Necessary doctrines: God's covenants with Israel and the church.
The question that arises is this; since we are "grafted in" hence Jews and Gentiles are part of God's elect in this age as we see illlustrated in Romans 11. If we continue to verse 23; however we see that even Jews are grafted in once they believe in the truth about Jesus. ( Romans 11:25). We also see this principle in Luke 21:24 as well as various Old Testament scriptures about the Resurrection of all saints ( Daniel 12:13) and King David himself ruling with Christ ( Daniel 7:27 and other passages). There are those who stubbornly only consider these promises to be fulfilled in the church and say God is done with Israel. This helps to discount a millennium as something which is symbolic of the church (even though that has lasted almost 2000 years now since Pentecost). I would say that we need to draw the line if there is a display of antisemitism; for instance with a superiority complex developing because of these theories. Admittedly there is much evil among all; including those Jews who are living in unbelief when we see; for instance Tel Aviv and the abominations of those living out a lifestyle like Sodom ( Revelation 13:16-17). We also need to seek out individuals whether Jew or Gentile to preach the Good News; without partiality to anyone. Finally; there is difficulty with some in regard to sacrifices actually occurring in the Millennium; deeming them an abomination as Christ has already fulfilled all things necessary. That would depend on the purpose of these; as to commemorating God and having a ceremonial purification; for instance. Such activity would help to bring all to worship in Israel; fulfilling prophecies such as Isaiah 56:7 and Zechariah 14:17. Despite all this; I wouldn't consider this essential doctrine to break fellowship but important nonetheless to get a correct grip on the rest of scriptures to avoid what could be bigger error of essential truths.
The Millennium: Conceiving of mortal man coexisting with resurrected saints.
According to Isaiah 65:20 the man who dies at 100 will be considered a youth and before 100 cursed. This shows the reason for death during the Millennium; it would seem that the lifespan will reach 1000 emulating those who lived well into their 900s according to several accounts in Genesis in the Antidiluvian world. Proof of the Millennium is also found in verses such as Zechariah 14:17 for those who would argue that once the Lord returns that is it and we go immediately into eternity; where death clearly doesn't exist anymore ( 1 Cor. 15:55-57 coming from a passage in Hosea in the O.T.)
The idea of the necessity of a temple at that time makes sense; therefore for several reasons. There would need to be a ceremonial cleansing to be in the presence of Christ and probably us in glorified bodies; not for sin but because of our still corrupted and inferior bodies for those who survive the Tribulation and come to worship there. There are subtle differences as to frequency of sacrifices and a few other details in the temple mentioned in the last few chapters of Ezekiel from the O.T. standards. The external ceremony honoring the Lord; and it fulfilling its role as a place for prayer for all nations ( Isaiah 56:7; quoted by Christ when cleansing the Temple in the N.T.) will bring together these individuals with us; the glorified saints who are given authority to rule and reign with Christ ( 2 Timothy 2:12; etal).
The Gospel; as I have stated rather often at this forum will never be the same by the sixth seal in Revelation forward. There will be no need to preach about who Christ is; or what we are supposed to do although it will be a wonderful truth to share with the natural born children at that time. The warnings about testing ourselves to see if we are in the faith; however certainly will be vital ( 2 Cor. 13:5). Many will believe but sadly ( Rev. 20:8) will rebel and be lost.
It will be awesome but there will be horrible times before He returns. If we are still living, we must be strong in our faith to resist the hour of temptation that is coming. When He returns it will not be some silent secret event, Revelation 1:7 and Matthew 23:39. He will return to the same place from where He ascended, Acts 1:10-11. When He touches His feet back on earth on the Mount of Olives the earth will split with the power and glory that has been given Him by God, Zechariah 14:4.
There will be the chosen and faithful, Revelation 17:14 who have been grafted into the vine in the first resurrection, Revelation 20:5-6 that will be a part of this kingdom and reign for one thousand years.
Genesis 12:2-3 is probably closest and the most popular.
Some try to associate these two verses with the Church along with all the promises and blessings prophesied to Israel. and all the cursings to the Nation Israel.
Antisemitism began in the early Church, as soon as Paul brought the Gospel to the Gentiles.
Some saw the Jews as the Christ killers, even though for this cause he come into the world.
ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD and God blessed him!
God blesses the Nation Israel because he is faithful and remembers the Abrahamic covenant that is associated with the Davidic covenant.
A chosen people and a land here on earth is tied to those promises.
When we bless Israel we enlists ourselves as one who believes God also.
God brought Israel alive from a valley of dry bones and yet some say God is done with Israel.
Here's just a few of many verses similar to the answer of your question.
Zechariah 2:8-9.
For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.
Zechariah 12:1-9.
Zechariah 14:12.
Psalms 122:6.
The Lord also punished Nations that relished when Israel was being punished by God. Obadiah 1:8-14.
Israel exists today because of promise not faithfulness to God.
They being brought back to the land because of prophetic promises not obedience.
In regard to symbolic interpretations of scripture; one of the most extreme I have seen is an interpretation of Revelation 22 as being a symbolic imagery not a literal place paved in streets of gold and all the other details of mind boggling concepts. This was one novel Post Millennial or amillennial concept for a small book that I read several years back. On the other hand, the idea that many from the Pre Millennium camp argue that we should submit to the idea that Satan has basically taken over and controls everything rather than still using God given authority until the end of the church age was a good point. It can be argued that one eschatology is better than another (I myself am a PreMillenialist) but in this case as in all others there is a deeper issue; namely that many clear factual prophetic statements will occur at the Second coming; just as it did at the first. PostMil people and even Preterists for that matter have no problem believing the historical prophecies from Christ's first coming; and the Old Testament Prophecies and writings from history being a literal fact. But often doctrinal issues preclude such ideas for future prophecies; tied into the idea that for instance the church has replaced Isreal rather than the idea that two concurrent covenants could be in effect. Some would even argue with science that corroborates prophecy such as the fault line on the Mount of Olives that explains Zechariah 14:4. They would say that it precludes faith from being belief in what we can't see if it fits in with science! We of course can make this error in reverse with evolution concepts that often are disproven at a later date when more of the fossil record is retrieved; for instance with such fossils as Archaepterix; or "Piltdown" man. Again; there is some room for different interpretations on "secondary" issues but not when primary core doctrines of truth are compromised.
I agree with you, sharing the gospel with as many as we can.
I do not think Russia will intervene they are depleted with their war in Ukraine, there may be a few nuclear bombs, but we know this world is not destroyed by nuclear war. Iran is already in it, whether the other militant groups join in is the big question. The U. S. with all the ammo and supplies they have given to Ukraine and have not replaced our supplies plus what they will give to Israel I would not be surprised if China makes their move.
End times have many interpretations, some things that have already been fulfilled are looked for to be in the future. Many are looking for an antichrist when we see there is not one but there are three in Revelations, Rev. 12,13. I feel people are looking for things that are not coming like the Church being taken to heaven when there is not one verse in the Bible that says we are going to or we are taken to heaven. The earth is for man, this earth, and the new earth. It says those who are worthy will reign on earth not heaven, 2 Tim. 2:12Rev. 5:10
There will be those in the first resurrection that will meet Jesus in the air on His way down to earth, (the world is round) Matt. 24:31Mark 13:27 After the tribulation, it does not say He then goes back up to heaven.
We see that on that day His feet will stand upon the Mount of Olives, Zechariah 14:4, and also Jesus along with the 144000 first fruits will stand on Mount Zion/Sion the mountain just in front of Jerusalem. Much of the end times are tied to the world economy there is so much behind the scenes we do not see and will not see until the end starts.
Whatever comes we are told to watch, this life is not our hope, 1 Cor. 15:19, it is the one we have been promised, Titus 3:7. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints, Rev. 13:10. It will be things coming that have not been, Matt. 24:21,29. My understanding I will leave it there.
Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast SEEN, and the things WHICH ARE, and the things which shall be HEREAFTER;
Things which thou hast SEEN ( Rev 1:1-18) things which ARE ( Revelation 2,3) things which shall be HEREAFTER ( Revelation 4:1)
John wrote down what he had seen, in the order in which he saw them.
REV 2,3 'WHICH ARE' CHURCHES IN JOHNS TIME/CHURCHES TODAY
Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth
Rapture 'seizing and carrying off'
There have been raptures already just by the definition above, more yet to come.
Enoch, Elijah, Captives free in the OT are 'raptures'
RAPTURES DURING THE GREAT TRIBULATION.
(Disclaimer: John wrote it) Those who repent during tribulation before the 7th seal, later 144,000 and Two witnesses. Salvation will be available to those who ask for God's grace before the 7th seal though they must endure the first 6 seals.
REV 4:1 RAPTURE/TRIB (Dead in Christ rise first, they which are alive) 6 SEALS ( REV 7:14 Great multitude..'out of' meaning within. Two Witnesses, 144,000 man child)
TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION SEEK HIM WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND!
