What is doctrine?
The Greek word used in the Bible for Doctrine states this.
did-akh-ay'
From G1321; instruction (the act or the matter): - doctrine, hath been taught.
Doctrine, from Latin doctrina (compare doctor), means "a code of beliefs", "a body of teachings" or "instructions", taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system. –Wikipedia
The Lord Jesus and his doctrine.
Mat 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Mat 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Apostles Doctrine.
Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Sound Doctrine.
Tit 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
What does it mean to have sound doctrine?
The word sound used in the Greek is.
hoog-ee-ah'ee-no
From G5199; to have sound health, that is, be well (in body); figuratively to be uncorrupt (true in doctrine): - be in health, (be safe and) sound, (be) whole (-some).
Health - In any organism, health is the ability to efficiently respond to challenges (stressors) and effectively restore and sustain a "state of balance," known as homeostasis
homoios (same, like, resembling) and stasis (to stand, posture). -Wikipedia
I know this is a mediacal definition but the same is true for health in any application including doctrine.
So with the definition of sound doctrine in mind what tests does doctrine have to be able to withstand in order to be sound?
a. For one it needs to be able to withstand the healthy test. Sound doctrine would have to be able to withstand attacks or criticism and be able to restore or sustain itself. If not then the doctrine is unsound. This is why it is important that people be very critical of doctrine, otherwise will get sick unsound doctrine that corrupts our minds and those around us. Is this not self evident today with cults inreasing daily.
b. Sound doctrine has to pass the uncorrupt test, it has to be honest. If a person teaches something they don’t belive then that is unsound doctrine. As well as hypocritical.
c. Whole - including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete; - Answers.com Sound doctrine has to be whole, encompassing all parts which all come together to make up one doctrine.
Tit 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Dead to sin or dead to righteousness?
Free of sin or free of righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
Rom 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Before a sinner repents and becomes saved by the grace of God they cannot do anything good that God would credit a soul for. Yet when one is saved it becomes the opposite all sin is burned up and all that is left is the righteous acts one has done.
So many supposed Christian religions seem to miss this very important point.
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
Rom 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Before a sinner repents and becomes saved by the grace of God they cannot do anything good that God would credit a soul for. Yet when one is saved it becomes the opposite all sin is burned up and all that is left is the righteous acts one has done.
So many supposed Christian religions seem to miss this very important point.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Multiple advents of the Lord?
The following is another article from Thomas Ice
I italicized his words Ill reply in regular text. http://www.pre-trib.org
In an attempt to equate Matthew 24:31 and 1 Thessalonians 4:17 as referring to the same event, Dr. Gundry notes "parallel terminology in Paul's Thessalonian discussion of the Church's rapture, where we read of a trumpet, clouds, and a gathering of believers just as in the Olivet Discourse."[5] Indeed, there are some similarities between the rapture and the second coming. There are also some similarities between Christ's first advent 2,000 years ago and His second advent. But they are not the same events. We know they are not the same because of the differences. It is the differences that are important when comparing Matthew 24:31 and 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Enough differences exist between the two passages to clearly conclude that they must be separate events.
The amount of differences in explanation doesn’t mean two different people are talking about two different things. What the reader has to look for is contradictions. Does any two explanations of an event contradict each other?
I.e. there are a lot of different ways to describe apples, any one explanation could be way different from another but it’s possible all could be describing the same apple. One person may go into fine detail and say the apple is rounded juicy has a stem thin skin over the outside and so on. Then another person may just say it tastes good. These two people have very different explanations to describe the same thing and yet they don’t contradict each other. Shouldn’t we take this same logic when studying scripture?
