Repeating Past Mistakes

 After more than thirty years in the wilderness, the Israelites again were in the wilderness of Sin or Zin, where they had been just a couple of months after leaving Egypt, as Numbers 20:1-5 describes.  “Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.  And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.  And the people chided with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!  And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?  And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.”

 

When Israel had come to the place the first time they had only been out of Egypt a few weeks, and were not used to depending on God for their food and water.  They accused Moses and Aaron of just bringing them out into the desert to die, as described in Exodus 17.   God had brought water from the rock for them.   Over thirty years later they had the same attitude, despite having seen God provide for them miraculously every day.   The only reason they were still in the desert was because they had refused to go into the land God had for them, but like most people today, they blamed someone else for their problems.  People can change their attitudes if they want to, but most are not willing to change. 

 

Just as they had the first time, Moses and Aaron sought the Lord’s guidance, in Numbers 20:6-8.  “And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.”

 

Knowing what God had told him, Moses gathered the people together, as to see God’s provision once again, in Numbers 20:9-11.  “And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.  And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?  And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.”

 

Moses was frustrated that after more than thirty years, the people still didn’t trust God to provide for them.  In his frustration, he asked if they had to bring water from the rock again, hitting it twice.  His comments implied that is was he and Aaron who did the miracles rather than God.  Because they took the focus away from God, neither of them would be allowed to enter Canaan, according to Numbers 20:12-13.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.  This is the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.”

 

When people do not learn and make changes, they repeat the same old mistakes.  For almost forty years, Moses had faithfully served God, but in a moment of frustration because the people had not learned, he threw away his chance of going into the Promised Land.  We need to be careful that we stay focused on the Lord and do not allow frustration or discouragement by other people’s stubbornness in refusing to learn to cause us to sin. 

The Importance Of Correctly Interpreting Scripture

As Christians, we need to be very careful not to misuse the scriptures to justify our actions or to coerce others into doing what we want.    The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in several instances of such actions.  For example, several have used Isaiah 26:20, “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,” to tell us that God commanded we should shut down the churches during this time.  When taken by itself, it sounds like a good interpretation of the verse.   However, if we take Isaiah 26:2-3 by themselves, we would get exactly the opposite message.  “Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”  Which one are we to believe?

II Peter 1:20 tells us, “…no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”  Literally, Peter says no verse or passage can be interpreted solely on that one verse or passage, because as the next verse, I Peter 1:21 tells us, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”  The prophets did not write their own ideas, but what they were directed to write by God as part of his overall message.  Isaiah 26:2-3 and Isaiah 26:20 are part of the same message and do not contradict each other.  The first step in properly interpreting these verses is to look more closely at the entire chapter to see what it is about and how these verses fit into the chapter. 

Isaiah 24 and 25 have told about God’s future judgment on the earth because of wickedness.  Isaiah 26 is a song the Jews will sing when that all takes place, as we see in Isaiah 26:1-6.  “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.  Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: 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.  The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.” 

God will deal with the wickedness around them so that his people can focus on him and his power without fear.  Isaiah 26:7-describes their attitude.  “The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.   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.   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.”

No matter how blessed they are, the wicked have the opposite attitude, as we see in Isaiah 26:10-11.  “Let favour 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.  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.”  Their own hatred will destroy them. 

Israel and Judah were blessed of God, but they turned away and were conquered by other people, but despite various efforts to wipe them out they have survived, and their enemies have been destroyed as Isaiah 26:12-14 tells us.  “LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.  O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.  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.”

Finally Israel will turn to God, recognizing it has been his power and not their own that has preserved them as Isaiah 26:15-18 describes.  “Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.  LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.  Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.  We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.”

When they finally realize that The Lord will return to set up his earthly kingdom, raising those who have died in the Lord, as Isaiah 26:19 explains.  “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.”

Just before that happens,  Jesus warned that there would beone last drive to wipe out the Jews and those who believe in God, in Matthew 24:15-22.  “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:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.  And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!  But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.”

Daniel 12:1-2 speaks of this same time.  “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.  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.”

