END TIMES AND THE AGE TO COME— #7, #8, #9, #10, #11

 

Will the Earth be Desolate?

Passages answered

SCRIPTURES USED TO PROPOUND THE "DESOLATE EARTH" DURING THE 1,000 YEARS MY ANSWER by Keith Hunt JEREMIAH 25:30-31 God will PLEAD with all nations - many WILL REPENT (Jer.23:3-6; 16:14-21; Isa 25:7-9; 29:18-24) - the wicked who will fight God, He will destroy. EZEKIEL 9:1-6 Is applied to the whole earth. If you read chap. 4:1,3 and chap. 9:8,9 you will see it applies ONLY to Israel and Judah, and dozens of other scriptures show us that not ALL of them will die. ISAIAH 26:21 This verse NOWHERE says every last single soul will be slain - the whole context before and after disprove any such idea. ZECHARIAH 14:12-14 This only applies to the armies of the nations that come up against Jerusalem to fight Christ. This chapter is one of the greatest proofs against the "desolate earth" idea. JEREMIAH 25:33 This verse nowhere says every last single soul will be slain - only there will be slain people all over the earth. Isaiah was given the same prophecy, Isa.66:15-18. He was told the slain of the Lord shall be many. JEREMIAH 4:23-26 This is not a prophecy against the earth AT LARGE but against Judah and Jerusalem. See v. 5, 6, 10, 14, 16, 22. v. 20 says "the whole land" yes, land of Judah. v. 23 the Hebrew word translated "earth" can also be translated "land." The Amplified Bible renders it "land" as in v. 20. v. 27 there will not be a full destruction. MISAPPLIED SCRIPTURES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT ISAIAH 24:1-6 This is used by Ellen G. White in her book "The Great Controversy." Is this a prophecy for the future? Yes indeed. And so are chapters 25; 26 and 27. Verse 6 a curse devours the earth - the inhabitants are burned, but look there are more words, "AND FEW MEN LEFT." Mrs. White didn't see it. She forgot to put it in her book - she ended with a full stop after "burned." See the chapter "Desolate Earth" in the book "The Great Controversy." ZECHARIAH 14:5 Used to refer to the new heavens and earth. But v.1 tells you it is referring to "the day of the Lord" - Christ's second return. And v.10-21 could not be in the new earth. ISAIAH 60:18 Applied to the new earth - but it is a prophecy for Jacob (Israel) see chap.59:20. v. 12 could not be in the new earth. ISAIAH 65:21,22 Applied to new earth - but v.20,23 could not be in the new earth - for there will be no death, pain or curses in the new earth (Rev. 21:4). This section of scripture takes place JUST BEFORE the new heavens and earth - it is the same time as Rev.20:11-15. ISAIAH 35:1 Is again applied to the new earth - but v.5,6 will not take place on the new earth. There will be only glorified saints on it. ISAIAH 11:6,9 In the book "The Great Controversy" this scripture is applied to the new earth - but notice there are LITTLE CHILDREN and v.8 SUCKING CHILDREN AND WEANED CHILDREN. Bearing and rearing children will not be in the new earth. Verses 10-16 and chap.12 also go on to describe what will happen "in that day." This will not happen on the new earth but when Christ returns the second time. MISUNDERSTOOD NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES MATTHEW 13:37-41 Christ will START the harvest at His return with the battle of Armageddon and will continue it through the 1,000 years (Isa. 66:15-24). 24:36-44 This is used to prove "the desolate earth." Christ is using Noah's example only to show that His coming will be UNEXPECTED. They will still be having meals and public meetings, marrying, working, etc. right up to the day of Christ's return. They won't be expecting it. In verses 40-42 Christ explains to His followers to watch - watch how you live (v.45-51). Be ready in your way of living (v.44) for He will come unexpectedly. And when He does come THE RESURRECTION takes place - those living will be CHANGED TO IMMORTALITY, in the blink of an eye (I Cor. 15:51, 52) and CAUGHT UP to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thes. 4:16). Yes a Christian will be grinding at the flour mill (working alongside a non-Christian) he will disappear suddenly - gone to meet the Lord in the clouds - the carcase (Christ) has arrived and the eagles (Christians) are gathered to it (Mt. 24:28) but the others are LEFT - not destroyed. 2 THESSALONIANS 1:7-9 Used to say every last person on earth is destroyed after the resurrection. Is this a contradiction of Old Testament prophecies? No! The scriptures cannot be broken. Amplified Bible v.8, "To deal out retribution - chastisement and vengeance - upon those who do not know or perceive or BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH GOD, and (upon those) who ignore and REFUSE to obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." Yes - vengeance on those who "WILL NOT BECOME acquainted with God and who REFUSE to obey God." Paul knew his Old Testament; he knew what the prophets said about Christ's second coming. He knew that God said he would PLEAD with all flesh (Jer.25:31, Isa.66:16) and he had read the prophecies that said many would repent and acknowledge God in that day (Jer.16:14-21; 23:5,6; Isa.25:7; 2:1-4). LOOK! Notice v.10. The first half talks about the saints - Christians - and Christ being admired because of the saints being glorified - made immortal. (I Cor. 15; 1 Thes 4:16). AND Christ will be ADMIRED by all them that BELIEVE IN THAT DAY. Yes. Paul understood his Old Testament, he knew the wicked who refuse to obey God would fight Christ at His return (Zech.14) but he also knew many at that day would repent - admire - and acknowledge Christ. Read Zech. 12:1-14; 13:1-6. God fights the nations at Jerusalem - Judah is strong (v.6-9 and v.10-14; 13:1-6). God pours out grace - salvation on the Jews - they will see the one they crucified - they will cry - they will no loner reject their Savior. 2 THESSALONIANS 2:8 Used for ALL wicked destroyed. Read v.3 and 4. Paul is telling us a prophecy - that before Christ returns there will come ONE man - a great false prophet - able to do great things, with satanic power - signs and lying wonders (v.9). Margin reference takes use to Dan.7:25; Rev.13:11. Other verses are Rev.13:13-14; 19:20. These all tell us, about ONE great false prophet that Christ will destroy at His coming. John also tells us about ONE supreme anti-Christ to come. I John 2:18 Christ will not return until he - the anti-Christ, false prophet, man of sin is revealed(v. 6) and then shall THAT WICKED be consumed and destroyed by Christ (Rev. 19:20). 1 THESSALONIANS 4:16-17 Used to say we go to heaven at Christ's return. In verse 14, Paul is telling us - look Christ is going to bring the saints WITH HIM - to this earth (Paul knew Christ was going to again put His feet on this earth - he had read Zech.14; Job 19:25-26). For - v.15, Paul now explains how Christ will do it. Through the resurrection and instantaneous change of those living. Together we are caught up ONLY TO THE CLOUDS - in the air - and yes we will then be with the Lord - but the question is - where will the Lord go from there - this scripture does not say. We must look to other scriptures to tell us. JOHN 14:1-3 Used to say we go to the mansions in heaven, when Christ returns. v.2, father's house is the kingdom of Go d -the family of God. And there are many abodes - rooms - mansions for us to have one (the physical temple at Jerusalem had an inner court and around it were many small rooms for the priests to abide in). Christ said "I go" (he ascended to heaven) to prepare a place for you (He is now our high priest in the heavenly temple interceding for us). Notice v.3 "...I will come again and receive you unto myself..." Where will He receive us - Christ inspired Paul to tell us - 1 Thes. 4:16-17 - in the clouds. "...That where I am..." When he receives us and comes again. "...you may be also". Yes, we will be with Christ as Paul said from that time forth. We meet Him - unite with Him - He receives us to Himself IN THE CLOUDS - we shall stay with Him forever, BUT where will He be - that is the question. Looks Christ knew His Old Testament He inspired it! He KNEW that God's house (God's kingdom) was at His second return going to be established on the earth. He had read - He inspired - Isa 2:1-4; Mic.4:1-13. He is interceding in heaven for us - so we can be counted worthy to be in that kingdom of God's house when Christ returns to bring it to this earth and to rule all nations. REVELATION 22:11 Used to say there are only two classes of people on earth when Christ returns and wicked are destroyed. Read carefully - does it say ANYTHING about what will HAPPEN to them. No! There are no words of ANY KIND to indicate their fate. In verse 12, Christ says He will give every man according to his work - so if we DO DEDUCT that unrighteous are destroyed and the righteous given eternal life - we still have TWO other classes of people left - those who DO ACKNOWLEDGE Christ on that day (2 Thes. 1:10; Jer.16:14-21; 23:5,6, Isa.25:7; Zech.12:1-14; 13:1-6) and those who have not heard of Christ's glory (Isa. 66:19; 2:1-4). This verse cannot contradict the dozens of Old Testament scriptures that show Christ will come to set up His government on this earth at Jerusalem. And as a mustard seed it will grow until all peoples, tongues, and nations will come under its rule, guidance and protection. CHRIST'S FIRST AND SECOND ADVENT IN ONE CHAPTER ISAIAH 61 First read Lk.4:16-20,21. Christ reads from the 61st chapter of Isaiah, verse 1 and PART OF verse 2. He stopped reading in the middle of verse 2 and closed the book. Why? Because only that part of the chapter is about his first advent--the rest of the chapter is a prophecy on His second advent. Read it carefully - it can only be DURING the 1,000 years. CHRIST'S RETURN - CONCLUSION After READING and STUDYING all the foregoing Biblical passages - after reading EVERY WORD written by the Prophets from Isaiah to Malachi - God's teaching on this doctrine is plain: 1. Christ will literally return. 2. He will come to the Mount of Olives - His feet WILL touch this earth. 3. The nations who oppose Him on his return He will destroy. 4. He will sit on the literal throne of David 5. Jerusalem will become the capital of the world. 6. Israel and Judah will be reunited and David will be resurrected to be their king under Christ. 7. Israel and Judah will blossom as a beautiful garden. 8. Christ's kingdom will cover the whole earth. 9. God's law and word will go forth from Jerusalem - all nations will come and worship God. 10. Those people and nations who have not heard of God's fame will hear. 11. Many will acknowledge God when Christ returns - they shall live on into the 1,000 year reign of Christ. 12. People will marry during Christ's reign - children will be born. 13. There will be no more wars - all animals will be tame - no more destroying - only peace. 14. Sickness, crippling diseases, blindness, etc. All be no more. 15. Spiritual blindness and paganism will be removed - salvation will be offered to every single soul. The NEW TESTAMENT teaching on the return of Christ and the Kingdom can only be understood when we understand and BELIEVE what God tells us about it in the Old Testament. Lk. 24:25-27. ............... Written 1980 THE SECRET RAPTURE AND CHRIST'S COMING!  Thee topic of Christ's return has been for the past 150 years one of the major subjects of interest and debate by theologians and "fundamental" Christianity. There are many verses in the New Testament that speak of Christ to come, His coming again, His presence, His return. Do these verses show that He will bodily, literally - at one specific event - come, return to this earth? by Keith Hunt There are basically two teachings regarding the coming of Christ. 1.Christ will not bodily return but has returned already through the coming of the Holy Spirit into individual lives. 