Dr. Steven McAvoy notes that "the differences between Paul's Thessalonian statements and Matthew 24:30-31 far outweigh any alleged similarities."[6] He says:
Sproule asks,
Where does Paul mention the darkening of the sun (Matt. 24:29), the moon not giving its light (Matt. 24:29), the stars falling from the sky (Matt. 24:29), the powers of the heavens being shaken (Matt. 24:29), all the tribes of the earth mourning (Matt. 24:30), all the world seeing the coming of the Son of Man (Matt. 24:30), or God sending forth angels (Matt. 24:31)?[7]
Just because Paul chose not to describe everything in these chosen passages doesn’t prove that his description contradicts those in Matthew. Nor does it mean they are different events.
Feinberg also notes the dissimilarities between the two accounts:
Notice what happens when you examine both passages carefully. In Matthew the Son of Man comes on the clouds, while in 1 Thessalonians 4 the ascending believers are in them.
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:
Mat 24:30 … and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
I don’t understand how these events contradict each other.
In Matthew the angels gather the elect; in 1 Thessalonians the Lord Himself (note the emphasis) gathers the believers.
The elect are those who are gathered of the nation of Israel not the same as the Christians.
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.
Rev 7:1 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.
Rev 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Thessalonians only speaks of the voice of the archangel. In the Olivet Discourse nothing is said about a resurrection, while in the latter text it is the central point. In the two passages the differences in what will take place prior to the appearance of Christ is striking. Moreover, the order of ascent is absent from Matthew in spite of the fact that it is the central part of the epistle.[8] [9]
Maybe striking but not contradictory.
In addition to the above differences, the order of events are different between the two passages. In 1 Thessalonians 4 believers are gathered in the air and taken to heaven, while in Matthew 24 they are gathered after Christ's arrival to earth. "In order for Gundry to establish his view that Matthew 24:31 refers to the rapture, he must reconcile the dissimilarities; not simple point to a few similarities."[10] Thus, the differences in the two passages support the contention that they speak of two distinct events.
The nation of Israel repent at the Lords coming and are saved they are not caught up into the air to be with the lord.
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Isaiah 53 I believe is the prophecy of the nation repenting.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
In conclusion: There may be many differences of how this event is described in scripture but I have not come across any contradictions that would allow me to believe in multiple advents. God bless.
I italicized his words Ill reply in regular text. http://www.pre-trib.org
In an attempt to equate Matthew 24:31 and 1 Thessalonians 4:17 as referring to the same event, Dr. Gundry notes "parallel terminology in Paul's Thessalonian discussion of the Church's rapture, where we read of a trumpet, clouds, and a gathering of believers just as in the Olivet Discourse."[5] Indeed, there are some similarities between the rapture and the second coming. There are also some similarities between Christ's first advent 2,000 years ago and His second advent. But they are not the same events. We know they are not the same because of the differences. It is the differences that are important when comparing Matthew 24:31 and 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Enough differences exist between the two passages to clearly conclude that they must be separate events.
The amount of differences in explanation doesn’t mean two different people are talking about two different things. What the reader has to look for is contradictions. Does any two explanations of an event contradict each other?
I.e. there are a lot of different ways to describe apples, any one explanation could be way different from another but it’s possible all could be describing the same apple. One person may go into fine detail and say the apple is rounded juicy has a stem thin skin over the outside and so on. Then another person may just say it tastes good. These two people have very different explanations to describe the same thing and yet they don’t contradict each other. Shouldn’t we take this same logic when studying scripture?
Dr. Steven McAvoy notes that "the differences between Paul's Thessalonian statements and Matthew 24:30-31 far outweigh any alleged similarities."[6] He says:
Sproule asks,
Where does Paul mention the darkening of the sun (Matt. 24:29), the moon not giving its light (Matt. 24:29), the stars falling from the sky (Matt. 24:29), the powers of the heavens being shaken (Matt. 24:29), all the tribes of the earth mourning (Matt. 24:30), all the world seeing the coming of the Son of Man (Matt. 24:30), or God sending forth angels (Matt. 24:31)?[7]
Just because Paul chose not to describe everything in these chosen passages doesn’t prove that his description contradicts those in Matthew. Nor does it mean they are different events.