Mark 13:32 -But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
RAPTURE/START OF TRIBULATION ( Rev 4:2/19:11-21) 2ND COMING OF CHRIST
Chapter 7 starts 'after these' so chapters 4,5,6 have happened.
LITTLE HORN UPROOTS 3 NATIONS, AND OTHER 6 FALL IN LINE. AFTER 3.5 YEARS OF WAR.
Zechariah 14:16-23 - After Tribulation 'Those that left' 'year to year' for 1000 years. Will live, age, multiply and die. In Heaven until 1000 years are up. These nations satan will be let loose to deceive the nations one last time.
NOT THOSE RAPTURED SAINTS WITH CHRIST 2ND Coming, THEY WILL BE ETERNAL
Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
There are those who look at the latter rain described in Joel 2:23-27 we see what is similar text (along with the early rain). The final revival of the world likely will fulfill other promises in Joel such as in Joel 2:28 also mentioned at least partially fulfilled in Acts 2:17. We also can't ignore how God has blessed Israel even today with more rainfall then surrounding nations; and no doubt the earth in the Millennium will be fruitful more than ever for the final fulfillment with literal rainy seasons of predictable nature (except for those who don't come to worship God as we see later on in Zechariah).
Verse 2 describes that there were those as if there was no shepherd; apparently struggling into part of verse 3. This reminds us of Christ's statement in Matthew 9:36-38.
Verses 3 and 5 show indications of later verses in Zechariah of Judah fighting against the enemy armies in campaigns related to Armageddon; specifically after the taking of half of the city of Jerusalem. Basically the rest of this chapter shows the unity of Judah and Ephriam and gives glory to Christ as the victor over the enemies. Verses 9 and 10 show an ingathering from Egypt and other places.
The pride of Assyria in verse 11 could be partially fulfilled in the past but Antichrist himself is known as the "Assyrian" in Ezekiel 31:3. Egypt is mentioned too; although it's national prominence will never be what it was ( Ezekiel 29:15) but it will cry out in the last days ( Isaiah 19:20) and of course it is mentioned in Zechariah 14:17 they will still exist and need to worship God every year.
if God is speaking in parables when he is mentioning Israel and Jerusalem brought back to the land, and it is given to us to know the parables,
Can you or Gigi explain these three chapters of "parables" Zechariah chapters 12, 13, and 14?
Here are just a few verses.
Zechariah 12:2-3. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
Zechariah 13:9. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Zechariah 14:2. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Please take the liberty to read all three chapters.
I find it strange how two people can take entirely different paths or hermeneutic principles and end up at the same place on this topic.
David, you spiritualize the text as most do to get to a desired destination,
Gigi, you hitch a ride there, but don't believe in spiritualizing the text, "I've seen some of your debates with Alex and Earl"
Gigi, Can you explain what route you took to get to your viewpoint? Because if you don't believe in dispensationalism you are going to have to except Alex and Earls way of interpreting scripture to do away with these hundreds of Kingdom verses here on Earth.
This section I will go back to Daniel 2, Daniel 7 and Daniel 9.
In these chapters notice the consistency in the players involved. "The beast, little horn, Prince of the people that shall come being one of them. We will trace this character back to revelation.
Daniel 2:32-45 Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzars dream, this is the history of the reign of the Gentiles nations from man's viewpoint with the metal images mixed with clay. ( BABYLON, MADO-PERSIA, GREECE, ROME.)
In Daniel 7 we see the same material presented differently.
You see the same material as a series of beast. This is a vision from Gods viewpoint.
Revelation 13:1-4 connects the beast in Daniel 7 to the Antichrist.
In Daniel 2;35-44 we see Christ destroy 4th and final kingdom and its ruler and set up his own everlasting kingdom.
( Daniel 2:44.) And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
( Also see Daniel 7:14.)
This haven't happened yet, and it didn't happen at the cross.
There's still not a kingdom or a King in Israel as described throughout the OT. And there is NO peace!
When studying these chapters, we see the little horn/beast rises out of these 10 horns/kingdoms.
Daniel 7:8-13 describes the end of this last and present empire.
There will be sacrifices in the kingdom. Isaiah 56:6-8. Zechariah 14:16. Jeremiah 33:15-18. Ezekiel 43:18. Ezekiel 46:24. Ezekiel 40:1-49.
Sacrifices never took away sins.
The sacrifices in the OT pointed forward to one who would come and take away sins and the sacrifices in the Kingdom will point backwards to the one who came and took away sins.
The Antichrist will present himself as Christ and the start of the expected Kingdom.
1 John 2:27 The anointing IN YOU will teach you all things .....
God gives light at his good pleasure, he want fail, be patient, it's an attribute of God.
It will take your whole life time in the flesh, it's a race, it's a warfare.
Isaiah 28:9 Whom shall he (the Holy Ghost) teach knowledge, and whom shall he MAKE to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breast.
Isaiah 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, HERE a LITTLE, THERE a LITTLE.
Isaiah 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue (the Holy Ghost) will he SPEAK TO HIS PEOPLE.
God WILL NOT FAIL to bring you to TRUTH.
Zechariah 14:6 And it shall come to pass in that day; that the LIGHT shall not be CLEAR, nor DARK.
Zechariah 14:7 But is shall be one day which shall be know to the LORD, not day, nor night, but it shall COME TO PASS, at EVENING TIME (the end of that day in the flesh and the beginning of the next day in the presence of God) IT SHALL BE LIGHT.
I may be different, but in my understanding of the Bible, I approach scripture simply and do not try to complicate things with preconceived ideas and let the Bible and the Holy Spirit do the interpretation. To me, a symbol will have a non-symbolic meaning.
A symbol represents something real, a real person, a real thing, or a historical event. When I read, I understand words in a literal sense first, then in a figurative or spiritual sense if the literal doesn't make sense.
Are the Christians now the Israel of God? Have the promises to Israel and the church merged into one common heritage? If so that brings up.
Will the promise of the land given to Abraham's seed, Isaac then Jacob be fulfilled? Isaiah 11:11-12Ezekiel 37:21-25Jeremiah 24:5-6Ezekiel 34:11-12Ezekiel 36:24-26Hosea 3:4-5Micah 4:6-7Zechariah 13:8-9
Will Jesus the Messiah return and reign on the earth, with a rod of iron? Isaiah 2:1-4Isaiah 11:1-4Daniel 2:44Daniel 7:14Zechariah 14:1-4 Jeremiah 3:17Revelation 2:26-27Revelation 11:15Revelation 12:5Revelation 19:11-21.
Will there be a literal millennium during which Satan will not deceive the nations and Christ will reign on earth? Revelation 20:1-62 Timothy 2:11-12Isaiah 2:2-4Isaiah 11:5-16Isaiah 65:19-25Isaiah 51:4-5Zechariah 14:16-21 Micah 4:1-4Psalms 46:7-11Matthew 19:28.
To me there are too many scriptures that are showing God has not replaced Israel with the Church. We see in Romans 11:24-27 a day when God will again turn to Israel, the day Jesus returns. Forgive me if some of the scriptures do not fit.
It is pretty much straightforward; He will come in like manner as He left. I think the like manner will be the cloud. Just me, but I think this cloud that took Jesus up and will bring Him back is the cloud we see in Matt. 17:5 and Rev. 11:12 and other places in scripture.
With Michael's shout and the sound of the trumpet of God, I don't think anyone will miss His coming. His landing from where He left will be a little firm and I am sure it will get attention.
Zechariah 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
Forgive me I am just trying to understand. Jesus comes for the Church after the great tribulation and carries it to heaven for the marriage supper then the wrath is poured out then Jesus returns with the Church. If the Church is taken to heaven, if it is pre, mid, or post-trib. the world would know it. If the wrath is then poured out while the Church is in heaven and before Jesus comes back to the earth how could that be as a thief in the night as in 1 Thess. 5:1-32 Thess. 2:1-3Rev. 16:15
The second coming of Christ will be like a thief catching the wicked off guard in their oblivious state. Jesus second coming will be the first resurrection and those resurrected and those changed will be with Jesus in and around Jerusalem not in heaven while the wrath is being poured out. It culminates at the battle of Armageddon as we see as the vials are poured out with the seventh vial Rev.16:13-17 Rev.19:17-21 also Rev. 17:12-14.
If the wrath is poured out before Jesus comes back, could we say that Jesus is coming back as a "thief" after the world has just experienced his previous earth-destroying judgments? As Jesus said again Rev. 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
He comes as a thief so we are to watch until He comes, and He only comes once, and when He comes, He will set up His kingdom and He will be king over all the earth, Zechariah 14:9.
I know that is different, but this is what scripture says to me.
1) The day of the Lord is mentioned 31 times in the bible, 26 times in the Old Testament and 5 in the New Testament.
