Armageddon Series #1 - Part 189 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

Jesus said...Behold, I am coming as a thief...blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame...and they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon...Rev. 16:15-16.  This is the only reference in the Bible where we will find the word Armageddon.  It is a symbolic name.  What does it symbolize?  We will find out in this series.

Since I became a Christian in 1972 I have searched the scriptures diligently for what they are saying to the followers of Christ, as well as reading what God has shown others about His Word.  As I delved into hundreds of books, listened to hundreds of teaching tapes, and belonged to a local church with the opinions of that denomination, it didn't take long before I was confused, due to conflicting information; especially regarding the return of Jesus Christ.  

I am sure my endless questions annoyed many people, but I can't just swallow a doctrine that appears to conflict with the Bible.  I realized how little the Church, as a whole, and myself knew about Biblical history, so that is where I began.  My, my, my what an eyeopener this 45-year research project has been.  Of course, what I found out is not popular with those who embrace the modern viewpoint of eschatology.  After this extensive research, I now embrace the historical viewpoint of eschatology, which is what I have provided to the readers of this blog.

When my prayer-partner died in 2005, I felt so alone in my research, since she was the only person I knew that had the same questions I did regarding the modern viewpoint on eschatology.  She was an avid reader of the scriptures and could not reconcile the two.  I promised her I wouldn't give up on someday having a venue to share the historical viewpoint on eschatology, so that people at least are given a choice -- modern or historical viewpoint.  Since that promise to her, the Lord has shown me how to blog this study for five years, and recently a publisher reached out to me to publish my manuscript.  I am very grateful.

I realized very early that the book of Revelation was full of symbolism:  enigmas, metaphors, riddles, and esoteric imagery.  I knew if I could just define the symbolism the message locked inside would be unveiled so that we could understand what the Lord was saying to His Church.  Having this information doesn't change God's plans in any way, but having this information helps us to be fully ready to receive Him at His return and not be ashamed.

Researching Church history also opened my eyes to how many of the visions pertain to governments, both religious and secular, but mostly addresses men's worship of Paganism in all past centuries, right up to and including the 21st century.  The Revelation has been in the process of being fulfilled throughout the Christian era.  Jesus said that prophecy is understood in it fulfillment so that we will believe, and that He is the one who prophesied the events.

I know that the modern viewpoint says that the events of Revelation will all take place sometime in the future, and nearly all at one time.  But is that what historians have recorded?  I found that historians have provided the names, dates and places where most of the visions have already been fulfilled, and by whom, which I have carefully delineated in my blog.  Martin Luther was very clear through his drawings about Revelation that he placed in his Bible in 1522 --  he saw the fulfillment of Revelation 13 & 17, and the events of 18 beginning to be fulfilled.  Wonder why we ignore history?

When we were last together we were studying chapter 20 of Revelation.  We have found out that this chapter covers the whole Christian era, from the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the Great White Throne judgment.  Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from this prison...Rev. 20:7.  What does this mean?

The last human being on the earth to accept Jesus Christ as Savior will be the last human to become born again...John 3:3.  At this time the thousand year reign of Christ on the earth will be fulfilled.  Satan has been bound - limited in his power & authority - during this same period of time. 

Satan is loosed from being bound, limited, in power and authority and is furious about the restrictions that God placed on him for 2,000 years, so he...will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog & Magog, to gather them together to battle whose number is as the sand of the sea...they went up the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city...and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them...Rev. 20:8-9.  

This reference describes the great spiritual battle between Satan and God called Armageddon.  The name Armageddon is pronounced the same in the Greek, Hebrew and English language.  It symbolizes the final face-to-face battle between Satan and God.  How do we know?  When we define the word we will understand the event.

What is the definition of Armageddon, Gog & Magog?  Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~

  

Satan Bound 1000 Years Series #7 - Part 188 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

Blessed is he who has part in the first resurrection...over such the second death has no power...Rev. 20:6.  What is the second death?  In this series we have clearly laid out what the scriptures reveal about the first resurrection.  Jesus Christ rose from the dead -- this is the first resurrection.  He provided the path for mankind to be reconciled to their Father in Heaven.  If a human being repents of his sins and accepts Jesus Christ as his Savior, he is born again, and begins to reign with Christ on the earth.  This is his first resurrection.

In order to understand the second death we should find out when the first death occurred.  When Adam & Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden and ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil, death occurred.  This is the first death.  The Apostle Paul explains...just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned...Rom. 5:12

At the moment Adam & Eve sinned, the Kingdom of Heaven was removed from the earth and Satan became god of this world.  What are the consequences of the first death?  Eternal death - separation from God - forever is the consequence.  Paul told us...the wages of sin is death...Rom. 6:23.  But...the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.   Jesus Christ paid the price of death for the sins of all mankind so they can have eternal life with Him.  There is one very important detail in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ!  What is that detail?

