REVELATION LESSON 18

REVELATION

LESSON 18

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Some people say that we all worship the same God. These people need to get their heads out of the sand. Let me give a little insight on this subject.

Muslims worship the moon god of Mecca, called Allah.

Muslims say Allah is not love, but Christians say Jehovah is love.

Muslims say Allah is not a father, Christians call Jehovah their father.

Muslims say Allah cannot be known in a personal way, but Christians say that Jehovah can be known personally.

Muslims say Allah made a covenant with Abraham to give the promise land to Ishmael’s descendants, Christians and the Jewish people say Jehovah made a covenant with Abraham to give the promise land to Isaac and his descendants.

Muslims say Jesus was created from the dust like Adam, but Christians say Jesus was born of a virgin.

Muslims say Jesus was a messenger of God, Christians say Jesus is the son of God.

Muslims say Judas Iscariot died on the cross, Christians say Jesus died on the cross.

Muslims say their sins can be forgiven but they have to kill an infidel, (non-Muslim). Christians say Jesus’ blood washed away all of our sins.

Muslims believe in a messiah called the Mahdi, Christians the messiah is Jesus.

Muslims say the messiah will be a descendant of Mohammed, Christians and the Jewish people say the messiah will be a descendant of King David.

Muslims say the messiah will reign on earth for seven years and die, Christians say the real messiah will reign on earth for one thousand years and never die.

Muslims say their messiah will conquer Israel, Christians and Jewish believe he will rescue Israel.

Muslims believe in a great war at the end of the age called the mother of all battles, Christians call it the battle of Armageddon, the Jewish people call it the battle of all battles.

Jerusalem is considered the Holy City by Christians and Jews and Muslims alike. Jews consider it Holy because their temple was located there. Muslims consider it Holy because they believe Mohammed ascended into heaven from there.

Muslims worship on Friday, Jews worship on Saturday, and Christians worship on Sunday.

The militant Muslims chant that once they get rid of the Saturday people (Jews), we will get rid of the Sunday people (Christians).

This is just a few differences of what the Muslims believe, and what the Christians, and Jews believe.

Revelation 11:2 ½    ² But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Revelation 11:3   ³ And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

In the old testament the mosaic Law required two witnesses to validate matters pertaining to Jewish religion. In that same way God will send two witnesses to prophesy and validate the worlds sin and blasphemy during the first half of the tribulation period.

The identities of these witnesses are unknown. The only two that I can think of that God raptured to heaven alive were Enoch and Elijah. Some think it will be Moses, but Moses died and God buried him.

Malachi 4:4   ⁴ Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

Elijah is in heaven, but he will return to earth as one of the two witnesses. He and the second witness will stay and prophesy for the first three and a half years of the tribulation period.

Each witness is represented by one olive tree and one lampstand. It takes these two symbols to represent one person.

To understand this passage, we need to know what these symbols mean the answer to the olive trees is found in Zechariah 4:11-14.

Zechariah 4:11-14    ¹¹ Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?

¹² And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?

¹³ And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

¹⁴ Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

The lampstands hold pots of burning oil that provide light. The two witnesses will be lampstands because they will provide light to a dark world. If you combine these two symbols each witness will be one olive tree filled with the Holy Spirit, and one lampstand giving off the light of God.

They will be two witnesses filled with the Holy spirit. Counteracting the forces of darkness in the world. This continue to show the grace of God during the tribulation period. God will go to great length to reach out to the Lost. To offer them blessings and to be their God.

Until our next lesson, 

Stay ready and stay in the word.

Brother Andy

REVELATION LESS0N 17

REVELATION

LESS0N 17

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Revelation 11:1-2   11 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

² But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

At the close of Chapter 10, john was commissioned to prophesy about many people, nations, tongues and kings; About the events, about the gentiles and about two particular people, called the two witnesses. More is given about the king who rules nations and the residents of heaven.

The bible speaks of four temples in Jerusalem. The first two temples, Solomon’s and Herod’s, have already been built and destroyed. The final two temples, the tribulation temple and the millennial temple are yet to be built. They are spoken of in great detail in biblical prophecy.

When God begins to close out the age, he will focus his attention on Israel and the temple. As we go over this it is good to recall the old testament prophecies, there are several passages of scripture referring to the temple in the end time.

Jesus spoke of the abomination of desolation that Daniel the prophet spoke of. Indicating that at the end of time in the middle of the tribulation period a temple would be desecrated by the anti-Christ. In order for this to be fulfilled it must first be rebuilt. Paul predicted that the anti-Christ in the middle of the tribulation would defy God by sitting in the temple of God and presenting himself to the world as God.

In order for him to do this the temple has to be rebuilt. From this we learn that Israel will become the storm center of the world during the tribulation period. The nations of the earth will gather against Jerusalem. She will be captured and half of the Jewish people will flee to exile.

This struggle over Jerusalem and the temple will trigger the second coming of Jesus Christ and the battle of Armageddon. Israel is Gods weapon of battle and he will use her to break the nations in pieces.

The struggle over Jerusalem is already underway. The Palestinian authority says Jerusalem will be the capital of their new Palestinian state. However, Israel is moving to make Jerusalem their capital.

The Jews want to build their new temple on the same site two old testament temples were built. Solomon’s and Herod’s. The preparation plans and building plans, the garments, musical instruments, the menorah and more are all prepared and ready to go.

The problem is the Palestinians want to keep this same site for their existing Al-Aqsa mosque and dome of the Rock Mosque. They indicate that moving or tearing one or both of these religious buildings down will trigger world war three.

