The Feast of Trumpets is generally viewed as the Second Coming of Yahusha (Jesus). And I could give you my personal opinion of biblical prophecy. The truth is I hold my future predictions very loosely. I think for me to give you only one side would be to INDOCTRINATE you, rather than show you how to understand Eschatology as a theological study. This article will rather, show you how to gather the information yourself, by giving you the most common beliefs.
“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other”
Matthew 24:29-31
What do the sound of the Trumpet signify? It gathers a solemn assembly unto the LORD It sounds an alarm for battle It announces the coronation of a king It marks the beginning and ending of a sabbath or holy day
Christian Eschatology
A major branch of study within Christian theology, deals with “last things”. Such eschatology – the word derives from two Greek roots meaning “last” (ἔσχατος) and “study” (-λογία) – involves the study of “end things”, whether of the end of an individual life, of the end of the age, of the end of the world, or of the nature of the Kingdom of God. Broadly speaking, Christian eschatology focuses on the ultimate destiny of individual souls and of the entire created order, based primarily upon biblical texts within the Old and New Testaments.
Christian eschatology looks to study and discuss matters such as death and the afterlife, Heaven and Hell, the Second Coming of Jesus, the resurrection of the dead, the rapture, the tribulation, the second exodus, millennialism, the end of the world, the Last Judgment, and the New Heaven and New Earth in the world to come.
Eschatology within early Christianity originated with the public life and preaching of Yahusha. Christian eschatology is an ancient branch of study in Christian theology, informed by Biblical texts such as the Olivet discourse, The Sheep and the Goats, and other discourses of end times by Yahusha, with the doctrine of the Second Coming. And numerous other places in both the Old and New Testaments, the scripture calls on Christians to wait patiently for the Parousia and to study scripture. Christian eschatology is also discussed other Pseudepigrapha, Apocrypha, Dead Sea Scrolls, and wise men whom have left their mark.
The growing modern interest in eschatology is tied to the Christian observance of the Feast of Trumpets. Puritans in the 18th and 19th centuries were particularly interested in a postmillennial hope which surrounded Anglo-Saxon Christian conversion.
Its also important to know the many wolves sent to devour your faith. They are too numerous to even mention.
Christian eschatological views
The following approaches arose from the study of Christianity’s most central eschatological document, the Book of Revelation, but the principles embodied in them can be applied to all prophecy in the Bible. They are by no means mutually exclusive and are often combined to form a more complete and coherent interpretation of prophetic passages. Most interpretations fit into one, or a combination, of these approaches.
Preterism
Preterism is a Christian eschatological view that interprets some (partial preterism) or all (full preterism) prophecies of the Bible as events which have already happened. This school of thought interprets the Book of Daniel as referring to events that happened from the 7th century BC until the first century AD, while seeing the prophecies of Revelation as events that happened in the first century AD.
Historicism
Historicism, a method of interpretation of biblical prophecies, associates symbols with historical persons, nations or events. It can result in a view of progressive and continuous fulfillment of prophecy covering the period from biblical times to the Second Coming. Most Protestant Reformers from the Reformation into the 19th century held historicist views.
Futurism
In Futurism, parallels may be drawn with historical events, but most eschatological prophecies are chiefly referring to events which have not yet been fulfilled, but will take place at the end of the age and the end of the world. Most prophecies will be fulfilled during a time of global chaos known as the Great Tribulation and afterwards.
Idealism
Idealism (also called the spiritual approach, the allegorical approach, the nonliteral approach, and many other names) in Christian eschatology is an interpretation of the Book of Revelation that sees all of the imagery of the book as symbols
Major theological positions
The Major Theological Positions are mostly arguments around the “thousand years” in Revelation 20.
Premillennialism
Premillennialism can be divided into two common categories: Historic Premillennialism and Dispensational Premillennialism.
Historic Premillennialism is usually associated with post-tribulation “rapture” and does not see a strong distinction between ancient Israel and the Church. Dispensational Premillennialism can be associated with any of the three rapture views but is often associated with a pretribulation rapture. Dispensationalism also sees a stronger distinction between ancient Israel and the Church.
