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THY WORD IS TRUE FROM THE BEGINNING: AND EVERY ONE OF RaptureThy Theory RIGHTEOUS Difficulties JUDGMENTS – Introduction ENDURETH FOREVER. PSALM 119:160 The Jewish Nature of the ? Part 1 of 2 {A Close Look at Matthew 24 and 25}

INTRODUCTION Beginning with Augustine in the 4th century, the MOST OF US ARE AWARE that there are church abandoned the literal method in favor of controversies and disagreements within the church. allegorical interpretation of prophetic Scriptures. Much Some of these are insignificant, while others, I believe, of the church today still subscribes to some form of the can be detrimental to ones understanding of the Augustinian method. Literal versus allegory has . One example is the common brought much confusion and division. misunderstanding of the fundamental fact that the The evangelists of the targeted different church did not yet exist when walked the earth. It groups with their books. Matthew targeted the wasn’t until Acts chapter 2 that the church as we know Jew. Mark targeted the Roman. Luke wrote to the it sprang into existence. Now that we know this, we Greek. Only John wrote directly to the church. need to ask ourselves, what was Jesus’ mission and However, it must be acknowledged that Jesus’ own who was He speaking to? Failure to understand this has mission was to the Jews. Therefore, the Gospels must caused many teachers to read into the Gospel things be understood in light of the Jews. Merrill F. Unger that are simply not there, bringing confusion and division 1 writes that the key to the correct interpretation of the into the church. Charles Ryrie writes that: Gospels is as follows:5 “Consistent literalism is at the heart of 2 “It is necessary to realize that the period dispensational .” described is culminative of the OT [Old And that Testament] age, preparatory to and predictive “[T]he literal fulfillment of Scripture leads of the new age, but not the new age itself. Not naturally to a second feature—the literal 3 until the ascension of and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.” consequent advent of the Spirit at Pentecost Abandonment of the literal method leads to an improper (Acts 2) did the new age of the church begin.”6 distinction between the church and Israel, fostering the 4 Unger continues: belief that the church is the new Israel. “Our Lord was ‘born under the law’ (Gal 4:4), ministered primarily to the Jews in the legal age (Matt 10:5-6; 15:23-25), and was ‘a ______Creation Revelation is a bi-annual publication distributed free of charge via email or mail to those who request it. Topics will have a primary focus on the Defense of Scripture, including Creation (Genesis), Humanism, and Prophecy (Revelation). Other topics of interest may be presented. Questions, comments, and suggestions are encouraged. Copyright © 2016, Robert W. Tozier. All rights reserved. Permission is given to photocopy and freely distribute this material for the glory of God as long as it is not done for commercial purposes. Editors: Erin Fuentes, Bryan Kinney, and Kristin Oien. Web Designer: Aaron Tozier. Web Consultant: Bryan Kinney Email: [email protected]. Tel: 808-228-1497 ALOHA! ΑΩ Jul-Dec 2016 - Volume 20, Issue 2 - Page 1 of 12 Visit us at www.creationrevelation.org GOD IS IN THE DETAILS

servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to then the student must accept that the church has not confirm the promises made to the patriarchs’ replaced Israel and that God will yet deal with the (Rom 15:8). As King and Messiah He was Jewish nation. To believe that God changed His mind announced by , offered the towards Israel requires that the student must allegorize kingdom to Israel, and was rejected by them or spiritualize the Scripture passages dealing with (Matt 1-12). As He predicted the new Israel’s restoration.11 age (Matt 13), and His second advent (Matt There are two phases of the restoration of 24-25). As Priest He died and rose again, Israel. First, the Jews will return to their land in unbelief fulfilling the law and bringing in grace (John prior to Christ’s return (Ezekiel 37). Second, the Jews 1:17). Until the event of the cross the gospels will experience a spiritual rebirth when Christ returns as are an extension of the OT [Old Testament] can be seen from an understanding of the following dispensation seen in their strong Jewish verses.12 coloring, which did not end til the veil of the Temple was torn supernaturally at Christ’s Zech 12:9 And it shall come to pass in that death (Matt 27:51).”7 day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against . Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was 10 And I will pour upon the house of David, come, God sent forth his Son, made of a and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the woman, made under the law, spirit of grace and of supplications: and they 5 To redeem them that were under the law, shall look upon me whom they have pierced, that we might receive the adoption of sons. and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for According to Merrill Unger the prophecies of him, as one that is in bitterness for his Matthew 24 and 25: firstborn. “[D]eal with Israel in the period of Tribulation just prior to the return of Messiah-King to Ezek 20:33 As I live, saith the Lord God, surely establish His earthly kingdom….”8 with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out Many pastors and teachers miss this important point. arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over These prophesies of Matthew 24 and 25 were in you: response to a Jewish question, “What will happen to the 34 And I will bring you out from the people, and Jews?” Many pastors and teachers attempt to read the will gather you out of the countries wherein ye church into these chapters. To say that both Israel and are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a the church will go through the is to fail stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. to understand the inherent Jewishness of Scriptures 35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of such as Matthew 24 and 25.9 Much confusion is the people, and there will I plead with you face because of reformed theology and replacement to face. theology that believe that the church has replaced Israel 36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the in the promises of God, that the church is to bring in wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead Christ’s glorious kingdom, and finally Christ will return with you, saith the Lord God. and the church will hand Him the keys. This is the 37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, message of the post or amillennialists. They arrive at and I will bring you into the bond of the their conclusions by spiritualizing or allegorizing the covenant: Scriptures that do not match their brand of theology. 38 And I will purge out from among you the Those who are premillennial and dispensationalists use rebels, and them that transgress against me: I the Literal-Historical approach to interpretation will bring them forth out of the country where throughout the Scriptures, by examining the context and they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the determining it literal, allegory, or figurative wherever land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the appropriate. Replacement Theology “helps to foster Lord. anti-Semitism in the church.”10 To accept replacement theology one must either Zech 13:7 Awake, O sword, against my believe that God, through the , used allegory shepherd, and against the man that is my when writing, or that God does not keep His promises. fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the If one is consistent in treating the entire Bible literally

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shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: 35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. not lie unto David. 8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, 36 His seed shall endure forever, and his saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off throne as the sun before me. and die; but the third shall be left therein. 37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah. and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my Peter appeals to the Jews to repent. name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be people: and they shall say, The Lord is my converted, that your sins may be blotted out, God. when the times of refreshing shall come from The Hebrew language will be a part of the the presence of the Lord; restoration. This has already come to pass.13 20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Zeph 3:9 For then will I turn to the people a 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the pure language, that they may all call upon the times of restitution of all things, which God name of the Lord, to serve him with one hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy consent. prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A It is clear that it is God’s intention to restore the prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto 14 Kingdom to Israel. you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto Acts 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself you. alive after his passion by many infallible 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, proofs, being seen of them forty days, and which will not hear that prophet, shall be speaking of the things pertaining to the destroyed from among the people. kingdom of God…. 6 When they therefore were come together, Until Augustine in the 4th century the early they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at church was premillennial, believing that Christ would this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? return before His literal thousand-year millennial reign 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to after a seven-year tribulation. Augustine, along with know the times or the seasons, which the Origen before him, believed that the persecutions had Father hath put in his own power. ended and therefore introduced which said that much of prophetic Scripture was to be Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and interpreted allegorically, not literally. This was the peace there shall be no end, upon the throne position adopted by the Roman Catholic Church and of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, accepted by the reformers as they broke away from and to establish it with judgment and with Catholicism. Some, such as John Nelson Darby, began justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal to use the Literal-Historical method of interpretation, of the Lord of hosts will perform this. seeing a distinction between the church and Israel. Luke 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in Those still adhering to the Allegorical method believed thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call that the church had replaced Israel in the promises of his name JESUS. God. Those using the Literal Historical method saw that 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the the Bible clearly revealed that God had a definite plan Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall for the restoration and salvation of Israel, and that they give unto him the throne of his father David: would literally return to the land. It was Augustinian 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob Amillennialism that injected anti-Semitism into the 15 for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no church. end. Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye Ps 89:34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye the thing that is gone out of my lips. should be wise in your own conceits; that

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blindness in part is happened to Israel, until 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is as thou wilt. And her daughter was made written, There shall come out of Sion the whole from that very hour. Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: All prophecy in the Old and New Testaments 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I focuses on the Jewish people and nation. The Gospels shall take away their sins. were about offering the Kingdom to Israel. The church 28 As concerning the gospel, they are did not exist at the time of the Olivet Discourse, although enemies for your sakes: but as touching the the concept was present after Jesus and His message election, they are beloved for the fathers' were rejected. Jesus revealed His intention of sakes. establishing the church in :

