A Letter for Those Left Behind

Psalm 39:4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is.”

Rapture Box

The saddest thing that will ever occur is a soul that dies without Christ.  There comes a point in every person's life where they either accept or reject the free gift of Salvation that was purchased for them at the cross by the blood sacrifice of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

There was a time limit on this Age of Grace.  We do not know the exact hour or day when it will end, but the ancient Scriptures are quite clear about the signs.  Careful study shows that we are in that time.

The Age of Grace is when mankind could freely receive the gift of salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, it coming to a close.  As I write these words the hour is late.

I am not a prophet and I do not claim to have secret knowledge or insight into the vast mysteries of the Lord.  I am a simple woman who inherited a love of Bible prophecy and was given a modicum of talent for writing.  As such, I felt compelled to prepare a letter for my friends who would be left behind at the Rapture of the church.  I did this originally in 2015, but given that so much has happened in the last two years, I have been compelled to update it.  I share this with you today, in the hope that you might print and share a copy as well.

The Equifax Hack - Laying the Foundation for Something Sinister

Could the Equifax breach be something far more sinister?

The Equifax revelation that the personal information of 143 million Americans has been stolen by hackers is a catastrophic event.

In perspective, that is 44% of the United States citizens.

Right now, Social Security numbers, birthdates, addresses, and full credit history of almost half of the country is in the hands of criminals.

In my household, my husband and my teenage son are among the number.  My child will face the threat of identity theft for the rest of his life... unless some fundamental change is made to identify and control credit, that is.

What better rationale and logical reason to put forth than to "protect" people from identity theft?  Simply have this invisible tattoo or chip on your hand... then you can buy and sell in complete safety.  

The implant technology is there, it simply faces resistance from the public in what a recent Fortune article called, the "Ick Factor".  What is more likely is some sort of biometric security mechanism that faces none of the public angst that implants do (source).  Afterall, how many iPhone users scan their thumb print dozens of times a day?

Biometric Security Implant

Imagine with me for a moment, a world which is thrown into financial chaos with the disappearance of millions of people.  Identities have already been compromised and with millions gone, there is no conceivable way to know if the person standing before the bank teller is the real Mary Smith or if Mary Smith is one of the millions who has disappeared. 

It just doesn't even seem far fetched any longer.

What Does the Bible Say is About to Happen?

My head swims from the catastrophic disasters, political scandals, and violence that has overtaken us; like a gleaming silver pinball crashing from bumper to bumper before plunging down the dead center of no return.

So what is coming?  Where are we headed?  What is the Timeline for Things to Come?

Our world no longer seems grounded and sane.  It is easy to get caught up in the noise and tumult.  Here is what is coming!

Birth Pangs - Wickedness Increases on the Earth (30 Days of Birth Pangs)

Isaiah 17 - The Utter Destruction of Damascus, which according to the headlines forms an unholy alliance between Russia, Iran, and Turkey.

Rapture - the gathering of the Church to be with Jesus.  Our Lord spoke of the Rapture to his beloved friends.  The Greatest Supernatural Event of the Modern Age (No One Knows the Hour or the Day)

Note:  Some Scholars will contend that Psalm 83 and the Prophecy of Elam can come before or after the Rapture, I tend to believe it will be after.  There are still many Christians in the Middle East and it is estimated as many as 3 million Christians hiding in Iran.  The Lord is merciful and no group of Christians alive today are experiencing the persecution that our brothers and sisters are at the hands of ISIS and terror groups in Norther Africa, so before the wrath of God is poured out on the Earth, He will rescue His Church.

Psalm 83 Map

Psalm 83 - where Israel's immediate neighbors attack

Prophecy of Elam's (part of Iran) Destruction Jeremiah 49:34–39 coupled with Ezekiel 38 this is double trouble and punishment for Iran.  This is nuclear disaster for them.

Anti-Christ comes on the scene - One has always been ready.

Indwelled By Satan the Anti-Christ Will Be Beautiful

Ezekiel 38-39 War - A massive coordinated attack by Iran, Russia, and Turkey on Israel.  The direct intervention of the God of Israel results in a massive defeat of the attackers.

Because of the Miraculous deliverance by the Lord in the Ezekiel war, those that are dispursed across the globe will make their final regathering in Israel.

The reawakened Israel will demand a new Temple which will be the Tribulation Temple

Anti-Christ comes to power

Israel signs the peace treaty with the Anti-Christ

The 70th week begins - 7 year Tribulation Begins

While we may feel like we are indeed in pinball game, things are going along perfectly.  The Lord works in patterns, He holds to timelines, He is not random - from the foundations of Creation, His orderliness is observable.  From the precision math demonstrated in the tilt of the Earth, the distance from the sun, the size and orbit of the moon, to the subatomic structures of all atoms - we see His hand.  He also does not operate in secret, a retrospective study of Scripture reveals that He has always told us what is to come, always.  There are types and shadows and prophetic warnings throughout Scripture that only a backward glance reveals their truth.  Since He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow - it should come as no surprise that He has laid out for us the pattern and timing of his coming.

Open your eyes - He is coming.  

The Dominoes are Set

"After witnessing how Reuters just blatantly cooked the presidential election polls this week to favor Clinton and how the mainstream media is so terrifyingly biased in favor of Clinton that the very foundation of democracy is now in crisis, it’s time to tell you something that perhaps a lot more people are finally ready to hear:

EVERYTHING IS RIGGED.

Every institution in America is sold out, corrupted and politically rigged to favor Big Government and Big Business. “America is a lost country,” explains Paul Craig Roberts. “The total corruption of every public and the private institution is complete. Nothing remains but tyranny. And lies. Endless lies.”" (source).

