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I. THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED: HID FROM AGES PAST, BUT NOW REVEALED TO PAUL A. BY THE GRACE AND POWER OF GOD, THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST WAS MADE KNOWN TO PAUL, BOND SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST: Eph 3:1-7 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, (2)If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: (3)How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, (4)Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) (5)Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; (6)That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (7)Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. B. THE MYSTERY WAS MANIFESTED THROUGH PAUL TO THE GENTILES: CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY: Col 1:25-27 (25)Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; (26)Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: (27)To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. C. BEING THE FIRSTBORN OF MANY BRETHREN WAS NEVER PROPHESIED OF THE ANOINTED ONE, THE KING/MESSIAH OF ISRAEL: AN EARTHLY KINGDOM WITH ITS KING IN HEAVEN WAS A FOREIGN CONCEPT TO THE PROPHETS: Col 1:15,18,21,22 (15)Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: ....(18)And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. ....(21)And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (22)In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight: D. THE GOSPEL OF PEACE WAS KNOWN: THE GOOD THINGS OF GOD HAVE BEEN MANIFESTED TO EVERY CREATURE UNDER HEAVEN : Rom 1:19-20 (19)Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. (20)For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being under-stood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Col 1:23-24 (23)If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (24)Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: E. HE GOSPEL OF FAITH WAS PREACHED TO ABRAHAM, SO THAT HE OF FAITH IS A SON OF ABRAHAM AND A SON OF PROMISE : Gal 3:6-8 (6)Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. (7)Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (8)And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying,“In thee shall all nations be blessed.” F. THE GOSPEL OF PEACE WAS PREACHED FROM THE TIME OF MOSES, BUT IS NOW MADE MANIFEST IN CHRIST : Rom 10:15-21 (15)And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” [ISA 52:7] (16)But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, “Lord, who hath believed our report?” [ISA 53:1] (17)So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. (18)But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, “their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”[PSA 19:4] (19)But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, “I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.” (20)But Isaiah is very bold, and saith, “I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.” G. THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST THE FIRSTFRUITS, THEN AT HIS COMING THOSE WHO ARE HIS SHALL BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD : 1Co 15:19-23 (19)If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. (20)But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (21)For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. (22)For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (23)But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 1Co 15:51-52 (51)Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52)In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. H. THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL SHALL BE PREACHED TO ALL NATIONS BY 144,000 JEWS IN THE "HOUR OF JUDGMENT": Rev 14:1,4,6-7 (1)And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads..... (4)These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb...... (6)And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, (7)Saying with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” COMMENT: THERE IS MUCH DEBATE ABOUT THE 144,000 IN TERMS OF VIRGINS AND FIRSTFRUITS. BUT BY USING PAUL’S DEFINITION OF FIRSTFRUITS (1CO 15:23 ABOVE), THIS DEBATE BECOMES ACADEMIC. SIMPLY STATED, ALL THESE CHARACTERISTICS ARE TRUE OF ONE WHO IS REDEEMED (BORN AGAIN) IN CHRIST, FOR SAINTS IN HEAVEN ARE NOT GIVEN IN MARRIAGE. THUS, WE SHALL ASSUME FOR PURPOSES OF THIS DISCUS- SION THAT