Act 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. Act 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; People where mocking the Christians saying they were drunk and Peter stood up and quote Joel explaining who they are.
Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: Act 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: Act 2:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: Act 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. In Joel we have the quoted verses.
Joe 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: Joe 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. Joe 2:30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. Joe 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. Joe 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. None of the quoted verses were actually fulfilled that day but Peter quoted this because it describes a panorama of the Church age. If you study the coming of the Lord you will notice that the sun and moon effects are synonymous with his coming which would be the end of the Church age or as some would call the dispensation of grace.
If you analyze Acts 2:21 and Joel 2:32 you will notice Peter only quotes half of the verse. The reason behind that is because the last part did not apply to the Church. When the Lord comes the day of grace will end, no longer can people call on the name of the Lord and be saved. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3) The word for in “for in
mount
Zion” can be translated several different ways. With the word for one may get the impression that people will not be delivered for this reason in
mount
Zion… The Hebrew word here is kee Stongs H3588 which appears in the Bible 1120 times and is half the time translated because but is also translated to different words that denote exception. It makes more sense that Joel was saying whoever calls upon the Lord and shall be saved will end at his appearing except the remnant of
Israel. Rom 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning
Israel, Though the number of the children of
Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
This also parallels Rev 6-7 with the 144,000 being gathered off the earth after the Lords appearing. Isiah 53
Eze 37:23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. Points of view
This creates some problems for those who hold this as being a pre-tribulation advent. In Revelation we read of those of the gentile nation who come out of the Great Tribulation. Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
This creates quite a dilemma for the idea of saints being in the tribulation. If the Lord Jesus appears prior to the tribulation all remaining saints get raptured and then only the remnant can be saved. How is it possible that saints of all nations and tongues could come out of Great Tribulation? However if Joel was talking about the normal advent that Jesus talked about then there is no problem.
Imminency contemplated
The following article is by a man named Thomas Ice.
His article can be found at http://www.according2prophecy.org/perhaps.html
The following article is on the teaching of the imminent return of Christ. Since I don’t believe this is true I feel obligated to state why. I will reply to each verse stated below and how I interpret them. I hope this will be a blessing to all who read. I hope this will help all readers perhaps this will force some to rethink there teachings perhaps others this will help strenthen there teaching. Regardless of your point of view or your point of view after reading this I believe this will be some help with your teaching.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
1) An imminent event is one which is always “hanging overhead, is constantly ready to befall or overtake one; close at hand in its incidence.” (“imminent,” The Oxford English Dictionary, 1901, V, 66.)
IMMINENCY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
The fact that Christ could return, but may not soon, at any moment, yet without the necessity of signs preceeding His return requires the kind of imminence taught by the pre-trib position and is a strong support for pretribulationism.
What New Testament passages teach this truth? Those verses stating that Christ could return at any moment, without warning and those instructing believers to wait and look for the Lord’s coming teach the doctrine of imminence. Note the following New Testament passages:
1 Corinthians 1:7-“awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
In this verse awaiting simply means to expect fully, this doesn’t have anything to do with imminence. A person can expect someone to come have lunch with them but that doesn’t mean that at breakfast time it is imminent.
1 Corinthians 16:22-“Maranatha.”
Again as far as I know this word means the Lord will come but has nothing to do with imminence.
Philippians 3:20-“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;”
This is the same Greek word as used in 1 Corinthians 1:7 which means to expect fully.
Philippians 4:5-“The Lord is near.”
Ok this is a tricky one of the reasons is that in the King James Version at hand is used many times to describe several Greek words. The actual word here in Greek is eng-goos, which simply means near or ready. Now ready sounds somewhat like imminent I agree but these are definitions found in young’s.
Lets look at other Greek word, which is particularly used to describe imminence. en-is’-tay-mee to place on hand, that is, (reflexively) impend, (participle) be instant: – come, be at hand, present. Look at that definition it is clearly the word used to describe imminence. It doesn’t make any sense for a writer wishing to express imminence to use such a word as eng-goos as opposed to en-is’-tay-mee .