The above article does an excellent job of outlining and compiling the institutional corruption that has pervaded our country and our world.  As a Christian, we must read this article as a point of hope for all things have aligned for the next chapter of Bible Prophecy to unfold.  It's as if the entire board is set and only needs a Heavenly Finger to flick the first Domino.

The Dominoes are Set

If you are not familiar with how the end plays out, here's a brief run down.

The Torah Confirms Jerusalem's Destruction

During Daniel's 70th week (Daniel 9:24), at the time of Jacob's Trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), the city of Jerusalem as we know it will be destroyed.

Isaiah 24:10 The city of chaos is shattered, every house closed up; no one can enter.

Isaiah 24:12 "In the city, only desolation, its gates are battered beyond repair."

Zechariah 14:2 2 "For I will gather all the nations against Yerushalayim for war. The city will be taken... "

Isaiah 24:3 The land will be completely stripped, completely plundered, for ADONAI has spoken this word.

A City in Ruins

Zechariah 14:4 "On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which lies to the east of Yerushalayim; and the Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west, to make a huge valley.  Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south."  A gigantic earthquake will rend the city in half, fault lines run under Jerusalem in the exact spot this prophecy foretells.

Jeremiah 4:26 "I looked, and the fertile fields were a desert, all the land's cities were razed to the ground at the presence of ADONAI, before his burning anger."

Black Blizzard Coming

"For here is what ADONAI says: "The whole land will be desolate (although I will not destroy it completely)."  Jeremiah 4:23-28 describes the condition of the Earth after the time of Jacob's trouble; the Earth is basically destroyed.  Note - This is not a pre-creation passage because there were no cities to be destroyed before Creation.

"The earth cracks and breaks open, the earth crumbles to pieces, the earth trembles and totters. The earth staggers to and fro like a drunk, sways back and forth like a watchman's shelter; its transgression weighs heavy upon it; it will fall and not rise again." Isaiah 24:19-20 confirms the utter destruction of the 70th week of Daniel.  

Utter Destruction

So is this the end of Jerusalem?  The eternal city is destroyed forever?  Oh no, far from it.  Stay tuned... We are going on a bible prophecy adventure.

Jeremiah 30:7 Oh how terrible! That time will be worse than any like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be rescued from it.

Psalm 14 - A Post Rapture Prophecy

I was researching Knowing So Much That Isn't True earlier this week and happened upon Psalm 14 and believe it to be a Psalm about the post Rapture World and the Lord looking at the retched remains of humanity.

1 Godless fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are corrupt. They do disgusting things. There is no one who does good things. (There is none that does good is an indication that the church is gone, while not perfect, the church is the righteousness of Christ and we are not viewed with human eyes but through the shed blood of Christ.  It is also not likely that this is an Old Testament prophecy because God always keeps a remnant (Romans 11:4-5)).

Corrupt Minds

2 The LORD looks down from heaven on Adam's descendants to see if there is anyone who acts wisely, if there is anyone who seeks help from God. (It is significant that the Sons of Adam are who the Jehovah God is looking at, not the Sons of Abraham, again, this is a world devoid of the church.)

3 Everyone has turned away. Together they have become rotten to the core. No one, not even one person, does good things. (A world where every single righteous person has been removed and only the wicked remain, is a world described in the Judgments of God that we read of in Daniel, Revelation, and Zechariah.)

4 Are all those troublemakers, those who devour my people as if they were devouring food, so ignorant that they do not call on the LORD? (I could not help but picture John Kerry and Barack Obama in my mind as I read this passage.  Fools who do not seek counsel from the Lord and seek to devour Israel.)

Wicked World Leaders

5 There they are--panic-stricken because God is with the person who is righteous. (They begin to realize that danger they are in without God and the godly and panic.)

6 They put the advice of oppressed people to shame because the LORD is their refuge. (This speaks to the leaders of Israel not listening to those who come to faith in Messiah during the Tribulation.)

7 If only salvation for Israel would come from Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice. Israel will be glad. (Israel was always intended to bring salvation to the Nations, only during the Millennium will this occur.)

Random Thoughts on Faith

Abigail and Dolley readers I've been thinking a lot about Faith.   Hebrews 11:1 tells us that Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  The substance is defined in Strong's as the bedrock, the foundation, that footings of a building - thus, faith is something tangible.  It is the evidence of what we can not see.  Thus, faith, in this passage, is in the invisible... Understanding that is a key to why Salvation changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament and why faith will change during the Tribulation and the Millennium.  For it does not take faith to believe when the eyes SEE.

Think about it, if Jesus is on His throne in Jerusalem, ruling the Nations - how much faith do you have to have?  How much faith do you need to have to believe that Queen Elizabeth II is the sovereign of England?  None - you can see it, thus there is no real reward for believing it.  During the Tribulation when angels are flying over head issuing proclamations, do you need a lot of faith to believe?  When prophecy is opening right in front of you in perfect detail, you don't need a lot of blind faith to believe.  If you are an Old Testament believer on Mt Carmel and Elijah calls down fire from Heaven, how much faith do you have to have?

Elijah on Mt Carmel - The Evidence of God

"Blessed are those who believe but have not seen." John 20:29 is the last beatitude that Jesus gives before the Ascension.  Thus, the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is personal.  Your faith can not be strengthened by the work the Spirit does in me - I can not share with you the ways that He moves in my heart and my life and have that be REAL to you.  Our faith becomes personal - the depth of it our own choice.  He can move and speak to each of us through the wind, through a red cardinal on our porch, through a word a stranger says in passing.  We can share these things with other believers but they remain significant only to ourselves and can be frustrating to share.

