THE BIBLICAL TIMELINE

A BEAST WITH SEVEN HEADS AND TEN HORNS

To get to the beast with seven heads and ten horns in Revelation we should begin with 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4. On July 16 & 23 we saw that at some point Satan will rule in the churches: ³Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; ⁴Who op- poseth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is wor- shipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

On July 26, 28, 30 , we looked at Matthew 24: ¹⁵When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

In light of 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 we concluded that the abomination of desolation in Matthew 24:15 is Satan; also the holy place refers to the churches that contained God's Word, as did the tabernacle in Exodus 26:33 (see July 30). Therefore the holy place = Judaea = the congrega- tions in Matthew 24: ¹⁶Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.

On July 26 Matthew 24:15 directed us to Daniel 8:9-13 for further infor- mation on the abomination of desolation. On July 30 we defined the word daily in Daniel 8:9-13 as God's word, the Bible, that the little horn of Daniel 8:9-13 took away: ⁹And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land…¹¹Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. ¹²And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered. ¹³Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

Because Matthew 24:15 directed us to Daniel 8:9-13 we had every reason to believe that the transgression of desolation (of Daniel 8:13) was the abomination of desolation (of Matthew 24:15). Because as early as July 16 we assumed the abomination of desolation (of Matthew 24:15) is Sa- tan, we could reasonably assume the little horn (of Daniel 8:9) is Satan.

Going back to Daniel 8:8-9 we read, ⁸…the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven. ⁹And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land…

On June 16 we determined that the he goat was Satan, represented by Alexander the Great. On July 12 we read in Revelation 20:1-3 that Christ bound Satan for a figurative thousand years to keep him from taking over the churches. Therefore the great horn was broken (in Daniel 8:8). This binding of Satan for a thousand years allowed the rise of the four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven (of Daniel 8:8). The number four in Scripture represents the furthest extent in either time or space; in this case we have the churches—notable ones—spreading out in all four di- rections—east, north, west and south. Indeed, the churches went into the whole world.

But then on July 12, 16, 23, we read in Revelation 20 that Satan ³…must be loosed a little season. That explained Revelation 13:3, which we looked at on July 23: ³…I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. Now Satan (the beast) can enter the churches for the great tribulation.

The little horn of Daniel 8 is this beast (of Revelation 13:3), Satan. In Daniel 8: ⁹…out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land… The south, east and pleasant land identifies with God's kingdom (see June 16). So this little horn = the beast (of Revelation 13:3) = the abomination of desolation = Satan that 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 warns us about.

We find the ten horns first in Daniel 7: ⁷ After this I saw…a fourth beast …and it had ten horns. ⁸…and…there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and…in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

That the little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots (in Daniel 7:8) reminds us of the four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven (in Daniel 8:8). But the four nota- ble ones represented the churches. So the little horn comes out of the churches as the fourth beast (of Daniel 7:7). The little horn uproots the three of the first horns (Daniel 7, 8) by infiltrating the congregations with his ministers of righteousness (of 2 Corinthians 11:15; see June 30 & July 7).

In Daniel 7:8 the (little) horn has …eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. Eyes and mouth denote human attributes—which Satan's ministers of righteousness, being man, must possess.

In Daniel 7:7-8 the little horn comes out from among the fourth beast of Daniel 7:7 that has ten horns. Revelation 17:12 defines the ten horns: ¹²And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have re- ceived no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

The one hour is the period of the great tribulation after Satan makes the churches his kingdom. In Revelation 18:10 the churches (Babylon) come under judgment for one hour:¹⁰ …that great city Babylon…in one hour is thy judgment come. That's why in 1 Peter 4:17 we read that ¹⁷ …judg- ment must begin at the house of God—because during the one hour of great tribulation the churches come under God's judgment.

We find the ten horns of Daniel 7:7 referred to in Revelation 12: ³And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

We also find the ten horns of Daniel 7:7 referred to in Revelation 13: ¹ And I …saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

In Revelation 12:3 the seven heads are crowned, whereas in Revelation 13:1 the ten horns are crowned. Recall that Revelation 17:12 defines the ten horns as ¹²…ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. Therefore the ten horns as crowned refer to the one hour of great tribulation. That's why in Rev- elation 13:1 the beast rises up out of the sea (the sea refers to God's wrath); and in Revelation 13:3 …his deadly wound was healed—so that he could enter into the churches.

So the great red dragon of Revelation 12:3 with seven heads crowned must refer to the church age. But the beast of Revelation 13:1 that rises out of the sea is the great red dragon of Revelation 12:3.

Daniel 8:10 speaks of the little horn casting stars to the earth or ground. ¹⁰And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Similarly the great red dragon of Revelation 12:3 …drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth (in Revelation 12:4). So the little horn of Daniel 8:10 does what the great red dragon does in casting stars, to the earth or ground. Again we have the great red dragon = the beast = little horn.

Revelation 12:9 defines the great red dragon of Revelation 12:3: ⁹And the great dragon was cast out (of heaven), that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan…

So the great red dragon (of Revelation 12:3) = the beast (of Revelation 3:1) = Satan (Revelation 12:9) = the little horn (of Daniel 8:9). That again verifies that the abomination of desolation in Matthew 24:15 is Satan in the holy place, the churches. All the pieces fit together to verify our pic- ture of Satan in the congregations.

On August 4 we do a final summary of the church age.

A FINAL SUMMARY OF THE CHURCH AGE

On July 28 we saw that Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 concern Satan's role in the churches and God's commandment to abandoned them. In Matthew 24: ¹⁵When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desola- tion, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place… In Mark 13: ¹⁴But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation…standing where it ought not…then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: In Daniel 8: ¹³…and another saint said…How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

Daniel 11:31 reinforces the above three verses: ³¹…and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

We have Satan standing where it ought not, which is the holy place, which is the sanctuary of strength. From there Satan—the little horn (of Daniel 8:9), which is the abomination of desolation (of Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14) takes away the Word of God, the Bible.

The holy place (of Matthew 24:15) is the church. We've already deter- mined that Without the vail of the testimony… the ark of the testimony is what God …will give…in commandment unto…Israel, (see July 30 ). In Exodus 26: ³³…the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy (see July 30). Therefore God will give His Word in the holy place of Matthew 24:15, which can only be the churches after A.D. 33.

We can also define the churches as the temple of God in 2 Thessalonians 2: ⁴Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he (Satan) as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. That Satan sitteth in the temple of God agrees with the abomination of desolation…in the holy place (of Matthew 24:15) and where it ought not (of Mark 13:14).The word sitteth (in 2 Thessalonians 2:4) means to rule (in the churches).

On July 23 we looked at how Matthew 24:11, 24 reveals Satan and his ministers of righteousness deceiving everybody in the churches: ¹¹And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. ²⁴For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. The elect, those whom God plans to save, no longer reside in the churches, where Satan shall deceive many.

This false Christ, coming as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) into the churches, would …deceive the very elect…if it were possible (Mat- thew 24:24), by taking away God's word (the daily of Daniel 8:11) and replacing it with false gospels as predicted in Daniel 8:11 (see July 28).

On July 23 we looked at Revelation 11:7-8 that defines Egypt as the congregations: ⁷And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. ⁸And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

The elect have finished their testimony when Satan kills them in principle by driving them out of the churches. Thus in a parabolic sense their dead bodies…lie in the street of the great city, (the churches) which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt.

On July 14 we saw that Scripture uses Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (B.C. 605 - 562), as a picture of Satan. In Ezekiel 29:18-20 Nebuchad- rezzar = Satan and Babylon = the world. Satan won rule over the world back in the Garden of Eden by causing Adam and Eve to rebel against God. Also in Ezekiel 29:18-20 the congregations = Tyrus = the land of Egypt (as defined in Revelation 11:7-8).

Ezekiel 29:18-20 assures us that God not only doesn't stop Satan from deceiving the congregants, but actually employs and compensates Satan to do so.

¹⁸Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon  (who represents Sa- tan) caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus (the churches: see June 30): every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it: ¹⁹Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army. ²⁰I have given him the land of Egypt for his la- bour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD.

As wages for Satan's army, i.e., his ministers of righteousness, God gives them the congregations to spoil and take her prey. Revelation 13:17 con- firms that within the churches no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. But Satan won't enjoy his authority in the churches for very long. As we'll see, twenty-three years and five months later, God throws Satan and his army into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:10).

That God eventually ends the church age shouldn't surprise us: God let ancient Israel represent his kingdom, beginning in B.C. 1447, then ended it at the cross 1480 years later. Why not, therefore, the churches after 1955 years?

Neither should this granting of power to Satan surprise us. In the garden of Eden God granted Satan rule over the world until the cross. We know Satan relishes his authority over the congregations because of Isaiah 14:13: Satan plans to ¹³…ascend into heaven… exalt my throne above the stars of God: …sit also upon the mount of the congregation… So God recompenses Satan for his service by giving him authority over the con- gregations.

When studying the vineyard of Matthew 21 (see June 25 ) we saw that after the church age God uses the congregations to gather the tares for burning in the lake of fire. So Satan provides a service to God by keeping the tares within the churches. In Matthew 13: ⁴⁰As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. ⁴¹The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; ⁴²And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Scripture uses the word angels (angelos) as messengers that can be Christ, man or administering spirits (see July 7 ). In Matthew 13:41  angelos are men (see July 7). The tares are gathered in the congregations (see June 25 ) as they worship Satan after the church age, i.e., during the great tribulation of Matthew 24:21. So we would expect God to command his elect to come out of the churches. We find this commandment in such verses as Matthew 24:15 and Revelation 18:4: ⁴And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her (Babylon = the congrega- tions), my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

This post concludes our look at the church age from a Biblical perspec- tive. On Wednesday, August 6, we finish up by considering the congre- gations from a secular viewpoint. Then we begin with the great tribulation of our day.

THE FALL OF THE CHURCH

To conclude the church age we discuss a few secular reasons why the congregations did so poorly with the very Bible they claimed to honor. Verses such as Mark 16:15 testify that they merely had to tell people what Scripture says, no more, no less. Why couldn't they have done that?

