The next course I selected as part of my Unschooled Master of Theology program was the KI course, End Time Scenario, which covers the topics related to the end of days. Here are the Discussion Questions for the entire course along with my responses.
As a reminder, you can find all of my course assignments for the uThM here.
So, let’s get started….
What Do I Already Know?
End Times. I know some of this. The broad strokes at least. I know there is a major division in the church between Preterism and Futurism. There is a tendency in Christianity to discard Israel and apply their promises from God to the church. This removes all of prophecy in the Bible, concluding that all prophecy was fulfilled by 70 A.D.
Futurism, on the other hand, tends to take the Bible at face value. It tends to hold to a literalist view and interprets a distinct destiny for Israel and the church.
Lastly there is the tendency, which has pervaded the church since the second century onward, to view Scripture predominately with an allegorical lens. This often has the side-effect of warping or distorting proper interpretation of the Bible. Often what Allegorists will do is lay a separate set of meanings onto the text instead of stopping with just the literal meaning. Individuals like Origen tended to view their allegorical meanings as more important than the literal. This has given way to much of liberal or progressive theology in the modern era and is responsible for a great number of heresies and false doctrines.
End times, properly, are known as the apocalypse. This is the “revealing” or “unfolding” of the culmination of all things. Of course, this “all things” is limited to the created world, the created physical dimension, the known/unknown universe of physical reality. This is because the supernatural realm (or heaven) has not been subjected to futility and neither have its inhabitants (God, angels, and/or any other supernatural beings that exist). It is, more accurately, the climax of this redemptive narrative, our story, the account of the creation and God’s subsequent dealing with humanity on earth (and the created universe in general) and how he will bring about our redemption and restoration to the state of spiritual beings, the Sons of God. The end times is the “birth pangs” of that reinstitution.
What Do I Want to Learn?
I would like to get a clearer picture of Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy. I would like to get some clarification on my own position on the millennium and the resurrection and rapture juxtaposed to the pre-millenial, pre-tribulational rapture that is predominate in Baptist circles. I would also like to get clarity on the temporary disposition of the saints after death and before the resurrection of the dead. Do we go immediately to heaven to be in the presence of the Lord forever? Is Hades still holding captives from those who once lived? Are there any humans currently in heaven or have we yet as a being group risen to that position? Lastly, I would like to get clarification on the events that transpire on earth and in heaven preceding, during, and after the tribulation.
Session One
The first session was a bit more repetition and review than much of anything else. But this is to be expected. I do agree with the confirmation of Biblical prophecy (especially the OT), that it is confirmed in the Septuagint. I found this realization years ago to be pivotal to my understanding and fundamental confidence in OT prophecy.
I was curious about the comment made about Peter Stoner’s Science Speaks. I was able to locate the book, but I’m only mildly fascinated by what the contents might actually be.
The 70 Weeks prophecy in Daniel 9 is quite interesting to me. I think I understand it, being that from the commandment of Artaxerxes in 445 BC to restore Jerusalem (after its devastation from the Babylonian captivity to the Triumphal Entry, the prophecy is perfect. 173,880 days between the two. This equates to 69x7x360=173,880. This goes from the restoration to the triumphal entry. This fulfills vs 25, with 24 describing the duration of the Babylonian Captivity. Then there is vs 26, which is the interval between that and the fulfillment of vs 27. The people of the prince to come are the Assyrians (?) or the Romans (a European centered Ruler). I’m not sure I understand the reference here to how it shall all end “with a flood.” There are other passages that presumably refer to the interval of vs 26, and these will be reviewed shortly.
Suffice it to say, I would agree with the idea that this is in accordance with the blindness of Israel. The prophecy was fulfilled and the temple and Jerusalem were completely destroyed in 70 A.D. and not one stone was left on another. But, despite the consequence of the allegorical tendency in biblical hermeneutics of more liberal theologians and more mainline Christian traditions, the idea has pervaded the church that Israel is forfeit her promises.
This, I would argue, is corrected in advance by Paul in Romans 11:25 and throughout the other chapters. Israel’s blindness is only “in part” because it is temporary. Yes, it has so far lasted 2000+ years. But, the Bible does promise that one day this blindness will be lifted and the Israelites will, collectively, turn from the hardness of their hearts and will be saved corporately by God. Not only this but I would argue that the Ezekiel 37-38 chapters talk about “all of Israel” being resurrected and will constitute “an exceedingly great army” (Ezekiel 37:10).
As for the interval or gap in vs 26, Dr. Missler claims that there are several other passages that predict this. Out of these, I think the following references speak to an interval in between the death of Christ and the fulfillment of all things.
Isa 61:1-2 – there appears to be an interval between Christ’s first coming and his second coming based upon his reading of this verse in Lk 4:18-21 and leaving out the last section.
Rev 12:5-6 – There here appears to be a possible interval of 1260 days, but it remains unclear what this is in reference to.
Hos 3:4-5 – There does appear here to be an interval.
Amos 9:10-11 – Here there is a promise that the house of David and more specifically, the temple, will be resurrected and reestablished.
Lk 21:24 – this does support Paul in Romans as stating that Israel will be destroyed and scattered and during this interval they will be populating the entire earth.
Luke 19:42 until Rom 11:25 – this certainly speaks of the partial blindness until the church (the mystery of God) is completed. Then the blindness will be lifted and they will see the one they pierced (Zechariah 12:10).