Isaiah 26:20-21 is speaking of this same period.  “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.  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.”  It has nothing to do with how we are to deal with Covid-19, and misinterpreting it may well lead to disobedience of God. 

The Door Is Still Open

Christ’s promises about his return and his eternal kingdom were written down to comfort believers facing the problems of day to day life in this world, as I Thessalonians 4:18 tells us.  “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”  These promises are not just allegorical or mythological stories to make us feel good, however.  They are literal events that will happen exactly as God said, even though they may not turn out as most prophecy teachers have described, as the angel explained in Revelation 22:6-7.  “And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”

 Those who act on the promises God has given in Revelation will experience great blessings.  Most Revelation is describing what God will or has done, but Revelation 2 and 3 focus on what people in different churches need to do.  Unfortunately, many have interpreted those two chapters as referring to a historical picture describing different periods of history rather than a call to action for churches today.  As a result, many Christians see no need to act on the changes he told the churches to make.  They often resent any suggestion they need to make changes. 

John makes it very clear that these prophecies are not some product of his imagination or of some ungodly spirit in Revelation 22:8-9.  “And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.”  The angel was very clear the focus was to be on Jesus Christ, and not on himself. 

The angel went on to stress that these teachings were to be available to the people because the time was close and people would need to be aware of them.    When the Lord comes, there will be no chance to get ready and make changes.  Each person will be rewarded according to what they have done in this present life, according to Revelation 22:10-13.  “And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”  It is the same point Jesus made in the story of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, that we have to be ready before it happens. 

Those who have believed God and obeyed him will have eternal access to that New Jerusalem.  Those who have not will be in the Lake of Fire with no hope of pardon, as Revelation 22:14-15 tells us.  “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”

Today, the invitation is still open for anyone who will accept it, but it has to be accepted on God’s terms.  Those who try to change the terms will miss out completely, as Revelation 22:16-19 tells us.  “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”   Efforts to change the terms voids the entire contract.  No counter offers will be considered.

An Everlasting Government

Across the southwestern United States are hundreds of ruins of ancient communities. While some were attacked and destroyed by other tribes, many of them seem to have been deserted as a result of drought resulting in famine.   Water is essential for life, for both plants and animals.  When there isn’t enough water, people are forced to leave.  The ancient pueblos had depended on runoff from the surrounding mountains to supply water for themselves and their crops.  When the climate changed, they had to leave.  The New Jerusalem will never have that problem, as Revelation 22:1 tells us.  “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

Growing up in New Mexico, I thought springs were small seeps yielding only  few gallons of water per day.  While in college, I had the opportunity to see the big spring near Chicopee, Missouri.  It literally feeds an entire river by itself.   Apparently, a similar spring will be located under the throne in New Jerusalem, feeding an entire river which flows down alongside the main thoroughfare, as described in Revelation 22:2.  “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

The banks of the river and the median of the main street are lined with Tree of life trees, bearing fruit year around.  The leaves of the tree are of great medicinal value, preventing and curing mankind’s health problems.  These trees are very possibly descendants of the tree mentioned in Genesis 2:9.  As a result of sin man has not had access to that tree since man’s sin.  Genesis 3:22-24 describes how access was cut off.  “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”  Since the Flood in Noah’s day there is no record of the Tree of Life.   

As a result of man’s sin the ground was cursed in Genesis 3:17-19.  “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”    

With the creation of the new earth, the curse is removed so that the earth again only produces plants that are good for food, according to Revelation 22:3-4.  “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.”  With God once again in full control.  The earth will once again be the way God created it, as described in Isaiah 11:6-9.   