1 Thessalonians 1:10-“to wait for His Son from heaven,”
Again what does waiting have to do with imminence? Some people wait for 5 o’clock to roll around doesn’t have anything to do with imminence.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18-“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of {the} archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
This verse is not stated as imminent in these passages.
1 Thessalonians 5:6-“so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.”
Watching being alert doesn’t mean anything is imminent. You can watch a person driving down the road towards you but that doesn’t mean there approach is imminent. Remember there has to be potentially no time between you and that object which is imminent. In this case the time the car takes to drive the rest of the distance to you prevents that car from being imminent.
1 Timothy 6:14-“that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
This verse is irrelevant to justification of the teaching of an imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:13-“looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus;”
Again looking for something doesn’t mean it’s imminent.
Hebrews 9:28-“so Christ . . . shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”
You can wait for something that is not imminent think of a bus train or air plane people wait for these all the time doesn’t mean there arrival is imminent.
James 5:7-9-“Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. . . . for the coming of the Lord is at hand. . . . behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.”
Again at hand appears often in the New Testament but actually encompasses 3 or 4 Greek words which all have different meaning. Here the Greek word does not mean imminence. eng-id’-zo make near, that is, (reflexively) approach: – approach, be at hand, come (draw) near, be (come, draw) nigh.
1 Peter 1:13 -“fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Good verse.
Jude 21-“waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.”
Revelation 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20-“‘I am coming quickly!'”
takh-oo’ -shortly, that is, without delay, soon, or (by surprise) suddenly, or (by implication of ease) readily: – lightly, quickly.
At first glance you may be quite convinced this word means imminent. First look at the word delay what does that really mean. Delay – The interval of time between two events.
Now take the word takh-oo’ this word is an adverb, simply put it describes an action word. The action it is describing is coming. The way the verse is structured the quickly part is describing the action of the Lords coming. The staement is not relative to the time of the verse was written, it does not mean that 2000 years latter is still quickly not that it can’t be relatively speaking.
Revelation 22:17, 20-“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.'”
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
Approaching advent is a blessed hope.
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
“at hand” – en-is’-tay-mee -to place on hand, that is, (reflexively) impend, (participle) be instant: – come, be at hand, present.
Look up the word impend it is a synonym for imminent.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
The Lord Jesus when speaking of his coming says to watch for signs. Directly corresponding with all the verses quoted above which all speak of the Lords coming as approaching.
Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Again all these verses mean approaching as well as most of the verses above that were quoted. I can see how people get imminence and approaching mixed up because in the King James Version most of the time words that mean approaching and imminent are translated to “at hand” all the same word.
Introduction: I believe the tribulation period does not fulfill the entire 7 year covenant. The Tribulation is cut short when the Lord Comes back to to earth and to rapture the remaining Church. After this the period of wrath starts. In this article I note verses that distinguish the day of the wrath from the tribulation.
Isaiah thirteen
As you can see in Isaiah there is this similar theme of wrath after the coming of the Lord. Isa 13:3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. Isa 13:4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. Isa 13:5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. Isa 13:6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
As you can see in the verses below the day of the Lord is described very similar to the 6th seal in Revelation 6. Isa 13:7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: Isa 13:8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. (this does not happen pre-tribulation for it is said to be secret)Isa 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. Isa 13:10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
Isa 13:11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. Note the deep contrast between the tribulation and the Day of the Lord. In the Tribulation the Antichrist is the one who rules in physical form. Yet in these verse the sinners are the ones being persecuted here. The First part of this period of tribulation is peace (beginning of Revelation 6). Yet when the Day of the Lord starts it is so much worse and it is at the hands of the Lord, is there any way these can be the same period? Compare this to the tribulation described by Jesus.
Daniel two In Daniel 2 you can read some passages that describe the Kingdom destroying all other kingdoms. Note that this does not happen in the tribulation described by the Lord Jesus.
Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Daniel 2 Speaks of the statue and the 10 kingdoms which happened pre-millennial which are destroyed by the Kingdom God sets up. God does not set up a kingdom in the seven year tribulation but by the end of the 7 year covenant the end of sin will come in and the end of the prophecy.(Daniel 9:24)
Zechariah twelve Zec 12:2 Behold, I will make
Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against
Judah and against
Jerusalem. Zec 12:3 And in that day will I make
Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
Zec 12:6 In that day will I make the governors of
Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and
Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in
Jerusalem. Here are some verses that describe the Great Tribulation the period after the son of perdition sits in the temple.
Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in
Judaea flee into the mountains: Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: As you can see they contradict one another.
Zec 12:6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, ….Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains This would be a contradiction if they were the same time frame.
Jeremiah forty six Jer 46:10 That day is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge himself on his foes. The sword shall devour and be sated and drink its fill of their blood. For the Lord GOD of hosts holds a sacrifice in the north country by the river
Euphrates.
Again how does this fit into the tribulation at all? It would fit if you were talking about the antichrist but this is talking about the Lord. Isaiah thirty four
Isa 34:8 For it is the day of the LORD’S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of
Zion. No where in the tribulation do we read of vengeance for the blood of
Zion. The word controversy is the same as strife. Actually by the very definition of these words imply’s there different periods of time.
…and the year of recompences for the controversy of
Zion and The tribulation of
Zion can’t be the same time frame. Zechariah fourteen
Zec 14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. Zec 14:2 For I will gather all nations against
Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Zec 14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. When does the Lord fight against those nations in the tribulation?
Daniel eleven and twelve Daniel 11 fits into the timeline of the tribulation. Like I stated earlier they describe the same time period. Again like the tribulation in the Gospels this period does not describe the Day of the Lord. Notice how Daniel only describes a period up to the end of the lawless one in the last verse of this chapter.
Why is there no desertion of the events of the day of the Lord? In Daniel 12 we may have an answer. Dan 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
It may be that the words and the time of the end include those in Revelation. For instance in Revelation we read of the advent of the Lamb in the 6th seal then in the 7th seal we read of all these terrible things happening in the world. Revelation is the only place in scripture we can read of a timeline that directly connects the events of the tribulation with the events of the day of wrath. In the Old Testament these events are largely disconnected and its hard to understand where each event stands in relation to each other. A time of trouble but yet saved from it?
Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. Just a verse to think about 1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Purpose: to explore the nature of the wrath of the lamb and time period. It is common assumption that the period of wrath is the tribulation. There is a period after the Lord comes which is a period of great judgment which is stated as wrath. In these passages we have an outline of sequenced events which I believe are in chronological order. For Instance the first seal is before the second seal etc…In Revelation six we read of six seals.
1. White horse
2. Red horse
3. Black horse
4. Pale horse
5. Souls slain for the word of God
6. Wrath of the Lamb
Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? When I was studying this I noticed that the events in Revelation six the first six seals all correspond with the description of the tribulation in Matthew 24. I found out later that EW Bullinger would hold the same view on these passages.
| Matt 24 | The seals
|
Rev. 6 |
| 4,5 | 1 False Messiah
|
1,2 |
| 6,7 | 2 Wars
|
3,4 |
| -7- | 3 Famines
|
5,6 |
| -7- | 4 Pestilences
|
7,8 |
| 8-28 | 5 Martyrdoms
|
9-11 |
| 29,30 | 6 Signs
|
12-17 |
The 6th seal concludes the period of tribulation, for the Lord is said to come at the end of the tribulation. Matt 24:29-30 Then there is a parenthesis in Revelation seven where there are multitudes of people in heaven and the remnant of
Israel receiving their seal. As far as the timing of this parenthesis, it is not stated to be right after the Lords advent yet the chapter does come right after the description of the Lords advent and that would fit with Matthew 24, Mark 13. After this chapter seal number seven is opened in Revelation eight. Seal number seven is the revelation of the seven angels and the seven trumpet judgments. This proves that many things happen after the Lords appearing at the end of the tribulation, many terrible things. The anti-christ poured out his wrath on the Lords people, (Rev 7:13-14) now the Lord will pour out his wrath on the persecutors which is clearly way worse. Just read what happens in this period starting at Revelation eight with the first trumpet judgment. The period of wrath is at least five months long. Rev 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. Rev 9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. How can the tribulation be seven years? Jesus Christ said his advent is at the end of tribulation well if we read of his advent in the 6th seal and then in the 7th seal there is at least a five month period of wrath after his coming. So therefore there is a five month period after the tribulation making the tribulation less then seven years. The wrath lasting at least a year Revelation 9:14-15.
