The Study of end time prophecy is one that needs to be carefully approached because to falsely interpret what God has foretold even innocently is a very dangerous thing.
2 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Deuteronomy 4:2 “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take anything from it” (also Deuteronomy 12:32). The reason God is so adamant on this is because “The entirety of His word is truth” (Psalms 119: 160).
"Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar" Proverbs 30:6.
In our day there is the belief in “progressive revelation” that originates from outside the Word.
It lends itself to multiple warnings that in the last days many will come with false teachings.
Paul warns Timothy in I Tim. 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
False teachers do not want to submit to its original intent, so they do not seek what Scripture actually (exegesis) means, instead, they conform it to what they want it to mean (eisegesis).
They will look to another source as their authority because they are not under God’s authority.
This is why Paul admonishes us in 1 Corinthians 4:6: “not to think beyond what is written” (exceed or go past).
Likewise, he gave this warning in II Thess. 2 regarding false theology near the end
Proverbs 30:5-6: “Every word of God is pure; he is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.”
The book of Revelation completes the Bible, just as Genesis began it.
Rev. 22 states " If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this Book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this Book" Revelation 22:18-19. (2 strong judgements to properly study His Word.)
In this study I will be doing this different than I ever have before – It will include portions that are vs. by verse teaching with comparisons between Daniels prophecy, and Johns on Patmos, but it will also include topical subjects with comparisons. One such topical review will be:
Such at the 70-week prophecy of Daniel
A perfectly times prophecy given while Israel was in captivity that foretold Nehemiah’s going back to Jerusalem to rebuild, pressing forward to Christs coming to earth and his being cut off in death. Leaving a gap for the church age, the present age we are living in, and then coming back with the last 7-year period in the worlds history, known as the tribulation.
We will see the original plan of God and how satan has tried throughout time to duplicate it.
One example being the triune Godhead, Father, Son, and Spirit, being falsely presented in “the Dragon (satan) the anti-christ (falsely modeled after Christs authority) and the false prophet (falsely modeling the Holy Spirit)
Another Comparison will be of Christ and The Beast from The Sea Christ Dragon and Beast Christ receives authority from the Father (Revelation 2:28) Beast receives authority from the Dragon (Revelation 13:2,4)
Christ sits on the throne with the Father (Revelation 3:21) Dragon gives his throne to the Beast (Revelation 13:2, 4)
Christ is worshipped by the universe (Revelation 5:13,14) Beast is worshipped by the dwellers of the earth (Revelation 13:4)
Lamb has seven horns (Revelation 5:6) Beast has ten horns (Revelation 13:1) and 3 were uprooted.
Christ was dead but is alive (Revelation 1:18). Christ was, is and will come (Revelation 1: 4) Beast received deadly wound and lives (Revelation 13:14). The beast was, is not and will come (Revelation 17: 8)
Christ's people become Kings & priests in heaven. (Revelation 1:6, 2:26,27) Beast is supported by the kings of the earth (Revelation 17:12)
Christ has a remnant (Revelation 12:17) Beast has a remnant (Revelation 19:21)
Christ has a prophet (Revelation 1:1, 9) Beast has a false prophet (Revelation 19:20)
Christ is at war (Revelation 12:7, 19:11-16) The dragon and the beast are at war with the Lamb (Revelation 12:17, 19:19)
It’s important that we note both with things like the Jewish feasts, the tabernacle and many historical events that God was actually teaching forward. Showing us by what was, what will be.
We will shed light on the different positions regarding when the Lord will return. Pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, and post-tribulation.
Showing which view appears to most closely align with scripture - but with the reminder that without regard to which actually happens that if we are walking everyday with the Lord it won’t matter because we will be ready for each.
This will be an intense study – And in light of the days we are living in, one that needs to be prayerfully attended, prayed researched, and prayerfully lived.
Let me close with an exhortation - Jesus through Scripture has given mankind ample warning that He would one day return and that only those who were actively living for him and using the talents he had given them would be received into His kingdom. The Wise and Foolish Virgins parable is an exact reminder of the need to keep our lamps lit, and our faith intact.