Feinberg also notes the dissimilarities between the two accounts:
Notice what happens when you examine both passages carefully. In Matthew the Son of Man comes on the clouds, while in 1 Thessalonians 4 the ascending believers are in them.
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:
Mat 24:30 … and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
I don’t understand how these events contradict each other.
In Matthew the angels gather the elect; in 1 Thessalonians the Lord Himself (note the emphasis) gathers the believers.
The elect are those who are gathered of the nation of Israel not the same as the Christians.
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.
Rev 7:1 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.
Rev 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Thessalonians only speaks of the voice of the archangel. In the Olivet Discourse nothing is said about a resurrection, while in the latter text it is the central point. In the two passages the differences in what will take place prior to the appearance of Christ is striking. Moreover, the order of ascent is absent from Matthew in spite of the fact that it is the central part of the epistle.[8] [9]
Maybe striking but not contradictory.
In addition to the above differences, the order of events are different between the two passages. In 1 Thessalonians 4 believers are gathered in the air and taken to heaven, while in Matthew 24 they are gathered after Christ's arrival to earth. "In order for Gundry to establish his view that Matthew 24:31 refers to the rapture, he must reconcile the dissimilarities; not simple point to a few similarities."[10] Thus, the differences in the two passages support the contention that they speak of two distinct events.
The nation of Israel repent at the Lords coming and are saved they are not caught up into the air to be with the lord.
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Isaiah 53 I believe is the prophecy of the nation repenting.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
In conclusion: There may be many differences of how this event is described in scripture but I have not come across any contradictions that would allow me to believe in multiple advents. God bless.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Imminency contemplated
The following article is by a man named Thomas Ice.
His article can be found at http://www.according2prophecy.org/perhaps.html
The following article is on the teaching of the imminent return of Christ. Since I don’t believe this is true I feel obligated to state why. I will reply to each verse stated below and how I interpret them. I hope this will be a blessing to all who read. I hope this will help all readers perhaps this will force some to rethink there teachings perhaps others this will help strenthen there teaching. Regardless of your point of view or your point of view after reading this I believe this will be some help with your teaching.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
1) An imminent event is one which is always "hanging overhead, is constantly ready to befall or overtake one; close at hand in its incidence." ("imminent," The Oxford English Dictionary, 1901, V, 66.)
IMMINENCY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
The fact that Christ could return, but may not soon, at any moment, yet without the necessity of signs preceeding His return requires the kind of imminence taught by the pre-trib position and is a strong support for pretribulationism.
What New Testament passages teach this truth? Those verses stating that Christ could return at any moment, without warning and those instructing believers to wait and look for the Lord's coming teach the doctrine of imminence. Note the following New Testament passages:
1 Corinthians 1:7-"awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,"
In this verse awaiting simply means to expect fully, this doesn’t have anything to do with imminence. A person can expect someone to come have lunch with them but that doesn’t mean that at breakfast time it is imminent.
1 Corinthians 16:22-"Maranatha."
Again as far as I know this word means the Lord will come but has nothing to do with imminence.
Philippians 3:20-"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;"
Again this is the same Greek word as used in 1 Corinthians 1:7 which means to expect fully.
Philippians 4:5-"The Lord is near."
Ok this is a tricky one of the reasons is that in the King James Version at hand is used many times to describe several Greek words. The actual word here in Greek is eng-goos, which simply means near or ready. Now ready sounds somewhat like imminent I agree but these are definitions found in young’s.
Lets look at other Greek word, which is particularly used to describe imminence. en-is'-tay-mee to place on hand, that is, (reflexively) impend, (participle) be instant: - come, be at hand, present. Look at that definition it is clearly the word used to describe imminence. It doesn’t make any sense for a writer wishing to express imminence to use such a word as eng-goos as opposed to en-is'-tay-mee .
1 Thessalonians 1:10-"to wait for His Son from heaven,"
Again what does waiting have to do with imminence? Some people wait for 5 o’clock to roll around doesn’t have anything to do with imminence.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18-"For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of {the} archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."
Beautiful verse but is not stated as imminent in these passages.