Christians have one Bible, therefore one doctrine. Since A.D. 33,  how- ever, churches couldn't agree on any one creed or keep their beliefs for very long. The Jews, Unitarians and Muslims don't even recognize Christ as God. Despite the controversy, every church, synagogue or mosque professed that they, through their "true religion" and "right reason" had the tickets to eternal happiness. The Roman Catholics said we must get baptized, go to confession and do penance; the Seven Day Adventists said we must recognize the seventh day Sabbath; the Protestants said we must make a confession of faith etc. Each church assured us we could blame only ourselves if we didn't listen to them and wound up in hell. But then they kept changing their minds. Under no circumstances did any church sanction divorce sixty years ago. Later they permitted it for forni- cation, then for spousal abuse, and finally for eating crackers in bed.

Suppose we ask them a very practical question: "What must we do to be- come saved?" If Pastor Brown wants us to love him and become a mem- ber of his church, he'll probably say, Jesus wants us there. If Pastor Black doesn't like our looks and wants to see us squirm, he'll predict we'll roast in hell. Father White, a control freak, will claim we must do exactly what he says. Father Gray, a bureaucrat at heart, will want us to fill out a dozen forms. Father Brown, an authority bastard, will tell us we can't sit or stand wherever we happen to be at the moment.

Whatever they tell us, they won't give us the Biblical answer. They could by answering our question with one word—"Nothing." Only God can save anyone; and He already chose His elect before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4; see August 7). But churches know if Bozo doesn't think one congregation can save him, and keep him saved, he'll go to another; and there goes church attendance along with the collection plate.

Church leaders didn't want to relinquish their authority by admitting they couldn't save anyone. Therefore they created do-it-yourself salvation plans that blatantly contradict Scripture. By declaring such rituals as wa- ter baptism as a ticket to salvation, they denied and insulted God as the only one who could redeem anyone. Once those running the churches convinced people only they could save them, they had to keep creating and revising new doctrines. To quote Sir Walter Scott: "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive."

For example, one bothersome verse in Psalms 58 reads, ³The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speak- ing lies.⁴Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;

People once believed that any baby who died before ecclesiastical inter- vention must suffer forever in a giant oven set on broil. Parents with deathly ill infants must have given clerics quite a headache. "You mean if my baby dies god will torture her forever? What kind of god is that?"

In dealing with such questions clergy threw Scripture in the fire and made up their own solutions: like an age of accountability, a place of limbo, purgatory, etc. They then could appease the parent: "As long as you get your baby baptized"—and do this, that and the other thing—"you have nothing to worry about." Of course the stillborns were out of luck.

Churches operate under the same dynamics of self interest as any other institution. Consider their two biggest generic lies:

(1) We're here to help you.

(2) You're check is in the mail.

And compare them with the brand sold by the churches:

(1)^* We're here to save you (if you become a member of our church).

(2)^* You're salvation is in the bag (as long as you remain a member of our church and do what we say).

It's all the same game.

An institution, bureaucracy, corporation or church justifies its existence by creating a "problem" that justifies its agenda: e.g., "You're not saved so we have to do something about it." Whether the "problem" actually exists doesn't matter—as long as their spokesperson insists that it does. Any real resolution would render the institution unnecessary—the last thing it wants. With all those jobs at stake—or with all those people in the pews—their interests revolve around growth and power (= money); therefore the "problem" must grow and develop. So rather than resolve or eliminate the conflict, they exacerbate it so as to justify combating it, thus make it worse. Under these dynamics the bureaucrates or whatever can justify themselves and obey their second commandment: Thou shalt appear important and necessary at all times. (The first one: Thou shalt cover thy ass.) So if the right leg needs amputation, they screw things up so the left one gets sawed off first. That way they bring in twice the money and double the busywork. They then brag about how much they've accomplished, telling us, "We understand, people feel frus- trated..., but..."; There's always the "but...;" and none of them are ever held accountable for anything.

Iraq (the left leg) was never a recruitment center for terrorists, until Washington and New York's banking elite decided to make it one. Iraq never had weapons of mass destruction, until they decided that it did. Iraq never had anything to do with September 11, 2001, until they decided that it did. So here we are in Iraq—after only thirty years out of Vietnam. The Bible never said one must serve a church to become saved, until church authorities decided that it did. So here we are in the congregations—after God has told us to get out; and we serve our pastor or priest with all our hearts and minds, which is what politics—not honoring God—is all about. 

Forcing the crooks to clean up their mess only accommodates them in their love-hate relationship with busywork. While bemoaning it, the bu- reaucrats love telling us how much they have to do—such as forming a new committee to study the "problem" they caused by combating the orginal one. But they generate all that rigmarole to ward off a much greater threat—having nothing to do and no way to kill time. Church busywork makes services and rituals appear important and necessary. So we have water baptism, confessions of faith, miraculous healings, pen- ance, ashes on the forehead, speaking in tongues, falling over backwards, picking up poisonous snakes or drinking toxins, rolling on the floor in ecstatic fits, lectures on morality, confessions to a priest—and none of that can change one's eternal fate.

If God wrote the Bible—and between February 21 and March 4 we show the highest probability that He did—then we'd have certain expectations: that obeying its laws benefits us and its perusal nourishes us spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally. We would expect such blessings even if God never elected to save us. But today people in the churches never reap such benefits. Their ecclesiastical belief system blinds them to what Scripture says, including its commandment to abandon the churches.

According to Scripture nothing we do can alter our eternal status—only what God chose for us before creation determines our destiny (Ephe- sians 1:4; see August 7). One either faces annihilation or salvation; and no one deserves the latter (see August 7). Those God does save come under the hearing of Scripture (Romans 10:17). Thus, given half a chance, God's elect will read the Bible to learn more and obey its dictates. But that doesn't get one saved. Scripture commands us to cry to God for mercy. The elect will do that, but not in a way acceptable to God until after salvation has already occurred. The non elect will ask, "Why worry? Whatever will be will be." 

Election by grace alone (2 Timothy 1:9) grants us life's biggest favor: it frees us from the tyranny of any church with signs out front: SALVA- TION FOR SALE. In exchange for ecclesiastical special deals congre- gants gave up their hearts and minds to serve what never existed. We don't owe anybody that. We don't have to depend on anyone—except God. Such autonomy allows us to investigate Scripture for ourselves with no churchly preconceptions getting in the way. Other than salvation itself, what more could anyone ask? In the past the church burnt people at the stake for owning a Bible. Why? The creed peddlers wanted the congre- gants like themselves: dependent addicts and dealers. So they outlawed the antidote: predestination. Atheists correctly point out that religiosity abhors autonomy, preferring instead a dogma that tells one what to think. Thus congregations have always overflowed with converts, and always will.

ELECTION BY GRACE

On August 6 we discussed the congregations and made the following statement: according to Scripture nothing we do can alter our eternal status—only what God chose for us before creation determines our des- tiny. No church can make a difference. No matter what the Roman Cath- olic Church may say when selling indulgences, the truth frees us from rapacious man. For that reason alone God deserves our gratitude.

Other churches may point to Mark 16:16 as proof that water baptism can save us: ¹⁶He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. But this verse doesn't refer to water bap- tism, which can never wash away sin. The baptism in view in Mark 16:16 is the cleansing of sin by the Holy Ghost (Mark 1:8) and no one has any control over that. 

To prove our assertion, that no one can get himself or anyone else saved, we need only let Scripture speak for itself: ⁴According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: ⁵Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ^6…11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will (Ephesians 1)

If God chose us before the foundation of the world, then nothing we do at this late date can make any difference or contribute in any way towards our destiny: ⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith (Christ; see Reve- lation 19:11); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2).

In Ephesians 2:8-9 one can't earn salvation; it is a gift of God. We define works as anything we do in obedience to the commandments; i.e., the whole Bible. Therefore adherence to God's laws makes no difference. Those who think their works somehow contribute or initiate salvation come to ruin. ²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7).

No amount of work that we do can satisfy God's law. For example in Deuteronomy 6:5 God commands us to believe and love God with all our heart. But belief is a work that we do as defined in 1 Thessalonians 1: ³Remembering without ceasing your work of faith (believing), and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ… But one is saved not of works but of the gift of God.

Without salvation we can't love Christ and believe in Him with all our heart because ⁹The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: (Jeremiah 17). Thus we can't keep that commandment perfectly to get ourselves saved—not until God gives us a new heart as in Ezekiel 36: ²⁶A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Only with this new heart can anyone believe and …love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might according to Deuteronomy 6:5.

Salvation is all the work of God: In Ephesians 2: ¹⁰…we are his work- manship,created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2). In other words God created certain people for election and others for damnation according to His own will and pleasure. In Jeremiah 18 God says, ⁶ O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. Thus before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) God sealed our fate according to His will. Nothing we do can initiate or induce our salvation, not after God already made the decision before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).

God explains in Mark 4:11-12 that those not destined for salvation will never understand this principle of election: ¹¹And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: ¹²That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. But just because one takes smart pills and un- derstands Scripture doesn't guarantee salvation; neither does an inability to understand make one stupid or one of the non elect. Whether God chose one for salvation before creating the world is the sole determi- nant.

For an example of an historical parable that some people can't under- stand: that the Israelites kept the seventh day Sabbath by doing no work illustrates how God abhors sharing credit for salvation with anyone. Num- bers 15:30-36 tells of a man caught picking up a few sticks on the seventh day Sabbath. This man thought he could assist or induce in some small way his salvation. When Moses asked God what should be done with him, ³⁵…the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. ³⁶And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses. The man was killed ³¹Because he…despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment… (Numbers 15).

The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and only Christ could've paid for the sins of the elect so that they themselves wouldn't have to die. In 2 Timothy 1: ⁹Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. That leaves us with no choice but to hope and wait upon God for our salvation. ²⁶It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD (Lamentations 3). We can also go to God for mercy as the publi- can does in Luke 18:9-14.

For a more lengthy discussion on this topic one can click here and download Harold Camping's booklet, I Hope God Will Save Me. For a supplement to THE FALL OF THE CHURCH, showing we face either annihilation or eternal punishment, click here. Click August 9 for THE GREAT TRIBULATION'S HALF HOUR OF SILENCE.