Premillennialism usually posits that Christ’s second coming will inaugurate a literal thousand-year earthly kingdom. Christ’s return will coincide with a time of great tribulation. At this time, there will be a resurrection of the people of God who have died, and a rapture of the people of God who are still living, and they will meet Christ at his coming. A thousand years of peace will follow (the millennium), during which Christ will reign and Satan will be imprisoned in the Abyss. Those who hold to this view usually fall into one of the following three categories:
Pretribulation rapture
Pretribulationists believe that the second coming will be in two stages separated by a seven-year period of tribulation. At the beginning of the tribulation, true Christians will rise to meet the Lord in the air (the Rapture). Then follows a seven-year period of suffering in which the Antichrist will conquer the world and persecute those who refuse to worship him. At the end of this period, Christ returns to defeat the Antichrist and establish the age of peace. This position is supported by a scripture which says, “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” [1 Thess 5:9]
Midtribulation rapture
Midtribulationists believe that the Rapture will take place at the halfway point of the seven-year tribulation, i.e. after 3½ years. It coincides with the “abomination of desolation”—a desecration of the temple where the Antichrist puts an end to the Jewish sacrifices, sets up his own image in the temple, and demands that he be worshiped as God. This event begins the second, most intense part of the tribulation.
Some interpreters find support for the “midtrib” position by comparing a passage in Paul’s epistles with the book of Revelation. Paul says, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Cor 15:51–52). Revelation divides the great tribulation into four sets of increasingly catastrophic judgments: the Seven Seals, the Seven Trumpets, the Seven Thunders (Rev 10:1-4) and the Seven Bowls, in that order. If the “last trumpet” of Paul is equated with the last trumpet of Revelation and the revelation of the scroll of the Seven Thunders, the Rapture would be in the middle of the Tribulation. (Not all interpreters agree with this literal interpretation of the chronology of Revelation, however.)
Posttribulation rapture
Posttribulationists hold that Christ will not return until the end of the tribulation. Christians, rather than being raptured at the beginning of the tribulation, or halfway through, will live through it and suffer for their faith during the ascendancy of the Antichrist. Proponents of this position believe that the presence of believers during the tribulation is necessary for a final evangelistic effort during a time when external conditions will combine with the Gospel message to bring great numbers of converts into the Church in time for the beginning of the Millennium.
Postmillennialism
Postmillennialism holds that Jesus Christ establishes his kingdom on earth through his preaching and redemptive work in the first century and that he equips his church with the gospel, empowers her by the Spirit, and charges her with the Great Commission (Matt 28:19) to disciple all nations. Postmillennialism expects that eventually the vast majority of people living will be saved. Increasing gospel success will gradually produce a time in history prior to Christ’s return in which faith, righteousness, peace, and prosperity will prevail in the affairs of men and of nations. After an extensive era of such conditions Jesus Christ will return visibly, bodily, and gloriously, to end history with the general resurrection and the final judgment after which the eternal order follows.
Amillennialism
The amillennial view regards the “thousand years” mentioned in Revelation 20 as a symbolic number, not as a literal description; amillennialists hold that the millennium has already begun and is identical with the current church age. Amillennialism holds that while Christ’s reign during the millennium is spiritual in nature, at the end of the church age, Christ will return in final judgment and establish a permanent reign in the new heaven and new earth.
Death and the afterlife
Hebrew beliefs at the time of Yahusha
There were different schools of thought on the afterlife in pre-christian era, during the first century AD. The Sadducees, who recognized only the Torah (first five books of the Old Testament) as authoritative, did not believe in an afterlife or any resurrection of the dead. The Pharisees, who not only accepted the Torah, but additional scriptures as well, believed in the resurrection of the dead, and it is known to have been a major point of contention between the two groups. The Pharisees based their belief on passages such as Daniel 12:2, which says: “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.”
The Christians believed the Torah and all the Old Testament cannon, but also the documents that would become the basis for the New Testament. They also believed in the resurrection of the dead.
