Expedition 44

Futurists believe that there is a 7-year tribulation out there to come based on a similar hermeneutic that we found in the Anti-Christ and the temple episodes. This hermeneutic is smashing together passages throughout scripture that are taken out of context.  The main passages they use are Jer 30:7 of Jacob’s trouble, and a future 39th week to Daniel 9’s prophecy of the abomination of desolation connected to Matthew 24:21 and Revelation 7:14.  Join Matt and Doc Ryan as they answer some of these questions!

When we think Apocalyptic Literature we think Daniel and Revelation. Through this series we have been seeking to break down exactly what apocalypse they were referring to. As we have previously mentioned the common majority of people within the western church just assume the bible teaches that in the end times their will be a tribulation, an antichrist, a mark of the beast, and a sudden disappearance type rapture. This doom and gloom type thinking actually isn’t really in the Bible or at least you may have to use quite a bit of imagination to see the scriptures saying something like this. In fact this thinking didn’t even really start until the 1800’s and is largely limited to a western culture. Those who think this way are called escapists or futurists.  As this series has shown, most of the book of Daniel was referring to the eminent destruction of the temple in 70AD and most of the reference that are linked to the book of Revelation also refer to that era. In fact you would be hard to pressed in scripture to find any prophecy in Daniel or revelation about “end times” other than the simple fact that the Messiah is coming back some day and no one knows the time or the hour.

The first beast comes "out of the sea" and is given authority and power by the dragon. This first beast is initially mentioned in Revelation 11:7 as coming out of the abyss. His appearance is described in detail in Revelation 13:1-10, and some of the mystery or connection to Revelation 17:7-18.  The second beast comes "out of the earth" and directs all peoples of the earth to worship the first beast. (The second beast is associated with Revelation 13:11-18 the false prophet) The two beasts are aligned with the dragon in opposition to God. They persecute the "holy ones" and those who do "not worship the image of the beast [of the sea]" and influence the kings of the earth to gather for the battle of Armageddon.[1] The two beasts are defeated by Christ and are thrown into the lake of fire mentioned in Revelation 19:18-20.     The Bible is full of typology, symbolism, and metaphorical content that has deeper and dual meanings based on the descriptions. Like I mentioned in an earlier film in this series when the bible describes the stew Esau was eating it was red stuff… because it was describing a covenant that was founded in scarlet blood.      The Book of Daniel was written during the time of King Antiochus Epiphanes who desecrated the Temple of Jerusalem and forced many Jews to adopt idolatrous customs and to abandon the requirements of their Law. Many resisted and paid for their actions with torture and death.   The Book of Revelation was written in similar circumstances to Daniel. The Church in parts of the Roman Empire was undergoing fierce persecution, likely even starting a literal war because of it. Many were being arrested and martyred while others were driven underground. The end times wording in Daniel fits what happened here!    It is full of symbolical language and imagery, which the Christians could understand in many ways at face value. While the meaning of much of the symbolism and images has been recovered, there are still parts of the book whose meaning we can only guess at. (Thus giving a field day to some evangelical preachers to see in these symbols references to present day events. Most of these speculations are quite unjustified.)    In keeping with Revelation’s main theme—judgment upon Israel for crucifying their Messiah (Rev 1:7)—John presents the Land beast as symbolizing apostate Judaism as concentrated in its religious leadership in its High Priestly aristocracy. He shows the leadership of Judaism functioning as a subordinate to pagan Rome, further demonstrating Israel’s apostasy and the legitimacy of God’s judgment upon her. All of this is in keeping with the trial and crucifixion of Christ under Jewish pressure upon the local Roman authority.   Who are the Beasts? • Sea Beast is Nero but also the persecuting political system of Rome (depicted by the many heads) • The Land Beast is the Religious political hierarchy of Jerusalem • 666 applies to both in that it is the number of Nero’s name and the number of gold that Solomon collected from foreign lands to sell himself to foreign interests forsaking God.   Mark of the Beast • The Mark is symbolic.  • The Mark is about worship and access (buying and selling)- You can only worship 1 master. • The Mark is about who you are allegiant to. If we are justified by faith alone, then why would a mark annul that? That sounds like salvation/damnation by works to me.

Thinking about God’s dominion and Sacred Space  God’s instruction to Adam & Eve as His vice-regents (and ruling priests) was likely to extend the culture of the garden to the ends of the earth. And if the garden was the first temple (a special dwelling place of God among men on the earth), with the first priests Adam & Eve (equality at the beginning and end), and it had a Sabbath (which was a pledge of eschatological rest), then both sacred space and sacred time were present concepts and, at least, potentially co-extensive.   However, the fall took place. Adam failed to extend the garden-temple across the earth. And there became vices between man and woman). In Eden God created many by his hands that were holy ones. Some of these beautiful beings fell or were cast from the stars (the holy place) to an Earth that was in a state of decay and depravity. God cursed the ground. And a spiritual war within the dominions of both earth and the heavens began by which all things would be reconciled. As the Spiritual beings fall and take nations away God invests in his portion Israel by which he will reclaim the nations.   God does this through covenants (as we discussed) with man and wants to live in the midst of his people relationally ruling them through a sphere where the dominions of heaven and earth meet… this is called a temple. God’s people reject him over and over claiming allegiance with other forms of wordly and spiritual entities rejecting the following of God with all that they are and have been given. Judgment comes as a sense of ultimate course correction and eventually a small remnant of the world remains allegiant and in their free will places their full belief in God. The road is narrow. However there is still a plan for this remnant (that spans God’s time and sacred space) to reclaim many more, to bring back the nations.   God’s relational plan comes differently that what many of the remnant hoped for though. God still uses Israel to bring the plan into fruition but it is different than what people were thinking in terms of their earthly sphere thinking. The hope comes in the form of a mediator between God and man – Christ Jesus. He will make a plan for the remnant by setting up mini-temples (sacred space and dominion) in those that believe (allegiant) in  Him throughout the entire earth as valiant light bearers (Matt. 28:19-20), with priest-kings offering up spiritual sacrifices as the nations are regathered working towards a new heaven on Earth… A new Eden (where man and woman will be transformed or recreated back into the sense of the original sacred beings in a new eden.) Then all space and time will be sacred as it once was. There is a transformation that we are asked to be part of regathering the nations for Him as we are sacred temples by which he lives and works through every part of us.   Upon his final return the Sacred spheres and dominions of the final state will be recreated for eternal dwelling in a new Eden.   ______________________________  What does this have to do with Eschatology? Everything!!!

