the sixth seal and our harpazo
occurs when Christ returns in glory at the end of the 70th week of
Daniel.
It certainly seems to flow that way.
However, this understanding of the powers of heaven being shaken
equating to God's wrath, we see that the end of verse 29 actually
encompasses a 1230 day period between the sixth seal and Christ's
return in glory. There's also the commonly forgotten detail of verse
31 which actually states that some of these elect are gathered from
one end of heaven to the other. How did they get there to be
gathered from heaven when Christ returns in glory? The answer is
that they were harpazod around the sixth seal, which took place in
the middle of the 70th week of Daniel before God's wrath
Joel 2:31 and
immediately after the tribulation of
Matthew 24:15-22. I hope
this helps clarify the timing scripturally for everyone. I know it
has for me!
Joel
3:13-17
Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe:
come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats
overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes,
multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the
LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon
shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their
shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his
voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall
shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and
the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know
that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy
mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no
strangers pass through her any more.
This is the same sequence found in
Isaiah 13:10-13. It
shows the second sickle harvest from
Revelation 14:17-20.
This is the harvest of the wicked into God's wrath. This takes
place just after the sixth seal when the day of the Lord begins
after the harpazo.
Revelation 6:12-17 is
the sixth seal and
Revelation 7 goes into
the sealing of the 144,000 and the multitude in heaven (the
bride of Christ before the throne in heaven after the harpazo).
I believe this also supports a
pre-wrath harpazo of the bride
sometime after the abomination of desolation,
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4,
and before the first trumpet.
Revelation 8:1,2 Given
the placement of the multitudes in heaven after the sixth seal
and before the trumpets, I would think the harpazo closer to the
sixth seal in the middle of the 70th week of Daniel.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
The timing of
our gathering to Christ in relation to the man of sin being revealed:
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5
Now we beseech you, brethren,
by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in
mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as
from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by
any means: for that day
[our gathering unto Him, "day of Christ"] shall NOT come,
except:
- there come a falling away first,
and
- that man of sin be revealed,
the son of perdition;
- Who opposeth and exalteth
himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he
as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
Here scripture gives us this order:
-
Falling away (apostacia)
-
Man of sin revealed (antichrist:
Takes place when he reveals himself at the
abomination of desolation)
-
Our gathering to Christ (harpazo)
Notice too, that the "day of Christ" is directly
connected to our gathering to Him. We see this differentiated from the day
of the Lord in several passages that talk about the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ, which is not a day of darkness, but for Christians a day of
rejoicing. (1
Corinthians 5:5 |
2 Corinthians 1:12-14)
The timing of the
revealing of the man of sin in relation to the
restrainer being removed:
This color coding only
applies IF we view the restrainer as the Holy Spirit/church, and therefore
tying the unrestraining to our removal in the harpazo.
2 Thessalonians 2:6-10
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only
he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out
of the way. And then shall
that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with
the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his
coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all
power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of
the truth, that they might be saved.
Here, if the
restrainer is the Holy Spirit which dwells in the church, we have this
order:
-
Our gathering to Christ must take place
(The restrainer [Holy Spirit/church] has to be taken
out of the way)
-
Then the man of sin can be revealed
There is a direct
opposition when defining the restrainer as the Holy Spirit symbolizing the
removal of the church before the revealing of the antichrist. By placing the
Holy Spirit/church as the restrainer, a contradiction is set up by assuming
our gathering to Christ is directly related to the restrainer being removed.
I believe the Holy Spirit wrote it this way to remove confusion. This leads
us to the clincher for me as to who the restrainer is.
So according to
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5,
the day of Christ won't come until there is a falling away from God and the man
of sin (antichrist/beast)
is revealed. This happens at the
abomination of desolation, when he declares
himself to be God. Then we will know for sure who the man of sin is and after
that, will come the day of Christ. As we see in
Luke 17:24-37, the first time
the Son of man, the Christ Yeshua, is revealed is at the abomination of
desolation and in that night is the harpazo. I have a theory that this ties the
appearing of the Son of man with the strong delusion that God sends, but that's
a theory so I won't go into it now. Here the Bible confirms itself for us and
strengthens our faith.
John 14:1-3
Let not your heart be troubled:
ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions:
if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And
if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again,
and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
It is soon after the
harpazo that the sixth seal
takes place, and soon after that the
day of the Lord
comes. Timing of our gathering before the day
of the Lord:
mark s on
FulfilledProphecy: "They
were troubled by the report that the “day of the Lord” had come. Now, whether
it meant to them that they had missed the harpazo, or whether it meant to them
that the current persecution would just get worse and not better, I don’t know
for sure, except that Paul says, “concerning the coming of the Lord, and our
gathering together to Him.” This would make it seem to me that they were
worried about the ramifications of the Day of the Lord having come, and what
that would mean as far as their being gathered together to Christ. Now, if
they believed that the Day of the Lord came first, this would be good news,
and they wouldn’t be troubled. If they believed the gathering came first, then
this would be troubling news indeed. "
Who is "he"
Responsible for the Abomination of Desolation in Daniel's 70 Weeks Prophecy?