In the end, Hebrews 11:6 and without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.  So we press on as this age of faith draws to a close, where the powers of darkness seem to over shadow the Almighty.  Where from what we can SEE the enemy is the one in power on this Earth but by faith we believe in His promises.  We believe in His soon return, we believe in His power and we long for the day when the evidence of our faith is manifested for ourselves and for this unbelieving World to see.

The Time Span of the Bible - Millennial Bible Study Part 1

Hi Friends!  The Lord has seen fit to lead me into a few insights recently.  I attempted to compile them all into one post but it was a discombobulated mess that seemed to go on for days!  Most of this is new territory for me and perhaps it will be for you, so I've decided to break this up into bite size parts.  Hopefully, this will allow us to spend the appropriate time, reference the applicable Scriptures, and let the Word of God accomplish what it will in our lives.  I'm excited to explore ideas, avenues and truths that are not your common Bible study fare and have not been exhausted, even among eschatology enthusiasts.  I will try to site Scriptures where new ideas are represented or to provide interesting context, I won't go into an exhaustive study on the basic doctrine.

(Note, these posts were originally published from March 1, 2015 forward.  I've amended the dates of the posts so that they will appear in order under the Millennial Bible Study Tab)

The Period of the Bible:

Have you ever wondered about the war in Heaven when the Devil and his angels fell?  Have you ever wondered who or what demons are?  Have you ever wondered what we are going to be doing for eternity?  Have you ever contemplated why we don't have that information?

Here is a clear spiritual truth:  The Bible is specific to this 7000 year period of man on Earth.

That's it, no more, no less - we don't know much about what God was doing before the Earth was created and we don't know much about eternity after the Millennium.

Before Creation:
The Lord does give us some info and primarily seems to give us information about the enemy.  Here's what we do know:

We see that the angels were witnesses to the Creation (Job 38:4-7), so we know that they were around before the Earth.

Psalm 8 appears to be written from an angel's point of view, right after the Creation because it states that God walks with man (Psalm 8:4).

We do not know the timing of Satan's rebellion but we do know that by Genesis 3, he was already the enemy of God.  We know how the rebellion began in Satan's prideful heart (Ezekiel 28:17) and we know that he sought to exalt himself above the Most High (Isaiah 14:13-14).

Jesus says that he saw Satan thrown down from Heaven like lightening (Luke 10:18) but we are not quite sure when this took place!

Eternity:
In addition, we are not told much about eternity, except the most salient point which is the assurance that the church will be with the Lord always (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Revelation 22:14-15 is totally confusing if you try to study it through the "eternity" filter.  Sin?  Unsaved people?  How can that be in eternity?

The mistake stems from Rev 21:1, the new Heaven and the new Earth.  This looks like eternity but it's not.  Like 42% of Revelation, it's taken directly from the Old Testament: Isaiah 65:17 and Isaiah 66:22.  Taken in context this is clearly the coming age of Israel - the thousand year reign of the Lord on the Earth; the Millennium.

Once we understand that the Bible was written for yesterday, today, and tomorrow and that tomorrow only goes as far as the end of the Millennial Kingdom, we can study the Scriptures with increased discernment and understanding.

Two Jerusalems? - Millennial Bible Study Part 2

Long term Abigail and Dolley readers will know that we love Bible Prophecy here.  We need to encourage one another and reassure our troubled souls that these days might be dark but there is a plan and there is a God and we do not lose.  But let's be frank, have you ever thought, "What the heck is going on at the end of the Book of Revelation?"  I have!  Our basic text for this will be the last two chapters of the bible, read Revelation 21 and 22 to get started.

Here's today's spiritual truths:  In the Book of Revelation, there are two cities named Jerusalem.  They both come down from Heaven and the city we know as Jerusalem is largely destroyed.

Like York and New York, they are different places!  New Jerusalem and Jerusalem aka the Holy City and hereafter referred to as such are not always specified in the text which is which, so the reader has to know the context and the differences to determine which place is being referred to in which passage.  Understanding the similarities and differences make that task easier.  So here goes:

How are they alike:

• They are both physical places
• God dwells with His People in both of them (Rev 21:3 and Rev 22:1)
• They both shine with the Glory of God (Rev 21:23 and Rev 22:5)
• There is no night in either place (Rev 21:25 and Rev 22:5)
• Both have 12 gates (Rev 21:12 and Ezekiel 48:30)
• Both descend from Heaven (Rev 21:2 and Rev 21:10)

How are they different:

• Jerusalem the Holy City is on the Earth (Rev 21:3, Ezekiel 40:2, Rev 20:9)
• New Jerusalem is above the Earth (See below for Scriptures)
• The Holy City is 1 mile square (Ezekiel 48:30)
• New Jerusalem is about 1400 miles square (Rev 21:16)
• People in physical bodies can enter the Holy City (Ezekiel 46:9) (Rev 22:14)
• No one in a physical body can enter New Jerusalem (Rev 21:27)
• The Holy City gives light to the region and its neighbors (Rev 22:5)
• New Jerusalem gives light to the Earth (Rev 21:24)
• The Holy City has a functioning and working Old Testament Style Temple (Ezekiel 45:13-15,17)
• New Jerusalem does not have a Temple (Rev 21:22)
• The Gentile Nations will come and bring sacrifices to the Holy City  (Zechariah 14:16-19)
• People in physical bodies, who keep God's commandments come and eat from the tree of life (Rev 22:14)

What happens to Jerusalem as we know it today?