To my knowledge nowhere in scripture it mentions any removal of the saints.
Here's a few.
Isaiah 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezekiel 13:5, 30:3; Joel 1:15, 2:1,11,31; 3:14; Amos 5:18,20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7,14; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi 4:5) and several times in the New Testament ( Acts 2:20; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10). It is also alluded to in other passages ( Revelation 6:15-17; 16:14).
In 2 Peter 3:3-18 we are told the Lord is longsuffering to us-ward, and holding back his wrath not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Notice something in verses 11 and 12.
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? ITS A QUESTION!!
The answer is NO!
Here's what were looking for;
Verses 13-16.
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
See part 2 and the second issue I have with that view.
To answer your first question, I have gone back and read through Matthew Chapter 24 beginning with Verse 1. The first thing I am looking for is who Jesus is speaking to. It tells us in Verse 1 that Jesus was in the process of leaving the temple grounds when the disciples (Peter, James, John, & Andrew) came to Him to show Him the buildings of the temple. Jesus gives them the prophecy concerning the destruction of the temple that happened in 70 AD.
In Verse 3, these same four disciples probed Jesus with three questions: When shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Now from this point in Verse 3 on to the end of Chapter 24, Jesus gives these four disciples the answers to their three questions. I am trying to find reference to the church with what Jesus is saying, mainly in response to your question on who the ones taken are referring to, but I just cannot see this as being the church.
Jesus begins answering their three questions in Verse 4. He begins by talking about the pains of birth ( Matthew 24:4-14), and then Matthew 24:15 is the pivotal point. Jesus is talking to Jews who are familiar with their Old Testament scriptures in Daniel ( Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11). And then we see the perils of tribulation ( Matthew 24:16-28). And the finally, the promise of Jesus' coming in Matthew 24:29-31.
As you probably already have figured out by now, I believe the church is gone already, so no, I do not see Matthew 24:40-41 talking about church members being taken, nor do I see those two verses referring to the rapture of the church. I believe the ones taken are taken into judgment. They are taken to fight against Christ when He returns at His second coming. My reason for believing this comes from Joel 3:1-2, and Zechariah 14:2. From what I see, it is God who gathers these people (the ones taken) into the Valley of Megiddo to face judgement.
The 12 tribes of the old had a priesthood out of the tribe of Levi.
The old was done away with.
The new has a priesthood out of the house of Judah.
At present, in this generation, or age, Christ is ONLY calling out the PRIESTHOOD, not everyone will be in this priesthood in THIS GENERATION, or age.
When all the priests; the Sons of God, have been gathered, Christ will resurrect ALL the dead back to their bodies of FLESH, and they will be JUDGED and RULED by the Sons of God.
It will be a shadow of the old.
Joshua 9:21 And the princes (the sons of God) said ... Let them LIVE, but let them be HEWERS of WOOD and DRAWERS of WATER unto all the congregation (sons of God) ...
But THIS TIME the children WILL NOT take up the ways of the Canaanites, BUT will cause the nations to take up the WAY OF GOD.
Zechariah 14:21 Yea, every pot (man is the pot and Christ the potter) in (NEW) Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of host; and they (those resurrected to flesh) that sacrifice and come and TAKE OF THEM, (the new creation, now the likeness of Christ), and seethe therein (THE WORD): and in that day there shall NO MORE CANAANITES in the house of the LORD of host.
Romans 8:19 For the earnest EXPECTATION of the creature WAITETH for the manifestations of the SONS OF GOD.
Romans 8:21 Because the creature ITSELF shall BE DELIVERED from the bondage of corruption (death) into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Obadiah 1:21 And SAVIOURS (sons of God) shall come upon Mount Zion to JUDGE the Mount of Esau, and the KINGDOM shall be the LORDS.
I feel I have intruded on you and Chris, forgive me if I have.
I will just touch on Matt. 24:40-41. I understand Matt. 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 are twofold, parts for the disciples for instruction for what they would endure and things leading up to the destruction of the temple and also for who will be living at the end times. In context of the chapter, we see "the coming of the Son of man." three times in this chapter verses 27, 37, and 39.
Matt. 24:27 He will be seen coming as Rev. 1:7. In Matt. 24:29:31 after the tribulation the Son of man coming with power and great glory. Rev. 19:11-16, similar to Joel 2:11, Joel 3:13-17Zechariah 14:1-9. My understanding this is about the Second Coming of Christ.
In Matt. 24:36 we do not know when and we must be ready, we do not know when our death will be, it could be now. Jesus second coming is after the tribulation of the beast, we must be ready to not be tempted and be strong in our faith to not take the mark to save this flesh. Luke covers Matt.24 40-41 and just before, he adds this. Matt. 16:25Mk. 8:35
Luke 17:33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. God has said He will keep us from this, Rev. 3:10, but for those people who know the truth and refuse to receive it, He will send a delusion, 2 Thes. 2:11-12
In Matt. 24:37-39 as the days of Noah so shall also be the coming of the Son of man, the ones taken away in Noah's time were wicked. Matt.24:40-41 Why would it be the opposite of Noah's time? It is like the wheat and the tares at the end the ones taken will be burned in the lake of fire and the righteous will be left. At Jesus's return, the ones taken before the end will be where the eagles are, Luke 17:37Ezek. 39:17-20Rev. 19:17-21 the battle of Armageddon.
This is my understanding you may disagree and that is ok. Those in the first resurrection reign with Jesus on earth and there are only two resurrections.
Not sure if this is exactly what you are looking for but here's a few of many references of a future Kingdom here on earth.
Revelation 5:10
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
AND WE SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH.
Psalm 2:6-8
"Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion." "I will declare the decree:
The LORD has said to Me,
'You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
Daniel 2:34-35
You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and FILLED THE WHOLE EARTH.
Zechariah 14:9-11.
Zechariah 14:16-19
And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
Psalm 76. Here we are reminded of God's victory over His enemies and His purpose to save the "meek of the earth" (v. 9). Jesus Himself stated that "the meek shall inherit the earth." ( Matt. 5:5). This would no doubt include the saints who were raptured and the souls of those martyred in the Tribulation as well as the few that survive in hiding.
Verses 1 and 2 indicate God being known in Israel. This and it being ..." dwelling place" show a future implication here once they realize who their Messiah is and He returns to rule from Jerusalem in the Millennium.
Verses 3 through 6 remind us of the Exodus with the weapons and animals of warfare mentioned; and the sinking in the Red Sea putting "chariot and horse..." into a "..dead sleep."
When we continue on to verses 7 through 12 seem to indicate a world wide end times fulfillment. We see the "earth" fearing and still and once again verse 9 shows saving the meek; but we notice it says ALL the meek of the earth.
Verse 10 reminds us of verses such as Isaiah 49:23; as well as Isaiah 24:22 where we see a restraint followed eventually by final judgment. Verse 11 reminds us of the verse in Zechariah 14:8. There are certain foolish vows that are not to be taken but God expects men to do this as part of worship so in that case serving God is important (see Jonah 1:16).
The last verse sort of reinforces the idea of God ruling with an iron rod and the earlier theme of verse 10 ( Rev. 19:15; Psalm 2:7-9).
You will be alive when Christ comes back, Christ has already come, the SECOND TIME, to everyone that is BORN AGAIN of TRUTH and LIFE, those Christ dwell in, will never die, you just switch bodies so you can reign with Christ.
Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many (first coming in the flesh); and unto them that look for him he shall appear the SECOND TIME (Christ in you, truth and life, in you) without sin UNTO SALVATION.
I am going to give you a different perspective of Zechariah, you seem to have already come to truth that we have to be destroyed, flesh and blood can not enter the Kingdom of God.
Zechariah 14:2 This shall be the plaque of them which have fought fight against Jerusalem ......everyone was born into deception, Jerusalem, is TRUTH, we all fight against Jerusalem ...... their (our) flesh (deception) shall consume away while they stand on their feet ..... deception is of this world, truth is of the next world, deception (flesh) cannot live with truth, it has to be destroyed ......
This same thing is described in Revelation 19, the marriage supper of the Lamb, we have to have our flesh eaten from us.
God Bless YOU, as Christ leads you into all truth.
"The Day of the Lord " 1Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Isaiah 2:12, Isaiah 13:6-13, Ezekiel 30:3, Joel 1, Joel 2, Amos 5:18-20, Obadiah 1:15, Zephaniah 1, Zechariah 14:1, Malachi 4:5, Acts 2:20, 1Thessalonians 5:2, 2Peter 3, Revelation 10, notice Revelation 10:7, Revelation 11:18,19,
This chapter; like all scriptures should be taken as a literal prophetic event unless certain things are clearly symbolic. In this case everything is given a literal time frame and sequence; with supporting details not only in this chapter and the rest of Revelation; but other books including the Old Testament in scripture.