2.Christ will return literally, bodily, at one specific time in the future. Those that teach that Christ will bodily return are not in complete agreement as to whether He will stand on the earth at that time or return to heaven. Or will it be a secret return to catch away the saints for 3-1/2 or 7 years (while the great tribulation takes place) and then return visibly? By searching the scriptures line upon line, here a little, there a little (Isaiah 2:10) and putting them together and with the help of God's Spirit (John 16:13), we can come to know the truth. INSTRUCTIONS: Following you will find a scripture reference, a set of questions and a set of notes on the verses sighted. We recommend you read the scripture carefully and the context in which it is found, thinking through each of the questions listed. We recommend you mark your Bible freely and make notes in the margin. Further study helps could be Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and Nave's Topical Bible. We suggest you read over notes on the questions only after you have given some thought to them yourself. We want you to think for yourself and believe us only when you can see it supported by the Bible. CHRIST SAID "I WILL COME AGAIN" John 13:33, 14:1-2 Did Christ tell His disciples that He must leave them? Acts 3:21 Where did Christ go to? Is not verse 20 showing it is Jesus that Peter is talking about? Hebrews 4:14 Where did Paul say Christ went to? Acts 2:29-36 Did Peter say specifically where Christ is now - note verse 33. Note: Jesus said He must leave this earth, and He ascended to heaven to sit on the right hand of the Father. John 14:1-3 Did Christ promise He would "come again'? See also Mat. 24:42-414, 25:13; Luke 18:8; Acts 1:11. Were the disciples told again (at the ascension of Christ into heaven) that Jesus would return? Acts 3:12-21 Did Peter in his second recorded sermon bodily proclaim that the heavens had only received Christ until a certain time and then He would be sent back? 1Pet. 1:7, 13; 4:13, 5:4; 2Pet. 1:16 Did Peter continue to preach the "coming of Christ"? Note: The books of first and second Peter were written some 30 years after Peter gave his second sermon of Acts 3. Jam. 5:7,8 Did the apostle James write about the coming of the Lord"? 1John 2:28; 3:2 Did not John also talk about "His coming"? Who is John speaking about here? Read Chapter 2: 21-28. Jude 14 Is Jude proclaiming the coming of the Lord? Rev. 22:12,20 In the last chapter of the Bible is Christ still telling us He will come? Note: The book of Revelation was the last book of the Bible to be written (around 90-100 A.D.). If you have a red letter edition you will notice that verse 12 and "surely I come quickly" in verse 20 are in red - signifying these are the words of Christ. The Apostle Paul also preached and wrote much about the promise Jesus gave us that he would "come again," some of the passages are 1Cor. 1: '7, 4:5; 15:23; Col. 3:4; 1Thes. 1:10; 2:19; Tit. 2:12; Heb. 9:28. It does not make sense that the apostles of the New Testament would, years after the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, continue to preach and write about the coming of Christ as an event that had not yet happened and that they looked forward to, if in fact Christ had returned via the Holy Spirit. FALSE TEACHING Mat. 24:26; Mark 13:21 Did Jesus warn that some would claim He had already come before His true return would take place? 2 Thes. 2:1-2. Did false teachers proclaim that very idea in the life time of the apostle Paul? Note: The King James rendering "is at hand" in verse 2 is misleading. The Greek word is in the perfect tense, which signifies an action done in the past and its effect existing in the present. The interlinear Greek-English New Testament by G.R.Berry renders this word, "is present." See also some other translations, such as the Amplified Bible or the New International Version. 2 Peter 3:1-4 Did Peter prophecy that in the last days people would scoff at the teachings of Christ's return? Note: Not only do the Bible agnostics ridicule the idea that Christ will return, that He will "come again" but a large portion of Christendom dose not preach or believe it either. THE SIGNS CHRIST GAVE Mat. 24:30; 26:64; Luke 21:27; Rev. 1:7 When Christ "comes again" will it be with clouds? Mat. 16:27; 24:30-31; 25:31; 2 Thes. 1:7 Will angels accompany Christ at His coming? Mat. 24:27. Will the coming of the Lord be like lighting? Note: Lighting comes quickly, but it comes visibly. It shines for all to see. In such a manner Jesus said His coming would be. 1 Thes. 3:13; Jude:14 Will the saints be with Christ at His return? Mat. 24:30-31; 1 Thes. 4:l-17; 1 Cor. 15:20-23. Do the saints come with Christ at His return because the resurrection takes place at that time? Mat. 24:31; 1 Thes. 4:16. Will Christ descend from heaven quietly? 1 Cor. 15:51-52 Will the raising of the dead (the resurrection) and the changing from mortal to immortality, for those living, take place at the Last Trump? Rev. 11:15-19 What happens when the 7th angel sounds? Is this a trumpet blast (see Chapter 8:1-26)? Is Christ to have great power? Are the dead to be judged and rewarded at this time? Is the heaven of God to become visible? Note: The 7th angel is the 7th trumpet. There are only seven trumpet blasts in the book of Revelation. We have seen that Paul said it was at the last trump that the resurrection would take place and Christ would return. Some would place great emphasis on the Greek words used for "come" - "presence" - "appear" as used in connection with Christ's return. The truth is these Greek words by themselves do not prove or disprove that Jesus will return bodily at some specific time, but the context in which these words are used does show us what the coming of Christ will be like. We have seen from the foregoing scriptures that the coming of Christ will be accompanied by clouds, angels, saints, lighting, fire and a trumpet sound. Can it be said that the ever presence of the Holy Spirit or the presence of Christ today via the Holy Spirit in the minds of Christians is accompanied with clouds, lightning, fire or a trumpet sound from heaven?' When a sinner repents and accepts Christ into his life, when the Holy Spirit is given to such an individual upon baptism and the laying on of' hands, do the heavens open to show God's throne? Do the nations of the earth mourn? Do they see Christ in the clouds? Are people caught up into the air to be with Christ? NO! There is only one way to understand those scriptures we have studied - they mean what they say and they say what they mean. Those scriptures will literally come to pass when Christ comes again. CHRIST WILL COME VISIBLY Acts 1:6-12 1.Were the disciples or saints with Christ at this time? 2.Was Jesus there with them bodily, in person? 3.Did the disciples see Jesus ascend into heaven? 4.Did a cloud receive Him out of their sight? 5.Were angels present also at this time? 6.Were the disciples told that Christ would return in like manner - in similar fashion, as He went? 7.Did Jesus ascend bodily from the mount called Olivet? Note: The disciples were told that Jesus would return in like manner - similar but not exactly as He left. We have already seen that on His return He will come with much more glory and power - many more angels and saints - much more noise and heavenly signs than on His ascension to heaven, but He will return with the same basic phenomena as He went - clouds, angels, disciples, bodily, visibly seen. Rev. 1:7; Mat. 24:27 Are we told again the Christ will come visibly? Will every living person see Him? Note: The Greek word "astrape" used in Mat. 24:27 may mean the lightning of thunderstorms or any brilliant illumination. Now what light comes out of the east and shines unto the west? The sun does! Can we see the sun? Yes. Christ's presence now is like the sun in full strength (Rev. 1:16). Jesus went on to say in Mat. 24:30 that all tribes or nations of the earth would see Him on His return. The expression "and they also which pierced him" in Rev. 1:7 does not necessarily mean that one Roman soldier who literally pierced Jesus' side will see Him at this time, or that the Jews who were living then will be alive at His coming. It probably refers to the whole human family, you and me. Our sins took his life. It could be possible that this refers to the last generation of Jews, the house of David, who will, upon seeing Him, acknowledge that He is their saviour (Zech. 12: 9-14). The main point of Rev. 1:7 is to show that all who are alive when He returns will be able to see Him. THE MOUNT OF OLIVES Act 1:12 Did the ascension of Christ to heaven take place on the mount called Olivet? Zech. 14:1-14; Rev. 14:1-14 1.Do both these passages show that the "Lord" - "a Lamb" will stand with His feet on the Mount of Olives? 2.Is it at this time when Christ will fight against all nations? 3.Those that are with Christ at this time, are they called Firstfruits? Note: Christians of all ages are called Firstfruits (Jam. 1:18) of God's creation. Paul has already instructed us (1 Cor. 15:20-23; 1 Thes. 14:13-17) that true Christians will be with Christ (via a resurrection or instantaneous change) at His coming. Job was a servant of God. He is one of the Firstfruits. He knew he would be in the resurrection and that his Redeemer (Christ) would at that time stand on the earth. Yes, Christ will descend to and stand on the very mount that He ascended from over 1900 years ago - the Mount of Olivet near Jerusalem. CAN WE KNOW THE EXACT TIME OF CHRIST'S COMING? Luke 21:24-35 1.Will God intervene in the affairs of this world with supernatural power before Christ's return? 2.Are we Christians told to take heed, be watchful so the day of His return does not come on us unexpectedly? 3.Will the world as a whole be expecting Christ's return? Mat. 24:37-39 1.To what period in history did Jesus compare His return? 2.Did the people of Noah's day really expect God's supernatural intervention? 3.Will people today expect God's intervention and Christ's coming? Luke 21:36; Mat. 25:13 1.What did Christ tell His disciples to do? 2.Why? Note: These utterances of Jesus have often been taken to say only the disciples of Christ's day would not know the day or the hour of His return, but we today can know. This is not true. Notice: Luke 12:40-48. Jesus had said we must be ready - watchful, for He would come when we least expect it. Peter specifically asked Jesus if what He said only applied to them, of that generation, or to all. Christ plainly went on to show it applied especially to those alive when He comes. It is plain then that those of the generation at His coming would not know the day or hour. Though we cannot know the day of His return, Jesus did give us signs to watch for, that would tell us His coming is near. These signs are mainly contained in Mat. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21 and the book of Revelation. WHEN CHRIST WILL NOT RETURN A concept on Christ's return is that He will come after a thousand years of peace and harmony on this earth has expired. That man will bring about peace among all nations, that man will by his own power, bring UTOPIA to this earth and then Christ will return. Act 3:21 What does Peter tell us about the restoration of all things? Must Christ be sent back to restore order and peace? Isa. 33:5-9 When the Lord dwells in Zion what condition will the earth be in? Rev. 19:11-21 Is Christ coming to a world that is at peace - that will welcome Him with open loving arms, or is He not coming to fight and destroy those that destroy the earth, and to rule all nations? Rev. 5:6-10; 20:1-6 1.Will the saints of God reign with Christ a thousand years? 2.Where will they reign? 3.When is Satan chained up before or after the 1,000 years? 4.Those that reign with Christ, are they in the first resurrection? Note: The first resurrection takes place at the coming of Christ, then these immortal saints reign with Christ for a 1,000 year period. It is one, two, three - Christ's coming, the resurrection, the 1,000 year reign. Christ does not come after a millennium (1,000 years) of perfect human rule. He comes before it. He comes to restore peace and harmony. THE SECRET RAPTURE There is a popular doctrine amongst so-called "fundamental religionists" called the "Rapture". The word "rapture" is nowhere to be found in the Bible. Rapture comes from the word "rapere," meaning to seize (the same word, incidentally, from which the word "rape" is taken). The term rapture has come into common usage however, and is applied to the statement of Paul that believers will be "caught up....in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air......" (I Thes. 4:17). This catching up or rapture is said to be a separate event from the second coming of Christ at the end of the age. According to this teaching, Christ will return in two separate events: (a) First, He will come in the air before the tribulation period and gather His own (the rapture) secretly (b) At the close of the tribulation period (which some say will be 3-1/2 years; others 7 years), He will come again, this time openly and in glory (the revelation). Thus, the rapture is set in contrast to the revelation and two second comings (or two phases of the second coming) are taught. THE THIEF PASSAGES The "Thief" passages of the New Testament are the most used and most heavily relied on texts to support the rapture. The first phase of Christ's coming is taught to be quietly, as "a thief in the night," whereas the second phase is taught to be with power and glory. 