• For all intents and purposes, the city is wiped out during the Tribulation. (Zechariah 14:2) (Isaiah 24:3 and Isaiah 24:12)
• Zechariah 14:4 describes the gigantic earthquake that accompanies the Second Coming touch down
• Fault lines have been discovered that run under Jerusalem
• The rubble falls into the chasm and is buried forever with the living water that flows from the new temple and the new city.
• Jeremiah 4:23-28 describes the condition of the Earth at the second coming, basically destroyed.
• Isaiah 24:19-20 confirms the utter destruction.
• The latter part of Isaiah 61 describes the Millennial Kingdom and speaks of rebuilding the desolate and destroyed cities (Isaiah 61:4). 

Now for what I believe is a new revelation -

Both Cities Come Down from Heaven:

Given that Jerusalem is in ruins, I surmise that both the earthly and the heavenly cities are made by God and both descend from Heaven.  No one disputes that New Jerusalem is made by God but I've never read any teaching that states that the earthly Jerusalem is made by God and descends from Heaven but here is my opinion:

Let's look at the Scripture: Rev 21:1-3 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.  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.

We must understand the new Heaven and the new Earth; the earth is wiped out after the Tribulation.  Also, this is a quote from the Old Testament: Isaiah 65:17 and Isaiah 66:22.  Taken in context this is clearly the coming age of Israel - the thousand year reign of the Lord on the Earth; the Millennium.  So we are talking about Israel here.  The next verse says she is adorned like a bride, not that she IS the bride.  Finally, God proclaims that his tabernacle is with men and that he will dwell with them.  We know men don't dwell in New Jerusalem.

In the same chapter, we move forward six verses to Rev 21:9-10 and the angel of the Lord takes John to another place to see the bride of the Lamb.  This is clearly a different place, a different city, yet both have descended out of Heaven made by God.

The Sheer Size of New Jerusalem make it impossible (well, nothing is impossible for God) for the city to be physically on the earth.  1450 miles square... this is equivalent to the entire east coast of the US to the Mississippi River.... Our atmosphere is only 300 miles tall, what would attaching a gigantic cube due to a perfectly balanced spinning planet?  How would the rest of the world receive light if the city was on earth? The below picture is not exactly to scale but you get the idea of how massive New Jerusalem is.

Jack Kelley put the resolution of this question quite eloquently:  With the differentiation of these two Holy Cities, the apparent conflict between Jewish and Christian eschatology is resolved. Israel was promised that one day GOD would come to Earth to dwell among them forever, while the Church is promised that Jesus will come to take us to heaven to live with Him there. Both promises come true.Since Ezekiel specifically quoted the Lord’s promise to dwell among the Israelites forever (43:7) and then described the new Holy City, while Jesus promised to return for the Church to take us to be with Him (John 14:1-3), they must have been talking about two different destinations. They were. Heaven is the New Jerusalem where we will dwell with the Lord forever, while the Holy City on Earth is Jehovah Shammah where God will dwell in the midst of His people Israel forever.. (source The Coming Temple)

(Note, we develop these ideas further in Part 3 but particularly in Part 4 where we show that Jesus makes both cities!)

How God Speaks Through the Ages - Millennial Bible Study Part 3

Hi Friends!  This is the Third Part of an ongoing study, I invite you come along while we look at the way God relates to people through the ages.

Our big spiritual truth in this lesson is:  The sealing and indwelling of the Holy Spirit is unique in all the ages and is reserved exclusively for the Church.

The Old Testament:

Pillar of Fire around the Tabernacle

God related to the Jews in the Old Testament through the prophets but also by direct contact, he poured out His Power in miraculous signs, wonders, and pillars of fire.  He spoke to the people from the Heavens (and scared them to near to death Exodus 19:19) so much so that they asked that He not do it anymore and speak through Moses, Exodus 20:19.

Christians often sit in judgment when they read about the failure of Israel in the Old Testament, but we have to consider that these people did not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Sometimes they would be temporary used by the Spirit (1 Samuel 11:6) but they were not indwelt, they couldn't be without the sanctification of the blood of Christ.  David, a man after God's own heart, had the Spirit on him but not in him. (1 Samuel 16:13).

Christ's Ministry on Earth:
God continued to speak with the Jews through external sources, miracles, and the prophets until the Lord Jesus came.  Then He spoke directly to the Jews, not in a thunderous voice from the Heavens, but through His Son.  We have to realize that Christ's ministry was only to the Jews while He was on this Earth.  That's tough to swallow, especially if you come from a replacement theology background, but it is the truth.  Read Jesus own words to the Canaanite woman who was seeking healing for her daughter:  But He answered and said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" And He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."… (Matthew 15:24-26)  So His ministry was not to the Gentiles of the church, it was to the Jews, period.  The Lord related to the Jews directly until Pentecost, from that point forward - the Church Age began.

Pentecost

The Church Age:
During the Church Age, the Holy Spirit spiritually enters a believer, Jew or Gentile.  Jesus called the Holy Spirit, the Helper.  Through the Holy Spirit, believers testify to the truth and are instructed to do the work of the Lord here on the Earth.  There are no booming declarations from above, no pillars of fire leading the people forth in the Wilderness, no feeding of the 5000, no parting of the Red Sea.   Jesus himself ushers in this change, this truth, with the last beatitude, "Blessed are those who have believed and not seen." John 20:29.

Today, the Lord is quieter, gentler, more subtle.  He woos his Bride with kindness and gentleness.  Those who believe in Him during this time receive the greatest blessing of the age.  The church holds the highest position of honor and power.  In no other group of people does God indwell, not the Old Testament Saints, Tribulation Martyrs, Tribulation Believers, nor those that come to faith in the Millennium.  This honor belongs solely to the Church. (Let that sink in for a minute.)

