“They know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. “I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’ But you will die like mere men; you will fall like every other ruler.” (Psalm 82:5-7)

I read Dan Brown’s new book The Lost Symbol last week. I should have known better – Dan Brown was the guy who brought us the DaVinci Code. The DaVinci Code, if you remember, was the fast paced, action filled novel in which Brown tries to convince us that Jesus really didn’t die on the cross and later married Mary Magdalene and produced offspring whose lineage may be around today.

Uh-huh.

According to Dan, Jesus didn’t die on the cross; therefore mankind’s sin debt wasn’t paid. If he didn’t die then he didn’t rise from the grave – no resurrection. And if he didn’t die and wasn’t resurrected and later got married and had children, then he’s not really God.

Wonderful philosophy. Thanks Dan.

The DaVinci Code tried to make God into man. Brown’s new book The Lost Symbol does its best to make men into gods. To convince us that we’re really gods Dan quotes three words from the Bible, ‘ye are gods.’ He also throws in the Torah (isn’t that part of the Bible?), the Koran, the Bhagavad Gita, the Tao and whatever other ‘scriptures’ he can come up with as proof that they and the ‘prophets’ (Jesus, Mohammed, Confucius, Buddha and Tom Cruise) all came to share the same message with mankind; ‘ye are gods’.

I’ve got to surrender the point to Dan; those three words are in the Bible – right after “They know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken” and right before “But you will die like mere men; you will fall like every other ruler.” Dan fails to work the full context into the book – besides it would kinda ruin his thesis: “We have the power to become gods within us, all we gotta do try … or become Masons.

I’ve also got to admit that Dan writes a pretty fast moving, action packed story. That’s what hooked me; I’m a sucker for action. Other than being fundamentally wrong, the problem with The Lost Symbol is that the bad guy is dispatched and all the action is over by page 460 … the book doesn’t end until page 509. Dan fills the last 49 pages trying to back up his thesis, ‘ye are gods’ with a gobblety-gook philosophy built on a foundation with all the firmness of a fresh cow patty on a warm summer day (*Hint to Dan: stick with the fast moving action; it works for you.)

It took me the better part of a day to get through The Lost Symbol. It’s a day I won’t get back … forgive me Lord. My recommendation: save yourself twelve hours and thirty-bucks.

*****

When I was a kid I heard what the Bible said the world would be like in the last days and I wondered at how such things could practically come to be. The thirteenth chapter of Revelation predicted that, in the last days, ‘the earth and its inhabitants would worship the beast’ and that everyone would receive a mark and only with this mark could anyone buy or sell anything. I couldn’t imagine all of the earth worshipping a single ‘beast’ or the entire world buying and selling only enabled by a mark which the ‘beast’ gave them.

What I couldn’t imagine was believers falling for something like this. Surely the requirement of a single world religion (all men worshiping the same ‘beast’) and a single world economic system requiring a ‘mark’ given to each person by the ‘beast’ would take years to set up and the cooperation of every nation and religion on earth. Not only would Christians see through this and rebel, free people from every corner of the earth would rise up against the idea of the world’s religions and economies being controlled by a single ‘beast’. I just couldn’t see how we could all roll over and allow something like this to happen, especially when the Bible had already warned us against it.

A lot of water has passed beneath the bridge since the day I first learned about the prophecies of the ‘beast’. What was impossible has become possible. It’s happening before our eyes and, yes, we’re rolling right over – not only allowing it to happen, but joining right in.

Thirty years ago I couldn’t imagine an economic system in which an individual wouldn’t be allowed to buy or sell anything unless they carried a ‘mark’ on their hand and forehead. But that was before Debit Cards and Electronic Funds Transfer. When was the last time you paid cash (currency, not a debit card, credit card or check) for a major appliance? When was the last time you paid cash at the grocery store instead of sliding your debit card through the machine and punching in your PIN? Don’t deceive yourself into thinking that writing a check is any closer to cash than a debit card. The cashier inserts your check into a slot in the register which reads the magnetic coding and withdraws the money from your account at that moment. No different than a debit card.

We are well on the way to getting rid of cash altogether - it’s dirty, it cost money to print money, it’s hard to track, and trading all those different currencies of all those different countries slows down the global economy. Yep, cashless is cleaner, neater, and more efficient – all anyone needs is a number in the system and a PIN code – a ‘mark’, if you would; one on your hand (or in your hand) and one on your forehead (or in your memory … and in the database memory).

Well, I guess that part of the prophecy has already come true.

But what about everyone on earth bowing down to worship the ‘beast’? The world’s Christians would never stand for it! Other religions, Jews, Moslems, Hindus, Buddhists and the rest would refuse to bow their collective knees to a single entity. Surely the idea of a single world religion is practically impossible.

Sorry … we’re headed there too. We don’t mention the words ‘Christian’, ‘Jew’, ‘Moslem’, ‘Hindu’ or ‘Buddhist’ much in public anymore; it’s just not politically correct. ‘Faith Based Community’ is a much easier term. It’s more homogeneous – not so ‘in-your-face’ as those stark declarations of an exclusive belief system.

And as for those few who can’t accept that all religions are of the same value and truth - for those who stubbornly cling to a single belief systems as ‘the truth’ – we call those folks ‘Fundamentalists’. And as for those who actually live out the tenets of their faith without regard to society’s accepted common practice? Those folks are what we call ‘Extremists’.

And everyone knows (as the media has so aptly indoctrinated us) that ‘Fundamentalists’ are whackos and ‘Extremists’ are dangerous. It doesn’t matter that some groups demonstrate their ‘fundamentalism’ and ‘extremism’ by detonating suicide bombs and others by refusing to call good what God says is evil. Throw ‘em all in the same pot – once we get rid of all the ‘fundamentalists’ and ‘extremists’ the world will be safe for all of us who have no clue what to believe. We’ll be free to believe whatever Channel 2 or Dan Brown tells us – it won’t matter what we believe as long as we do as we’re told and don’t take any of it too seriously.

In order for the prophecies in Revelation 13 to come true, all the world needs to do is to replace freedom and truth with control and deceit. For better or worse, we’re well on our way to accomplishing that goal. And if you’re not completely deceived yet – if truth still looks like truth and lies still look like lies - just keep reading Dan Brown’s books, you’ll get there.

“Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” (Matthew 24:4)

*****

Next week we’ll talk about where Dan Brown may have gotten his ideas (they’re not so new) and what the Bible really means when it states ‘ye are gods’.

I’m going to, over the next few weeks, explore the Beatitudes and their impact on my life and yours. This is, for me, one of my favorite subjects in all of scripture, and so I want to get my thoughts down on these vast and critical subjects related to our spiritual growth and maturity. I started last week with my entry on meekness. We are all on a journey in the leadership of God, and partnership with Him along the way involves agreement with the heart “attitudes” He longs to birth and cultivate within us. The exploration of these internal realities provides glorious insight into a heavenly value system that is radically set against the foolishness, frivolity, and vanity of the things of this world. I want to connect with a value system that turns my heart and my world upside down.

There is no more important moment for a man or a woman than when they encounter a Holy God for the first time. This first encounter is really our first encounter, but in truth the Holy Spirit had long been brooding and stirring in our lives, in an external and internal sense, calling and inviting our hearts to come home. The Lord longs for all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, as Paul once said (1 Tim. 2:4). God is searching the whole earth, calling all men to Himself as He searches for any who would come into agreement with Him. He is looking for friendship with men. Thus, the moment of encounter when we are first confronted with Him and by Him is one in which we are reoriented to take a journey that culminates in deep, voluntary agreement with His heart and mind.

Our journey is one that begins with connecting, by grace, with the reality of our spiritual poverty. One of the most glorious moments in our entire existence is the moment in which we are confronted with the painful reality of our complete lack of resource to accomplish anything noteworthy. When the conviction of the Holy Spirit comes to us and reveals our sinful state He also shines the light on our inability to do anything about it. It’s the problem of no resource - we can’t get ourselves out of the shameful pit we have dug for ourselves in our delusion and pride; only the divine “rope” offered by the Lord can set our feet on a rock and “establish our steps” (Ps. 40:2).

This same problem gripped the heart of the prophet Joel, thousands of years ago. An insurmountable problem was facing Israel, and the people were largely ignorant of their impending crisis. Fixated on an immediate, natural crisis, they had (as they had done for quite some time) overlooked their internal or spiritual crisis. Their spiritual crisis, their internal corruption, was leading to their destruction. They were destroying themselves. Thus, they were on a collision course with God Himself, who was intensely committed to stopping them before they could succeed. The great and terrible (Joel 2:11) judgment of God that was coming was about more than wrath and holiness, it was about a God whose plan for these people was so critical that He had to cut out, with a surgeon’s precision, any in their midst who threatened that plan to birth a Savior and King. It was also about a God who was committed, in His deep love for them to go to war against all of their enemies who threatened their destruction - even if the enemy was them.

Thus there was an unavoidable problem - if something did not change they were on a collision course with God Himself. There was no army, no earthly amount of finance, any shelter or protection from this grave threat. There was no resource on the planet, external or internal, that could save them from what was coming in regards to judgment. Who could endure what was coming to them?

This is the terrifying reality of my own spiritual poverty. My life was on a collision course with a holy God, with terrible judgment awaiting me if something didn’t change. Only, I had no power to change anything! My initial moment of “awakening” was the moment I came face-to-face with my own poverty of spirit and my great need for divine resource called grace to awaken my heart to love the things of God and empower me to do those things. This, of course, is a continual, ongoing reality. I can never graduate from “poor in spirit” in this life. I will have to continually “fight the good fight” of faith (2 Tim. 4:7) by continually seeking resource from heaven to resist temptation and sin while being renewed in my thinking (Rom. 12:2).