1 Thes. 4:16,17 1.Is there any word here that Christ will come invisibly? 2.Does He come quietly or with a great deal of noise? 3.Where are the saints transported to - heaven, or just above the earth? 4.Would tens of thousands of saints still be visible to others on the earth if they only go as high as the clouds? 2 Pet. 3:10-12 1.Does this "Day of the Lord" come as a thief? 2.Is there quietness at this time or great noise? 3.Shall we then understand "thief in the night" to mean - secretly, quietly, invisibly, or as meaning unexpectedly? Mat. 24:37-44 1.What specific day is Christ talking about? 2.Did Christ say anything about coming invisibly or quietly? 3.Are the words "secretly" - "quietly" - or "invisibly" used here? Note: Now, notice the "thief" section of Matthew 24:43. Let's read the whole context. Begin with verse 26. If some say to you, Christ has secretly come - that He is over here or He is over there - Do NOT BELIEVE IT, for (v.27) the coming of Christ will be like LIGHTNING - swift, bright and suddenly. Verse 29 - the Tribulation and then (v.30) after that the Son of man comes in clouds with great glory. He at this time (when He comes in glory, after the tribulation not before, as the rapturists teach) sends His angels with a trumpet sound (1 Thes. 4:16,17) to gather the elect (Christians) unto Him. Yes, for where the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together (v. 28). Christ has come and received His disciples unto Himself; that where He is there they may be also (John 14:3). Continue with verse 32. Christ says - be observant, just as you can observe the times of the year by physical phenomena - be observant, be ready for my return because you will not know the exact day (v.36). As people in Noah's day did not know the exact day of the flood, were not prepared for it.... even Noah did not know the precise day....but he was prepared. So watch and be ready for on that day my disciples will be resurrected to meet with me (v. 36-44). The day of Christ's return will come on the world like a thief breaks into a house, unexpectedly. Only to those watching will it not be a surprise. The whole context of this passage shows that Christ is talking about the literal day of His return. That day will be AFTER the tribulation, and THEN the saints are gathered to Him by the angels with a trumpet sound. Paul taught Christ's glorious visible return and the gathering of the Saints to Him at that time (1 Cor. 15: 17-19, 22, 23, 50-53 and 1 Thes. 4:13-17). The '"Day of the Lord" (1 Thes. 5:2-3) - Christ's return will come upon the world as a "thief in the night" but it will NOT catch the true Christian unawares (verses 4-6). Christ is pictured as coming as a "thief" (Rev. 16:15). Again we ask, does this mean He will return secretly, invisibly, in clandestine fashion? That's a fair question, but here's another question we must ponder concerning "thieves." When thieves rob a home, do they come invisibly? No, not at all. A thief usually comes at night when the household is away or sleeping. He comes unaware to them, he catches them off guard, surprises them. You never know when a thief is coming. If you did then you would be prepared for him. Christ will not come invisibly, any more than a thief comes invisibly. He will come unexpectedly though. No one will know the day or hour that He will come. Jesus said: "Watch therefore, for you know not what hour your Lord doth come, but know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be you also ready, for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man cometh" (Mat.24:42-44). Jesus likened His coming to a "thief" in respect to the time of His coming - a surprise! THE GREEK LANGUAGE Another argument used to teach the "two second comings" is that the Greek language teaches it. One writer once wrote: "The two phases of Christ's second coming are clearly distinguished in the Greek. The 'parousia'.... is His coming FOR His saints.....the 'apokalupsis' (the revealing, unveiling, making manifest) is His coming WITH His saints". But is this true? Note: Such statements are either a deliberate falsehood, intended to deceive, or come from a lack of study and research. All of the various Greek words such as "Parousia" and "Apokalupsis" are used interchangeably in regard to Christ's coming. A distinction of two separate events was never intended by the writers of the New Testament. This can be easily proven by taking a Greek concordance such as Strong's and looking up all the places where the Greek words "Parousia" and "Apokalupsis" are used. In Mat.24:37 we read of the "coming (Parousia) of the son of man," while Luke's account of the same passage uses "Apokalupsis" (when the son of man is revealed - Luke 17:26,30). In 2 Thess. 1:7-10 we read: "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed (apokalupsis) from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God.... when He shall come to be glorified in His saint." If the rapture had taken place 7 or 3-1/2 years before this, the saints would have already been glorified. Christians are pictured as "waiting" for the coming (apokalupsis) of our Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 1:7) If the Apokalupsis is a separate coming - after the Parousia - how could Christians be waiting for the Apokalupsis? According to this, they should not be waiting on the Apokalupsis, for they would have already been raptured a number of years earlier at the Parousia! Notice another scripture. 2 Thes. 2:3-8. The Greek word used in v.8 for "coming" is "Parousia". What will Christ do to "that wicked (one individual) who has seated himself in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (verse 4)? Christ's coming to execute judgement on this individual is His Parousia - His powerful coming. Notice this verse not only says that that wicked one will be destroyed at the parousia of Christ, but it says His parousia will be with brightness. Plainly, Christ's parousia will not be an invisible, secret event at all. GREAT TRIBULATION AND PROTECTION There is one last element of the "rapture" teaching that needs studying. The rapturists say that a great tribulation will come on the earth in the last days, but Christians will be spared this trouble because Christ will protect them by bringing them all up to heaven. A mere recent theory - an adaptation from the rapture doctrine is that God will grant protection for His people by sending them all into a central location on this earth where they will all be housed and fed until Christ returns. Dan. 12:1-3; Jer. 30:7 Did both Daniel and Jeremiah foretell of one supreme time of trouble that would be like no other? Does Daniel show that a resurrection takes place around this same time? Will the wise shine as the sun and stars? Mat.24:21 Did Christ also mention this Great Tribulation, unequalled in all earth history? Note: The Bible does speak of a coming tribulation - let's see if we can find out approximately when this tribulation is to come. Mat. 24:29-31 Can you find three main events shown to us in these verses? Note: Christ gives us a sequence of 3 events to occur before the resurrection of the saints (v.31). These three events are: 1. tribulation 2. heavenly signs 3. Christ's return Mat.24:15-26; Luke 21:20-24 What does Christ tell His followers in Judea to do when they see a particular "abomination" standing in the holy place (Jerusalem) and the city of Jerusalem encompassed about by armies? Will some try to persuade true Christians at that time into believing Jesus has returned? Note: If there were to be a "secret rapture" to heaven, Christ's followers would not have to be physically fleeing from Jerusalem or concerned about either winter, the Sabbath day or armies. If all true Christians have been "raptured away" they would not have to be concerned about being led astray (as Jesus warned them) into believing Christ was over in some desert spot somewhere. If they had been raptured they would already be with Christ. Luke 21:11-17 Before the great signs in heaven did Jesus forecast a time of great persecution on His true followers? Will some of His followers be put to death? Note: We have seen (Mat.24) that the heavenly signs occur after the tribulation and Christ makes it very plain here in Luke that before the signs of heaven take place a persecution (even into death for some) of His servants will occur. The tribulation that comes before the heavenly signs includes persecution of true Christians. But if all Christians have been raptured away to heaven no persecution could come on them. Rev. 6:9-7 What does the fifth seal tell us must happen to some of God's servants (note v. 11)? What makes up the next seal, the sixth? Are these the same events that we have seen recorded in Mat. 24 and Luke 21? John 17:15 Did Jesus ever pray that His followers would be "raptured" out of this world? What did Jesus ask the Father to do? Luke 21:36 Will some be granted protection from this time of trouble? Rev. 3:7-11 Are the Christians represented here promised protection? Is the place of protection stated? Note: Some say this passage of scripture typifies those Christians who will be given protection during the great tribulation - who will "escape all these things that shall come to pass..." (Luke 21:36). That may be true, but there is nothing in this passage to say those Christians will be "raptured" to heaven or transported to some central hide-out location on this earth. Daniel was protected by God while in the lions den while in the empire of Babylon (Dan. 6:16-24). Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were protected while in the fiery furnace while being subjected to bondage in Babylon (Dan. 3:8-29). God is able to protect any of His servants whatever situation and place they are in. He is able to protect them right where they are, in their area of the world. Rev. 12:10-17 What is the prophetic time setting for this prophecy? Note verse 10. Did some overcomers have to die? Is the woman persecuted by the dragon? Does this passage say the woman was raptured to heaven or that she went to only one specific location on this earth? What does God use to help the woman? Does the dragon manage to make war with the woman's remnant seed? Note: A "woman" in prophecy symbolizes a church (see 2 Cor. 11:1-2; Eph. 5:23-29). The "dragon" is Satan (Rev. 12:9). "'The wings of a great eagle" represent protection from God (see Ex. 19:1-4). Water as a flood can symbolize people, multitudes, nations (Rev. 17:15). Whatever safety or protection is given here to those accounted worthy to receive it (Luke 21:36) It is NOT protection in heaven via a secret rapture, nor does it state the woman will go to some specific location in only one particular country on earth. Notice! The woman represents the church - world wide, in every nation - true followers of Christ wherever they be. So likewise the wilderness, the earth, that helps the woman represents the whole world, the earth in Australia, the earth in Argentina, the wilderness in Palestine, Switzerland, Russia. The earth in Europe, Canada, the wilderness in the United States, etc. If you are one of those accounted worthy to escape these terrible times ahead, God is able to protect you right where you are, in your particular part of the earth, in your wilderness. Some must suffer martyrdom, be put to death for following Christ, but remember, nowhere does your Bible say martyrdom is a sin. The apostles Peter, Paul, James, Stephen, and many others suffered martyrdom. John and others died a natural death. They will all be in the first resurrection. The greatest martyr of them all was the one who said "I will come again" - Jesus Christ. ............................ Written in 1983 Abomination of Desolation? Jesus and Daniel talk about it! by  Keith Hunt It has been a common Fundamental Christian teaching for a hundred years or more, now adopted by many Church of God people, that near the end of this age, within about 7 years before the coming of Christ the Messiah, that a Jewish Temple of some type will be constructed in Jerusalem, and Jews will once more perform animal sacrifices. The teaching continues to say that a great religious leader, the false prophet of the book of Revelation, will head a mighty world power. It is said that he will come into Jerusalem, overcome the Jews, walk into the Temple they have constructed, and establish himself and his religion within its walls. This event is said by these Fundamental Protestants to be what the NT (New Testament) and Jesus were meaning to convey to us when they talk about "the abomination of desolation." I openly and frankly disagree with this theological idea of some of those who so interpret this phrase of Jesus in Matthew 24. I believe it is in total error and using the NT to interpret itself, I believe the truth of the matter is plain to see. I have not been the only one to see how the NT explains and interprets itself on this "abomination of desolation" phrase. Ralph Woodrow wrote a book on certain prophecies of the Bible, way back in 1971, called "Great Prophecies of the Bible." I do not agree with all that Woodrow has written on prophecy. But I do think he has written and come to some very good insights on parts of Bible prophecy, this being one of them. I present here, as the truth on this matter, what Ralph Woodrow has in part to say on what is the "Abomination of Desolation" (Keith Hunt). Quote: "Concerning our Lord's statement about the destruction of the Temple, the disciples asked: 'WHEN shall these things be? and WHAT SIGN will there be when these things shall come to pass?' (Luke 21: 7). As we have seen, Jesus mentioned things of a general nature that would come to pass first. Now he gives THE sign - a specific sign that would let them know that Jerusalem was about to be destroyed. He said that they would see 'the abomination of desolation' and when they saw this, they were to quickly flee, for the desolation of the city would be nigh. Matthew: 'When you shall SEE the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand), then let them that be in Judea FLEE into the mountains' (24: 15, 16). Mark: 'When you shall SEE the abomination of desolation, spoken of by daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that reads understand), then let them that be in Judea FLEE to the mountains' (13: 14). Luke: 'When you shall SEE Jerusalem compassed with ARMIES, then know that the DESOLATION thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Jerusalem FLEE to the mountains....Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the GENTILES' (21: 20, 21, 24). Now, step by step, let us notice what we are told in these parallel accounts: 1. We notice where Matthew and Mark record: 'When you shall see the abomination of DESOLATION.....then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains,' Luke, in speaking of exactly the SAME thing, says: 'When you see JERUSALEM compassed with armies, then know that the DESOLATION thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains.' We see, then, that it was JERUSALEM that would become a DESOLATION. We notice also that this 'desolation' was that 'which was spoken by Daniel the prophet.' ............(Daniel spoke about this in Daniel 12:11 in which the context is only certain number of days before Daniel would be resurrected at the end of the days, verse 13. Jesus in Matthew 24 is talking about the same time frame as the disciples asked Him what would be the signs of His coming and the end of the age, Mat.24:3. Keith Hunt). .....it is evident that what was to become a 'desolation' was JERUSALEM. There is no room for any misunderstanding here. 2. Looking again at the parallel accounts, we see that what Matthew and Mark refer to as the 'abomination' that would make Jerusalem DESOLATE, Luke (using plain language) shows that such would be ARMIES - Gentile armies: 'And when you shall see Jerusalem COMPASSED with ARMIES, then know that the DESOLATION thereof is nigh....JERUSALEM shall be TRODDEN DOWN of the Gentiles' (Luke 21:20-24). The word 'abomination' is a word that refers to anything that is especially loathsome or detestable. Certainly this fits the feelings the inhabitants of Jerusalem would have towards an idol-worshipping Gentile army advancing to destroy their city! In fact, an army (coming to destroy) is an abomination to any people or nation. And, as history has repeatedly recorded, the work of armies so often results in desolation - destruction! 3. Matthew's account says that the abomination (Gentile army) would 'stand in the holy place' and adds the words: 'Whoso reads, let him understand.' Mark's account, because it too is given in somewhat veiled language, includes the words: 'Let him that reads understand.' BUT, looking at Luke's account of the SAME passage which is given in PLAIN language, we read: 'When you see JERUSALEM compassed with armies....' And because he gives the EXPLANATION, he does not include the phrase: 'Let him that reads understand.' By letting the Bible be its own INTERPRETER, then, we see that the term 'holy place' (Mat.24:15), is a reference to JERUSALEM. Jerusalem is commonly referred to as the HOLY CITY (Mat.27:53; Dan.9:16 etc.). According to the prophecy, Gentile armies were to compass it and finally bring it to desolation. The word translated 'place' in the expression 'holy place' in Matthew's account is TOPOS (see any Greek dictionary or Bible Concordance such as Strong's, Young's, etc.). The word TOPOS means simply a locality. Such words as TOPICAL and TOPOGRAPHY are derived from it. It is used in such scriptural expressions as 'a desert place,' 'dry place,' etc. (It is NOT the same term as that which is used in describing the holy of holies in the temple). What is called the holy place is EXPLAINED by Luke as the area that would be occupied by armies surrounding Jerusalem. The MATTHEW HENRY COMMENTARY has well put it: 'Jerusalem was the holy city, Canaan the holy land, the Mt.Moriah which lay about Jerusalem, for its nearness to the temple was, they thought, in a particular manner holy ground; on the country lying round about Jerusalem the Roman army was encamped, THAT was the abomination that made desolate' (Henry, Commentary on the whole Bible, vol.5 p.352). " The 70 A.D. captivity of Jerusalem by the Roman armies of Titus and then the desolation and destruction of that city was a forerunner of what once more will take place in the last few years before the close of this age and the return of Christ (Keith Hunt). Continuing with Woodrow: " These pagan armies were to 'compass' the city (Luke); they would take a 'stand' there (Matthew) - the word STAND indicating rebellion or hostility. Examples of the word used in this way may be seen in the following: 'A king of fierce countenance...shall stand up' (Dan.8:23, 25). 'A mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion...and when he shall stand up...'(11:3,4). Another will 'stand up in his estate, and shall come with an army' (verse 7). 'Then shall stand up...a raiser of taxes...and in his estate shall stand up a vile person' (verses 20, 21). A king 'shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand...' (verse 25). Concerning persecution against the cause of Christ, we read in Acts 4:26: 'The kings of the earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord...' We cite these references to show how the word 'stand' is used of those who assume a place of leadership or authority to rebel or fight. And in the same sense, the 'abomination' - the pagan armies - were to take a stand against Jerusalem and compass it about to destroy it!.....Any way we look at it, according to the words of Christ, Jerusalem was marked for destruction by the hands of her enemies......." From recorded history we know that in the 70 A.D. forerunner and type of what will take place at the end time, not one single Christian was killed in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies of Titus. They saw Jerusalem being compassed with armies, waited for the opportune time (which God gave them) and fled the city. They fled when they saw Jerusalem compassed about with Gentile armies, NOT when something was done inside the Temple. The prophecy has nothing to do with the a Temple in Jerusalem. It has nothing to do with a person doing anything outside or inside a physical building, that some could want to call a Temple. The prophecy has to do with Gentile ARMIES compassing about the city of Jerusalem, and getting ready to capture and desolate and destroy it (Keith Hunt). Woodrow explains correctly: " We see, then, that in the place where Matthew and Mark use the somewhat veiled expression 'abomination of desolation,' Luke (using PLAIN language) shows that such was to be Gentile armies compassing Jerusalem to bring it to desolation. All three of the Gospel accounts before mentioning this sign begin with the words: 'When you see...' and follow this with the words: 'Then let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains,' etc. There can be no mistaking that these are PARALLEL accounts. By simply letting the Bible EXPLAIN ITSELF, we have seen that the 'desolation' was to be the destruction of Jerusalem.....the 'abomination of desolation' referred to the heathen armies that would bring about the desolation; and then these armies would be seen compassing Jerusalem, the disciples were to flee. This interpretation is solidly built on the Bible. With it, the Gospel accounts are COMPLIMENTARY, not CONTRADICTORY...... Having set forth what we sincerely believe to be the exact and only fulfillment of our Lord's words, we must now consider an interpretation which has become widely believed, especially in this century (20th century). We have reference to the teaching that the 'abomination of desolation' is an IDOL to be placed in the holy of holies of a REBUILT Jewish Temple - possibly an idol of the Anti-christ or the Anti-christ HIMSELF..... An example....is seen in the following: 'The Jews - who will have....restored Herod's Temple, and be in LEAGUE with the Antichrist - will have a visit by the False Prophet who shall bring an image of the Antichrist into Jerusalem and wheel it into the Temple....When this image of the Antichrist is taken into the Jewish Temple, that will be the sign Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24, the Abomination of desolation' (Roberts, how to be Personally Prepared for the Second coming of Christ, p. 38). Another futurist says: 'This image will be placed in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, and is the abomination of desolation to which the Lord made reference in his Olivet discourse' (DeHaan, The Antichrist and Armageddon, p. 13)...... The setting up of an idol in the sanctuary is something the enemy could not do UNTIL such a time as the Temple would be in the enemies' possession. Since the magnificent Temple would no doubt be the LAST thing to be yielded to the enemy in battle, by this time the city would have ALREADY BEEN CAPTURED and it would be TOO LATE for the disciples to FLEE! Obviously then, this could NOT be the SIGN to flee. In order for something to be a WARNING for the disciples to ESCAPE, it would have to come BEFORE the capture of the city - not something to take place AFTERWARDS! In view of this, an idol in the holy of holies could not be the sign Jesus referred to. But the presence of heathen armies compassing Jerusalem could be - and was the sign, such happening BEFORE (in 70 A.D. Keith Hunt) the overthrow of the city (as we have seen)...... The 'abomination' that would make desolate was to be something that could be SEEN by the inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem. 'When you SEE the abomination,' that is, 'When you SEE Jerusalem compassed with ARMIES,' then, 'let them that are in Judea flee into the mountains.' It is evident that Jesus was not talking about an idol in the holy of holies, for such could NOT be SEEN by the population of Jerusalem and Judea. Only the high priest entered the holy of holies. None of the ordinary Jews would dare enter there..... On the other hand, it was pagan armies that destroyed the city....It was armies that were seen by the people, and it was the compassing of Jerusalem by the armies that warned the disciples to flee! (in the first 70 A.D. fulfillment when Jerusalem was desolated by the Roman armies of Titus - Keith Hunt)..... 