ANNIHILATION VS ETERNAL PUNISHMENT

On August 6 we made the following statement: In death "one either faces annihilation or salvation; and no one deserves the latter." Throughout the ages churches perpetuated the myth of eternal suffering. Such beliefs benefited the hell-fire preachers of yore. As congregants trembled and bit their fingernails, Bible thumpers could revel in gruesome scenarios of lost souls, howling and writhing in never ending flames; and of course we have to have devils gleefully jabbing pitchforks into them.

Because this Hieronymous-Bosch-like spectacle supposedly lasts forever churches had a way of driving people into their congregations and keeping them there. Who wants to burn for all time? Ask church author- ities how a merciful God can torture others forever and we hear how the condemned have only themselves to blame—as if by a little effort they could've saved themselves. Of course those who never heard of their church or man-made gospel are out of luck.

Scripture translates the word sheُُ ôl in the O.T. as grave 31 times and as hell 31 times. The N.T. translates the word hadēs as hell 10 times and as grave 1 time. The Greek word geenna is translated as hell 9 times.

The translators of the N.T. probably believed in an eternal place called hell. But the Biblical hell is the grave with no conscious awareness of anything again. Only that definition will explain Revelation 20: ¹⁴And death and hell (hadēs) were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. In other words no future grave exists for anyone spiritually alive with Christ. The unsaved already have died like the animals. In Psalms 49: ¹²…man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. ²⁰ Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

Obadiah 1:16 confirms that death is the punishment for sin: ¹⁶ For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink contin- ually, yea, they shall drink (the wine of the wrath of God; see Jeremiah 25:27-28), and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been. To be as though they had not been can only refer to death and non existence.

Revelation 20:10 seems to support the myth of eternal suffering: ¹⁰And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for (eis) ever and ever.

The term day and night can only refer to the world; i.e., as long as day and night exists; afterwards without a sun (or world) we have no day and night. Therefore the beast and the false prophet… shall be tormented until October 21, 2011 and no more (see February 7).

Though the Bible translates the word eis as for 140 times, the N.T. trans- lates eis as into 573 times and as to 281 times. Therefore Revelation 20:10 means that during the day of judgment, from May 21, 2011 until October 21, 2011, the devil, beast and false prophet… shall be tormented day and night for eis (= to) ever and ever (= to eternity). Then on October 21, 2011 God throws everything, including the devil, into the lake of fire (= annihilation). That the translators of the KJV translated the word eis as for instead of to in Revelation 20:10 shows that they actually believed in an eternal place called hell. 

Only during the five months between May 21, 2011 and October 21, 2011 does the torment take place according to Luke 12: ⁴⁷And that ser- vant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.⁴⁸But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.

But God stipulates a limit to the number of stripes, whether many or few. In Deuteronomy 25: ²…it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten be- fore his face, according to his fault, by a certain number. ³Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee. God cannot beat a condemn soul forever; therefore no eternal suffering exists.

Revelation 20:12 appears to imply a conscious existence for the unsaved who have died. ¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

If God judges them according to their works then God finds them guilty (see August 7).

The dead (spiritually)…stand before God…not at the end of the world but throughout their physical life. Adam died spiritually the moment he disobeyed God according to Genesis 2: ¹⁷…for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. The whole human race also died: ²²…as in Adam all die… (1 Corinthians 15:22). That's the penalty for sin—spiritual death. When the unsaved die physically they, like the animals, never experience conscious existence again.

To continue in Revelation 20: ¹³And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. ¹⁴And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

The phrases—the sea gave up the dead and death and hell delivered up the dead—refer in one sense to the great earthquake of Revelation 6:12, 11:13, 16:18 that, immediately after the Rapture, spews forth all the graves. In another sense the sea stands for God's wrath and condemnation of the unsaved.

That death and hell were cast into the lake of fire means death no longer exists. The lake of fire (= the second death) doesn't burn eternally, no more so than the fire of Sodom and Gomorrah, though Jude 7 refers to those cities as in eternal fire, which means they never exist again. ⁷Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. No eternal fire exists today anywhere in the world. Jude 7 uses the adjective eternal to mean those four cities can never rise again. In that sense anything subject to the lake of fire can never again exist.

2 Corinthians 5:10 seems to imply an after-death judgment for the un- saved. ¹⁰For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

First of all 2 Corinthians 5:1-11 concerns the elect who in principle were judged and crucified with Christ. Secondly, everyone stands before the judgment seat throughout their lives. The Biblical definition of judge en- tails more than what we normally think; i.e., that he simply condemns the guilty and frees the innocent. Like the king the judge ruled over and protected the Israelites from enemies, thus brought stability to the nation. In Judges 2: ¹⁶Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. In that sense God is the supreme Judge over the world.

Typically we don't wish misfortune upon others because we don't want it on ourselves. But some people still can't give up believing in an eternal hell—for others. Suppose Decent Dick never missed church, was always kind to old ladies, and struggled continuously to live a righteous life. However his neighbor, Scummy Bart, beats his wife, kicks the dog and yells at his kids. Naturally Decent Dick doesn't like seeing Bart get off easy with only death, not after turning down all those invitations to his beer parties. To Decent Dick death only for Scummy Bart seems very unfair.  

But unfortunately for Decent Dick, we have to conclude that hell is death and the grave according to Romans 6: ²³For the wages of sin is death; and Ezekiel 18: ²⁰The soul that sinneth, it shall die. Since …all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23) only those having had their sins paid for before the foundation of the world can escape this death. But since God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34) and today, during the great tribulation, He's saving a great multitude (Revelation 7:9 and Revelation 7:14) there exists hope for everybody. So until May 21, 2011 ²⁶It isgood that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD (Lamentations 3).

THE GREAT TRIBULATION’S HALF HOUR OF SILENCE

After the church age we have the period of great tribulation (of Matthew 24:21) and the half hour of silence (of Revelation 8:1).

In Matthew 24: ²¹…then (after the church age) shall be great tribulation (thlipsis), such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. We find the same verse in Mark 13:19, except the word affliction (thlipsis) replaces tribulation. Scripture translates thlipsis as tribulation 21 times and affliction 17. John 16:21 translates thlipsis as anguish; Acts 11:19 as, persecution; 1 Colossians 7:28 as trouble; 2 Co- lossians 8:13 as burdened

The question begs itself: why does Scripture use such negative terms to describe our day? Does the term great tribulation refer only to those re- maining in the churches?

In Acts 7 we find the same word, thlipsis: ¹¹Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction (thlipsis): and our fathers found no sustenance. Acts 7:11 refers to the famine (of B.C. 1879 - 1872) that Joseph prophesied in Genesis 41: ³⁰And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be for- gotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land. This dearth or famine not only consumed Egypt but the whole known world, including Canaan. In Genesis 42 and 43 Abraham's grandson, Jacob, had to send his sons to Joseph in Egypt to buy food (see June 21).

The present day great tribulation associates with the famine of B.C. 1879 - 1872. We should expect this dearth of Jacob's day to represent some- thing more than just lack of food. God uses historical events as parables to signify spiritual meaning (see June 14 ).

As we've shown in Daniel 8:11, Satan takes the Word of God (the daily) out of the churches (see July 30 ). So we have the famine of Jacob's day representing a famine of the Word of God--at least in the churches. What about outside of them?

On August 2 we looked at Revelation 17 that concerned the beast with seven heads and ten horns. In verse 3 of Revelation 17…he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness (the world): and I saw a woman (representing the churches) sit upon a scarlet coloured beast (Satan), full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns…¹²And the ten horns…are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet (as long as the church age lasts); but receive power as kings (beginning with the final tribulation) one hour with the beast (Revelation 17).

Therefore we have the great tribulation lasting for at least the one hour of Revelation 17:12. These verses with one hour—in Revelation 17:12, 18:10, 18:17, and 19—have to do with the final tribulation when God no longer resides in the churches—except as judge and executioner.

Just before the cross in A.D. 33 Christ begins to experience the wrath of God in the garden of Gethsemane. In principle the church age came to an end because Christ would leave His disciples that represented His church. Therefore on that night the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad (Matthew 26:31). So the scene in the garden of Gethsemane represents the period of great tribulation. The disciples fall asleep because they no longer have Christ as the head of their church. Christ ⁴⁰…cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? (Matthew 26; also Mark 14:37.) The one hour points to the final tribulation after the church age. Yet Christ tells them to watch. But watch what? We have only the Bible as an answer.

On July 12 we saw that Revelation 20:3 has Satan released for a little season to raise hell in the churches. Revelation 6:11 refers to this period of great tribulation. Revelation 6:9 defines this period as ⁹ …the fifth seal. In Revelation 6: ¹¹And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season (of Revelation 20:3), until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. In John 16 we read that ²They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. So this little season must refer to the period of great tribulation, when the fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed.

Going back to Revelation 6: ¹¹And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season (of Revelation 20:3), until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. We would expect the next verse, Revelation 6:12, to continue on about the great tri-bulation. Instead Revelation 6:12 skips ahead to the sixth seal and judg- ment day: ¹²And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.

When in Revelation 6:12 the sun (Christ) becomes black…and the moon (the Gospel) becomes as blood (judgment) we have judgment day. There- fore the sixth seal has to do with that period after the great tribulation of Mathew 24:21.

The opening of the sixth seal in Revelation 6:12 concerned the end of time. We wouldn't expect any seventh seal, assuming it exists, to continue chronologically and go beyond time. Instead we would anticipate this seventh seal to backtrack and concern the little season of Revelation 6:11; i.e., the period of great tribulation. So we look for the seventh seal

In Revelation 8: ¹And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. So we have the opening of the seventh seal. If we have silence in heaven for half an hour then another half an hour would make up the complete one hour with the beast (of Revelation 17:12). In this last half hour we wouldn't expect to have silence in heaven, whatever that is.

We need to look at this half an hour of silence. We compare Revelation 8:1 with Luke 15: ⁷I (Christ) say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

We have silence in heaven about the space of half an hour (Revelation 8:1), instead of joy…in heaven. The joy…in heaven concerns repentance, therefore salvation. So this silence of Revelation 8:1 means virtually no one becomes saved. No wonder Mathew 24:21 describes this period as great tribulation.

Now we can make sense of the prophecy of Amos 8: ¹¹Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: ¹²And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

The hearing doesn't mean just physical hearing. Anyone can hear or read the Bible during this half hour of silence, as well as at any other time. The hearing of Amos 8:11 refers to that of Romans 10: ¹⁷…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Only salvation makes possible the kind of hearing that Amos 8:11 and Romans 10:17 refer to.