We can argue what we may about a Post Millennium mindset and agree to disagree if we have a basic belief in Christ's PHYSICAL return to earth in the future (something which FULL preterists seem to think has already occurred but in some mystical fashion). That would be the only case where we should disfellowship; and I and another brother in the Lord were forced to do that a few years ago. Something else which I consider very dangerous is the mindset that Satan is already bound in the bottomless pit. This is notwithstanding all the promises of the church that the powers of darkness will have no affect on us. There is certainly no limitation on killing the saints of God which Satan will do and continue to do until his punishment is enacted (at the end of the Tribulation and the end of the battle after he is released after the 1000 years). The general statement that a time worse than any that has ever happened or will ever exist again ( Matt. 24:21) with all the percentages of deaths listed in Revelation certainly has not occurred yet. We need to examine other scriptures such as Isaiah 14:17; Isaiah 41:5-13 on the coastlands burning; Isaiah 13:12 on man being rarer than the "gold of Ophir"; Isaiah 30:28 about the nations being put into the seive of destruction; Zechariah 12:9 on all nations gathered and half of Jerusalem taken and numerous other prophetic passages to see that indeed Armageddon must occur. Other verses talk of clear descriptions of mortal man still capable of sinning on the earth in the Millennium such as Zechariah 14:17-18; and Isaiah 65:20-25 being two of the clearest examples.
The first few verses describe as chapter 18 did the destruction of the city of Babylon "the great whore" (v. 2). Verse 7 talks about the marriage of the Lamb; with the wedding supper in verse 9. The scene in front of the throne here as well as the timing seem almost identical to what we see in Revelation 5. We need to keep in mind that not everyone will be present wearing the garments of white until the last saint appears in heaven; so this likely shows the Resurrection of all the Tribulation saints along with the church who were raised 7 years before. This brings in mind the parable of the Ten Virgins and associated verses as to the reference both to the Second Coming and Rapture. We need to remember that Israel itself isn't as a nation going to repent until the final destruction on Israel where half of the city is taken in Zechariah 14:2. Just because the Tribulation saints aren't in the dispensation of the church where the Spirit works within the Body as at present; that doesn't exclude the rest of the believers from being members of a corporate Body who all need white garments of righteousness. (Verse 8). All true saints; therefore must bring forth fruit. God may deem martyrdom necessary to procure that; particularly in the days when Christ will be known to all and seen by the world (once again; indicated by the scene in Rev. 6:16-17. John 20:26-29 shows those who have NOT seen are blessed; and the Rapture certainly would be a reward in that sense.
Verse 10 also brings up a theme repeated in Revelation 22:9 where he tries to worship someone other than God (in the other case an angel). This should cause us to take pause to realize that the glorified bodies of the saints will be quite overwhelming.
The rest of the chapter; of course relates to the Second Coming of Christ and the immediate victory He has over the armies of the earth. More on that in the next post.
Concluding thoughts on seventh vial in Revelation 16
We see here; in the seventh vial judgment a great hail coming down on the earth which fits into the scenario of the Ezekiel 38 war. This is tied in with the greatest earthquake ever in verse 18; and Babylon the Great to be judged; the "great city" whatever that is-possibly Jerusalem being split in three pieces and all the cities of the nations falling.
Zechariah 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day (the day of the Lord: CHRIST IN YOU) on the mount of Olives, which is before (NEW) Jerusalem (Christ in you, the city made of LIVING stones), and the mount of Olives (which is the new Jerusalem) shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west (symbolic); and there shall be a very great valley (symbolic),and half of the mountain (symbolic) shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
This Mountain (symbolic of the people that make up this mountain); half represents the mount of Jacob and half the mount of Esau.
Obadiah 1:18 And the house of Jacob shall be a FIRE (our God is a consuming FIRE: YOU WILL BE: the image of Christ) and the house of Joseph a Flame ( Luke 16:24), and the house of Esau for stubble; and they SHALL KINDLE IN THEM (as Christ did in you), and devour them, and there shall not be remaining any of the house of ESAU ( Zechariah 14:21); for the Lord hath spoken it.
Obadiah 1:21 And saviours (Christ and those called to be HIS IMAGE) shall come upon mount Zion to JUDGE the mount of Esau; and the kingdom SHALL BE the LORD'S.
The called out; I AM the resurrection, will judge the whole world, the mount of Esau, after the resurrection of the dead.
Isaiah 26:9 ...for when thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Hebrews 11:20 By faith Issac blessed Jacob and Esau CONCERNING THINGS TO COME.
Genesis 27:40 And by thy (Esau's) sword (not God's sword; the word) shalt thy live (and DIE, and at the resurrection of the dead thou shall ) SERVE THY BROTHER; and it shall COME TO PASS (when God's words shall be fulfilled) that thou (also) SHALT HAVE the dominion (the kingdom of God, Christ in you), that thou (through judgement) shall BREAK HIS YOKE from off your neck.
Psalms 22:All the ends of the earth shall REMEMBER ( Luke 16:25 ...Remember) and turn unto the LORD: (when his judgements are in the earth)
Here's what I found to back up Malachi message about the "day of the Lord" (29X) from OT to NT. After these verses there's more interesting words God made me focus on as well. So begin our study ( if anybody willing to read) with these verses but do not forget to read the entire chapter or even before and after the chapter for any connecting relevance:
The Lord's vengeance and the year of recompenses for the controversy of the Zion.
Isaiah 2:12; 13:6; 13:9; 34:8
Jeremiah 46:10
Lamentations 2:22
Ezekiel 13:5; 30:3
Joel has spoken about the sun darkened and the moon into blood as reiterates in Acts 2:20
Joel 1:15; 2:1; 2:11; 2:31; 3:14
We pause and pray. It seems the day of the Lord is a great and very terrible day. I pray that ALL will be saved today's Bible study.
Amos 5:18; 5:20
Obadiah 1:15
Zephaniah has spoken that there are people may be saved who seek the righteousness of God
Zephaniah 1:7-8; 1:14; 1:18;2:2-3
Zechariah 14:1
1 Corinthians 5:5
2 Corinthians 1:14
I thank God for Paul that we who are saved will know perfectly when this day would be even if it comes as a thief in the night as mentioned in ( 2 Peter 3:10)
1 Thessalonians 5:2
That is why I think we who truly believes God and have done God's will more likely not experience this day. So we pray earnestly that ALL may be saved. Happy reading.
God doesn't need possessions as we understand it, 'having or owning things' that are necessary for our survival or happiness. In Psalm 50:10, God says: "For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills." God owns all things He has created, even the special called-out people (first Israel, then those who've come to faith in Christ) & also that special city Jerusalem (Zion). Psalm 87:2-3 says, "The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God." According to this verse, Zion is synonymous with City of God, and it is a place that God loves. Zion is Jerusalem.
Zion is first mentioned in 2 Samuel 5:7. Zion was originally an ancient Jebusite fortress in the city of Jerusalem. After David's conquest of the fortress, Jerusalem became a possession of Israel. The royal palace was built there, and Zion/Jerusalem became the seat of power in Israel's kingdom. When Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, the meaning of Zion included the temple area ( Psalm 2:6; Psalm 48:2,11,12; Psalm 132:13). Therefore, the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:6, "Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God."
Zion is also used in a spiritual sense in Scripture. In the Old Testament, Zion refers figuratively to Israel as the people of God ( Isaiah 60:14). In the New Testament, Zion refers to God's spiritual kingdom: Hebrews 12:22. Peter, quoting Isaiah 28:16, refers to Christ as the Cornerstone of Zion ( 1 Peter 2:6).
Mount Zion, as a geographical area, is now the focus of much dispute (mainly between Jews & Muslims). The Bible is clear that one day Zion will be the sole possession of the Lord Jesus, and Zion, both the nation and the city, will be restored. ( Isaiah 52:1; Isaiah 60:14). When Jesus returns to Earth, His rule will be from Jerusalem ( Zechariah 14:1-4; Luke 1:32,33). I hope you can see why Zion is so important & especially significant in God's Eyes as a special City of God (on Earth).
Zechariah 14:20 In that day (of the Lord) shall there be upon the bells of the horses ( Zechariah 10:3), HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the alter.
Zechariah 14:21 Yea every pot in (new) Jerusalem and in Judah (from which the new priesthood sprang) shall be holiness unto the Lord of host: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day shall there be no more the CANAANITE in the house of the Lord of host.
The first Israel of God FAILED to destroy the Canaanites out of the land, the second ISRAEL OF GOD WILL NOT FAIL to destroy the Canaanites from the earth.
I've never heard a pre-trib view taught that there is 3 comings of Christ, I always understood that there is the 1st coming and the second coming to Earth.
The rapture is called the "harpazo" in the Greek. meaning "to snatch away" or "to seize," The Lord don't come to the earth, We go to him!