Session Two
There were several areas of interest in this session. More than I have time to address I think.
The first one was the issue of the trumpets mentioned throughout the Bible. I’m not certain I agree with Dr. Missler that the “trump of God” appears only in two places.
I can find this exact phrase only in 1 Th 4:16, the “trump of God” or εν σαλπιγγι Θεου, which is really “in trumpet God” or “in [the] trumpet [of] God.”
In the giving of the law, which Dr. Missler states appears the other reference, it only states τῆς σάλπιγγος ἤχει μέγα or “the trumpet sounded loud” (Ex 19:16; 20:18). I find it interesting that in his rebuttal of this not being the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15-19, he skips the fact that Paul makes reference to this in 1 Corinthians 15:52, “the last trumpet” or εν τη εσχατη σαλπιγγι, “in the last trumpet.”
This reference by Paul would logically point to the series of trumpets in Revelation (1-7) and the last being the seventh, which occurs in Revelation 11:15-19. The context of this passage perfectly fits to the change over from the usurper having possession of the kingdoms of the earth to Christ, as it states: “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ” (vs. 15). This would be the opportune time for both the resurrection of the saints as well as their subsequent rapture from the earth, because “the nations were angry, and your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should reward your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.”
If they are then raptured up “to the air” there is no telling what happens at this point. But there is not the yo-yo effect that accompanies pretribulational theology, though there is some of this. There is the interval between the mid-trib rapture and the 3.5 years of the tribulation and pouring out of God’s wrath on the world until the 2nd coming where Christ returns to the earth with all his saints (1 Th 3:13; De 33:2b; Zech 14:5; Jude 1:14). So, in one instance there is a yo-yo, but not if they remain “in the air” for the entire 3.5 year period as Christ and his saints witness the Wrath of God (or supervise it).
Second, I found the review of Revelation 12:5 to be quite interesting, that it’s vocabulary is defined by Genesis 37. That the woman is Israel, the man child is the Messiah, and that the Messiah will “rule all nations with a rod of iron.” But, after doing a search for “rod of iron” I do not see a multitude of references as stated. The primary verse is Psalm 2:9 “You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’” Then there is a quote of this passage in Re 2:27 and the mention of it in Re 12:5, and again in Re 19:15. But this is all. Even running a search with “rod” and “rule” in any variation only produces these same verses. This is also the case if running a search throughout all available Bible translations (NKJV, ESV, NIV, NLT, EOB, LES, KJV, CSB, NRSV). It simply does not play out as described.
I do, though, find the insight from G.H. Pember to be interesting, that the “catching up” of the child references simultaneously both Jesus and the body of Christ, the church. I looked up his book and got a copy.
Here is a challenge laid by Dr. Missler: Where does it predict in the OT that Jesus will be in the grave for 3 days? This challenge is based on 1 Co 15:3-5 and Luke 24:46. He stated this was found in 7 places in the OT.
-Ge 22:1-19 – Isaac (He 11:17-19)
-Ge 40:12-13 – Joseph
-Jonah 1:15-17; 2:9-10 – Jonah (Matt 12:40)
-Lev.23:5; 6-7; 13-14 – the passover sacrifice
-Ex 19:10-11 – the giving of the law on the mountain
Hos 6:1-2 – the healing of Israel
2 Kings 20:5; Est. 5:1 – I do not see theses as being symbolic of the death of Christ, only that 3 days are mentioned.
I did think the phrase, “A secret is what you tell one person at a time” was an interesting one.
The second challenge in this session was: Find all the “untils” in the Bible and identify what is until what:
There are 421 verses that contain the word “until.” After reviewing these verses, I’m not certain I understand the significance of doing so. I’ve heard Dr. Missler levee this challenge in lectures before. I’m not certain as to the usability or intent of it. A cursory examination of the results does not seem to point to or turn up anything exceptional.
I think it is fascinating that there are different kinds of saints:
-OT saints
-the church
-tribulation saints
-then the entire corporate entity of Israel (that will ultimately be saved by unmerited grace at the final battle on earth).
I’ve never heard of the fiery furnace account being used as a type for the tribulation, but it does seem to fit rather nicely. With Daniel being absent (the church), the three friends represent tribulation saints, who are spared by God the punishment being handed out, even though they must still go through it.
It is significant that the reformers changed the course of the world, because they were willing to die for the sake of others and for the sake of us having access to the Word of God. Dr. Missler points out that they did not go far enough. I, personally, would argue that they went too far in eradicating the monastic vocation from the evangelical experience. Reform of it would have been better and we would not have today the result of the inner spiritual life of saints becoming rather superficial and shallow. As Dr. Missler mentions, they also did not eradicate the doctrine of Supersessionism, or the idea that the Jews forfeited the promises made to them and that the church has become a kind of spiritual Israel.
Additionally, Dr. Missler talks about how a mid-trib position denies the concept of imminency. He also states that this position requires the church to experience Daniel’s 70th week. He also asks the question of how the bride will “come with him” if the church is still on earth?
I, personally, would argue that I question the idea of imminency to a certain extend. Likewise, there is no issue of the saints coming with Christ at the 2nd Coming since they are raptured at the mid point of the 70th Week.