THESE ARE DEAD-IN-CHRIST SAINTS THAT SHALL BE RESURRECTED AT THE COMING OF CHRIST FOR HIS CHURCH. PAUL SAYS THOSE RAISED SHALL BE WITH CHRIST FOREVER, THUS THEY SURELY FOLLOW THE LAMB WHEREVER HE GOES. THAT SETTLES THE DEBATE FOR ME. [ NOTE: HOUR OF JUDGMENT = TRIBULATION AGE ] II. PAUL DECLARES THE END OF THE CHURCH MYSTERY: RAISED TO GLORY IN CHRIST JESUS A. THE RISEN CHRIST FIRST APPEARED TO ALL THE APOSTLES; THEN APPEARED TO PAUL MORE THAN TEN YEARS LATER: 1Co 15:3-8 (3)For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, (4)that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (5)and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. (6)Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. (7)Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. (8)Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. B. THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH: THE DEAD-IN-CHRIST SHALL BE RAISED TO GLORY, THE ALIVE IN CHRIST SHALL PUT ON IMMORTALITY : 1Co 15:51-52 (50)Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (51)Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52)In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53)For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality . C. BY THE WORD OF THE LORD, CHRIST SHALL COME IN THE CLOUDS, WITH A SHOUT AND THE TRUMP OF GOD: 1Th 4:15-18 (15)For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (16)For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17)Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (18)Wherefore comfort one another with these words. D. THE CHURCH, THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THE SPIRIT, SHALL BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST, THE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN TO FOLLOW: Rom 8:23,29 (23)And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. ....(29)For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. E. THE RIGHTEOUS IN CHRIST ARE NOT APPOINTED TO WRATH BUT TO SALVATION & PEACE WITH JESUS CHRIST FOREVER: 1Th 5:9-10 (9)For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, (10)Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. F. THEN SHALL COME THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY: THERE SHALL BE APOSTASY IN THE CHURCH AND THE REVELATION OF ANTICHRIST, HE THAT SHALL BE THE GREAT PRETENDER SHALL BE GIVEN DOMINION IN THE GREAT TRIBULATION : 2Th 2:1-9 (1)Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (2)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. (3)Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (4)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 showing himself that he is God. (5)Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? (6)And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. (7)For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (8)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: (9)Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. III. THE MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM: JESUS WILL GATHER HIS WHEAT INTO HIS BARN BEFORE THE END OF THE MYSTERY A. JOHN THE BAPTIST SAID IT FIRST: Mat 3:10-12 (10)"And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (11)I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (12)Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." B. THE APOSTLES WERE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WITH FIRE AND SPOKE THE WORD WITH GREAT POWER : Act 2:3-4 (3)And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (4)And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. C. THE TWELVE WERE GIVEN TO KNOW THE MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, BUT NOT THE HARD OF HEART: Mat 13:10-11 (10)And the disciples came, and said unto him, "Why speakest thou unto them in parables?" (11)He answered and said unto them, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." IV. THE KINGDOM MYSTERIES IN THE WHEAT & TARES PARABLE: THE STORY OF A HARVEST AND A GATHERING A. Exo 34:22 [THE LORD SPEAKING TO MOSES] “And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end.” B. Mat 13:17-18 [THE LORD TO HIS APOSTLES] (17)"For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. (18)Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower..." C. Mat 13:25-27 [IN THE TIME OF HARVEST] (24)Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: (25)But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. (26)But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. (27)So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, 'Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?' (28)He said unto them, 'An enemy hath done this.' The servants said unto him, 'Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?' (29)But he said, 'Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. (30)Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.'" D. Mat 13:36-43 [AND THE GATHERING AT THE END] (36)Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, “Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.” (37)He said unto them: “He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; (38)The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; (39)The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. (40)As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. (41)The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; (42)And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (43)Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” COMMENT: WHEN THE TWELVE WERE ALONE WITH JESUS, THEY ASKED HIM TO EXPLAIN THE TARES PARABLE. HE EXPLAINED EVERY SYMBOL EXCEPT FOR "MY BARN." FOR THIS JESUS SUBSTITUTED, "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Mat 13:43). THIS SEEMED TO SATISFY THEM, FOR THEY UNDERSTOOD THE "OLD TRUTH" UNDERLINED AS A SIGN OF THE PROMISED KINGDOM. THE DISCIPLES WERE NOT READY TO UNDERSTAND THE "NEW TRUTH" ABOUT HIS BARN. MY BARN IS THE NEW TRUTH SYMBOL OF THE PLACE IN HEAVEN PREPARED BY JESUS FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM (JOHN 14:3), A SANCTUARY OF REST (REV 6:11). IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S PART OF THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, THAT IS, THE CHURCH AGE ENDS WITH THE FIRSTFRUITS (WHEAT) HARVEST [WHEAT & TARES, PART 1], AND THE TRIBULATION AGE ENDS WITH THE INGATHERING (VINTAGE) HARVEST [TARES ONLY, PART 2]. TO UNDERSTAND THIS PARABLE IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT TRUTH CAN BE HIDDEN IN THE DETAILS, THAT WORDS HAVE PRECISE MEANINGS AND THAT EVERY WORD CAN BE RELEVANT. LET THE READER BEWARE, HOWEVER, FOR THIS DEPARTS FROM THE “MAJORITY OPINION” OF PARABLE INTERPRETATION. YET IT IS UNDENIABLY BIBLICAL. V. THE KINGDOM MYSTERIES IN THE DRAGNET PARABLE A. Mat 13:47-51 [SEVENTH AND FINAL PARABLE] (47)"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: (48)Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. (49)So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, (50)And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (51)Jesus saith unto them, "Have ye understood all these things?" They say unto him, "Yea, Lord." COMMENT: THE END OF THE WORLD JUDGMENTS IN THE TARES AND THE DRAGNET PARABLES ARE ALMOST IDENTICAL (FIRE) . SO MY QUESTION IS, WHY DID JESUS SPEAK IT IN TWO UNIQUE PARABLES? WAS IT MERELY FOR EMPHASIS? THAT’S VERY DOUBTFUL; THERE ARE BETTER ANSWERS. THEREFORE, MY BURDEN IN THIS IS TO SHOW HOW THIS IS SO. FYI, MOST COMMENTARIES DO NOT FOLLOW THIS LITERAL INTERPRETATION METHOD, BUT THAT DOESN’T MAKE IT INVALID, IT SIMPLY MAKES IT MORE OF A CHALLENGE. KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE ARE TWO GROUPS AND TWO GATHERINGS. BACKGROUND NOTE: PARABLES VERSUS VISIONS NEXT IS TO COMPARE THESE PARABLES WITH THE VISIONS GIVEN TO JOHN IN REVELATION. BOTH PARABLES AND VISIONS CAN SERVE AS PROPHECIES. BEGINNING WITH CHAPTERS TEN & ELEVEN, AFTER THE SIXTH TRUMPET JUDGMENT, JOHN IS GIVEN SEVERAL “INTERLUDE” VISIONS. THESE ARE NOT TRUE JUDGMENTS, PER SE, BUT ARE MORE LIKE PARABLES. AND THERE IS A KEY TO THEIR INTERPRETATION: EVEN THOUGH JOHN SAW THESE VISIONS BETWEEN THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH TRUMPETS, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY WILL HAPPEN BETWEEN THESE TWO JUDGMENTS; AS WITH A PARABLE, THE SYMBOLS IN THE VISION POINT TO A PROPHECY, WHERE THE TIMING AND CONTEXT IS GIVEN. THIS WILL BECOME EVIDENT AS WE PROCEED. FOR INSTANCE, THE FIRST VISION IS EXPOSITED BY THE PROPHECIES OF THE APOSTLE PAUL. LATER WE’LL COMPARE THESE PARABLES TO OTHER VISIONS IN REVELATION, AND THESE PARABLES WILL SERVE AS PROPHECIES. WHEN IT’S ALL BOILED DOWN, THE VISIONS OF REVELATION ARE MERELY ANOTHER FORM OF PARABLE, EXCEPT WITH A VISUAL ELEMENT, SO THE SAME PARABLE RULES APPLY! AS WILL BE SHOWN, THE PARABLE DETAILS HOLD THE KEY TO THE MYSTERIES! VI. CHAPTER TEN OF REVELATION (10:1-4) REVEALS