A Dialog of Why and Where was God.

The tragic events of the past weeks are underscored by either the silence emulating from the household of faith or the sound of the pious prelates and others politicizing the events and demanding more laws.  Paul, speaking to the Romans addressed the issue eloquently.  "...For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh." (Romans 8:3)   Once the hate generated rhetoric, the publicity campaigns funded by those with ulterior motives and remains of those who perished are laid to rest the only true change will be the intensification of hate. 

Whether it is a child committing suicide, a school shooting or a terrorist bombing, the common denominator in all of these acts is hate.   With all of the laws put in place to curb and control hate, our children worldwide have become the victim of a hate culture.  There is a type of sadness, a dark cloud that has overshadowed us as the realization set in, we have strayed too far from our core, we have polluted our religion, and defied the Laws of God.  Have we passed the point of no return?  Are the prophecies are being fulfilled and there are no laws that can help us?   Consider the laws put in place to protect us from prostitution, gambling, and drugs.  How do we measure the success of these laws, money spent, lives or families destroyed, God forbid, can we not see the error of our ways? 

In the course of human events when beset by trouble and situations that we simply do not understand, we often turn to God and ask "WHY".   In the passing of our love-ones, in the midst of our trials and tribulations, many of us find consolation in accepting the ideology that God saw the situation and had a better plan.   Based upon the indoctrination of God's love this may suffice for some, but it does little to appease the heart of the mother or father whose loved one was killed in a horrific accident or senseless shooting.   Even death in its most subtle form can be heartbreaking and will cause those that are suffering to question God.

My contention is asking questions are the foundation of learning therefore through this article I will ask a series of question. (rhetorical or otherwise but they are important.)   Why is it more comforting to accept that God saw our loved ones suffering and called them home?  Is death God's way of calling his children home or is death just a process ordained by God?  Does God give us a certain number, or are there other elements that determine the length of our stay here on earth?  Does asking God why allow us to place the blame on God rather than humanity?  In Solomon search for answers he surmised life as such: "I returned and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." (Ecclesiastes 9:11)  Jesus said, "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:45)

   

"Where was God?"  This is one of the first questions to emerge whenever there is a church shooting, school shooting, terrorist bombing or even a natural disaster.  On those days when the sun is shining brightly in our lives, placated by the thought that God loves us and is working in the background to make everything come out all right, even while we are asleep, allows some of us to become at ease.  The acceptance of whatever happens in this life is God's will can reaffirm our faith or it can become a destructive force.  This force has shattered the faith of many.  Those that are basking the sunshine of favors often have a hard time grasping the depth and reality of this question.  After a horrific shooting, In an attempt to console the pious proclaim God's will must be done.  Hearing those words an emerging voice proclaim, "if this is how your God work then I don't want no part of him."

The questions of "Where was God", or "Why" is never really answered.  They are the elephants in the room, overlooked and buried under the guise that we are not to question God.  The basic reason being is that much of modern day Christianity ideology is based on a type of confusion that permeates a feel-good relationship thru the shaping of the scriptures.  Everything about modern day Christianity is shaped and scripted to make you feel good.  The church has become the new entertainment center where we come to get our praise on, collect blessing and be entertained.   Our prayers have become a scripted dialog used for the edification of self and those that hear us, as we demand God to act.  Too often our prayers go unanswered are forgotten.  But, we cannot say that because our indoctrination tells us that God hears and answer all prayers.     

Did God promise to do all of the things we claim he promised?  Is God directing the affairs of man?  We as a worker in the vineyard should take these questions seriously.  If you ask any follower of Christ these question the answer will be I know God is a deliverer, because he delivered me or I know God is a healer because he healed me.  However, is this assessment a true indication of God power or is this just a feel-good response.  More and more people are becoming unimpressed with the unsubstantiated claims of what God is doing for us.   Looking to God for deliverance seems to be the modus-operand of the Christian journey, but a search of the New Testament fails to validate this point. 

In times of distress, we pray for God to make our enemies our footstool. Did God really promise to make our enemies our footstool?  There is no clear reading of the scripture to validate that point.  "And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Luke 20:42-43) This statement could reference David or even Jesus Christ but I doubt if it was to all of us here on this earth.

How often have we heard how God protects his children, but is this the truth according to the scriptural?   True God delivered Daniel from the mouth of the Lions, but John, the forerunner of Christ, lingered in jail until beheaded at the King's request.  God fought numerous battles to save the Children of Israel, but he dispatched no angels to save his son or the apostle's life.   In Revelation John recorded Jesus as standing by waiting for more of the saints to be beheaded.  It would seem as if after the birth of Christ, persecution, and death became a part of the road to salvation.

"And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." (Revelation 6:10-11) 

 "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." (Revelation 20:4)

While undergoing Cancer treatment I cried out to God to heal me.  Once the surgery and radiation were successful I was encouraged to testify how God had healed me.  Regardless of what they told me, in the midst of my pain, in the midst of my suffering God was silent.   When I close my eyes and slipped into a drug-induced coma, in my mind's eye I saw the Christ sitting at the head of my bead, but he was silent.  My lesson in faith through all of my suffering was to understand the silence of God.

When a young man entered a church and shot many of the worshippers the religious world was stunned.  Many would have believed that God would have stepped in and prevented such atrocious act from happening.  God command and his command was for the young man not to do the deed, but freewill which was entrusted to humanity allows us to do as we choose.  In the Garden of Eden, God commanded Adam, but Adam chose to sin.  It is never a question of what God can or cannot do, the focus should be placed on how God works.  Through Adam and Eve's ordeal with the Devil, God was silent.