Some denominations teach that Christ died for the sins of all mankind, so all are saved and have the right to enter Heaven when they die - nothing more is required.  The devil always gives a little truth in order to lure us into his kingdom.

Jesus told Nicodemus, a Pharisee...most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God...John 3:3.  While Jesus Christ did pay the price of death for the sins of all mankind, each individual must repent of his sins to the Father in Heaven and accept His free gift of salvation.   Paul explains...if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new...II Cor. 5:17.  In order to be "in Christ" one must be born again of the Spirit of Christ.  We are given the choice to accept God's free gift of salvation or reject it.

The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them...and they were judged, each according to his works...then Death & Hades were cast into the lake of fire...this is the second death...Rev. 20:13-14.  In the last blog, we explained that the rest of the dead were people who rejected God and His laws while they lived on the earth, and are residing in Hades until the fiery end of the world, where all human beings will appear at the Great White Throne judgment.

Do you remember the letters that Jesus wrote to the seven churches, one was to the church at Smyrna?  He told them...do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer...indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days...be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life...he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches...he who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death...Rev. 2:10-11.

It is important to know that our faith will be tested for its genuineness, when God allows the devil to send trials and tribulations into our lives.  Why would God do this?  The Apostle Peter answers this question.  He said...since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin...I Pet. 4:1.  Sin separates us from Christ, yet suffering in the flesh causes us to call upon Him for help, thereby relying on Him for all things. No prideful beings will ever be allowed in Heaven again.  If we overcome, we will not be hurt by the second death.

After the judgment at the Great White Throne...Death & Hades were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.  People residing in Hades experienced the first death when they were born into the world.  Jesus offered the only way to avoid the second death.  Since they rejected Him and His free gift of salvation, when they died and left the earth the penalty for their first death had not been paid.  The consequence of their folly is the second death.  

It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment...Heb.9:27.  Mankind must accept Jesus Christ or reject Him while they live on the earth.  There is no further chance to make this decision once they die and leave the earthy realm.  If they deny Jesus Christ while they live on the earth they will suffer the judgment of the second death.  

We have learned in this series that Satan Bound 1000 Years began the moment that Jesus was resurrected and began His 1000 Year Reign on the earth.  It was at this time Satan lost his dominion over the earth, mankind and death.  The angel cast Satan...into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished...but after these things he must be released for a little while...Rev. 20:3.

We have already defined the symbolism in this reference with the exception of the last sentence.  What does it mean...after these things he must be released for a little while?  Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~

Satan Bound 1000 Years Series #6 - Part 187 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

Chapter 20 of Revelation describes the whole Christian era, beginning with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and Satan bound 1000 years - simultaneous events.  The moment Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, the Kingdom of Heaven was offered to mankind on the earth, where they could begin to reign with Christ a thousand years.  At this same moment Satan was bound a thousand years.  The word thousand means an indefinite period of time.

The previous blogs of this series have already addressed the reward of the martyred saints once they leave the world of trials and tribulations in verse 4.  But the rest of the dead did not live until the thousand years were finished...verse 5.  Who are the rest of the dead?  If they are not in Heaven, where are they?

To answer these questions we will look to the explanation given by Jesus Christ in Luke 16:19-31.  In this illustration Jesus told His followers about a certain rich man who had lived sumptuously his whole life on the earth, then he died.  Next Jesus described the life of a beggar, Lazarus, who had fared poorly his whole life on the earth, and he died.  Both were found in Sheol - region of departed spirits - at the same time.

Jesus explained that when Lazarus died he was carried to Abraham's Bosom to be comforted until the time of the resurrection.  In Sheol there is a great gulf fixed between the departed spirits who followed God, and those who rejected Him when they lived on the earth.  But they could see each other.  The rich man, who was being tormented in Hades could see Lazarus in Abraham's Bosom being comforted and tenderly cared for.  He cried out...Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame.

Father Abraham answered...Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted and you are tormented, besides all this, between us and you is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us. 

Before the resurrection of Jesus Christ this is where departed spirits resided.  When Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, Heaven was opened to the followers of God.  It had been closed since Adam & Even sinned.  All the residents of Abraham's Bosom were transferred to Heaven when Jesus was resurrected from the dead, when He presented to His Father the firstfruits of His resurrection...Rev. 14:1-3.

But the departed spirits residing in Hades are still there, including the rich man of this illustration. Sadly, this place is filling up and enlarging.  How do I know?  The Prophet Isaiah told us when he said...Therefore Sheol has enlarged itself and opened its mouth beyond measure...their glory and their multitude and their pomp, and he who is jubilant, shall descend into it...people shall be brought down, each man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled...5:14-15.