(Daniel 9:26,27)
The answer to this
question either has Christ or the antichrist as the one who performs the
abomination of desolation. Yeshua points
us to Daniel when He tells them in Judea to run to the mountains when they see
the abomination of desolation.
Matthew 24:15-22
The 70th Week:
Who confirms the covenant for one week?
Dispensationalism is born of Bible prophecy
My foundation for believing that God has
plans for blinded Israel separate from the church, which includes both Jew and
Gentile, comes from a yet unfulfilled prophecy.
Daniel 9:24-27
Seventy weeks are determined
upon thy people
and upon thy holy city,
to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make
reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and
to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know
therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to
restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven
weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and
the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall
Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that
shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof
shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are
determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in
the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to
cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate,
even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the
desolate.
Notice that Daniel's people, Israel, and
Jerusalem are both linked together as the subject to whom this prophecy is
referring.
Is this saying that Jews somehow get saved outside of Christ? Not by a
long-shot. It has nothing to do with salvation, except that there is a remnant
of national Israel that will eventually come to Christ at the end of this
final 70th week of Daniel's prophecy. Christ is the only way to salvation. The
whole point behind dispensationalism is simply recognizing that God has a plan
for national Israel that is separate from the Israel of heaven only because we
are trapped in space-time and cannot see beyond now except through Bible
prophecy.
The national Israel that will be saved is in reality part of the Israel of
heaven, the eternal Israel comprised of Jew and Gentile. We are all spirits
inside temples of flesh. Genealogy only matters when we're in the flesh. In
spirit, there is no difference between Jew or Gentile in Christ. However the
only way to eternal life is to be grafted to the root, which is Yeshua the
Christ. The things of the spirit are outside of space-time. God knew who was
His before creation and of those who are His, He will lose none.
I go by the common definition given in a dictionary so that all have a common
foundation upon which to build a discussion. Some previous religious leaders
use of the term surrounding their detailed viewpoints doesn't negate the plain
meaning of the term.
Dispensationalism
the interpreting of history as a series of divine dispensations.
Dispensation
a. the divine ordering of the affairs of the world.
b. an appointment, arrangement, or favor, as by God.
c. a divinely appointed order or age: the old Mosaic, or Jewish,
dispensation; the new gospel, or Christian, dispensation.
This is what the prophecy
to Daniel is all about. God laid out the future of the nation of Israel ending
in a 7-year period of time in the midst of which the man of sin would declare
himself god and demand worship. It is central to Bible prophecy about the end
times, pinned there by Christ. Israel must exist for it to be fulfilled
because the 70 weeks are determined for Israel and Jerusalem. Only the
children of Abraham have that genetic and space-time connection to a location
called Jerusalem. Therefore, it is clear that God's design has built into it a
genetic heritage through which events would unfold. He chose a people from
which to become flesh to die for our sins and it was the children of Abraham
through Isaac and Jacob. The Bible actually lays out the lineage to Christ
from Adam, but most people (including me) skip through that without truly
considering. The events of the Old Testament all center on Israel and the
coming Messiah. The New Testament is simply the Old Testament revealed, while
the New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed as Chuck Missler would
say.
Eternal Israel vs. National Israel
Connected to the idea of dispensationalism is
the distinction between the Israel that will inhabit eternity and the
disbelieving nation of Israel today. Bible prophecy is centered around the
fulfillment of Daniel's 70 weeks for National Israel. Israel is the name God
gave Jacob, whose 12 sons made up the 12 tribes of Israel.
Eternal Israel is comprised of Jews
who live by faith, accepting Christ, and Gentiles who live by faith
accepting Christ. It must be recognized that this group is outside of
space-time in that God foreknew all that were His and of those He will lose
none. This is where the grafting comes into play in that eternal Israel is
comprised only of those who have been grafted back onto the root, which is
Christ. It is further divided into groups based on earth's space-time. The
groups are the bride of Christ, comprised of those who accept Christ before
the harpazo of the bride, and those who accept Christ during the great
tribulation and during the millennium.
National Temporal Israel is the physical lineage of the seed of
Abraham in a literal sense. What differentiates this group is that not all
in this group are part of eternal Israel because many are broken off in
unbelief.
So when is the Bible talking about which
group? It depends on the context. Bible prophecy speaks about events that have
happened and will happen within space-time involving earth history and the
plan of redemption of the human race. Many immediately turn away when terms
like "dispensationalism" are used, but when it comes to Bible prophecy, to
deny it is to disregard scripture as I touched on above. Daniel's 70 weeks are
pivotal to the timing of the abomination of desolation and all 70 weeks of
years are "determined upon thy people
[Israel] and upon
thy holy city. [Jerusalem]"
So is this Bible prophecy referring to eternal Israel or temporal, national
Israel? Since the prophecy was given before the existence of the church in New
Testament terms (followers of Christ), and given to a national people and
their city Jerusalem, and concerning events within earth's space-time, I
believe it is clearly speaking of the temporal, national Israel. In this way
we can see the difference between which Israel is being discussed.
In scripture we see that we as Christians are heirs of the promises of Abraham
and part of Israel. However, this is speaking in terms of eternal Israel, not
national Israel to which the prophecies within earth's history are referring.