SIGNS THAT PARALLEL THOSE OF THE CHURCH RAPTURE GIVEN TO PAUL – COMING DOWN FROM HEAVEN, A CLOUD, A SHOUT, AN ARCHANGEL, AND THE TRUMP (THUNDERS) A. A MIGHTY ANGEL (ARCHANGEL) APPEARS AMID "OLD" SIGNS OF GOD'S PRESENCE (A CLOUD, A RAINBOW, A FACE LIKE THE SUN, PILLARS OF FIRE), AND AMID "NEW" SIGNS OF THE LORD'S COMING (SIGNS GIVEN TO PAUL), AND HOLDING A BOOK: Rev 10:1-2 (1)And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: (2)And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, B. WITH A LOUD VOICE, AS PAUL SAYS, "with a shout, with the voice of the archangel:" Rev 10:3a And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth, C. THEN FOLLOWED THE ‘VOICES OF SEVEN THUNDERS’ FOLLOWED BY A WORD FROM THE FATHER: Rev 10:3b-4 (3b)and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. (4)And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, "Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not." COMMENT: MANY COMMENTARIES MAKE THE ANGEL OUT TO BE CHRIST, BUT THIS DENIES THE WORD THAT SAYS HE IS A MIGHTY ANGEL. [ LITERAL INTERPRETATION MEANS THAT WORDS ARE UNDERSTOOD AS THEY ARE DEFINED TODAY! ] ALL THE SIGNS WITH HIM ARE SIMPLY TO SHOW THAT HE WAS GIVEN GREAT AUTHORITY TO SPEAK FOR GOD, MAKER OF HEAVEN, THE SEA, AND THE EARTH. THIS FITS THE RAPTURE SYMBOLS, ASSUMING THE SEVEN THUNDERS IS THE "TRUMP OF GOD." FOR EXAMPLE, THE ‘LAST TRUMP’ CANNOT BE THE SEVENTH TRUMPET, BECAUSE THE MYSTERY MUST BE FINISHED AS IT SOUNDS; AND IT CANNOT BE THE FOURTH TRUMPET BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE LAST TRUMP. THUS, THE SCALES ARE WEIGHED IN FAVOR OF THE "TRUMP" BEING THE LAST OF THE SEVEN THUNDERS. OBVIOUSLY, THEY SPEAK MYSTERIES (SEVEN NEW TRUTHS), WHICH COULD EASILY INCLUDE THE DETAILS OF THE CHURCH RAPTURE. WHY? BECAUSE THE RAPTURE IS ONE OF THE BIG EVENTS WHICH MUST COME TO PASS, ONE OF “....the things that shall be hereafter” (REV. 1:19). NO OTHER VISION OF REVELATION MEETS PAUL’S CRITERIA AS WELL AS THIS ONE. AND LASTLY, THE FACT THAT JOHN WAS TOLD TO SEAL UP THOSE THINGS, THAT IT SHOULD REMAIN IN THE FATHER’S SOVEREIGN CONTROL (see ACTS 1:7). VII. ENTERING THE KINGDOM, IN HEAVEN OR IN EARTH, IS WITH A SHOUT AND A TRUMPET: THIS PATTERN WAS ESTABLISHED WHEN JOSHUA LED THE PEOPLE INTO THE PROMISED LAND; THIS PATTERN APPEARED IN THE PSALMS, POINTING AGAIN TOWARD THE PROMISED LAND, BEFORE PAUL PROPHESIED IT FOR THE HEAVENLY ABODE OF THE CHURCH SAINTS: A. THERE WERE SEVEN HORNS, THE LAST TRUMP, AND A GREAT SHOUT: Jos 6:1-5 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. (2)And the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. (3)You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. (4)Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. (5)And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him." B. THE FINAL KINGDOM SHALL BE ENTERED WITH A SHOUT & A TRUMPET BLAST, WHEN CHRIST IS GONE UP TO JERUSALEM: Psa 47:5-8 (5)God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. (6)Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. (7)For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. (8)God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. COMMENT: AS THERE WERE SIX TRUMPET JUDGMENTS BEFORE THE SIGNS WERE GIVEN IN REV. 10, SO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL MARCHED SIX TIMES AROUND JERICHO BEFORE THEY SOUNDED THE TRUMP ON THE SEVENTH DAY AND THE PEOPLE WENT UP. SEVEN IS THE SIGN OF BEING COMPLETE & AT REST, FOR IT’S THE TRUMP OF GOD THAT SOUNDS THE WAY INTO GOD’S KINGDOM, FOR IT’S THE FATHER’S WILL IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. WE THINK OF PAUL AS THE GENTILES’ APOSTLE, WHICH HE WAS, BUT HE TRULY SPOKE THE WORD OF THE LORD IN PROPHECY AS WELL. VIII. IN ANOTHER PLACE, ARCHANGEL GABRIEL TELLS DANIEL ABOUT GREAT TROUBLES THAT SHALL BEFALL ISRAEL IN THE LAST DAYS, THAT IN THOSE DAYS MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL SHALL STAND UP. AND THE LORD SHALL REVEAL A MYSTERY IN THAT DAY, THAT MANY WHO SLEEP IN THE DUST SHALL AWAKE. BUT THE VISION WAS FOR MANY DAYS TO COME, SO DANIEL HAD TO SEAL THE BOOK OF SECRET THINGS UNTIL THE TIME OF THE END. A. Dan 10:13-14 (13)“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. (14)Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.” B. Dan 10:21 (21)“But I will show thee that which is noted in the Scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.” C. Dan 12:1-4 (1)“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. (2)And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (3)And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. (4)But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” D. Deu 29:24-29 (24)“Even all nations shall say, ‘Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger?’ (25)Then men shall say, ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt:(26)For they went and served other gods, and worshiped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them: (27)And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book: (28)And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.’ (29)The secret things belong unto the LORD our God:” IX. GOD'S TWO WITNESSES THAT APPEAR AT REV. 11:4 ALSO APPEARED IN DANIEL'S VISION. AND IT IS MICHAEL AGAIN WHO RAISES HIS HANDS TO HEAVEN AND ANSWERS THEIR QUERY ABOUT THE END TIMES, SAYING THAT THERE ARE THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS UNTIL THE END OF THESE JUDGMENTS, FIXING THE TIME AT MID-TRIBULATION A. Dan 12:5-7 (5)Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. (6)And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, "How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?" (7)And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and swore by him that liveth forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. BACKGROUND NOTE: GREAT DAY OF THE LORD THE 70 WEEKS PROPHECY OF DANIEL IS A FRAMEWORK FOR ALL END TIMES PROPHECY, AT LEAST FOR THOSE OF US WHO TAKE A LITERAL APPROACH TO PROPHECY. ACCORDING TO THE VISION GIVEN TO DANIEL IN 12:1-4,THE ANGEL THAT APPEARS IN REV. 10:5-6 IS THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL, ISRAEL'S GREAT PRINCE. MICHAEL WAS SEEN BY DANIEL TO STAND UP IN THE LAST DAYS TO ANNOUNCE THE TIME OF THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD. THE DISCIPLES HAD TWO QUESTIONS BURNED INTO THEIR MINDS: ‘WHEN WILL THAT DAY BE?’ AND ‘WHAT WILL BE THE SIGN’ OF THE END OF THE AGE? THEY NEVER GOT THEIR ANSWER TO THE FIRST, BUT IN HIS RESPONSE TO THE SECOND, JESUS CITED DANIEL AS THE KEY PROPHET; TO WIT, THE LORD HAS MADE HIS WORD THROUGH DANIEL THE CHIEF DETERMINER OF THE END TIMES. X. THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL SHALL LIFT UP HIS HAND TO ANNOUNCE THE COMING OF THE LORD WITH VENGEANCE AND DELIVERANCE, IN THAT GREAT DAY OF THE LORD A. THE TIME, TIMES, AND A HALF SHALL BE ENDED BY THE COMING OF THE LORD : Rev 10:5-6 (5)And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, (6)And swore by him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: B. LIFTING UP OF THE HAND TO HEAVEN IS A SIGN THAT THE LORD’S WRATH IS COMING SOON TO AVENGE THE BLOOD OF HIS SERVANTS: IT IS THE LAST JUDGMENT IN THE SONG OF MOSES : Deu 32:39-44 (39)“‘See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. (40)For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live forever. (41)If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. (42)I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.’ (43)Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.” (44)And Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun. C. ACCORDING TO ISAIAH, LIFTING THE HAND IS AGAIN THE SIGN OF THE LORD’S VENGEANCE, BUT EVEN MORE REVEALING IS WHEN THE LORD SPEAKS OF DEAD MEN LIVING “TOGETHER WITH MY DEAD BODY.” COULD THIS POSSIBLY REFER TO THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD-IN-CHRIST AT THE TIME OF THE RAPTURE? AND WHAT ABOUT HIS REMNANT THAT SHALL ENTER SAFE CHAMBERS FOR PROTECTION FROM THE WRATH OF GOD! [MIND BOGGLING PROPHECIES!] Isa 26:1-21 (1)In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; “We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. (2)Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. (3)Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (4)Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: (5)For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust. (6)The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.” (7)The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just. (8)Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. (9)With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. (10)Let favor be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD. (11)LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them. (12)LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. (13)O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. (14)They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish. .....