Eschatology -- THINGS TO COME
REVIEW/INTRODUCTION
We have given consideration to some basic consideration regarding war. Why is there war? We have war because of the wickedness and selfishness of men. What is God's perspective on war? God makes war and uses war on the basis of three basic principles: defense, liberation and judgment.
Our war with Iraq could be defended as a just war of defense as well as liberation and from God's perspective, perhaps a judgment. Our primary response should be prayer for revival and renewal of America, Iraq and all who were touched by the war.
Our final question we set out to address has been somewhat answered by the end of the war. Is this the beginning of the end? I am afraid there are some excitable preachers and teacher left with egg on their face over these past few days. If the War over Kuwait was not the end, what will the end be like? How will things line up at the end times?
This morning we want to do three things.
1. Gain a perspective on prophecy
2. Provide a prophetic panorama
3. Attempt a prophetic progression
I. PROPHETIC PERSPECTIVE
Why part does prophecy play in God's plans? What should be our perspective regarding the issues of prophecy?
A. Prophecy is essentially "baby food".
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. Heb 6:1-2
There are certain truths that serve as a foundation of our faith. Once they are learned we are to move on to other issues. It seems that consideration of future events "eternal judgment" is among those foundational issues. So often people get so excited about prophecy, they forget the essential issues of the Christian life.
B. Prophecy provides a general recognizable scheme of what is to come.
Prophecy was meant to give us a hope and certainty as to what God is planning for the future of the human race.
C. Prophetic specifics can only be certified AFTER the fulfillment.
The Old Testament prophets to whom God revealed these predictions didn't even understand.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. 1Pe 1:12
Out of all the prophecies concerning Messiah, most Jews missed the fulfillment. They had a general feeling that the time was near but missed the direct application to Jesus of Nazareth. Only afterward, did some realize Jesus as Messiah and yet some still at John's writing refused to recognize and receive Him as Messiah.
Although God is very specific in prophecy concerning future events like the gambling for Christ's clothes, those specifics remain clouded before the fact. There are many examples of Old Testament prophecy declared fulfilled by the New Testament that we would not in a million years have identified as a prophetic passage. For example, "Out of Egypt have I called my Son."
Prophecy also often has a double fulfillment. Where the prophecy would find fulfillment in two or more periods of history.
Prophecy regarding the destruction of Babylon is a good example. Babylon was judged but will face final judgment and destruction in the very last days according to Revelation 19. Also Joel two speaks of an outpouring of God's Spirit and Peter declared fulfillment in Acts yet not all the predictions of Joel 2 came to pass in Early Church history. There is to be in my estimation yet another outpouring of God's Spirit in the very last days.
Sometimes the complete fulfillment of a particular prophecy was interrupted by many years. One prime example of this practice is the prophecy concerning Christ declared by Christ Himself as a fulfilled in Him.
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Luk 4:19-21
Now let's examine the Old Testament passage read by our Lord.
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. Isa 61:2-3
It is obvious that Jesus closed the book where He did for a specific reason. The remaining part of that prophecy is yet to be realized. We have a full picture of God's redemptive plan in the prophecy yet it is spread out over hundreds of years. Because God is outside of time we often get confused when we try to put all of the details in a specific scheme BEFORE the fulfillment.
D. Prophecy provides verification of the truth of the Word.
The accurate fulfillment of prophecy provides a strong argument for the truth of God's word. God was specific enough that critics have to question the authorship and dating of certain prophecies in order to explain away the accuracy of God's predictions. The specifics regarding Messiah are overwhelming. The odds of just a few of the over 63 specific elements regarding the person and work of Christ coming to pass in one man in history are astronomical.
E. Prophecy motivates holiness
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 2Pe 3:14
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Col 3:5
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. 1Jo 3:2-3
Whenever prophecy is stressed, there must be an appeal to holiness in light of His imminent return.
F. Prophecy motivates encouragement of one another
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb 10:25
Isn't it interesting in our time that seems to be nearing the final days that we as Christians find ourselves doing just the opposite as this passage declares.
G. Prophecy ignites diligence
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. 2Ti 4:2
Here Paul appeals to the Lord's coming to motivate Timothy to a fervency and urgency in his ministry.
H. Prophecy encourages endurance
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1Pe 1:13 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Jam 5:8
I. Prophecy must be kept in perspective
So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Act 1:8 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. Mat 24:45-47
These two passages serve to keep our priorities in proper alignment. Jesus makes it clear that the time of His return is not our concern but we are to concentrate on our commission to be His witnesses and to feed the sheep.
