More on the "abomination of disolation" spoken by Jesus on the mount of olives... pt 1
Let's try to find out who or what is that abomination of disolation.
Let's start from Luke 21:20-24,
"And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."
Going back to Matthew 24:15-22,
"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand: 16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be 22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."
Matthew is describing the same events as Luke. So since Luke talks about obviously the siege of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70AD, we conclude at first sight that the abomination of disolation is either Titus, the Roman general or generally the Romans.
May you see this: your reply is already gone. I will keep it short in respect of others.
Much of Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 focuses on the end times. If we look closer, some of what Jesus told the four was specifically for their time. First, back then, they didn't even understand that Jesus was going to be executed, as shown in Luke 9:44-45 and Luke 18:31-34. We also see how they reacted after Jesus was crucified; they did not believe Mary and the other women who had seen Jesus.
When Jesus spoke about the temple, he said that not one stone would be left on top of another, which describes what happened in AD 70. There was a church in Jerusalem led by James and other Christians in Judea during this period. History records that they escaped to a city called Pella. Many link the phrase "abomination of desolation" to the end times, the antichrist, and the false teaching of the rapture. However, Jesus isn't referring to Daniel 9:27 but to the prophecy in Daniel 11:31 and Daniel 12:11.
Wording in Daniel 9:27, "for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate," Daniel 11:31, "the abomination that maketh desolate." Daniel 12:11 "the abomination that maketh desolate set up,"
Antiochus IV Epiphanes carried out this act in 167 BC; this is the abomination of desolation Jesus is talking about. Jesus is warning them that the same event will happen before the temple's destruction in AD 70. History records this; it did happen, the warning Luke gave in Luke 21:20. If we look at Daniel 9:27, it says that for the abominations, He, who is Jesus, will make it desolate, referring to Matthew 23:36-38.
Just something you may study, I feel you and I try to study in prayer without preconceived assumptions.
Another thought on Matthew 24, the warnings that Jesus gave about fleeing Judea, and praying that it was not on a Sabbath. Was this for the future, or were they for the time just before Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70, or both? Whether it would matter, back then, the gates of Jerusalem would be locked on a Sabbath. This discourse began with Jesus telling them about the temple's destruction. Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
The implications for us as believers should be a no brainer. We are commanded to continue to "occupy until He comes" ( Luke 19:13 also the concept of Ephesians 5:16).
One thing that is interesting is that it appears from Daniel that the crucifixion was AD 32 if we go 69 years of 7 year periods; that would bring the second coming to 2032 if it is exactly 2000 years until He comes making the Rapture by the end of this year; 2025. In any case we should be paying attention to the signs and not falling asleep.
I therefore look at the Parable of the 10 virgins if indeed it is referring to those at the Rapture and realize that merely alerting people that His coming is near isn't something I need to concern myself as it isn't knowledge of the event but readiness that is the crucial factor. The big question is if the end means I never knew you or I know you not (as a present tense); if intimate fellowship over time due to lukewarmness has faltered. Whether some are not raptured or not is probably a hot topic or if that is indeed what the Parable discusses.
Luke 21:36 states Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. If we agree every born again saint is raptured then we have to agree it seems that every believer is praying like this unless I somehow am misreading the text; hence my conundrum on thinking all saved people are raptured and leading to a reward issue here. I am NOT saying anyone is lost or you can lose salvation; but again since white garments are mentioned. Revelation 7:14 says
And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Having to wash a garment to me indicates the Tribulation necessitated due to soiled garments of believers beforehand rather than indicating new ones.
"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." ( Luke 21:36)
We can also compare Revelation 3:10 here; where this is the only church promised to escape the trial to test the whole world and to stand before God. No doubt there are a few worthy to stand such as we read here
4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. ( Revelation 3:4-5 about Sardis)
Revelation 3:14-22
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Luke 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
The following verse describes the suddenness of the unexpected destruction to come. The same can be said in Thessalonians
where they "shall not escape"; we see in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 the concept of a thief and a snare in Luke 21:35.
These passages tend to dissuade many of the so called dreams and visions of a nuclear war about the time of the Rapture; at least immediately before it. What comes as sudden destruction no doubt could be a first phase of what eventually encompasses the earth in Armageddon; but generally the first seal offers a fallacious but convincing bloodless coup and no doubt mirrors the covenant with many in Daniel 9:27 already well underway for the eventual confirming with many. Is it impossible for nuclear war to accompany the Rapture? Somehow I don't see the Resurrection of the dead as being interrupted by such an event; if anything as to make clear that it wasn't bombs being dropped that left the holes in the ground in cemeteries around the world.
Also if we take literally Revelation 5:13 as to its timing it would seem that would be the main focus after the Rapture.
Who is Raptured? Clearly the easy answer is all the saints; at least of the Church Age who were God's children.
Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Let's look carefully into this concept. Those who have passed on have; in their souls already been at the Bema Seat of Christ; or they couldn't be present with the Lord. Many were through persecution on earth unlike those particularly in the Western world in the last couple generations. Considering the works that God has for us since before the creation of the world ( Eph. 2:10) it seems likely that God uses the Tribulation to purify many.
I haven't heard from the gentleman who was in crisis mode a couple days ago and I hope we hear something soon.
I did want to mention seeing the support here and what seems to be a new surge in prayer emphasis is good; and hearing what people have been through is sobering; and I am thankful people can open their hearts. I've been through some stuff myself.
I would be foolish to attempt to be verbose in explaining what my own little understanding is of God's wisdom and Providence with all the evils of the world. We are fools for Christ in more than one way. We are hated ultimately because of He who we believe since they hated Him when He came of course we are told in the Gospels as His disciples to expect the same.
I can't explain what I know but nonetheless what Paul said is true; nothing can separate us from the love of God. Even when our lives are in the trasheap of this world's "respectability" we can be bold because He reigns. Many of us probably feel like the preverbal "misfits" from that old Rudolph Christmas animated TV tale (which us old fogies remember from childhood). We are; as Paul said like the scum of the earth. But nonetheless to those He has called and chosen they will be drawn to us if the Spirit reigns in our lives. We know that the unsaved are basically like a guinea pig on a wheel in a cage running in circles. Or a carrot on a stick is something everyone chases after.
Nonetheless; God can intervene. In my situation my Dad who was so mentally abusive for so long just doesn't seem to have it in him anymore. I pray somehow to communicate the Gospel and I feel sharing what the Lord has done is one of the best ways to do that.
I will conclude by saying that truly we are more than conquerors. Satan can do what God allows and if we are martyrs God allows it for His purposes. Nonetheless it should be made clear that life is a gift from God.
Keep looking up the time of our redemption draws near ( Luke 21:28)
Regarding the return of Jesus, I only see in Scripture that He returns once. As seen in 1 Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27, Luke 21:25-28, John 14:3, Acts 1:11, 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, Hebrews 9:28, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 6:12-17, Revelation 19:11-21, through Revelation 20:1-6, is the same event when Jesus returns, and it occurs after the tribulation of the beast. My understanding is that there is only one Day of the Lord, and that is when Jesus returns.
Regarding the Messiah, I have never asked a Jew about their understanding of it. What I have previously read about Jewish faith is that one day a charismatic Jewish leader, the anointed of God, a man with the characteristics of God, a direct descendant of the Davidic line, will gather Jews from around the world, and bring them back to the Land of Israel and restore the kingdom ridding them of all oppressors.
That was what they were looking for during the time Jesus was here during His 3.5-year ministry, a human conqueror. The disciples were looking for Him to set up the kingdom; they even asked Him after He was resurrected, Acts 1:6-7. They were looking for what we see will happen in the millennium when Jesus returns to earth.
It was mainly the leaders of Jerusalem who did not see or did not hear, which caused blindness in part to happen to Israel, who rejected Jesus; many accepted Jesus as the Messiah while He was here. The leaders of Jerusalem played a prominent role in turning the crowds against Jesus, and it was the nation of Israel as a whole that rejected Him. And today, most Jews do not believe the Messiah has come.
