Eschatology

Mysteries of the Kingdoms

Doctrine, Eschatology / /

When Jesus started to declare the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God, He spoke in parables so some would understand and some would not.  So it should not come as a surprise to us that the nature of these kingdoms is confusing to many. And because of denominational doctrines, many try to see the mysteries of these kingdoms as directly referencing the Church Age, which is not a kingdom, so they are not interested in understanding kingdoms.

Parables by their very nature are not straightforward statements of doctrine. So by their very nature they invite all kinds of interpretations—interpretations that can support any theological persuasion. So how should we sort out what is correct and what is not?

Surely the first key to understanding what Jesus taught is to believe what He said. To suggest that the gospel writers did not get it quite right or that Jesus did not mean quite what He said is going to leave us in the camp that does not understand. Another key to understanding the mysteries of the kingdoms is to believe the promises God made throughout the Old Testament—promises He assured us He would not forsake. A further key is to believe the New Testament writings of those who were taught the Old Testament and heard teachings of Jesus.

It is my purpose to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God consistent with these keys. Jesus taught in parables that some would understand. We will miss out on correct theology if we do not understand. It will surely be rich doctrine, if we do understand. So the slides Kingdom Mysteries present a Scriptural view of the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God. And it is rich doctrine.

Mysteries of the Kingdoms Read More »

How is Israel Today related to Biblical Israel?

1 Comment / Christian Living, Doctrine, Eschatology / /

Without a doubt the Bible has more to say about Israel than any other nation—probably more than all other nations put together.  After hundreds of years with no nation of Israel in the world, there is a nation of Israel again. Does this new nation of Israel have anything to do with the nation of Israel of the Bible?

I recently listened to a panel discussion with panelists of various theological persuasions. But surprisingly almost no one was convinced the modern nation of Isarel was connected to the Israel of the Bible by anything more than name. And almost no one thought there to be any Biblical obligation on other nation or people concerning this nation and the Jews in the world today.

Probably we should not be surprised that those who believe the Church has replaced Israel in the place of God’s blessing think a state of Israel today is outside the promises to the Israel of the Bible. Many believe Israel forfeited any claim to blessing when they rejected their Messiah, Jesus Christ, who then became the head of the Church. But it is surprising when those who believe Jesus Christ will return to earth to set up a kingdom, argue that there is no reason be supportive of a modern state of Israel and even reasons to oppose support.

It is my purpose in this set of slides to find Biblical evidence to decide if the modern state of Israel fulfills Bible prophecy and what should be our attitude toward supporting it. We will accept that the Bible is God’s word; and that God said in it what He meant to say and meant what He did say in both the New Testament and The Old Testament.

See the slides Israel in 2026 for a Biblical discussion of how the modern state of Israel relates to the Israel of the Bible and whether we should be supportive.

How is Israel Today related to Biblical Israel? Read More »

There will Be Two Raptures

Doctrine, Eschatology / /

There is great confusion about when the time of the rapture of the Church to heaven relative to the coming Tribulation—before, during or after it. This confusion is propagated by the determination of many to base doctrine for the rapture upon false doctrine concerning both the Church and the Tribulation.

It will be my contention that this confusion will not be sorted out except by recognizing that the Church Age is one of the dispensations of God. Even dispensationalists, those who accept that God has dealt with and will continue to deal with man through different dispensations, need to recognize some vital differences between the Church Age and other dispensations.
Paul called this Church Age “the dispensation of the grace of God”. And this is surely because in this dispensation, as in no other dispensation, salvation is by the grace of God without works. Also believers in this dispensation, as in no other, are to live by grace not law. These distinctions (ignored by most) are sufficient to establish that the Rapture of the Church will be outside of (before) the Tribulation.
Also the dispensation of the Church Age, including its rapture, is said by Paul to be a mystery unknown to all until it was revealed to him. That means all references to a rapture before Paul wrote his epistles must refer to a rapture other than the rapture of the Church. Such references (and there are several) lead us to discern another rapture, its nature, and its time.

See slides The Two Raptures for a reorganized discussion of these things.

There will Be Two Raptures Read More »

When will Old Testament saints be judged?

Doctrine, Eschatology / /

Just after the sounding of the seventh trumpet in heaven during the the time of the Tribulation on earth, Scripture says that the time has come for the dead to be judged and for God to reward His servants the prophets, the saints, and them that fear His name, small and great.  This is in Revelation 11:18 just after the two witnesses have just been killed, resurrected, and called up to heaven. In the slides The Two Raptures, it was I argued that this is the time of the partial rapture of Tribulation saints along with resurrection and transport to heaven of the Old Testament righteous who will serve in the Millennial Kingdom.

Serious Bible scholars argue that the judgment mentioned in Revelation 11:18 is not a judgment at this time in the narrative sequence, but rather a look from a future time backward at the Great White Throne Judgment, which will occur after the Millennial Kingdom and just before a new heaven and earth are prepared. The slides Time to Reward God’s Prophets evaluate the arguments for and against such a discontinuity in the narrative of future events in the Book of Revelation. As such this study will give us some insight into God’s judgments and help us to understand the sequence of events which must shortly come to pass. (Re 1:1)

When will Old Testament saints be judged? Read More »

One Day is with the Lord as a Thousand Years

Eschatology / /

Peter wrote, “Beloved, Be not ignorant of this one thing….” This sounds quite important. What is it we should avoid ignorance about? Peter went on to say, “that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” In view of this warning, we would be ignorant not to recognize that there are thousand-year periods of time on earth that easily count as days with the Lord.      

For certain the thousand years that Jesus Christ is prophesied to reign on this earth in Revelation 20 is said to be a day in various Old Testament passages. The one-thousand-year kingdom is also said to be a time (day) of rest for the earth and for Israel specifically. This will be the future rest promised to Israel corresponding to the Sabbath day by which God covenanted this rest.

With the impending second coming of Jesus Christ to set up a one-thousand-year kingdom and almost exactly six thousand years of history for this present earth since its creation in Genesis 1, we surely need to consider carefully whether that history can be divided into six thousand year periods that correspond to six days with God. To write off such a possibility as foolish thinking without careful analysis is surely the very essence of ignorance.

So see the slides Seven Thousand Years to avoid such ignorance and to see that God has indeed prophesied a seven thousand year timeline for this present earth.

One Day is with the Lord as a Thousand Years Read More »

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Doctrine, Eschatology / /

Although the Marriage of the Lamb will be in heaven before Jesus Christ comes to earth for his second coming, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb mentioned immediately after the marriage will not be in heaven. It will be back on earth during the Millennial Kingdom.

These slides present a fivefold argument that this supper will be during the Millennial Kingdom based upon these points: the prophetic nature of the announcement in heaven, the given order of events in Revelation 19-20, Jesus’ statements about when He would again drink the fruit of the vine, the prominence of feasts in the Millennial Kingdom, and the prophetic symbolism of the wedding feast at Cana.

These slides briefly discuss how Jesus’ parable about the wedding dinner as stated cannot indicate that the gospel would be taken to Gentiles as it is usually so interpreted. The parable declares that feasting will be prominent in the kingdom of heaven. Even so men will be rebellious and bring upon themselves God’s judgment.  

See slides Marriage Supper of the Lamb for arguments about why the feast will be on earth during the Millennial Kingdom.

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb Read More »