After the half hour of silence we would expect to see salvation resume—but only outside of the churches. In Revelation 17:12 the ten horns (= ten kings) …receive power as kings (for the great tribulation) one hour (the complete one hour of the great tribulation) with the beast. So the con- gregations remain apostate all the way to the end: the sixth seal of Reve- lation 6:12.

We can now make sense of Matthew 24:22 and the great tribulation: ²²And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. So those days that for the elect's sake are shortened—refer to the half hour of silence in Revelation 8:1.

After the (first) half hour, salvation must become possible within the second half hour. Why else would God allow the world to continue past the church age? On August 11 we look for corroborating evidence of this salvation.

THE TRIBULATION’S GREAT MULTITUDE

On August 9 we determined that Matthew 26:40, Mark 14:37 and Reve- lation 17:12 define the great tribulation as one hour. The seventh seal of Revelation 8:1 defines the first part of the great tribulation as a half an hour of silence in heaven. Luke 15:7 associated joy…in heaven with salvation. Therefore we concluded that the half an hour of silence in heaven refers to a time when no one becomes saved.

Matthew 24:22 corroborated our conclusion and implied that God will save his elect after this half hour of silence. ²²And except those days (the first half hour) should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. So after the first half hour of silence we have a half hour remaining with some of the elect not yet saved.

On July 28 we looked at Daniel 8:¹³Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of deso- lation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? ¹⁴And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

The daily refers to the Bible (see July 28 ). The transgression of desola- tion refers to Satan, the abomination of desolation in the holy place (of Matthew 24:15: see July 26 ). So Daniel 8:13-14 concerns the one hour of great tribulation when Satan rules within the congregations.

The sanctuary is cleansed after two thousand and three hundred days (Daniel 8:14). We know from August 9 and Revelation 17:12 that Satan remains in the churches for the complete one hour of the great tribulation: ¹²And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have re- ceived no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. With Satan in the churches for the one hour, we know the congre- gations don't get cleansed after the two thousand and three hundred days (of Daniel 8:14). Therefore the sanctuary that is cleansed cannot be the church. So the sanctuary must refer to something outside of the churches.

Matthew 24:15 and Revelation 18:4 commands us during the great tribu- lation to come out of the churches. Once outside of the congregations Scripture doesn't instruct us to go anywhere else. Thus we can assume that the sanctuary that is cleansed (in Daniel 8:14) includes everything outside of the churches.

A literal period of two thousand and three hundred days runs about 6.3 years. These 6.3 years would be the half an hour of silence in Revelation 8:1 and those days (that) shall be shortened in Matthew 24:22

If the church age ended on May 21, 1988, then 6.3 years later brings us to 1994. So the half hour of silence (in Revelation 8:1) would run from 1988 until 1994 when no one becomes saved. Beginning in 1994 God would begin to save His elect. By February 2 we have enough data to show how to derive May 21, 1988.

We now search Scripture for any more news on God's salvation program after the half hour of silence. On July 12 we saw how Revelation 7:1 assures us that Satan cannot stop God from saving His elect within the churches. In Revelation 7:1 we have the …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. In Revelation 7: ⁴And…the number of them which were sealed (saved in the churches)…an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

On July 12 we saw how the factors in 144,000 = 12² x 10³ signify the full (12) and complete (10) purpose of God (3) for those He saves (2) in the churches.

Therefore Revelation 7:1-8 concerns the church age. Revelation 7:9 then begins with the two words, After this… So Revelation 7:9 must mean the great tribulation after the church age: ⁹After 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…Revelation 7:10-12 has to do with this great multitude worshiping God. So the great multitude represents those saved during the great tribulation. Revelation 7:15-17 confirms our conclusion with the great multitude serving God in eternity.

Revelation 7:13-14 gives us the news on God's salvation program during the great tribulation and harmonizes with Revelation 7:9-12 and 15-17: ¹³…one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? ¹⁴And 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.

That this multitude is of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues implies Acts 10: ³⁴Then Peter...said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. So God may save anyone regardless of creed, nationality or race; and no one has an advantage over anyone else—except those who remain in the churches.

We have no way of identifying those making up the great multitude, thus no way of numbering them. Even if we could identify and number them, we have no institution (like the churches) that could do the accounting. So beginning in 1994 God saves a great multitude, which no man could number.

On June 30 we saw that Scripture uses ships to represent the churches. On July 2 we looked at Luke 5:4-11. The disciples go fishing all night but catch nothing. When Christ then instructs them to cast out their net, they haul in a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. But that great mul-titude represented those God saved within the congregations during the church age. In John 21:3-11 the disciples go fishing again. But the great multitude of fish they haul to shore represents those God saves during the great tribulation. So on August 13 we look at John 21:3-11.

JOHN 21:3-11 AND REVELATION 7:9, 14

Ships in Scripture represent churches (see June 30 ). In Matthew 4 Jesus tells fishermen, ¹⁹…Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. How- ever, without Christ, they catch nothing: ⁵…He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing  

On  July 2 we looked at Luke 5:4-11 and a fishing expedition that repre- sented the church age. The disciples fish all night but catch nothing. Later in Luke 5:4 Christ instructs Simon to ⁴…Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. Simon follows instructions and they haul in ⁶…a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

Because the ships represented churches the great multitude pointed to those God saved within the congregations: the hundred and forty-four thousand of Revelation 7:4 (see August 11 ). That the net broke meant some fish escaped. Thus not everyone within the congregations became saved; in fact very few did (Romans 9:27). That ⁷…the ships…began to sink represents the fall of the churches just prior to the great tribulation (see also July 16).

Matthew 26:40 concerns Jesus enduring God's wrath in the garden of Gethsemane (see  August 9 ). Christ asked Peter ⁴⁰…could ye not watch with me one hour? Revelation 17:12 defines the great tribulation as one hour (see August 9). Therefore Christ no longer ruled in the churches. Later Peter denied Christ three times (John 18), which demonstrated the apostasy in the congregations. During the great tribulation those in the churches deny Christ.

Everything from the garden of Gethsemane onward points to the period of great tribulation. In John 16 Christ declares, ³²…the hour cometh…that ye shall be scattered…³³…In the world ye shall have tribulation (thlipsis; same Greek word as in Matthew 24:21; see August 9 ) After the cross Christ showed Himself twice to the disciples (John 20:19, 26). In John 21:3-11 the disciples go fishing. Suppose John 21 follows chrono-logically such that the chapter associates this fishing expedition with the great tribulation's half hour of silence; then we wouldn't expect them to catch anything. In John 21: ³ …They…entered…a ship…and that night they caught nothing.

That ⁴morning they see Jesus on the shore. Christ tells them to ⁶…Cast the net on the right side…They cast therefore, and…they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

After the great tribulation's half hour of silence, God saves a ⁹… great multitude, which no man could number (of Revelation 7:14; see  August 9). So we suspect this multitude of fishes in John 21:6 represents that great multitude of Revelation 7:9; and the night they caught nothing (John 21:3) signifies the half hour of silence of Revelation 8:1.

In John 21: ⁷…when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

That Peter girt his fisher's coat unto him represents his covering (of Christ) for sin (Genesis 3:21). Nakedness in Scripture represents standing guilty before God with all sins exposed. Before Adam and Eve sinned ²⁵…they were…naked…and were not ashamed (Genesis 2:25). But after they had sinned ⁷…they knew that they were naked (guilty); and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons (Genesis 3:7). The fig leaves pointed to man's useless attempt to cover his guilt or hide, as …Adam and his wife hid themselves from…the LORD in Genesis 3:8. In Genesis 3: ²¹…God make coats of skins, and clothed them. The animal skins pointed to Christ as the only effective covering for sin.

The fisher's coat on Peter represents him as someone God has saved. The boats point to the churches and as Peter cast himself into the sea he dem- onstrates someone abandoning the church. A redeemed individual obeys God (John 14:15; 1 John 5:1-3). So Peter represents a saved individual obeying God's commandment to abandon the congregations. Therefore John 21:3-11 should concern the third great tribulation.

¹¹Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

If God wrote Scripture He wouldn't give us the number 153 incidentally. Scripture uses numbers to signify certain principles. The number 3 de- notes God's purpose; the number 2 points to the true believers; the num- ber 17 refers to heaven. The 153 fish represent those God saves during the great tribulation and 153 = 3² x 17.

There were so many (fishes) because during the final tribulation, God saves a great multitude (Revelation 7:9, 14). Because God saves the elect from hell (i.e., the grave) the sea that Peter drags the fish from represents God's wrath, death and the grave.

In John 21: ¹¹Simon Peter…drew the net to land full of great fishes…and…there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

In John 21 they don't haul the fishes into the boat (the churches) as they do in Luke 5:6 because the church age has ended. The ships don't begin to skink as they do in Luke 5:7 because the churches have already gone under. The net doesn't break, as it does in Luke 5:6, because after the church age none of the elect can escape being dragged to the shore of salvation.

The apes and peacocks in the king's ships of Tarshish of 2 Chronicles 9:21 represent unsaved members within the congregations (see  June 30 ). The wheat and tares of Matthew 13:24-30 also concerns unsaved people fil- ling up the pews (see July 7 ). But during the great tribulation no institu- tion contains both wheat and tares. So after the church age the net doesn't catch any of the non elect, as did the churches. We have no mediator such as priests and pastors between us and God. So salvation lies be- tween God and the individual.

On  August 16 we look at all three great tribulations.

THREE GREAT TRIBULATIONS

When we calculate the Biblical dates we structure the time line around three great tribulations. The first one began in B.C. 1879 with a seven-year famine (Acts 7:11; see June 21). In B.C. 1877 Jacob (a.k.a. Israel) had to leave the promised land of Canaan and go into Egypt. This first great tribulation ended in B.C. 1872.