The intermediate state
There are three main theories: 1. The spirit returns to Yahuwah (the Almighty), and they live in the kingdom till the resurrection. 2. The Spirit goes to Sheol and is unconscious until the resurrection (Soul Sleep). 3. The Spirit goes to Sheol but is conscious until the resurrection (Lazarus and the rich man).
The Great Tribulation
There are many passages in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, which speak of a time of terrible tribulation such as has never been known, a time of natural and man-made disasters on an awesome scale. Yahusha said that at the time of his coming,
“There will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever will be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, those days will be shortened.” [Mt 24:21–22]
Furthermore, the
Paul echoes this theme, saying, “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them.”
The end comes at an unexpected time
This fits perfectly with the Feast of Trumpets. The Feast begins on the SIGHTED New Moon of the seventh month. It can be calculated…but “they” have been wrong before. And the Feast is either a day early or a day latter than what was calculated. Its a High Sabbath, so we don’t work on that day.
Messiah’s return and the tribulation that accompanies it will come at a time when people are not expecting it:
But concerning that day, and the hour, no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. Now as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it also be at the coming of the Son of man. For as in the days that were before the Flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark; And they were not aware until the Flood came and took them all away; so shall it also be at the coming of the Son of man.
~Matthew 26:36-39
The abomination of desolation
The abomination of desolation (or desolating sacrilege) is a term found in the Hebrew Bible, in the book of Daniel. The term is used by Yahusha the Christ in the Olivet discourse, according to both the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Mark. In the Matthew account, Yahusha is presented as quoting Daniel explicitly.
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”
Matthew 24:15–26
“But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”
Mark 13:14
This verse in the Olivet Discourse also occurs in the Gospel of Luke.
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains …”
Luke 21.20–21
Many biblical scholars conclude that Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 are prophecies after the event about the siege of Jerusalem in AD 70 by the Roman general Titus.
Preterist Christian commentators believe that Yahusha quoted this prophecy in Mark 13:14 as referring to an event in his “1st century disciples'” immediate future, specifically the pagan Roman forces during the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
Futurist Christians consider the “Abomination of Desolation” prophecy of Daniel mentioned by Yahusha in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 as referring to an event in the end time future, when a 7-year peace treaty will be signed between Israel and a world ruler called “the man of lawlessness”, or the “Antichrist” affirmed by the writings of the Apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians.
Other scholars conclude that the Abomination of Desolation refers to the Crucifixion, an attempt by the emperor Hadrian to erect a statue to Jupiter in the Jewish temple, or an attempt by Caligula to have a statue depicting him as Zeus built in the temple.
The Prophecy of Seventy Weeks
Many interpreters calculate the length of the tribulation at seven years. The key to this understanding is the “seventy weeks prophecy” in the book of Daniel. The Prophecy of Seventy Septets (or literally ‘seventy times seven’) appears in the angel Gabriel’s reply to Daniel, beginning with verse 22 and ending with verse 27 in the ninth chapter of the Book of Daniel, a work included in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The prophecy is part of both the ancient Hebrew account of history and Christian eschatology.
The prophet has a vision of the angel Gabriel, who tells him, “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city (i.e., Israel and Jerusalem).” [Dan 9:24] After making a comparison with events in the history of Israel, many scholars have concluded that each day in the seventy weeks represents a year. The first sixty-nine weeks are interpreted as covering the period until Christ’s first coming, but the last week is thought to represent the years of the tribulation which will come at the end of this age, directly preceding the millennial age of peace:
The people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it will be with a flood, and till the end of the war, desolations are determined. Then he will confirm a covenant with many for one week. But in the middle of the week, he will bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations will be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation which is determined is poured out on the desolate. [Dan 9:26–27]
Let no-one deceive you by any means, for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. [2 Thess 2:3–4]
The one thing the term “Abomination of Desolation” can NOT mean, is the rebuilding of a 3rd Temple in Jerusalem. Jews are not blood related to Jacob, even if they were, they do not have authority to build a temple. They don’t have a ligament High Priest. Jerusalem has been Ichabod since the building of the second Temple. We are under the Melki-Tzadok Priesthood, the Levitical priesthood has been abolished.