Paul Wilkinson wrote of William Cuninghame Matt 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts (1775-1849): of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Denouncing replacement theology, he argued saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of that if there was to be no ‘future redemption of man am? this wonderful people,’ there was ‘no certain 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John meaning in language.’”16 the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I THE OLIVET DISCOURSE am? As we proceed through Matthew 24 and 25 (The 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou Olivet Discourse) we will focus on the parallels with the art the Christ, the Son of the living God. . Many pastors and teachers attempt 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, to interpret Matthew 24 and 25 in terms of the church, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and while most theologians who take the literal approach blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my stress the Jewish nature of the Gospels and prophecy Father which is in heaven. in particular. Prophecy in Scriptures represents the 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art perspective of what will happen to the Jewish people Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and their nation Israel. That Jesus’ ministry focus was and the gates of hell shall not prevail against on the Jewish people and nation is clearly shown in His it. response to the Canaanite woman. Matthew records the instance when Jesus was Matt 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and formally rejected and His message changed. departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out Matt 12:22 Then was brought unto him one of the same coasts, and cried unto him, possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son he healed him, insomuch that the blind and of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with dumb both spake and saw. a devil. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, 23 But he answered her not a word. And his Is not this the son of David? disciples came and besought him, saying, 24 But when the heard it, they said, Send her away; for she crieth after us. This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent Beelzebub the prince of the devils. but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said 25 Then came she and worshipped him, unto them, Every kingdom divided against saying, Lord, help me. itself is brought to desolation; and every city or 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to house divided against itself shall not stand…. take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 38 Then certain of the scribes and of the 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we of the crumbs which fall from their masters' would see a sign from thee. table. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a

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sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and the sign of the prophet Jonas: some of them shall ye scourge in your 40 For as Jonas was three days and three synagogues, and persecute them from city to nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of city: man be three days and three nights in the 35 That upon you may come all the righteous heart of the earth. blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son Here we see that the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus and of Barachias, whom ye slew between the His message, even to the point of accusing Him of being temple and the altar. demon possessed. From this moment on, Jesus began 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall to speak in parables. Jesus then explained why He come upon this generation. spoke in parables: 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent Mark 4:10 And when he was alone, they that unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy were about him with the twelve asked of him children together, even as a hen gathereth her the parable. chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given 38 Behold, your house is left unto you to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: desolate. but unto them that are without, all these things 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me are done in parables: henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that 12 That seeing they may see, and not cometh in the name of the Lord. perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be The leaders will finally repent as prophesied in converted, and their sins should be forgiven Zechariah chapter 12, and then their Messiah will come: them. Zech 12:5 And the governors of Judah shall His message was no longer to the leaders, but say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem it was still brought to the people, many who would shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts their understand. His new message to the Jewish leaders God. was: 6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like Matt 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto all the people round about, on the right hand whited sepulchres, which indeed appear and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be beautiful outward, but are within full of dead inhabited again in her own place, even in men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Jerusalem. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous 7 The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy first, that the glory of the house of David and and iniquity. the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not 29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, magnify themselves against Judah. hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the 8 In that day shall the Lord defend the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble righteous, among them at that day shall be as David; and 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our the house of David shall be as God, as the fathers, we would not have been partakers of the Lord before them. with them in the blood of the prophets. 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto will seek to destroy all the nations that come yourselves, that ye are the children of them against Jerusalem. which killed the prophets. 10 And I will pour upon the house of David, 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the 33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how spirit of grace and of supplications: and they can ye escape the damnation of hell? shall look upon me whom they have pierced, 34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and