This was God’s solution for Israel when facing national crisis. The crisis was the context to provide an external “push” or impetus for them to come to the end of themselves and seek the face of God. It was God’s kindness and mercy that led to the raising up of Babylon to sweep into Israel to destroy it. Without the external crisis or trouble, Israel would have been blind to the internal cancer that was eating away at them from the inside. It was the crisis that caused them to become desperate and seek the only true solution - sincere repentance with prayer and fasting. This was to be for them something more than a momentary gathering, or an occasion - this was to be a lifestyle of continual prayer meetings and solemn assemblies that marked them as a people before God. The gatherings would train them in a different mode and reshape the way they thought and approached life as a whole.

It is the same for me. I need more than an initial awakening, or a salvation experience in which I am confronted with my internal corruption - the deadly cancer of sin. I need more than the initial encounter with God that stirs me and spurs me to pursue Him both for relationship and internal transformation. I need an ongoing awakening, one that happens on a continual, daily basis. I need to continually present myself before the Living God in all of my spiritual poverty and great need and see Him as Jehovah Jirah - my Provider, my divine resource, my sole source of life and hope. Once I connect with Him as One who can provide the more necessary thing - internal resource or supernatural grace - I can be empowered to love and pursue Him trusting that the externals are the easy part. The external needs, the sustenance and supply, are easy for me to receive.

I find that it is all too easy for me in the immediacy of life to reverse that reality. I often imagine that I am in great need for the externals, yet I need to be continually reminded that they are the easy part. The harder part is to come again for a fresh awakening into an internal, spiritual reality of encountering the Living God. I need to reach again. I need to come again. I need to drink and eat the only food that will help me and ultimately satisfy me. If I will fight that fight, than I truly have no worries. The external “stuff” of life isn’t even considered true necessities anymore.

They’re just considered the fringe benefits that flow from a tender, generous, wise and loving Father who knows what I need before I ask. Jesus, awaken me again today.

David

by: David Pawson (excerpted from When Jesus Returns)

Our attitude to the future is ambiguous, a mixture of fear and fascination. We want to know what is going to happen to us and the rest of the human race — and we don’t want to know! Were it possible, which one of us would wish to learn the date of our death or the end of the world?

We are the first generation to live with the possibility that these two dates might coincide. In one survey half the teenagers believed their death and the death of our planet would be simultaneous. Whether through nuclear holocaust (a diminishing fear) or environmental pollution (a growing fear), the days of life on earth seem to be numbered.
Again, our reaction is inconsistent, even contradictory. On the one hand, many try to forget the future and squeeze as much purpose and pleasure out of the present as possible. ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die’ (this is actually in the Bible! Isa 22:13, quoted in I Cor 15:32). ‘Existentialism’ is the name for this philosophy of life and it is widespread.

On the other hand, there is more interest in the future and efforts to change it than ever before, an enthusiasm that hovers on the border of panic. Attitudes cover a wide spectrum from elated optimism to depressed pessimism, sometimes swinging wildly from one extreme to the other, from faith to fatalism.
Broadly speaking, there are three ways in which we can pierce the veil that hides the future from us.

First, the superstitious method. Divination is an ancient practice, but still very much alive. Clairvoyants and mediums, crystal balls and Ouija boards, tarot cards and tea-leaves — there are many forms. Six out of ten men and seven out of ten women read their horoscopes every day; no popular newspaper or magazine would dare to neglect the stars.

Yet it has been estimated that none of these channels has ever been more than 5% accurate, which means that they are at least 95% mistaken.. Only those willing or wanting to be deceived forget the errors and focus on the few fulfillments.

Second, the scientific method. Deduction from observation is the basic tool of modern science. To calculate present trends and project them is the concern of ‘futurology’, as the technique is now named. Professorial chairs in the subject are being established in universities, particularly those majoring in technology. Industrial, commercial and political spheres have their ‘think-tanks’. More than one computer program has calculated the likely date of the end of the world as 2040 (by taking into account population growth, food and energy resources, environmental decay, etc.).

Average accuracy of published results has so far been around 25% or, to put it negatively, up to 75% wrong. The short-term forecasts, as one would expect, are much more reliable than the long-term ones.

Third, the scriptural method. Declaration about future events is a major feature of the Bible. It claims to contain the words of God (‘Thus says the Lord’ occurs 3808 times!), the only person who is in a position to ‘make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come’ (Isa 46:10). Over a quarter of all the verses in the Bible contain a prediction about the future. Altogether 737 separate forecasts are made, from some only mentioned once to others hundreds of times.

Of these, 594 (over 80%) have already come true. Since those that have not are all concerned with the end of the world, which obviously has not happened yet, the Bible has actually achieved 100% accuracy. All that could have taken place already has done so, which should be ample grounds for confidence that the rest will also be fulfilled. (These statistics, with a detailed analysis of every prediction, may be found in the Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy by J. Barton Payne, Hodder and Stoughton, 1973.)
How astonishing then that people would rather consult satanic rigmarole or human reason than divine revelation. Part of the blame must lie at the door of the church, which has neither been clear nor confident enough in sharing her knowledge, the result of allowing scientific skepticism about the supernatural to undermine the authority of scripture.

The Bible reveals its secrets to those who read it with reverence and obedience, in a humble and teachable spirit. It yields more to simple intelligence than sophisticated intellectualism. It is written for ordinary people in ordinary language (New Testament Greek is taken from the streets, not the classics). It is meant to be taken at face value and taken seriously. When it is a clear picture of the future emerges.

Many things are predicted — personal and political, social and environmental, moral and meteorological. But one event stands out above them all: the return to this world of a person who lived here two thousand years ago, a carpenter from the village of Nazareth. Were he simply a human being, this would seem unbelievable. If he was what he claimed to be, divine as well as human, the one and only God-man, his return becomes credible and congruous. Rejected by an unbelieving world, it is only right that he should be publicly vindicated.

This event is more frequently predicted than any other and dominates the biblical preview. The question: ‘What is the world coming to?’ is changed into: ‘Who is the world coming to?’ or, better still: ‘Who is coming to the world?’

History will be brought to a conclusion. And by a human being. Not by pressing the button of a nuclear attack on earth but by breaking the seals of a scroll in heaven on which is already written the countdown of world events (Rev 5:1; 6:1). At the climax of the crisis, Jesus himself will reappear on the world stage to take personal control of the grand finale.

Such is the heart of the Christian hope for the future. Jesus is the only hope, the only person with sufficient ability and authority, character and compassion, to right the wrongs of this sick, sad and sinful world. On his first visit to our planet he demonstrated that he could do it; on his second he has promised that he will do it.
In theory, the Church of Jesus Christ gives his return a central place. The most regularly repeated creeds, the Apostles’ and the Nicene, include it as a fundamental part of the faith. Bread and wine are regularly taken as a reminder of his former presence and current absence ‘until he comes’ (I Cor 11:26). The liturgical calendar includes Advent in December, the first part of which anticipates his return.

In practice, however, neglect of this vital truth is spreading. Even during Advent, any thought about his second coming is quickly forgotten in the celebration of his first, in the festivities of Christmas. Some have become so confused or impatient with the doctrinal differences over it that they have taken refuge in agnosticism on the subject. More have conformed to the world’s obsession with the present by concentrating on the application of Christian insights and efforts to the personal and political needs of the day.

Now abideth faith, hope and love; but the weakest of these is hope!

That is a tragedy in a world of widespread depression and despair. The Bible describes unbelievers as ‘without hope and without God in the world’ (Eph 2:12). In such darkness, Christians should be shining beacons of hope. After all, they are the only ones who know how it will all end. They know that it will all end well, that good will triumph over evil, that their Lord will defeat the devil, that the kingdom of God will come on earth as it is in heaven.

This hope is ‘an anchor for the soul, firm and secure’ (Heb 6:19). The raging storm of world events will get worse rather than better, until every part of the globe is affected. May the reading of this book help you to get your anchor down now!

by: Mike Bickle, IHOP Kansas City

Abomination of Desolation – The Antichrist will demand worship worldwide (Rev. 13). This will be the abomination that leads to great desolation.  God’s judgments will bring desolation or destruction to all who participate in this terrible abomination (Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:15; Mk. 13:14; 2 Thes. 2:3-4; ). This worship system is based on the Antichrist (called the beast) setting up an image (statue or idol) of himself in the Jerusalem Temple. This image will be demonically empowered to breathe and speak (Rev. 13:14-15). The Antichrist will claim to be God when he sets up this idol in the Jerusalem Temple. No one will be able to buy or sell without worshipping the Antichrist before this image (Rev. 13:16-18). All who refuse will be sought out as criminals of the state under a threat of martyrdom.

This is one of the most significant prophetic signs in the End Times. John emphasized this image ten times (Rev. 13:14, 15 [three times]; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4). The abomination is mentioned or described nine times (Dan. 8:13; 9:26, 27; 11:31; 12:11; Mt. 24:15; Mk 13:14; 2 Thes. 2:3-4; Rev. 13:12-18). The image of the beast and the mark of the beast will be two components of the Abomination of Desolation system that will mobilize and finance the Antichrist’s global worship movement (Rev. 13:13-18). The image of the beast will mobilize Antichrist’s worshippers and penalize those who resist. The mark of the beast will provide economic support for the Antichrist’s worship movement and will penalize those who resist.

Advent – Derived from the Latin word “adventus”, which means “arrival, coming, or presence.” It is used to speak of both Jesus’ first and second coming as the first and the second advent.

Angelic Explanations – This is the phrase we use for the five sections in the structure of the book of Revelation that function as a parenthesis. They put on ‘pause’ the main story line of the book as is seen in the chronological sections. In these passages an angel explains to John why the judgment events in the chronological sections must be so severe. They answer questions arising from the chronological sections such as: Why is God’s wrath so severe? What will happen to us? Angels explain to John what happens to God’s people, including what Jesus will do to help us and what the Antichrist will do to persecute us. The five angelic explanations are Rev. 7:1-17; 10:1-11:14; 12:1-14:20; 17:1-19:10; 21:9-22:5.