The Lord is present on the Earth through His Church but because we are in the flesh, we have never fully manifested the Power that He promised; we don't move mountains, we see healing rarely if ever, we lose more often than we win in political and cultural battles.  We are, by and large, puny in power from a magnificence manifestation perspective.  Yet the Lord himself said he would lay the foundation of the church and the gates of hell shall not prevail upon it.  I believe our power will be perfected in the Millennial age - stay with me while I explain.

The Bride of Christ at the Rapture

The Rapture and the Tribulation:
From the moment of the Rapture, the Church will depart from the Earth and with it the age of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the great restrainer (2 Thessalonians 2:7).  This will usher in a period of time where the Lord God will once again deal directly with Israel through signs, wonders, and judgement.  Through the Tribulation, God will speak and work just as He did throughout the Old Testament.  Believers will once again, hold tight to their salvation, for they will not be indwelt with the Holy Spirit.

Tribulation Saints are exhorted several times to remain faithful to the end so they do not lose their salvation.  They will be given a portion of the Holy Spirit but will have to be obedient and faithful to retain their position.  (I invite you to study the subject of Post Church Salvation by Jack Kelley)  These are the Bridesmaids in the Parable, all are given a measure of oil (the Holy Spirit) at the time of their salvation but they did not endure to the Second Coming.  Keep in mind, that the Tribulation is God's dealing directly with Israel.  What happens to the rest of the world is secondary, the age of the Gentiles will be finished and they are once again outside of the focus of the Lord.  That's another harsh truth to the replacement theology folks but one needs only to read the words to discover it is truth.

The Millennium:
The Millennial Kingdom is ushered in when the Lord descends from Heaven and touches down on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14).  The Tribulation Martyrs come back with the Lord, I believe they are the army he brings back with Him in Revelation 19:14.  He will set up His Kingdom here on Earth, abiding in the Jerusalem Temple.  There will be no prophets during this time, (Zechariah 13:3) for the Lord will deal directly with the people.  They will worship him with a shadow of Old Testament sacrifice as indicated in Ezekiel 45-46.  The Tribulation Martyrs will serve in the new Temple (Rev. 7:14-15) and rule with the Lord on the Earth during the Millennial reign (Rev. 20:4-6).

Heaven:

Where is the Church during the Tribulation and the Millennium?  During the Tribulation we are having a huge celebration in Heaven.  A 7 year Wedding Supper of the Lamb, where we will receive our crowns, be shown our new home, and be arrayed as the eternal Bride of Christ.  (Ephesians 5:25-27)

I believe that it is while we abide with the Lord in New Jerusalem that the church, who is now the Bride of Christ will come to full power.  Since we will have been perfected and operate only in the true spirit and truth fully aligned with the perfect will of God we will manifest His Power.  We will speak to the mountains and they will move, we will pray for the sick and they will be healed, we will be as Christ was on Earth completely sinless and fully surrendered to the will of the Father.  (John 14:11-13).  We will live in New Jerusalem with the Lord Jesus but we do not know what we will be doing there, whether we will come down to Earth, or exactly what our roles will be but we will soon find out!  

The Coming Temple - Millennial Bible Study Part 4

This is the 4th Study in a recent series that I've titled the Millennial Study, I'd invite you to study the first three as this blog builds on the work we've already done.

I am proposing four new ideas in this study:

1. The Traditional location of the Temple is incorrect.
2. There will be two more temples - The Tribulation Temple and the Millennial Temple.
3. The Millennial Temple will descend from Heaven at the end of the Tribulation
4. Jesus builds the Millennial Temple (Zechariah 6:12-14)

Solomon's Temple:
This is sometimes referred to as the first temple, built by King David's son Solomon.  Erected around 986 BC, it stood for about 400 years and was destroyed by the Babylonians as punishment for Israel's disobedience to the Lord.  (For more facts see The First Temple article)

Scale Model of Solomon's Temple (based on the dimensions in Kings)

Herod's Temple:
Often referred to as the second temple, this was built by King Herod the Great.  Built with permission from Rome, the temple was supposed to help pacify the Jews and make them easier to rule.  This is the temple that was in operation during Jesus time.  It is of note, that while God allowed the business of the Temple to move forward, He did not occupy this temple, nor did it contain the Ark of the Covenant with the mercy seat.  Tradition holds that it was located on what today is called the Temple Mount, recent archaeological evidence, a reexamination of Scripture, and eye witness accounts from the first through the third century writing suggest that tradition is in error.  Before we continue, please watch the video below on this ground breaking discovery:

The implications of Robert Cornuke's recent discoveries are mind boggling and a perfect revelation for our time.  The Holy Spirit within me quickened to this video and a light bulb popped on when Cornuke points to Jesus Prophecy that no stone will be left standing, (Luke 21:6, Matthew 24:2 and Mark 13:1-2) why have we as Christians thought that was to come?  Why have we not taken the Word of the Lord literally?  I believe it is because that was closed to us, like much of what is pouring out on the Body of Christ in these times.

Consider the irony of the Jews praying at a Roman wall instead of the Temple wall - God's chosen people, so blinded, are worshiping at a wall built by the spirit of Anti-Christ to dominate and control them.  For it is clear in prophetic scriptures that the city of the seven hills is Rome and will be home to the False Prophet during the Tribulation.  Perhaps this discovery will pave the way for the next Temple, not to be built beside the Dome of the Rock but either in Shiloh (where Ezekiel describes the Millennial Temple) or in the site they have uncovered in the Old City.  I cannot say, but it is absolutely clear in Scripture, that there is another temple coming.