The major prerequisites to the rapture are: the falling away, and the son of perdition being revealed. For him to cause the Abomination of Desolation, there must be a temple, so this would likewise be an additional requirement (if the “revealing” of the antichrist is the Abomination of Desolation. If it is his simple appearing on the scene, then the third requirement is not necessary. After the two (or three) requirements are met, then the Lord can come at any time – we would not necessarily see it, but we can look for the six trumpets that must first sound before the 7th (Revelation 11:15-19). At this point the dead in Christ will rise, then those who are live in Christ will join them, and the whole group will be “caught up” or “raptured” into the air to meet their Savior and to forever be with him (1 Th 4:16; 1 Co 15:52; Re 11:15; Da 7:25; Matt 24:15). This means that out of necessity, we will be ruling and reigning with Christ during the 1000 year period (or, at least, we will be present with him during the 1000 years). The reigning and ruling might be limited to the tribulation saint martyrs. I’m not certain when they would be resurrected. They could not be part of the first resurrection, since they have not yet been martyred in the 3.5 year Great Tribulation. They must be resurrected (or remain in disembodied form since they are referred to as Souls). This would mean 1st Resurrection: The Saints (since we cannot suffer God’s wrath as believers – Luke 21:36; Ro 2:3; 1 Th 5:9; 1:10), and possibly all of Israel (the saints raptured, the Israelites remain); 2nd Resurrection: Tribulation Martyrs; 3rd Resurrection: All who ever lived remaining after 1000 years.
Israel and the Church are distinct (Ro 9-11). The church has been blinded in part for the sake of the Gentiles (Ro 11:25; 2 Co 3:12-16). Once the church is finished, the veil will be lifted from the Jews collectively, and they will see Jesus for who he is and for what they have done (Re 1:7; Zech 12:10; 13:6).
The various “coming soon” statements (Lu 21:32; Mark 13:30; Matt 24:34; 16:28; 23:36) need to be taking into account as well as the “this generation shall not pass away” reference.
Overall, though, there tend to be quite a few date setters, fulfilling 2 Peter 3:4.
In the end, there is no guarantee that we are in the end times. It is possible (and more likely than not) that the last temple will not be the third but the fifth or twentieth. It is possible that our entire group of civilizations we call the modern world will be lost and forgotten to antiquity and replaced with new nations and new generations of people and new cultures. There could still be 500, 1000, even 10,000 more years of the plan of God to unfold yet.
The “already not yet view” is a strange one in my estimation, with them arguing for things like: christ is already crowned and ruling but his enemies are not yet under his feet. Or, we are children of God, yet we are not revealed as sons of God. It is a combination of all three views. I don’t see it matching with Scripture, though I could be mistaken.
Post-Millennial is simply a denial of the literalness of prophecy in the Bible for the sake of holding a positive outlook for the future. They want Christianity to “christianize” the entire global, and are convinced there will be a Christian Kingdom that the church brings about. The problem, of course, is the tragic history of the world, the disastrous history of the Church both stand in opposition to the view.
Full Preterists argue that the second coming has already occurred (2 Th 2:2). They claim that there is no literal rapture in 1 Co 15:51, no eternal life in Re 21:4; Isa 25:8, no curse in Re 22:3 and no death in Ho 13:14; 1 Co 15:26; 54-58; He 2:14-15. Personally, I am a futurist.
I am a joiner and not a splitter in my hermeneutical approach. I am a harmonizer. I desire to aggregate all relevant Scriptures and then draw conclusions.
Pan-Trip used to be my “go to” for many years. I acquired this from Dr. Missler because it allows you not to have to worry about any of it. No need for studying prophecy or end times at all. It states that none of the views really matter, the sequence will happen as it should, and we are just going alone for the ride anyway. The view states it will all “pan out in the end.”
I would argue that futurism is more natural than Preterism. It is the hermeneutic of literalism. It’s interesting that we can predict a person’s Hermeneutics by what they believe about end times and vice versa. The more liberal their allegorical tendency, the more of a chance they are Amillennial, Preterist, and Post-Trib. Pre-mil, Pre-trib, are typically called “fundamentalists.” I disagree with this scale because it claims that Mid-trib are typically Post-mill or Reconstructionists.
The bottom line is, most end times interpretations are interpreting the text “eisegetically” rather than exegetically. They don’t let the text speak for itself but formalize their theological first. Paul and others struggled with the same issue. This is what I try desperately to do for my own theology. This is especially true for end times, since I really do not have a great interest or fascination with eschatology or end times issues like the tribulation or the rapture or even the millennium. I prefer fulfilled prophecy to unfulfilled, simply because fulfilling points back to Christ and what took place as a matter of record, while unfulfilled cannot be used to predict when a prophecy will actually be fulfilled.
I ascribe to what Jesus tells us, “Watch and pray, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (Matt 24:42; Mark 13:33ff; Re 16:15). I desire to be counted worthy to escape all these things (Lu 21:36), being sober (1 Th 5:6; 1 Pe 5:8), living at peace with everyone while I’m here (Ro 12:18).
One slide I really find fascinating is the Prophetic Profiles of the 7 Churches. Group A has promises post-script, while Group B has promises in the body of the letter. The Philadelphia church will experience the rapture (but all of them, save the Laodicean/Apostate church will be resurrected and subsequently raptured).