Antichrist – Anti means “against” or “in place of”. The Antichrist is a demonized man who will be against Christ and seek to be worshipped by the nations in place of Jesus. He will give leadership to the most powerful and most wicked worldwide empire in history. The Antichrist will be given authority to continue against Israel and the Church for 42 months. (Rev. 13:5). The Gentiles, under the Antichrist’s leadership, will oppress Jerusalem for 42 months (Rev. 11:2). The two witnesses prophesy in Jerusalem for 1,260 days (Rev. 11:3). The remnant of Israel will be hidden from the Antichrist in the wilderness for 1,260 days (Rev. 12:6) which is also described as time, times and half a time (Rev. 12:14). The Antichrist will be given authority to continue against the saints for time, times and half a time or three and a half years (Dan. 7:25). Israel’s strength will be completely shattered after three and a half years or time, times and half a time (Dan. 12:7). The term “time” refers to 1 year, “times” refers to 2 years and “half a time” speaks of half a year.  (2 Thes. 2:3-12; 1 Jn. 2:18, 22; Rev. 13:1-18).

Another Beast – A name for the False Prophet in Rev.13:11.

Apocalypse – Means “unveiling or revealing” and is translated as revelation. It is another name for the book of Revelation because it unveils or reveals the glory of Jesus and His end-time battle plan to drive evil off the planet.

Apostasy – A falling away or departure from the Christian faith (Mt. 24:9-13; 2 Thes. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:1-7; 4:3-4; 2 Pet. 2:1-3). An apostate is one who has “fallen away” from the Christian faith.

Armageddon Campaign – A great military campaign that will last for the final three and a half years before Jesus returns. The conflict will end with the Battle of Jerusalem (Zech. 12:3; 14:1-2) as the nations of the earth gather together to make war against Jesus (Rev. 16:13-16). The military staging area for this campaign will be around the hill  of Megiddo in the north of Israel. Armageddon is referred to by many as Harmagedon which means the “the hill of Megiddo.” Megiddo is an ancient city in the valley of Jezreel or Esdraelon.

Babylon – Historically, the chief city of the Babylonian empire which was in the lower valley of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in what is modern-day Iraq. This refers to that literal city of Babylon in Iraq (fifty miles south of Baghdad) that will be rebuilt and used as one of the headquarters for the Antichrist. It will function as the center of worldwide demonic religious and economic networks (Rev. 17-18). As Jerusalem suddenly came out of the ashes and was rebuilt, so Babylon (in Iraq) will be suddenly rebuilt. Many of the specific details in the judgments prophesied in Jer. 50-51 and Isa. 13-14; 21 about Babylon’s sudden and permanent destruction have not yet fully happened. They were only partially fulfilled in history.

Beast – Term used 36 times to refer to the Antichrist (Rev. 13; 14:9-11; 17:3-17; 19:19-21; 20:4, 10).

Canonized – Literature approved as part of the Holy Scripture or the biblical canon. The 66 books in the Bible are the only books that we accept as being canonized. The book of Revelation is a canonized prayer manual because it is divinely inspired and infallible. Therefore, it will bring unity to the end-time prayer movement.

Chronological Sections – The phrase we use for the five sections in the structure of the book of Revelation that describe the judgment events occurring on earth in God’s end-time plan. They include the 21 judgment events (seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls) They happen on earth in chronological order during the Great Tribulation and the Millennial Kingdom. The five chronological sections are Rev. 6; Rev. 8-9; Rev. 11:15-19; Rev. 15-16 and Rev. 19:11-21:8).

Daniel’s 30 days – In Dan. 12:11, an angel told Daniel about a thirty-day period that would extend beyond the commonly understood 1,260 days (three and a half years) in which God supernaturally provides for the remnant of Israel (Rev. 12:6, 14), the two witnesses prophesy (Rev. 11:3) and the Antichrist persecutes the saints (Rev. 13:5). This period ends when Jesus comes in the sky at the seventh trumpet to rapture the saints (Rev. 11:17). The 1,290 days include an additional thirty days after the seventh trumpet in which the Antichrist worship system or the abomination of desolation continues on earth. It ends when Jesus marches into Jerusalem to personally destroy the Antichrist (2 Thes. 2:8; Rev. 19:20).

Daniel’s 70th week – The final seven-year period before Jesus’ Second Coming is referred to as Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel prophesied of seventy weeks (Dan. 9:24-27). Each week was a period not of seven days but of seven years. Therefore, these 70 weeks of seven years each totaled 490. This prophecy concerns God’s prophetic time calendar in dealing with the salvation of the nation of Israel. The seventy weeks (each week is seven years) concern God’s plan for Israel from the days of Daniel to Jesus’ Second Coming. The first sixty-nine weeks (483 years) are from 445 B.C. to the time of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem (30 A.D.). The last week is a seven-year period that will not be fulfilled until Jesus’ Second Coming. It will be initiated when Israel signs a peace treaty with the Antichrist, who is called the prince who will come from the revived Roman Empire (Dan. 9:26-27).

Dragon – Symbolic of Satan in the book of Revelation (Rev. 12:3, 4, 7, 9, 13, 16, 17; 13:2, 4; 16:13; 20:2).

Eschatology – A term that speaks of the study of the End Times from a biblical perspective. The word eschatology is made up of two different Greek words: eschaton, meaning “end,” and -ology, meaning a “study of something.” The most important events predicted in the “end of the age” (the “eschaton”) are the Great Tribulation, Jesus’ Second Coming and the Millennial Kingdom. More than one-fourth of the Scriptures (27%) relate to prophetic events foretold by the prophets.

False Prophet – The Antichrist’s minister of propaganda, who will work miracles (Rev. 16:13; 19:20; 20:10). He is called “another beast” in Revelation 13:11.

Great White Throne Judgment – The time, at the end of the millennial reign, when all unbelievers will be judged by God and then thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15).

Harlot Babylon – The worldwide, demonically-inspired religious and economic system based in the rebuilt city of Babylon in Iraq (Rev. 17-18; Jer. 50-51). It will be established in the literal city of Babylon (50 miles south of Baghdad) that will be restored and used as one of the headquarters for the Antichrist. It will function as the center of worldwide demonic religious and economic networks (Isa. 13-14; 21; Jer. 50-51; Rev. 17-18). As Jerusalem suddenly came out of the ashes and was rebuilt, so Babylon will be suddenly rebuilt. The judgments prophesied in Jeremiah 50-51 that suddenly destroy Babylon forever have not yet happened.

Hermeneutics – The study of the interpretation of Scripture.

Image of the Beast – A statue (image or idol) commanded by the Antichrist that will be set up in the Jerusalem Temple. This image will be demonically empowered so that it will seem to think, talk, breathe, and make laws (Rev. 13:14-16). The main idol will be set up in the Jerusalem Temple and will be connected to a global network of idols. The image will be a significant prophetic sign in the End Times. John emphasized this image ten times (Rev. 13:14, 15 [3x]; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4).

Jesus’ End-Time Battle Plan – The seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments described in Rev. 6-22 that will destroy all the evil governments of the earth. They will be released by the praying Church.

Judgment Seat of Christ – The time when Jesus evaluates the life of all true believers, resulting in some receiving rewards and others suffering loss of rewards (2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:10-12). This evaluation occurs immediately after the Church has been raptured at the seventh trumpet (Rev. 11:15-18).  It is also referred to as the Bema judgment, which comes from the Greek word “bema” which means “throne”.

Lake of Fire –The final place of judgment for the Antichrist, False Prophet, Satan, demons and all unbelievers (Rev. 20:15).  Unbelievers will take part in the resurrection of condemnation (Jn 5:29), enduring eternal torment of body and soul.

Little Horn – A term used by Daniel that refers to the Antichrist (Dan 7:7-8; 19, 25).

Mark of the Beast – Will most likely be a form of technology like the microchip implant (Rev. 13:16-18) that the Antichrist will require everyone to have in order to buy or sell during the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation.

Marriage Supper of the Lamb – A time after the rapture when Jesus celebrates His wedding to the redeemed as His bride (Rev. 19:7-10). Some believe that it will last the entire 1000 years of the Millennial Kingdom.

Messiah – Comes from the Hebrew word “meshiach”, meaning “anointed one”. It is translated as the Greek word “Christos” and the English word “Christ”. In the Old Testament, the Messiah was the coming “anointed one” who was to be king of Israel and lead the Jewish people to freedom from gentile oppression.

Millennium – The Millennium is a literal 1000-year period in which Jesus will rule the whole world from Jerusalem in righteousness and peace. The Kingdom of God will be openly manifest worldwide, affecting every sphere of life (political, social, agricultural, economic, spiritual, educational, law enforcement, family, media, arts, environment, social institutions, etc).

New Jerusalem – The heavenly city where all the saints will live forever in God’s immediate presence (Heb. 11:10, 16; 12:22-24). The New Jerusalem will descend to the earth in two stages: first, at the time of Jesus’ Second Coming (Rev. 21:10) and then after the millennial Kingdom (Rev. 21:2).

New Heavens and Earth – Are used in the context of both the Millennium and the eternal state (Isa. 65:17-25; 66:22-24; 2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1-2). The earth will continue forever (1 Chr. 23:25; 28:8; Ps. 37:29; 78:69; 104:5; 105:10-11; 125:1-2; Isa. 60:21; Ezek. 37:25; Joel 3:20).

Olivet Discourse – Jesus’ famous prophecy on the End Times found in Mt. 24, Mk. 13, and Lk. 21.