I know we may not agree, but I hope I answered your question.
I am not one to put my faith in politics and am not going to attest to any clear evidence our Commander in Chief is a Christian.
I'll let others argue that point; nonetheless I am grateful that today as with other recent meetings he has consulted on the phone with Mr. Putin. There is apparently some sane conversation; albeit Russia is intransigent on achieving its goals which seem pretty evident to include almost complete annihilation of the country in question where they have been at war since 2022. There have been other discussions which may bring temporary peace; at least to the African nations he has brokered peace with Rwanda and Congo last week. In terms of the expanded Abraham Accords we certainly can't avoid implications that either lead toward or will ultimately broker the covenant confirmed with many in Daniel 9:27; since the 2 state solution obsession lives on after decades of failed efforts. Nonetheless; I am grateful for every day we don't have judgment on this country; but mark my words the time is coming. War; famine and pestilence in the seal judgments are coming in their fullness soon; and perhaps some other things will have partial fulfillment beforehand.
I am sorry to say that there has been things in my life regarding sin that have dragged me into a feeling of hopelessness and doom. I can probably say that all of us here need to walk consistently in the Spirit to overcome; especially today. The doom that is coming SHOULD make us motivated to warn others to flee the wrath to come; whether it be the Tribulation or hell (a sort of simultaneous thing if we read ( Revelation 6:8). I believe Satan wants us to be afraid that we will be left behind. Truly the Lord warns us in Luke 21:36 to be praying we are worthy to escape all these things to come to pass; and that same concept is shown by the overcomers in the Philadelphia church in Revelation 3:10. Let us submit our lives fully to the Spirit
This subject has been discussed before, and I don't reply to cause debate, but in my heart, I feel it is deception that people may be looking for something that is not coming. In Matthew 24, Jesus said, "Take heed that no man deceive you." I would like to point out a few things that may be considered for study in pursuit of the truth. The Rapture doctrine, where the Church is taken to heaven before the second coming of Jesus, does it fit scripture? If Daniel 9:25-27 has been fulfilled, how does that affect the Rapture doctrine?
Each one of us is accountable- Romans 14:12.
There are two resurrections: the first in Revelation 19:11-21 through Revelation 20:1-5. This aligns with what Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-58.
When Jesus returns, it will be with the armies of heaven in Revelation 19, and in Matthew 24, Jesus sends His angels to gather His elect. We see in Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27, and Luke 21:25-28.
When Jesus returns, the Battle of Armageddon occurs, Revelation 16:13-16, Ezekiel 39:11-22, Revelation 19:17-19, and the beast and false prophet are cast into the lake of fire, Revelation 19:20-21. Satan is imprisoned in the bottomless pit, Revelation 20:1-3, and judgment occurs for those in the first resurrection on earth, Revelation 20:4, not in heaven, then the 1000 years, Revelation 20:5-6.
I do not know of any Bible verses that agree with the rapture of the Church?
On this day in 2025 we look to the future and assess what has come to pass in recent years and decades. There have been multiple attempts at peace in the Middle East since the 1970's since the agreement with Mubarak in 1979; and the infamous "two state solution" which was initiated with the PLO in 1993 but had its roots from the late 1930's; apparently. We certainly see in recent years the "Abraham accords" as a likely predecessor of a final covenant with many ( Daniel 9:27). Overall we have to listen to the admonishment of Habukkuk 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. This shows there is a delay before the initiation of end times events but that it will rapidly transpire once unleashed. This concept also could be observed with this verse in Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
This of course seems like a contradiction after 2000 years since Christ came and left this world for glory. It is like the adage of waiting for water to boil; or perhaps the one about a frog in slowly heated water. We need to be careful with such admonitions as this For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. ( Luke 21:35).
What are we to make of this? On one hand we realize that the "gates of hell" will not prevail against the church ( Matt. 16:18); but we also know that even the "elect would be deceived if that were possible" ( Matt. 24:24) in the coming time of false prophets; signs and wonders. Since the verse indicates that it isn't ultimately possible for total deception of the elect we have assurance IF we are indeed those He is talking about. The elect will hear His voice and not follow another ( John 10:26-29). We need to make our calling and election sure ( 2 Peter 1:10).
1Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
3In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
4And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
5Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
Let us examine some prophetic verses that seem to correlate with some of these ideas of the end of the age as opposed to the end of one's life.
Luke 21:25
25 "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Jeremiah 1:11-12 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
12Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
Ezekiel 26:13 And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard.
Revelation 18:22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all.
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Good thing they weren't straining a camel as chewing tobacco is bad for you...
Anyway; the concept of tithing was still held as an O.T. custom; and naturally; since the Pharisees were rich a tenth of their own moneys made for a big show but wasn't anything compared to the widow's mites (see Luke 21:1-4). Righteous not perverted judgment was expected (see Isaiah 10:1; James 2:13). Apparently Pharisees were involved with the Sanhedrin but primarily over civil matters. (Wikipedia).
Let me see if I'm allowed to mention them; posting now
In your patience possess ye your souls. ( Luke 21:19).
"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain." ( James 5:7).
There are many verses on the subject of patience or longsuffering both related to God and His approved servants who eventually enter into their reward. There is no doubt that God honors those who persevere but we also need to recall the situation of Lot who as 2 Peter 2:7 states ...And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked". We don't want to be too comfortable with evil around us and in particular become compromised to maintain a lifestyle of ease. As we see with Lot his choice to enter the well watered lowlands looked good when he split up from Abraham but in the end he escaped literally from the flames with the collateral damage of what happened to his wife.
Patience therefore with our own sin can't be tolerated. We also are to sound our voice as a trumpet as Jeremiah did and the other Prophets. God patiently endures vessels fitted for destruction ( Romans 9:22; read on to verse 23). Wickedness will not be tolerated in God's Kingdom when He reigns on earth after He comes again. We need to see that God is refining us through the wickedness of sinners opposed to us and generally in rebellion that we see all around us. We don't know who is going to come to Christ and also we should keep in mind John 15:2 and 2 Timothy 2:21 where the branches we possess as believers can be purged or other useless appendages cut out from sinful connections to our dead past that we hang on to.
God will complete the work He has started ( Philippians 1:6). He will see all His sheep who hear His voice eventually enter heaven and safe pasture; and all the goats will be judged.
These earthly trials will soon be over; let us encourage one another until He comes.
Just some thoughts on Revelation 12 it covers the past and the future up to the beginning of the 3.5 years of tribulation.
Part 3
Satan then goes after the remnant of her seed those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. The remnant of her seed is the faithful people here when the tribulation starts. Like the ones before us who have been persecuted and killed, the fathers and prophets, and after Jesus the thousands upon thousands who have been tortured and killed in the name of Jesus, why would the last be spared when the first was not?
This starts the 3.5 years of tribulation as we see in Revelation 13, in the original text it is Satan standing on the sand of the sea to give his power, his seat, and great authority to the beast. We see in Rev. 11:7 and Rev. 17:8 that this is the bottomless pit. There are not seven years as some say we see when Satan is cast down and the beast rises, he is given only 42 months, and that is 3.5 years Revelation 13:5. It all starts when Satan is cast down the short time he has is 3.5 years.
The end of the 3.5 years will be when the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled, Luke 21:24Romans 11:25Revelation 11:2. Then the second coming of Jesus, Matthew 24:29-311 Thessalonians 4:16-17Revelation 1:7Revelation 3:11Revelation 19:11-16Revelation 22:12.
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.
This is what is coming, everyone will be tempted to take the mark of the beast, Jesus will give us if we are here the strength to say no even if we face death. Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Revelation 15:2
Luke 21:32 - Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
The word "generation" is the word GENEA which means a race or kind of people. It has no association with years. Jesus is making reference to the Jewish people. This generation (this race of people) shall not pass away until all be fulfilled.