Group A:
Ephesus = Apostolic Church
Smyrna = Persecuted Church
Pergamos = Compromised Church
Group B:
Thyatira = Medieval Church
Sardis = Denominational Church
Philadelphia = Missionary Church
Laodicea = Apostate Church
An additional slide that I thought was provoking was the 2nd Coming slide that lists the 69th, 70th, and 2nd coming. It shows the interval between the two week groups (69/70) and shows on the right side the Millennium. But, in the middle, it illustrates the approximate location in history the Magog Invasion and the Rebuilding of the Temple as well as the Abomination of Desolation with the Great Tribulation coming after it.
The Magog Invasion happens in Ezekiel 38 and 39. This is after the dry bones account in Ezekiel 37. It would be interesting to see if there is an interval between the first chapter and the second and third. The map of the Magog invasion is quite interesting, showing all of Israel’s enemies: China, Russia, Northern Africa, and Iran all coming out to declare war against the tiny nation that just restarted 75 years ago. If Psalm 83 pertains to this point in history, then their main focus of the confederation of countries is the battle cry of the Islamic people, “wipe Israel off the face of the map!” But, this will be covered in more detail in the next lecture.
Suffice to say, I’m cautiously confident thus far in these things:
-There are 69 weeks from the end of the Babylonian Captivity to the cutting off of the messiah. Then there is an undefined interval which is the church age, that runs from the death of Christ to the rapture.
-I would argue at the end of the 3.5 year of the 70th week, we end the interval with Re 11:15ff, the resurrection and rapture of the church and the restoration of Christ as the rightful and legitimate ruler on the earth.
-The removal of the church (and the subsequent removal of the restrainer – the Holy Spirit) results in the beginning of the second half of the 3.5 year 70th week, which is the Great Tribulation. This is the pouring out of God’s wrath onto the inhabitants of the earth, or the earth dwellers.
-this period culminates in the Battle of Armageddon when Satan is bound for the 1000 year Millennial Kingdom on earth.
I did not choose to believe in God, but it is a terrifyingly exciting time to be alive.
Session Three
There appears not to be as much information to go through this lecture as there was in the previous one.
I do think it provocative that Israel is mentioned in Ezekiel 38:8, 10-12 to be dwelling in peace and without walls. From this passage, it does, indeed, sound like they are “brought out from the nations” and are reestablished to be a peaceful people and to dwell without walls. This, of course, is not the Israel we see today or have seen for the last 75 years. They have essentially been in a constant state of war. They have enemies on all sides. They have a massive wall that runs for hundreds of miles (400 miles long, 25 ft hight) to protect themselves from their enemies. So, it will be interesting to see what God does to bring about a different world and political climate for Israel.
I’m constantly reminded of Ezekiel 37:10, “breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.” It is this verse that makes me conclude that corporate Israel (every Jew who has ever lived) will be included in the first resurrection (the resurrection of the saints), but not included in the rapture. Likewise, I conclude that they will not populate the supernatural realm, but will populate the new earth, the new physical world (heaven).
I looked up Psalm 83:3. It does appear as if there are two groups here represented: “they took counsel agains your people” and “they consulted together against your hidden ones.” The “your people” would be the Jews while “your hidden ones” make sense being the raptured church. With the two groups represented it does not make sense for this to be a reference to angels. But, the problem with all of these kinds of things is they are purely conjecture, save for the illumination given by the Holy Spirit. This is the distinction without a difference because we will all be convinced in our own minds (Ro 14:5) until the day of the Lord when all will be revealed (Lu 12:2). So, everyone will go about making predictions and assumptions and interpreting the Bible however they choose. There will be a subset of the human race (the church) who will interpret the Bible clearly (but can’t the church also simultaneously get it wrong, too, and still be the church), but so will all the heretics. We will not be able to see the difference until after we are sorted out (Matt 13:25ff). I, personally, do not put much stock in unfulfilled prophecy until it is fulfilled. The same is true of “words of the Lord” given by other people, prophecies, visions, etc. I do have personal experiences that I hold dear to me, but I don’t think these are things for other people necessarily. They are a part of my testimony, the reason why I believe that Jesus is the messiah. But all of it, especially future prophecy in the Bible is too difficult to pin down until it actually occurs for my own taste.
Dr. Missler makes the provocative statement that “more people will be saved after the rapture than before.” In looking this up online, I stumbled onto the belief that the 144,000 are Jewish believers (Re 7:4)? Where do they get this idea, that because they are “sealed” they are being sealed by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ? It would make sense, though, if the rapture occurs mid-trib, since this would happen in Re 11:15 and not before the 144,000 are set apart. It’s interesting. But, Re 6:9-11 does not say that these martyrs who die for their testimony and the word of God became believers during the Tribulation. It simply states they died for their faith and for their association with the Bible. They could all have come to Christ long before the tribulation started (last 70th week).
But, with all that said, I’m not certain I understand where Dr. Missler gets this statement, that more people will be saved after than before the rapture. I would argue this is simply conjecture.
Now we get to the discussion of the AntiChrist. He is prophecies in Genesis as the “seed of the serpent” which is opposite of the “seed of the woman.” His name is “the prince who shall come” and in Daniel 9:27 we are told that he will enforce a covenant and in the middle of that 7 year period he will change course, and will cause the Abomination of Desolation. This would require several prerequisites: The rebuilding of the temple, the reinstitution of the daily sacrifices.