J. Prophecy is an incentive to receive Christ
They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2Pe 3
The holy Spirit's ministry in the world is to convict of sin, righteousness and judgment. A proper presentation of prophecy clearly reveals the destiny of those who refuse God's salvation through Jesus Christ. It seems inconceivable that one who clearly sees the eternal consequences of this vital decision could continue to reject Christ in time and space.
Yes, prophecy can be very stimulating to study. God intended us to see the general signs. Yet He admonishes us to keep focused on our responsibility to feed the flock and share the Good News and leave kingdom timing to Him.
II. PROPHETIC PANORAMA
There are many specific events predicted for the end times. They are specific enough that when they happen there will be no uncertainty but general enough that we will not be able to precisely predict when and who until after the fact.
First we want to provide an overview of those events and then we will try to arrange them in some sort of chronological progression. Let us look first at the some of the MAJOR events yet to come to pass.
1. Christ will return in the clouds to "catch up" the true church.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 1Th 4:16-17
There is a distinct difference between this return and His return in glory. There is a great deal of confusion both in literature and hymns concerning these two phases of Christ's return. I call these two distinct events phase one and phase two.
2. There will be a period of Tribulation
This period corresponds to the 70th Week of Daniel called the Tribulation. This Tribulation period will be seven years long unfolding a half at a time. The first half will be a time of relative peace. The second half will be filled with catastrophes such as has never been seen before. This is labeled the Great Tribulation.
3. Armageddon
At the end of the Tribulation there will be an alignment of nations against Israel.
At this time the Lord will destroy them. This is known as the Battle of Armageddon.
4. Revelation 17 and 18 describes The Marriage supper of the Lamb.
5. Judgment Seat
Several passages refer to a judgment seat at which all saints will be evaluated according to motives. This is not judgment for sin as Christ has already secured the payment for sins past, present, future. I like to see this event as an awards banquet at which all of the believer's works will be put to the test as to whether they were done in the flesh with fleshly motives or accomplished through the power of the Spirit for the glory of God. It is a time when the real credit for ministry and work down here will be awarded to whom it was really due. Those who prayed and sacrificed will be credited for the fruit accomplished by those for whom they prayed and gave. Those who supported a prophet will reap a prophet's reward. God is not one to miss one deed done in and for the name of Christ. Nothing will go unrewarded at the judgment seat of Christ.
6. Phase two of His coming
Christ returns to the earth in all of His glory along with the church his purified and spotless bride to rule and reign.
7. Millennium
Revelation describes a 1,000 year (Millennium) period of peace and righteousness in which Christ rules with His bride over all the earth and Satan and his demons are chained.
8. Final Battle of Gog and Magog
Following the 1,000 years Satan and his hoards of demon cohorts are released one more time upon the children born during the Millennium for one final rebellion against God in which they are instantly destroyed by God.
9. Great White Throne Judgment
After the final showdown, resurrects bodies and reunites the spirit/souls all unbelieving dead to face the Great White Throne Judgment. This judgement is for unbelievers who will face judgment on the basis of two ledgers. One, is their name in the book of life by reason of faith in Christ. Two, the book of deeds. If their name is not in the book of life they are consigned to the lake of fire (the second death) and subsequently tormented according to their deeds on this earth.
10. Satan banished to the lake of fire
Satan is eternally banished with along with the beast and the false prophet and all the demons the lake of fire.
11. New Heavens and Earth
God destroys the old and creates a New heavens and new earth.
12. The eternal state
We then are to experience eternal existence in that new heavens and earth with a full appreciation of God and the capacity to express our appreciation in true spirit and truth worship.
Within this general scheme of events are some other specific predictions.
1. Increase wars and rumors of wars. These are only the beginnings.
2. Establishment of a one world economy eventually under a one world leader.
3. The emergence of the leader takes place after the removal of "the restrainer."
4. This new world order arises out of a resurrected Roman Confederacy.
5. This World leader is Satan's Anti-Christ empowered with great miraculous powers.
6. This world leader will demand worship and find support by the False prophet.
7. This world leader will make a covenant of protection with Israel as things in the Mid East heat up providing Israel with a definite sense of security and peace.
8. During this time Israel will rebuild the Temple and resume sacrifices once again.
9. There will be a great falling away from God.
10. God will send two supernatural witnesses along with 144,000 individuals of Jewish descent who will preach the message of the kingdom.
11. The economy will become centered in the Mid-East due to the oil.
12. In the middle of the 7 year tribulation period the Anti-Christ will break His covenant with Israel marked by a desecration of their temple.