Revelation and the concept of overlap It has been stated that the seven seals the seven trumpets and the seven vials overlap each other in time. It has been stated that Revelation must not need to be read in chronological order. I would agree with this statement but first of all Revelation eight connects the seventh seal with the start of the seven trumpet judgments. Secondly if you analyze the events of the seven trumpets or seven bowls they are unlike anything Jesus describes as happening in the tribulation Matt 24, Mark 13. I know that some adherents to this view may not necessarily connect the seals as parallel to the trumpets but I will compare the fifth seal and the fifth trumpet. During the fifth trumpet Rev 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. Fifth seal Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: Daniel seven the ten horns Dan 7:11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
Dan 7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Dan 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.There are ten horns then one little horn takes over three horns. In verse eleven this horn is said to speak great words, then the verse refers to this horn as the beast who is slain. With our theme of timing notice how the rest of the beasts were stripped of their power but yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. Which in the Hebrew simply means a year(time) and an indefintite period of time (season). This suggests that there is at least a year of time after the Lord comes back to earth. Again there are differnt ways of interpreting this but this is part of a wholistic approach. The Lord Comes back and destroys the beast so if the Lord destroys the beast at his coming 2Thessalonians 2:8 people are alive after this period that would prove that there is a period after the Lords coming and prior to the millenial reign. This time would be before the millenial reign because the the seven year covenant is said to bring in everlasting righteousness for daniels people end sin and seal up the vision and prophecy (Dan 9:24). The season The fact that a season is specified hear coincides with the truth that no one will know the hour of the Lords coming. Sometimes it is stated that people will be able to know the time of the second advent but not the rapture. This is a mistake, in the gospels we read that the Lord Jesus will come at an unknown hour speaking of his advent post tribulation The connection Unless you believe the Beast is slain twice or that there is two beasts these passages all connect with the regular post-tribulation advent 2 Thessalonins 2, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Revelation 19:16-21.
What do we know about the tribulation?
There are in circulation many explanations as to what the tribulation is. Some say it is a time of Jacobs’s trouble, some refer to a period of great tribulation, great trouble, wrath, the day of the lord, and it is often adjoined with seven years.
Where does all this come from?
The idea of tribulation comes from these verses.
Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven:
In Mark 13 this period is also referred to as tribulation. In Luke 21 Tribulation is not mentioned but persecution and distress is.
The doctrine of great tribulation comes from the passages.
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
This great tribulation starts when the son of perdition (second Thessalonians two) sits in the temple declaring him self God.
The reason this is stated as occurring after the mid part of the covenant is because in context this passage is referring to Matt 24:15.
Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand 🙂
Daniel talked about this in Daniel 9:27.
Seven year tribulation
The concept of a seven year tribulation is based on the assumption that the seven year covenant the Antichrist signs, is synonymous with the tribulation described. You may have noticed that the Bible does not refer to the tribulation as seven years. Matthew 24 Jesus says that those days will be cut short.
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
So from these verses alone we get a hint that maybe the tribulation is not seven years in length. There are different ways of interpreting this but this should get you thinking.
Contained in this chapter we have another hint that tribulation is not actually seven years.
Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
As you can see right after the Lord states his coming after the tribulation he tells his disciples on the Mount of Olives to watch the signs like you would the signs of summer. Subsequently he says that no one will know the hour of his coming but the Father only.