1 Thessalonians 4:17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD IN THE AIR: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
His second coming he comes to the Earth with judgment.
In these 2nd coming verses there's no mention of the removal of saints.
Here's just a few of many.
Zechariah 14:4.
Revelation 19:11-16,
Revelation 20:1-6.
Matthew 25:31-32.
The 2nd coming he comes with his saints.
If he raptured in his 2nd coming when he comes and make war against the nations who's going to populate the Millennium?
The question that arises is this; since we are "grafted in" hence Jews and Gentiles are part of God's elect in this age as we see illlustrated in Romans 11. If we continue to verse 23; however we see that even Jews are grafted in once they believe in the truth about Jesus. ( Romans 11:25). We also see this principle in Luke 21:24 as well as various Old Testament scriptures about the Resurrection of all saints ( Daniel 12:13) and King David himself ruling with Christ ( Daniel 7:27 and other passages). There are those who stubbornly only consider these promises to be fulfilled in the church and say God is done with Israel. This helps to discount a millennium as something which is symbolic of the church (even though that has lasted almost 2000 years now since Pentecost). I would say that we need to draw the line if there is a display of antisemitism; for instance with a superiority complex developing because of these theories. Admittedly there is much evil among all; including those Jews who are living in unbelief when we see; for instance Tel Aviv and the abominations of those living out a lifestyle like Sodom ( Revelation 13:16-17). We also need to seek out individuals whether Jew or Gentile to preach the Good News; without partiality to anyone. Finally; there is difficulty with some in regard to sacrifices actually occurring in the Millennium; deeming them an abomination as Christ has already fulfilled all things necessary. That would depend on the purpose of these; as to commemorating God and having a ceremonial purification; for instance. Such activity would help to bring all to worship in Israel; fulfilling prophecies such as Isaiah 56:7 and Zechariah 14:17. Despite all this; I wouldn't consider this essential doctrine to break fellowship but important nonetheless to get a correct grip on the rest of scriptures to avoid what could be bigger error of essential truths.
According to Isaiah 65:20 the man who dies at 100 will be considered a youth and before 100 cursed. This shows the reason for death during the Millennium; it would seem that the lifespan will reach 1000 emulating those who lived well into their 900s according to several accounts in Genesis in the Antidiluvian world. Proof of the Millennium is also found in verses such as Zechariah 14:17 for those who would argue that once the Lord returns that is it and we go immediately into eternity; where death clearly doesn't exist anymore ( 1 Cor. 15:55-57 coming from a passage in Hosea in the O.T.)
The idea of the necessity of a temple at that time makes sense; therefore for several reasons. There would need to be a ceremonial cleansing to be in the presence of Christ and probably us in glorified bodies; not for sin but because of our still corrupted and inferior bodies for those who survive the Tribulation and come to worship there. There are subtle differences as to frequency of sacrifices and a few other details in the temple mentioned in the last few chapters of Ezekiel from the O.T. standards. The external ceremony honoring the Lord; and it fulfilling its role as a place for prayer for all nations ( Isaiah 56:7; quoted by Christ when cleansing the Temple in the N.T.) will bring together these individuals with us; the glorified saints who are given authority to rule and reign with Christ ( 2 Timothy 2:12; etal).
The Gospel; as I have stated rather often at this forum will never be the same by the sixth seal in Revelation forward. There will be no need to preach about who Christ is; or what we are supposed to do although it will be a wonderful truth to share with the natural born children at that time. The warnings about testing ourselves to see if we are in the faith; however certainly will be vital ( 2 Cor. 13:5). Many will believe but sadly ( Rev. 20:8) will rebel and be lost.
It will be awesome but there will be horrible times before He returns. If we are still living, we must be strong in our faith to resist the hour of temptation that is coming. When He returns it will not be some silent secret event, Revelation 1:7 and Matthew 23:39. He will return to the same place from where He ascended, Acts 1:10-11. When He touches His feet back on earth on the Mount of Olives the earth will split with the power and glory that has been given Him by God, Zechariah 14:4.
There will be the chosen and faithful, Revelation 17:14 who have been grafted into the vine in the first resurrection, Revelation 20:5-6 that will be a part of this kingdom and reign for one thousand years.
God bless,
RLW
Genesis 12:2-3 is probably closest and the most popular.
Some try to associate these two verses with the Church along with all the promises and blessings prophesied to Israel. and all the cursings to the Nation Israel.
Antisemitism began in the early Church, as soon as Paul brought the Gospel to the Gentiles.
Some saw the Jews as the Christ killers, even though for this cause he come into the world.
ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD and God blessed him!
God blesses the Nation Israel because he is faithful and remembers the Abrahamic covenant that is associated with the Davidic covenant.
A chosen people and a land here on earth is tied to those promises.
When we bless Israel we enlists ourselves as one who believes God also.
God brought Israel alive from a valley of dry bones and yet some say God is done with Israel.
Here's just a few of many verses similar to the answer of your question.
Zechariah 2:8-9.
For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.
Zechariah 12:1-9.
Zechariah 14:12.
Psalms 122:6.
The Lord also punished Nations that relished when Israel was being punished by God. Obadiah 1:8-14.
Israel exists today because of promise not faithfulness to God.
They being brought back to the land because of prophetic promises not obedience.
2 Samuel 7:23-24.
God bless.
In regard to symbolic interpretations of scripture; one of the most extreme I have seen is an interpretation of Revelation 22 as being a symbolic imagery not a literal place paved in streets of gold and all the other details of mind boggling concepts. This was one novel Post Millennial or amillennial concept for a small book that I read several years back. On the other hand, the idea that many from the Pre Millennium camp argue that we should submit to the idea that Satan has basically taken over and controls everything rather than still using God given authority until the end of the church age was a good point. It can be argued that one eschatology is better than another (I myself am a PreMillenialist) but in this case as in all others there is a deeper issue; namely that many clear factual prophetic statements will occur at the Second coming; just as it did at the first. PostMil people and even Preterists for that matter have no problem believing the historical prophecies from Christ's first coming; and the Old Testament Prophecies and writings from history being a literal fact. But often doctrinal issues preclude such ideas for future prophecies; tied into the idea that for instance the church has replaced Isreal rather than the idea that two concurrent covenants could be in effect. Some would even argue with science that corroborates prophecy such as the fault line on the Mount of Olives that explains Zechariah 14:4. They would say that it precludes faith from being belief in what we can't see if it fits in with science! We of course can make this error in reverse with evolution concepts that often are disproven at a later date when more of the fossil record is retrieved; for instance with such fossils as Archaepterix; or "Piltdown" man. Again; there is some room for different interpretations on "secondary" issues but not when primary core doctrines of truth are compromised.
One can eventually lead to the other
I agree with you, sharing the gospel with as many as we can.
I do not think Russia will intervene they are depleted with their war in Ukraine, there may be a few nuclear bombs, but we know this world is not destroyed by nuclear war. Iran is already in it, whether the other militant groups join in is the big question. The U. S. with all the ammo and supplies they have given to Ukraine and have not replaced our supplies plus what they will give to Israel I would not be surprised if China makes their move.
End times have many interpretations, some things that have already been fulfilled are looked for to be in the future. Many are looking for an antichrist when we see there is not one but there are three in Revelations, Rev. 12,13. I feel people are looking for things that are not coming like the Church being taken to heaven when there is not one verse in the Bible that says we are going to or we are taken to heaven. The earth is for man, this earth, and the new earth. It says those who are worthy will reign on earth not heaven, 2 Tim. 2:12 Rev. 5:10
There will be those in the first resurrection that will meet Jesus in the air on His way down to earth, (the world is round) Matt. 24:31 Mark 13:27 After the tribulation, it does not say He then goes back up to heaven.
We see that on that day His feet will stand upon the Mount of Olives, Zechariah 14:4, and also Jesus along with the 144000 first fruits will stand on Mount Zion/Sion the mountain just in front of Jerusalem. Much of the end times are tied to the world economy there is so much behind the scenes we do not see and will not see until the end starts.
Whatever comes we are told to watch, this life is not our hope, 1 Cor. 15:19, it is the one we have been promised, Titus 3:7. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints, Rev. 13:10. It will be things coming that have not been, Matt. 24:21,29. My understanding I will leave it there.
God bless,
RLW
REVELATION IN 3 PARTS Past-Present-Future
Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast SEEN, and the things WHICH ARE, and the things which shall be HEREAFTER;
Things which thou hast SEEN ( Rev 1:1-18) things which ARE ( Revelation 2,3) things which shall be HEREAFTER ( Revelation 4:1)
John wrote down what he had seen, in the order in which he saw them.
REV 2,3 'WHICH ARE' CHURCHES IN JOHNS TIME/CHURCHES TODAY
Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth
Rapture 'seizing and carrying off'
There have been raptures already just by the definition above, more yet to come.