Even if the build a building on the Temple Mount, it cant be desecrated, because its not ordained.
The Second Exodus
The children of Israel left Egypt on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and crossed through the Red Sea on the last or seventh day of this feast. This was the first exodus.
The biblical prophets speak of a greater or second exodus to occur in the last days where Yahuwahs’ people who’ve been scattered throughout the nations of the world will be set free from their spiritual, economic and political enslavement in the nations, which are under the control of Babylon the Great.
The Greek word from this term “rapture” is derived from the Latin translation “rapturo”. The Greek word it translates is “harpazo”, which means to ‘snatch’ or ‘carry away’.
Elsewhere it is used to describe how the Spirit caught up Philip near Gaza and brought him to Caesarea.
Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip, and the eunuch did not see him any longer; and he went on his way rejoicing. ~Act 8:39
And to describe Paul’s experience of being caught up into the third heaven.
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago–whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows–such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man–whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows– that he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not permitted for a man to utter. ~2 Corinthians 12:2-4
There is another belief that the ones caught up in the Rapture are the tares, and the righteous are left. This is based on a parable of Yahusha.
Another parable He set before them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man sowing good seed in his field. But while the men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went away. But when the stalk had sprouted and produced fruit, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the master of the house approached and said to him, ‘Sir, was it not good seed you sowed in your field? From where then does it have tares?’ “He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Do you wish then that we should go and gather them up?’ “But he said, ‘No, lest gathering up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Leave both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares, and bind them into bundles to burn them, but gather together the wheat into my barn.”
~Matthew 13:24-30
I mention that because it is gaining popularity in more resent times. The above verse has to be reconciled with the below verse:
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall by no means precede those who are dead. Because the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
~1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
Pretribulation rapture
Pretribulationists believe that the second coming will be in two stages separated by a seven-year period of tribulation. At the beginning of the tribulation, true Christians will rise to meet the Lord in the air (the Rapture). Then follows a seven-year period of suffering in which the Antichrist will conquer the world and persecute those who refuse to worship him. At the end of this period, Christ returns to defeat the Antichrist and establish the age of peace. This position is supported by a scripture which says, “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” [1 Thess 5:9]
Midtribulation rapture
Midtribulationists believe that the Rapture will take place at the halfway point of the seven-year tribulation, i.e. after 3½ years (Daniel 9 “times time and half a time”). It coincides with the “abomination of desolation”—a desecration of the temple where the Antichrist puts an end to the sacrifices in the fake 3rd Temple, sets up his own image in the temple of the fake Jews, and demands that he be worshiped as God. This event begins the second, most intense part of the tribulation.
Some interpreters find support for the “midtrib” position by comparing a passage in Paul’s epistles with the book of Revelation. Paul says, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Cor 15:51–52). Revelation divides the great tribulation into four sets of increasingly catastrophic judgments: the Seven Seals, the Seven Trumpets, the Seven Thunders (Rev 10:1-4) and the Seven Bowls, in that order. If the “last trumpet” of Paul is equated with the last trumpet of Revelation and the revelation of the scroll of the Seven Thunders, the Rapture would be in the middle of the Tribulation. (Not all interpreters agree with this literal interpretation of the chronology of Revelation, however.)
Posttribulation rapture
Posttribulationists hold that Christ will not return until the end of the tribulation. Christians, rather than being raptured at the beginning of the tribulation, or halfway through, will live through it and suffer for their faith during the ascendancy of the Antichrist. Proponents of this position believe that the presence of believers during the tribulation is necessary for a final evangelistic effort during a time when external conditions will combine with the Gospel message to bring great numbers of converts into the Church in time for the beginning of the Millennium.
The Second Coming
‘Maranatha‘ only appears once in scripture and also appears in Didache 10:14. Scholars are unsure of its meaning so most translations leave it in the original Aramaic. Its closest determination is “Our Lord, come!” or “Come, oh Lord”.