Luke 21:34 - And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Some people get very upset because there is no surfing or drunkenness. But this is the word surfeiting, which is a Greek word that has to do with indulging yourself so much that you have a hangover the next day. Indulging, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, again the word cares is the word that I introduced to you a couple times before. It is the word MERIMNA which has to do with the occupation of the attention of the mind. It is when people in their mind, they are so fixed on the things of this earthly life, and so that day come upon you unexpectedly.
Luke 22:31 - And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
The word desired is an Aorist Participle with an adverb that means "has now desired," and it means that Satan has asked one time. He has gotten permission. If this were translated correctly into English it would say, Satan has desired to have you and has been given permission.
Luke 22:44 - And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Medical experts have attempted to give us a detailed account of this, how blood can mix with sweat. The Greek text says that His sweat was so thick that it was as thick as blood. It doesn't say anything about blood, but "as it were" great drops of blood. It doesn't say it was blood falling to the ground. The agony was so great!
Luke 21:15 - For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
For I will give you a mouth, (meaning I'll give you the words), and the wisdom, that's the knowledge and understanding, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay (that is, contradict nor resist). That's quite a promise!
I've heard of some Bible schools that actually promote this verse for people in the ministry. They say that you don't need to study the Bible. The Holy Spirit will tell you what to say when you have to get up and preach. That is not the context by which Jesus is speaking.
Paul even said study to show yourself approved of God, a workman that's not ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Luke 21:18 - But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Basically, it is a Hebraism. It is a Hebraism that basically says they might be able to kill the body but cannot kill the soul. This is God's protection and provision over you. There will not be anything done to you that's done outside of the will of God. It will be all because of the will of God.
Luke 21:19 - In your patience possess ye your souls.
In Matthew 24:13, Matthew said that "he who endures to the end will be saved." They are both saying the same thing. But I like this as an explanation. In your patience you possess your soul. The word for patience is HUPOMENO which means to remain under.
Patience in the King James has to do with remaining under circumstances. Long suffering has to do with patience towards people because long suffering means to be slow in human reaction to other people. But HUPOMENO means to remain under your circumstances.
James 1:14 states how each man is drawn away from God by their own lusts and desires. In light of the dream I mentioned the other night which I surely expect many think I am going off the deep end I have had time to consider it and realize that part of it probably stemmed from my prayer that the Lord could remove me or take me away from my current living situation in the Rapture. This led to the nightmare where I indeed did follow something and managed to get outside when before I left my own front yard things were taken from me and I realized that I was under the total control of the Beast system; although not having taken the mark.
Fear of death is something which we need to overcome; not by our own stength but by the Spirit. The opposite; of course is any delusion we have of our own freedoms which after the Rapture will be taken over by the Beast system. Those who are unredeemed will be basically like moths in the dark attracted to the one light bulb present in a room. This is what makes our current situation so frightening that somehow once God's judgments begin the enticement of the world and it's riches and allure will still be sufficient to drown men in perdition. Long after the food supply is cut to starvation levels; and the other seal judgments have transpired the deception of Satan will be so strong that men will willingly serve and worship him. This business of men being forced to take the mark simply doesn't hold water because those who ARE in the Book of Life cannot do such a thing.
Thus; for now we as Christians are targets for Satan's schemes to render us paralyzed and make us think we are also going to be caught up in the net that the rest of the world is going to suffer through. ( Luke 21:35). Let us realize that God as with Paul can use Satan to buffet us; in particular when we have a weakness in our armor due to sin; but as in this case; not always.
The war is won; the battles are fierce but we dare not rely on our own power.
Luke 21:2 - And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
The word mites is actually the Greek word LEPTA. It is equivalent to either 1/5 or 1/8 of one cent. It is not worth very much. It is the least value of the copper coins in their day, and she cast in two of these. Mark tells us that when the rich men gave their money, they gave out of their wealth. They gave abundantly.
Luke 21:4 - For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Penury actually comes from a Greek word that means lacking. This is another place where the translators could have given us a better English word.
Luke 21:8 - And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived:
The word deceived is where we get our word planet from, PLANAE means led astray, for many shall come in my name, saying, I AM, and notice in the text it says I am Christ. Some English texts say I am He, but all it says is "I AM" in the Greek text.
That is the name of God from the book of Exodus, I AM that I AM, the Yahweh God of the Old Testament. He says people are going to be going around saying I AM; and the time is drawing near: Jesus says go ye not therefore after them.
Luke 21:9 - But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
The Greek word for by-and-by is the word immediate. The end is not immediate, not even close. Got a long way to go! So even the events that are happening now with the increase in earthquakes, and in the increase in pestilences and diseases, this is just the beginning. This gives us an indication that we are moving closer, but the end it is not yet.
1-And I saw another sign in heaven,great and marvellous,7 angels having the 7 last PLAGUES;for in THEM is filled up the WRATH of GOD->(Re.11:18&16:1)
4-Who shall not fear thee,O Lord,and glorify thy name?thou only art holy: ...and thy Judgments are made manifest.
Then the PLAGUES start to be poured, its in the beginning of the 2nd half of the last week: Revelation 16:2: The FIRST PLAGUE will be poured upon the earth; upon the inhabitants of Israel, and there will fall a noisome and grievous sore upon all MEN which have the MARK of the Beast, and upon them which worshipp his image.
And the 2nd plague will be poured upon the sea;-->sea= waters=> peoples, and NATIONS, and multitudes of every tongue, GENTILE PEOPLES, and they will become as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul(that was created, Genesis 2:7) shall die.-->As was in Sodom and Gomorrah, and in the neighbouring cities.
The sequence of the pragues and their consequences are described from Revelation 16:4 to 21.Terrible,very terrible, as we can foreseen by the Word of GOD.JESUS warned us: Luke 21:25-28:-->25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars( Revelation 12:1-12, take a look.); and upon the Earth distress of NATIONS, with perplexity;the sea(peoples, and NATIONS, and multitudes of all tongues)and the waves roaring( Psalm 2:1-5);
26Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the Earth: for the powers of heaven ( Ephesians 1:3-8) shall be shaken.
27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.(the same cloud that received JESUS in His ascension- Acts 1:9-11,combined with Matthew 17:5,and 2 Peter 1:16-12,and Isaiah 4:1-6 speaking of the seven Churches as a clue to understand the prophecies).
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
"I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High./But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes."
The three psalms of which this psalm falls as the central pillar is composed by Asaph. The v.1 is a perfect statement by the Spirit. "God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods." What qualifies as perfect speech. "The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."(Ps.12:6) Everlasting covenant confers blessings to a believer called to be a saint. Unless he learns to be an overcomer which can only be through the grace of the most High 'ye shall die like men, and fall like on of the princes." where you fail all the seven days of the covenant are fallen out of your grasp.
With regards to the princes we have them named in the Ps.83. "For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head./They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones."(Ps.83:2-3)
What goes on in Gaza is a symptom of the spiritual wickedness from heavenly places directed against the saints, "thy hidden ones" and it shall be beginning of sorrows and at some point of time shall reach a critical mass."And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."( Luke 21:28). This is not our but the heathen out there stoking the conflict for their own ends have put their inroads to nations that have been careless in their friendships. It is thus the ungodly world has made pacts with 'gods of this world.' When God standeth in the congregation of the mighty' an horse is a vain thing and as the Psalm says, "An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength."(Ps.33:17). It is time that we quit like men and trust in our Lord Savior from getting entangled in the devil's wiles.
7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half (42 months or 1260 days- Luke 21:24 combined with Revelation 11:2 and Revelation 13:5-9, take a look); and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
8And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the END of these things?
9And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the END.(this time ARRIVED, get ready)
10Many shall be purified, and made white, and TRIED; the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the WISE shall understand.
11And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away(END OF THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE), and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12 Blessed is he that waiteth,and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
13 But go thou thy way till the END be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the END of the days.-->this time of the END ARRIVED. Matthew 25:29- Unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Get ready, be careful. JESUS warned: fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell-Mat.10:28.
The Word is GOD, GOD Himself, self-executing, understand?