'And as He (Jesus) went out of the TEMPLE, one of His disciples said unto Him: Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are HERE! And Jesus answering said unto him, See you THESE great buildings? There shall not be left ONE STONE UPON ANOTHER, that shall not be thrown down......' " With this last quote from Matthew 24 by Woodrow I leave off quoting from him and his chapter in his book on this subject, and continue with my own further expounding on this matter and topic. The context of Matthew 24 from where this quote by Jesus is taken must be read very carefully. The disciples asked Jesus when these things would be AND, "what shall be the SIGN of YOUR COMING, and of the END of the world (age, as the Greek should be understood), verse 3. Matthew 24 is clearly a prophecy for the END TIME, not for 70 A.D. There may have been a type fulfillment in 70 A.D. but the prophecy of Jesus in Matthew 24 is for the END of the age, for a time just SHORTLY BEFORE His return. This we can see from the mention of the resurrection of the saints as they are gathered by the angels to meet the returning Christ (verses 25-31). The fact is that in 70 A.D. NOT ALL the stones from the Temple and the buildings were cast down, so that there was not one left upon another. Such as that NEVER happened in 70 A.D. Nor has it happened to this very day. For the now famous WAILING WALL in Jerusalem which still stands with stones one upon another, was a PART OF THE TEMPLE of Jesus' day! In the future fulfillment of Matthew 24, when the Gentile armies of the Beast power of the book of Revelation comes to compass about Jerusalem, to take the city and to destroy it in battle (see Rev.11:2) then this prophecy of Jesus will finally be fulfilled and all the stones of the Temple of Jesus' day will come down, so not one will be left upon another. In passing, you may have questions regarding Revelation 11:1-2 as it talks about a Temple and altar (but notice it says, "temple of God" not "temple of the Jews." A Jewish Temple, built by those who have rejected the Christ and the NT, who are worshipping God not under the NT but under the OT, who do not worship God in "spirit and in truth" could hardly be said to be a "temple of God'). For the contextual truth of these verses I refer you to the excellent comments by Albert Barnes in his Bible Commentary. Animal Sacrifices by Jews at the End Time? Many have and do feel very confident that a Jewish temple will yet be built in Jerusalem, and that the Jews will once more offer animal sacrifices in that Temple before the coming of the Messiah in glory. First, it is often either not known or is forgotten by most. The State and Government of Israel is a "secular" Government. They are NOT interested in "religious matters" on the whole. The secular government of Israel could really care less about building a "religious" Temple for a certain relatively small religious sect of Judaism. Secondly, the main body of "orthodox" Judaism clearly and strongly is opposed to any Temple being built BEFORE the coming of the Messiah. They actual teach that ONLY the Messiah can build the NEXT temple in Jerusalem. This main body orthodox religious Jews would be totally AGAINST the building of a Jewish temple in which an animal sacrificial system would once more be practiced. Thirdly, of those religious Jews who do want to build a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem (and some Christian sects backing them), those Jewish groups teach that a Temple CANNOT be built just ANYWHERE in Jerusalem. They teach that a Temple can ONLY be built where the Dome of the Rock now stands. They claim and teach that the Arab Dome must GO, and that the Jewish Temple must be built where it now stands. They have their clear theology for so teaching, and nothing, no other place or area of land in the city of Jerusalem can be used to build a temple upon, in which the old Levitical priesthood and sacrifices could be reinstated. They have then limited themselves between a rock and a hard place as they say. The religious Arabs would never allow their Dome to be destroyed by the Jews, not without creating a full scale war of death unto the end. Such an attempt by the Jews or by Christians would bring sure Nuclear war between a united Arab world and the Jews of the State of Israel. But, even with all this, some still say the Bible prophecies of the OT, especially in the book of Daniel, teach that animal sacrifices will be performed in Jerusalem before the Messiah returns. Hence to them a Temple, a Jewish Temple, in Jerusalem must yet be built before the end of this age. To them this is so critical that the Messiah cannot come until such a Temple and animal sacrifices are once more functioning in Jerusalem, hence they believe the sooner all this comes about the sooner the Lord Messiah can return, and so they live and breath (some sects) and push and pull and shout and move, to bring all this to pass, thinking they are then being a part of fulfilling the Lord's prophecies of the end time. Their mistake is two fold. First, they do not read the prophecies of Daniel very carefully. They do not see that in those end time prophecies the Hebrew word for "sacrifice" is NOT THERE!! Yes, that is correct, the Hebrew word for "sacrifice" is not there in those prophecies! Oh, to be sure, something is going to be STOPPED by the end time Beast power that comes into the city of Jerusalem as foretold by Daniel and by the book of Revelation. But the word for "sacrifice" is not found in those passages of Daniel that have reference to the end time, the final world power and to the city of Jerusalem. Yes, as they say, be my guest. Look up those passages in Daniel, go to the Hebrew/English Interlinears. Many things can be stopped as to not allowed to function by a people who are taken in captivity by another army of another power. Many of their daily practices as to religious practices can be stopped by a conquering power that may differ in its religious beliefs and practices from those it has conquered. Certain religious sects within Jerusalem have certain daily religious practices today. The orthodox sect of Judaism have their daily religious devotions at the Wailing Wall. This would certainly come to a stop when the Gentile Beast power takes captive and destroys much of the city of Jerusalem at the time of the end, when not one stone of that wall (once a part of the Temple of Jesus' day) will remain upon another, but when all will be cast down. Secondly, they miss the mark by not understanding some of the principles of Bible prophecy. Bible prophecy is not all cut and dry, there are many pros and cons, many slights of the hand, and within a context it may not always be easy to pin down certain phrases and how they may be played out in actual reality. A study of all the prophecies that were fulfilled at the first coming of Christ will show this to be all so true. There are some prophecies that will only take place ONCE, and others that will take place more that once, a duality to those if you will. I have given some of the keys to understand Bible prophecy in another study. Some have seen that in the book of Daniel there are a few passages that have ALREADY been fulfilled, recorded history making this very clear. And with a few of those passages the words "daily" is used but the word in Hebrew for "sacrifice" is NOT used. Yet, it was indeed the daily sacrificial system that did come to a stop by the power of certain kings and armies of certain nations that came against Judah or the Jews. Hence, the reasoning goes because of this that those passages of like manner that are to do with end time or end of the age prophecies, must also mean animal sacrifices by be stopped. So the reasoning continues that for physical sacrifices to stop they must begin again, and to begin again a Temple will need to be built. The reasoning feeds on itself, so is one (people coming to a dogmatic, close of the mind, stance on a verse) and so must be the other. What they fail to see and understand about Bible prophecy is that just because one verse with certain words was fulfilled in a certain way, DOES NOT MEAN another verse with the same words, regarding a prophecy for much later (at the end of the age) must also be fulfilled the exact same way as the one fulfilled thousands of years earlier. Not understanding this "un-sameness" in Bible prophecy, even when the words used are identical, has led many to run off shouting as they go, on wild goose chases, which have often left all kinds of egg on people's faces, or a face full of the smashed cream pie dripping all over it. As before stated the passages in Daniel to do with end of the age prophecies that use the word "daily" but not the word "sacrifice" CAN be understood in a way that has nothing to do with daily animal sacrifices being stopped by some Beast power that captures Jerusalem and takes the Jews captive. There are many "daily" practices (some religious in nature) that the Jews would be prevented from practicing and continuing, should they be conquered by a religious force such as that mentioned in the book of Revelation, a religious force that would not be at all sympathetic to the Jews and their OT religion. I have mentioned ONE very important daily practice done by the orthodox Jews that would surely come to and end, be stopped, by the Beast power and its false Prophet, and that is the prayers and religious worship done daily by Jews at the Wailing Wall. More interesting Words and Verses=20 Now we shall look at two Hebrew words used in the OT for our English KJV translation - the words are TEMPLE and SANCTUARY. The Hebrew word translated "temple" in dozens of passages, such as in Mal.4:1 and Zech.6:12,13, is number 1964 in Strong's Concordance. It is used for the tent tabernacle built under the leadership of Moses, also called "the sanctuary" as well as the "temple" that Solomon built. The Hebrew word translated "sanctuary" in dozens of OT passages is number 4720 in Strong's Concordance. This word is used in Ex.25:8,9. Sometimes the physical structure that God dwelt in when among Israel was called "sanctuary" and sometimes it was called "temple." BOTH WORDS ARE USED TO DENOTE THE SAME PHYSICAL STRUCTURE that God dwelt in when among Israel. Now notice this! Talking about the tribes of Israel, Moses prophesied, "You shall bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which you have made for thee to dwell in, in the SANCTUARY, O Lord, which they hands have established" (Ex. 15:17). This is BEFORE God instructed Moses to build a physical tabernacle or tent sanctuary. The Hebrew word used here in Ex.15:17 is the SAME WORD used for the physical sanctuary - #4720 in Strong's.=20 Ex.15:17 is plainly talking about the LAND OF PALESTINE or the PROMISED LAND! Now, turn to Psalm 78 and read verse 54. Talking about how God brought Israel out of Egypt, verse 53, AND, "And He brought them to the border of His SANCTUARY, even to this MOUNTAIN......" verse 54. The whole context makes it clear that the "sanctuary" here spoken about is the PROMISED LAND - PALESTINE!! So, as the words "sanctuary" and "temple" as used for the physical structure, as the literal building that God dwelt in when among the people of Israel could be called EITHER "sanctuary" or "temple," COULD IT BE POSSIBLE (without being dogmatic), could it be that when the prophet said the Messiah would "suddenly come to His temple" he had in mind the PROMISED LAND, and not a physical building at all? Again, when another prophet said that the BRANCH (Messiah) would "build the temple of the Lord" was he telling us that the Messiah would RESTORE and REPLENISH the land of PALESTINE from the destruction it had received (during the last few years of this age) prior to the Messiah's coming in power and glory to bring the Kingdom of God on earth for a thousand years? It could well be that this is what the prophet had in mind, as well as overseeing the building of the millennium Temple of Ezekiel, that will be built when the Messiah comes again. Once more we see that passages of the Bible, especially prophetic passages, can be understood in different ways. We have seen (if you have studied the Hebrew in the book of Daniel, or noticed the italic words in the KJV, which mean those words are not in the Hebrew) that the word "sacrifice" is not in the end-time passages in the book of Daniel, and something "daily" that is stopped by the end time Beast power in Jerusalem and Judea, could be something other than the sacrifice of animals on an altar in a physical temple. I have one Bible Commentary that says it seems more than just a slip of the writer to leave out the word for "sacrifice." It seemed to be a deliberate plan, as it to tell us something. And it does tell me that whatever this "daily" is that is going to be taken away, it could be something OTHER THAN ANIMAL SACRIFICES! It is interesting that in Daniel 9:27 the Hebrew words for "sacrifice" and "oblation" ARE NOT IN ITALICS! This prophecy was, as we have seen in other studies, not an end time prophecy at all, but one for the first century A.D. It was fulfilled in 70 A.D. by Titus and his armies when they took Jerusalem and destroyed most of the city, including the physical Temple. It was at that time that animal sacrifices in a Jewish temple did come to a complete and utter stop. Turn to Daniel chapter 9. Here you will find a revealing and interesting passage concerning the city of Jerusalem. Verse 16 shows God had turned away from the city of Jerusalem, His HOLY MOUNTAIN. He had desolated it and the people thereof. They had become a reproach to all people around about them. Daniel cries out to God that He would stop this reproach in verse 17. And that God's face would once more shine upon....."THY SANCTUARY that is DESOLATE...." He further goes on in verse 18 to tell us about the Jews "desolations" which includes the CITY. The context is the desolation of JERUSALEM. Yes, of course, in Daniel's day the Temple in Jerusalem was desolated also, being a part of the city. But the physical temple is not specifically THE desolation, but the whole CITY is. The Hebrew for "sanctuary" in verse 17 is number 4720 in Strong's. And some translations render it as "holy place." Jerusalem is called by God's NAME (verse 18). God is HOLY....Jerusalem is a holy location that God had chosen and will yet choose to dwell in when God the Messiah comes to reign on earth. Jerusalem and the land of Palestine is God's holy place, God's holy mountain, the Lord's "sanctuary" or "temple." What about 2 Thessalonians 2 ? Here we have this famous passage of the man of sin sitting in the Temple of God, a passage much used and I will add much mutilated by the end time "Jewish physical temple and animal sacrifice" teachers. The Greek word for "temple" here is NAOS. Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words says, "a shrine or SANCTUARY....." Is used both in a literal way and also metaphorically in the NT. With all I have expounded on this, Paul could well have seen exactly what I have shown you from the OT. He was then simply telling us and the church at Thessalonia what was written in the OT. At the end time, the faith once delivered would be in decline, hard to find (as Jesus said, "When the Son of man comes, shall He find THE (definite article is in the Greek) faith on earth?"), and a false prophet, a great religious leader, would arise (John in Revelation was given the same vision and more concerning this False Prophet at the end of the age), who would plant his seat between the seas in God's holy MOUNTAIN, in the city of Jerusalem, in the holy city, in the holy sanctuary/temple LAND of Palestine and Jerusalem (see Daniel 11:40-45). This great end time false prophet will live up to the coming of the Lord in power and glory, and shall be cast into the lake of fire, shall be consumed with the spirit of God's mouth, and destroyed with the brightness of His coming (2 Thes.2:8 with Rev. 19:11-21). There is another way to understand 2 Thes. 2:1-12 which sees the office of a one man Pope church leader as coming from within and out of the very NT CHURCH TEMPLE of God, way back in the first centuries of the NT age. This one man leader office came eventually from out of the very NT true Church of God and continues today in the form of a great religious organization that will continue until the Christ Messiah comes again. Many do not realize, but it is there in the NT, that many false leaders of Christian religion came from within the very true Church of God, in the first century A.D. who eventually formed another organization with its headquarters in the city of Rome. For a few centuries there were debates and dialogue over certain theological issues with the churches of Asian Minor (founded by the apostles of Jesus) and the leader of the new Christian organization in Rome. All the details of that aspect of understanding 2 Thes.2 I will present in another full and in-depth study in the future. The "abomination of desolation" is the end time Beast power of Revelation, with the False Prophet, coming with their armies and conquering the land of Palestine, desolating the city of Jerusalem, setting up their seat in the city, destroying much of the city and the Wailing Wall (where not one stone will be left upon another that is not thrown down), and scattering the power of the holy people (Jews and Christians). Who when they see Jerusalem compassed about with the armies of the Beast, will flee to the hills. As Jesus told us, let us pray that our flight will not be on the Sabbath or in the winter. ............................. Written first in 1990 and re-written/edited in August 2000 The Truth About Matthew 24:37-41 by Keith Hunt Jesus said, "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left." For some decades now many fundamental Protestant churches have claimed that these two verses in Matthew are teaching the doctrine of the "rapture." That Christ will come invisibly FOR His church just before the final GREAT Tribulation of 7 years on this earth, and take them to heaven, protecting them from the Anti-christ. Then He will return WITH them to set up the Kingdom of God on earth for a thousand years. I have a full in-depth study on the teaching called "The Secret Rapture" that can be sent to anyone via e-mail who requests it. On the other had, some branches of the Sabbath keeping Churches of God have used Matthew 24:40-41 to teach that God will supernaturally take away His people to a "place of safety" on this earth, as foretold in Revelation 12, and protect them from the end time Beast power. The truth of the matter is that Matthew 24:40-41 is NOT talking about a secret rapture or a removal to a place of safety somewhere on this earth. One of the greatest keys to understanding some of the verses in the Bible that often puzzle people is to read the CONTEXT of the passage wherein those verses are contained. Reading BEFORE and AFTER those verses can often give light and often lead you to the true meaning of those verses that seem to be difficult to understand. Reading carefully what is stated, being analytical and using common logic with the verses will also help to arrive at the truth. So, let's begin by going clear back to the beginning of this chapter in the book of Matthew. Jesus and His disciples leave the Temple, but the disciples point Him to the great buildings of the Temple. Jesus tells them that EVERY SINGLE STONE of the buildings (plural) will be thrown down which has not yet happened as the Wailing wall in Jerusalem today was part of that Temple of Jesus' day). As they sit on the mount of Olives the disciples come to Jesus and ask TWO things: 1. When shall this be that all the stones of the Temple will be cast down, and 2. What shall be the sign of His coming and the end of the age. Here lies a key to this prophecy. This prophecy is PRIMARILY and even SPECIFICALLY to do with Christ's coming in glory to set up His Kingdom on earth, the end of this present age, and the start of the age to come, as foretold by all the holy prophets since the world began. Jesus starts by telling them of many things that will happen BEFORE He comes. This is all contained in verses 4 to 25. He told them, and so tells us today, that when that GREAT Tribulations comes that none will have ever been the like before or after (verse 21), then also at that time (verse 23) some will preach that Christ has returned, that He is over in this place or that place. Some during that time will either come in Christ's name, or even claim they are the Christ, and will be able to perform great miracles. Then again He warns them and us, that some will claim Christ is over in this or that location on the earth (verse 26). Jesus told us we are not to take notice of such preaching, FOR......He then proceeds in the next verses to ZERO IN on not only HOW He will return, but He also talks about the VERY DAY, the literal 24 hour day that He will return on. And this is a major key to the whole next section of Matthew 24, in fact it is the key to the rest of the chapter. In fact it is the key all the way to chapter 25:13. Jesus will come as does LIGHTNING - brightly and suddenly - verse 27. He will come after that period of Great Tribulation and great heavenly signs - verse 29. There will be a SIGN in heaven (I guess something like lightning is a sign alright) Tribes and nations will actually SEE Jesus coming in the CLOUDS of heaven, with great power and glory - verse 30. This is most definitely talking about the VERY DAY, the very literal day that Jesus will come and once more set His feet upon the mount of Olives as foretold by the prophet Zechariah in his 14th chapter. Jesus is no longer talking about events LEADING UP to this day. He is now talking about the VERY DAY of His coming, the day in human terms when He leaves heaven and places His feet on the mount of Olives at Jerusalem. Verse 31 also proves this to be correct, for Jesus goes on to talk about the angels GATHERING TO HIMSELF at the sound of the TRUMPET, the SAINTS, the ELECT. This is, by putting what Paul was inspired to write in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, the LAST trumpet of Revelations, the SEVENTH trumpet of Revelations 11, and the setting up of the Kingdom of God on earth. It is the time of the RESURRECTION of the saints of all ages to gather together on the sea of glass, in the clouds of heaven, with Jesus Christ, ON THE VERY LITERAL 24 HOUR DAY THAT HE RETURNS TO THIS EARTH! Jesus goes on to warn us to be looking, watching, to be ready for this VERY DAY of His return (verses 32-35). BUT, concerning this very day and the very hour when He will return and the saints will be gathered together to Him, when the RESURRECTION takes place, only the Father in heaven knows when that day will be, even the angels do not know. So, it was no wonder Jesus told us to be prepared, to be watching. Then Christ gives an example. The example is that of Noah. The people of the world not believing that a flood was to come to destroy them all, not believing the preaching of Noah concerning a coming flood, were going about every day life, doing their thing, continuing to live as if the world was going to go on in the same manner forever. This they did RIGHT UP TO THE VERY DAY that Noah entered the ark and shut the door. Notice it, the last words of verse 38. Noah did not take a month or a week to kind of slowly put one foot in front of the other, and after a month or so, get into the ark and then maybe take a week to slowly close the door, inch by inch. NO! There came a time, a LITERAL DAY on the calendar, a 24 hour day, and even an hour, when Noah literally entered the ark and closed the door. And right up to that very literal HOUR the people of the world were still "doing their thing." When that day arrived, when Noah entered the ark and closed the door, when that day had come that the waters came on the earth to bring to pass what Noah had been preaching to them, they still did not know it, they still did not believe it would happen, they were still going about their daily lives as IF there would be for them a tomorrow. But it was then too late. THE DAY had arrived, AND not being ready for that day, they PERISHED! Jesus, by giving that example, was and is, telling His followers to BE READY, be prepared for THE DAY when He shall come again, for like Noah it is being preached it will come, but ONLY the Father knows when that literal day will be that Jesus will be sent back to this earth. If you are not watching, if you are not prepared in your life, then that very literal day may come and you will find yourself on the outside looking in, not a part of the elect saints, in the resurrection, and being taken by the angels to meet and be with Christ in the clouds, at the last trumpet sound. THE WHOLE FOCAL POINT in this prophecy of Jesus is NOW THE RESURRECTION AND THE VERY DAY OF HIS COMING IN GLORY! A day that no man or angel can know, for only the Father in heaven knows when that day will be. So, Jesus says, make sure you are personally, in your life, prepared. Notice verse 39 and the last words. Noah entered the ark and closed the door on ONE PARTICULAR CALENDAR DAY, so the coming of the Son of man shall be on ONE particular calendar day. THEN, the thought of Jesus is continuing....THEN, at that time, on the very day of His coming......shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. YES OF COURSE, it shall indeed be so, FOR THE RESURRECTION of true saints of God will take place, just as He had been telling about in the preceding verses. Then, to prove this is the CONTEXT....the coming of Christ on one literal day and the resurrection of the saints to gather to Him, He says in verse 42, "WATCH therefore; for you KNOW NOT what HOUR your Lord does COME." The whole context of these verses is concerning the very one day and hour that Jesus is to return to this earth!! Read on. Notice it, the context is so clear and plain. Jesus warns once more about being spiritually ready for His coming, when it comes, on that specific day that only the Father knows will be. Jesus even says that that day will probably come when you do not think it will come (verse 44). So much for people trying to figure it out by their interpretations of some verses in some prophetic book of the Bible, and making charts and setting dates, as so many have done over the centuries. Jesus further goes on to expound the vital key of being ready in our life for that