The second great tribulation began in B.C. 609 when the last great He- brew king, Josiah, got himself killed in battle (2 Kings 23:29; 2 Chron- icles 35:24-27). For about four years Pharaohnechoh could tax Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36:1-4), then Babylon defeated Egypt and ruled over Judah (2 Kings 24:1). In B.C. 587 Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem and those Jews still alive went into captivity (Jeremiah 52:13). Those remaining eventually got themselves killed in Egypt. While Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar stand for Satan, the Persian Empire represents the kingdom of God (see June 16). In B.C. 539 Cyrus the Great (530 – 522 B.C.), king of Persia, took over Babylon (Daniel 5:30-31), freed the Hebrews (2 Chron- icles 36:20-21) and ended the second great tribulation. Similarly God con- quers Satan, hell and death in Revelation 19:20; 20:14 and ends the third great tribulation.

The third great tribulation began in A.D. 1988 (see February 2) when God abandoned the congregations. Just as Nebuchadnezzar entered Jerusalem in B.C. 587, Satan entered the churches 2574 years later. Thus Judah (or Judaea) represents the congregations: for example ¹⁵When ye…see the abomination of desolation …in the holy place (Satan in the churches; see July 16) ¹⁶…let them…in Judaea (the churches) flee into the mountains: (Matthew 24). Thus God's prophecies in the book of Jeremiah that con- cern Babylon and Jerusalem apply as well to Satan and the congregations two thousand years later.

Just as Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem in B.C. 587, Satan destroyed the congregations (see July 16) beginning in 1988. Just as famine began in B.C. 1872 during Jacob's day and the first great tribulation, Satan takes the Word of God (the daily) out of the churches (Daniel 8:11; see July 30). We read of this latter famine in Amos 8: ¹¹…the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: ¹²And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. Amos 8 concerns the half hour of silence of Revelation 8:1 (see August 9). According to Matthew 24: ²²…for the elect's sake those days (the half hour of silence) shall be shortened—but not for those remaining in the churches (see August 11). In 1994 God begins saving the great multitude of Revelation 7:9, 14 (see August 11). 

Like Mark 13 (see July 21) Matthew 24 covers the timeline from the church age to God's judgment on the world. Matthew 24:15-28 concerns the great tribulation. Matthew 24:20 defines this period as winter and a Sabbath: ²⁰ But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter (cheimōn), neither on the sabbath day: 2 Chronicles 36:20-21 also defines this period of tribulation as a Sabbath. ²⁰...them that...escaped from the sword car- ried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to... (Nebuchadnez- zar) … ²¹ …until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.

Since 1988 the congregations lay desolate because God no longer dwells within them. Sabbaths have to do with resting from work. During the great tribulation the churches enjoyed her sabbaths because God no lon- ger does any work there to save anyone.

No one—neither God nor man—can do any work on a Sabbath. ²…on the seventh day God ended his work…and rested on the seventh day from all his work… ³…God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it (Genesis 2). Therefore ⁹Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁰But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, (Exodus 20). The Sabbath ¹⁷…is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever (Exodus 31).

The fourth commandment to ¹²Keep the sabbath day (Deuteronomy 5) is a ceremonial law; i.e., a sign pointing to the following principle: no work we do adds or contributes to our salvation. ⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith (pistis); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2).

Faith (pistis) in Scripture refers to Christ. Work is any obedience to the commandments; i.e., the whole Bible, and no one can keep the law per- fectly. ¹⁰For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all (James 2). Therefore no one can get saved by keeping the law.

Going back to Matthew 24:20: the verse defines the great tribulation as a time of winter: ²⁰ But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter (cheimōn). On July 26 we saw that Jeremiah 8:20 defines winter as a period when no one becomes saved. ²⁰The harvest (of the elect) is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. Therefore Matthew 24:20 can equate winter (cheimōn) with a Sabbath when no one becomes saved within the churches.

On July 2 we looked at Acts 27 and a shipwreck that represented the des- truction of the churches. The event happened during the winter. ¹²And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part ad- vised to depart…if…they might attain to Phenice…to winter… In Acts 27: ²⁰…when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest (cheimōn) lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away (Acts 27).

During the winter or great tribulation, all hope for the churches is taken away. Indeed in Acts 27: ⁴¹…they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

On August 13 we looked at the 153 fish in John 21:11 and saw that num- bers, like any other words, can have parabolic meaning (see February 21). The number 3 represents God's purpose and the number 153 = 3² x 17 focuses on 17, which represents heaven. In Acts 27: ³⁷…we were in…the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. The ship with 276 on board represents the churches during the winter (great tribulation). The number 4 represents the furthest extent in either time or space. The number 276 focuses on the number 23, which represents judgment: 1 + 2 + 3 +...23 = (23 x 24)/2 = (3 x 4) x 23 = 276. God's purpose (3) brings judgment (23) on all (4) the churches; or God's judgment (23) on the churches is complete (12), since the number 12 signifies completeness.

According to Matthew 24:29 the third great tribulation brings us to the very end of time: ²⁹Immediately 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: 

Genesis 8:22 shows that we can't interpret Matthew 24:29 literally. ²²While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8). Matthew 24:29 means Christ, the sun, now comes as the judge rather than the savior and the moon (Gospel) no longer provides any light (Christ) for salvation. This date falls on May 21, 2011 (see February 4).

On August 18 we look at the temptations prevalent during the great tri- bulation.

TWO TEMPTATIONS IN THE GREAT TRIBULATION

During the great tribulations Revelation 3:10 predicts temptations: ¹⁰Be- cause thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation (peirasmos), which shall come upon all the world, to try (peirazō) them that dwell upon the earth.

The hour in Revelation 3:10 points us to the third and final great tribula- tion (Revelation 17:12; see August 2). Scripture usually translates the Greek word, peirasmos, as temptation or try; the word, peirazō, means to try or tempt; Scripture translates peirazō once as, examine and once as, prove.

Revelation 3:10 declares that during the great tribulation the world will experience temptation or trials. The thee must refer to the elect, therefore God won't bring the elect into temptation.

But what does God mean by peirasmos, and how will He …keep thee from the hour of temptation? Verses such as Matthew 24:15-16 (see July 26, 28, 30) and Revelation 18:4 (see July 14) command us to abandon the churches. Many yield to the temptation to remain. Thus God has separ- ated the wheat from the tares as He prophesied in Matthew 13:³⁰Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn (see July 7).

Both the wheat and tares would grow together during the church age. While the tares remain in the congregations during the great tribulation, the wheat abandons them, according to Matthew 24:15-16 and Revela- tion 18:4. During this separation God saves the great multitude of Rev- elation 7:9, 14 (see August 11)—but only outside of the congregations (see August 11) and after the half hour of silence of Revelation 8:1 (see  August 9 ). Therefore after the half hour of silence we have the time of harvest of Matthew 13:30. God commands the reapers to gather the wheat into my barn; and God commands the reapers to bind them (the tares) in bundles to burn them (in the lake of fire of Revelation 19:20, 20:10, 20:14, 15).  Thus during the great tribulation the reapers…bind the tares within the churches.

We conclude that the hour of temptation (peirasmos), which shall come upon all the world (in Revelation 3:10), tempts the tares to remain in the churches. The non elect succumb to the hour of temptation: either family pressure, a need to belong, or maybe just a herd instinct keeps them there.

Revelation 3:10 assures the elect that God will keep (them) from the hour of temptation. So maybe the elect get kicked out of the churches after asking too many embarrassing questions; or maybe what goes on in the congregations makes them want to leave. If God had already saved them then according to 1 John 2:3 they'd want to obey Matthew 24:15-16 (see July 26) without any other consideration: ³And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

Those who always hated church, but went anyway, could've used Revela- tion 18:4 (see July 7) as an excuse to stop going. They don't come under temptation—but they don't necessarily become saved either. Thus during the great tribulation and because of Revelation 3:10 God must have other ways of bringing them into the hour of temptation.

God promised Noah never to destroy the earth again by water: ¹¹And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth (Genesis 9). But Genesis 9:11 doesn't leave out fire: ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works…therein shall be burned up (2 Peter 3).

Some people, especially church members, read 2 Peter 3:10 and assume we can't know when this last day occurs. Christ comes as a thief in the night and no thief calls in advance. They begin reading 1 Thessalonians 5: ²For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night—and stop. They now have all they want to know and don't want to investigate and further—but that's the problem. If they would just continue on into verses 3-5: ³For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. ⁴But ye, brethren (now God addresses someone else—His elect), are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief (so the elect can know God's timeline). ⁵Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness (like those in the congregations).

So we have the non elect assuming that, because Christ will come as a thief in the night, we can't know the end time. So they reassure each other, saying Peace and safety, and all is well. Then in 1 Thessalonians 5:3 they meet with sudden destruction and shall not escape. By not reading 1 Thessalonians 5:3-5, they remain like those in 2 Peter 3: ⁵…they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens…of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:⁶…being overflowed with water, perished.

Those refusing to watch experience Christ coming on them as a thief: ³…If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee (Revelation 3). The verse does not imply that if we do watch then God won't come on us as a thief. But if we know the hour then we'll know when the thief…will come upon us. On February 4 we show it's on May 21, 2011.

As we've seen on June 9 in Ecclesiastes 8: ⁵… a wise man's heart discern- eth both time and judgment. ⁶Because to every purpose there is time and judgment… A wise man is someone whom God has saved. The word judgment refers to Scripture and the penalty for sin. Amos 3:7 assures us God will reveal His timeline to His elect: ⁷Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets (those whom God saves); and Ezekiel 33:1-7 commands them to warn the world so that no congregation can claim ignorance. Those who insist Christ will return as a thief in the night are correct—but only concerning themselves, not God's elect, who discerneth both time and judgment. Therefore during the final great tribulation Scripture assures us we can know its timeline.

Now going back to Revelation 3:10: God will …keep thee (the elect) from the hour of temptation (peirasmos), which shall come upon all the world, to try (peirazō) them…

Remaining in the church is one temptation for some people. Another temptation: God tempts those outside the churches to insist they can't know when Christ will return …as a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2). Maybe their church taught them to remain willingly…ignorant (2 Peter 3:5) in that respect. While they may have left their congregations physically, their hearts and minds still belong there. Lot's wife's heart still belonged to Sodom and when she looked back she became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). Salt has to do with judgment. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 assures us that those who succumb to this temptation will meet with sudden de- struction and shall not escape. But Revelation 3:10 declares God …will keep thee (His elect) from the hour of temptation. If the elect discerneth both time and judgment (Ecclesiastes 8:5) then nothing can tempt them into thinking they can't know. Thus God keeps them from the hour of temptation.