How does one quantify what is spiritually understood? The Spirit renders such unquantifiable with numbers that are called Command numbers. The Holy City of God is a cube, "And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal."(Re.21:16). The Spirit sets a tag 100 for the generation of Jesus and 1000 is the tag for end times.(End times in the day of Salvation is the beginning of the day of Regeneration so everlasting life promised to believers is continuation of now but in glory0John 3:16). Coming back to 144,000 we shall break it up as thus: 12x12x1000. This has nothing to do with Israel. In Re.7 the left out church redeems by stepping in the place of Israelites, a quality of Jesus Christ is stated here, "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." Seth for this reason doubles for the Son. Ze.3:15 refers to the intercessory role of Jesus Christ. However Joshua is a Hebrew variant for Jesus. This usage of the variant is significant. It is used to represent the believers tagged with 144,000 who barely escaped the great tribulation "Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?/Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel." The fire refers to the great tribulation.
The two disciples going to Emmaus were like Nicodemus and also spiritually blind "And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them./But their eyes were holden that they should not know him." ( Luke 21:15-16)
If such is the case should we be surprised if the imposter churches whatever names one may call them are turning out from their assembly line such half-baked witnesses for Christ. They deny Christ's deity to mean something less and it shows up in their flock.
My Lord JESUS said: All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth...and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the END of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18...
1 Corinthians 15:24-27KJV
24 The END cometh, when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to GOD, even the Father( Luke 20:35-36); when he shall have PUT DOWN all RULE and all AUTHORITY and POWER.
JESUS does not need to be visible here on earth or present in Person to perform the strange work as Isaiah prophesied: Isaiah 28:21-22
21 For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He may do His WORK, His strange WORK; and bring to pass His act, His strange act.
22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I HAVE HEARD FROM THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS a CONSUMPTION, even determined upon the WHOLE EARTH.
Luke 21:26-27
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.(cloud?it is the same cloud of Acts 1:9-11, understand? it has nothing to do with cloud or H2O around the whole world, such a thought is/would be ridiculous. Take a look)
By the way, The NATIONS will be wrathed, but the WRATH of our GOD comes... and He should destroy them which destroy the earth.
I read and study the KJV, and I have read parts of other Bibles, Michaelswiger gave good information on what manuscripts were used, and if we study the history of the Bible other things and texts like the Bishop Bible were also considered. Giannis and S Spencer have also given good responses on the Greek words. I trust the KJV as the word of God and what He means for us to understand is there, but we must trust the Holy Spirit will guide us.
Aion means life span, age, or epoch, it is the source of our English words age and eon. It describes any length of clearly defined time, whether one person's life or some era of certain renown. As a general point of reference, this word may also apply to the vast span of history: the ages, the times of old.
I agree, with the word's age and world for English-speaking people our understanding can be different. The Greek word aion was translated in the KJV 37 times as world, sometimes world works, and sometimes age would be a better choice, I can send you the verses if you want to study them. Like Matt. 24:3 with the context and what the disciples knew at that time and what Jesus just told them about the temple the word world insinuates they are asking Jesus about His second coming.
If we compare Matt. 24:3 with Mark 13:4 and Luke 21:7 what is written in Matthew with them still thinking Jesus was going to set up the kingdom instead of the end of the world, the end of the age would fit better. The context of the chapter and comparing what is written in each gospel about the same thing helps me.
All translations or transliterations are not perfect, but God is and what He wants us to know He will show us through the Spirit of truth. Take Matt. 28:19, the commission, if we compare it to Mark 16:15Luke 24:47, and what we read in the rest of the New Testament what do we see?
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off (crucified), but not for Himself: and the people of the prince that shall come (the esoteric and kabbalistic false messiah- John 5:43-47 combined with Revelation 13:11) shall DESTROY the CITY (Jerusalem) and the SANCTUARY-> Revelation 13:2->the dragon, the esoteric false messiah of Judaism- Revelation 13:11 gave(will give) him (will give to the Beast of sea-ruler of Catholicism) his Power, and his Throne, and great Authority.; and the END thereof shall be with a flood( Luke 21:24; Revelation 11:2; Revelation 12:15?), and unto the END of the WAR ( Revelation 16:13-15) desolations are determined.
27 And he (the profane prince of Israel that shall come- Ezekiel 21:25, John 5:43-47; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 13:11) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week(covenant with the whole religious structures of the RCC-Judaism and Catholicism- Revelation 13:2): and in the midst of the week( Revelation 13:5) he- the profane wicked prince of Israel, the false messiah- shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease ( 2Thessalonians 2:6-9), and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation ( Revelation 16:13-15), and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of GOD? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of GOD.
And the Lord JESUS warned: Luke 21:34-36KJV:
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that Day(Lord's Day, the seventh and last Day or seventh and last millennium) come upon you unawares.
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to ESCAPE all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Lord JESUS said more: Matthew 13:40-43KJV
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the END of THIS WORLD. ( 1Corinthians 15:24-26)
41 The Son of man shall send forth His angels(mainly Michael), and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father( Revelation 11:15-18 and Daniel 12:3). Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
As you and ALL know, the prophecy - Daniel 7:7-8- is revealing about the fourth Empire- the dreadful and terrible, and strong Roman Empire- diverse from the Greek, Persian and Babylonian kingdoms that were before it. As you and all know, the Roman Empire was specifically and genuinely a GENTILIC Empire, but there was also a completely alien being, or nation, in the Gentile Roman Empire: It was ISRAEL, descendants of Abraham. For this reason the prophecy reveals Israel as an APPENDIX linked to the Roman Empire as 10 other independent powers, DESCENDANTES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC and JACOB, prophetically represented by 10 horns, which in turn represents the 10 toes of the statue, part of iron, and part of clay- Daniel 2:42. In Daniel 2 , Israel, the clay- Isaiah 64:8-, is represented by 10 toes of the feet of the Nebuchadnezzar's estatue.
The roots of the Gentile Beast of sea, the Papacy, a religious MONSTER having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns 10 crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy, the main partner of the red Dragon- Revelation 12:3-4 & 9, yeah, the roots of the Gentile Beast of sea-the Papacy, are described in Revelation 13:2. In this current decade must be elected the last Pope, the next, and to this last Pope the dragon- Revelation 13:11-, will give him his Power, and his Throne(in JERUSALEM), and great Authority. Both as a RELIGIOUS AND SATANIC MONSTER-Catholicism and Judaism-iron and clay-, both will establish an Universal and religious kingdom- Daniel 2:41-44 combined with Luke 21:24 and Revelation 11:2. Take a look.
There will be a terrible spiritual War in the Earth from now on- Revelation 16:13-15.
GET READY
Revelation 21:8 - The fearful(COWARDS), and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
My understanding is Jesus was baptized and anointed in the fall of the year__, he was 40 days and nights in the wilderness. Jesus then chose His 12 disciples. shortly after the wedding where Jesus turned the water to wine, He went to Passover John 2:23, this would be 6 months after He was anointed by the Holy Ghost.
There are 3 more Passovers and Jesus was crucified on the last one, John 5:1, 1.5 years John 6:4 2.5 years, and John 13:1 the Passover He was crucified 3.5 years from when He was anointed as the Messiah.
My understanding of Matthew 24 was also for the disciples for the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem not just for us today, if we compare Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 have when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet. But in Luke 21:20, He writes when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
The abomination of desolation is something done by someone as King Antiochus IV Epiphanes did in 168 BC. It happened before the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. My understanding is parts of Jesus's Olivet discourse were for them and parts are for us.
What is in Daniel 9:27 Jesus caused the sacrifice and oblation to cease when He died and the vail of the Temple rent from top to bottom. As Jesus told the woman at the well the hour has come ye shall not worship the Father in the mountain or Jerusalem, John 4:21
The wording in Daniel 9:27 is for the overspreading of abominations points to the abominations the leaders of Jerusalem will have done, Matthew 23:32-38 Jesus told them "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" The he, is Jesus who will make it desolate and, in their generation, it was made desolate by the people/Roman army, of the prince/Titus same as God used Babylon in 586 BC.