Animals and people will once again be able to be healthy solely on a vegetarian diet, as described in Isaiah 11:6-9.  “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

With God in control and nothing or no one to cause trouble, the new heaven and new earth will last forever, as Revelation 22:5 states.  “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”  Isaiah 9:7 tells us, “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

The New Jerusalem Described

After the destruction of the present world, God will make a new one, and will build a new city or place for his people to live for eternity, called New Jerusalem.  John begins to describe the city in Revelation 21:9-14.  “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.  And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”

The description is quite detailed, yet exactly what is meant is somewhat unclear, probably as a result of translation from the Greek to English, especially as John was not a highly skilled linguist, writing Revelation in a somewhat crude form of Greek, as compared to the gospel of John which was originally written in Hebrew and translated to Greek by skilled translators, according to Pappias, about 100 AD.  For example he says the light was like a Jasper stone, clear as crystal.  Over the centuries various forms of chalcedony have been referred to as jasper.  Some are opaque, while others are translucent and even occasionally transparent,  While most of what we know as jasper is red or brown, it also include green, yellow, and black forms in various shades.  What we do know is that the city has twelve basic foundation blocks commemorating the twelve apostles. And that there are twelve gates, three in each wall to provide access.   

The city is huge, as we see in Revelation 21:15-17.  “And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.  And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.   And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.  A furlong is an eighth of a mile, so twelve thousand furlongs is a thousand, five hundred miles.  Imagine a city that reaches from Boston to Miami and west to Kansas City Kansas. And as tall as six thousand empire state buildings.  By comparison, the space station is about two hundred twenty miles above earth, and the Hubble Space Telescope is three hundred fifty three miles above the earth.   The walls are about two hundred sixteen feet thick to support the weight.   

Revelation 21:18-21 gives details about the materials used for construction.  “And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.  And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.  And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”  The walls are of Jasper stone, decorated with gold so pure you can see through it.  The twelve foundations commemorating the twelve Apostles are overlaid with precious and semi-precious stones.   

Because God himself and Jesus Christ are always there, there is no need for a temple of church where people go to meet him.  Because they are light, there is no need for the sun or the moon. John describes this in Revelation 21:22-23.  “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.  And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”

While New Jerusalem is the capital city, the Christians are not restricted to staying within the walls.  The gates will remain open as long as there is light, and God and Christ provide light continually, as Revelation 21:24-27 tells us.  “ And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.   And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.  And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.”   Obviously, the gates are strictly for decoration as they will never be closed.  Every evil thing was cast into the lake of fire before the New Heaven and earth were formed, so there is no need to shut anyone or anything out.  

Heaven and Earth Replaced

II Peter 3:10-13 tells us, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

As Christians, we should be looking forward to that new heaven and new earth.  From Revelation 20-21, we understand that the new heaven and new earth will not appear until after that final judgement at the great white throne.  At that time all who have rejected Christ are condemned to the Lake of Fire, and the old earth contaminated with millennia of sin will be destroyed and replaced with a new heaven and earth, as Revelation 21:1 describes.  “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”

We do not know what the new heaven or earth will be like, but it will definitely be different than this world.  Today three quarters of the earth’s surface is covered with water, and in that day there will be no more sea.  The new culture and government will be far different than any we have today, as John describes in Revelation 21:2-8.  “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

There will be no criminal element or fear in the New Jerusalem, because all those were controlled by fear, lust and deceit have been cast into the lake of fire.  Those who survive the judgment will be those who have believed and loved God, and will have a personal relationship with God himself, even better than that described in John 14:21-23, because it will include the physical as well as the spiritual.  “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”    As Christians, we definitely hav something to look forward to. 

The Final Judgement

Those who have believed in Christ will be resurrected during the Rapture, when Christ comes back to earth.  For a thousand years, Christ will reign as king in a world with none of the problems of this present world.  After a thousand years, Satan will be loosed for a little while, and unbelievable as it seems, a majority of those alive in that day will choose Satan as their ruler.  This time God simply sends fire from heaven to destroy them and Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire to suffer throughout eternity.  This final rebellion will be the last straw.  Neither Satan nor mankind will be given any more chances. 

All those who have died will be resurrected to stand judgement for what they did during their lives, as described in Revelation 20:11-15.  “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

In Romans 14:10-12, Paul states, “…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.”  The records of what each person has done in their life will be checked and they will be punished or commended accordingly.  The records are extremely detailed, including even the words we spoke, as Jesus said in Matthew 12:36-37.  “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

Fortunately, I John 1:9 promises, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Those who have accepted him have had all record of their sin erased, as Colossians 2:13-14 tells us.   “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”

Finally another book, the Book of Life is opened and anyone whose name is not in it is cast into the Lake of Fire, regardless how much good or evil they may have done during their life.  John 3:16-18 explains what is required to have one’s name written in the book of life.  ”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”  They are cast into the Lake of Fire because of their refusal to believe in Jesus Christ.  This is the second death, as Revelation 20:14 tells us.   Mark 9:44, 46, and 48 describe it as a place where he soul, the living part never dies, and the fire never goes out.  It is the same picture as that in Revelation 20:10.  “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”  Perhaps the best illustration we have here on earth is of a burn victim, who though still alive feels as though his body is still on fire and nothing will alleviate his pain. 