Dr. Missler gives three references to the 3rd temple, but none of them give a time or a number by which to accurately identify which temple is being spoken of (Matt 24:15; 2 Th 2ff; Re 11:1-2). He talked about John 10:22 and how Hanukkah is here alluded to, but I’m not certain it was done for our benefit (though all things are done for our benefit are they not). I don’t think it was necessarily pointing to this concept of the antichrist in the future. Again, I would argue this is conjecture.
I did find the references to 666 quite interesting. The Greek letters are χξϛʹ. This is apparently how numbers are written in Greek. Less convincing is the idea that it is written as the first and last letter of Christ in the Greek, with a middle letter included to indicate it is not “the” Christ but “a counterfeit” Christ. I suppose this is possible. Time will tell once we are in heaven and the dust has cleared. It has no real practical value for believers. As Dr. Missler states, if you “torture the data long enough it will confess to anything.”
I did find the alternative translation quite interesting. “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding decide [who] the multitude of the beast [is]: for it is the multitude of a man [that is, Muhammad]; and his multitude are “In the name of Allah.”” (Revelation 13:18 – Shoebat). That the three letters are not actually Greek but Arabic. This, of course, raises the issue of whether or not John knew Arabic. It is possible. I’ve read that old arabic was created around the first century. So it is possible. But, the reality is, the Holy Spirit could have given John to “write what he saw” and that was what he wrote. From this perspective, John did not have need to know any foreign language.
I think it is bemusing that Islam celebrates the concept of lying in the interest of Islam. This simply illustrates how the god of Islam is not the same as the God of the Bible.
Session Four
Dr. Missler states that the city of Babylon will be rebuilt and will become the new center of power once again in order for prophecy to be fulfilled. He cites infrastructure being build locally for no reason to support this. If this is true, then this repositioning of world power to be a prerequisite to the end times (if not the rapture as well) since it will take several generations to make this kind of global shift (Zech 5:5-11; Re 17:5).
This will not only require a global shift of multiple nations, but it will require the decline if not the complete destruction of the United States as a world power. This could be done swiftly by force or by natural (tsunami, earthquake, great freeze, etc) or unnatural disaster (nuclear detonation, electromagnetic pulse)
If the power center of the world is going to shift back to Babylon, this will take either a cataclysmic event (natural or unnatural) or at least a few hundred years and the destruction and break up of America.
Although Dr. Missler did speak about the possibility of the UN leaving New York and moving to another part of the world, there is currently no serious discussions of this on the table. There was a satirical site that claimed it was moving to Jerusalem and that the Jews were surprised because they thought the UN hated them. My first thought was, “they’re not moving back because they like you, but to put a boot on your neck.”
Dr. Missler claimed that global power is shifting ever westward until it returns again to Babylon. This would include the Babylonian Empire, the Roman Empire, the British Empire, the American Empire (to date). America’s world dominance is coming to an end, but it will still take a major shift for this to happen. 20-50-100 years from now with the exception of the already mentioned disaster scenario or military intervention by China, etc.
Next up would be China or Russia or a confederation of the two. Then it would subsequently and finally shift to Babylon again (if someone in between doesn’t jump into the fray). If there is any sustaining power of this next and subsequent power groups, this would be a prerequisite to any talk of end times or the rapture. It could take another 1000 years! America has been a global power for 200+ years. Rome was one for over 1000 years. The Brits held on for 300 years. The Ottoman Empire lasted for 600 years. The only alternative option for a hasty transition would be for the Chinese and/or Russian superpower claim to be challenged by Babylon, challenged by someone else, or they would quickly fall from grace being unable to sustain their authority on the world stage (Russia’s military failures and China’s artificial economy as examples). Otherwise, we are looking at at least another 50-100 years if not much more before anything can occur.
Lastly, there is the prerequisite of the temple being rebuilt in Jerusalem (Matt 24:15; 2 Th 2ff; Re 11:1-2). We know this is a precedent to the “going of our Lord Jesus Christ.” If this is different and distinct from the First Resurrection and subsequent Rapture (1 Th 4:16; 1 Co 15:54) then it would require a 7 year window before the second coming spoken of in 2 Th 2:1. But, in order for the Abomination of Desolation to take place (if yet future), then it would require the temple being finished at least by the 3.5 year mark of the 7 year (70th week) period. We know from 2 Th 2:3-4 that there are prerequisites put in place by Paul before “Christ [can] come.” Firstly, there must be “the falling away first.” Second, the “man of sin must be revealed.” He must “sit as God in the temple of God.” This means the temple must be built before the 7 year period begins. It could be possible to build it in 1-3 years given modern advancements, but the political climate has no appetite for it.
This all being said, though, I am the first to admit, when I was a new believer in the 1990’s, I was convinced, reading 2 Th 2:4, I was certain then that we were hundreds if not thousands of years away from the “falling away of the church” simply because American Christianity seemed to be invincible in its current form. Only 30 years later, and now we see it fracturing at the seams, and being infiltrated by the grosses, most wicked, more depraved kinds of false doctrines and false teachers imaginable. Another 10-20 years, and the majority of what is called Christianity will be unrecognizable. Only the remnant of biblical believers will remain and these will be increasingly persecuted by both the secular world and also the new perversion that is/will be the church.