(19)“Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. (20)Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. (21)For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” D. AND ACCORDING TO EZEKIEL, MICHAEL ANNOUNCES THE SOON COMING GREAT DAY OF THE LORD, AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE SIXTH YEAR, IN THE SIXTH MONTH. HE SHALL BE SEEN TO LIFT UP HIS HAND TO HEAVEN FOR THE LORD, THEN SHALL COME THE WRATH OF GOD AND THE DELIVERANCE OF ISRAEL, FOR THOSE DAYS MUST BE CUT SHORT : Eze 8:1-2,4 (1)And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me. (2)Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the color of amber.... (4)And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain. Eze 12:28 (28)"Therefore say unto them, 'Thus saith the Lord GOD; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done,'" saith the Lord GOD. Eze 36:6-8 (6)Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, "Thus saith the Lord GOD; 'Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the heathen:' (7)Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; 'I have lifted up mine hand, Surely the heathen that are about you, they shall bear their shame. (8)But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.'" XI. THE FOURTH TRUMPET BRINGS MAJOR SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS, AND AN ANGEL FLYING IN THE MIDST OF HEAVEN, CRYING ‘WOE, WOE, WOE!’ THE LAST THREE TRUMPETS BEGIN THE PLAGUES UPON MEN DURING THE GREAT TRIBULATION AS SATAN SHALL BE CAST OUT OF HEAVEN TO THE EARTH WHERE HE IS GIVEN DOMINION FOR THE TIME OF THE LAST THREE TRUMPETS (42 MONTHS). A. Rev 8:12-13 (12)And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. (13)And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!” INTERPRETATION NOTE: 3-D VIEWS UP TO THIS POINT, ONE CAN FOLLOW THE EVENTS OF THE SEALS AND TRUMPETS AS IF THEY WERE SEQUENTIAL, i.e., THAT ALL THE SEALS SHALL BE COMPLETED BEFORE ANY OF THE TRUMPET JUDGMENTS TAKE PLACE. BUT WITH THE SIXTH TRUMPET, THERE ARE CONFLICTING EVENTS THAT CANNOT FOLLOW THE FIFTH TRUMPET AND MAKE MUCH SENSE, IN PARTICULAR THE UNNUMBERED VISIONS. IT SEEMS CLEAR TO ME THAT NUMBERED JUDGMENTS ARE GIVEN IN ORDER OF OCCURRENCE, BUT THE UNDERSTANDING OF UNNUMBERED VISIONS IS DEPENDENT UPON A RELATED PROPHECY. THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE OF ITS MANY SIGNS AND SYMBOLS. I HAVE BEEN STUDYING IT FOR YEARS AND JUST RECENTLY HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO SEE A BIT OF LIGHT. ONE WAY TO THINK ABOUT THESE JUDGMENTS IS TO VIEW EACH NUMBERED SERIES LIKE THEY WERE ANNUAL SNAPSHOTS THAT PROGRESS FROM YEAR FIVE TO SEVEN. IN A WAY, IT’S LIKE THREE SEPARATE CAMERAS, ALL FOCUSING ON THE SAME IMAGE BUT FROM SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ANGLES; AND WHEN THEY ARE PLAYED BACK TOGETHER THEY FORM A UNIQUE VIEW FOR EACH YEAR. IN OTHER WORDS, EACH SET OF JUDGMENTS ARE LIKE PARALLEL VIEWS OF TRIBULATION EVENTS FROM THE FIFTH JUDGMENT ON TO THE FINISH. BUT A WORD TO THE WISE, THIS METHOD IS OF LIMITED USE. IT’S ONLY A TECHNIQUE THAT WAS HELPFUL TO ME IN UNDERSTANDING SUCH A MULTITUDE OF VISIONS. IT WORKS GOOD IN SOME CASES BUT NOT IN ALL. XII. WHEN THE SEVENTH TRUMPET BEGINS TO SOUND, THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD SHALL BE FINISHED (i.e., THE FULL DRAGNET EMPTIED, THE RIGHTEOUS PRESERVED, THE WICKED IN THE FURNACE OF FIRE), AND THE DAY OF THE LORD SHALL BE COME A. Rev 10:7 (7)But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. B. Rev 6:9-11 (9)And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: (10)And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” (11)And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. COMMENT: WITH THE HISTORICAL-GRAMMATICAL (LITERAL) METHOD USED HEREIN, EVERY CHOICE OF WORD CAN HAVE SIGNIFICANCE, ESPECIALLY IN PARABLES SUCH AS THESE. FOR ONE THING, THE VERY FIRST WORD OF 10:7, “BUT,” QUALIFIES ALL THAT COMES BEFORE IT IN vs. 5-6. IN OTHER WORDS, THE “MYSTERY OF GOD” SHALL BE FINISHED AND THE “DAY OF THE LORD” SHALL HAVE COME! THE DRAGNET SHALL BE FULL WHEN THE FELLOW SERVANTS SHALL ALL BE KILLED, LIKE THE SAINTS UNDER THE ALTAR WERE KILLED (Rev 6:11). TOP OF PAGE |
| MYSTERIES of the KINGDOM of HEAVEN [ Go to PART B ] (SECRETS of GOD) [ Go to PART C ] PART A |
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