1 Thessalonians 5:6-"so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober."
Watching being alert doesn’t mean anything is imminent. You can watch a person driving down the road towards you but that doesn’t mean there approach is imminent. Remember there has to be potentially no time between you and that object which is imminent. In this case the time the car takes to drive the rest of the distance to you prevents that car from being imminent.
1 Timothy 6:14-"that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,"
This verse is irrelevant to justification of the teaching of an imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:13-"looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus;"
Again looking for something doesn’t mean it’s imminent.
Hebrews 9:28-"so Christ . . . shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him."
You can wait for something that is not imminent think of a bus train or air plane people wait for these all the time doesn’t mean there arrival is imminent.
James 5:7-9-"Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. . . . for the coming of the Lord is at hand. . . . behold, the Judge is standing right at the door."
Again at hand appears often in the New Testament but actually encompasses 3 or 4 Greek words which all have different meaning. Here the Greek word does not mean imminence. eng-id'-zo make near, that is, (reflexively) approach: - approach, be at hand, come (draw) near, be (come, draw) nigh.
1 Peter 1:13 -"fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Good verse.
Jude 21-"waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life."
Revelation 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20-"'I am coming quickly!'"
takh-oo' -shortly, that is, without delay, soon, or (by surprise) suddenly, or (by implication of ease) readily: - lightly, quickly.
At first glance you may be quite convinced this word means imminent. First look at the word delay what does that really mean. Delay - The interval of time between two events.
Now take the word takh-oo’ this word is an adverb, simply put it describes an action word. The action it is describing is coming. The way the verse is structured the quickly part is describing the action of the Lords coming.
Just to give you an analogy of what I am trying to say here. Think of lightning and the nature of it. You may say lighten is sudden and it seems to happen without delay, however are lightning storms imminent? No there not, they can be if the conditions are right but on a sunny day it would be invalid to say a lightning storm is imminent. However on a sunny day you could make a statement “lightning comes quickly” and that would be true.
Revelation 22:17, 20-"And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.'"
"He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming quickly.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."
Here are some verses that are fundamental to my point of view.
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
“at hand” - en-is'-tay-mee -to place on hand, that is, (reflexively) impend, (participle) be instant: - come, be at hand, present.
Look up the word impend it is a synonym for imminent.
I know how some people say that the day of Christ is different and doesn’t apply to the rapture but I am not going to get into that.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
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.
The Lord Jesus when speaking of his coming says to watch for signs. Directly corresponding with all the verses quoted above which all speak of the Lords coming as approaching.
Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Again all these verses I believe mean approaching as well as most of the verses above that were quoted. I can see how people get imminence and approaching mixed up because in the King James Version most of the time words that mean approaching and imminent are translated to at hand the same word. Not only that but it's easy to get mixed up and think something that is approaching fast is imminent. However for something to be imminent there has to be no time between it and the perticular outcome.
His article can be found at http://www.according2prophecy.org/perhaps.html
The following article is on the teaching of the imminent return of Christ. Since I don’t believe this is true I feel obligated to state why. I will reply to each verse stated below and how I interpret them. I hope this will be a blessing to all who read. I hope this will help all readers perhaps this will force some to rethink there teachings perhaps others this will help strenthen there teaching. Regardless of your point of view or your point of view after reading this I believe this will be some help with your teaching.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
1) An imminent event is one which is always "hanging overhead, is constantly ready to befall or overtake one; close at hand in its incidence." ("imminent," The Oxford English Dictionary, 1901, V, 66.)
IMMINENCY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
The fact that Christ could return, but may not soon, at any moment, yet without the necessity of signs preceeding His return requires the kind of imminence taught by the pre-trib position and is a strong support for pretribulationism.
What New Testament passages teach this truth? Those verses stating that Christ could return at any moment, without warning and those instructing believers to wait and look for the Lord's coming teach the doctrine of imminence. Note the following New Testament passages:
1 Corinthians 1:7-"awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,"
In this verse awaiting simply means to expect fully, this doesn’t have anything to do with imminence. A person can expect someone to come have lunch with them but that doesn’t mean that at breakfast time it is imminent.