I hope this makes sense so that you can study for your understanding even if you disagree, if you have questions let me know.
Let's try to find out who or what is that abomination of disolation.
Let's start from Luke 21:20-24,
"And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."
Going back to Matthew 24:15-22,
"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand: 16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be 22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."
Matthew is describing the same events as Luke. So since Luke talks about obviously the siege of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70AD, we conclude at first sight that the abomination of disolation is either Titus, the Roman general or generally the Romans.
...see pt 2
May you see this: your reply is already gone. I will keep it short in respect of others.
Much of Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 focuses on the end times. If we look closer, some of what Jesus told the four was specifically for their time. First, back then, they didn't even understand that Jesus was going to be executed, as shown in Luke 9:44-45 and Luke 18:31-34. We also see how they reacted after Jesus was crucified; they did not believe Mary and the other women who had seen Jesus.
When Jesus spoke about the temple, he said that not one stone would be left on top of another, which describes what happened in AD 70. There was a church in Jerusalem led by James and other Christians in Judea during this period. History records that they escaped to a city called Pella. Many link the phrase "abomination of desolation" to the end times, the antichrist, and the false teaching of the rapture. However, Jesus isn't referring to Daniel 9:27 but to the prophecy in Daniel 11:31 and Daniel 12:11.
Wording in Daniel 9:27, "for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate," Daniel 11:31, "the abomination that maketh desolate." Daniel 12:11 "the abomination that maketh desolate set up,"
Antiochus IV Epiphanes carried out this act in 167 BC; this is the abomination of desolation Jesus is talking about. Jesus is warning them that the same event will happen before the temple's destruction in AD 70. History records this; it did happen, the warning Luke gave in Luke 21:20. If we look at Daniel 9:27, it says that for the abominations, He, who is Jesus, will make it desolate, referring to Matthew 23:36-38.
Just something you may study, I feel you and I try to study in prayer without preconceived assumptions.
God bless,
RLW
Another thought on Matthew 24, the warnings that Jesus gave about fleeing Judea, and praying that it was not on a Sabbath. Was this for the future, or were they for the time just before Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70, or both? Whether it would matter, back then, the gates of Jerusalem would be locked on a Sabbath. This discourse began with Jesus telling them about the temple's destruction. Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Just a thought.
God bless,
RLW
The implications for us as believers should be a no brainer. We are commanded to continue to "occupy until He comes" ( Luke 19:13 also the concept of Ephesians 5:16).
One thing that is interesting is that it appears from Daniel that the crucifixion was AD 32 if we go 69 years of 7 year periods; that would bring the second coming to 2032 if it is exactly 2000 years until He comes making the Rapture by the end of this year; 2025. In any case we should be paying attention to the signs and not falling asleep.
I therefore look at the Parable of the 10 virgins if indeed it is referring to those at the Rapture and realize that merely alerting people that His coming is near isn't something I need to concern myself as it isn't knowledge of the event but readiness that is the crucial factor. The big question is if the end means I never knew you or I know you not (as a present tense); if intimate fellowship over time due to lukewarmness has faltered. Whether some are not raptured or not is probably a hot topic or if that is indeed what the Parable discusses.
Luke 21:36 states Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. If we agree every born again saint is raptured then we have to agree it seems that every believer is praying like this unless I somehow am misreading the text; hence my conundrum on thinking all saved people are raptured and leading to a reward issue here. I am NOT saying anyone is lost or you can lose salvation; but again since white garments are mentioned. Revelation 7:14 says
And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Having to wash a garment to me indicates the Tribulation necessitated due to soiled garments of believers beforehand rather than indicating new ones.
We can also compare Revelation 3:10 here; where this is the only church promised to escape the trial to test the whole world and to stand before God. No doubt there are a few worthy to stand such as we read here
4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. ( Revelation 3:4-5 about Sardis)
Revelation 3:14-22
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Luke 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
The following verse describes the suddenness of the unexpected destruction to come. The same can be said in Thessalonians
where they "shall not escape"; we see in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 the concept of a thief and a snare in Luke 21:35.
These passages tend to dissuade many of the so called dreams and visions of a nuclear war about the time of the Rapture; at least immediately before it. What comes as sudden destruction no doubt could be a first phase of what eventually encompasses the earth in Armageddon; but generally the first seal offers a fallacious but convincing bloodless coup and no doubt mirrors the covenant with many in Daniel 9:27 already well underway for the eventual confirming with many. Is it impossible for nuclear war to accompany the Rapture? Somehow I don't see the Resurrection of the dead as being interrupted by such an event; if anything as to make clear that it wasn't bombs being dropped that left the holes in the ground in cemeteries around the world.
Also if we take literally Revelation 5:13 as to its timing it would seem that would be the main focus after the Rapture.
Who is Raptured? Clearly the easy answer is all the saints; at least of the Church Age who were God's children.
Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Let's look carefully into this concept. Those who have passed on have; in their souls already been at the Bema Seat of Christ; or they couldn't be present with the Lord. Many were through persecution on earth unlike those particularly in the Western world in the last couple generations. Considering the works that God has for us since before the creation of the world ( Eph. 2:10) it seems likely that God uses the Tribulation to purify many.
I did want to mention seeing the support here and what seems to be a new surge in prayer emphasis is good; and hearing what people have been through is sobering; and I am thankful people can open their hearts. I've been through some stuff myself.
I would be foolish to attempt to be verbose in explaining what my own little understanding is of God's wisdom and Providence with all the evils of the world. We are fools for Christ in more than one way. We are hated ultimately because of He who we believe since they hated Him when He came of course we are told in the Gospels as His disciples to expect the same.
I can't explain what I know but nonetheless what Paul said is true; nothing can separate us from the love of God. Even when our lives are in the trasheap of this world's "respectability" we can be bold because He reigns. Many of us probably feel like the preverbal "misfits" from that old Rudolph Christmas animated TV tale (which us old fogies remember from childhood). We are; as Paul said like the scum of the earth. But nonetheless to those He has called and chosen they will be drawn to us if the Spirit reigns in our lives. We know that the unsaved are basically like a guinea pig on a wheel in a cage running in circles. Or a carrot on a stick is something everyone chases after.
Nonetheless; God can intervene. In my situation my Dad who was so mentally abusive for so long just doesn't seem to have it in him anymore. I pray somehow to communicate the Gospel and I feel sharing what the Lord has done is one of the best ways to do that.
I will conclude by saying that truly we are more than conquerors. Satan can do what God allows and if we are martyrs God allows it for His purposes. Nonetheless it should be made clear that life is a gift from God.
Keep looking up the time of our redemption draws near ( Luke 21:28)
Regarding the return of Jesus, I only see in Scripture that He returns once. As seen in 1 Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27, Luke 21:25-28, John 14:3, Acts 1:11, 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, Hebrews 9:28, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 6:12-17, Revelation 19:11-21, through Revelation 20:1-6, is the same event when Jesus returns, and it occurs after the tribulation of the beast. My understanding is that there is only one Day of the Lord, and that is when Jesus returns.
Regarding the Messiah, I have never asked a Jew about their understanding of it. What I have previously read about Jewish faith is that one day a charismatic Jewish leader, the anointed of God, a man with the characteristics of God, a direct descendant of the Davidic line, will gather Jews from around the world, and bring them back to the Land of Israel and restore the kingdom ridding them of all oppressors.
That was what they were looking for during the time Jesus was here during His 3.5-year ministry, a human conqueror. The disciples were looking for Him to set up the kingdom; they even asked Him after He was resurrected, Acts 1:6-7. They were looking for what we see will happen in the millennium when Jesus returns to earth.
It was mainly the leaders of Jerusalem who did not see or did not hear, which caused blindness in part to happen to Israel, who rejected Jesus; many accepted Jesus as the Messiah while He was here. The leaders of Jerusalem played a prominent role in turning the crowds against Jesus, and it was the nation of Israel as a whole that rejected Him. And today, most Jews do not believe the Messiah has come.