The question we need to ask is whether there is an actual single Anti-Christ figure in the end or is this a system similar to the sea/land beasts in Rev 13 and dan 7.  In General anti christ in early church history simply meant against the following of Christ and his teaching. The non-canonical Ascension of Isaiah presents a detailed exposition of the Antichrist as Belial and Nero.   Where do we get this end time anti-Christ figure from? the Antichrist to dispensationalist is “the king of Babylon” (Isa. 14:4), “Lucifer” (Isa. 14:12 KJV), “the son of destruction” (2 Thess. 2:3), “the prince who is to come” (Dan. 9:26), “the little horn” (Dan. 7:8; 8:9), “the man of lawlessness” (2 Thess. 2:3), “the beast” (Rev. 13), and several other biblical characters all rolled into one.  Anti-Christ  Anti- Christ is actually only mentioned 3 times in the Bible all in the epistles of John.     John’s Antichrist is • anyone “who denies that Jesus is the Christ” (1 John 2:22). • anyone who “denies” the Father and Son (1 John 2:23). • “every spirit that does not confess Jesus” (1 John 4:3).    1.) Jesus emphatically said that his prediction of the false christs (antichrists), would be fulfilled in his generation. 2.) Paul said the man of sin was already at work, and already being restrained. He was already alive. 3.) John said the prophesied and predicted antichrists were present. 4.) John also said that his prophecy of the beast was to be fulfilled shortly, “for the time is at hand.” There is therefore, no justification for saying that “the antichrist is alive somewhere in Europe today” or similar statements and claims. These claims are in outright denial of the inspired scriptures so far as I can determine.  • Anti-Christ is anyone who denies Jesus. It is also a collective spirit and not an individual person.   • We are not looking for an end times anti-Christ • 2 Thes 2:1-8 speaks of current events in the time of Paul and not a future Anti-Christ.

  • Replacement theology (also known as supersessionism) essentially teaches that the church has replaced Israel in God’s plan. Adherents of replacement theology believe the Jews are no longer God’s chosen people, and God does not have specific future plans for the nation of Israel. Among the different views of the relationship between the church and Israel are the church has replaced Israel (replacement theology), the church is an expansion of Israel (covenant theology), or the church is completely different and distinct from Israel (dispensationalism/premillennialism).      The Covenants: • Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 12:1-3; Gen 15:6-7) • Sinai (“Mosaic”) Covenant (Exod. 20-24) • Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7) • The New Covenant  -Several passages in the prophets, but most explicitly in Jeremiah, speak of a new covenant in the messianic age (Isa. 42:6; Isa 49:6-8; Isa 55:3; Isa 59:21; Isa 61:8; Jer. 31:31, 33; Jer 32:40; Jer 50:5; Ezek 16:60, 62; Ezek 34:25; Ezek 37:26).     • Purpose of Israel was to be light bearers,  • The covenants all pointed to the regathering of the nations (the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant) • God’s people will inherit the whole world • God has fulfilled his promises (Abrahamic= Nations being regathered, Mosaic= stopgap until Jesus, Davidic=Jesus as king, New Covenant= inaugurated) • The specialness of Israel was that they were the people that Messiah would come through. God’s plan of redemption for the whole world was through them.   • It is a little silly to think that God is blessing those that are hostile towards Him (Non-Messianic Jews) and even hate the Messiah. NOTE: At 14:35 Reference should be to Jeremiah 3:8  

Matt and Doc Ryan talk about the language and genre of apocalypse in the Bible. 

• Olivet discourse (Matt 24, Mark 13, Luke 21): 70AD • Daniel 9 (70 weeks) • 70 weeks • Dating of Revelation • The Temple in Revelation 11 • Nero and the Beast of Rev 13:16• Sixth King of Rev 17:9-11

We launch into a new series on end times thinking! What does scripture say?

So first I am an exegetical guy. I really don’t like quoting any singular verses. Today I am going to quote some verses that fit in context but I urge you to study each application and their large context and I think you will find they fit this talk really well.  1 Peter 3:15 go prepared  Matthew 24:44 be ready 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be watchful, be strong Matthew 24:42 stay awake  For 2000 years or more Christians have been thinking we are living in the end times. Are we?I don’t know and I am not sure that I care. So first… the word of God says… 2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. So to me nothing has changed my attitude of Joy for the God and his word, my fervency of faith and discipleship. God is alive and working in huge ways to bring hope and joy to all.    What is this? Corona Virus? We have two options. 1. It is judgment from God 2. It is a result of a fallen and mucked up world Lets see what the scriptures say…