1 Corinthians 16:22-"Maranatha."
Again as far as I know this word means the Lord will come but has nothing to do with imminence.
Philippians 3:20-"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;"
Again this is the same Greek word as used in 1 Corinthians 1:7 which means to expect fully.
Philippians 4:5-"The Lord is near."
Ok this is a tricky one of the reasons is that in the King James Version at hand is used many times to describe several Greek words. The actual word here in Greek is eng-goos, which simply means near or ready. Now ready sounds somewhat like imminent I agree but these are definitions found in young’s.
Lets look at other Greek word, which is particularly used to describe imminence. en-is'-tay-mee to place on hand, that is, (reflexively) impend, (participle) be instant: - come, be at hand, present. Look at that definition it is clearly the word used to describe imminence. It doesn’t make any sense for a writer wishing to express imminence to use such a word as eng-goos as opposed to en-is'-tay-mee .
1 Thessalonians 1:10-"to wait for His Son from heaven,"
Again what does waiting have to do with imminence? Some people wait for 5 o’clock to roll around doesn’t have anything to do with imminence.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18-"For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of {the} archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."
Beautiful verse but is not stated as imminent in these passages.
1 Thessalonians 5:6-"so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober."
Watching being alert doesn’t mean anything is imminent. You can watch a person driving down the road towards you but that doesn’t mean there approach is imminent. Remember there has to be potentially no time between you and that object which is imminent. In this case the time the car takes to drive the rest of the distance to you prevents that car from being imminent.
1 Timothy 6:14-"that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,"
This verse is irrelevant to justification of the teaching of an imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:13-"looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus;"
Again looking for something doesn’t mean it’s imminent.
Hebrews 9:28-"so Christ . . . shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him."
You can wait for something that is not imminent think of a bus train or air plane people wait for these all the time doesn’t mean there arrival is imminent.
James 5:7-9-"Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. . . . for the coming of the Lord is at hand. . . . behold, the Judge is standing right at the door."
Again at hand appears often in the New Testament but actually encompasses 3 or 4 Greek words which all have different meaning. Here the Greek word does not mean imminence. eng-id'-zo make near, that is, (reflexively) approach: - approach, be at hand, come (draw) near, be (come, draw) nigh.
1 Peter 1:13 -"fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Good verse.
Jude 21-"waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life."
Revelation 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20-"'I am coming quickly!'"
takh-oo' -shortly, that is, without delay, soon, or (by surprise) suddenly, or (by implication of ease) readily: - lightly, quickly.
At first glance you may be quite convinced this word means imminent. First look at the word delay what does that really mean. Delay - The interval of time between two events.
Now take the word takh-oo’ this word is an adverb, simply put it describes an action word. The action it is describing is coming. The way the verse is structured the quickly part is describing the action of the Lords coming.
Just to give you an analogy of what I am trying to say here. Think of lightning and the nature of it. You may say lighten is sudden and it seems to happen without delay, however are lightning storms imminent? No there not, they can be if the conditions are right but on a sunny day it would be invalid to say a lightning storm is imminent. However on a sunny day you could make a statement “lightning comes quickly” and that would be true.
Revelation 22:17, 20-"And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.'"
"He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming quickly.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."
Here are some verses that are fundamental to my point of view.
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
“at hand” - en-is'-tay-mee -to place on hand, that is, (reflexively) impend, (participle) be instant: - come, be at hand, present.
Look up the word impend it is a synonym for imminent.
I know how some people say that the day of Christ is different and doesn’t apply to the rapture but I am not going to get into that.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
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.
The Lord Jesus when speaking of his coming says to watch for signs. Directly corresponding with all the verses quoted above which all speak of the Lords coming as approaching.
Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Again all these verses I believe mean approaching as well as most of the verses above that were quoted. I can see how people get imminence and approaching mixed up because in the King James Version most of the time words that mean approaching and imminent are translated to at hand the same word. Not only that but it's easy to get mixed up and think something that is approaching fast is imminent. However for something to be imminent there has to be no time between it and the perticular outcome.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
7 Year tribulation or 7 year covenant?
7-year tribulation or 7 year covenant?
After studying into the 7-year tribulation I realized something. There is no such thing as a 7-year tribulation in scripture. What we refer to, as a 7-year tribulation is really the 7-year covenant. The period of tribulation is stated in scripture but never as a 7-year period.
First of all Ill explain the 7-year covenant.
Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Again this is Daniels 70 week prophecy. As you can see the doctrine of the 7-year covenant comes from this verse “he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week”. A week here literally means 7 in the Hebrew, which is believed to be years because the other events in this prophecy work out to be years (360 days is a year in the Old testament). This period is split in half, which equals 42 months or a time times and a half time. This is often referred to in the New Testament as well as throughout Daniel. You may be wondering why time is a year? The reason is again the original meaning of the Hebrew word substituted for time in the King James Version is literally a year.
Where does the 7-year tribulation come from?
The 7-year tribulation is not an explicit teaching of scripture. In fact it’s quite complex and its going to take some effort to explain it. Now I don’t actually believe this although I have read several books and articles on it and this is the accumulated understanding I have come appreciate.
The 7 year tribulation does come from the 7 year covenant in Daniel 9:27. The doctrine is that the 70-week period ended at week 69 when the messiah was cut off. Then the dispensation of the Church begins, however there is one week left in the prophecy that has yet to be fulfilled. This is supposedly for the nation of Israel and the remaining Church has nothing to do with it.
For the actual word tribulation we turn to Matthew 24.
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:)
That’s how we know that the Lord Jesus is speaking specifically about the 7 year covenant period because he talks specifically of an event that happens right in the middle of it.
Then we read of Great tribulation after this event at mid-7 year covenant.
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.
Ok so why the whole event is thought to be tribulation is stated in the following 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: 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.
Some theologians had the idea basically based on notions of how Daniel is to be interpreted that the Son of Man comes at the end of the 7-year covenant and therefore the 7-year covenant and the Tribulation are synonymous.
Why I believe the 7-year covenant is scriptural as opposed to 7-year tribulation.
I can’t find any basis for these assumptions anywhere in scripture. In fact every place I have studied the coming of the Son of Man or the Lord Jesus Christ the Lord clearly comes before the end of this particular 7-year period.
I have read several books of people who believe this doctrine. One thing I haven’t seen any one explain is what the Lord Jesus Christ means in his mount Olivet discourse when he says.
For context
Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Cutting Short
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.
What are those days?
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.
Well if those days has anything to do with what the Lord Jesus was speaking about in this chapter then we would have to conclude that “those days” are the days of tribulation and great tribulation.
Shortened from what?
As already stated in scripture at the time of The Lords Mount Olivet discourse, and specifically referred to in this Chapter the 7 year covenant or one week covenant was already established so the only thing to dock from is the 7 year covenant.
So if the tribulation is really 7 years then why would the Lord Jesus say those days are cut short?
After studying into the 7-year tribulation I realized something. There is no such thing as a 7-year tribulation in scripture. What we refer to, as a 7-year tribulation is really the 7-year covenant. The period of tribulation is stated in scripture but never as a 7-year period.
First of all Ill explain the 7-year covenant.
Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Again this is Daniels 70 week prophecy. As you can see the doctrine of the 7-year covenant comes from this verse “he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week”. A week here literally means 7 in the Hebrew, which is believed to be years because the other events in this prophecy work out to be years (360 days is a year in the Old testament). This period is split in half, which equals 42 months or a time times and a half time. This is often referred to in the New Testament as well as throughout Daniel. You may be wondering why time is a year? The reason is again the original meaning of the Hebrew word substituted for time in the King James Version is literally a year.
Where does the 7-year tribulation come from?