I know we may not agree, but I hope I answered your question.
God bless,
RLW
I am not one to put my faith in politics and am not going to attest to any clear evidence our Commander in Chief is a Christian.
I'll let others argue that point; nonetheless I am grateful that today as with other recent meetings he has consulted on the phone with Mr. Putin. There is apparently some sane conversation; albeit Russia is intransigent on achieving its goals which seem pretty evident to include almost complete annihilation of the country in question where they have been at war since 2022. There have been other discussions which may bring temporary peace; at least to the African nations he has brokered peace with Rwanda and Congo last week. In terms of the expanded Abraham Accords we certainly can't avoid implications that either lead toward or will ultimately broker the covenant confirmed with many in Daniel 9:27; since the 2 state solution obsession lives on after decades of failed efforts. Nonetheless; I am grateful for every day we don't have judgment on this country; but mark my words the time is coming. War; famine and pestilence in the seal judgments are coming in their fullness soon; and perhaps some other things will have partial fulfillment beforehand.
I am sorry to say that there has been things in my life regarding sin that have dragged me into a feeling of hopelessness and doom. I can probably say that all of us here need to walk consistently in the Spirit to overcome; especially today. The doom that is coming SHOULD make us motivated to warn others to flee the wrath to come; whether it be the Tribulation or hell (a sort of simultaneous thing if we read ( Revelation 6:8). I believe Satan wants us to be afraid that we will be left behind. Truly the Lord warns us in Luke 21:36 to be praying we are worthy to escape all these things to come to pass; and that same concept is shown by the overcomers in the Philadelphia church in Revelation 3:10. Let us submit our lives fully to the Spirit
Part 1
This subject has been discussed before, and I don't reply to cause debate, but in my heart, I feel it is deception that people may be looking for something that is not coming. In Matthew 24, Jesus said, "Take heed that no man deceive you." I would like to point out a few things that may be considered for study in pursuit of the truth. The Rapture doctrine, where the Church is taken to heaven before the second coming of Jesus, does it fit scripture? If Daniel 9:25-27 has been fulfilled, how does that affect the Rapture doctrine?
Each one of us is accountable- Romans 14:12.
There are two resurrections: the first in Revelation 19:11-21 through Revelation 20:1-5. This aligns with what Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-58.
When Jesus returns, it will be with the armies of heaven in Revelation 19, and in Matthew 24, Jesus sends His angels to gather His elect. We see in Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27, and Luke 21:25-28.
When Jesus returns, the Battle of Armageddon occurs, Revelation 16:13-16, Ezekiel 39:11-22, Revelation 19:17-19, and the beast and false prophet are cast into the lake of fire, Revelation 19:20-21. Satan is imprisoned in the bottomless pit, Revelation 20:1-3, and judgment occurs for those in the first resurrection on earth, Revelation 20:4, not in heaven, then the 1000 years, Revelation 20:5-6.
I do not know of any Bible verses that agree with the rapture of the Church?
See part 2
"And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury."
Luke 21:2
"And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites."
Luke 21:3
"And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:"
Luke 21:4
"For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had."
Blessings
On this day in 2025 we look to the future and assess what has come to pass in recent years and decades. There have been multiple attempts at peace in the Middle East since the 1970's since the agreement with Mubarak in 1979; and the infamous "two state solution" which was initiated with the PLO in 1993 but had its roots from the late 1930's; apparently. We certainly see in recent years the "Abraham accords" as a likely predecessor of a final covenant with many ( Daniel 9:27). Overall we have to listen to the admonishment of Habukkuk 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. This shows there is a delay before the initiation of end times events but that it will rapidly transpire once unleashed. This concept also could be observed with this verse in Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
This of course seems like a contradiction after 2000 years since Christ came and left this world for glory. It is like the adage of waiting for water to boil; or perhaps the one about a frog in slowly heated water. We need to be careful with such admonitions as this For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. ( Luke 21:35).
What are we to make of this? On one hand we realize that the "gates of hell" will not prevail against the church ( Matt. 16:18); but we also know that even the "elect would be deceived if that were possible" ( Matt. 24:24) in the coming time of false prophets; signs and wonders. Since the verse indicates that it isn't ultimately possible for total deception of the elect we have assurance IF we are indeed those He is talking about. The elect will hear His voice and not follow another ( John 10:26-29). We need to make our calling and election sure ( 2 Peter 1:10).
1Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
3In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
4And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
5Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
Let us examine some prophetic verses that seem to correlate with some of these ideas of the end of the age as opposed to the end of one's life.
Luke 21:25
25 "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Jeremiah 1:11-12 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
12Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
Ezekiel 26:13 And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard.
Revelation 18:22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all.
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Good thing they weren't straining a camel as chewing tobacco is bad for you...
Anyway; the concept of tithing was still held as an O.T. custom; and naturally; since the Pharisees were rich a tenth of their own moneys made for a big show but wasn't anything compared to the widow's mites (see Luke 21:1-4). Righteous not perverted judgment was expected (see Isaiah 10:1; James 2:13). Apparently Pharisees were involved with the Sanhedrin but primarily over civil matters. (Wikipedia).
Let me see if I'm allowed to mention them; posting now
"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain." ( James 5:7).
There are many verses on the subject of patience or longsuffering both related to God and His approved servants who eventually enter into their reward. There is no doubt that God honors those who persevere but we also need to recall the situation of Lot who as 2 Peter 2:7 states ...And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked". We don't want to be too comfortable with evil around us and in particular become compromised to maintain a lifestyle of ease. As we see with Lot his choice to enter the well watered lowlands looked good when he split up from Abraham but in the end he escaped literally from the flames with the collateral damage of what happened to his wife.
Patience therefore with our own sin can't be tolerated. We also are to sound our voice as a trumpet as Jeremiah did and the other Prophets. God patiently endures vessels fitted for destruction ( Romans 9:22; read on to verse 23). Wickedness will not be tolerated in God's Kingdom when He reigns on earth after He comes again. We need to see that God is refining us through the wickedness of sinners opposed to us and generally in rebellion that we see all around us. We don't know who is going to come to Christ and also we should keep in mind John 15:2 and 2 Timothy 2:21 where the branches we possess as believers can be purged or other useless appendages cut out from sinful connections to our dead past that we hang on to.
God will complete the work He has started ( Philippians 1:6). He will see all His sheep who hear His voice eventually enter heaven and safe pasture; and all the goats will be judged.
These earthly trials will soon be over; let us encourage one another until He comes.
Part 3
Satan then goes after the remnant of her seed those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. The remnant of her seed is the faithful people here when the tribulation starts. Like the ones before us who have been persecuted and killed, the fathers and prophets, and after Jesus the thousands upon thousands who have been tortured and killed in the name of Jesus, why would the last be spared when the first was not?
This starts the 3.5 years of tribulation as we see in Revelation 13, in the original text it is Satan standing on the sand of the sea to give his power, his seat, and great authority to the beast. We see in Rev. 11:7 and Rev. 17:8 that this is the bottomless pit. There are not seven years as some say we see when Satan is cast down and the beast rises, he is given only 42 months, and that is 3.5 years Revelation 13:5. It all starts when Satan is cast down the short time he has is 3.5 years.
The end of the 3.5 years will be when the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled, Luke 21:24 Romans 11:25 Revelation 11:2. Then the second coming of Jesus, Matthew 24:29-31 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Revelation 1:7 Revelation 3:11 Revelation 19:11-16 Revelation 22:12.
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.
This is what is coming, everyone will be tempted to take the mark of the beast, Jesus will give us if we are here the strength to say no even if we face death. Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Revelation 15:2
God bless,
RLW
Luke 21:32 - Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
The word "generation" is the word GENEA which means a race or kind of people. It has no association with years. Jesus is making reference to the Jewish people. This generation (this race of people) shall not pass away until all be fulfilled.