Enoch, Elijah, Captives free in the OT are 'raptures'
RAPTURES DURING THE GREAT TRIBULATION.
(Disclaimer: John wrote it) Those who repent during tribulation before the 7th seal, later 144,000 and Two witnesses. Salvation will be available to those who ask for God's grace before the 7th seal though they must endure the first 6 seals.
REV 4:1 RAPTURE/TRIB (Dead in Christ rise first, they which are alive) 6 SEALS ( REV 7:14 Great multitude..'out of' meaning within. Two Witnesses, 144,000 man child)
TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION SEEK HIM WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND!
Mark 13:32 -But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
RAPTURE/START OF TRIBULATION ( Rev 4:2/19:11-21) 2ND COMING OF CHRIST
Chapter 7 starts 'after these' so chapters 4,5,6 have happened.
LITTLE HORN UPROOTS 3 NATIONS, AND OTHER 6 FALL IN LINE. AFTER 3.5 YEARS OF WAR.
Zechariah 14:16-23 - After Tribulation 'Those that left' 'year to year' for 1000 years. Will live, age, multiply and die. In Heaven until 1000 years are up. These nations satan will be let loose to deceive the nations one last time.
NOT THOSE RAPTURED SAINTS WITH CHRIST 2ND Coming, THEY WILL BE ETERNAL
.
Verse 1 states:
Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
There are those who look at the latter rain described in Joel 2:23-27 we see what is similar text (along with the early rain). The final revival of the world likely will fulfill other promises in Joel such as in Joel 2:28 also mentioned at least partially fulfilled in Acts 2:17. We also can't ignore how God has blessed Israel even today with more rainfall then surrounding nations; and no doubt the earth in the Millennium will be fruitful more than ever for the final fulfillment with literal rainy seasons of predictable nature (except for those who don't come to worship God as we see later on in Zechariah).
Verse 2 describes that there were those as if there was no shepherd; apparently struggling into part of verse 3. This reminds us of Christ's statement in Matthew 9:36-38.
Verses 3 and 5 show indications of later verses in Zechariah of Judah fighting against the enemy armies in campaigns related to Armageddon; specifically after the taking of half of the city of Jerusalem. Basically the rest of this chapter shows the unity of Judah and Ephriam and gives glory to Christ as the victor over the enemies. Verses 9 and 10 show an ingathering from Egypt and other places.
The pride of Assyria in verse 11 could be partially fulfilled in the past but Antichrist himself is known as the "Assyrian" in Ezekiel 31:3. Egypt is mentioned too; although it's national prominence will never be what it was ( Ezekiel 29:15) but it will cry out in the last days ( Isaiah 19:20) and of course it is mentioned in Zechariah 14:17 they will still exist and need to worship God every year.
Part 4.
David
if God is speaking in parables when he is mentioning Israel and Jerusalem brought back to the land, and it is given to us to know the parables,
Can you or Gigi explain these three chapters of "parables" Zechariah chapters 12, 13, and 14?
Here are just a few verses.
Zechariah 12:2-3. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
Zechariah 13:9. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Zechariah 14:2. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Please take the liberty to read all three chapters.
I find it strange how two people can take entirely different paths or hermeneutic principles and end up at the same place on this topic.
David, you spiritualize the text as most do to get to a desired destination,
Gigi, you hitch a ride there, but don't believe in spiritualizing the text, "I've seen some of your debates with Alex and Earl"
Gigi, Can you explain what route you took to get to your viewpoint? Because if you don't believe in dispensationalism you are going to have to except Alex and Earls way of interpreting scripture to do away with these hundreds of Kingdom verses here on Earth.
See Part 5.
Part 2.
This section I will go back to Daniel 2, Daniel 7 and Daniel 9.
In these chapters notice the consistency in the players involved. "The beast, little horn, Prince of the people that shall come being one of them. We will trace this character back to revelation.
Daniel 2:32-45 Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzars dream, this is the history of the reign of the Gentiles nations from man's viewpoint with the metal images mixed with clay. ( BABYLON, MADO-PERSIA, GREECE, ROME.)
In Daniel 7 we see the same material presented differently.
You see the same material as a series of beast. This is a vision from Gods viewpoint.
Revelation 13:1-4 connects the beast in Daniel 7 to the Antichrist.
In Daniel 2;35-44 we see Christ destroy 4th and final kingdom and its ruler and set up his own everlasting kingdom.
( Daniel 2:44.) And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
( Also see Daniel 7:14.)
This haven't happened yet, and it didn't happen at the cross.
There's still not a kingdom or a King in Israel as described throughout the OT. And there is NO peace!
When studying these chapters, we see the little horn/beast rises out of these 10 horns/kingdoms.
Daniel 7:8-13 describes the end of this last and present empire.
Revelation 19:19 amplifies. that. Hasn't happened yet.
CONCERNING THE SACRIFICES.
There will be sacrifices in the kingdom. Isaiah 56:6-8. Zechariah 14:16. Jeremiah 33:15-18. Ezekiel 43:18. Ezekiel 46:24. Ezekiel 40:1-49.
Sacrifices never took away sins.
The sacrifices in the OT pointed forward to one who would come and take away sins and the sacrifices in the Kingdom will point backwards to the one who came and took away sins.
The Antichrist will present himself as Christ and the start of the expected Kingdom.
God bless.
You have the testimony of Jesus IN YOU.
1 John 2:27 The anointing IN YOU will teach you all things .....
God gives light at his good pleasure, he want fail, be patient, it's an attribute of God.
It will take your whole life time in the flesh, it's a race, it's a warfare.
Isaiah 28:9 Whom shall he (the Holy Ghost) teach knowledge, and whom shall he MAKE to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breast.
Isaiah 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, HERE a LITTLE, THERE a LITTLE.
Isaiah 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue (the Holy Ghost) will he SPEAK TO HIS PEOPLE.
God WILL NOT FAIL to bring you to TRUTH.
Zechariah 14:6 And it shall come to pass in that day; that the LIGHT shall not be CLEAR, nor DARK.
Zechariah 14:7 But is shall be one day which shall be know to the LORD, not day, nor night, but it shall COME TO PASS, at EVENING TIME (the end of that day in the flesh and the beginning of the next day in the presence of God) IT SHALL BE LIGHT.
God bless YOU.
I may be different, but in my understanding of the Bible, I approach scripture simply and do not try to complicate things with preconceived ideas and let the Bible and the Holy Spirit do the interpretation. To me, a symbol will have a non-symbolic meaning.
A symbol represents something real, a real person, a real thing, or a historical event. When I read, I understand words in a literal sense first, then in a figurative or spiritual sense if the literal doesn't make sense.
Are the Christians now the Israel of God? Have the promises to Israel and the church merged into one common heritage? If so that brings up.
Will the promise of the land given to Abraham's seed, Isaac then Jacob be fulfilled? Isaiah 11:11-12 Ezekiel 37:21-25 Jeremiah 24:5-6 Ezekiel 34:11-12 Ezekiel 36:24-26 Hosea 3:4-5 Micah 4:6-7 Zechariah 13:8-9
Will Jesus the Messiah return and reign on the earth, with a rod of iron? Isaiah 2:1-4 Isaiah 11:1-4 Daniel 2:44 Daniel 7:14 Zechariah 14:1-4 Jeremiah 3:17 Revelation 2:26-27 Revelation 11:15 Revelation 12:5 Revelation 19:11-21.
Will there be a literal millennium during which Satan will not deceive the nations and Christ will reign on earth? Revelation 20:1-6 2 Timothy 2:11-12 Isaiah 2:2-4 Isaiah 11:5-16 Isaiah 65:19-25 Isaiah 51:4-5 Zechariah 14:16-21 Micah 4:1-4 Psalms 46:7-11 Matthew 19:28.
To me there are too many scriptures that are showing God has not replaced Israel with the Church. We see in Romans 11:24-27 a day when God will again turn to Israel, the day Jesus returns. Forgive me if some of the scriptures do not fit.
God bless,
RLW
It is pretty much straightforward; He will come in like manner as He left. I think the like manner will be the cloud. Just me, but I think this cloud that took Jesus up and will bring Him back is the cloud we see in Matt. 17:5 and Rev. 11:12 and other places in scripture.
With Michael's shout and the sound of the trumpet of God, I don't think anyone will miss His coming. His landing from where He left will be a little firm and I am sure it will get attention.
Zechariah 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
God bless,
RLW
Forgive me I am just trying to understand. Jesus comes for the Church after the great tribulation and carries it to heaven for the marriage supper then the wrath is poured out then Jesus returns with the Church. If the Church is taken to heaven, if it is pre, mid, or post-trib. the world would know it. If the wrath is then poured out while the Church is in heaven and before Jesus comes back to the earth how could that be as a thief in the night as in 1 Thess. 5:1-3 2 Thess. 2:1-3 Rev. 16:15
The second coming of Christ will be like a thief catching the wicked off guard in their oblivious state. Jesus second coming will be the first resurrection and those resurrected and those changed will be with Jesus in and around Jerusalem not in heaven while the wrath is being poured out. It culminates at the battle of Armageddon as we see as the vials are poured out with the seventh vial Rev.16:13-17 Rev.19:17-21 also Rev. 17:12-14.