They are bounded by time whereas eternal Israel is not. I believe that Bible
prophecy speaks of national Israel and it is therefore central to the
fulfillment of Bible prophecy. We see that in the 70 weeks prophecy given to
Daniel. We see it in the unparalleled time of great tribulation initially
focused on national, temporal Israel -- the time of Jacob's trouble. (Daniel
12:1 |
Jeremiah 30:4-7 |
Matthew 24:15-22) I just wanted to clarify my position a little
better. Here is a little chart (can't remember what kind of chart it is) that
shows how I view the relationship in relation to the harpazo:
There are some who look at the promises to the
church that they become the seed of Abraham and then place that perspective on
Bible prophecy. The problem with this is that Bible prophecy is covering
events within earth's space-time regarding future events. As I went over
above, these events refer to a specific people. For instance, the woman of
Revelation 12. If we look at this woman who is protected in the
wilderness and say, "We are now Abraham's seed, so this is referring to us
too," then I believe we run into some problems.
How can this woman be referring to the church
when it was Christ who made the church and Christ was born of that woman? What
came first, the chicken or the egg? How can the bride give birth to her
husband? The Bible is very clear on physical lineage and traces it from Adam
to Christ through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel. The symbology of
Revelation 12:1 is seen initially in a dream Joseph had.
Genesis 37:9-11 Jacob/Israel recognized the symbology and interpreted
it for us labeling himself as the sun, his wife the moon, and his 12 sons the
stars. All of this is before the church existed and it all refers to Bible
prophecy, which is always focused on events transpiring on earth within the
confines of the 7,000 years it will exist. (i.e. Not eternity)
Therefore it would follow that even though we are part of Israel, grafted onto
Christ our root, we are not the Israel that Bible prophecy refers to. This is
seen in other prophecies as well. And upon further examination of the events
and the subjects of those events, when Christ says to run to the mountains, He
is only talking to those in Judea.
Matthew 24:15-22 There's only one Judea and it's in the land of
Israel. This should also be some indication that the warning is for a
particular group of people living in a particular place at a particular time.
I should further define my terms here because
otherwise I'll probably be misunderstood. When I use the term "church," I'm
referring to the
bride of Christ.
This is comprised of all who accept Christ as their Messiah, Jew or Gentile.
However, not everyone in heaven eternally will be the bride of Christ. We can
see this in the fact that the marriage of the Lamb occurs on heaven before
Christ returns in glory and yet there is still a
resurrection of the just in
Revelation 20:4 after the marriage. The bride of Christ is a mixture
of Jew and Gentile, but under Christ those terms don't matter, we are one body
with Christ as our head.
In terms of the woman going into the wilderness in future Bible prophecy,
there is no indication that this is anyone but those in Judea that fled and
the woman described earlier in
Revelation 12 as being specifically national Israel, which resides for
the most part in Judea. The key to understand is that only those who accept
Christ and obey are promised to escape the wrath of God.
Luke 21:34-36
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged
with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day
come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell
on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye
may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass,
and to stand before the Son of man.
The fact that all believers in Yeshua are
promised to escape God's wrath indicates a dispensation (divine ordering of
earthly affairs) different from those who don't accept Christ. Israel is
blinded until the fullness of the Gentiles.
Romans 11:25 The wrath of God comes with the beginning of the day of
the Lord.
Isaiah 13:6-13
Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction
from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart
shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of
them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed
one at another; their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the day of the LORD
cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate:
and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven
and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be
darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to
shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their
iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay
low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than
fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake
the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of
the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
It follows the sixth seal.
Joel 2:31
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the
great and terrible day of the LORD come.
The sixth seal is "immediately after the
tribulation of those days," (Matthew
24:29) referring back to
Matthew 24:15-28. This is the unparalleled time of great tribulation
that starts at the abomination of desolation. There are three scriptures
claiming to be the worst in all of history, meaning that they all must be the
same time. All three directly refer to Israel, Jerusalem, and Judea. (Daniel
12:1 |
Jeremiah 30:4-7 |
Matthew 24:15-22)
In
Revelation 12:13-17, the dragon first goes after the woman, Israel. It
is only after she is taken to the wilderness and protected from him that he
turns his attention outside of Judea where it began at the abomination of
desolation to get the remnant of Israel worldwide and those holding the
testimony of Christ.
So there are two different "dispensations" or divine plans for different
groups. National Israel is protected in the wilderness and unblinded while the
watching obedient church (bride of Christ) is harpazod to the marriage of the
Lamb before the wrath of God is poured out on all who dwell on the whole
earth. This is another indication that national, temporal Israel is different
from the eternal Israel in which we as the bride of Christ are part of.
National Israel being taken into the wilderness marks the end of the time of
Jacob's trouble when the dragon moves worldwide in his persecution and the
sixth seal is broken. Since the wrath of God comes suddenly and unexpectedly
for the world, their recognition of God's wrath at the sixth seal is telling
in that for the Bible to be true, God's wrath must come soon after that. The
seventh seal is ˝ hour of silence and then the trumpets start so it would
seem that God's wrath would most likely come on the same day the sixth seal
occurs but after it.
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