The 7-year tribulation is not an explicit teaching of scripture. In fact it’s quite complex and its going to take some effort to explain it. Now I don’t actually believe this although I have read several books and articles on it and this is the accumulated understanding I have come appreciate.
The 7 year tribulation does come from the 7 year covenant in Daniel 9:27. The doctrine is that the 70-week period ended at week 69 when the messiah was cut off. Then the dispensation of the Church begins, however there is one week left in the prophecy that has yet to be fulfilled. This is supposedly for the nation of Israel and the remaining Church has nothing to do with it.
For the actual word tribulation we turn to Matthew 24.
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:)
That’s how we know that the Lord Jesus is speaking specifically about the 7 year covenant period because he talks specifically of an event that happens right in the middle of it.
Then we read of Great tribulation after this event at mid-7 year covenant.
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.
Ok so why the whole event is thought to be tribulation is stated in the following 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: 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.
Some theologians had the idea basically based on notions of how Daniel is to be interpreted that the Son of Man comes at the end of the 7-year covenant and therefore the 7-year covenant and the Tribulation are synonymous.
Why I believe the 7-year covenant is scriptural as opposed to 7-year tribulation.
I can’t find any basis for these assumptions anywhere in scripture. In fact every place I have studied the coming of the Son of Man or the Lord Jesus Christ the Lord clearly comes before the end of this particular 7-year period.
I have read several books of people who believe this doctrine. One thing I haven’t seen any one explain is what the Lord Jesus Christ means in his mount Olivet discourse when he says.
For context
Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Cutting Short
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.
What are those days?
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.
Well if those days has anything to do with what the Lord Jesus was speaking about in this chapter then we would have to conclude that “those days” are the days of tribulation and great tribulation.
Shortened from what?
As already stated in scripture at the time of The Lords Mount Olivet discourse, and specifically referred to in this Chapter the 7 year covenant or one week covenant was already established so the only thing to dock from is the 7 year covenant.
So if the tribulation is really 7 years then why would the Lord Jesus say those days are cut short?
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Looking at Daniel 7
Daniel 7:10-14
Dan 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
Dan 7:11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
Dan 7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Dan 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
7-year covenant
My first objective is to explain what time frame these events entail. In Daniel 9:27 we read of a 7 week covenant, in Hebrew the word used here for week literally means a 7 which can refer to 7 days 7 years etc…
Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Notice here the prince is not capitalized meaning not deity or not God in other words..
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
This is the last event to happen in Daniels 70 week prophecy. This prince here is believed to be the lawless one or as John states in his epistles the antichrist, which in turn is the beast. It’s not my intention to get into a deep explanation as to why, perhaps another paper.
The reason I believe that the writings contained here in Daniel are during the 7-year covenant or as some state the 7 year tribulation are basic.
One the Judgment is set, we don’t ever read of a judgment prior to the 7-year covenant.
Two this can’t be the great white throne because no ones life is prolonged for a season and time after that. Rev 20.
Three the Son of man comes in the clouds of heaven. When the Lord Jesus was on earth he said this…
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’s why I believe these events stated in Daniel 7 are clearly within the 7 year covenant.
The Son of man Judges at his coming.
This is a recurring theme throughout the New Testament.
Matthew 25 we read of the details as to how people are judged at the Lords coming.
2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
The Lord Jesus slays the beast
Again this is stated in the New Testament as well.
2Th 2:8 and then shall be revealed the Lawless One, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the manifestation of his presence,
2Th 2:9 him, whose presence is according to the working of the Adversary, in all power, and signs, and lying wonders, - YLT
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Rev 19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
The Son of man comes before the end of the 7-year covenant?
If you read these verses carefully you will notice that something happens after the Son of man comes.
Dan 7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
Even after the beast is slain the rest of these kings or beasts have their life prolonged for a season and time. A season in the Hebrew is defined as a “period of time” and time is defined as year. So these beasts have there lives prolonged for a period of time unknown and a year.