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for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for represents the perspective of what will happen to the him, as one that is in bitterness for his Jewish people and their nation Israel. That Jesus’ firstborn. ministry focus was on the Jewish people and nation is 11 In that day shall there be a great mourning clearly shown in His response to the Canaanite woman in Jerusalem, as the mourning of in :21-28. Look again at these verses: Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. The church did not exist until Pentecost in Acts Matt 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into chapter 2 when the disciples received power by the Holy the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. Spirit to bring the message to the whole world. From 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the Acts chapter 2 until the end of Revelation 3 the church same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy is in mind. The Gospel had the Jews and Israel as its on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is focus. grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples AN EXAMPLE OF WRONG came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she INTERPRETATION crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the Many pastors and teachers do not understand lost sheep of the house of Israel. the Jewish nature of the Gospels and attempt to interject 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, the church into the narrative. While there are great help me. truths for Christians found in the words of Jesus in the 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the Gospels, one must realize that the Gospels are basically children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. a continuation of the Old Testament. This overlap is 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the seen in John the Baptist; He is viewed as the bridge crumbs which fall from their masters' table. from the Old Testament and is considered the last Old 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, Testament prophet, preparing the way for the Jewish great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And Messiah. her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Because of this misconception, the concept of the of the church is seen by many to be All prophecy in the Old and New Testaments contained in the Olivet Discourse. This is not so. There focuses on the Jewish people and nation. The Gospels is no Rapture found in Matthew 24 or 25. This will be focused on offering the Kingdom to Israel. The church demonstrated later. Most premillennial, did not exist at the time of the Olivet Discourse, although pretribulationist, dispensational theologians do not the concept was present after Jesus and His message support a Rapture anywhere in Matthew 24 or 25. John were rejected. Jesus then revealed His intention of Walvoord, Dwight Pentecost, J. Vernon McGee, Ed establishing the church in Matthew 16, but the church Hindson, Tim LaHaye, Renald Showers, John was not established until Acts chapter 2. It should be MacArthur, and many others are examples of those that clear that Jesus’ mission was to Israel and that Matthew find no Rapture in Matthew 24 or 25. 24 and 25 were directed to Israel and not the church. The arrangement of Matthew 24 and 25 is Let’s now consider Matthew 24. essentially chronological. If pretribulationists insist on a Rapture in Matthew 24:40-42, then they are seizing a posttribulational argument to support their THREE QUESTIONS pretribulational position, and it destroys the Matt 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed chronological order of Matthew 24. We will demonstrate from the temple: and his disciples came to him this later as we progress further in our study. for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall JESUS OFFERED THE KINGDOM TO ISRAEL not be left here one stone upon another, that As we proceed through Matthew 24 and 25 (The shall not be thrown down. Olivet Discourse) we will focus on the parallels with the 3 And as he sat upon the , the book of Revelation. Many pastors and teachers attempt disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell to interpret Matthew 24 and 25 in terms of the church, us, when shall these things be? and what shall while most theologians who take the literal approach be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the stress the Jewish nature of the Gospels and prophecy world [age]? in particular. As mentioned, prophecy in Scriptures

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The disciples asked Jesus three questions: 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I 1. When shall the temple be destroyed? am Christ [Messiah]; and shall deceive many. 2. What shall be the sign of Jesus’ coming? 3. What shall be the signs of the end of the age? Many of these signs that Jesus speaks about in the opening verses of Matthew 24 are signs that are with When Jesus spoke these words the church was us today. We experience deception, famine, plagues, not yet a reality. The Jews were asking literally, “What and earthquakes; and we see that they seem to be is going to happen to Israel and the Jewish people?” gradually increasing in intensity and frequency. These They understood that the temple would be destroyed, are all signs, and we might say that they are the but they knew that Jesus was coming again to set up “beginning of sorrows”, but the “horseman” have not yet the promised Kingdom. These were Jewish concerns been released. The signs Jesus was presenting in and questions. They also wanted to know how it would these opening verses offered a bridge from the all end. As you study Matthew 24 and 25, notice the disciple’s time until the very time of the end. We may interpretation considering the Jewish people and Israel have seen these signs during this present age, but when without inserting the church into the narrative. the Seal Judgments come, they will be increased to The answer to the first question (“When shall unremitting intensity.20 We know that the intensity the temple be destroyed?”) is not found in Matthew portrayed by the seals has not reached its full impact because Matthew’s Gospel is about the kingdom – during our present time because Revelation 6:15 says Matthew presents the King. The answer is found in the that the men of the future time will hide in caves out of parallel passages of Luke.17 fear during the Seal Judgments. These men :20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem acknowledge that they are already in the Great compassed with armies, then know that the Tribulation since the beginning of the Seal Judgments desolation thereof is nigh. by their use of the aorist tense of the verb “has come” 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to (elthen) in verse 17. This signifies that they have already the mountains; and let them which are in the been experiencing the judgments of the Great midst of it depart out; and let not them that are Tribulation since the release of the first seal. It is not 21 in the countries enter thereinto. something that is now about to begin. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that Jesus first warns about deception as a sign of all things which are written may be fulfilled. the end-times. There is great deception in this world 23 But woe unto them that are with child, and today, such that it is difficult to discern the truth. More to them that give suck, in those days! for there importantly, there are false teachers claiming to have 22 shall be great distress in the land, and wrath truth. Jesus warns about this. The Jews are still upon this people. deceived about their Messiah. They still refuse to 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, recognize Jesus as Messiah. When He first came they and shall be led away captive into all nations: were looking for a political and military savior, not a and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the humble shepherd. Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be In the past, the Jews have followed false fulfilled. Messiahs such as Simon bar Kokhba, who seemed to offer a military solution to their oppression. Many This occurred in 70 AD when the Romans destroyed believed that Simon bar Kokhba was the long-awaited Jerusalem, the temple, and carried the Jews into Messiah who would restore their national captivity. The answer to the first question was thus independence. The Bar Kokhba Revolt of 132-136 AD fulfilled. Notice that this answer is about the Jews and against Rome resulted in the annihilation of the Judean the nation of Israel, not the church.18 population, suppression of Jewish religious and political As we shall discover in Part 2, the second autonomy, and Jews and Christians being banned from question about the signs of the is Jerusalem. was then renamed and merged into answered in Matthew 24:23-51. The third question the Syria Palaestina province. The name change was about the signs of the end of the age is found in Matthew done to eliminate any memory of Judea or Ancient 24:4-22.19 Let’s begin at the beginning of Jesus’ Israel. 580,000 Jews were killed and 50 fortified towns response to the third question. and 985 villages were razed. Many more died of famine and disease. When the revolt was crushed, those who Matt 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto survived were sold into slavery. The Talmud refers to them, Take heed that no man deceive you. Simon bar Kokhba as a false Messiah.23