If the Tribulation were exactly seven years then people and especially angels could know the exact hour of the Lords Advent. There are likely many alternate explanations to this but as you can see just from one chapter in the Bible there is a lot of evidence that points to a tribulation that does not reach seven years. Later in this article you will see there is an overwhelming amount of evidence that points to the literal cutting short of the duration of tribulation.
Jacobs’s trouble
Jer 30:6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
Jer 30:8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
How is it that this is the time of Jacobs’s trouble yet he is saved out of it? It seems that Jacob would be talking of the seven year covenant. The reason it is a times of Jacobs trouble and he is still saved out of it is may be because the times are cut short and Israel does not pass all the way through this seven year period. The time of wrath picks up after the tribulation and the remnant of Israel gets the seal of God in there forehead (Revelation 7). Those who remain on earth after the tribulation who do not have the seal endure the wrath of the lamb Revelation 6:16 and Revelation 9:5. It seems that the time of Jacobs trouble would be the entire 7 year covenant where there is a period of tribulation which Israel would go through then the period of wrath they are saved from or out of.
Indignation
Indignation seems to be along the same time line as the tribulation. Daniel 11:21-54 has characteristics that apply to the time of the tribulation described in the Gospels. Jesus himself when speaking of the tribulation in the Gospels speaks specifically about the book of Daniel and the abomination of desolation. Here in Daniel 11:31 we read of this event.
Dan 11:36 And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done.
When the Lord Jesus returns he will cast the lawless one son of perdition into the lake of fire. The tribulation is said to end when the Lord comes back to earth so the indignation will end the same time as the tribulation. If you look at the meaning of each word Indignation is the cause of tribulation and tribulation is the result of indignation. So it makes sense that they would encompass the same time line.
Multiple Advents When it comes to a teaching of a post-tribulation advent verses a pre-tribulation advent the deciding factor is, are there multiple advents. There are several different reasons why people claim there are several comings as opposed to one. Some believe the scripture teaches an imminent return therefore making the pre-tribulation rapture a valid concept based on that understanding. Others believe tribulation is a form of Gods wrath and is not meant for the Church, again another valid statement based on that belief. Others approach this issue from a dispensational view, and their belief is that the Church must be exempt from anytime decreed to
Israel.
Comparison My first objective is to compare scripture against scripture and try to find any contradictions in one passage relation to the advent of Jesus Christ and another advent. If there are contradictions then we can safely assume that one passage is referring to a different event then the other. In the Old Testament prophecy’s of the Messiah, we can find contradictory descriptions. Here is a commonly accepted rapture verse which is often associated with the first of the second Advent or the second advent. 1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming (advent) of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1Th 4:17 Then (thereafter) we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (rapture) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. The word used here for coming is common in verses that speak of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word is parousia in the Greek. From these passages we can gather that the Lord Jesus has to come to earth or at least to the sky before the rapture. Those who hold the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture view have to admit a second and third advent (parousia). As you can see from the above passages the coming of Lord precedes the resurrection and the rapture.
Matthew twenty-four Post-tribulation advent Mat 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. (This parallels the nature of the rapture described in Thessalonians)Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (that word coming is not an advent but a different word which means in a sense to move towards an object) Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. The elect are likely not saints but rather the remnant of the nation of Israel. The reason being, that the remaining church is not gathered by angels but raptured or gathered onto the Lord in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, (1 Corinthians 15:51). We can read of the elect in Revelation being gathered by Anglels…. Rev 7:1,2 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: … These are the Children of Israel Rev 7:4. Paul writing to the Church says… 1Th 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 1Th 2:20 For ye are our glory and joy.