I was surprised to see that Dr. Missler points to Psalm 2 as being yet future. I’ve always seen it as an overview of the entire world history and God’s opinion and interaction and intentions with it.
I think it’s an interesting concept that the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God could be distinct from one another. The Kingdom of God is used in Mark, Luke, and John, as defined by Daniel 2:45. The Kingdom of Heaven is distinctively used by Matthew 33 times, differentiated by his used of Kingdom of Heaven five times. Dr. Missler states the Kingdom of God includes everything outside of God, such as the angels and the supernatural realm itself, as well as creation. It was prior to creation in some sense (though we really do not have any idea what was prior to creation of the physical realm that we call creation other than the angels whose creation preceded the creation of the physical realm). Interesting to note: Luke 13:28 states that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets are included in the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of Heaven, on the other hand, is within the Kingdom of God, but is a subset? It physical, has locality, is earthly, is for mankind only (not angels), it has a capital (Jerusalem), and is always represented by 12s.
Personally, I would argue that either the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are synonymous, or the Kingdom of God is the larger group of redeemed (OT saints, NT saints, Trib saints) and the Kingdom of Heaven are just those who are part of the body of Christ. Either way, I leave open room for me to be wrong. The same is true for the idea that the Bride of Christ and the Body of Christ are not the same.
I did find it quite an interesting definition: Meaning is defined by the amount of the universe it excludes. I live at xyzzy means something specific because I exclude all other addresses throughout the world and throughout the physical universe. To say: God is God, excludes the entire physical universe and everything else that has been made that is made. I really like this definitional tool.
Unfortunately, Re 10:7 does not say “mysteries” in that all the “mysteries” listed in the lecture end at this reference. Instead, this is a singular word μυστήριον “mystery.” I would argue this is referencing the “mystery of the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:11; Col 2:2) and the “fellowship of the mystery” (Eph 3:9) which has been hidden from the beginning (Col 1:26). This is the “mystery of Christ” (Col 4:3). The “fullness of the gentiles” (Ro 11:25).
This also extends to the two terms, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and the Wedding of the Lamb. These would be two distinct things in and of themselves, even by the euphemistic uses. So I’m not exactly sure why these would be considered the same. But, how far do the symbolism extend here? Will there be a wedding feast first where the bulk of Christendom is excluded and must weight “outside” of the proverbial upper room while the select share a meal together? Will this not immediately breed envy, bitterness, and hostility? I personally do not think these are separate but are descriptors in a failing attempt to capture that which is divine and otherworldly.
Lastly, what is the “darkness outside” our “outer darkness” mentioned in Matt 8:12; 22:13; 25:30? Why is it only mentioned these three times? It is σκοτος το εξωτερον or “darkness outer” and it will be a place where there is “weeping and gnashing teeth.” This also occurs in Matt 13:42; which is in the “furnace of fire.”
Certainly, this is in reference to the Lake of Fire in Re 19:20; 20:10-15. 21:8. It is “outside the gate” (He 13:12) of that which is known as “heaven” where all those who are not save reside forever separated from the presence and existence of God (Re 22:15).
Session Five
As I understanding, the first “beast” of Re 13:1ff is a government. But, this cannot be correct since in verse 3 it talks about his head wound being healed and it speaks of “him” instead of “it.” But, Re 13:11 depicts “another beast” he had two horns “like a lamb” and spoke “like a dragon.” He exercised the authority of the first beast and he causes the earth to worship the first beast.
The second beast is termed the “false prophet” he causes the earth to worship the image of the beast. It is unclear what this is, since it speaks and anyone not worshiping the image will be killed. It is unclear if the number 666 is the number of the first beast or second beast (antichirst or false prophet). Though, it does appear later that those who worship the beast, the mark of his name, and his image, are afflicted with sores, so it could be assumed that the number and the image belong to the first beast (the antichirst).
There is also the scarlet beast of Re 17:3, but this is wholly separate from the first two mentioned. In Re 19:20, the first beast (antichirst) and the false prophet (second beast) are cast into the Lake of Fire. The devil is cast into the lake of fire where the beast and false prophet are and they are tormented day an d night for ever and ever.
I asked my wife the question: Which of the 7 dispensations are the most evil? We were torn. The dispensations are: Innocence, conscience, government, promise, law, grace, millennium. I would argue there are three additional dispensations: tribulation, judgment (day of the Lord), and Immortality (sons of God). I think there is a strong case for the age of conscience to be the greatest evil, since God himself concluded, “the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Ge 6:5). But, with that, Dr. Missler also has a case for the Millennium being the most wicked, since after a thousand years of perfect peace, justice, equity, and fulfillment, the world still rebels against him when Satan is released from Tartarus. I think there is also a case to be made that the age of Grace is also quite wicked, but we concluded that at least during this period there is the church (not that there is anything inherently good or righteous in her), but because the very nature of the church (universal not organization) is indicative of the Holy Spirit indwelling individuals and working out God’s plan through humans. My wife argued that the Tribulation period (7 years) would be the most wicked because they are following after the antichrist. I would agree to an extent, especially given that, by this point, or by the 3.5 year mark of the 7 years, both the Church and the Holy Spirit will be removed (raptured) from the earth and only the lost (earth dwellers) and the antichirst and false prophet will remain and the whole world will be under the influence of a great delusion. Given all the points made, I would conclude that the most wicked dispensation would be every dispensation since it appears every dispensation of humanity contains some element of at last potentiality for sin and one sin is as previous as a thousand sins. There is no difference. The wickedness remains the same throughout all dispensations, but how God handles the presence of that sin is what differentiates the dispensations themselves.