Luke 21:34 - And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Some people get very upset because there is no surfing or drunkenness. But this is the word surfeiting, which is a Greek word that has to do with indulging yourself so much that you have a hangover the next day. Indulging, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, again the word cares is the word that I introduced to you a couple times before. It is the word MERIMNA which has to do with the occupation of the attention of the mind. It is when people in their mind, they are so fixed on the things of this earthly life, and so that day come upon you unexpectedly.
Luke 22:31 - And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
The word desired is an Aorist Participle with an adverb that means "has now desired," and it means that Satan has asked one time. He has gotten permission. If this were translated correctly into English it would say, Satan has desired to have you and has been given permission.
Luke 22:44 - And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Medical experts have attempted to give us a detailed account of this, how blood can mix with sweat. The Greek text says that His sweat was so thick that it was as thick as blood. It doesn't say anything about blood, but "as it were" great drops of blood. It doesn't say it was blood falling to the ground. The agony was so great!
Luke 21:15 - For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
For I will give you a mouth, (meaning I'll give you the words), and the wisdom, that's the knowledge and understanding, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay (that is, contradict nor resist). That's quite a promise!
I've heard of some Bible schools that actually promote this verse for people in the ministry. They say that you don't need to study the Bible. The Holy Spirit will tell you what to say when you have to get up and preach. That is not the context by which Jesus is speaking.
Paul even said study to show yourself approved of God, a workman that's not ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Luke 21:18 - But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Basically, it is a Hebraism. It is a Hebraism that basically says they might be able to kill the body but cannot kill the soul. This is God's protection and provision over you. There will not be anything done to you that's done outside of the will of God. It will be all because of the will of God.
Luke 21:19 - In your patience possess ye your souls.
In Matthew 24:13, Matthew said that "he who endures to the end will be saved." They are both saying the same thing. But I like this as an explanation. In your patience you possess your soul. The word for patience is HUPOMENO which means to remain under.
Patience in the King James has to do with remaining under circumstances. Long suffering has to do with patience towards people because long suffering means to be slow in human reaction to other people. But HUPOMENO means to remain under your circumstances.
Fear of death is something which we need to overcome; not by our own stength but by the Spirit. The opposite; of course is any delusion we have of our own freedoms which after the Rapture will be taken over by the Beast system. Those who are unredeemed will be basically like moths in the dark attracted to the one light bulb present in a room. This is what makes our current situation so frightening that somehow once God's judgments begin the enticement of the world and it's riches and allure will still be sufficient to drown men in perdition. Long after the food supply is cut to starvation levels; and the other seal judgments have transpired the deception of Satan will be so strong that men will willingly serve and worship him. This business of men being forced to take the mark simply doesn't hold water because those who ARE in the Book of Life cannot do such a thing.
Thus; for now we as Christians are targets for Satan's schemes to render us paralyzed and make us think we are also going to be caught up in the net that the rest of the world is going to suffer through. ( Luke 21:35). Let us realize that God as with Paul can use Satan to buffet us; in particular when we have a weakness in our armor due to sin; but as in this case; not always.
The war is won; the battles are fierce but we dare not rely on our own power.
Luke 21:2 - And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
The word mites is actually the Greek word LEPTA. It is equivalent to either 1/5 or 1/8 of one cent. It is not worth very much. It is the least value of the copper coins in their day, and she cast in two of these. Mark tells us that when the rich men gave their money, they gave out of their wealth. They gave abundantly.
Luke 21:4 - For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Penury actually comes from a Greek word that means lacking. This is another place where the translators could have given us a better English word.
Luke 21:8 - And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived:
The word deceived is where we get our word planet from, PLANAE means led astray, for many shall come in my name, saying, I AM, and notice in the text it says I am Christ. Some English texts say I am He, but all it says is "I AM" in the Greek text.
That is the name of God from the book of Exodus, I AM that I AM, the Yahweh God of the Old Testament. He says people are going to be going around saying I AM; and the time is drawing near: Jesus says go ye not therefore after them.
Luke 21:9 - But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
The Greek word for by-and-by is the word immediate. The end is not immediate, not even close. Got a long way to go! So even the events that are happening now with the increase in earthquakes, and in the increase in pestilences and diseases, this is just the beginning. This gives us an indication that we are moving closer, but the end it is not yet.
John saw: Revelation 15:1-8:
1-And I saw another sign in heaven,great and marvellous,7 angels having the 7 last PLAGUES;for in THEM is filled up the WRATH of GOD->(Re.11:18&16:1)
4-Who shall not fear thee,O Lord,and glorify thy name?thou only art holy: ...and thy Judgments are made manifest.
Then the PLAGUES start to be poured, its in the beginning of the 2nd half of the last week: Revelation 16:2: The FIRST PLAGUE will be poured upon the earth; upon the inhabitants of Israel, and there will fall a noisome and grievous sore upon all MEN which have the MARK of the Beast, and upon them which worshipp his image.
And the 2nd plague will be poured upon the sea;-->sea= waters=> peoples, and NATIONS, and multitudes of every tongue, GENTILE PEOPLES, and they will become as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul(that was created, Genesis 2:7) shall die.-->As was in Sodom and Gomorrah, and in the neighbouring cities.
The sequence of the pragues and their consequences are described from Revelation 16:4 to 21.Terrible,very terrible, as we can foreseen by the Word of GOD.JESUS warned us: Luke 21:25-28:-->25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars( Revelation 12:1-12, take a look.); and upon the Earth distress of NATIONS, with perplexity;the sea(peoples, and NATIONS, and multitudes of all tongues)and the waves roaring( Psalm 2:1-5);
26Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the Earth: for the powers of heaven ( Ephesians 1:3-8) shall be shaken.
27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.(the same cloud that received JESUS in His ascension- Acts 1:9-11,combined with Matthew 17:5,and 2 Peter 1:16-12,and Isaiah 4:1-6 speaking of the seven Churches as a clue to understand the prophecies).
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Get ready
"I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High./But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes."
The three psalms of which this psalm falls as the central pillar is composed by Asaph. The v.1 is a perfect statement by the Spirit. "God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods." What qualifies as perfect speech. "The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."(Ps.12:6) Everlasting covenant confers blessings to a believer called to be a saint. Unless he learns to be an overcomer which can only be through the grace of the most High 'ye shall die like men, and fall like on of the princes." where you fail all the seven days of the covenant are fallen out of your grasp.
With regards to the princes we have them named in the Ps.83. "For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head./They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones."(Ps.83:2-3)
What goes on in Gaza is a symptom of the spiritual wickedness from heavenly places directed against the saints, "thy hidden ones" and it shall be beginning of sorrows and at some point of time shall reach a critical mass."And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."( Luke 21:28). This is not our but the heathen out there stoking the conflict for their own ends have put their inroads to nations that have been careless in their friendships. It is thus the ungodly world has made pacts with 'gods of this world.' When God standeth in the congregation of the mighty' an horse is a vain thing and as the Psalm says, "An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength."(Ps.33:17). It is time that we quit like men and trust in our Lord Savior from getting entangled in the devil's wiles.
7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half (42 months or 1260 days- Luke 21:24 combined with Revelation 11:2 and Revelation 13:5-9, take a look); and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
8And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the END of these things?
9And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the END.(this time ARRIVED, get ready)
10Many shall be purified, and made white, and TRIED; the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the WISE shall understand.
11And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away(END OF THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE), and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12 Blessed is he that waiteth,and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
13 But go thou thy way till the END be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the END of the days.-->this time of the END ARRIVED. Matthew 25:29- Unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Get ready, be careful. JESUS warned: fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell-Mat.10:28.
The Word is GOD, GOD Himself, self-executing, understand?