day of His coming. Notice verse 46....."whom his Lord WHEN HE COMES shall find so doing." Our entering the Kingdom, being given rewards according to our works, will be all done on ONE specific day, the day Christ comes and we are gathered together (see again 1 Thes.4:13-18) to be with Him in the clouds and on the sea of glass (as Revelation shows us). But if we think that day is being delayed, that day of His coming (verse 48) and we stop living as a true Christian in word, thought, and action, and become as we would say today, un-converted, then we shall be like those in Noah's time. That day of Jesus' return will come, that very HOUR will come, and those not ready in their life and mind, will be on the outside looking in, just a weeping and gnashing their teeth (verses 48-51). Jesus also went on to give further warning and instructions concerning that VERY DAY of His coming again, in chapter 25 and verses 1 to 13. This parable was given once more to highlight the importance of being PREPARED for that day. The last words in verse 13 show clearly Jesus is still talking about the very day and hour of His coming back to gather His elect who are ready, to be with Him, and shall be with Him, via a resurrection or instant change (as Paul told us), gathered by the angels to meet Christ in the air, the clouds, and so to ever be with Him. CHRISTIANS SCATTERED ON THE EARTH AT CHRIST'S COMING? One last point I need to cover. Some are not sure that some Christians will be grinding at the mill when Christ comes again in glory. That talk is like saying Christians will be living here and there, working and doing jobs and other kinds of "normal" things. This they have a hard time with because they know the Bible talks about a place of protection for some (in the wilderness Revelation 12 says, whatever that may mean) and being killed for many others (as Matthew 24 and Revelation foretell). But, working and sleeping with some who will not be "taken" in a resurrection gathering with Christ, that may puzzle many. Reading the prophetic books of the Bible with the book of Revelation should make it all come clear. During the Great Tribulation, many will come to see the truth of the word of God. Many , in fact Revelation says 12 thousand from each tribe of Israel will be brought to repentance and conversion before the great and terrible day of the Lord (Rev.7), as well as a vast multitude from other nations. Israel and Judah will be in a state of captivity and scattered through many lands of their enemies. They will be in effect slaves to their enemies, doing work for them in the towns, villages, and cities in the lands of their enemies. During the last three and one half years of this age, when the Beast power is in control of the Western world, the book of Revelations (chapter 12) tells us that God will have TWO witnesses in the city of Jerusalem proclaiming His word of truth. I'm sure most of the world will know about them and what they are preaching. The false prophet of Revelation will have deceived the world into believing he is the true one from God, and these two witnesses are from Satan. The whole situation in Jerusalem at that time will no doubt be on the daily news casts, at least around the Western world, where the Beast power will reign supreme. Many people in all nations will be brought to true understanding of God's word, and true repentance during that last number of years of this age. Many will have been given the Spirit of God as Revelation 7 plainly tells us. They will be scattered in many lands, working alongside the un-converted. Some sleeping with unconverted mates, some as in concentration camps sleeping in large rooms alongside many unconverted. When Jesus returns all those truly Spirit filled saints in the above situations, will be either working or sleeping somewhere on this earth, and the unconverted will be there also with them. The LAST TRUMPET will sound, the RESURRECTION of the dead saints from all ages will take place, the INSTANT CHANGE from mortal to immortal will transform the living saints, the angels will be ready to gather them all together and to lead them to where Christ is in the clouds, in the air, to all meet together on the sea of glass, the bride ready for the bridegroom, the marriage supper of the Lamb to finally be a reality. And rewards given to those who have made themselves ready, who have WATCHED, who are prepared for that great and wonderful DAY OF CHRIST'S RETURN, when His feet shall stand on the mount of Olives, and the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior, and He shall reign forever, and of His Kingdom there shall be no end. Let us continue to pray, "Thy Kingdom COME." …………………  First written in 1981 re-written November 1999       The Age of Mercy Millions will see the light of God by Keith Hunt The mercy and grace of God has always been there in every age of mankind. But there is coming an age when that mercy and grace will be ABUNDANTLY given and shown in such a way as to dumb-found the human mind. Many reading through the Bible miss the remarkable fact that many if not most people on earth, have never been given the heart and mind to REALLY understand God and His way to salvation and eternal life. Even the Lord's chosen people of Israel could never understand God in a true spiritual way that leads to salvation. Those people were BLINDED to spiritual perception. They never had the heart of mind to understand the ways, the truths, the deep things of God. They were never filled or led by God's Spirit. They could not come to the Eternal and be His spiritual children. They never had full mercy and grace shown to them. They were never SAVED and will NOT be in the resurrection to GLORY at the coming of Jesus back to this earth, as will those who were led by God's Spirit, were given spiritual understanding, under the Old Testament's ages (Adam to Noah, Noah to Abraham, Abraham to Moses, and Moses to the time of Jesus the Christ born as a human person). There are some very plain and straight-forward passages in the books of Moses (specifically Numbers and Deuteronomy), which we shall now see. Moses called Israel together and told them about the time when God made a Covenant with them 40 years earlier (Deut.5:1-5). They at that time literally heard the voice of God, and could not bear to have God talk to them. They wanted Moses to go to God, hear what He had to say and then report it to them (verses 22-28). It was then that the Eternal God said, "O THAT THERE WERE SUCH A HEART IN THEM, THAT THEY WOULD FEAR ME, AND KEEP ALL MY COMMANDMENTS ALWAYS...." (verse 29). God knew that they did not have the true spiritual heart to be close to Him and walk with Him, in all His ways. At the end of leading Israel around the desert for 40 years here are some of the words Moses spoke to them, "YET THE LORD HAS NOT GIVEN YOU A HEART TO PERCEIVE, AND EYES TO SEE, AND EARS TO HEAR, UNTO THIS DAY" (Deut.29:4). The vast majority, most in fact, of the people of Israel, did NOT have God's Spirit. This is clearly shown to us as we read the ELEVENTH chapter of Numbers. Here we find the Holy Spirit that Moses had is given to called and CHOSEN ones. Some were even jealous for Moses' sake, but notice how Moses answered them: "...enviest you for my sake? WOULD TO GOD THAT ALL THE LORD'S PEOPLE WERE PROPHETS, AND THAT THE LORD WOULD PUT HIS SPIRIT UPON THEM!" (verse 29). The truth of the matter is that under the Old Testament only a very small FEW were granted a heart and mind to PERCEIVE, to really KNOW God, to understand REPENTANCE, in its deep way that leads to SALVATION and obtaining God's Holy Spirit. GENTILE NATIONS WITHOUT SALVATION The apostle Paul said words that most people would find shocking, and most Christians find hard to comprehend or even take them for face value, thinking Paul must have meant something different from the actual words he spoke. Here are those words: "Wherefore remember, that you being in times past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Un-circumcised by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh by hands. That at that time you were WITHOUT CHRIST, being STRANGERS from the commonwealth of Israel, and STRANGERS from the covenant of promise, having NO HOPE, and WITHOUT God in the world" (Ephesians 2:11-12). Now it is true that Paul talks about people acknowledging God via physical creation (Romans 2). But a superficial saying, "Well I believe there must be a God being who created all this marvellous world and universe" is FAR from having the heart and mind to PERCEIVE and UNDERSTAND the ways, truths, commandments, sin and righteousness, and mercy through Christ as Messiah. In that context the apostle Paul says the Gentiles had NO HOPE, NO SALVATION, they were without Christ and God in the world! Only those Gentiles who became a part of the nation of Israel and/or whom God REVEALED Himself to, and gave a heart to perceive and understand the Lord's salvation and hence be led by His Spirit, were saved. ALL others had NO HOPE, were without God in the world, without Christ (and without Christ there is no salvation, see Acts 4:12). They had NO salvation in THEIR LIFE TIME!! BUT..... Does this mean they will NEVER have a heart to perceive, to understand, to find grace and mercy and Christ as personal Savior? NO IT DOES NOT! The wonderful chapters of Romans 9 through 11, show us how great is the MERCY and GRACE of God. Please take the time to read them SLOWLY, and MEDITATE on the words you read. Yes it is addressing mainly the people of Israel, but as the Bible tells us that God is no respecter of persons, and that He loved the WORLD (not just Israel) and sent His only begotten Son, so all who believe on Him can have eternal life (John 3:16) then we can know that what Paul talks about in these chapters towards Israel's salvation, also applies to all the Gentile nations. These chapters of Romans 9 through 11 contain some of the most INSPIRING and COMFORTING words ever written on the subject of God's GRACE and MERCY. Are you concerned about loved ones, blood relatives, or just friends, and what is their fate because they did not KNOW or ACKNOWLEDGE God and Jesus as their savior? In these chapters of Romans as well as some other verses in the New Testament (also those in Deuteronomy and Numbers we have already read), we have wonderful HOPE and ASSURANCE that God is going to grant MERCY to all in due time, so all can PERCEIVE and UNDERSTAND the way to salvation. Of course God cannot force anyone to walk in the light of His salvation, but He does tell us that ALL at least will be given a heart and mind to perceive and understand. What they choose to do with that perception and understanding, will be in their power (as it has always been for anyone at any time - see Deut.30:15-20). In the first verses of Romans chapter nine Paul shows his love for his fellow countrymen. Verse 7 he draws the distinction between physical seed of Abraham and those who are children of Abraham in the spiritual sense that make them also children of God as Abraham was. The physical seed of Abraham were MAINLY going to be known through Isaac - Isaac-sons, or SAX-SONS and in wider usage ANGLO-SAXONS. Other studies on this Website go into detail of WHO and WHERE the sons of Isaac are today. But the most important message is that of becoming a CHILD of Abraham in the spiritual salvation of God through Christ. Being a child of God is quite DIFFERENT than being a physical child of some physical person (verses 8-13). Paul now goes on to demonstrate that than God does at times in this physical life CHOOSE certain individuals or a nation of people for a specific purpose as He works His plan on earth for other individuals and other peoples. God even HARDENS the heart of SOME, showing mercy to some while showing no mercy to others (verses 14-18). The natural question arises then as to why God can find fault with anyone. Paul's answer is simply, you cannot tell God what to do and when to do it with whom He wants to do it. God is the potter and we are the clay. But Paul says be assured that the Lord KNOWS exactly what He is doing and there is a purpose behind it all, especially when it comes to taking BLINDNESS and DECEPTION away from people, giving them a heart and mind to PERCEIVE and to UNDERSTAND and to be given MERCY for salvation through Christ, while others are chosen by God to be left with a heart and mind that CANNOT perceive or understand spiritual truths. Some given MERCY are Jews/Israelites and some are Gentiles. Paul continues to show that it is relatively FEW Israelites that are given MERCY and GRACE, but there are some, for it was written there would be a REMNANT who could have the heart to perceive and