The Church Age Temple:
From the destruction of Herod's Temple in 70 AD, there has been no functioning temple on Earth for the Jews to offer sacrifice but is it fair to say that there has been no temple and that there is not temple here on Earth?  Consider 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, would it be fair say, in light of this passage that to assert there is no temple on the Earth now is incorrect?  I think I could make a good argument that we are the temple, the indwelt believer is the temple, where the Lord lives on Earth during this time, throw in 1 Corinthians 3:16 as a supporting Scripture and I think it's a valid point.

The Tribulation Temple:
Right now, as we speak, the Temple Institute is working and planning for the next Temple.  The miraculous delivery at the hands of God in the Ezekiel 38-39 war will draw all of the Jews home to Israel and ignite within them the essential reestablishment of Temple worship (Ezekiel 39: 21-22).  Isaiah 49:22-23 outline the nations that will assist.  Remember, at first Israel will not know that the Anti-Christ is their enemy, he will come as a man of peace and they will accept him as a great ruler.  It is the signing of the treaty with the Anti-Christ that establishes a treaty and allows for the rebuilding on the Temple that triggers the beginning of Daniel's 70th week (Daniel 9:24-27).

At the midway point in the seven year treaty, Anti-Christ will enter the temple (2 Thes. 2:4) that he has helped the Jews rebuild and will commit such an atrocity that it is called the Abomination of Desolation (Matt. 24:15), declare himself God, and kick off the Great Tribulation.  Scriptural references:  Daniel 11:31 (the first occurrence during the Maccabees Revolt), Daniel 9:27, Daniel 12:11, Rev. 13:14-15.

The Destruction of the Tribulation Temple:
In the second part of this series on the Millennium, we looked at Jerusalem and the logic behind the assertion that Jerusalem as it exists today will be largely destroyed by the Mount of Olives Earthquake.  If you have not already done so, please refer to Two Jerusalems.

For this, portion of discussion, let's just rely on common sense and what we know about the Lord.  Do we honestly believe that during the Millennium that the Lord will take up residence in a temple that was built through a rebellious nation of Israel, approved by the Antichrist, and desecrated by Satan?  Again, God can do anything but this does not seem to jive with what we know about Him.  After he returns, he enters into Jerusalem victorious and sets up his throne in the Temple, it makes sense that this temple has been created in Heaven and is part of the new Holy City we watch descend in Rev 21:1-3.

The Millennial Temple:
As we've learned in previous study, there is no Temple in New Jerusalem but it is clear that there is one in the Holy City on Earth.  Jesus builds this temple, look at Zechariah 6:12"Then say to him, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the LORD. 13"Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the LORD, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices."'…

The latter part of Ezekiel, regarding the Temple have always been a source of confusion for the church. Many Bible teachers completely dismiss this writing as  gibberish.  Why would there ever be a working Temple when Jesus was the sacrifice for all time?  Scripture is clear on that point (Hebrews 10:12), but the closer we get to the end of the age, the clearer the future becomes.  God does not deal in falsehoods and would not have given Ezekiel such detailed revelations had they not been for a future purposes.  For there will indeed be Millennial temple, a working temple, where a new form of Old Testament worship will again be practiced for the Jews in Jerusalem and throughout the Earth.  (We touched on this in How God Speaks Through the Ages.)  We'll look at Millennial Salvation in depth later.

Conclusion:
I hope you have enjoyed this exciting subject, it is truly an exciting time to be a believer and a follower of prophetic events!

(Homage to Bible Teacher Jack Kelley at Gracethrufaith, whose writing and insight have taught me so much.)

The Ark of the Covenant is in Heaven - Millennial Bible Study Part 5

Abigail and Dolley readers in today's study, we are going to look at further Scriptural evidence for the ground we covered in Part 1 - 4.  As the eyes of my understanding have been opened, familiar words and Scriptures take on new meaning.  We've established a number of things mainly that there are two places named Jerusalem, that God makes both, and both come down from Heaven at the Second Coming and that the Jerusalem that exists today will be destroyed.  This study will look at references to the temple in the book of Revelation and shall elaborate and support the work we've already done.

Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.. - In context, this Scripture is to the persecuted church at Philadelphia who is spared the hour of temptation upon the earth.  It seems those believers get their names carved on pillars in the temple that will come down from heaven.


Revelation 7:14-17 ... And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither * shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.  17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. - These are the tribulation martyrs, who are in the temple in Heaven.  The above Scripture confirms that there is no sun in the Millennium and that they shall serve in God's temple in the Holy City, where the living waters shall flow.

Revelation 11:1-2 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood , saying , Rise , and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein *.  2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. Revelation 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified .  In context, we are back on earth during the Tribulation.  There is a rebuilt Temple in the earthly city of Jerusalem.  The two witnesses from God are proclaiming God's message to a wicked city that will not listen, spiritually Sodom and Egypt.  This supports the assertion that Jerusalem as we know it today will be judged completely.

Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.  This Scripture is plain - there is a temple in Heaven and the Ark of the Covenant is in it.

Revelation 14:15 Revelation 14: 17  Revelation 15:5-6 Revelation 16:1 These Scriptures show that God is launching avenging angels from his Heavenly Temple during the Tribulation.  Revelation 15:8 - this is a fearsome place and fearsome power exuding from it.  His wrath upon the earth is a matter of solemn gravity.  Revelation 16:17 we see that God finishes the vial judgments from his temple.

Revelation 16: 18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since * men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
19 And the great city was divided into three parts... shows the utter destruction of Jerusalem as we know it today.

