Meeting of October 03, 2007

Last Updated: 07/25/2008 01:56 |

Prophetic Precepts: The Great Tribulation
For this week's meeting we will be going over my research in defining the great tribulation as well as some other important points. This is an important precept that needs to be understood before getting into some of the rest of the information presented on this website. The central nature of this period of time to the end times scenario will become more clear as these studies progress and it will be helpful as we go over these future studies to have the same scripturally founded concepts in mind when discussing events occurring within this timeframe.

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The reason for my beginning this Bible study resulted from a series of Bible prophecy studies, which at the time seemed unrelated, but have clearly become pieces to the puzzle of the promised understanding of the end times and the return of Christ. However upon prayer and study of scripture, it has become clear that diving right into the study without background study of important foundational points leads to incomplete and partial understanding and takes away from the whole picture that strengthens our faith and reveals the keys to understanding the details of what we’re watching, the fulfillment of Bible prophecy that revolves around Yeshua and His soon return. Since Bible prophecy is a topic approached with much skepticism, the information I have learned must be presented on a solid foundation of understanding of scripture in combination with historical record. This will lead us to viewing current news in light of prophecy with much more precision than is possible without understanding of what the Bible has to say about this time.
Just as we don’t put up the sheetrock before framing the house, or building our foundation before placing the framing, so too must we build our understanding of the end times on a clear foundation of scripture. But how do we get that clarity? Many have presented their interpretations of prophecy yet they cannot all be right. My perspective is that we let scripture interpret itself and go where that leads us.

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.
This tells us several things:

Begin with a foundation of the basics and a personal study of scripture (all begins with a desire for understanding)

Understanding of concepts comes from more than one line of scripture

Lines of scripture work from throughout the Bible as a whole

The purpose of it being written this way is to provide understanding to those who derive that understanding from scripture and not personal desires or wishes

Our understanding of God’s Word can be skewed if we don’t take the whole council of God into account. The focus for understanding knowledge and doctrine is from the Word of God alone.

Example in the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4,5)

Context is after Christ returns in glory, armies at Har Megiddo defeated, the beast and false prophet cast into the lake of fire, and Lucifer is bound for the 1,000 years.

At face value with just this one scripture, it may seem that this resurrection is the first such that none has occurred before it. Several additional scriptures discount this view:

Acts 24:14,15

Precept 1: There are two resurrection groups: Just and Unjust

1 Corinthians 15:16-24

Note: If there is no resurrection, our faith in Christ is in vain

Precept 2: There is an order to the resurrection of the dead

Precept 3: Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection of them that slept

Precept 4: Revelation 20:4,5 makes it clear that the dead who are not in Christ do not live again until the great white throne judgment. These are the unjust (those not justified by faith in Christ)

This leads us to one conclusion that since the unjust are only resurrected after the millennium at the great white throne judgment, that of the two groups resurrected, they are the last. This leaves the just to take part in the first resurrection.

Some conclude from the reading of just the verse using the term “first resurrection” that this is the first resurrection such that none was before it. From reading further passages, it becomes clear that “first” is actually speaking to the resurrection of the just, which has an order to it and Christ is part of that and He is risen!

This view has led many to place the resurrection/harpazo of the bride of Christ at the end of the great tribulation. For many reasons we will be studying, this is not the case

This is covered in detail on the Watchman Bible Study website

The Great Tribulation

What is it?

Daniel 7:23-25

How long is it?

Daniel 7:23-25 (3.5 years = 1260 days)

Revelation 13:1-5 (42 months = 1260 days)

Who’s it for? (Division of the time) Revelation 12:13-17

“Time of Jacob’s trouble” (Revelation 12:13-16)

This time is focused on Israel in Judea. Notice in the following scriptures the similarities (unparalleled time of trouble | focus on Israel | promise of deliverance from this time)

Matthew 24:15-22 | Mark 13:14-20 Connects the start of the great tribulation with the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel:

Daniel 9:27 – Places it in the midst of the 7 years of the antichrist’s confirmed covenant with many and the 70^th week of Daniel

Daniel 12:11 – Further defines the timing in an exact-day prophecy placing it at the beginning of a 1290-day period of time.

Daniel 12:1

Jeremiah 30:4-7

How long is this time?

Precept 1: The antichrist’s 3.5 year reign/great tribulation begins at the abomination of desolation

Precept 2: The initial focus of the antichrist is specifically Israel (those in Judea flee at the AoD = time of Jacob’s trouble)

Precept 3: The abomination of desolation starts a 1290 day period

Precept 4: Israel is protected from the dragon for 1260 days in the wilderness

Charts:

Remainder of the antichrist’s rule (Revelation 12:17)

This is when the antichrist moves worldwide and implements the mark of the beast

Revelation 2:22 – Part of the church is promised to be cast into great tribulation if they don’t repent.

Matthew 25:1-13 – Ten virgins (5 wise/5 foolish)

Revelation 7:14 – Those appearing in heaven come out of great tribulation. This doesn’t mean the great tribulation is over just that it began before they are seen in heaven. This actually is the promised escape from God’s wrath, which is what determines the timing of our harpazo to meet Christ in the air.

Luke 21:34-36

The reign of the antichrist, the great tribulation, ends when Christ returns in glory to take the kingdoms and begin His millennial reign. Revelation 19:20

One of the points these precepts about the first resurrection and the great tribulation leads us to I will be covering in more detail in future meetings, and that is Christ comes two times according to scripture.

The first time is an unknown time that is accompanied by the wrath of God coming suddenly on an unsuspecting population like the days of Noah. Matthew 24:36-39 This is also the moment of our harpazo to meet Him in the air after the dead in Christ are resurrected. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 | 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 It is at this point we are gathered to be taken to the marriage of the Lamb as the bride of Christ. It is before God’s wrath is poured out that we are removed as promised.

The second time is at Armageddon, when He comes in glory and defeats the gathered armies at Har Megiddo for which “Armageddon” is named. This is when He sets up His millennial kingdom and begins His rule with a rod of iron.