 

On August 20 we take one last look at the similarities in the three great tribulations.

THE SEVENTH DAY SABBATH

During the third great tribulation (September 6, 1988 – May 21, 2011; see February 2, 4) God tests His people in the congregations. On  August 18 we listed two ways people become tempted to disobey Scripture:

(1) They're tempted to remain in the congregations despite verses like Matthew 24:15-16 and Revelation 18:4 that tells them to get out: ¹⁵When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) ¹⁶Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains (Matthew 24). ⁴And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her (Babylon: the congregations), my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues (Revelation 18).

(2) Also people are tempted to deny we can know of Christ's return: ⁴⁶The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. ⁴⁷And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did ac- cording to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes (Luke 12:). ⁵Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment (Ecclesiastes 8).

A third way people in the churches become tempted, even before the third great tribulation ever began, concerns the seventh day Sabbath. On  August 16 we determined that neither God nor man can do any work on a Sabbath. ²…on the seventh day God ended his work…and rested on the seventh day from all his work… ³…God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it (Genesis 2). Therefore ⁹Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:¹⁰But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, (Exodus 20). The Sabbath ¹⁷…is a sign be- tween me and the children of Israel for ever (Exodus 31).  In honoring the seventh day Sabbath, ancient Israel acknowledged Christ as the only one who could save anyone.  

The fourth commandment to ¹²Keep the sabbath day (Deuteronomy 5) is a ceremonial law; i.e., a sign pointing to the following principle: no work we do can add or contribute to our salvation. ⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith (pistis); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2).

Faith (pistis) in Scripture refers to Christ. Work is any obedience to the commandments; i.e., the whole Bible, and no one can keep the law per- fectly. ¹⁰For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all (James 2). Therefore no one can get saved by keeping the law.

Ancient Israel's ceremonial laws pointed to the coming of Christ in 3 B.C. The cross made all of them, including the seventh day Sabbath, no longer necessary. ¹⁶Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: ¹⁷Which are a shadow(a sign) of things to come; but the body is of Christ (Colossians 2).

The first Sunday Sabbath eliminated the 7th day one and arrived right after the crucifixion. In Matthew 28: ¹In the end of the Sabbath (sab- baton, i.e., Sabbaths; i.e., the seventh day Sabbaths), as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week (sabbaton, i.e., Sabbaths; i.e., the Sunday Sabbaths), came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepul- chre. Note the mistranslation: the words Sabbath and week in the KJV is the same word, sabbaton, and should have been translated as Sabbaths, plural. (Shabbat is the singular.)

Today we acknowledge the Sunday Sabbath. However we still violate the intent of the seventh day Sabbath by thinking we can somehow initiate or add to our salvation rather than rely totally on Christ. The man in Num- bers 15:32-36, who picked up a few sticks on the Sabbath, represents someone thinking he could in some small way increase his chances.

³²And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. ³³And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. ³⁴And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. ³⁵And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. ³⁶And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD com- manded Moses.

We have to understand the parabolic meaning of Numbers 15:32-36. The man's physical death demonstrates the spiritual death of anyone thinking any work can make a difference. ⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith (Christ); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2). 

It's no wonder that, beginning September 6, 1988 (see February 2), God commands everyone to abandon the congregations (see July 23  and  Au- gust 4 ). Every church has its own salvation plan in violation of the sev- enth day Sabbath. But no one can come to God unless God draws him: ⁴⁴No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6).

If every church has a different salvation plan, how can they all be right? If Christ already chose whom He would save before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-5), how can any church decide who gets saved? ⁴According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: ⁵Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

Anyone thinking church attendance can add to his salvation by any works puts himself in the place of the man in Numbers 15:32-36. (Actually church attendance is not a work because Scripture commands us to aban- don the congregations.) Therefore the churches today, including those before September 6, 1988, that advocate some do-it-yourself salvation plan violate the seventh day Sabbath. The consequence of such disobe- dience is spiritual death. 

PARALLELS WITHIN THE GREAT TRIBULATIONS

To conclude the three great tribulations we look at their similarities. As already stated on August 16, these periods focus on B.C. 1877, B.C. 587 and A.D. 1994.

Before each great tribulation the respective people reside in what repre- sents God's kingdom. In B.C. 1877 Canaan was the ⁶… land…flowing with milk and honey…the glory of all lands (Ezekiel 20). In B.C. 587 Jerusalem was the holy city (Isaiah 52:1). Until 1988 the congregations were the holy place. (Matthew 24:15).

Before each great tribulation the respective people themselves represent God's kingdom. God gave Jacob the name, Israel, meaning prince of God (Genesis 32:28). After B.C. 709 God choose the blood descendents of Abraham to represent His kingdom in the nation of Judah. In A.D. 33 the congregations took the place of Jerusalem. In each instance we can define these people as the external representation of God's kingdom.

In all three great tribulations people had to emigrate and forsake what represented God's kingdom and what they considered their home.

In B.C. 1877 Jacob (a.k.a. Israel) and his eleven sons had to leave the promised land of Canaan and go into Egypt. In B.C. 1877, ²…God spake unto Israel…³And…said…fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation (Genesis 46).

In B.C. 587 those still alive in Jerusalem had to immigrate to Babylon as slaves. ⁸…Thus saith the LORD… I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. ⁹He that abideth in this city (Jerusalem) shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live (Jeremiah 21).

In A.D. 1988-1994 God commands those in the churches to leave them. ¹⁴…when ye…see the abomination of desolation…standing where it ought not (= churches = the holy place of Matthew 24:15) …let them…in Judaea flee to the mountains (Mark 13).

During all three great tribulations a famine occurs: In B.C. 1879: ¹¹…there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction (thlipsis): and our fathers found no sustenance (Acts 7).

In B.C. 587: ⁵…the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.⁶And…the famine was sore in the city (Jerusalem), so that there was no bread for the people (Jeremiah 52).

In A.D. 1988: ¹¹…the days come…that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: ¹²And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it (Amos 8).

In all three great tribulations God promises protection to those who obey the commandment to emigrate. In B.C. 1877 God tells Jacob, ⁴I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again (Genesis 46). In B.C. 587 God tells all those in Jerusalem, ⁹…he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live (Jeremiah 21). Jeremiah 21:9 also pertains to those leaving the congrega- tions in 1988-1994. In Hebrews 13 as well, God promises the elect who obey His commandments: ⁵…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

In conclusion all three great tribulations have a period of great affliction or tribulation (thlipsis). The famine and the commandment to leave what represented God's kingdom causes the adversity. But God protects those who leave the "land."

In all three great tribulations the elect do not return to the "land," if at all, until the period ends. In B.C. 1877 the famine lasted for seven years. The Hebrews didn't return until 470 years later. In B.C. 587 the great tribula- tion lasted for seventy years (B.C. 609 – B.C. 539) and the Jews didn't return until afterwards (see June 16). In 1988 the great tribulation lasts until the very end on May 21, 2011; and the congregations remain under Satan for the entire period (see August 9 and Revelation 17:12).

All three great tribulations are divided into two parts. In Jacob's day the famine began in 1879. Two years later in 1877 Jacob had to go into Egypt. The famine ended in 1872. The first part is from 1879 to 1877; the second part is from 1877 to 1872.

The second great tribulation began in B.C. 609 when the last great king of Judah, Josiah, got himself killed in battle (2 Chronicles 35:23-24). In B.C. 587 Babylon destroyed Jerusalem. In B.C. 539 Cyrus of Persia took over Babylon and freed the Jews. The first part is from B.C. 609 until B.C. 587; the second part is from B.C. 587 to B.C. 539.

The third great tribulation began in A.D. 1988 when God abandoned the congregations and allowed Satan to enter. Because of the famine of Amos 8:11, no one anywhere in the world becomes saved until the Jubilee year of 1994. The third great tribulation ends on May 21, 2011. The first part is from May 21, 1988 to September 6, 1994; the second part is from Sep- tember 6, 1994 to May 21, 2011.

All three great tribulations focus on the number 84.

B.C. 1879 to B.C. 1972 is seven years and 7 x 12 = 84 months.

B.C. 609 to B.C. 539 is seventy years and 7 x 10 x 12 = 840 months.

May 21, 1988 to May 21, 2011 is 23 years and 365 x 23 + 5 (for leap years) = 8400 days.

Numbers, like words, in the Bible have parabolic meaning (see February 21. In the above case 84 x 10ⁿ = 3 x 4 x 7 x 10ⁿ (n = 0, 1, 2). These periods of tribulation fulfill God's complete (10ⁿ) and perfect (7) purpose (3) to the furthest extent (4); or God's complete (10ⁿ), full (12) and perfect (7) purpose (3). 

This concludes the three great tribulations. After the present one on May 21, 2011, God raptures the elect. The non elect, about six and a half bil- lion people, must face death and no more hope of salvation. Five months (Revelation 9:5, 10) later, on October 21, 2011, God destroys the uni- verse in a lake of fire (2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 20:14, 15). For the next few weeks, beginning August 23, we'll look at this five month period.

MAN'S LAST DAYS

When we work out the timeline the Rapture of the elect occurs on May 21, 2011 (see February 4). 1 Corinthians 15:35-54 concerns this event for those whom God has saved. Verse 44 prophesies the elect taking on a spiritual body. ⁴⁴It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.

1 John 3:2 assures us that we can't imagine this spiritual body, its respec- tive environment, or how the Rapture might occur: ²…it doth not yet ap- pear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. We have confirmation of 1 John 3:2 in 1 Corinthians 2: ⁹But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

In light of 1 John 3:2 and 1 Corinthians 2:9 we'd only waste time spec- ulating on how God will resurrect the elect. However 1 Corinthians 15:52 assures us that, ⁵²In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incor- ruptible, and we (the elect) shall be changed.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 has a similar scenario: ¹⁶For 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: ¹⁷Then we (the elect) which are alive and remain (on May 21, 2011) shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Before May 21, 2011 we can't identify the elect, except we know they exist outside the churches. We know they make up only a remnant: ²⁷…Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved  (Romans 9).