Concerning the Bema Seat of Christ (2 Co 5:10; 1 Co 3:11-15): I would argue that these are references to Re 20:11ff, the Great White Throne Judgment. I conclude this simply because there is no other reference to the “bema seat” being a separate gathering wherein individuals are judged for their deeds. This is, however, laid out in detail in Re 20:11ff.
Likewise, I would argue that the Sheep and Goat Judgment (Matt 25:31-46) will either occur at the Great White Throne Judgment or will occur at the Rapture, that the rapture is, by its very nature, the separation of the wheat from the tares.
Concerning the “darkness outside” or “outer darkness.” This is found in Matt 8:12; 22:13; 25:30 in the NT. It also appears synonymous with Matt 13:42, 50’s “furnace of fire.” I also found two references comparing these above with Luke 16:19-31, which is the account of the Rich Man and Lazarus and the realities of Hades (Paradise/Torment) as a consequence of death.
Oddly, Dr. Missler claims that the phrase σκοτος το εξωτερον occurs 23 times in the LXX. But, while I did find it referenced as “darkness” in 1 Enoch 103:7–8 (unfortunately, I do not yet have the Enochs in Greek so I couldn’t chase down the exact phrase), I do not find the phrase anywhere in the LXX. σκοτος occurs 65 times in the LXX and εξωτερον occurs 20 times in the LXX, but they do not appear together.
I found it interesting that a “phrase from the Fathers” (I assume this is in reference to the Church Fathers) became popular based on this passage, “Be ye approved bankers,” though I could not find reference to it elsewhere.
I did find it interesting that in one commentary it states that Talents (money) does not equal talents (natural abilities), that sermons to the contrary are an English aberration.
Of this, the Pulpit Commentary says, “While the faithful servants enter into the joy of the Lord, he is rejected from his presence, expelled from the kingdom of heaven, banished we know not whither. And why? Not for great ill doing, sacrilege, crime, offence against the common laws of God and man; but for neglect, idleness, emission of duty. This is a very fearful thought. Men endeavour to screen themselves from blame by minimizing their talents, ability, opportunities; this parable unveils the flimsiness of this pretence, shows that all have responsibilities, and are answerable for the use they make of the graces and faculties, be they never so small, which they possess. Spiritual indolence is as serious a sin as active wickedness, and meets with similar punishment. Our Lord’s account of the last judgment terribly confirms this truth”
Session Six
The βῆμα or “bema seat” is used twelve times in the NT, and six times in the LXX. I would agree with Dr. Missler that nowhere does it speak of a place or platform used to give rewards at sporting events. It is a “judgment seat” in a court of law, used by emperors, authorities, and kings in which to meet out justice, a legal decision, or punish wrongdoers.
The most common verse concerning this word is 2 Co 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” The only issue, of course, is nowhere in this passage does it identify a time element. The “judgment seat of Christ” is only found twice in the NT (Ro 14:10; 2 Co 5:10). Both identify that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, also that we will be judged there according to our works (our deeds) done in the life in which we lived. But never is there a verse or passage that provides when this judgment will occur. It is simply speculation that it occurs immediately after our resurrection and rapture. The only place that indicates when individuals are judged according to their works, their deeds, is found in Re 20:11ff, at the Great White Throne Judgment. I would, thus, argue that there is a single, grand, judgment, the Day of Judgment (Matt 10:15; 11:22ff; 12:36; 2 Pe 2:9; 3:7; 1 John 4:17).
I would contend that we are judged at the Bema Seat of Christ because everyone will be judged according to Christ (Acts 10:42; Ro 2:16); both the lost and saved alike. This is the final arbitrator of our individual dispositions. It is ultimately the Sheep and Goat Judgment. If we are his, he will say, “come, inherit the kingdom prepared for you,” but to the lost he will say, “depart from me, your cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt 25:41ff). This surely will occur at the Great White Throne Judgment.
I do like the symmetry of Paul’s writing, that Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews represents an outline of Habakkuk 2:4.
Dr. Missler did bring up a question about when the OT saints are resurrected. I, personally, am convinced those who are a part of the church (OT saints, NT saints) are raptured midway between the seven year period. The resurrection (first resurrection) occurs first, then the rapture. This is the moment when the church and the Holy Spirit (the restrainer) are removed from the earth. This group would include individuals possibly like Abraham, but certainly like Paul and Peter (first fruits), those who are a part of the church.
The second resurrection happens according to Ezekiel 37, when all of Israel who have ever lived are corporately resurrected to form “an exceedingly great army.” This would need to occur sometime after the Church is resurrected but before the end of the 70th week (or 7 years).
Then the 1000 year reign of Christ will take place and afterward the global rebellion against God and Christ puts down all those who have put Israel to the wall. Then the blindness will be lifted from them and they will see their messiah who they crucified and they will mourn for him as if they were morning for an only son.