A Thousand Years Of Peace

After Christ assumes the throne here on earth, destroying the wicked, Satan will be imprisoned and unable to influence people for a thousand years, according to Revelation 20:1-3.  “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.”

With Satan out of the way, there will be a completely new system of government headed by Jesus Christ.  Revelation 2:26-27 tells us, “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.”  God’s law will be strictly enforced. 

To see that God’s standards are enforced, God will place those who have believed in him obeyed him in positions of power, as described in Revelation 20:4-6.  “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

For a thousand years, there will be no war, as described in Isaiah 2:4.  “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”  There will be none of the problems we deal with, as Isaiah 65:20-25 tells us. “There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.  They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.  They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.  And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.  The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.”  

For a thousand years, the problems we live with will not be problems because Christ will have complete control.  At the end of the time, Satan will be released for a while so t6hat people can choose whether they prefer God’s plan or the struggles they have lived with throughout history, as Revelation 20:7-8 describes.  “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.”

Many people will choose to follow Satan rather than God, and will revolt against that perfect government, according to Revelation 20:9-10.  “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”  Unbelievable as it seems, many people prefer to live with their problems, and take the consequences of their choice, just like a smoker or drug addict who refuses to quit despite the risks.  It is a serious reminder that humanly, we will not be able to resolve the world’s problems. 

The Basis For Separation

In Matthew 25:31-33 Jesus described separating the sheep from the goats.  He goes on to describe the basis of the separation.  Matthew 25:34-40 describes the basis of the sheep.  “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” 

Matthew 22:36-40 describes Jesus answer to the question of which was the most important of God’s commands.  “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”  The commands in the law were all about how we are to treat each other.  In Galatians 5:14 tells us, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” 

Literally, Jesus was saying that those who had cared enough to obey God’s law in loving other people had demonstrated a love for God and would take their place in the Kingdom of God.  As he explains in Matthew 25:41-46, those who have not cared enough to follow those laws will go into the lake of fire along with Satan and the demons.  “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

Jesus was not talking about mechanically keeping the law, but of an attitude of the heart, as Romans 2:9-15 tells us.  “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.  For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.  For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)” Mechanically keeping the law will not save anyone.  Gentiles have the same opportunity for salvation as the Jews had, even though they did not have God’s law to direct them. 

Romans 3:20-28 explains this more fully.  “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.   But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

None of us are good enough in ourselves to earn salvation.  God sent his son Jesus to be the propitiation or payment in full for our sin.  We can either accept his payment, believing in him or we can face the penalty ourselves.  If we accept his payment and forgiveness, our sins are blotted out and we stand before God as having fulfilled his law, as Romans 8:1-4 explains.  “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Separating The Sheep From The Goats

When the Lord returns, there will be a separation between those who serve him and those who don’t.  Jesus described that separation in Matthew 25:31-33.  “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.”

Revelation 14:14-20 describes this separation as two separate gatherings.  “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.  And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.”

The Lord himself come for his people, as I Thessalonians 4:16-17 describes.  “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: 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.”  Revelation 19:6-9 describes the events immediately following the Rapture of God’s people.  “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”

Once he has gathered his own people, the rest of the people will be gathered into one place to face destruction at the battle of Armageddon as described in Revelation 9:11-21.  “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”

Actions Demonstrate Faith

Because we don’t know when the Lord will return, we need to be constantly prepared, doing what he has commanded us to do, as Jesus said in Matthew 25:13.  “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”  To illustrate the point, Jesus used a parable about a man going on a long journey who assigned three different employees different responsibilities, in Matthew 25:14-18.  “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.  Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.  And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.  But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.” 