Yeshua has been on this planet many times, the burning bush, wrestled with Jacob, with Moses on mount Sinai. He appeared to the apostles in the upper room after he had gone to the Father to be accepted. Maybe it would be more accurate to say His 100th Coming…
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
~Acts 1:9-11
Signs of Christ’s return
A third of the bible is prophecy and half of that hasn’t happened yet. Arguably there are a great many scriptures that describe a future event.
WARS, VIOLENCE, AND LAWLESSNESS
DROUGHT AND FAMINE
EARTHQUAKES AND OTHER NATURAL CATASTROPHES
DISEASE EPIDEMICS
THE RISE OF AN AGGRESSIVE, FUNDAMENTALIST POWER
AN ASCENDANT UNION SEEKS GLOBAL PRIMACY
A POWERFUL RELIGIOUS FIGURE LEADS A RELIGIOUS REVIVAL
A GREAT FALSE RELIGIOUS LEADER
THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD PREACHED TO ALL NATIONS
FAITH AGAIN BECOMES A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH
THE WAR OF ARMAGEDDON
THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
THE GREAT TRIBULATION
THE COLLAPSE OF THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING NATIONS
Jacobs Trouble “For then there will be greattribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved [alive]; but for the elect’s sake [for the sake of God’s people] those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21–22). In the 1950s, it finally became possible to blast all human life off this planet. During the last half-century, we have now multiplied our ability to assure our destruction many times over. Scientists tell us today that we now can erase all human life from this earth at least 20 times over! Christ is describing our time today! No Roman army of Jesus’ day could ever boast of such murderous power. “Now these are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel [whose modern descendants include the United States, Great Britain, and other nations of northwestern Europe] and Judah.… ‘We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask now, and see, whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor, and all faces turned pale? Alas! For that day is great [Jeremiah prophesied under inspiration], so that noneis like it’” (Jeremiah 30:4–7)
HEAVENLY SIGNS AND THE DAY OF THE LORD
THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES
Last Day Counterfeits
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Matthew 24:21, 24
These false Christs will perform great signs and are no ordinary people
For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Revelation 16:14
Satan’s angels will also appear as godly clergymen, and Satan will appear as an angel of light.
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”
2 Corinthians 11:13–15
The Marriage of the Lamb
Let us be glad and rejoice and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Rev 19:7–8
Christ is represented throughout Revelation as “the Lamb”, symbolizing the giving of his life as an atoning sacrifice for the people of the world, just as lambs were sacrificed on the altar for the sins of Israel. His “wife” appears to represent the people of God, for she is dressed in the “righteous acts of the saints”. As the marriage takes place, there is a great celebration in heaven which involves a “great multitude” [Rev 19:6].
Resurrection of the dead
The word resurrection comes from the Latin resurrectus, meaning to rise again. Although the doctrine of the resurrection comes to the forefront in the New Testament, it predates the Christian era. There is an apparent reference to the resurrection in the book of Job.
“I know that my redeemer lives, and that he will stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though… worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I will see God”
Job 19:25–27
The prophet Daniel writes,
“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt”
Daniel 12:2
Isaiah says,
“Your dead will live. Together with my dead body, they will arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust, for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth will cast out the dead”
Isaiah 26:19
This belief was still common among the Christians in New Testament times, as exemplified by the passage which relates the raising of Lazarus from the dead. When Jesus told Lazarus’ sister, Martha, that Lazarus would rise again, she replied, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” [Jn 11:24].
Three resurrections
Of the three resurrections, the first one is the desirable one to strive for. It is represented by Firstfruits (wave sheaf, feast of weeks, Pentecost).
Of the saints at Christ’s return, before the millennial reign of Christ,
Of those who have not had an opportunity for salvation, at the end of the millennium, and
Of people who refuse to repent, shortly before the lake of fire.
Revelation 20 describes three resurrections. The first resurrection will take place at Jesus Christ’s second coming. It will include only the “just,” who will be raised to life and clothed with immortality (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:33).