Parousia – A Greek word that means “presence or coming” of an important person. This word is used of Jesus’ Second Coming (Mt. 24:3, 27, 37, 39; 1 Thes. 3:13; 4:15; 5:23; 2 Thes. 2:1, 8; Jas. 5:7-8).

Post-Tribulation Rapture (“post-trib”) – The biblical teaching that the rapture and the Second Coming occur at the end of the Great Tribulation period. In other words, the Church will be on earth, walking in victory through the Great Tribulation. This will be the Church’s finest hour, when the power of God will be experienced in great measure, surpassing any other time in history.

Pre-Tribulation Rapture (“pre-trib”) – The unbiblical teaching that says the rapture occurs before the Great Tribulation. This popular teaching claims that Christians will not go through the Tribulation to escape God’s wrath. It is based on a fundamentally wrong view of the Great Tribulation as a time when God’s judgments could come on the saints if they were on earth.

Rapture - The “catching away” of God’s people in the air when Jesus returns. It comes from the Latin word “raptus” which means “catching away” (1 Thes. 4:13-18). The rapture occurs at the time of the seventh trumpet which is the last trumpet (1 Cor. 15:50-52; Rev. 11:15). In this glorious event, Christians who have died will be resurrected and rise from their graves to meet Jesus in the sky. Then, Christians alive on earth will ascend to meet Jesus in the sky.

Replacement Theology – An unbiblical teaching stating that the Jews have been rejected by God and thus replaced by the church as the “true Israel” which now inherits the national promises that God gave to the nation of Israel (Rom. 9-11).

Restrainer – The forces that restrain the Antichrist will be taken out of the way to allow him to come to a place of international political power. This restraining force refers to a combination of two forces referred to by Paul as “someone” and “something” that now restrains the Antichrist (2 Thes. 2:6-8). He described the restrainer of the Antichrist as a “what” (neuter in v. 6) and as a “He” (masculine in v. 7). Thus, the restraining force is a “what” and a “He” working together. Paul taught that the power of the state is appointed by God to restrain evil (Rom. 13:1-4). The “what” that restrains the Antichrist is the power of the state and the “He” is God and His sovereign decree. Some wrongly teach that the Holy Spirit is the restrainer that is removed when the Church is raptured before the Great Tribulation. If that were true then no-one could be saved in the Great Tribulation because it takes the work of the Holy Spirit moving on an unbeliever’s heart for them to be saved.

Second Coming of Christ – The time when Jesus will come back physically to rule permanently on the earth. He will travel across the earth in the sky so that every eye clearly sees Him in every nation of the earth (Rev. 1:7). At this time, the bodies of believers will be instantly transformed as they meet Jesus in the air. This will happen at the seventh trumpet which is the last trumpet (Isa 27:13; Zech 9:14; Mt. 24:31; 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thes 4:16; Rev. 10:7; 11:15).

Second Coming Procession – The three-stage process of the return of Jesus traveling first across the sky so that every eye sees Him (Rev. 1:7), then through the land of Edom which is modern-day Jordan (Isa. 63:1-6; Hab. 3:3-16) as He marches up to Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives (Ps. 24:7-10; Zech. 14:4 ; Rev. 19:17-21).

Seven Heads – From Dan. 2:41-42; 7:7; Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 17:3-6. Seven world empires throughout history that persecuted Israel. They are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, and the revived Roman Empire.

Ten Horns – Speaks of a future ten-nation confederation of ten kings that rule simultaneously over their own nation. They come into an enthusiastic agreement or partnership together under the Antichrist’s authority (Dan. 2:41-42; 7:7, 20, 24; 11:36-45; Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 7, 12, 16).

Throne of Glory - Jesus will establish His throne of glory on earth in the Jerusalem Temple (Mt. 25:31-32; Jer. 3:17). It will be connected to the Holy of Holies in the millennial temple (Ezek. 43:4-7; Zech. 6:12-13). Jesus’ throne will connect heaven and earth together since His one throne is also located in the New Jerusalem which descends to the earth above earthly Jerusalem during the millennial kingdom (Rev. 22:3; Ps. 48:1-6).

Tribulation/Great Tribulation – Some refer to the Tribulation as the entire seven-year period just before Jesus returns. However, Jesus specifically referred to the last three and a half years of that seven-year period as the Great Tribulation (Mt. 24:21, 29; Mk. 13:24; Rev. 7:14). It is also referred to as the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jer. 30:4-7). The main focus of the Great Tribulation is the release of God’s judgments on the Antichrist. These judgments will be released through the praying Church on earth (Rev. 6-19). The saints will not come under God’s judgments but will be the ones releasing them on the Antichrist, just as Moses released God’s judgments on Pharaoh (Ex. 7-12). A secondary theme of the Great Tribulation is the Antichrist’s persecution of the saints.

Two Witnesses – Two prophets who will operate in the power of God in a very remarkable way during the Great Tribulation (Rev. 11:3-6). They will oppose the Antichrist and proclaim the message of the Gospel. Although their actual identities are unknown, some speculate that they are Moses and Elijah or possibly Enoch.

by: Mike Bickle, IHOP Kansas City

Some teach that the Church will be raptured before the events that begin in Revelation 4:1. This teaching is based on the argument that since the term Church is not used in chapters 4–21 of Revelation, the Church must no longer be on earth at that time. However, this assumption is based on silence rather than on Scripture. There is much evidence in Revelation that the saints are living and functioning on earth during the tribulation.

A. The great harvest of souls from all nations occurs during the tribulation. The Church will not be absent at the time of our greatest increase and effectiveness in evangelism.

Behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne…14 These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev. 7:9, 14)
This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matt. 24:14)

B. The saints will overcome Satan and the Antichrist with great victory during the tribulation.

They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Rev. 12:11)

I saw…those who have the victory over the beast (Antichrist), over his image and over his mark…standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. (Rev. 15:2)

C. Some saints will be martyred during the tribulation. The Church must be on earth at that time.
For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets… (Rev. 16:6)

I saw the woman (Harlot Babylon), drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. (Rev. 17:6)

In her (Harlot Babylon) was found the blood of prophets and saints… (Rev. 18:24)

He has avenged on her (Harlot Babylon) the blood of His servants shed by her. (Rev. 19:2)

Rejoice…you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her! (Rev. 18:20)

How long…until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? 11…they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. (Rev. 6:10–11)

I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast (Antichrist)… (Rev. 20:4)

D. Satan and the Antichrist will war against the saints during the tribulation.

The dragon (Satan) was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Rev. 12:17)

It was granted to him (Antichrist) to make war with the saints…10 Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. (Rev. 13:7, 10)

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. 13…Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. (Rev. 14:12–13)

E. The 144,000 Jewish servants of God are followers of Jesus.

Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads…4 One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed… (Rev. 7:3–4)

One hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads…3 were redeemed from the earth. 4 These…follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
(Rev. 14:1–4)

They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. (Rev. 9:4)

F. The saints’ prayers during the tribulation will release the trumpet judgments.

Another angel…was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints…4 The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. (Rev. 8:3–5)

G. Jesus comes back to earth in answer to the prayer of saints crying out for His return.

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” (Rev. 22:17)

H. Prophetic ministry will increase greatly during the tribulation (Rev. 11:3–6, 10, 18; 16:6; 18:20, 24; 22:6–9; Joel 2:28–32; Acts 2:17–21; Eph. 4:13; Dan. 11:33–35; 12:10). The seven thunders prophecies were sealed in John’s generation with the intention of being released during the tribulation to the end-time prophets.

When the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.” (Rev. 10:4)

I. The two witnesses or prophets will be born-again believers.

I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy 1,260 days… (Rev. 11:3)

These two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. (Rev. 11:10)

J. Calculating the number of the Antichrist will only be relevant to those living in the tribulation.

Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Rev. 13:18)

K. Believers who watch and prayer until the time of the bowl judgments (Rev. 16) will be blessed instead of suffering loss at the time of Jesus’ Second Coming.

Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” (Rev. 16:15)

L. Only those on earth during the events prophesied by John are in a position to keep the prophecy.

Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” (Rev. 22:7)

M. An angel commands God’s people to leave Babylon just prior to her final judgment in Rev. 18.

I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. (Rev. 18:4)

N. Jesus’ bride is prepared in the context of the final judgment of Babylon during the tribulation (Rev. 19:1-10). An angel revealed to Daniel that the saints would be purified during the pressures of the tribulation (Dan. 11:33–35; 12:10)

For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Rev. 19:7)

Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly…but the wise shall understand. (Dan. 12:10)

100 Most Frequently Asked Questions about the End Times

1. Why is it important that we study the End Times and the Book of Revelation?
Studying what the Bible has to say about the future, empowers us to be victorious in love and power during the most glorious and difficult time in history. It prepares us to actively participate under Jesus in the end-time events and to rightly interpret Jesus’ leadership in the coming global crisis, instead of being offended by Him (Mt. 11:6). Studying the End Times awakens urgency in us for intercession, knowing that our prayers may minimize evil and increase victory. Understanding end-time Scriptures strengthens our confidence in God’s sovereignty by knowing that He is in control and is never surprised (Joel 2:13-14; Zeph. 2:3; Mt. 11:6; 24:4; Phil. 1:10; Rev. 12:11).

2. How much does the Scripture say about the End Times?
Most of the prophets spoke about the future “Day of the Lord” which relates to the events of Jesus’ coming. See our article entitled “150 End-Time Chapters”.