The employer recognized they all had different levels of ability, and gave them responsibilities commensurate with their abilities.  Two of them went out and did their best, but the third made no effort to accomplish anything.  The master was just as pleased with the one who had earned two talents as he was with the one who had made five, because they had done what he assigned them to do, as we see in Matthew 25:19-23.  “After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.  And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

The employer was very upset at the third man, as we see in Matthew 25:24-30.  “Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

The master was not concerned with how well they had done, but that they had made the effort.  If the third man had even put the money into a savings account and earned a minimum amount of interest, he would have been satisfied.  His actions indicated he didn’t take his employer seriously.  James 2:14-26 makes the point that faith which does not result in action will never save anyone.    “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

The action demonstrates and completes the faith.  Without the actions, the faith is just words.  It is like believing that chair will hold you up, but until you sit down on it the belief doesn’t benefit you.  The chair only holds you up when you sit down.

   

No Mulligans Allowed

When I was in college, I worked in a welding shop,  One of the guys had his station where he could see when the boss came out of the office.  He would goof off until he saw the office door open then make a big show of being busy when the boss came out.  God deliberately did not tell us when he was coming so that we couldn’t get by with that, as Jesus illustrated in Matthew 24:45-51.  “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?   Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Leaders who faithfully tend to the needs of others under their authority, seeing that they are taught and encouraged will be richly blessed.  Those who take advantage of their position for their own benefit make it clear they doesn’t really care about the Lord or believe him, and will be punished just like anyone else who doesn’t believe. 

In Matthew 25:1-12, Jesus uses a parable to demonstrate that there will be no opportunity to make changes or get prepared when he comes.  “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.”

When the Lord comes for us, we will have had all the chances we get.  If we have not believed in him, we will never get another chance to go to heaven.  That is what Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 16:18-19 when he made the church responsible for telling people how to get into heaven.  “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  He said the same thing again in Matthew 18:18, when explaining the reasons and ways church discipline was to be handled.  “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

We don’t get a mulligan, a chance to try again after we die.  There is no purgatory.  We either go directly to heaven or to hell, and that will not change when the Lord returns.  The story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:22-26 makes this very clear.  “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”

Christ’s Coming Is Intended To be a Surprise

The desire to know when the Lord will return has been around since Jesus’ day.  His disciples asked him about the time in Matthew 24:3.  “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”  Jesus proceeded to tell them of things that were to happen before he came in the first part of the chapter. 

In Matthew 24:32-34, Jesus uses a parable to illustrate what is going to happen.  “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”  He had just explained that the Antichrist would come to power and the believers in Jerusalem would be forced to flee for their lives.  Now he said when you see these things begin to happen, you know that his return is imminent.  Many of the people who are alive in that day will live to see his return. 

Unfortunately, many who believe in the Pre-tribulation Rapture have taught that the Fig tree represents the nation of Israel and Christ’s reference to it budding as referring to the reforming of Israel in 1948.  In taking that view they overlook Luke’s account of the same teaching in Luke 21:29-31.  “And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.  So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.”  Referencing back to Luke 21:20-29, we find that both Matthew and Luke describe the same things as being the things that indicate Jesus return.  Unfortunately, as the generation who were alive when Israel was reformed get older, those who have been taught that the fig tree is a reference to Israel are beginning to lose hope, and many of those who have heard so much teaching on prophecy have already given up. 

Just because things haven’t turned out the way some have interpreted the prophecies is no reason to give up.  In Matthew 24:35-44, he reminds us that no one knows the date, not even the angels in Heaven.  “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” 

Human nature is such that if God had told us exactly when he was coming people would procrastinate until a few hours or days before to get ready to meet him instead of serving him every day.   This way, Satan has had to constantly have someone prepared to assume the role of Antichrist because he doesn’t know either, making it much harder to make his plans too far in advance.  It is going to turn out exactly as God planned it, but it is not going to happen when all these prophecy teachers think it will.  As Paul told us in II Thessalonians 2, don’t let them upset you.  Those who claim to know the date are clearly false teachers.

