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Introduction to Eschatology

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Introduction to Eschatology Introduction to Eschatology Prayer: We do not cease to thank you, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 that the eyes of your understanding would be enlightened; that we may intimately know the hope of Your calling and the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in us, 19 the exceeding greatness of His power toward the believers, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when You raised Him from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavens 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And You put all things under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Eph 1:16-23) 25 Let us not refuse the voice of the Holy Spirit who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him in the past, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks now from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." 27 Now this, "once more," indicates the removal of those things that can be shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire. (Heb 12:25-29) I DON’T WANT TO PRESENT ALL THE ANSWERS TO YOU IN REGARD TO ESCHATOLOGY, BUT RATHER SHAKE UP TRADITIONAL THINKING, WRONG CONCEPTS AND STIR YOU IN YOUR OWN RESEARCH TO FIND ANSWERS. To the degree that we have deserted the love for the truth, there will be delusion in our thinking: Because the unrighteous did not receive the love for the truth, that they might be saved, God will send them a strong delusion, that they should believe the lie. (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11) Clarity is promised! But concerning the times and the seasons (of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ), brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. (referring to the Anti-Christ global peace treaty Dan 9:27) 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. (1 Thess 5:1-5) Main areas of revelation that need to be firmly established in order to understand God’s ways especially in terms of Eschatology are: 1) Symbols and Types • Symbols (1 Cor 11:10) – something representing something else • Types (Rom 5:14) – persons representing other persons • Antitypes (1 Pet 3:21) – persons/things that are represented by others • Numbers (Rev 13:18) – numbers representing not only a mathematical value but something/someone else or not even having any mathematical value but only symbolic meaning 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2Pe 1:20-21 NKJ) Like the Days of Noah and the days of Lot (Luk 17:26-29) Like a Thief in the Night (1 Thess 5:2; 2 Pet 3:10) The Last Trumpet (1 Cor 15:52) The Day of the Lord (Is, Jer, Eze, Joe, Am Ob, Zep, Zech, Mal) The Birth Pains of a Woman in labor (1 Thess 5:3) Former and Latter Rain (Hos 6:3; Joe 2:23) Symbol / Refere Type Explanation nce Yeshua. Like Yeshua Abraham was Abraham victorious over the Babylonian Gen 14 army Adam Yeshua is the last Adam 1 Cor 15:45 Rapture. The ark saved the faithful Ark of Noah believers from the judgments of Matt 24:37 God upon earth. The ark was covered with made of wood covered with gold. This Ark of the speaks of Yeshua being both human Ex 25 Covenant and divine. The mercy seat on top speaks of the throne of God, of His very presence. 2) Biblical Covenants and Dispensations Simplified Scheme a) Age of Conscience 1-2000 (3971-1971 BCE) b) Age of Israel 2000-4000 (1971 BCE-30 CE) c) Age of the Church 4000-6000 (30-2030 CE) d) Age of the Messiah 6001-7000 (2030-3030 CE) e) Eternity after 7000 (after 3030 CE) Covenant Scheme a) Edenic Covenant / Innocence 1-8 (3971-3964 BCE) b) Adamic Covenant / Conscience 8-1655 (3964-2315 BCE) c) Noahic Covenant / Civil Government 1655-7000 (2315 BCE-3030 CE) d) Abrahamic Covenant / Patriarchs 2000-7000 (1971 BCE-3030 CE) e) Mosaic Covenant / Law 2451-4000 (1520 BCE-30 CE) f) New Covenant / Grace 4000-7000 (30-3030 CE) g) Davidic Covenant / Messiah 3000-7000 (1000 BCE-3030 CE) h) Eternal Covenant / New Earth after 7000 (after 3030 CE) The Words a) Promises of blessing b) Promises of cursing c) Natural, national and temporal promises d) Spiritual and eternal promises The Terms Conditions under which the words are fulfilled. The Oath An oath always makes a covenant irrevocable. Without an oath the promises may be subject to change or cancellation. The Blood Sacrifice – Mediator – Sanctuary Revocable covenants were usually temporal, irrevocable ones eternal. 3) God’s appointments with His people (the Festivals) Meeting the Lamb of God – Passover Eating the Bread of Life – Unleavened Bread Experiencing the Resurrection – First Fruits The Power to Witness – Pentecost The Great Awakening – Trumpets Deliverance from All Evil – Atonement Never Stop the Celebration – Tabernacles 4) Men’s Wedding tradition vs. God’s Wedding Custom 1) The Selection of the Bride Usually, the father of the groom chose the bride. The father would send his trusted servant, known as the agent of the father, to search for the bride (e.g. Gen 24). The Holy Spirit and the bridal church are the agents to bring new believers to Yeshua and to convey His invitation to them: And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17) 2) The Bride Price The groom had to pay a price for the bride to her parents. Yeshua paid this price for the believers. For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:20) 3) The Betrothal The betrothal is the first stage of the marriage. This legally binds the bride and groom together in a marriage contract, except they don’t physically life together. Whenever a person invites Yeshua to become Lord of her/his life, this contract is made and sealed. Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2 Timothy 2:19) 4) The Marriage Contract The Ketubah is the marriage contract that states the bride price, the promises of the groom and the rights of the bride. Ketubah means, “That which is written”. The Scriptures are the Ketubah of the believers. 5) The Consent of the Bride Just as the bride had to publicly agree to the written document so must the believer. But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:8-10) 6) Various Gifts and the Cup of the Covenant The rite of betrothal is completed when the groom gives something of value to the bride and she accepts it. The gift most often given today is the ring. The gifts to the bride are symbols of love, commitment, and loyalty. Yeshua has showered His bride with many gifts (Rom 12; 1 Cor 12; Eph 4:7-8). In addition, at this point, the cup of the covenant was shared and sealed between the bride and the groom with the drinking of wine. In doing so, the couple drinks from a common cup. A new cup is first given to the groom to sip and then is given to the bride. Afterward it is destroyed so no one can use it ever again. Here we see the difference between the bridal virgins and the bride. The bride is the one who drinks from the same cup as Yeshua and thereby partakes of His baptism of fire: He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39) Yeshua also gave the church the cup of His new covenant (1 Cor 11) as a symbolic invitation for all believers to become part of His bride.
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