I trust the above will serve as further evidence and proof text.  So mystery solved, we've found the Ark of the Covenant... it's in the temple in Heaven which will one day soon come down to earth and God will reside with man in the holy city.

The Tribulation Saints - Millennial Bible Study Part 6

My heart has been troubled with thoughts of  the Tribulation Saints.  These people are probably alive right now and could even be reading these words, though I doubt it.

What is a Tribulation Saint?

• A person who comes to Faith in Christ as the Messiah after the Rapture
• Who stays faithful during the Tribulation (Matthew 24:13)
• Who stays alive until the Second Coming 

Who could they be?

• People who have heard the gospel and rejected it*
• Those who never in their heart considered Christ
• Those who have been deceived by a false religion. 
• Some professed Christians who do not have a real relationship with the Redeemer. (Matthew 7:21-23)

*It is my belief that folks who have rejected the gospel may have a 10 day period to get right with the Lord.This is fleshed out in The Days of Awe.  Many unsaved people say they will wait, there is no hurry, they will come to Christ after the Rapture.  They are fools to count upon that chance, for the Word says those that have rejected the gospel will receive a powerful delusion. (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11)

The staying alive part is no easy task - the Scriptures lay out that most of the world's population will be killed during the Tribulation.

Psalm 27 is a perfect Scripture for those future Tribulation Saints.  It speaks of hiding from enemies, being separated even from mother and father, and depending on the Lord for protection.

Tribulation Saints will not have the assurance of eternal salvation - that in and of itself is horrifying but then add in the Tribulation and no one should desire to become a Tribulation Saint, martyred or otherwise.  These Tribulation believers are the 10 Virgins, who are given a bit of oil when they are saved but who are responsible for staying faithful.  (See: It's Not About the Church)

Once the church is Raptured, the age of Grace will end - no other group will ever have the "blessed assurance" that the church enjoys. (More on Tribulation and Millennial Salvation to come)

Tribulation Saints who are alive at the Second Coming will live on earth during the Millennium.  Their bodies will be restored and made healthy as man will once again attain pre-flood lifespans.  Isaiah 65:20

The Lord calls to you, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.…"

Parable of the Ten Virgins - Is Not About the Church - Millennium Bible Study Part 7

Abigail and Dolley readers I have been contemplating the parable of the Ten Virgins as outlined in Matthew 25 1:13 which reads, 1 "The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The five who were foolish took no oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all lay down and slept. 6 At midnight they were roused by the shout, 'Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and welcome him!' 7 "All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, 'Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.' 9 But the others replied, 'We don't have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.' 10 "But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, 'Sir, open the door for us!' 12 But he called back, 'I don't know you!' 13 "So stay awake and be prepared, because you do not know the day or hour of my return.

For the purpose of this blog, I'd like to examine who the bridesmaids are in the parable.  For many years, I heard that the bridesmaids are the church at the time of the Rapture but it is interesting to note that the church is the Bride, not the Bridesmaid. Also the timing of the parable in the Olivet Discourse refers to the Second Coming, not the Rapture.  "In fact, the Bride is never mentioned anywhere in the parable, and in any case could never be refused admittance to her own wedding banquet.  She was obviously spirited away earlier while the bridesmaids slept. The bridesmaids represent people on Earth during the Great Tribulation after the church has gone." (source)

The Bridesmaids

A good understanding of Jewish weddings in the first century is helpful to interpretation. Also, understanding the symbolism in the Bible is essential to understanding the parable.  The bridegroom in Scripture is always Christ, oil is always the Holy Spirit. Through this parable we have a clear warning and understanding of the nature of salvation during the Tribulation.

Each virgin was given a portion of oil (Holy Spirit) at the time they come to faith. This is evidenced that when the Bridegroom (Christ) returns they all light their lamps but some do not have enough oil (Holy Spirit).  Salvation and the Holy Spirit can not be shared, I can not give you part of my salvation.  The foolish go to "buy" their oil at the market but faithfulness can not be bought and they are shut out.

This parable serves as a warning for those who come to faith during the Tribulation but then afterwards in the Millennium.

Beyond the Blood Moons - A Timeline for What is to Come

The Lord works in patterns, he holds to timelines, he is not random - from the foundations of creation his orderliness is observable.  From the precision math demonstrated in the perfect tilt of the earth, the perfect distance from the sun, the perfect size and orbit of the moon to the subatomic structures of all atoms - we see his hand.  He also does not operate in secret, a retrospective study of Scripture reveals that he has always told us what is to come, always.  There are types and shadows and prophetic warnings throughout Scripture that only a backward glance reveals their truth.  Since he is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow - it should come as no surprise that he has laid out for us the pattern and timing of his coming.

My long term readers will be familiar with my work on this subject, from the The Harbinger Continues, to the Blood Moons, to the Rosh Hashannah Rapture, to the Days of Awe, to the Convergence of Signs - I invite you to read and study those works for it will give you a foundation to understand the timeline of events that could manifest in our lifetimes.  Many of the items I am listing below completely fleshed out, sited, and backed up with Scriptures in the previous works.

The Prophet Daniel writes that 70 weeks are set aside for Israel.  All but one are fulfilled, one remains.  The last 7 years, the time of Jacob's trouble, the 70th week, the Tribulation - this event is foretold and set aside for the judgement of the nations and for the restoration of Israel.  The great and terrible time of the Lord and woe to the inhabitants of the Earth.  The 69th week ended when Messiah was cut off, the exact moment and hour that that occurred is obscured from history. - debate continues on exactly when that date occurred.