3. How do we know the end-time Scriptures were not fulfilled in 70 AD?
The events of 70 AD do not fulfill most of the details of many Scriptures about the Great Tribulation. For example, Revelation 13 requires a talking image, the mark of the beast, a healed head-wound, mandatory worldwide worship of the Antichrist and a false prophet. Jesus said the Great Tribulation would not happen until after we see the abomination of desolation, standing in the holy place for exactly 1,290 days which would result in the threat of every human being killed (Dan. 12:11). Nothing close to this scenario happened in the first Jewish revolt against Rome (66-73 AD), when Jerusalem and the second temple were destroyed in 70 AD, ending at Masada (73 AD). In the second Jewish revolt against Rome 500,000 Jews were killed, in addition to the destruction of 1,000 villages (132-135 AD). The fifty million babies aborted each year worldwide, overshadow both 70 AD and WWII.

4. What is the Great Tribulation and how long is it?
It is the time period just prior to Jesus’ return to earth (Dan. 12:1; Mt. 24:21-22; Mk. 13:19-27). In this time frame, God will release unprecedented judgments on the Antichrist’s kingdom as seen in Revelation 6; 8-9; 16. It is three and a half years in duration (Dan. 7:25; 12:7; Rev. 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5).

5. Will the Church be on earth during the Great Tribulation?
The Church will absolutely be on the earth during the Great Tribulation. Jesus’ Bride will partner with Him in this very important time of history at the very climax of this age.

6. What is the Church’s role in the Great Tribulation?
The Church will participate in the release of God’s judgments under Jesus’ leadership through the unified global prayers of faith (Ps. 149:6-9; Mt. 18:18-19; Jn. 14:12; Rev. 8:4; 22:17). The End Times is the Church’s finest hour where miracles will occur and supernatural prophetic direction will be released. The miracles of Acts and Exodus will be multiplied and combined on a global level (Mic. 7:15).

7. How do I prepare for these events?
The key to preparing is to consistently and prayerfully study what the scriptures say about the End Times. Jesus called this “watching”. Daniel received revelation of God’s prophetic purposes for this generation by diligently studying what God’s Word said about it (Jer. 29:10-14). He embraced a lifestyle of Bible study with prayer and fasting (Dan. 9:2-4) to receive “skill to understand” (Dan. 9:22).

8. How can we know when Jesus is coming if He says in Matthew 24:36 that “no one knows the day or the hour”?
Jesus did not say we could not know the season or the conditions surrounding His coming. Neither did Jesus say that the Church would not know the day and hour in the generation the Lord returns. We must seek the Father’s word as to when this begins because only the Father knows. God did not want to make the day and hour known in the early Church, but Daniel and the Apostle John made it clear the Messiah would come exactly 1,260 days after the abomination of desolation (Dan. 7:25; 12:7; Rev. 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5).

9. During the end-time “falling away”, why will believers reject Jesus?
Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 that people are condemned because (1) they do not love the truth; and (2) they take pleasure in unrighteousness. Paul explains to Timothy that those who depart from the faith will do so after “giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1). A few years later, Paul adds that, “they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Tim. 4:3). Paul describes this type of believer (and unbeliever) in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. The central issue is that they are lovers of themselves. The victorious believer in Revelation 12:11 will overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and the fact that they did not love their lives to the death.

10. Why is the Book of Revelation important?
This book gives us more information on the End Times than any other book in Scripture. It has a special purpose in equipping God’s people to participate with Jesus’ end-time plan and to overcome with victory in the Great Tribulation. It is the “prayer manual” for the end-time Church.

11. How can we tell if a passage in Revelation is symbolic or if it should be taken literally?
The general rule is that Revelation means what it says and says what it means (common sense reading), unless an angel explains it otherwise. We interpret a passage symbolically when it is clearly indicated by the text. For example, in Revelation 1:20, the angel tells John the seven lamp stands are symbolic of seven churches.

12. Do other commentaries refer to the parenthetical sections as interrupting the chronological story line?
Yes, many throughout history have understood the structure of Revelation in this way.

13. What is the special significance of the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3 for us today?
Jesus identified the issues that would most challenge the end-time Church and then addressed them by strategically selecting seven churches in the first century that were challenged in those very same ways.

14. Are we able to know the signs of the times?
Yes, Jesus commanded the people who lived in the generation of His return to know the signs (Mt. 24:32-44). Jesus rebuked those who did not heed the prophetic signs that pointed to His coming (Mt. 16:1-4; Lk. 19:41-44). Prophetic signs serve the Church in the same way a weather station signals coming trouble so that people can prepare and save lives.

15. Can the signs of the times be understood?
Yes. The scriptures on the End Times and the signs of the times were written to be understood by all since the majority of people throughout history have been uneducated peasants. The Scripture was written for them. Jesus and Paul emphasized the know-ability of the prophetic signs of the End Times (Mt. 24:32-34; Lk. 21:25-29; 1 Thes. 5:1-6; 2 Thes. 2:1-11). The lie is that we are not to know the times and seasons of His return (Acts 1:7-8).

16. How much information does the Bible provide on the signs of the times?
There is more prophetic evidence about Jesus’ second coming than any other prophetic event in the Bible. The End Times is the most written-about subject in all of Scripture. There are over 150 chapters in the Bible in which the majority of the chapter is about the End Times.

17. Is it true that every generation believed they were living in the generation the Lord returns?
It is a common misperception that most generations believed they were in the End Times. It is true that a very small group (less than one percent) of every generation might have thought they were at the end. Only once has there been a universal sense that was sustained over decades that it was the time of the end, and that was during the generation of the first apostles.

18. How long is a biblical generation?
A generation in Scripture ranges from forty to 100 years (Gen. 15:13-16; Num. 32:13; Ps. 90:10; Mt. 1:17; Acts 7:6). Moses spoke of Israel’s captivity in Egypt as lasting 400 years or four generations (Gen. 15:13). Thus, a generation could refer to 100 years. There were fourteen generations from Abraham to David covering nearly 1,000 years (Mt. 1:17). These fourteen generations averaged about seventy years. Adding eighty years to 1948 brings us to 2028.

19. How can we be confident that we are living in the generation the Lord returns?
There are many biblical trends that reveal “the season or generation” of His coming (Mt. 24:4-8). They include the emergence of global prayer (Isa. 56:7), the increase of knowledge (Dan. 12:4), the revelation of the bridal paradigm (Rev. 22:17), the great harvest from all nations (Mt. 24:14; Rev. 7:9), and the increase of wickedness (Dan. 8:23; Rev. 14:9).

20. What is Daniel’s seventy weeks (Dan. 9:24-27)?
The angel Gabriel revealed to Daniel that God’s purpose for Israel involved a prophetic period of seventy weeks. In the modern world a week speaks of a period of seven days. However, in the ancient world a week represented a period of seven years. Gabriel spoke to Daniel about a prophetic period in which God would deal with Israel’s salvation over seventy weeks or 490 years (70 x 7 years = 490 years). However, after the initial sixty-nine weeks (69 x 7 years = 483 years), a “pause” was put on the prophetic calendar when Jesus the Messiah was “cut off” or crucified. There is one week or seven years left in God’s prophetic calendar and plan in bringing Israel to salvation. The first sixty-nine weeks of the “seventy weeks” prophecy of Daniel 9:24-26 have been fulfilled beginning from Nehemiah’s command to rebuild the city of Jerusalem in 445 BC (Neh. 2:1) to the time of Jesus’ first triumphal entry into Jerusalem to be crucified (Dan. 9:25).

21. What is the beginning of the birth pangs?
The birth pangs occur in a significant prophetic period in which Jesus predicted that there would be twelve worldwide trends all occurring in the same generation (Mt. 24:4-8; Mk. 13:5-8, Lk. 21:7-18). Matthew gives seven major trends: false christs, wars, ethnic conflict, economic warfare, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. Luke describes five more: commotions, fearful sights, great signs from heaven, distress in the nations and roaring waves. The Greek word birth pangs is translated as sorrows in the NKJV. It is to be compared with the increasing trauma a woman experiences during childbirth.

22. How do we know when the final seven years of this age start?
It begins with a covenant made between the Antichrist and the nations, bringing peace and safety as Paul prophesied in 1 Thessalonians 5:3 (Isa. 28:14-18; Ezek. 38:8-12, 14; 39:26; Dan. 8:24-25; 9:27; 11:21, 45; Zech. 11:16; Jn. 5:43; Lk. 19:11-28).

23. How will we know that the Antichrist is coming into power?
The main sign is the abomination of desolation when the Antichrist stands in the temple of Jerusalem proclaiming himself as God (Mt. 24:15, 2 Thes. 2:4).

24. Is there a mathematical calculation that people need to figure out regarding 666 (Rev 13:18)?
The exhortation to understand the mark of the beast will become increasingly relevant as the End Times approach. It will be obvious who the Antichrist is after he takes his seat in the temple claiming to be God (2 Thes. 2:4). We will not be able to “calculate” it before that time. Some believe that calculating the number will involve the ancient practice of gematria which was used to hide messages in numbers by substituting numbers for letters of the alphabet in order to give a numerical value to the letters, for example, “a” stands for 1; “b” for 2; “j” for 10; and so on.

25. What does the “number of man” signify?
Seven is the number of perfection. Six is the number of man that falls short of perfection. Three is the number of God and three sixes speak of the satanic trinity (Satan, Antichrist and False Prophet).

26. When does the final three and a half years start?
It is marked by the abomination of desolation (Mt. 24:15; Mk. 13:14; 2 Thes. 2:3-4; Rev. 13:12-18).

27. What is the abomination of desolation?
This occurs when the Antichrist stands in the Jerusalem temple and declares himself to be God by setting up an idol in the temple and then seeking to force all who are on earth to worship him (Dan. 11:31-32; Mt. 24:15; 2 Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:14-17). The Antichrist’s statue or image will be the greatest abomination to God in history, because the Antichrist will demand to be worshipped as God and many will fully respond to this demand.