Blessed and holy is the one who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power. But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Revelation 20:6
The second resurrection takes place at the end of the Millennial reign of Yahusha Christ. Yah will resurrect those who in past ages died in sin and ignorance, having never had a chance for salvation, and in many cases having never heard of Yahusha the Christ or seen a Bible. Others were spiritually blinded, and God will resurrect them in a second resurrection.
The rest of the dead “did not live again until the thousand years were finished”
Revelation 20:5
Scripture speaks of the resurrection of the damned, for the group not dealt with in either of the other two. This third resurrection is a resurrection to the second death, for those resurrected will be cast into the Lake of Fire and burned up, along with Lucifer and the rest of the Fallen Angels, Nephilim, and demons. They will die, not live forever in torment.
Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear His voice and shall come forth–those who have done good, to a resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to a resurrection of condemnation.
John 5:28-29
Then I saw a great white throne and He who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled. And no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened the books. And another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged by the things having been written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to their works. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death, the Lake of Fire. And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire.
Revelation 20:11-15
The resurrection body
The Gospel authors wrote that our resurrection bodies will be different from those we have now. Yahusha said”In the resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels of God in heaven” [Mt 22:30].
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery: we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed, In an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruptibility, and this mortal must put on immortality. Now when this corruptible shall have put on incorruptibility, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1Corrinthians 15:50-58
Armageddon
There are two ways to understand the prophecies of Armageddon, literal and metaphoric.
Then I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet; For they are spirits of demons working miracles, going forth to the kings of the earth, even of the whole world, to gather them together to the battle of that great day of the Almighty God.
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is the one who is watching and is keeping his garments, so that he may not walk naked and they may not see his shame. And he gathered them together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
Revelation 16:13-16
Megiddo is mentioned twelve times in the Old Testament, ten times in reference to the ancient city of Megiddo, and twice with reference to “the plain of Megiddo”, most probably simply meaning “the plain next to the city”. None of these Old Testament passages describes the city of Megiddo as being associated with any particular prophetic beliefs.
The one New Testament reference to the city of Armageddon found in Revelation 16:16, based on the text from the earlier passage of Revelation 16:14, the purpose of the gathering of kings in the “place called Armageddon” is “for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty”.
Because of the seemingly highly symbolic and even cryptic language of this one New Testament passage, some Christian scholars conclude that Mount Armageddon must be an idealized location. There are no mountains of Megiddo, only the Plains.
Scholars argue that the word is derived from the Hebrew moed (מועד), meaning “assembly”. Thus, “Armageddon” would mean “Mountain of Assembly,” which is a reference to the assembly at Mount Sinai, and to its replacement, “Mount Zion.”
The traditional viewpoint interprets this biblical prophecy to be symbolic of the progression of the world toward the “great day of God, the Almighty” in which the great looming mountain of God’s just and holy wrath is poured out against unrepentant sinners, led by Satan, in a literal end-of-the-world final confrontation. Armageddon is the symbolic name given to this event based on scripture references regarding divine obliteration of God’s enemies. The hermeneutical method supports this position by referencing Judges 4 and 5 where God miraculously destroys the enemy of His elect, Israel, at Megiddo, also called the Valley of Josaphat.
The Millennium
Millennialism (from millennium, Latin for “a thousand years”), or chiliasm (from the Greek equivalent), is the belief that a Golden Age or Paradise will occur on Earth prior to the final judgment and future eternal state of the “World to Come”.
He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years and threw him into the pit and locked and sealed it over him, so that he would deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be let out for a little while.
Revelation 20:2–3
The Book of Revelation then describes a series of judges who are seated on thrones, as well as his vision of the souls of those who were beheaded for their testimony in favor of Yahusha and their rejection of the mark of the beast.
[Martyred Christians] came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him a thousand years
Revelation 20:4–6
Thus, Revelation characterizes a millennium where Christ and the Father will rule over a theocracy of the righteous. While there are an abundance of biblical references to such a kingdom of God throughout the Old and New Testaments, this is the only reference in the Bible to such a period lasting one thousand years. The literal belief in a thousand-year reign of Christ is a later development in Christianity, as it does not seem to have been present in first century texts
The End of the World and the Last Judgment
Satan released
According to the Bible, the Millennial age of peace all but closes the history of planet Earth. However, the story is not yet finished:
“When the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.”