Paul’s teaching of the second advent compared to the Gospels. Comparing 1 Thessalonians to Matt 24, Paul’s description of the parousia (coming, advent) is from a different perspective describing the second coming in relation to the Christian. We know that because Paul says who he is talking about, In 1 Thessalonians 4:1 “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren”. Not only the Rapture verses but also the entire book is stated as being written to the church at the beginning of this first epistle. Whereas in Matthew 24 the question is general and the answer is not specific.Paul’s teaching does not contradict the teaching of Jesus concerning the rapture. Second Thessalonians Two and the Parousia It is often stated that Jesus did not talk about his other advent because that advent was a mystery. The idea comes from 1 Corinthians 15:51. But why does Paul write about only one advent or coming even after this mystery has been revealed? In 1 Thessalonians Paul writes about an advent does not disassociate it from any other advent but in fact calls it the same thing as it is always called the parousia Greek for advent or coming. Then in 2 Thessalonians after false doctrine was circulated Paul in fact does associate a time with the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ multiple times. Yet notice how Paul failed to make any distinction between this advent and any other advent of Jesus Christ. Twice Paul clearly states that the Lord Jesus will return after the antichrist falsely declares him self God. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 and verse 8 again both times Paul uses the word parousia, (coming, advent).
The distinction between advents is shockingly absent from the Biblical text.
Some one by the pseudonym R.C. CHRISTIAN came into this town Elberton in Elbert County Georgia and asked to erect these stones. He wanted to pay for them through an anonymous bank account but since that is illegal in Georgia state, he made the businessman swore on a Bible that he would not reveal his true identity. Astronomers were hired to come in and help align the stones so that in the summer solstice the light would shine through the stones at just the right angles, for what reason I don’t know.
There has been some reported occult activity there. Especially on special astronomical dates like the aligning of the planets.
The name R.C. CHRISTIAN
Christian Rosenkreuz (1378 – 1484), English Christian [of the] Rose Cross, is the legendary founder of the Rosicrucian Order (Order of the Rose Cross), presented in the three Manifestos published in the early 17th century
Rosicrucians tell an alternative story about the life and times of Jesus Christ, one that differs dramatically from the story told by the Catholics and other organized religions, a story that glorifies women.
Is it a coincidence this guy would choose such a pseydonym.
Here are the “10 commandments” on the stones.
Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.
Guide reproduction wisely—improving fitness and diversity.
Unite humanity with a living new language.
Rule passion—faith—tradition—and all things with tempered reason.
Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.
Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.
Avoid petty laws and useless officials.
Balance personal rights with social duties.
Prize truth—beauty—love—seeking harmony with the infinite.
Be not a cancer on the earth—Leave room for nature—Leave room for nature.
For more info you can check it out at wikipedia or do a search for Georgia Guidestones.
Holy Ghost the guide…Mar 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost is a guide to those of faith.
Holy Ghost the Comforter…
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Act 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
The word Comforter here means
par-ak’-lay-tos
An intercessor, consoler: – advocate, comforter.
Holy Ghost brings hope…
Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Holy Ghost teaches…
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
Holy Ghost separate a religion.
The Holy Ghost really separates Christianity from any other belief.
I believe every religion and belief in the world besides Christianity is blind faith because of this one fact. As great as the Holy Bible is as a book, how would we know if it’s true or not if we did not have a guide something within us that confirms it?
Heb 10:15 whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
The dimensions of thought
The way I think about it is as a constant court session for your consciousness.
Three dimensions that affect your decisions and beliefs.
Your intellect,
Your emotions,
Then the spiritual world,
In the world some people believe things based on their intellect, which is one method but we are so limited and stupid, we are easily deceived by our intellect.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Our emotions, I think a lot of religious people believe what they believe for this reason, they lean on their feelings to guide them.
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Some people lean to the spiritual side and are not Christian, which can be very dangerous. There are many forces at work in this world, which is where the most evil acts come from.
Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
For the Christian we should walk in the Holy Spirit.
1Jo 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he
that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Use our intellect but don’t lean on it, for a source of truth and probably stay away from trusting your feelings. If you think about it your feelings is like the spirit of the flesh, we should stay away from trusting it unless anyone can find some verses that state otherwise.
Jeremiah doesn’t have anything good to say about it.
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Many people have tried to calculate the number of the beast. Using many different methods no one yet has been verifiably been able to calculate the name. Honestly when I hear of people trying to figure the name I kind of chuckle to my self. Look at what the verse says though the writer explicitly encourages them that have understanding to count the number of the beast.