28. When is the abomination of desolation set up?
It will start the final three and a half years of natural history. It will occur after the Antichrist puts a stop to the sacrifices in the temple. The desolation will occur in two different ways. First, the Antichrist will seek to desolate or destroy any who refuse to worship him. Second, God will desolate or destroy in judgment all those who yield to the pressure to worship the Antichrist. The abomination of desolation is referred to seven times in Scripture, five times by Daniel (Dan. 8:13; 9:26, 27; 11:31; 12:11) and twice by Jesus (Mt. 24:15; Mk. 13:14).

29. Will the abomination of desolation in the temple be alive?
The False Prophet will command all to make an image (statue) related to worshipping the Antichrist (Rev. 13:14, 15; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4). He will cause the image to speak and breathe.

30. Who is the restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7?
The restrainer is a combination of two forces that currently restrain the Antichrist, referred to as something and someone by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8. These forces will be removed to allow the Antichrist to come to a place of international political power. Paul describes the restrainer of the Antichrist as a what (neuter in v. 6) and as a He (masculine in v. 7). Thus, the restraining force is a what and a He working together. Paul taught that the power of the state is appointed by God to restrain evil (Rom. 13:1-4). The power of the state is what and the He is God and His sovereign decree. Some wrongly teach that the Holy Spirit is the restrainer who is removed when the Church is raptured before the Great Tribulation. If that is true, then nobody could be saved in the Great Tribulation because it takes the work of the Holy Spirit moving on an unbeliever’s heart in order for salvation to occur.

31. How do you know the horseman of the first seal judgment is the Antichrist?
The rider of the white horse has a crown (political prominence, Rev. 13:1-2, 7), a bow (military authority), and he is a successful conqueror. The nations have been enjoying a counterfeit worldwide peace (1 Thes. 5:3). This will end after the opening of the first seal, the fall of Babylon and the abomination of desolation. The color white symbolizes righteousness because his reign initially appears righteous. He is the counterfeit to Jesus who rides a white horse with truth (Rev. 19:11). It would be out of place to say the rider of this white horse is Jesus when the other three horses have negative judgment events that involve sinful actions of men. Jesus is gloriously pictured in Revelation in splendor in three places (Rev. 1:12-18; 14:14-16; 19:11-16). There are significant differences between the white horse riders in Revelation 6:2 and Revelation 19:11-16.

32. Do the first four seals describe the result of the Antichrist’s activity?
Yes. Each seal leads to the unfolding of the next seal. For example, the rise of the Antichrist in the first seal (Rev. 6:2) leads us to a world war in the second seal, which in turn causes famine and economic crisis in the third seal and calamity in the fourth seal. Jesus releases the seal judgments against the harlot and the nations that align with her.

33. Who are the two witnesses?
The two witnesses are prophets who will preach with great power and release God’s judgments against the Antichrist’s empire in the Great Tribulation.

34. Who is the prince who is to come of Daniel 9:26?
He is the Antichrist who makes a covenant with many nations including Israel (Dan. 9:27).

35. Who is the beast in Revelation 13:1-8?
He is the Antichrist.

36. Why is the Antichrist called the beast?
His character is like a wild animal. He will be unreasonable, ferocious, cruel and without reason or mercy. The term beast is used thirty-six times to describe the Antichrist (Rev. 11:7; 13:1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2, 10, 13; 17:3, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17; 19:19, 20; 20:4, 10).

37. What do the four beasts in Daniel 7 represent?
Most scholars agree that the vision of Daniel 7 predicts four successive ancient empires (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome) described as four beasts. These empires played a key role in Israel’s history between 605 BC when Israel went into Babylonian captivity to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

38. What are the seven heads?
The heads refers to seven empires from world history.

39. What are the ten horns?
The horns speak of a future ten-nation confederation that will work closely with the Antichrist in the End Times (Rev. 17:11-13, 17).

40. Who is the other beast in Rev. 13:11?
He is the false prophet.

41. What are the “two horns like a lamb” on the second beast symbolic of?
Why is the false prophet displayed as he is (Rev. 13:11)? These two horns represent the false prophet’s demonic power that is probably displayed in religion and in economics. He will use his power behind the façade of being like a mild and gentle lamb.

42. Who are the 144,000 of Revelation 7 and 14?
The 144,000 are ethnic Jews that are sealed to be protected from God’s judgments in the Book of Revelation.

43. What is the third woe?
There are three “woes” that happen in chronological order and are the fifth, sixth, and seventh trumpets (Rev. 8:13). The third woe is the seventh trumpet which involves the release of the seven bowl judgments.

44. What is the little book in Revelation 10?
It is a book that contains key prophetic information for the End Times. This may be the same book with the same prophetic information that Daniel received in Daniel 12. Daniel sealed up comparable prophetic information with an angel of similar glory and a corresponding oath related to the final three and a half years (Dan. 12:4-10). The little book is not the same book taken from the Father by Jesus (Rev. 5:7).

45. What are the seven thunders of Revelation 10?
They are seven prophetic messages that the Lord will strategically reveal to the end-time Church. They have been sealed up until the End Times like some of Daniel’s prophetic words (Dan. 12:9).

46. What is the bottomless pit?
It is a temporary prison from which the Antichrist ascends during the tribulation (Rev. 11:7, 17:8). The demonic locusts seen in the fifth trumpet come from this pit (Rev. 9:1-2, 11). It is also the place where Satan will be bound for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1-3).

47. When will Jesus rapture the Church?
The Rapture will occur in association with the last trumpet (Isa. 27:13; 1 Cor. 15:50-52; 1 Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 10:7; 11:15-17). The last trumpet is the last in a series of seven trumpets as seen in Revelation 8-9.

48. What is dispensationalism?
It is the belief that world history is divided into seven different times or dispensations. It includes an understanding of the End Times that was developed by John Darby starting in 1830 and made popular by the Scofield Reference Bible. It teaches about a “secret rapture” of God’s people before the Tribulation, thus teaching that the Church does not go through the Tribulation. The theological idea of dispensationalism is less than 200 years old. The belief that there is a “secret rapture” of the church is a serious error that causes people to be unprepared for the darkest and most glorious hour of history.

49. What does it mean to believe in the pre-tribulation rapture?
Pre means before so to be pre-trib means one believes that Christians will be raptured before the Great Tribulation begins. We believe that Scripture does not support the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church.

50. Who are the ones taken from the field and who are those left behind in Matthew 24:38-42?
The context of this passage describes those taken in judgment in a sudden and unexpected manner. These will be “swept away” in death by God’s judgment coming on the earth. Many people in Noah’s day were surprised by the flood of judgment that killed them. In the same manner, many will ignore the signs that Jesus described in Matthew 24:3-35. Jesus told them clearly that those taken were taken by death to the place the eagle or vultures will eat them.

34 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” 37 And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?” So He said to them, “Wherever the body (dead carcass) is, there the eagles (vultures) will be gathered together.” (Lk. 17:34-37)

51. What does it mean to believe in the post-tribulation rapture?
Since post means after, to believe in the post-tribulation rapture means you believe Christians will be raptured at the end of the Great Tribulation at the Second Coming of Jesus. The Bible explicitly teaches this. After describing the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24:15-26, Jesus states when believers will be raptured in Matthew 24:29-31.

29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Mt. 24:29-31)

52. When does Jesus’ Second Coming happen?
Jesus returns at the seventh trumpet or the last trumpet (1 Cor. 15:52; Rev. 10:7; 11:15-19). The Second Coming procession involves a three-stage process including many events occurring during thirty-day period (compare Rev. 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5; Dan. 7:25; 12:7 with Dan. 12:11). In His procession, Jesus first travels across the sky to rapture the saints as He is seen by every eye (Rev. 1:7). He will march through the land of Edom (modern-day Jordan; Isa. 63:1-6) and then He will march into Jerusalem to be officially received by the leaders in the nation of Israel (Mt. 23:37-39) on to the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4).

53. How do we know that the second coming procession will take thirty days?
The tribulation will be three and a half years, which is 1,260 days (Rev. 11:3; 12:6) or forty-two months (Rev. 11:2; 13:5). Daniel 12:11 tells us, however, that though the tribulation lasts 1,260 days, the abomination of desolation is set up for 1,290 days. In other words, the tribulation of the saints lasts thirty days less than the time the Antichrist is on the earth. The question then is, “why the extra thirty days?” According to 1 Corinthians 15:52, Jesus will come at the last trumpet, which is the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15. The seven bowls of wrath will follow while the believers are with Jesus during those extra thirty days.

54. Where will Jesus and the saints be during these thirty days?
During the thirty days, several things will be happening with the believers, as seen in Matthew 24:31; 1 Thessalonians 4:17 and Revelation 11:15-18. The saints will be gathered together in the sky to receive their resurrected bodies, be evaluated and rewarded by Jesus, and then organized and mobilized for the battle of Jerusalem which results in the hostile takeover of the governments of all the nations on earth. This is when Jesus marches up from Edom (Jordan; Isa. 63:1-6) to Israel, as the “greater Moses”, releasing the bowl judgments on the Antichrist as the end-time Pharaoh. He marches into Jerusalem to liberate Israel and kill the Antichrist and his armies, thus ending the abomination of desolation (Rev. 19:11-21). The saints will be involved in this. These dramatic events will take thirty days from the rapture of the Church to Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to be received as the King of kings.

55. How do we know that Jesus is not returning first to the Mount of Olives?
Some people assume that Jesus will come to the Mount of Olives first upon His return. There is nothing in Zechariah 14:4 stating that Jesus will come to the Mount of Olives first; it just says that he does come there. When he does come there, He will split the mountain and provide an escape route for Jews trapped in Jerusalem by the armies surrounding them. Isaiah 19:1 tells us that “…the Lord rides on a swift cloud into Egypt first”. Isaiah 63:1-6 tells us that Jesus will march through Bozrah en route to deliver the Jews at the Mount of Olives.