Revelation 20:7–8
There is continuing discussion over the identity of Gog and Magog. In the context of the scripture and known history, they seem to equate to the Nephilim of Genesis 6. Where the fallen angels took wives of the daughters of men. They seem to be concentrated at the Vatican with the Pope and the Jewish oligarch elite. The main prophecy is in Ezekiel 38 and a mention in 1 Chronicles 5:4. But they reappear in the book of Revelation 20:8.
Despite this huge show of force, the battle will be short-lived, for Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation all say that this last desperate attempt to destroy the people and the city of God will end in disaster.
I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed. I will rain down on him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him: flooding rain, great hailstones, fire and brimstone.
Ezekiel 38:22
Revelation concurs.
Fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.
Revelation 20:9
It may be that the images of fire raining down are an ancient vision of modern weapons, others would say a supernatural intervention by God, yet others that they refer to events in history, and some would say they are symbolic of larger ideas and should not be interpreted literally.
The Last Judgment
Following the defeat of Gog, the last judgment begins.
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever
Revelation 20:10
Satan will join the Antichrist and the False Prophet, who were condemned to the lake of fire at the beginning of the Millennium.
Following Satan’s consignment to the lake of fire, his followers come up for judgment. This is the “second resurrection”, and all those who were not a part of the first resurrection at the coming of Christ now rise up for judgment.
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 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 one according to his works. And Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire
Revelation 20:11,13-15
John had earlier written,
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power
Revelation 20:6
Those who are included in the Resurrection and the Rapture are excluded from the final judgment, and are not subject to the second death. Due to the description of the seat upon which the Lord sits, this final judgment is often referred to as the Great White Throne Judgment. A decisive factor in the Last Judgement will be a question of obedience to the Law through faith
New Heaven and New Earth
But according to His promise, we look forward to a new heaven and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
2Peter 3:13
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice from heaven say, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men; and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people; and Yahuwah Himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall not be any more death, or sorrow, or crying; neither shall there be any more pain, because the former things have passed away.” And He Who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
Then He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts, I will give freely of the fountain of the water of life. The one who overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.”
Revelation 21:1-8
New Jerusalem
The focus turns to one city in particular, the New Jerusalem. Once again, we see the imagery of the marriage
And one of the seven angels that had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, and I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God.
And her radiance was like a most precious stone, as crystal-clear as jasper stone. And the city also had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and inscribed on the gates were the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. On the east were three gates; on the north were three gates; on the south were three gates; on the west were three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and written on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
And the one who was speaking with me had a golden measuring rod, so that he might measure the city, and its gates and its wall. And the city lies foursquare, for its length is as long as its breadth. And he measured the city with the rod, twelve thousand furlongs; the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured its wall, one hundred and forty-four cubits; the angel’s measure was according to a man’s. And the structure of its wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like pure glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone: the first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each of the gates respectively was a single pearl; and the street of the city was pure gold, as transparent as glass. And I saw no temple in it; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
And the city has no need of the sun, or of the moon, that they should shine in it; because the glory of God enlightens it, and the light of it is the Lamb. And the nations that are saved shall walk in its light; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honor into it. And its gates shall never be shut by day; for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. And nothing that defiles shall ever enter into it, nor shall anyone who practices an abomination or devises a lie; but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelation 21:9-27
The Tree of Life
The city has a river which proceeds “out of the throne of God and of the Lamb” [Rev 22:1]. Next to the river is the tree of life, which bears twelve fruits and yields its fruit every month. The last time we saw the tree of life was in the Garden of Eden [Gen 2:9]. God drove Adam and Eve out from the garden, guarding it with cherubim and a flaming sword, because it gave eternal life to those who ate of it. In the New Jerusalem, the tree of life reappears, and everyone in the city has access to it. Genesis says that the earth was cursed because of Adam’s sin, but the author of John writes that in the New Jerusalem, “there will be no more curse.”
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