Isaiah 9:3 assures us that God didn't save many people during the church age: ³Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

However this remnant is ⁹…a great multitude… that ¹⁴…came out of great tribulation (Revelation 7). So we know that in our day, outside of the churches, God saves a great multitude. Moreover in Acts 10: ³⁴…God is no respecter of persons. Therefore those outside of the churches who pray …for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life (Jude 1) have as much chance for salvation as anybody else.

Revelation 9:16 gives a number (2 x 10⁸) that may refer to the elect; but no one knows for sure if it's literal or symbolic: ¹⁶And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand…

If we take (2 x 10⁸) as a literal number and six and a half billion as the world's population then (2 x 10⁸)/ (6.5 x 10⁹) = 0.03077. Thus about 3% of the world's population, minus the elect who already died, would make up those raptured on May 21, 2011. But because they're all with God in eternity, we can't know about them (1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 2:9). Therefore a 3% remnant doesn't support anything new. Because a brick serves a purpose only when it supports other bricks, we might as well forget about them (their worries are over, anyway) and back up to the 97% or so left behind on earth.

As we'll see when we look at Revelation 9, all the unsaved remain behind for the five month period of verses 5 and 10. They face only suffering and shameful death, i.e., annihilation with no hope of any further conscious existence.

Revelation 20:10 appears to contradict this doctrine of annihilation. The verse seems to indicate that God will create a place called "hell" or a lake of fire where the damned suffer eternally. ¹⁰And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Greek has a different grammar than English; consequently a translation into English can sometimes mislead us. The O.T. translates the word, for, (eis) as, "into" 573 times. In Revelation 20:10 the devil...shall be tor- mented during the last five months of the earth's existence--i.e., as long as we have time. Then time ceases because God burns up the universe (2 Peter 3:10) and we enter eternity. So the devil... shall be tormented until eternity where he and time cease to exist.

The translators didn't know the meaning of Revelation 20:10; they simply translated as best they could. Presupposition 1 (see June 11 ) allows us to interpret from our Biblical logic; and Corollary 3a permits us to choose our premises from any part of Scripture—as long as we don't violate the proposition; i.e., as long as our conclusion agrees with everything else the Bible says about the subject.

Revelation 20:14-15 defines the lake of fire in Revelation 20:10: ¹⁴And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The first death occurred back in the Garden of Eden, when man rebelled against God. In Genesis 2 God told Adam, ¹⁷But of the tree of the knowl- edge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. In Genesis 3:16 Adam disobeyed and died the first death—and took everybody with him: ²²…in Adam all die (1 Corinthians 15).

The second death or lake of fire of Revelation 20:14 occurs after the five month period that begins on May 21, 2011. On October 21, 2011 God burns up the universe, according to 2 Peter 3: ¹⁰...the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Revelation 20: ¹⁰…the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Time can no longer exist after the lights in the firmament that ¹⁴…divide the day from the night…for seasons…days, and years (Genesis 1) no longer exist (according to 2 Peter 3:10). So when the lake of fire burns up the universe it's the end of time. If the devil, and false prophet (in Revela- tion 20:10) are tormented during the day and night, then they're tor- mented during time—not afterwards, whatever that is. So they are not tormented for ever and ever. So the term, for ever and ever, in Revelation 20:10 must modify something else.

Jude 1 speaks of the unsaved as ¹³Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. According to Daniel 12 they're with ²…shame and everlasting contempt. So we have the non elect's shame and contempt and blackness of darkness that's for ever.

Job 1:6 defines the saved as the sons of God. Genesis 6:4 distinguishes between the sons of God and ⁴…the daughters of men, which are the unsaved. In Psalms 115:16-17 God has given the earth to the children of men (the unsaved) ¹⁷The dead (the non elect) praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. So when the unsaved die they go down into silence and a cessation of all conscious existence. Their shame and contempt and blackness of darkness and silence last for ever

Those already dead never experience judgment day or the second death, i.e., that event when God throws the whole mess into the lake of fire (of Revelation 20:14-15). They will never experience anything because for them this silence lasts for ever and ever (Revelation 20:10). Only from God's vantage point do they remain in the ²…shame and everlasting con- tempt of Daniel 12. So Revelation 20:10 allows us to uphold the doctrine of annihilation.

On August 25 we look at this lake of fire in Revelation 20:14-15.

THE SECOND DEATH

Previously, including August 23, we posited that, according to Scripture, May 21, 2011 signals the Rapture of the elect (see February 4). From now until May 21, 2011 Revelation 7:9, 14 assures us that God will save a great multitude. Also ³⁴…God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10). Therefore those who stay outside of the churches and pray ²¹…for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life (Jude 1) have as much chance for salvation as anybody else. Such actions don't get anyone saved. It's not what one does that matters, but whether or not God de- cided to save one before the world began (Ephesians 1:4).

 

No hope remains for anybody left behind after May 21, 2011. On Octo- ber 21, 2011 ¹⁰…the heavens…pass away…the elements…melt with fervent heat, the earth also… shall be burned up (2 Peter 3). Revelation 20:14 refers to this mass destruction as the lake of fire and the second death. With Genesis 41:32 we can show that God refers to the lake of fire as the second death in order to emphasize its certainty.

 

On  June 11 we established Presupposition 2: A presupposition is a prin- ciple of interpretation if and only if it can be derived from Scripture. Gen- esis 41:32 gives us a principle of interpretation. ³²And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. Anytime God doubles up a pro- phecy we know God will shortly bring it to pass. God has doubled up the death of the unsaved by defining a second one. Therefore the finality and immutability of this death …is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. This execution precludes any future conscious existence.

 

The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 emphasizes that on May 21, 2011 God shuts the door on the unsaved forever: ¹⁰And while they (the five foolish virgins) went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in…to the marriage: and the door was shut. ¹¹Afterward came…the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. ¹²But he an- swered…Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

 

On  July 9 we saw that Isaiah 55:1 defines the terms, to buy or sell, as the hearing and publishing of the Gospel. The five foolish virgins went to buy; i.e., become saved through the hearing of God's word (according to Romans 10:17). They could have gone into the churches after May 21, 1988, when God no longer resided within them. In that sense they were too late. On May 21, 2011 God shuts the door and proclaims to them I know you not.

 

The historic parable in Genesis 7 makes the same point, when God shut the door for the Noachian flood. The ark represents salvation through Christ, but Genesis 7:16 reveals that opportunity will come to an end: ¹⁶…they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. The door was shut (Mat- thew 25:10) and everyone outside the ark perished, like those left behind on May 21, 2011.

 

Between May 21, 2011 and October 21, 2011 those left behind face hor- rible suffering and death (see August 30). Because God had originally created them to live eternally, their demise elicits the shame and ever- lasting contempt of Daniel 12:2.

 

Matthew 7 speaks of those in the churches who will suffer the most: ²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. With that closure they suffer total shock.

 

The news concerning May 21, 2011 isn't all bad. At least the unsaved don't suffer eternally in a fiery place called "hell," as the churches always maintained. What better way to scare people into the congregations? But people don't have to worry that a departed loved one must endure ever- lasting torment. If one dies unsaved he/she never comes to any conscious existence again.

 

The Bible is its own dictionary (Corollary 3c; see  June 11 ); and the O.T. uses the word, hell (sheôl), in the Bible 31 times as the grave. In Genesis 44:29 Jacob laments over sending his youngest son Benjamin to Egypt. ²⁹…if…mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my…sorrow to the grave (she' ôl). The Geek word for hell is hadēs. In 1 Corinthians 15: ⁵⁵O death, where is thy sting? O grave (hadēs), where is thy victory?

 

Those in the churches and included in Matthew 7:22 may become indig- nant at this new concept of hell: Mrs. Upright may think, "After all I've done and denied myself in being a good "Christian;" and those good-for-nothings next door, snickering at my going to church; they don't have to suffer for their disrespect. It's not fair; and loving thy neighbor as thyself shouldn't count here—not in this case, anyway."

 

In contrast to Mrs. Upright, Joe Blow, who's easy-come-easy-go, assumes indifference: "As long as I don't have to suffer eternally, why worry? Whatever will be will be; and I won't have to know what I miss or don't understand."

 

To some extent Joe Blow is right: the Bible doesn't lists all the privileges in the hereafter--except that the elect reside with God. Only a saved indi- vidual can appreciate such a priceless opportunity; and we can rest as- sured God had His reasons for whatever He omitted. 

 

Revelation 11:12 does indicate that the unsaved will witness the Rapture, thus realize they've been shut out. ¹²And they (the elect) heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies (the non elect) beheld them.

 

Death by enemy combatants can't compare with the shame of execution under our Father's wrath—not after having been created to live forever. Maybe Joe Blow will realize his loss and feel that humiliation. Those al- ready dead will never know. Throughout history people have died with- out knowing. As we'll see on  August 27 , even if Joe Blow realizes his misfortune, a giant earthquake (of Revelation 6:12, 11:13, 16:18,) will either kill him outright or keep him too busy to fret. Mrs. Upright will experience two giant "earthquakes:" the first one hits her when she real- izes she's been left behind.

A GREAT EARTHQUAKE, A BLOODY MOON, AND A BLACK SUN

According to our Biblical timeline the "day" (the Hebrew word yôm) in Judgment Day, or Doomsday, or the day of God's wrath, runs for five months, not 24 hours. (For a discussion on the word yôm, see supplement: August 28. To see how we derive the five months, see February 4 & 9 ).

We read of the Rapture and Judgment Day in Revelation 11:12-13. First we back up to Revelation 11:11 that begins with the latter part of the great tribulation, i.e., after the half hour of silence of Revelation 8:1 (see August 9). ¹¹…the Spirit of life from God entered into them (those whom God has saved and have been thrown out of the churches), and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. They that stood upon their feet now publish the Gospel. Those whom great fear fell upon hear the Gospel (as defined in Romans 10:17) from these two witnesses (of Revelation 11:3) and become saved. They now have great fear of God and make up the great multitude of Revelation 7:9, 14 (see  August 11 ). Thus Revelation 11:11 occurs after the half hour of silence and ends on May 21, 2011.

The Rapture follows in Revelation 11:12: ¹²And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. The enemies that be- held them (the elect) are the unsaved. Revelation 11:12 implies that those left behind will witness this Rapture, thus know they've been rejected. Those still in the churches, after having been assured of their secure sta- tus, will probably experience total shock.