56. Will every eye see Jesus at the same time in the sky?
Do we all see the sky split at the same time? No, every eye will not see Jesus at the same time when He descends from heaven at the Second Coming. In order for every eye to see him, Jesus would have to be a 500-foot man and the earth would have to go completely flat. Jesus is returning as a real man traveling in real time and space.

57. Who is the woman in Revelation 12?
She is the faithful remnant of Israel throughout history.

58. Will there be an actual war in the heavens (Rev. 12)?
Yes, war will break out between Satan and Michael the archangel. The result is that Satan will be cast to the earth. The war will happen at the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Satan now operates in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12).

59. What is the mark of the beast?
The False Prophet causes all to receive a public mark on the right hand or forehead (Rev. 13:8; 14:9-12; 15:2; 16:2; 17:8; 19:20; 20:4). No one may buy or sell (basic necessities of life such as food, electricity, etc.) except one who has the mark. Economic survival will be the issue. To refuse the mark is to be refused all benefits of the social institutions. The mark being on the right hand or forehead makes those who have refused to take it obvious to all. The mark will be required and will have severe penalties socially and economically. This will result in relational and economic conflict and pressure on a daily basis. However, to take this mark is to become demonized and reprobate, ending in eternal judgment (Rev. 14:9-11). The mark is a mark of loyalty and worship.

60. What if I took the mark of the beast to feed my family? Will God have mercy on me?
No! Revelation 14:9-11, says clearly that those who receive the mark of the beast will suffer eternal damnation! Taking the mark is an act of satanic worship; Paul warns us in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, of a falling away that will occur in the End Times.

61. Are the people represented by the “grapes” in Revelation 14:18-20 the same people who are killed by the bowls of wrath in Revelation 16?
Yes.

62. How does Christ tread the winepress?
This is an eschatological winepress (Isa. 63:1-4; Rev. 14:17-20; 19:13) in which Jesus gathers the evil leaders of the earth to Jerusalem to kill them. The “wine” that will flow from this winepress is their blood. The blood on His robe during this treading of the winepress denotes His intimate involvement in the judgment process. It also makes a public statement that He fully believes in the judgments He is releasing whereby so many people are killed.

63. How can a God who does not lie send “strong delusion” to unbelievers?
God doesn’t send the “delusion” upon innocent people, but on unbelievers who refuse to receive the love of the truth (Rom. 9:20-23; 2 Thes. 2:10; 1 Tim. 4:1-2).

64. Is it human blood that flows in Revelation 14:20?
Yes. It is going to be a mixture of both human blood and animal blood in the context of a great rain storm (Ezek. 38:22) causing a river of blood to run nearly 200 miles (the distance from Megiddo in the north to Bozrah in the south).

19 The angel…gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 The winepress was trampled…and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for 1,600 furlongs (200 miles). (Rev. 14:19-20)

65. How do we see the mercy of God in the midst of such severe judgments?
It is an expression of great mercy that Jesus will take action to drive evil and oppression off the planet. The principle of judgment is: God is using the least severe means to reach the greatest number at the deepest level of love without violating anyone’s free will.

66. What is the harlot Babylon?
It is an evil system that will function as the center of worldwide demonic religious and economic networks, preparing the earth to receive the Antichrist (Isa. 13-14; 21; Jer. 50-51; Rev. 17-18).

67. Where is Babylon, the city going to be?
It will likely be the rebuilt city of Babylon in the land of Shinar (modern-day Iraq, 50 miles south of Baghdad) along the Euphrates River (Zech. 5:11).

68. Why do the ten kings hate the harlot in Revelation 17:15?
The Harlot establishes a unified, powerful, worldwide religion with great influence and wealth that will provoke the ten kings to jealousy.

69. Will the temple be rebuilt in Jerusalem in the End Times?
The Bible describes two temples being rebuilt in Jerusalem. The first one will be functional some time before the Great Tribulation and is often referred to as the “Tribulation Temple”. This temple will be desecrated by the Antichrist as he brings an end to all Jewish sacrifices, and sets up the abomination of desolation, and proclaims himself to be God (Mt. 24:15; Mk.13:14, cf. Dan. 9:27; 2 Thes. 2:3-4). After Jesus returns, He will build another temple described by Ezekiel (Ezek.40-48) which will become the seat of His earthly government during the Millennial Kingdom (Zech. 6:12-13). This temple is sometimes called the “Millennial Temple”.

70. What is the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jer. 30:7)?
This refers to the Great Tribulation immediately preceding Israel’s national salvation. Both Daniel and Jesus refer to this time as the greatest time of trouble that Israel will ever know (Dan. 12:1; Mt. 24:21-22).

71. The forty-two months is three and a half years, but how does 1,260 days equal three and a half years?
The Jewish calendar is different from today’s 365-day Gregorian calendar. There are 360 days in a Jewish year. We can compare the following passages to see the different terminology used to describe the Antichrist’s oppression of the Church and Israel for three and a half years. For example, the Antichrist will be given authority to continue against Israel and the Church for forty-two months. (Rev. 13:5). The Gentiles under the Antichrist’s leadership will oppress Jerusalem for forty-two months (Rev. 11:2). The two witnesses prophesy in Jerusalem for 1,260 days (Rev. 11:3). The remnant of Israel will be hidden from the Antichrist in the wilderness for 1,260 days (Rev. 12:6) which is also described as time, times and half a time (Rev. 12:14). The Antichrist will be given authority to continue against the saints for time, times and half a time or three and a half years (Dan. 7:25). Israel’s strength will be completely shattered after three and a half years or time, times and half a time (Dan. 12:7). The term time refers to one year, times refers to two years and half a time speaks of half of a year.

72. Are there cities of refuge in the End Times?
Cities of refuge in the Old Testament referred to towns in Israel where those who unintentionally killed someone could claim the right of asylum. This idea of a city of protection is used by some today yet with a different application. In Zephaniah 2:3, the prophet tells the people to “Seek righteousness and humility because God may hide us in the day of His judgments.” Believers are not appointed to suffer God’s wrath (1 Thes. 5:9-10). Believers partner with God in releasing His judgments. Goshen is an example of a geographic area that was protected from God’s wrath during the plagues on Egypt in the days of Moses (Ex. 9:26, 10:23).

73. In Daniel 12:7 it says “as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all of these events will be completed.”, so are the “holy people” referenced here Jews or Christians and is the power referenced here spiritual or natural power?
Daniel is told in Daniel 12:1 that there is a time of trouble coming unlike any other time in history and that in that time “your people” will be delivered. It is clear from the context that “your people” means Daniel’s people, Israel. At the end of the great trouble, the “holy people,” Israel, will have their power “completely shattered.” The angel is talking about their natural power in the sense of their national power to build, establish and protect the nation. God’s plan is to give Israel an exalted place in ruling the nations (Deut. 28). God will prepare Israel to handle this authority by training them in great meekness. They must be stripped of all pride before they are entrusted with this authority. Thus, the Lord will allow their power to be “completely shattered” that they might become completely dependent on God.

74. How is the salvation of Israel related to the fullness of the Gentiles?
The Gentiles, operating in the fullness of power, will be God’s means to provoke Israel to their salvation (Rom. 11:11). As the Gentiles operate in the fullness of the Spirit, Israel will become jealous of the anointing of grace and power in their lives.

75. When and how will all of Israel be saved?
The Jewish people will come to fullness and receive Jesus as their Messiah after the fullness of the Gentiles comes in (Rom. 11:25-26) at the end of the Great Tribulation. They will receive Jesus when He comes to deliver them from the Antichrist.

76. Does Romans 11:26 mean that every Jewish person alive when Jesus returns will get saved?
At the time of Jesus’ coming, Israel’s national salvation will include universal repentance and salvation (Zech. 12:10-14; 13:1; 3:9; Joel 2:32). All Israel in Romans 11:26 means every living Jewish person on earth at the time of Jesus’ Second Coming.

77. Who are the resisters?
Many people will be resisting the activities of the Antichrist as well as resisting salvation and will not join the Church or enter into salvation during that time. The Bible frequently refers to them as “those that are left” or “those who remain” in the nations after God’s judgments are completed. These will have an opportunity to be converted after Jesus returns and then populate the millennial earth. (Isa. 4:3; 10:20; 11:11; 49:6; 65:8; 66:19; Jer. 31:2; Ezek. 20:38-42; 36:36; Dan. 12:1; Joel 2:32; Amos 9:9-10; Zech. 12:14; 13:8; 14:16).

78. When will the resurrection take place?
The Bible describes two resurrections at the end of the age. Believers will rise at the time of Jesus’ coming, at the seventh trumpet (Lk. 14:14; 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thes. 4:5-18; Rev. 11:15; 20:4-5). These resurrected saints will rule with Jesus for 1,000 years as He restores all things (Rev. 2:26-27; 20:4-6). The “rest of the dead” will rise at the end of the Millennial Kingdom for judgment (Rev. 20:5).

79. When are the saints judged?
They are judged at the time of the seventh trumpet (Rev. 11:18) at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:11-15). The Greek word for judgment seat of Christ is bema seat or the place to receive a reward (2 Cor. 5:10).

80. Are hell and the lake of fire the same place?
No. Hell is the temporary place where unbelievers go until the final judgment takes place after the Millennial Kingdom in Revelation 20:15. The lake of fire is the final place of judgment for the Antichrist, False Prophet, Satan, demons and all unbelievers (Rev. 20:15). Unbelievers will take part in the resurrection of condemnation (Jn. 5:29), enduring eternal torment of body and soul.

81. When does the marriage supper of the Lamb take place?
It may occur after the rapture when Jesus celebrates His wedding to the redeemed as His Bride (Rev. 19:7-10). Some believe that it will last the entire 1,000 years of the Millennial Kingdom. However, the Bible is not clear as to when this event takes place, possibly because it is an event that may take place over time, not in one moment.