This explains where the rest of the dead are residing until the thousand year reign of Christ on the earth is fulfilled.  Only God knows who will be the last human being on the earth to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior.  We do know, at that moment, the reign of Christ prophecy will be fulfilled.  There will be no human being left on the earth that desires to have Jesus Christ reign in his life.  Then it will be time for Jesus to return for His people.  What happens when He returns.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up...II Peter 3:10.  The moment Jesus returns for His people, they will be caught up from the earth to greet Him, then the earth and everything men held dear on the earth will burn up.  The earth is not left another thousand years -- it burns up the day Jesus returns.  What happens to the people Jesus gathered to Himself?  

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away...and there was found no place for them...and I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened...and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life...and the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books...the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them...and they were judged, each according to his works...Rev. 20:11-13.

The rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years was finished...Rev. 20:5.  It is obvious in the reference above that the thousand year reign of Christ prophecy has been fulfilled.  Why is it obvious?  The last verse says that Death & Hades delivered up the dead who were in them - and all their works were judged by Jesus Christ, at the Great White Throne of judgment.

Blessed is he who has part in the first resurrection...over such the second death has no power...Rev. 20:6.  What is the second death?  Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~











 

Satan Bound 1000 Years Series #5 - Part 186 of Riddles. Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

Long ago Lucifer, the anointed cherub who covers, decided he was powerful enough to exalt his throne above the stars of God.  He stated...I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High...Is. 14:14.  His rebellion, along with a third of the angels, caused him to be cast from the presence of God - Hell was created for the devil and his angels - the bottomless pit. After his rebellion God gave him the title of Satan, which means adversary/accuser. But he still had access to parts of Heaven.  How do I know?

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them...,and the Lord said to Satan...from where do you come? So, Satan answered the Lord and said...from going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it...Job 1:6-7.  Satan barged in on a time of fellowship between God & His celestial beings in the heavenly realm, yet his new realm to roam was the earth.  When did Satan's access to Heaven end?

Then I saw an angel coming down from Heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand...he laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years...Rev. 20:1-2.  When did this take place?

Jesus told His disciples when this would take place when He told them...I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven...Luke 10:18.  Jesus knew that the moment He was resurrected from the dead, Satan would be permanently cast from Heaven to the earth - as fast as lightning!  Jesus destroyed him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.  At the moment of His resurrection, the power and authority of Satan was bound...Heb. 2:14-15.  At this same time the reign of Christ on the earth began.

After the angel from Heaven with the key to the bottomless pit, bound Satan with a chain, he...cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished...but after these things he must be released for a little while...Rev. 20:3.  There is a lot to unpack from this prophecy before this riddle is solved, but it will be solved by defining the symbolism.

Now that Satan was permanently cast out of Heaven he could finally be shut up in the bottomless pit.  The term shut up symbolizes the enforcement of Satan's sentence.  Hell was created for the devil & his angels.  We know this reference does not depict the end of the world, because Satan's final abode will be the Lake of Fire. 

The word seal in the original Greek language is sphragizo meaning:  stamp as if with a signet ring, an irrevocable decree by a monarch.  The seal that was placed on Satan symbolizes a decree - guarantee by God - that he will face a final judgment and punishment, as soon as the thousand year reign of Christ on the earth is fulfilled.  This seal tells us that what God has decreed against Satan is immutable and irreversible.

It is interesting to note that this same Greek word for seal is used by the Apostle Paul.  In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of His glory...Eph. 1:13-14.

Paul is explaining to believers they have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who guarantees to them their full inheritance when they arrive in Heaven.  So the word seal symbolizes a guarantee from God, that what He promised will come to pass.  The seal that was placed on Satan also symbolizes God's guarantee that the final destination He has promised him, will come to pass.

What does our reference mean...he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished...Rev. 20:3?  The word deceive means:  roam from the truth; imposter; seducer.  The implication is that Satan would no longer be allowed to stray from the truth regarding his power over death.  For centuries he had been legally able to strut his stuff - deceive - as god of this world from the moment he cheated Adam & Eve out of their dominion in the earth.  He had in his hands the power of death.  But Jesus dethroned him, excising the power of death out of his hands.  The power of Satan was bound!

You see, we can only be deceived if the truth has been perverted or withheld.  The truth about Satan has been clearly defined in the New Testament.  So man cannot say he has been deceived, as was Eve, because the truth is out!  If excerpts from the Bible regarding Satan were printed in your local newspaper it would read as follows: 

NEWS FLASH   ---   Satan has been defeated by the blood of Jesus Christ!  He no longer has dominion over mankind!  He no longer has power over death!  The printed Word of God, the Bible, reveals the whole truth regarding Satan.  Deception is a moot point!  

And you wonder why the Bible has been burned, mocked and cursed throughout the centuries, more than any other book in history?  Satan is bound until the reign of Christ a thousand years on the earth ends.  When does it end?  It will end the moment the last human on the earth, that wants to accept Christ as his Savior, does so.  The reign with Christ a thousand years prophecy will then be fulfilled.  Then the Lord can return for His kids.

What does our reference mean...but after these things he must be released for a little while...Rev. 20:3?   Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~