Careful study of the facts and dates indicate that Jesus was crucified somewhere between 27AD to 33AD.  The prophetic clock stopped - the time of Israel paused and the church age began.  What date would that have been?  Was it the moment that the Lord died and the temple curtain was torn?  How about when he was raised?  Could be when he Ascended to Heaven or even Pentecost?  Any time in that 40 days could be THE date when the clock stopped, I can not say for certain but I CAN tell you without a doubt that sometime in the future, on that day, the Jews will sign a peace treaty with Anti-Christ and the clock will start again.

The Rapture - Basic Facts

Abigail and Dolley readers know that I don't often reproduce other's work or copy other commentary, but the recent Bible Study Series have created conversations between some friends and I regarding the doctrine of Pre-Tribulation Rapture.  This is an issue I studied with my Dad extensively, we spent a year or more investigating this specific doctrine and for most eschatology students and teachers the matter is settled.  I must remember though, that everyone else did not have the privilege of Friday night Bible Study with Jack Robinson, so I'd like to post the below commentary as a good tutorial and overview for those that don't have this doctrine settled in their minds. You can read the original here:  Pre-Rapture Commentary: Satan Hates The Rapture

Some say the word “rapture” is not in the Bible, so therefore there is no rapture of the Church. Neither is the word “trinity” in the Bible, but God is triune; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is one in three persons.

“Rapture” comes from the Latin word “rapturo.” It is the equivalent of the Greek “harpazo,” which is found in 2 Corinthians 12:2 and 1 Thessalonians 4:17 for “caught up.  Harpazo and rapture both mean: (a) to seize, carry off by force, (b) to seize on, claim for one’s self eagerly, and (c) to snatch out or away.

The Rapture (rapturo, Latin; harpazo, Greek) of Christ’s Church will happen on God’s time schedule. Some believe it will happen before Daniel’s 70th week (commonly called the seven year Tribulation), some in the middle and some at the end. It is clear to me that it is impossible for it to occur at any other time than prior to Daniel’s 70th week (the seven year Tribulation).

(Abigail and Dolley note, I believe the next event could conceivably be the fulfillment of Psalm 83 and even Isaiah 17/18 but neither has to occur before the Rapture and thus does not effect the basic doctrine of PreTribulation.)  The next event on God’s calendar is the Rapture of the Church. After that will follow Daniel’s  70th week, then Christ will return with His Church at the end of Daniel’s 70th week and set up His millennial kingdom, which is called the 1,000 year Millennium.

It does not upset me if others do not believe as I do regarding these events, but some folks really get uptight about these matters. For example, a few have tried to “straighten me out.” Others simply say I’m a false prophet and going to hell. Some question my salvation in very colorful ways, while others are just plain ticked off that I would believe in a Rapture at all.

Where does all this venomous hatred come from? The answer is obvious. Satan hates God’s Truth and will continue to fight against God and His chosen ones until his last breath.

Again, I strongly and without question believe in a Rapture of the true Church prior to the start of Daniel’s 70th week (the Tribulation). I would like to present the following for consideration. This is not original of course. Many others have presented these same arguments and I will use these same verses that others have pointed to.

Convergence of Signs

Abigail and Dolley readers you might recall that last Summer I did a pretty extensive study on the Feasts of the Lord, the Blood Moons, Rosh Hashanah, and the Rapture.  We are gearing up again for the Fall Feasts and my expectations continue to mount that we are truly living in the last days.  The Church is admonished to keep looking up that our redemption draws nigh.  Here are some compelling reasons that seem to mark a convergence of prophetic signs, a gathering together of momentum and circumstances:

Signs in the Heavens - Blood Moons, Super Moons, Solar Eclipses, Meteors, Sun Spots, Magnetic Polar reversals, just to name a few.

Wars and Rumors of Wars - Ukraine and Russia and the Middle East are exploding

Right is Wrong and Wrong is Right - the utter reversal of what is considered good, right, and moral is astounding.

Men will become lovers of self - five years ago we did not even have a term for taking a picture of yourself, now the pervasive selfie has littered the landscape and promoted ever increasing levels of narcissism.

Pestilence - I am third or fourth line in the fight against the Ebola virus.  I can not even convey how awful this situation is right now and getting worse.

Earthquakes - The USGS has stopped keeping this chart, it would alarm the public if they were to put this out in a twitter style graphic.  You can see for yourself that up until 2000 earthquakes over 6.0 remained infrequent.  This year, 2014 we have had over 114 earthquakes over 6.0.

Convergence of numeric and prophetic dates - God is orderly, He does not do things in a haphazard manner and thus, if we can observe patterns from history we can extrapolate and observe the way He has worked in the past.  Since God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow we can rely on the constancy.

7 days of Creation
7 days of the Week.
The laws of Sabbath for the land are arranged in 7 year increments
7 Sabbath years times 7 = Jubilee years
The Jews stayed in exile 70 years. (the number of Sabbath years they did not uphold)
Daniel 9 lays out 490 weeks (years) for the redemption of Israel.
One week remains of Daniel's weeks, one 7 year period
The Tribulation is 7 years
Yom Kippur 2015 is 49 years to the day of Jerusalem's recapture by Israel
Rosh Hashanah 2015 marks the end of a Sabbath year.  (Historically a devastating day/year financially)
The final blood moon takes place on the Feast of Tabernacles 2015

Conclusion, I am not naming dates but it is a compelling fact that all of these things are indeed converging.  There are hundreds more signs, hundreds more studies and nuances that can be brought to bear, I simply wanted to lay out for you simple facts and observations.  It is the Lord's deepest desire that all will come to faith in Him, that none should perish.  Chose this day who you will serve for tomorrow is promised to no one.