How does one quantify what is spiritually understood? The Spirit renders such unquantifiable with numbers that are called Command numbers. The Holy City of God is a cube, "And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal."(Re.21:16). The Spirit sets a tag 100 for the generation of Jesus and 1000 is the tag for end times.(End times in the day of Salvation is the beginning of the day of Regeneration so everlasting life promised to believers is continuation of now but in glory0John 3:16). Coming back to 144,000 we shall break it up as thus: 12x12x1000. This has nothing to do with Israel. In Re.7 the left out church redeems by stepping in the place of Israelites, a quality of Jesus Christ is stated here, "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." Seth for this reason doubles for the Son. Ze.3:15 refers to the intercessory role of Jesus Christ. However Joshua is a Hebrew variant for Jesus. This usage of the variant is significant. It is used to represent the believers tagged with 144,000 who barely escaped the great tribulation "Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?/Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel." The fire refers to the great tribulation.
The two disciples going to Emmaus were like Nicodemus and also spiritually blind "And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them./But their eyes were holden that they should not know him." ( Luke 21:15-16)
If such is the case should we be surprised if the imposter churches whatever names one may call them are turning out from their assembly line such half-baked witnesses for Christ. They deny Christ's deity to mean something less and it shows up in their flock.
1 Corinthians 15:24-27KJV
24 The END cometh, when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to GOD, even the Father( Luke 20:35-36); when he shall have PUT DOWN all RULE and all AUTHORITY and POWER.
JESUS does not need to be visible here on earth or present in Person to perform the strange work as Isaiah prophesied: Isaiah 28:21-22
21 For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He may do His WORK, His strange WORK; and bring to pass His act, His strange act.
22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I HAVE HEARD FROM THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS a CONSUMPTION, even determined upon the WHOLE EARTH.
Luke 21:26-27
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.(cloud?it is the same cloud of Acts 1:9-11, understand? it has nothing to do with cloud or H2O around the whole world, such a thought is/would be ridiculous. Take a look)
By the way, The NATIONS will be wrathed, but the WRATH of our GOD comes... and He should destroy them which destroy the earth.
GET READY
Hope you don't mind.
I read and study the KJV, and I have read parts of other Bibles, Michaelswiger gave good information on what manuscripts were used, and if we study the history of the Bible other things and texts like the Bishop Bible were also considered. Giannis and S Spencer have also given good responses on the Greek words. I trust the KJV as the word of God and what He means for us to understand is there, but we must trust the Holy Spirit will guide us.
Aion means life span, age, or epoch, it is the source of our English words age and eon. It describes any length of clearly defined time, whether one person's life or some era of certain renown. As a general point of reference, this word may also apply to the vast span of history: the ages, the times of old.
I agree, with the word's age and world for English-speaking people our understanding can be different. The Greek word aion was translated in the KJV 37 times as world, sometimes world works, and sometimes age would be a better choice, I can send you the verses if you want to study them. Like Matt. 24:3 with the context and what the disciples knew at that time and what Jesus just told them about the temple the word world insinuates they are asking Jesus about His second coming.
If we compare Matt. 24:3 with Mark 13:4 and Luke 21:7 what is written in Matthew with them still thinking Jesus was going to set up the kingdom instead of the end of the world, the end of the age would fit better. The context of the chapter and comparing what is written in each gospel about the same thing helps me.
All translations or transliterations are not perfect, but God is and what He wants us to know He will show us through the Spirit of truth. Take Matt. 28:19, the commission, if we compare it to Mark 16:15 Luke 24:47, and what we read in the rest of the New Testament what do we see?
God bless,
RLW
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off (crucified), but not for Himself: and the people of the prince that shall come (the esoteric and kabbalistic false messiah- John 5:43-47 combined with Revelation 13:11) shall DESTROY the CITY (Jerusalem) and the SANCTUARY-> Revelation 13:2->the dragon, the esoteric false messiah of Judaism- Revelation 13:11 gave(will give) him (will give to the Beast of sea-ruler of Catholicism) his Power, and his Throne, and great Authority.; and the END thereof shall be with a flood( Luke 21:24; Revelation 11:2; Revelation 12:15?), and unto the END of the WAR ( Revelation 16:13-15) desolations are determined.
27 And he (the profane prince of Israel that shall come- Ezekiel 21:25, John 5:43-47; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 13:11) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week(covenant with the whole religious structures of the RCC-Judaism and Catholicism- Revelation 13:2): and in the midst of the week( Revelation 13:5) he- the profane wicked prince of Israel, the false messiah- shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease ( 2Thessalonians 2:6-9), and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation ( Revelation 16:13-15), and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
GOD bless and get ready
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of GOD? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of GOD.
And the Lord JESUS warned: Luke 21:34-36KJV:
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that Day(Lord's Day, the seventh and last Day or seventh and last millennium) come upon you unawares.
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to ESCAPE all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Lord JESUS said more: Matthew 13:40-43KJV
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the END of THIS WORLD. ( 1Corinthians 15:24-26)
41 The Son of man shall send forth His angels(mainly Michael), and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father( Revelation 11:15-18 and Daniel 12:3). Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
As you and ALL know, the prophecy - Daniel 7:7-8- is revealing about the fourth Empire- the dreadful and terrible, and strong Roman Empire- diverse from the Greek, Persian and Babylonian kingdoms that were before it. As you and all know, the Roman Empire was specifically and genuinely a GENTILIC Empire, but there was also a completely alien being, or nation, in the Gentile Roman Empire: It was ISRAEL, descendants of Abraham. For this reason the prophecy reveals Israel as an APPENDIX linked to the Roman Empire as 10 other independent powers, DESCENDANTES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC and JACOB, prophetically represented by 10 horns, which in turn represents the 10 toes of the statue, part of iron, and part of clay- Daniel 2:42. In Daniel 2 , Israel, the clay- Isaiah 64:8-, is represented by 10 toes of the feet of the Nebuchadnezzar's estatue.
The roots of the Gentile Beast of sea, the Papacy, a religious MONSTER having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns 10 crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy, the main partner of the red Dragon- Revelation 12:3-4 & 9, yeah, the roots of the Gentile Beast of sea-the Papacy, are described in Revelation 13:2. In this current decade must be elected the last Pope, the next, and to this last Pope the dragon- Revelation 13:11-, will give him his Power, and his Throne(in JERUSALEM), and great Authority. Both as a RELIGIOUS AND SATANIC MONSTER-Catholicism and Judaism-iron and clay-, both will establish an Universal and religious kingdom- Daniel 2:41-44 combined with Luke 21:24 and Revelation 11:2. Take a look.
There will be a terrible spiritual War in the Earth from now on- Revelation 16:13-15.
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Revelation 21:8 - The fearful(COWARDS), and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
My understanding is Jesus was baptized and anointed in the fall of the year__, he was 40 days and nights in the wilderness. Jesus then chose His 12 disciples. shortly after the wedding where Jesus turned the water to wine, He went to Passover John 2:23, this would be 6 months after He was anointed by the Holy Ghost.
There are 3 more Passovers and Jesus was crucified on the last one, John 5:1, 1.5 years John 6:4 2.5 years, and John 13:1 the Passover He was crucified 3.5 years from when He was anointed as the Messiah.
My understanding of Matthew 24 was also for the disciples for the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem not just for us today, if we compare Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 have when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet. But in Luke 21:20, He writes when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
The abomination of desolation is something done by someone as King Antiochus IV Epiphanes did in 168 BC. It happened before the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. My understanding is parts of Jesus's Olivet discourse were for them and parts are for us.
What is in Daniel 9:27 Jesus caused the sacrifice and oblation to cease when He died and the vail of the Temple rent from top to bottom. As Jesus told the woman at the well the hour has come ye shall not worship the Father in the mountain or Jerusalem, John 4:21
The wording in Daniel 9:27 is for the overspreading of abominations points to the abominations the leaders of Jerusalem will have done, Matthew 23:32-38 Jesus told them "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" The he, is Jesus who will make it desolate and, in their generation, it was made desolate by the people/Roman army, of the prince/Titus same as God used Babylon in 586 BC.
I hope this makes sense so that you can study for your understanding even if you disagree, if you have questions let me know.
God bless,
RLW