The anti-Christ will work out a temporary peace plan. The tribulation temple will be rebuilt, but Jerusalem and the tribulation temple will be in the line of fire until the second coming of Christ Jesus.

This temple must be rebuilt before the tribulation period midpoint, because that is when the anti-Christ will defile it. So it seems somewhat clear that the temple will be rebuilt during the first half of the tribulation period.

If the Muslims could stop the Jews from rebuilding the temple on the temple mount they would. The world leaders at this time will designate it as an international site to be shared by everyone.

John was given a reed and told to measure the tribulation temple. Measure the alter and count the worshipers. This is significant because in the last days the temple and one of its two original alters will be rebuilt. The rebuilt alter was called the alter of Gold or the alter of incense.

The alter was located inside the temple. The alter that will not be rebuilt was called the bronze alter. It will not be rebuilt because it was located outside in the outer court. The gentiles will rule the outer court.

Well until the next lesson, stay in the word, be ready for what God has planned for our lives.

Brother Andy.

REVELATION LESSON 16

REVELATION

LESSON 16

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Revelation 10: 5-6   ⁵ And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

⁶ And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

This angel will raise his hand toward heaven to swear to tell Gods truth. The angel is making an oath by the only sure guarantee, God himself because he could swear by nothing greater. God swore by himself. This angel swore by someone greater than his self.

The angel was swearing or giving oath on the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ that there should be no delay any longer. The Greek word Kronos has two meanings. Time and delay, it is obvious that time is not the exact meaning for there is time after this event. In fact, the last three and a half years of the seven-year tribulation period that follows, plus one thousand years of the millennial kingdom.

The word translated “delay” where they will be delayed no longer. We have been living under the time of Gods delay for centuries. This angel is warning mankind that God is about to conclude his patience in the face of mans rebellion against His will and that soon the final conclusion will take place.

In Revelation 6:10-11 it said, “How long O Lord, holy and true until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth”. Each of them was given a white robe to delay a little longer. Here in Revelation chapter ten the mighty angel will say its time to stop the delay. When the time comes for the seventh angel to sound the seventh trumpet for the third trumpet woe. It will release seven bowl judgments. This is where God will complete his plan.

It will be the answer the martyred tribulation saints have been waiting for. God will no longer delay his vengeance for their persecution and death. To the believers still on earth who have been hiding and waiting these words will mean they will no longer have to wait for God to move against the wicked. To the unbelievers on earth this will mean God is now going to fulfill his wrath with no more delay.

This message should be a word of consolation to the saved and a word of terror to the lost. In a moment the awesome final judgments of God will start falling and nothing will stop them.

Revelation 10:7   ⁷ But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

When Gods plan for human history is completely revealed all prophecy will be fulfilled. The mystery of God should be finished as he has declared to his servants and prophets. A mystery of God means that God is going to disclose a truth that is only possible to know in the word of God.

Jesus has now opened all seven seals and six of the angel have sounded their trumpets. The last trumpet will be seven bowl judgments. Before the seventh angel blows his trumpet, a voice from heaven will declare the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants and prophets. One of Gods great secrets will unfold during the seventh trumpet judgment exactly as the prophets predicted.

The bible identifies several mysteries. One is the mystery of salvation.

Colossians 1:25-26   ²⁵ Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

²⁶ Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

1 Corinthians 15:51   ⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

All of these mysteries are coming to a close. It is apparent by the fact that 42 months of the tribulation have expired when the statement is given. At this point there are only 1,260 days of mans known history left, apart from the kingdom age.

Revelation 10:8-9   ⁸ And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.

⁹ And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

Now at this point John is more than just a hearer and writer, he must be a doer. The same voice of the seven thunders tells John to go and take the open book out of the mighty angel’s hand. This is also true for believers, serving God requires doing, not just hearing.

Since the mighty angel is pictured as standing with one foot in the sea and one foot on the land, John must no longer be in heaven. He has apparently returned to earth to take the little book. It is possible that there was no longer need for this book. It must have to do with the events that are to come upon the earth.

After John took the book, he was told to take it and eat it. Although he was warned that it would be sweet to the taste and bitter to the belly. This is a form of receiving a commission or special task from God. At this point in Johns life he was switched from being a spectator of these amazing things to being a participant in them.

Before Jesus ascended to heaven he instructed his disciples to go and preach the gospel to everyone. Christians are not saved to be waited on, they are saved to serve.

The angel tells John to take the book and eat it. This may sound strange but it is not new to the bible. Jeremiah ate the words of God and Ezekiel ate a scroll from God. The idea is that the word of God must be received into the heart. The bible will profit us little unless it becomes part of us, we must digest it, it must be brought inside of one’s self.

The instruction to eat the little book will come as the word of God is sweet to the believer but bitter to the unbeliever.

Isn’t it sweet to know that final victory is assured to the believer, but bitter to consider the plagues, pain, loss of life and eternal destiny of the lost.

It was pleasant for John to receive the message from God but painful for him to focus on the steps toward fulfillment.

Perhaps the full impact of what John experienced is a reminder to all who proclaim Gods wonderful word and speak of his coming judgement and wrath. We must speak it with a measure of sorrow and bitterness with a broken heart of the judgment and his wrath on lost souls.

Please believe this script as I write it. At the same time, I’m praying for lost souls they have no Idea what is ahead of them.

Choices have to be made, choose Jesus.

Stay in the word,

Brother Andy