If these beasts had there lives prolonged then how is it possible that the Son of man could come at the end of this 7-year covenant. After the 7-year covenant is the millennial reign. There does need to be a season and time before this to allow the prolonging of life given to these kings.
Now if my understanding of these verses is true it should fit into scripture.
The shorting of the 7-year covenant is reiterated in Matthew.
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.
Knowing that the beast is slain a season and time before the end of the 7 year covenant. We can come to the conclusion that other places in scripture where the beast is slain will include the same time frame.
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
I believe here that this period is often mistaken as being at the end of the 7 year covenant. However this period is just another way of explaining the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ or the Son of Man and will happen a season and time before the end of the 7-year period. The events here in Revelation may seem a lot different, but the same thing happens as when the son of man is described as coming in glory other times in scripture, he takes the beast and throws him into the lake of fire. Therefore I infer that Revelation 19 is the coming of the Son of man.
Dominion taken.
The Dominion of this world is taken from men and given to the Lord.
Dan 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall
judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to
other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it
shall stand for ever.
Dan 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain
without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
Dan 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
Dan 7:11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
Dan 7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Dan 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
7-year covenant
My first objective is to explain what time frame these events entail. In Daniel 9:27 we read of a 7 week covenant, in Hebrew the word used here for week literally means a 7 which can refer to 7 days 7 years etc…
Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Notice here the prince is not capitalized meaning not deity or not God in other words..
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
This is the last event to happen in Daniels 70 week prophecy. This prince here is believed to be the lawless one or as John states in his epistles the antichrist, which in turn is the beast. It’s not my intention to get into a deep explanation as to why, perhaps another paper.
The reason I believe that the writings contained here in Daniel are during the 7-year covenant or as some state the 7 year tribulation are basic.
One the Judgment is set, we don’t ever read of a judgment prior to the 7-year covenant.
Two this can’t be the great white throne because no ones life is prolonged for a season and time after that. Rev 20.
Three the Son of man comes in the clouds of heaven. When the Lord Jesus was on earth he said this…
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’s why I believe these events stated in Daniel 7 are clearly within the 7 year covenant.
The Son of man Judges at his coming.
This is a recurring theme throughout the New Testament.
Matthew 25 we read of the details as to how people are judged at the Lords coming.
2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
The Lord Jesus slays the beast
Again this is stated in the New Testament as well.
2Th 2:8 and then shall be revealed the Lawless One, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the manifestation of his presence,
2Th 2:9 him, whose presence is according to the working of the Adversary, in all power, and signs, and lying wonders, - YLT
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Rev 19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
The Son of man comes before the end of the 7-year covenant?
If you read these verses carefully you will notice that something happens after the Son of man comes.
Dan 7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
Even after the beast is slain the rest of these kings or beasts have their life prolonged for a season and time. A season in the Hebrew is defined as a “period of time” and time is defined as year. So these beasts have there lives prolonged for a period of time unknown and a year.
If these beasts had there lives prolonged then how is it possible that the Son of man could come at the end of this 7-year covenant. After the 7-year covenant is the millennial reign. There does need to be a season and time before this to allow the prolonging of life given to these kings.
Now if my understanding of these verses is true it should fit into scripture.
The shorting of the 7-year covenant is reiterated in Matthew.
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.
Knowing that the beast is slain a season and time before the end of the 7 year covenant. We can come to the conclusion that other places in scripture where the beast is slain will include the same time frame.
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
I believe here that this period is often mistaken as being at the end of the 7 year covenant. However this period is just another way of explaining the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ or the Son of Man and will happen a season and time before the end of the 7-year period. The events here in Revelation may seem a lot different, but the same thing happens as when the son of man is described as coming in glory other times in scripture, he takes the beast and throws him into the lake of fire. Therefore I infer that Revelation 19 is the coming of the Son of man.
Dominion taken.
The Dominion of this world is taken from men and given to the Lord.
Dan 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall
judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to
other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it
shall stand for ever.
Dan 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain
without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
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