understand, yet it was in God's plan that while MOST Israelites would not find mercy in their life time, MANY Gentiles would. And this is all to do with God REMOVING spiritual blindness or NOT removing spiritual blindness. Israel may have had the law of Moses and the Old Testament words of God, they may have followed many of the laws of God in some form of the physical way of life, but as we have seen from Deuteronomy and Numbers, they were STILL in spiritual BLINDNESS and God had NOT given them the heart to perceive and understand as far as eternal salvation for them was concerned, only the few in Israel were granted the heart for salvation. Then on the other hand, the Gentiles who did not really try to follow God, were doing their own thing shall we say, were as we have seen Paul say, WITHOUT God in the world, without any hope for salvation, were NOW being called and chosen and given a heart to perceive and understand the spiritual ways and truths of the Eternal God. The Israelites had thought that merely following some laws of God would give them right standing with God and hence salvation. They had not the heart to perceive they had to have FAITH in a SAVIOR, the very Son of God, having to come as a human to die for their sins. And even when it was told them they sill did not have the heart to see, but stumbled with offence at the very one whom could give them mercy and grace for salvation (verses 24-33). Paul acknowledges in the first verses of chapter 10 that Israel had a zeal for God, but it was WITHOUT knowledge. Many of the Israelites under Moses had a kind of zeal for God, they said they would obey the Lord's commandments, do his will. It was words they spoke, sounded very "religious" and had an outward piety. They sure knew God existed, they even heard His voice for a while. Yes they had a kind of form of religion, but in reality it was really just so many words. They did NOT have the heart, they did not have God's Spirit leading them, they did not have real KNOWLEDGE, as Paul is here saying, the knowledge and heart that leads to true REPENTANCE of sin, and FAITH in the Savior Christ Jesus. So it is today, there are MILLIONS who have a FORM of "religion" both in the Christian world and in the none Christian world. Millions in the none Christian world believe in a GOD, but reject His Son Jesus as their Savior. Think of all the millions in the Islamic religion etc. They are BLINDED, they are DECEIVED, by the one who deceives the whole world (Rev.12:9) - Satan the Devil. God has not given them the heart to perceive and to understand the way to eternal salvation through Christ. Then you have millions in the Christian world who have a zeal for God, even acknowledging Jesus is the Savior, but as Paul said about Israel, they have a zeal but not ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE! They also have not the heart to perceive the truths and the ways of the ALMIGHTY GOD. They are just as much in spiritual DARKNESS as the Israelites were and are, who indeed had the law and the words of God (Romans 10:1-4). Paul then goes into a some long explanation of how the Jews by not believing in Christ as Savior did NOT have God's mercy and grace, were not saved, did not have salvation. Oh, they would hear the message of the words of God being taught by God's prophets, as many today may hear them in church services or on TV or by reading the Bible, but the bottom line is still the fact that they do NOT have the HEART to really listen, to really obey, to really have the zeal according to KNOWLEDGE. They STILL, despite the words of God being preached all around them, have a heart that is DISOBEDIENT and GAINSAYING (verses 5-21). People will find every reason under the sun to not serve and obey God on this point or that point, will come up with every argument as to why this law or that law does not have to be obeyed today. Some will obey the 7th day Sabbath but REFUSE with stiff hearts to observe God's seven annual Sabbaths. Some will shun the observance of the world's pagan festivals but will refuse with stony hearts to observer God's Festivals. Some will refuse with gainsaying hearts to observe God's clean and un-clean food laws. Some will just refuse coldly the observance of the FOURTH commandment period! Some can read where Abraham and Jacob tithed to God, of ALL they had, way before the Old Covenant came into existence, but will somehow read into the Old Covenant ideas that make tithing "done away with" for children of Abraham today. Some can read the Bible and be willing to observe many things of God's way, but refuse to admit that homosexuality and lesbianism is an abomination in God's sight, and so practice and teach that same sex marriage is okay with the Lord; why even some churches today have practicing "gay" ministers. On and on it goes even with those who have been given the words of God either by the Lord's true servants or with the Bible in their hands. So it has always been with even those to whom God did reveal Himself. Most of the time those people have had a form of godliness, a form of zeal, but NOT according to true knowledge. Now with all of this said, Paul answers what many by now reading his epistle so far have probably surmised, God has then cast away His people, they are doomed for eternal destruction. NO, Paul answers that is NOT so! He quotes from Elijah, where he thought he was the only one left in Israel serving God, but the Lord told him that He, the Lord, had 7 thousand others who had not bowed the knee to Baal (Romans 11:1-4). Then the apostle takes this example of old to say that God is exactly working this way to this very day. There is a REMNANT, relatively few, who are the ELECTED of GRACE or mercy, and the REST, are not damned to eternal destruction at all for the REST are BLINDED, and as SHOCKING as it may seem to many, it is GOD HIMSELF that has BLINDED the rest. "According as it is written, GOD has given them the spirit of SLUMBER, eyes that they SHOULD NOT SEE, and ears that they SHOULD NOT HEAR, unto this day" (verse 8). Paul explains they have not stumbled that they should FALL forever. But God is working out a salvation plan. Through many stumbling now, others can be called and chosen and be the election of grace and mercy. So it was then with the Jews stumbling so many Gentiles could be elected to grace. It was a wonderful plan of election and grace that God was working with the peoples of the earth, and Gentiles now coming into God's family should not boast and feel proud over the many Jews being NOT elected to grace at this time (verses 11-24). Then comes the WONDERFUL HOPE INSPIRING WORDS of Paul that shows he understood there was an OVERALL PLAN of God for ALL to be ELECTED to have GRACE and mercy shown to them in due time, in the time plan of the Lord. "For I would not brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own conceit; for BLINDNESS in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so ALL Israel shall be saved; (so many that the few who may reject God's saving grace through Christ, will make it be as "all" - Keith Hunt) as it is written, 'There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn ungodliness from Jacob, For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins'....For as you in times past have not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God has concluded them ALL in UN-believe, that He might have MERCY upon ALL" (verses 25-32). Ah, do you see the WONDER of it all? Do you see the INSPIRING teaching of it all? Do you see what God is working out here below? Every single person who has ever lived has been in utter spiritual BLINDNESS as far as saving grace through faith in Christ is concerned. Everyone is given a heart that CANNOT perceive or understand the ways, the truths, the true knowledge of God. It is the Lord who must REMOVE that veil of blindness (see 2 Corinthians 3:12-18) from our hearts and give us a heart of flesh, take away the heart of stone and make that heart soft and pliable, a heart that can have zeal, yes, but zeal according to knowledge. Until God grants the individual a heart to perceive Him and His ways to life and salvation, that person is neither saved or lost. As Paul showed us in Romans 11, some, even the many, will have to WAIT until the DELIVERER comes, until the Messiah comes in glory, to set up the Kingdom of God on earth, to be delivered from spiritual blindness and have their sins taken away. ALL TO BE RAISED TO LIFE Jesus knew the plan of God's salvation for every person who has ever lived. Jesus knew that the DEAD would one day hear His voice and LIVE. He told us not to marvel at it, in the sense of thinking this is incredible or something so far out that it is not worth thinking about, or even silly to think about. Christ said the day was coming when ALL in the graves would hear His voice and come forth from the dead. Some would come forth to a resurrection of glorious eternal life (called the FIRST resurrection in Revelation 20 and explained in 1 Cor.15 and 1 Thes.4:13-18 with Mat.24:29-31) at the coming of Jesus in glory, at the beginning of the 1,000 years reign of Christ and the saints on earth - see my study called "The beginning of the 1,000 year reign"). Others are to come forth to a resurrection NOT of damnation (as the KJV gives) but of JUDGMENT! (John 5:25-29). Judgment takes time. As Peter said, "The Lord is NOT SLACK concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering towards us, NOT WILLING that any should PERISH, but that ALL should come to REPENTANCE" (2 Peter 3:9). God DESIRES that not one single person should refuse salvation. He desires ALL to be elected to grace, be called to grace, to have the veil of blindness removed from their heart of stone, to be given a heart that will perceive Him and His holy way, to perceive how to be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. But that heart is not given to many during their life time on this earth. It must wait for a future resurrection for most. Everyone who has ever died will be raised to life again one day. For some, the saints of God from Adam to the Messiah's coming in glory, it will be the resurrection to glorious eternal life, called the first resurrection. For the rest it will be a physical resurrection (like the Israelites in the valley of dry bones spoken about in Ezekiel 37), at the END of the 1,000 year reign mentioned in Revelation 20. This GREAT resurrection of the dead is found in Revelation 20:12-15. It is the time when the book of life is opened, a time of spiritual discerning is granted to millions upon millions of people who were never given the heart to discern God according to knowledge during their one physical life on this earth. They will rise again, they will have the blindness lifted from their eyes, they will see, they will come to know the true Jesus, and walk in the light of God's word, the books (Greek is "biblos" - from whence we get "bible"). They will be judged now (as the saints are today) according to the way they work and live with the zeal according to knowledge, that is now granted to them as the election of grace. Jesus, AFTER the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7) RETURNED the NEXT day, John 8, and preached in the Temple. This was the 8th day, or Octave. It was a Sabbath day, the Sabbath day of the 8th day after the 7 day feast of Tabernacles (Lev.23). Jesus was back in the Temple preaching. It was the day on which the BLIND man received his SIGHT, He saw Jesus not only literally but as we read, he saw Him for who He was. All this is the TYPE of the GREAT resurrection mentioned at the end of Revelation 20. SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS will be removed for millions raised to physical life during that age of grace and mercy. The truth of John 7:37 and John 8 is fully covered in my study "The Truth about John 7:37." God has indeed concluded ALL in UN-belief that He may have MERCY upon ALL. But God decides WHEN the un-belief is removed, for SOME it is NOW, for the MAJORITY it is in the time of the GREAT WHITE THRONE age of Revelation 20. Then the salvation of mankind is all finished. Then comes the time for the Almighty God the Father to come from heaven with the heavenly Jerusalem and dwell on this earth with all His sons and daughters. "Behold the tabernacle of God is with mankind, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.....And there shall be no curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him. And they shall see His face, and His name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light, and they shall reign for ever and ever" (Revelation 21:3; 22:3-5). ............... Written on the Last Great Feast 2004