82. Who rules and reigns in the Millennial Kingdom?
Jesus, as King of Kings, will personally govern a worldwide kingdom from Jerusalem in partnership with resurrected saints, establishing a biblically-based social order (Mt. 19:28; 20:21-23; 25:23; Lk. 19:17-19; 22:29-30; Rom. 8:17; 1 Cor. 6:2-3; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6; 22:5). The saints’ roles in the Millennium are as priests (intercessory worship) and kings (ruling). In Revelation, the saints are called kings who reign on the earth (Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 22:5) and priests (Isa. 61:6; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6). Priests will worship, intercede and mediate the knowledge of God to others (non-resurrected people on the millennial earth, to saints and angels in the New Jerusalem, etc.). As kings, the saints will rule with a rod of iron and will conduct war tribunals, judge, and administrate punishments on sinners. The rod of severity against sin will be used by Jesus with His saints (Ps. 2:9; Isa. 11:4; 24:23, 32:1; Jer. 30:21; Ezek. 45:8-9; Mt. 19:28; Rev. 2:27; 19:15; 12:5).

83. What is the purpose of Christ ruling the earth for 1,000 years?
The purpose is to prepare the earth to become an eternal dwelling place for the Father and the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:3).

84. Will all the wicked people of the Antichrist’s empire be killed when the saints begin to rule the nations at the start of the Millennium?
They will be killed but we are not sure how long it will take to gather all the nations before Him and then separate them from one another (Mt. 25:32). Judging the nations implies several stages of activity, which includes capturing, trying, sentencing and executing them.

85. Will the martyrs from the tribulation be the only ones who reign in the Millennium?
In Revelation 20:4, John saw thrones and a group of people sitting on them, and judgment was committed to them. This large group is comprised of the saints from all of history (Dan. 7:22, 25-27; Mt. 19:28; 20:21-23; 25:23; Lk. 19:17-19; 22:29-30; Rom. 8:17-18; 1 Cor. 6:2-3; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6; 22:5). Then John highlighted a smaller group within the large group. These beheaded martyrs are especially emphasized, but are only a part of the larger group that will be given authority to rule the nations.

86. What are the main expressions of God’s glory in the Millennium?
Jesus will bring together the supernatural, physical, political and relational dimensions of the Kingdom so that we eventually experience the fullness of the Father’s plan on earth forever. These aspects converge together in the Millennial Kingdom. The New Jerusalem coming to earth will bring the supernatural, eternal dimension. When the New Jerusalem comes to the millennial earth, then heaven is literally on earth. The garden of Eden will bring a physical paradise aspect including restoring the environment (agriculture, animals, atmosphere, etc.) along with physical pleasures. The kingdom of David will bring a political and social dimension of life (government, economy, education, family, arts, music, technology, travel, communication, etc.). The house of prayer in the millennial temple will be the center of the worldwide worship and prayer movement. This brings an intimate relational aspect.

87. Where will the saints live?
The saints’ residence will be in the New Jerusalem, yet they will rule with governmental responsibilities on earth. We liken this to senators who live in their home state with a governmental office in Washington, D.C. Paul said our citizenship is in heaven which is the New Jerusalem (Phil. 3:20–21).

88. How will those with resurrected bodies and natural bodies relate to one another in the Millennial Kingdom?
Resurrected saints will relate to but not fully co-mingle with those in natural bodies. Inhabitants on the millennial earth (with non-resurrected bodies) will work closely with saints with resurrected bodies. Marriage will continue among those in non-resurrected bodies. Those with resurrected bodies who live in the New Jerusalem will not be given to marriage. Jesus spoke with His disciples for forty days in His resurrected body (Acts 1:3). Even now, sometimes spirit beings (demons and angels) appear in the natural realm to interact with people in natural bodies.

89. Do people keep becoming Christians in the millennial reign?
Yes, people will keep becoming Christians in the millennial reign. Unsaved people who resist the Antichrist and survive the events of the Great Tribulation will still need to be converted and discipled in the ways of Jesus. This will be true for those born during the Millennium as well. Jerusalem will be the spiritual center of the millennial earth where both saved and unsaved people will go to learn the ways of Jesus (Isa. 2:3).

90. Will there be death in the Millennial Kingdom?
Yes. Isaiah reveals that although life spans will be lengthened considerably, humans will still die and must await the final resurrection of the dead (Isa. 65:17-25; Rev. 20:5-6, 11-15).

91. Will there be marriage in the Millennial Kingdom?
Yes, among those with natural bodies. The resurrected saints will not marry (Mt. 22.30), however, those who remain with natural bodies will still be able to marry and have children (Isa. 65.20).

92. In the millennial reign, will sin be given every opportunity to be manifest?
Scripture depicts Jesus ruling the nations with a rod of iron (Ps. 2:9; Rev. 19:15). He rules them with kindness, mercy, righteousness, justice, and great affection, but also with a firm hand in dealing with sin and rebellion among the nations (Zech. 14:16-21). There is not very much sin in society as Satan is bound during the 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1-3) and the earth is being progressively discipled and “Christianized” into the righteousness of Christ in obedience and meekness. God’s law will go forth to all nations from Jerusalem (Isa. 2:2-4).

93. Why is God going to release Satan after the 1,000 years (at the end of the Millennium, Rev. 20:7-9)?
Satan will once again be free to deceive the nations. Jesus allows the “snake” back in the garden to reveal man’s heart and God’s justice in judgment. God demonstrates the justice of His eternal judgments by showing that rehabilitation will not occur and that men rebel even in an ideal environment because they love sin. Men will not be able to blame their sin on their difficult circumstances. God will openly manifest the truth about the depth of human sin (called the mystery of lawlessness in 2 Thes. 2:7) and about Satan as being incurably evil. Satan deceives the nations, revealing that he was not rehabilitated or changed.

94. Where will the New Jerusalem descend in the Millennium?
It will descend to a place above millennial Jerusalem on Mt. Zion creating a vast governmental complex joined by a corridor of glory. This governmental center of heaven and earth is referred to as Jesus’ throne of glory (Mt. 19:28; 25:31). It is not clearly revealed as such, but is understood by implication when taking into account all the specific details of the prophetic Scriptures. It will be a vast, high city that connects with the earth. The New Jerusalem will descend to the millennial Jerusalem connecting the two Jerusalems. Jesus rules in heaven as the Son of God (heavenly Jerusalem) and on the earth as the Son of David (earthly Jerusalem). The New Jerusalem descending to earth will create a new situation in which the spiritual and natural realm will operate together dynamically. This will cause an open heaven over the earth as the veil is lifted. A tidal wave of glory will spread to all nations from millennial Jerusalem; this is the time in which all the earth will be filled the glory of the LORD (Hab. 2:14).

95. When will Jesus establish His throne?
At the Second Coming, Jesus will establish His throne of glory on the earth in Jerusalem (Mt. 25:31-32; Jer. 3:17). It will be connected to the Holy of Holies in the millennial temple (Ezek. 43:4-7).

96. Does Jesus have one throne or two?
Is it on the millennial earth or in the New Jerusalem? Yes! His throne of glory is both on earth and in heaven. It is one throne with two expressions. I suggest that Jesus’ throne of glory is a vast governmental complex with the far upper end extending into the New Jerusalem and the far lower end of it based in the millennial temple in Jerusalem in what I refer to as a corridor of glory between the two Jerusalems (Rev. 22:3).

97. When does the New Jerusalem come down from heaven?
The New Jerusalem descends from heaven to earth in two stages. The first is at the end of the Great Tribulation at the start of the millennial earth (Rev. 21:10). The second stage is when the New Jerusalem descends fully to the new earth (Rev. 21:2) after the Millennial Kingdom.

98. How do we know that the New Jerusalem will descend to the earth during the Millennial Kingdom?
There are four reasons the New Jerusalem is close to millennial Jerusalem yet not on the earth. First, millennial Jerusalem is about ten square miles or 4,500 rods times 4,500 rods (a rod is approximately 10.5 feet; Ezek. 45:6; 48:15-19, 30-35). The New Jerusalem is 1,380 miles (Rev. 21:16); thus it is too large for the ten-mile area of millennial Jerusalem. Most believe the unit of measure is rods (10.5 feet) not cubits. The NKJV adds the word cubits in italics to designate it is not in the original text. Second, the kings of the millennial earth come into the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:24-26). Third, the leaves in the New Jerusalem are for the healing of the millennial nations. Therefore, people on the millennial earth have access to these healing leaves (Rev. 22:2). Fourth, angels guard the entry to the city to keep sinners out (Rev. 21:12, 27; 22:14-15), as angels guarded the entrance to the Garden of Eden after Adam sinned Gen. 3:22-24).

99. What is the New Earth?
Will there be a literal new earth after the Millennium? Will the old earth disappear? The new earth is the permanent resting place of the New Jerusalem and will not disappear. A new earth speaks of this earth that God made at creation; the earth He called good. It will be the eternal home of the New Jerusalem, and God the Father—the heavenly realm.

100. Are heaven and earth completely destroyed?
When is the earth purged with fire? Theologians debate whether this present earth will be renovated (renewed) or annihilated after the Millennium. Heaven and earth will be purged with fire at the end of the Millennial Kingdom to cleanse them with fire from the effects of sin. This present earth will continue forever (1 Chr. 23:25; Ps. 37:29; 78:69; 104:5; 105:10-11; 125:1-2; 28:8; Isa. 60:21; Ezek. 37:25; Joel 3:20).

As I share the message of the promise of a great oil reserve, to be discovered in Israel in the last days as explained in our book “Breaking the Treasure Code; the Hunt for Israel’s Oil” a question sometimes arises about just what kind of oil the Bible means when it speaks of Jacob’s Blessing.  (Read More)