13. A coalition from the North will attack Israel and be supernaturally destroyed.
14. The world leader will declare himself god and force worship to him alone.
15. This leader will himself practice an eastern mysticism and satanism.
16. People will be forced to take his mark or be martyred.
17. God will unleash a barrage of terrible judgments upon the earth from which a large portion of the earth's population will be slaughtered.
18. Gathering in the Middle East for a showdown over oil reserves
19. The final remnants of a Babylonian philosophy and economy and industry will be destroyed at the return of Christ.
20. Glorious return of Jesus Christ.
III. PROPHETIC PROGRESSION
Timing in Scripture has always been a mysterious element. Perhaps it is because God is outside of time but has chosen to unfold a revelation of Himself within the limits of time and space. It is clear from the New Testament writers that nothing stands in the way of the end time events. Paul expected the Lord to return during his life time. Peter said that Joel's last days prophecy was fulfilled at Pentecost. Thus, we have been in the last days since that time.
We can place some events based on an understanding of Daniel's 70 Weeks of years. The Sixty ninth week ended at the crucifixion and resurrection of Messiah leaving one week of years or seven years yet to come to pass. Daniel's specific prophetic progression was thus temporarily interrupted by the age of the Gentiles or the Church age. At the close of the church age will come the final week of years or seven year period known as the Tribulation Period.
Placement of the above described events is a hotly debated issue that cannot be adequately covered in this short period. However, I will now seek to place these events and give a brief explanation of why I feel they take place where they do. These are issues that have divided believers for many years.
1. The Rapture or "catching away of the Church"
Some place this event at midpoint of the Tribulation (Mid-Trib), some place the event at the latter part of the Tribulation (Post-Trib).
I place this event before the beginning of the tribulation for several reasons.
First--The Holy Spirit retrains evil through the Church and they must be taken out of the way before He can come into power.
Second--the expectation of Christ's return makes more sense than if it is at the end or the middle of the Tribulation. If that were the case one would be able to predict fairly close the return of Christ.
Third--the time needed for the Marriage Supper and the Judgment seat of Christ.
Fourth--the nature of God to spare His chosen bride from His terrible wrath upon the earth.
Fifth--correlations with Jewish marriage procedures.
In the Jewish marriage, the Bridegroom was betrothed by covenant to his bride. During this time, preparations on the part of both were made for their coming life together. The bridegroom would then come with the wedding part to claim his bride, a wedding feast was prepared and consummation of the marriage completed. Then the bridegroom would present his bride.
2. Marriage Supper and Awards Banquet in Heaven
Once claimed by Christ, the Church we will be prepared as the bride of Christ and an awards banquet will be held.
3. Meanwhile back on earth the man of sin will emerge and set up his kingdom.
4. A covenant of cooperation and protection will be made with Israel
5. Half way through the tribulation the covenant will be broken and Israel will come under attack.
6. God will pour out His judgment on the World as described in Revelation.
7. The Battle at Armageddon will face off and Christ will return with His bride to make quick end to the conflict.
8. Jews and those saved during the tribulation period will enter into the Millennial kingdom. This will be a period of absolute peace and bliss without any influence from Satan or his demons.
9. At the end of the 1,000 year reign, Satan will be loosed and will seek to raise another revolt against God with the children born during the 1,000 years.
10. God will make quick end of all wicked and cast them into eternal torment in the lake of fire after the Great White Throne Judgment.
When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth - Gog and Magog - to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Rev 20:15
11. The old system will be destroy and God will begin anew with a new heavens and a new earth.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 2Pe 3:11-13
CONCLUSIONS
Even though this war was apparently not the end, the end may not be far away. The events of our world are lining up for a definite entrance into the end time world scheme.
If that be the case, if Christ is to return in our life time, what sort of people ought we be?
1. We should be motivated to diligence, encouragement of one another, holiness.
2. We should be concentrating even more on the commission of Christ entrusted to us to be witnesses throughout all the world.
3. We should not allow ourselves to get hung up on petty little internal differences. Those on the front lines don't worry about the color of the walls and the type of music that is played or the format of the service. They are concerned with the task at hand and keeping alert to the attack of the enemy from outside.
4. If we are not Christians we should consider carefully the claims and predictions of Jesus Christ. The stakes are eternally significant to put of a decision one more day or even one more hour.
The same Christ who predicted His own suffering, death and resurrection, declared that He was THE way, THE truth, and THE life and no man comes to the Father except through Him. That same Christ also predicted that He would go and prepare a place for us and come again in a similar way He ascended and receive us to Himself. When He returns we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope (Christ Likeness) purifies himself even as Christ Himself is pure.
May we not be among those who shrink away in shame at His coming but with those who rejoice with exaltation at the revelation of Jesus Christ in glory.