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There have been many other false Messiahs in 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. Jewish history, the last of which was Jacob Joseph 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, Frank (1726-1791) who claimed to be a reincarnation of and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all King David and preached a synthesis of and nations for my name's sake. Judaism.24 The next one could well be the .25 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one  THE FIRST SEAL - DECEPTION26 another. Keep in mind that beginning in Matthew 24:4 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and through , the description is of the seven-year shall deceive many. Tribulation, the Second Coming, and the Millennium. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love We now will see the beginning of the Tribulation as of many shall wax cold. revealed by Jesus. The two verses of Matthew 24:4-5 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the parallel the first seal of Revelation 6:27 same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be Matt 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto preached in all the world for a witness unto all them, Take heed that no man deceive you. nations; and then shall the end come. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ [Messiah]; and shall deceive many. The preceding verses of Matthew parallel the Seal Judgments of Revelation, Seal 2 through 6. We will now Rev 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one break this down by comparing the following: of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying,  THE SECOND SEAL – WAR31 Come and see. Matt 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he rumours of wars… that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and given unto him: and he went forth conquering, kingdom against kingdom…. and to conquer. Rev 6:3 And when he had opened the second This white horse rider is the counterfeit Christ seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and (Antichrist). He has a bow, but no arrows. This is likely see. a political leader that conquers without war. His means 4 And there went out another horse that was of battle is most likely deception, and he has gained red: and power was given to him that sat such political power that no one can oppose him.28 thereon to take peace from the earth, and that Both Revelation 6:1-2 (Seal Judgments) and they should kill one another: and there was Matthew 24:4-5 (deception) refer to the beginning of the given unto him a great sword. seven-year Tribulation. It is not referring to the Great Tribulation, which begins after the midpoint, or the last  THE THIRD SEAL – FAMINE32 3-1/2 years.29 Matt 24:7 …there shall be famines…. Notice that it is the Lamb (Jesus) who opens the Seals and initiates the judgments of the Tribulation. It Rev 6:5 And when he had opened the third is therefore God that initiates the judgments (wrath) seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and throughout the entire seven years. Keep in mind that see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and the Seal judgments, particularly the White Horse Rider, he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his introduce the first 3-1/2 years of Tribulation.30 hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four Matt 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: and three measures of barley for a penny; and for all these things must come to pass, but the see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and

kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

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 THE FOURTH SEAL – PLAGUES33 and the mighty men, and every bondman, and Matt 24:7 …and pestilences…. every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; Rev 6:7 And when he had opened the fourth 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, on us, and hide us from the face of him that Come and see. sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and Lamb: his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and followed with him. And power was given unto who shall be able to stand? them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, In Matthew 24:12, “Iniquity shall abound.” In and with the beasts of the earth. other words, people will do whatever they please, sinful or not. “The love of many shall wax cold,” indicates that  THE FIFTH SEAL – people will recognize the iniquity and will choose to do PERSECUTION34 nothing. They won’t care.36 Matt 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be Great natural disasters occur and anarchy afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be reigns as men hide from God. Notice that after the great hated of all nations for my name's sake. men had experienced the Seal Judgments that they hid themselves from the wrath of the Lamb, implying that Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth they realized that they were already in the wrath of God seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them from the beginning of the Seal Judgments. It was the that were slain for the word of God, and for the Lamb that set in motion the events of the Great testimony which they held: Tribulation. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, J. Dwight Pentecost writes in support of the Seal How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judgments being an unfolding of God’s wrath during the judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell Tribulation: on the earth? “John announced (Rev. 6:16-17) that the 11 And white robes were given unto every one program there being unfolded is related to the of them; and it was said unto them, that they ‘wrath of the Lamb.’ The aorist tense in verse should rest yet for a little season, until their 17 elthen (has come), signifies, not something fellow servants also and their brethren, that that is about to happen, but that which has should be killed as they were, should be taken place. Thus, in unfolding the program of fulfilled. the seals, John announces that these represent ‘the wrath’ that has already come. In  THE SIXTH SEAL – NATURAL the same connection, with the sounding of the DISASTERS AND ANARCHY35 , John again relates these Matt 24:7 …and earthquakes…. trumpets to the program of the outpouring of Matt 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the wrath of God, for in Revelation 11:18 it is the love of many shall wax cold. set forth that these events are connected with the wrath that ‘has come’ (aorist tense again). Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened Thus, neither the seals nor the trumpets can the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great be divorced from the divine program earthquake; and the sun became black as associated with the pouring out of wrath upon sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as the earth.”37 blood; Additionally, the reference to “the great day of 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, His wrath is come” may be an acknowledgement by even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, those who are hiding (Rev 6:16) that the wrath of God when she is shaken of a mighty wind. has already come with the horrors they have already 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when experienced, but they now realize that there are more it is rolled together; and every mountain and and greater horrors yet to come.38 One seal remains, island were moved out of their places. the seventh. We will address that next. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains,

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THE GREAT TRIBULATION 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard  THE INTERLUDE the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were Two verses provide the interlude between the sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, first half of the seven-year Tribulation and the last half known as the Great Tribulation. Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by Matt 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the grace ye are saved;) end, the same shall be saved. 6 And hath raised us up together, and made 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be us sit together in heavenly places in Christ preached in all the world for a witness unto all Jesus: nations; and then shall the end come. 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness Immediately after the sixth Seal, 144,000 Jews toward us through Christ Jesus. are sealed by God, 12,000 from each tribe. Since they 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and are God’s servants, Messianic Jews converted during that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: the first half of the Tribulation, it is believed that they will 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. be His evangelists during the Great Tribulation. It is they that shall preach “the gospel of the kingdom,” the We are saved by Grace before the Tribulation (Eph same as what John the Baptist and Jesus preached. 1:13; Eph 2:5). It is not the church that must “endure to They are responsible for the great multitude of martyrs the end” (Matt 24:13) of the Tribulation to see and that accepted Christ that are found in heaven in the recognize their Messiah, it is the Jews. remaining verses of Revelation 7 just before the opening of the seventh Seal. They will preach the Zech 12:9 And it shall come to pass in that Jewish message of the kingdom, as did Jesus. This is day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations the final hope. that come against Jerusalem. “The Gospel of the kingdom” of Matthew 24:14 10 And I will pour upon the house of David, is what John the Baptist preached and what Jesus and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the brought to the Jews. Jesus came to the Jews to present spirit of grace and of supplications: and they the promised kingdom. This is not a different Gospel shall look upon me whom they have pierced, from the Gospel of Grace. It is the same Gospel with a and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth different emphasis.39 The reward for the Jews at the for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for end of the Tribulation is their kingdom with Messiah him, as one that is in bitterness for his sitting upon David’s throne. firstborn. 11 In that day shall there be a great mourning Matt 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, in Jerusalem, as the mourning of preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The Dispensation of Grace ended with the Rapture of the church. The seven-year Tribulation is not part of the Matt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to Church Age, the Dispensation of Grace. preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of The church is saved by trusting in Christ and heaven is at hand. sealed by the Holy Spirit. We are not told to endure to the end of the Tribulation to receive our salvation. The The ones that “endure to the end” shall be saved Jews are to “endure to the end.” They will hear the (Matt 24:13). If the message of Jesus is to the Jews in Everlasting Gospel preached during the Tribulation. these passages, it is the Jews primarily, and Gentiles (those saved during the Tribulation), who are to “endure  THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL to the end.” This is the time of testing for the Jews, not Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the for the church. The church is already saved as Paul midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel states in his letter to the Ephesians: to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of and people, his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