If the wrath is poured out before Jesus comes back, could we say that Jesus is coming back as a "thief" after the world has just experienced his previous earth-destroying judgments? As Jesus said again Rev. 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
He comes as a thief so we are to watch until He comes, and He only comes once, and when He comes, He will set up His kingdom and He will be king over all the earth, Zechariah 14:9.
I know that is different, but this is what scripture says to me.
God bless,
RLW
part 1
That's a good point you make,
However, Here's a few issues with that view,
1) The day of the Lord is mentioned 31 times in the bible, 26 times in the Old Testament and 5 in the New Testament.
To my knowledge nowhere in scripture it mentions any removal of the saints.
Here's a few.
Isaiah 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezekiel 13:5, 30:3; Joel 1:15, 2:1,11,31; 3:14; Amos 5:18,20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7,14; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi 4:5) and several times in the New Testament ( Acts 2:20; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10). It is also alluded to in other passages ( Revelation 6:15-17; 16:14).
In 2 Peter 3:3-18 we are told the Lord is longsuffering to us-ward, and holding back his wrath not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Notice something in verses 11 and 12.
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? ITS A QUESTION!!
The answer is NO!
Here's what were looking for;
Verses 13-16.
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
See part 2 and the second issue I have with that view.
Hello Jimbob,
To answer your first question, I have gone back and read through Matthew Chapter 24 beginning with Verse 1. The first thing I am looking for is who Jesus is speaking to. It tells us in Verse 1 that Jesus was in the process of leaving the temple grounds when the disciples (Peter, James, John, & Andrew) came to Him to show Him the buildings of the temple. Jesus gives them the prophecy concerning the destruction of the temple that happened in 70 AD.
In Verse 3, these same four disciples probed Jesus with three questions: When shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Now from this point in Verse 3 on to the end of Chapter 24, Jesus gives these four disciples the answers to their three questions. I am trying to find reference to the church with what Jesus is saying, mainly in response to your question on who the ones taken are referring to, but I just cannot see this as being the church.
Jesus begins answering their three questions in Verse 4. He begins by talking about the pains of birth ( Matthew 24:4-14), and then Matthew 24:15 is the pivotal point. Jesus is talking to Jews who are familiar with their Old Testament scriptures in Daniel ( Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11). And then we see the perils of tribulation ( Matthew 24:16-28). And the finally, the promise of Jesus' coming in Matthew 24:29-31.
As you probably already have figured out by now, I believe the church is gone already, so no, I do not see Matthew 24:40-41 talking about church members being taken, nor do I see those two verses referring to the rapture of the church. I believe the ones taken are taken into judgment. They are taken to fight against Christ when He returns at His second coming. My reason for believing this comes from Joel 3:1-2, and Zechariah 14:2. From what I see, it is God who gathers these people (the ones taken) into the Valley of Megiddo to face judgement.
The OLD is a SHADOW of the NEW.
The 12 tribes of the old had a priesthood out of the tribe of Levi.
The old was done away with.
The new has a priesthood out of the house of Judah.
At present, in this generation, or age, Christ is ONLY calling out the PRIESTHOOD, not everyone will be in this priesthood in THIS GENERATION, or age.
When all the priests; the Sons of God, have been gathered, Christ will resurrect ALL the dead back to their bodies of FLESH, and they will be JUDGED and RULED by the Sons of God.
It will be a shadow of the old.
Joshua 9:21 And the princes (the sons of God) said ... Let them LIVE, but let them be HEWERS of WOOD and DRAWERS of WATER unto all the congregation (sons of God) ...
But THIS TIME the children WILL NOT take up the ways of the Canaanites, BUT will cause the nations to take up the WAY OF GOD.
Zechariah 14:21 Yea, every pot (man is the pot and Christ the potter) in (NEW) Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of host; and they (those resurrected to flesh) that sacrifice and come and TAKE OF THEM, (the new creation, now the likeness of Christ), and seethe therein (THE WORD): and in that day there shall NO MORE CANAANITES in the house of the LORD of host.
Romans 8:19 For the earnest EXPECTATION of the creature WAITETH for the manifestations of the SONS OF GOD.
Romans 8:21 Because the creature ITSELF shall BE DELIVERED from the bondage of corruption (death) into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Obadiah 1:21 And SAVIOURS (sons of God) shall come upon Mount Zion to JUDGE the Mount of Esau, and the KINGDOM shall be the LORDS.
God Bless YOU!
I feel I have intruded on you and Chris, forgive me if I have.
I will just touch on Matt. 24:40-41. I understand Matt. 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 are twofold, parts for the disciples for instruction for what they would endure and things leading up to the destruction of the temple and also for who will be living at the end times. In context of the chapter, we see "the coming of the Son of man." three times in this chapter verses 27, 37, and 39.
Matt. 24:27 He will be seen coming as Rev. 1:7. In Matt. 24:29:31 after the tribulation the Son of man coming with power and great glory. Rev. 19:11-16, similar to Joel 2:11, Joel 3:13-17 Zechariah 14:1-9. My understanding this is about the Second Coming of Christ.
In Matt. 24:36 we do not know when and we must be ready, we do not know when our death will be, it could be now. Jesus second coming is after the tribulation of the beast, we must be ready to not be tempted and be strong in our faith to not take the mark to save this flesh. Luke covers Matt.24 40-41 and just before, he adds this. Matt. 16:25 Mk. 8:35
Luke 17:33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. God has said He will keep us from this, Rev. 3:10, but for those people who know the truth and refuse to receive it, He will send a delusion, 2 Thes. 2:11-12
In Matt. 24:37-39 as the days of Noah so shall also be the coming of the Son of man, the ones taken away in Noah's time were wicked. Matt.24:40-41 Why would it be the opposite of Noah's time? It is like the wheat and the tares at the end the ones taken will be burned in the lake of fire and the righteous will be left. At Jesus's return, the ones taken before the end will be where the eagles are, Luke 17:37 Ezek. 39:17-20 Rev. 19:17-21 the battle of Armageddon.
This is my understanding you may disagree and that is ok. Those in the first resurrection reign with Jesus on earth and there are only two resurrections.
God bless,
RLW
Not sure if this is exactly what you are looking for but here's a few of many references of a future Kingdom here on earth.
Revelation 5:10
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
AND WE SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH.
Psalm 2:6-8
"Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion." "I will declare the decree:
The LORD has said to Me,
'You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
Daniel 2:34-35
You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and FILLED THE WHOLE EARTH.
Zechariah 14:9-11.
Zechariah 14:16-19
And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
Matthew 6:10
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
"ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN."
Matthew 5:5.
Matthew 25:31-34.
Isaiah 2:2.
Jeremiah 30:10.
Ezekiel 34:25-31.
Daniel 2:44.
Micah 4:1-2.
Zechariah 8:1-3.
Revelation 11:5.
God bless you.
Goodnight.
Verses 1 and 2 indicate God being known in Israel. This and it being ..." dwelling place" show a future implication here once they realize who their Messiah is and He returns to rule from Jerusalem in the Millennium.
Verses 3 through 6 remind us of the Exodus with the weapons and animals of warfare mentioned; and the sinking in the Red Sea putting "chariot and horse..." into a "..dead sleep."
When we continue on to verses 7 through 12 seem to indicate a world wide end times fulfillment. We see the "earth" fearing and still and once again verse 9 shows saving the meek; but we notice it says ALL the meek of the earth.
Verse 10 reminds us of verses such as Isaiah 49:23; as well as Isaiah 24:22 where we see a restraint followed eventually by final judgment. Verse 11 reminds us of the verse in Zechariah 14:8. There are certain foolish vows that are not to be taken but God expects men to do this as part of worship so in that case serving God is important (see Jonah 1:16).
The last verse sort of reinforces the idea of God ruling with an iron rod and the earlier theme of verse 10 ( Rev. 19:15; Psalm 2:7-9).
You will be alive when Christ comes back, Christ has already come, the SECOND TIME, to everyone that is BORN AGAIN of TRUTH and LIFE, those Christ dwell in, will never die, you just switch bodies so you can reign with Christ.
Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many (first coming in the flesh); and unto them that look for him he shall appear the SECOND TIME (Christ in you, truth and life, in you) without sin UNTO SALVATION.
I am going to give you a different perspective of Zechariah, you seem to have already come to truth that we have to be destroyed, flesh and blood can not enter the Kingdom of God.