On the first day of "Judgment Day," according to Revelation 6:12, those remaining behind after the Rapture experience a great earthquake: ¹²And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

We determined on August 9 that the sun (Christ) becoming black…and the moon (the Gospel) as blood (judgment) signals Judgment Day.

We find more news on this great earthquake in Revelation 16: ¹⁸And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

We conclude that on May 21, 2011, or shortly thereafter, we don't have just any old tremor but the most cataclysmic one. Both Revelation 16:17-21 and Revelation 6:12-17 must refer to this five month period.

The great earthquake comes in Revelation 11:13, immediately after the Rapture: ¹³And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand… The seven thousand (= 7 x 10³) slain represents the perfect (7) completion (10) of God's purpose (3) (see February 21).

This earthquake spews out all the graves of anyone who ever lived and remains unsaved. In John 5: ²⁸…all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, ²⁹And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resur- rection (anastasis) of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resur- rection (anastasis) of damnation.

The transliteration, anastasis, means to rise, in some cases to rise to life. In Acts 26: ²³That Christ…should rise (anastasis) from the dead… And in Luke 2: ³⁴…this child (Jesus) is set for the fall and rising (anastasis) again of many in Israel…

The definition of anastasis can mislead us. The word, anastasis, doesn't always mean to rise to life, just rise, period. In John 5:29 they that have done evil don't rise to life but to damnation. The unsaved dead, what's left of them, rise physically from their graves during the great earthquake. God resurrects these remains for desecration, shaming and eternal damna- tion such that they never come to conscious existence again.

Revelation 6:14 also refers to Judgment Day: ¹⁴…the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. The scroll, i.e., the Gospel, rolls up because the Bible no longer offers hope to anyone, only judgment; therefore heaven departed. The mountain refers to all kingdoms or nations that now perish. We find the same scenario in Revelation 16:  ²⁰…every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

Revelation 6:17 refers to this time as ¹⁷…the great day of his wrath… And in Revelation 16: ¹⁹Babylon (the churches) came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. The day of his wrath is the five month period.

We read of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath in Matthew 26: just before the cross Christ under God's wrath prays in the Garden of Geth- semane, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: never- theless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Jeremiah 25 concerns the wine of the fierceness of his wrath during Judg- ment Day: ¹⁵For thus saith the LORD...Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations…to drink it. ¹⁶And they shall drink…and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them. ¹⁷Then took I the cup at the LORD'S hand, and made all the nations to drink, un- to whom the LORD had sent me: ¹⁸To wit, Jerusalem (those in the con- gregations), and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes (the church leaders) thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day; Verses 19 through 25 mention many nations that must drink of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. Then to make sure God includes the whole world, verse 26 states, ²⁶…and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach (Satan) shall drink after them.

God then makes certain that no one unsaved escapes God's wrath: ²⁸And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink. ²⁹For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.

The city which is called by my name refers to the churches in which God will begin to bring evil. In 1 Peter 4: ¹⁷…the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:

On  August 30 we look at the five months in light of THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.

TWO CREATION STORIES?

We stated on August 27 that the Biblical use of the word "day" (yôm) does not necessarily imply a literal 24 hours. Countless verses throughout the O.T. use the word "day" (yôm) to designate other time spans. As we've seen on  August 27 , Judgment Day lasts five months.

We've already looked at Amos 8: ¹¹…the days come…that I will send a famine in the land…¹²And they shall wander...to seek the…LORD, and shall not find it.¹³In that day (yôm) shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. This day (yôm) of verse 13 refers to the days of verse 11, therefore lasts more than 24 hours. The day of verse 13 refers to the half hour of silence of Revelation 8:1 and runs from May 21, 1988 until Sep- tember 6, 1994 (see February 2 ).

Micah 5:2 defines the Hebrew word, yôm, as everlasting.²But thou, Beth- lehem...out of thee shall he come…whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (yôm). Everlasting runs a little longer than 24 hours.

The six days of creation spoken of in Exodus 20:8-11 imply that each day in Genesis 1 lasted twenty-four hours. The only way the Israelites could ⁸Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy, was to assume 6 twenty-four hour days that parallel the ¹¹…six days (that) the LORD made heaven and earth, after which He ¹¹…rested the seventh day.

But the day (yôm) in Genesis 2:4 refers to all six days of Genesis 1: ⁴These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day (yôm) that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens. In Genesis 2:4 the earth and the heavens include everything, not just earth, waters and firmament of Genesis 1-10.

When we violate Corollary 3c (Only Scripture can define its own vocab- ulary) our interpretation goes haywire. For example consider Genesis 2:4-7:

⁴These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day (yôm) that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, ⁵And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. ⁶But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. ⁷And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Genesis 2:4-7 serves as a recap of Genesis 1—not a second creation story as some people suppose. Those who wish to discredit Scripture define yôm in Genesis 2:4 as twenty-four hours rather than 6 literal days. They thus assume yôm in Genesis 2:4 refers to the first day of creation—when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens. So plants and animals haven't been created as yet. However we have a mist from the earth (that) watered the whole face of the ground. Our friends then see Genesis 2:4-7 as chronological. Therefore according to them God ⁷…formed man of the dust of the ground on the second day of creation.

In other words our friends assume in Genesis 2:5 that God created this guy ⁵…before it—i.e., every plant of the field of Genesis 2:5—was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. So before we have any vegetation on the third day, ⁷…the LORD (in Genesis 2:7) …formed man of…the ground…. Thus God created Adam (or someone) on the 2^nd day. On the third day in Genesis 1: ¹²…the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind—supposedly so this guy could have some- thing to eat.

So what do we do with the chap created on the sixth day in Genesis 1:26:-27? Our astute friends condescendingly explain he was someone else. So God must have created one woman and two guys; maybe because the first one got lost or dropped dead. Of course Scripture never refers to this first or second guy again. These proponents of two creation stories as- sume redactors of Scripture made the same error they themselves com- mit: they define their own vocabulary and project what they want to be- lieve into interpretation. Such misunderstanding as we've seen here shows what can happen when we misconstrue one little word, such as yôm, ac- cording to our own preconceived ideas.

THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON

We've determined that, according to our Biblical timeline, the rapture occurs on May 21, 2011. (see February 4). According to 1 Thessalonians 4:17 and August 23, the elect still alive receive a spiritual body for an eternal existence with God: ¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. As we've seen on August 27, those left behind face a horrible death with no possibility of any further exis- tence.

The unsaved who have died before May 21, 2011 never know anything more, but their remains rise physically to shame and contempt in the eyes of God. The elect who have already died rise to some inexplicable and everlasting life (see  August 23). Therefore the word, rise, anastasis, in John 5:28 (that we looked at on August 27), has two different definitions, depending on what it refers to: ²⁸…all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, ²⁹And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resur- rection (anastasis) of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrec- tion (anastasis) of damnation.

The unsaved don't actually hear his voice in the sense that we understand hearing (probably neither do the elect). As we saw on August 27, an earthquake like none other spews out their remains for desecration. Jere- miah 8 foretells this event:

¹At that time…they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah (the churches), and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem (the congregations), out of their graves: ²And they shall spread them be- fore the sun (God), and the moon (the law of God), and all the host of heaven (worldly things, such as money) whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth. ³And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places whither I have driven them, saith the LORD of hosts.

Because of Jeremiah 8 we can't accept the great earthquake (of Revela- tion 6:12, 11:13, 16:18; see August 27) as figurative language for God's wrath. As we'll see, we can say the same for 2 Chronicles 20:17-24.

The battle of Armageddon (Harmagedōn) referred in Revelation 6:14, 16 is not a physical but spiritual battle on May 21, 2011: the elect against the unsaved—except the former don't fight because God raptures them into heaven, leaving the latter behind. We get a tableau of this "battle" in 2 Chronicles 20.

Jehoshaphat, the fifth king (B.C. 871 – B.C. 846) to rule over Judah, faces destruction by a multitude of enemies. While conquering the land of Canaan in 1447 to 1440, Israel had disregarded them (see June 23 and Acts 13:18-20). But now ¹…the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Je- hoshaphat to battle.

Jehoshaphat seeks God's help, saying, ¹⁰…the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt…¹¹Behold…how they reward us, to…cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.

The Lord tells Jehoshaphat through the prophet, Jahaziel, ¹⁷Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: …stand ye…see the salvation of the LORD with you…

In 2 Chronicles 20 God reveals what happens between May 21, 2011 and October 21, 2011. The salvation of the LORD refers to what the elect ex- perience during the Rapture. They don't need to fight against their ene- mies, the unsaved, because they no longer dwell on the earth. Now in heaven, they praise God for the salvation of the LORD.

God sets up the army of Judah to represent those in heaven. In what seems the weirdest response to enemy attack, Jehoshaphat ²¹…appointed singers unto the LORD…as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. It's not really weird because those raptured on May 21, 2011 will Praise the LORD in heaven.

Then ²²when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambush- ments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. ²³For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. So, according to 2 Chronicles 20:22-23, those remaining on earth destroy each other, not physically but spiritually. The earthquake takes care of their physical death. On Septem- ber 10  we see that Revelation 9 agrees with this spiritual destruction.

²⁴And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. So after May 21, 2011 we have dead bodies all over the ground.

The tower of 2 Chronicles 20:24 associates with Christ in the congrega- tions (see June 25). Isaiah 5 refers to God institutionalizing the churches: ²And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine (Christ; see John 15:5)and built a tower in the midst of it…

The wilderness of 2 Chronicles 20:24 refers to this physical earth. In Rev- elation 17: ³So he carried me…into the wilderness: and I saw a woman …upon a scarlet coloured beast… The woman represents the churches in the world (wilderness) at the end of the church age: Satan the scarlet coloured beast takes her for a ride into false gospels (see July 14). On Judgment day God is particularly harsh on those remaining in the congre- gations.

After the "battle" Jehoshaphat and his army had to go to the theatre of war to view the carnage. On May 21, 2011—according to Revelation 6:12, 11:13, 16:18—an earthquake spews out all the graves that pile up among those killed by the tremors (see August 27). That, plus Jeremiah 8 and 2 Chronicles 20, indicate that no matter where we go on Judgment day, nothing greets us except a macabre landscape littered with corpses; too many to bulldoze out of the way.

 

On September 1 we begin in Revelation 9.