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7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give in Jerusalem (Matt 24:15). It is now the mid-point of the glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is seven years. This is the sign that the Jews are to flee come: and worship him that made heaven, and to the mountains with great haste. It is also the sign that earth, and the sea, and the fountains of begins the Great Tribulation, the last 3-1/2 years before waters. Jesus returns in His Second Coming. Pay attention that Matthew 24:15-16 refers to The Everlasting Gospel is the same Gospel as the Israel, not the church. It is not the church that is Gospel of Grace, but with a different emphasis. The concerned about an abomination that desecrates the Everlasting Gospel brings the revelation of fear of Jewish Temple (vs 15). It is not the church that resides judgment. It is the Gospel preached during the in Judea (vs 16). It is not the church that is told to flee Tribulation, the Time of Jacob’s Trouble. It is this to the mountains (vs 16). Gospel that is primarily for the Jewish people to bring them to repentance, encouraging them to endure to the Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that end. It is a Gospel of faith. They will be saved by God’s none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's grace. This Gospel message is not for the church.40 trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. 8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the  THE SEVENTH SEAL – THE Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off GREAT TRIBULATION41 thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and The first half of the Tribulation is found in strangers shall no more serve themselves of Matthew 24:4-14. The second half, the last 3-1/2 years him: is described in Matthew 24:15-28 and is known as the 9 But they shall serve the Lord their God, and Great Tribulation.42 It is also known as the “Time of David their king, whom I will raise up unto Jacob’s [Israel’s] Trouble” (Jer 30:7). them.

Matt 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the Dan 9:27 And he [Antichrist] shall confirm the abomination of desolation, spoken of by covenant with many for one week [seven the prophet, stand in the holy place, years]: and in the midst of the week he shall (whoso readeth, let him understand:) cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into and for the overspreading of abominations he the mountains: [Antichrist] shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall Rev 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh be poured upon the desolate [desolator]. seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. Daniel was not referring to the church when he 2 And I saw the seven which stood prophesied of the “Seventy Weeks”. This “Seventy before God; and to them were given seven Weeks” prophecy was for Israel. The seventieth week trumpets. is for the salvation of the Jewish people. Daniel 9:24 3 And another angel came and stood at the says that “seventy weeks are determined upon thy altar, having a golden censer; and there was people.” It is Daniel’s people that these seventy weeks given unto him much incense, that he should are for, including the entire seven-year Tribulation. It offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the does not say that only sixty-nine weeks are for Israel golden altar which was before the throne. and one week is for the church (Dan 9:24-27).43 Daniel 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came 9, verse 27 is the key verse in the Old Testament to with the prayers of the saints, ascended up establish the length of the Tribulation to be seven years before God out of the angel's hand. – and it is found in a prophecy concerning the nation of 5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it Israel. with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and FLEE JUDEA lightnings, and an earthquake. Now notice that the Great Tribulation will come 6 And the seven angels which had the seven very suddenly. trumpets prepared themselves to sound. Matt 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the After the interlude (Matt 24:13-14), there comes abomination of desolation, spoken of by an abomination that desolates the newly rebuilt temple

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Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, meaning for the church (vs 20).44 These are Jews that (whoso readeth, let him understand:) are to flee to safety from Judea (vs 16). 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into We will discuss the “elect” at length in Part 2. the mountains: Housetop living (vs 17) is common in ancient 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come Israel, which points to Israel as the region to flee from. down to take anything out of his house: Notice this in Acts: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. Acts 10:9 On the morrow, as they went on 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and their journey [to seek Peter], and drew nigh to them that give suck in those days! unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the to pray about the sixth hour: winter, neither on the sabbath day: Peter was staying in the house of Simon the tanner that Matt 24:21-22 had sleeping space on the roof. The evidence of 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as Matthew 24 shows that the Jews were the target and the was not since the beginning of the world to this subject of the discourse. time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be FINAL THOUGHTS shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but It should be clear at this point that Jesus is for the elect's sake those days shall be speaking to a Jewish audience about Jewish concerns shortened. regarding what is to happen to the Jewish people at the

Again, notice that the reference is to Jews time of the end. Once we grasp an understanding of fleeing Jerusalem (Judea), and they are to pray that it this concept, the Olivet Discourse becomes clear and will not be on the Sabbath day. Again, this is not a parallels perfectly with Revelation. It will be even warning to the church to flee. The Sabbath has no clearer as we continue in part 2 in the next issue of Creation Revelation. ΑΩ