Zechariah 14:2 This shall be the plaque of them which have fought fight against Jerusalem ......everyone was born into deception, Jerusalem, is TRUTH, we all fight against Jerusalem ...... their (our) flesh (deception) shall consume away while they stand on their feet ..... deception is of this world, truth is of the next world, deception (flesh) cannot live with truth, it has to be destroyed ......
This same thing is described in Revelation 19, the marriage supper of the Lamb, we have to have our flesh eaten from us.
God Bless YOU, as Christ leads you into all truth.
Matthew 25:31-46,
Hopefully these are helpful
This chapter; like all scriptures should be taken as a literal prophetic event unless certain things are clearly symbolic. In this case everything is given a literal time frame and sequence; with supporting details not only in this chapter and the rest of Revelation; but other books including the Old Testament in scripture.
We can argue what we may about a Post Millennium mindset and agree to disagree if we have a basic belief in Christ's PHYSICAL return to earth in the future (something which FULL preterists seem to think has already occurred but in some mystical fashion). That would be the only case where we should disfellowship; and I and another brother in the Lord were forced to do that a few years ago. Something else which I consider very dangerous is the mindset that Satan is already bound in the bottomless pit. This is notwithstanding all the promises of the church that the powers of darkness will have no affect on us. There is certainly no limitation on killing the saints of God which Satan will do and continue to do until his punishment is enacted (at the end of the Tribulation and the end of the battle after he is released after the 1000 years). The general statement that a time worse than any that has ever happened or will ever exist again ( Matt. 24:21) with all the percentages of deaths listed in Revelation certainly has not occurred yet. We need to examine other scriptures such as Isaiah 14:17; Isaiah 41:5-13 on the coastlands burning; Isaiah 13:12 on man being rarer than the "gold of Ophir"; Isaiah 30:28 about the nations being put into the seive of destruction; Zechariah 12:9 on all nations gathered and half of Jerusalem taken and numerous other prophetic passages to see that indeed Armageddon must occur. Other verses talk of clear descriptions of mortal man still capable of sinning on the earth in the Millennium such as Zechariah 14:17-18; and Isaiah 65:20-25 being two of the clearest examples.
Verse 10 also brings up a theme repeated in Revelation 22:9 where he tries to worship someone other than God (in the other case an angel). This should cause us to take pause to realize that the glorified bodies of the saints will be quite overwhelming.
The rest of the chapter; of course relates to the Second Coming of Christ and the immediate victory He has over the armies of the earth. More on that in the next post.
We see here; in the seventh vial judgment a great hail coming down on the earth which fits into the scenario of the Ezekiel 38 war. This is tied in with the greatest earthquake ever in verse 18; and Babylon the Great to be judged; the "great city" whatever that is-possibly Jerusalem being split in three pieces and all the cities of the nations falling.
See Ezekiel 6:6; ; Isaiah 30:25; Ezekiel 38:22; Zechariah 14:2; Isaiah 13:9.
Zechariah 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day (the day of the Lord: CHRIST IN YOU) on the mount of Olives, which is before (NEW) Jerusalem (Christ in you, the city made of LIVING stones), and the mount of Olives (which is the new Jerusalem) shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west (symbolic); and there shall be a very great valley (symbolic),and half of the mountain (symbolic) shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
This Mountain (symbolic of the people that make up this mountain); half represents the mount of Jacob and half the mount of Esau.
Obadiah 1:18 And the house of Jacob shall be a FIRE (our God is a consuming FIRE: YOU WILL BE: the image of Christ) and the house of Joseph a Flame ( Luke 16:24), and the house of Esau for stubble; and they SHALL KINDLE IN THEM (as Christ did in you), and devour them, and there shall not be remaining any of the house of ESAU ( Zechariah 14:21); for the Lord hath spoken it.
Obadiah 1:21 And saviours (Christ and those called to be HIS IMAGE) shall come upon mount Zion to JUDGE the mount of Esau; and the kingdom SHALL BE the LORD'S.
The called out; I AM the resurrection, will judge the whole world, the mount of Esau, after the resurrection of the dead.
Isaiah 26:9 ...for when thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Hebrews 11:20 By faith Issac blessed Jacob and Esau CONCERNING THINGS TO COME.
Genesis 27:40 And by thy (Esau's) sword (not God's sword; the word) shalt thy live (and DIE, and at the resurrection of the dead thou shall ) SERVE THY BROTHER; and it shall COME TO PASS (when God's words shall be fulfilled) that thou (also) SHALT HAVE the dominion (the kingdom of God, Christ in you), that thou (through judgement) shall BREAK HIS YOKE from off your neck.
Psalms 22:All the ends of the earth shall REMEMBER ( Luke 16:25 ...Remember) and turn unto the LORD: (when his judgements are in the earth)
Here's what I found to back up Malachi message about the "day of the Lord" (29X) from OT to NT. After these verses there's more interesting words God made me focus on as well. So begin our study ( if anybody willing to read) with these verses but do not forget to read the entire chapter or even before and after the chapter for any connecting relevance:
The Lord's vengeance and the year of recompenses for the controversy of the Zion.
Isaiah 2:12; 13:6; 13:9; 34:8
Jeremiah 46:10
Lamentations 2:22
Ezekiel 13:5; 30:3
Joel has spoken about the sun darkened and the moon into blood as reiterates in Acts 2:20
Joel 1:15; 2:1; 2:11; 2:31; 3:14
We pause and pray. It seems the day of the Lord is a great and very terrible day. I pray that ALL will be saved today's Bible study.
Amos 5:18; 5:20
Obadiah 1:15
Zephaniah has spoken that there are people may be saved who seek the righteousness of God
Zephaniah 1:7-8; 1:14; 1:18;2:2-3
Zechariah 14:1
1 Corinthians 5:5
2 Corinthians 1:14
I thank God for Paul that we who are saved will know perfectly when this day would be even if it comes as a thief in the night as mentioned in ( 2 Peter 3:10)
1 Thessalonians 5:2
That is why I think we who truly believes God and have done God's will more likely not experience this day. So we pray earnestly that ALL may be saved. Happy reading.
Zion is first mentioned in 2 Samuel 5:7. Zion was originally an ancient Jebusite fortress in the city of Jerusalem. After David's conquest of the fortress, Jerusalem became a possession of Israel. The royal palace was built there, and Zion/Jerusalem became the seat of power in Israel's kingdom. When Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, the meaning of Zion included the temple area ( Psalm 2:6; Psalm 48:2,11,12; Psalm 132:13). Therefore, the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:6, "Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God."
Zion is also used in a spiritual sense in Scripture. In the Old Testament, Zion refers figuratively to Israel as the people of God ( Isaiah 60:14). In the New Testament, Zion refers to God's spiritual kingdom: Hebrews 12:22. Peter, quoting Isaiah 28:16, refers to Christ as the Cornerstone of Zion ( 1 Peter 2:6).
Mount Zion, as a geographical area, is now the focus of much dispute (mainly between Jews & Muslims). The Bible is clear that one day Zion will be the sole possession of the Lord Jesus, and Zion, both the nation and the city, will be restored. ( Isaiah 52:1; Isaiah 60:14). When Jesus returns to Earth, His rule will be from Jerusalem ( Zechariah 14:1-4; Luke 1:32,33). I hope you can see why Zion is so important & especially significant in God's Eyes as a special City of God (on Earth).
An ISRAEL OF GOD:
Zechariah 14:20 In that day (of the Lord) shall there be upon the bells of the horses ( Zechariah 10:3), HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the alter.
Zechariah 14:21 Yea every pot in (new) Jerusalem and in Judah (from which the new priesthood sprang) shall be holiness unto the Lord of host: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day shall there be no more the CANAANITE in the house of the Lord of host.
The first Israel of God FAILED to destroy the Canaanites out of the land, the second ISRAEL OF GOD WILL NOT FAIL to destroy the Canaanites from the earth.
And GOD WILL BE ALL IN ALL!
God Bless You!
Thanks for your reply.
I've never heard a pre-trib view taught that there is 3 comings of Christ, I always understood that there is the 1st coming and the second coming to Earth.
The rapture is called the "harpazo" in the Greek. meaning "to snatch away" or "to seize," The Lord don't come to the earth, We go to him!
1 Thessalonians 4:17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD IN THE AIR: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
His second coming he comes to the Earth with judgment.
In these 2nd coming verses there's no mention of the removal of saints.
Here's just a few of many.
Zechariah 14:4.
Revelation 19:11-16,
Revelation 20:1-6.
Matthew 25:31-32.
The 2nd coming he comes with his saints.
If he raptured in his 2nd coming when he comes and make war against the nations who's going to populate the Millennium?
Here's parallel verses to
Mathew 24:31.
Isaiah 11:12.
Jeremiah 23:7-8.
Jeremiah 16:14-15.
Ezekiel 34:12-13.
Isaiah 45:4.
Goodnight Kay and God bless.