Sunday, February 11, 2007

Tribulation

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

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.

ACts2/Joel2

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.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Perplexing artifacts

Just an interesting article I found, the guy who wrote it obviously doesn't take the Bible literal. What he does is summarize 10 artifacts that seem to defy the theory of an old earth and the dating methods they use.

10 Artifacts

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Bulls of Bashan

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.

Monday, December 25, 2006

Gospel Message

This was recorded at the 2006 Missionary conference in Langstaff Toronto.

Micheal Browne

External link: Michael Browne

To save this file to your computer right click and save as. There is no copyright on this material, so feel free to put it on a website or if you want just link to the source of this file on my server.


Craig Saword

External link: Craig Saword

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Save the internet

Looks like corporations are trying to control the internet. watch the video at this link for more info. This is important so please visit the link.

http://www.savetheinternet.com/