Lastly, there is the final resurrection of everyone who has ever lived. This is Re 20:11ff, the Great White Throne Judgment, when the earth and the universe finds no place any longer before God and it simply ceases to exist (or is destroyed with fervent heat and the universe rips apart). This is the last of the resurrections (3 total) and it serves as the final disposition of everyone who has ever lived – of all the sons of Adam. Israel, corporately, will be saved and will enter their rest finally in the land of their forefathers, in the promised land on the new earth. The church universal (those who are truly saved) will be spared their just punishment and will enter into the supernatural realm and will become “like the angels” as they are revealed as “sons of God.” The rest of the world, the earth dwellers, the lost, they will be judged according to their deeds and will be found guilty and will be cast into the Lake of Fire, forever cut off from the one who holds their existence together. They will be shut out from the living, cast into the “outer darkness” and into the “furnace of fire.” The reality of this is torment forever.
Dr. Missler was the first to inform me that salvation was not as cut and dried as what many evangelicals make it out to be. The explanation that salvation is actually Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification, that it is past tense, present tense, and future tense.
Lastly, I would agree with Dr. Missler on the issue of Calvinism vs. Arminianism. I think they both miss the mark in what they profess. But I would not ascribe to Dr. Missler’s alternative version either. I just don’t see a hierarchical, works-based system in the afterlife. I think it would breed discontentment, bitterness, envy, and would lead the way to sin in heaven all over again.
Personally, I think it is a mixture. I believe those who are made to be saved through choice are given the choice to believe and those who re made to be saved through predestination are given no choice at all. Then again, I think all are predestined to one degree or another and most of what we argue to be free will and autonomy is simply the appearance of free will. There are simply too many passages that claim predestination for it not to be true.
Xxxx
Conclusions
All in this was a relatively good course. It was a lot of review at this point, but I think this would be expected. I did solidify my understanding of the timing on the tribulation, on the identity of the two beasts of Revelation, and less firmly on the juxtaposition between free will and predestination. I now have 7 course remaining and only 1000 K-Credits to earn until I hit Silver.
Until my next assignment….
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Excerpt from Our Daughter:
“Okay, mom,” Randy said.
“You behave yourself and be nice. You’re lucky to have company while you wait for the doctors.”
The woman turned and started back the way she came.
“The nurse said it would be twenty or thirty more minutes, so we’ll eat quick and be back up here before they take you in, okay?”
“Okay, mom.”
“Sorry for him,” the woman said to Katie as she walked by.
“He’s funny.”
Katie grinned.
As the woman left, Katie noticed the boy moving around again on the bed. Before she realized what was happening, the tiny lump disappeared and she could hear the faint sound of bare hands and feet on the tile floor.
He was low crawling under the beds toward her.
A moment later, Randy popped his head out from under the nearest hospital bed, craning his neck around to look up at her.
“Hello, there,” Katie said.
Randy disappeared back under the bed, the bed sheet draping down almost to the floor. Katie could still see three little fingers pressed to the tile.
“What are you here for?” Katie asked, readjusting her seat in the chair, trying to get the ache in her chest to lessen.
For whatever reason, the wheelchair was really uncomfortable.
“Why are – “
Randy’s voice trailed off for a moment as he looked around.
“Why are you here?”
“I’m getting my leg fixed,” Katie said. “See?”
Randy poked his head back out from under the bed and looked at the leg she was pointing to.
“What’s wrong with it?”
“The doctor said it’s broken,” Katie said. “Shattered.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. Ouch.”
“Can you feel it?” Randy asked, able to stay out from his hiding place.
“I can feel it, but it’s not too bad,” Katie said, then tapped the IV in her arm. “This thing is giving me medicine of some kind for the pain. At least that’s what the nurses said.”
“Why are you – “
Randy stopped mid-sentence.
He scooted out from under the bed entirely and slowly crept over to er on all fours.
“What are you, some kind of spider?” Katie asked, giggling a little.
“What are you?” Randy echoed.
He was now only about a foot away from her chair and sat there, his legs folded up under him, gawking up at her.
“What are you staring at me for?”
“I’ve never – “
Randy put out a hesitant hand and ever so gently touched her arm.
“Are you some kind of ghost?”
He looked around again.
“Are you – ”
He leaned in, talking in a whisper.
“Are you dead?”
A nurse came around the corner and stopped abruptly, spotting the empty bed in the far corner where Randy should have been.
“Randy Andrews,” the nurse said, her hands now on her hips. “You get right back into the bed and you stop playing around, please. They are ready for you in surgery.”
Katie watched as Randy scrambled on all fours under the beds and back up onto his, pulling the sheet back over top of himself again.
She started to ask him about his question, but couldn’t get the words out before his parents appeared at the door.
Katie sat there quietly, watching Randy stare back at her from under his sheet. She glanced over at his parents and the nurse, noticed Randy’s dad had no hair on the top of his head.
Are you dead?
What kind of question was that?
The snap of the wheel locks being disengaged on Randy’s hospital bed jarred Katie out of the confusion she was in.
The doctor she’d first seen was now at the door, waiting for Randy.
He was his surgeon.
They wheeled Randy out of the room, his parents following right behind, disappearing to the left, heading for his operating room.
The pre-op room was empty again.
Dead.
Are you dead?
What kind of crazy question was that?
The nurse came back through the double doors.
“It won’t be long now,” she said.
“Okay.”
Katie tried not to think about the dull ache growing just behind her sternum.
The nurse disappeared around the corner as Katie watched the double doors to the operating rooms slowly shut.
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