1 Merrill F. Unger, THE NEW UNGERS BIBLE HANDBOOK, Moody Publishers, 21 J. Dwight Pentecost, THINGS TO COME, A Study in Biblical Eschatology, Grand 1966, 1984, 1998, 2005, pp. 374-376. Norbert Lieth, HIDDEN SIGNS IN THE Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1958, pp. 183, 184. OLIVET DISCOURSE, Columbia, SC, The Olive Press, 2005, pp. 10, 15. 22 McGee, THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. IV, Matthew-Romans, p. 2 Charles C. Ryrie, , Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1995, 125. 2007; Originally published as Dispensationalism Today, 1966; p. 171. 23 BAR KOKHBA REVOLT, Wikipedia. 3 Ryrie, DISPENSATIONALISM, p. 171. 24 Norbert Lieth, HIDDEN SIGNS IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE, Columbia, SC: The 4 Ryrie, DISPENSATIONALISM, p. 172, 173. Olive Press, 2005, p. 17 .LIST OF MESSIAH CLAIMANTS, Wikipedia. 5 Unger, THE NEW UNGERS BIBLE HANDBOOK,pp. 374-376. Lieth, HIDDEN 25 McGee, THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. IV, Matthew-Romans, p. SIGNS IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE, pp. 10, 15. 125. 6 Unger, THE NEW UNGERS BIBLE HANDBOOK, p. 375. 26 Lieth, HIDDEN SIGNS IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE, p. 19. 7 Unger, THE NEW UNGERS BIBLE HANDBOOK, pp. 375-376. 27 Lieth, HIDDEN SIGNS IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE, p. 19. 8 Unger, THE NEW UNGERS BIBLE HANDBOOK, p. 395. 28 John F. Walvoord, EVERY PROPHECY IN THE BIBLE, Colorado Springs, CO: 9 Paul R. Wilkinson, UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN ZIONISM, Israel’s Place in the Chariot Victor Publishing, 1990, 1991, pp. 552, 553. Purposes of God, Bend, OR: The Berean Call, 2013, pp. 109, 112, 113, 161, 240. 29 Walvoord, EVERY PROPHECY IN THE BIBLE, pp. 552, 553. Lieth, HIDDEN SIGNS IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE, pp. 10, 15. 30 Walvoord, EVERY PROPHECY IN THE BIBLE, pp. 553, 554. 10 Wilkinson, UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN ZIONISM, Israel’s Place in the 31 Lieth, HIDDEN SIGNS IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE, p. 19. Purposes of God, pp. 16, 36, 229. 32 Lieth, HIDDEN SIGNS IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE, p. 19. 11 Wilkinson, UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN ZIONISM, Israel’s Place in the 33 Lieth, HIDDEN SIGNS IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE, p. 20. Purposes of God, pp. 16, 17. 34 Lieth, HIDDEN SIGNS IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE, p. 20. 12 Wilkinson, UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN ZIONISM, Israel’s Place in the 35 Lieth, HIDDEN SIGNS IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE, p. 20. Purposes of God, pp. 20, 166. 36 McGee, THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. IV, Matthew-Romans, pp. 13 Wilkinson, UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN ZIONISM, Israel’s Place in the 126, 127. Purposes of God, p. 21. 37 Pentecost, THINGS TO COME, A Study in Biblical Eschatology, pp. 183, 184. 14 Wilkinson, UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN ZIONISM, Israel’s Place in the 38 David M. Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, Bellmawr, NJ, The Friends Purposes of God, pp. 118, 119. of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc., 1999, pp. 90-94. Renald E. Showers, THE PRE- 15 Wilkinson, UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN ZIONISM, Israel’s Place in the WRATH RAPTURE VIEW: An Examination and Critique, Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Purposes of God, pp. 123-125, 127-133, 139, 144, 145, 151, 153, 229. Publications, 2001, pp. 79, 80. 16 Wilkinson, UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN ZIONISM, Israel’s Place in the 39 McGee, THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. IV, Matthew-Romans, p. Purposes of God, p. 167. 127. 17 J. Vernon McGee, THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee, Nashville, TN: 40 McGee, THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. IV, Matthew-Romans, p. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983, Vol. IV, Matthew-Romans, p. 124. 127. 18 McGee, THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. IV, Matthew-Romans, pp. 41 Lieth, HIDDEN SIGNS IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE, p. 20. 124, 125. 42 Lieth, HIDDEN SIGNS IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE, p. 20. 19 McGee, THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. IV, Matthew-Romans, p. 43 Lieth, HIDDEN SIGNS IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE, p. 18. 124. 44 McGee, THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. IV, Matthew-Romans, p. 20 McGee, THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. IV, Matthew-Romans, p. 129. 126.

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