When Will The Rapture Occur?

While we know that Christ is coming back one day, we are not to get so caught up in looking for his return that we begin to believe the predictions we hear.   Paul warned us not to allow prophecy to get us all stirred up and upset in II Thessalonians 2:1-3.  Jesus warned about the same thing in Matthew 24:23-28.  “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  Behold, I have told you before.  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.”

He warned that false teachers and prophets would use powerful signs and wonders to convince people they were right, even confusing some who know the truth.  Many of the signs of the times they point at have nothing to do with the return of Christ, showing only that we lived in wicked world that has turned away from God and is experiencing the consequences of their sin.  We have been told repeatedly Christ’s coming will be like a thief in the night, catching people by surprise.   As Jesus explains, when it happens, it will be like a flash of lightening, completely unexpected, but everyone will know when it happens, just as they see the flash and hear the thunder when lightning strikes.  

In II Thessalonians 2:3, Paul wrote, “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;”  We know from Daniel that the Antichrist will be revealed during the seven years of tribulation.  In Matthew 24:29-31, Jesus describes the sequence of events surrounding his return.  “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.”

Jesus was very specific that he would not come for his people until the end of the Tribulation period, and the sequence of events in Revelation 14: 14-20 seems to confirm that statement.  “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 

And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.  And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.”  The Lord will come for his own people just before the forces of evil are destroyed at the battle of Armageddon. 

John Nelson Darby appears to have originated the belief that the Rapture would occur before the tribulation begins, based on interpreting II Thessalonians 2:7 as referring to the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately there is no other scriptures to support such an interpretation, and II Peter 1:20 tells us, “…no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”   If the Tribulation starts before the Rapture, please understand it no way changes what God has promised.  It just means some prophecy teachers have misinterpreted the scriptures, so don’t give up hope.  God’s word is still true.

The Antichrist’s Reign

Christ has promised to return and build his kingdom here on earth.  Since that is what we are looking for, it is natural that Christians would want to know when it will happen, and despite what Jesus told us in Acts 1:7, “…It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power…,”  people still try to figure it out.  Shortly before he was crucified, Jesus gave some detailed teaching about his return in response to his disciple’s questions, to encourage them when the world seemed to be out of control.  Matthew 24:3-14 describes conditions during the present Church age.  “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

Like Paul in II Thessalonians 2:1-2, Jesus warned that there would be false teachers and prophets who would attempt to capitalize on the promise of his second coming, with some even claiming to Christ himself.  They will point to wars, natural disasters and widespread disease as signs that they have some special insight as to when the Lord will return.  Jesus was quite specific that while these things are signs of the wicked times we live in, they indicate nothing about the time of the Lord’s return. 

He goes on to warn that Christians will be hated and that many who claim to be Christians will turn aside to follow other teachings.  Even many of those who continue to believe will begin to go along with the world’s moral and ethical standards, not taking God’s word seriously.  This will not negate God’s promises or his commands, and those who really believe sill still follow him.  The Lord will not return until the gospel has been preached throughout the entire world. 

In II Thessalonians 2:3-4, Paul wrote, “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; 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.”  Jesus said the same thing in different words, in Matthew 24;15-22.  “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:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.  And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!  But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.”

When the Antichrist comes to power, he will attempt to destroy all who believe in God, both Jews and Christians.  He will start by attacking the Jews, making a mockery of their religion as described in Daniel 11:31.  When he is unable to exterminate them, he will turn on Jews in other lands and on the Christians who support them.  Fortunately, as we see in Daniel 12:7, 11, and 14, and Revelation 12:11, and Revelation 13:5, he will only be in power three and a half years or no one would survive. 

God gave man dominion over the world in Genesis 1:26-28.  “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.  God will limit his reign for the sake of those who believe.”  Satan has been trying to take over God’s creation from the very beginning, and is willing to kill all living things to seize the dominion God gave to man.   His attitude seems to be kind of like the person who says if I can’t have it I’ll destroy it so nobody can.  God will only allow him to exercise control during the last three and a half of what we call the Tribulation period using the man we know as the Antichrist.  The book of Revelation tells a bit about his reign during that period.