A man by the name of Tim Cohen has been trying to do just that. Author of “Antichrist and a cup of tea”. The way he does it is through the Cabalic numbering system.
What is the Cabalic(Gematria) numbering system? It originates from the Old Hebrew way of counting, each letter has a value that can be added up.
So why use this number system? Well the main reason is because the verse says to calculate the number of his name, how else do you calculate a number of someone’s name without using this method? Secondly the actual number is calculated in gematric.
Taken from the Greek in Rev 13:18 for 666.
χξς (refer to the chart above)
chi xi stigma
used as numbers; denoting respectively 600, 60 and 6; 666 as a numeral: – six hundred threescore and six. – Strongs
Heres who Tim Cohen has come up with so far.
P r i n c e
70 90 9 50 3 5
C h a r l e s
3 8 1 90 30 5 100
o f
60 6
w a l e s
0 1 30 5 100
In Gematric the total equals 666
Tim Cohen says what Hebrews chiefly call Prince Charles of Wales in the press converted into Hebrew which (3 words not 4) actually converts to 666 as well. As you have probably guessed the probability of this happening is very slim 1 in 10 to the 50 is the estimated probability. That’s a 1 with 50 zeros behind it. Tim states that Prince Charles of Wales is the only person in history to fit this number.
Tim also does a biography on Charles which seems to even further connect Prince Charles to the beast.
Heres a link to his book at Amazon.com Antichrist and a Cup of Tea (Paperback) 
You can watch his video here for free.
Why Bashan?Psalms 22:12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
Psalms 22:13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
From the context of the chapter you may gather that David was talking about Jesus.
Psalms 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Psalms 22:17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
Psalms 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Bashan is an actual place east of the Jordan River near the Sea of Galilee. Now I don’t think a bunch of actual bulls imported from Bashan were surrounded around Jesus at the crucifixion. It makes more sense that these Bulls of Bashan relate to something spiritual.
Bashan as a place inhabited by the Rephaim or sometimes translated giants.
Deuteronomy 3:11 For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.
That word giants is rephaim and is translated rephaim or giants in the Old Testament in other places in the King James Version. The last of the Rephaim, the King of Bashan had an iron bed almost 13 feet long and about 5 and half feet wide.
In Deuteronomy 3:13 “with all Bashan, which was called the land of giants.” Again that word giants is Rephaim. This was in the time of Joshua (Deuteronomy 3:21).
The fact that these Rephaim inhabited the land may have something to do with the evil association with the bulls of Bashan.
H7497
רפה רפא râphâ’ râphâh raw-faw’, raw-faw’
From H7495 in the sense of invigorating; a giant: – giant, Rapha, Rephaim (-s). See also H1051.
H7496
רפא râphâ’ raw-faw’
From H7495 in the sense of H7503; properly lax, that is, (figuratively) a ghost (as dead; in plural only): – dead, deceased.
If you do a word search for Rephaim you will find behind it a Hebrew word that Strong’s divides into different definition even though the Hebrew word is the same. If you do a search for that Hebrew word you won’t find every place where it appears. The breaking up of a single Hebrew word into different definitions may be inaccurate with the original meaning of the text.
Below I highlight where this word for Rephaim appears which Strong’s would associate with the H7496 definition but is the same word for Rephaim.
Isaiah 26:13 O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. 26:14 they are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.
Deceased = Rephaim
Job 26:5 Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.
Dead = Rephaim
Psalms 88:10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.
The first use of the word dead is the Hebrew word H4191 muth which is used 790 times and is clearly used to describe death. Where as the word dead I highlighted is Rephaim or raw-faw’ H7496.
Proverbs 9:18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Dead = Rephaim
So back to the original verse
Psalms 22:12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
When Jesus Christ was on the cross the bulls of Bashan could very well be talking about the Rephaim Deuteronomy 3:13 states that Bashan is the Land of the Rephaim. There are likely many things that happened that day that people did not see and no one understands.
Beyond the Camp 