  

We place a too greater burden on God and our leaders when we expect them to act in our behalves and protect us from ourselves.  We are also guilty of trivializing God and his work when we proclaim that everything that happens in the world today is God's will.   We belittle ourselves when we blame our leaders.  If my heart is corrupt and filled with enough hate that my desire is to commit murder, most likely I will succeed.  To say that it was God's will is sacrilegious.  Hate is the underlining cause of all of the atrocities taking place.   When hate is exposed to the light of day it grows. 

The point that I am advancing is that based on a mixing of the Old and New Testament we have a God who is removing obstacles, making our path straight, and pouring out material blessings upon us.   What we are refusing to accept is that we are dealing with a God who went silent after he divorced his chosen people.  After four hundred years the next time he spoke was in anger when he told Peter, James, and John, "This is my beloved son, hear him."  They killed the son and he returned to his father as a supernatural being, who sent his spirit to guide and comfort us.

   

Where was God?  While calling upon God, Stephen was stoned to death. (Acts 7:54-60)  There is nothing in the elucidations of Acts that leads one to believe that God did anything to prevent the so-call religious leaders from killing Stephen.  Throughout the ordeal of Stephen, God was silent.  "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God," (Acts 7:55) Where was God? According to the Book of Revelation God is sitting on his throne preparing to pour out his wrath, restrained only by the intercession of Christ.   Revelation 7

Part #5, The End of Days

The presentation of numerous ideologies concerning the End of Days by inept and self-proclaimed ministers leave many of us in a discombobulated state as the vast number of churches and denominations vie for the covenant position as the bride of Christ.  Since the early days of the beginning, everything regarding Christianity and the church has undergone changes.  Many of these changes have to do with the interpretation and re-interpretation of the basic word of God.  While making these changes we are quick to proclaim that God never changes. 

There are those who wish to amass a following or make an impression will resort to using a radical interpretation that appeases a class or ethnic group.  Many of us go to church looking for a supernatural blessing from God in the form of an earthly reward.  Therefore, much of what goes on in churches or in the name of Christianity is unrelated to salvation, it is about getting stuff from God.  Jesus said, "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (Matthew 24:4-5)  Church members are compelled to support a hierarchy steeped in financial, emotional and entertainment values but lacking in spiritual significance.  The deception is based on shaped and twisted scriptures.

Clearly seen in Revelation is the progression of the church into an apostate state, it is detailed in letters sent to seven representative churches.  If we are living in the seventh church age or if the seventh letter is applicable to us today, then the end of days is surely upon us.

Growing up in the Pentecostal church, testimony service was an important part of worship.  The testimony of the saints usually ended with a reference to, "living in the last and evil days".  As a child, this message was driven home through Bible study and sermons.  As time past we began to discount the last day's scenario because it seems as if Jesus had forgotten about coming back.   The time element caused the faith of many to grow cold.  "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2^nd Peter 3:8) 

In the "End of Days", both Jesus and Paul stressed that a charismatic leader will come in the name of peace, love, and prosperity.  Even before he mounts the world stage, many will revere him.   He will sway the fringe elements of society with his eloquent speech and his following will be astronomical.  He will form an alliance with religious leaders and stand in the most sacred of places of the nations, the Holy lands, and churches and declare himself to be above the word of God.  This will be done by advocating laws that are contrary to the word of God. 

Paul wrote, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2^nd Thessalonians 2:3-4)  

The world populace and many Christians will be deceived and many will speak in defiance of God.   Jesus wrote:, "When ye, therefore, shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand :)" (Matthew 24:15)  The gate of Hell is open, hate, darkness and confusion follow.

Acts of violence to others or to oneself has become widespread and much of the world populace is reacting with righteous indignation.  When these acts such as bombings, school shootings, suicides or even wars happen, darkness and confusion overshadow us causing us to overlook the root cause which is hate.  Hate is the common denominator.  Whether self-hate or hatred of others we delude our selves into thinking that a law can protect us from this malady.  The effectiveness of laws can be attested through the control of gambling, drugs, prostitution and other vices.  "For what the law could not do, in that, it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:" (Romans 8:3) 

There are numerous markers in the scripture to indicate the End of Days. Humanity, with its access to such a vast amount of knowledge, can remove God from the equation and find a way to explain the accruing events.  The most profound indicator is God's chosen people and the Holy Land, but numerous groups and churches are making false claims to the blessing of Abraham.

Some of the signs of the time offered by Jesus can be found in the New Testament and validated by Old Testament prophecies.  "And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death." (Matthew 10:21) 

"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in diver's places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows." (Mark 13:8)  Earthquakes are taking place in such place that was not known for earthquakes.  The earth is groaning.

In Matthew 24:2, Jesus told the disciples after they commented about the beauty of the Temple, that not one stone would be left upon another. The Romans under Titus fulfilled this in A.D. 70.  Later Jesus refers to the end of days, when the Third Temple would be defiled, causing the abomination of desolation.   14“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the entire world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand)." (Matthew 24:14-15)

The abomination of desolation is referred to three times in the book of Daniel, (Daniel 9:27, 11; 31, 12:11). Each mention refers to the defiling of the Temple. Paul also notes the need for a Third Temple and the role the Temple will play.  The man of sin will enter the Temple and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped.  This is also consistent with the words of Jesus and Daniel about the role this Temple will play.

Chastisement usually follows when I mention the rebuilding of the Temple.  The pious prelates are quick to explain why we do not need another Jewish Temple, but the Temple, Jerusalem, the Jews, the Gentiles and the church all pay an important role in the end of days.  

Hosea also foretells the long absence of a Temple and Israel’s gathering. The many days refers to our own day.  The only other time, since Hosea day there was no Temple was for the 70-year period, between 586 B.C. and 516 B.C. Seventy years does not qualify as a long absence when the only other time is over 1900 years. 

When the charismatic leader of the United States and the Pope turned their backs on Isreal and supported its enemies, the same as The British Empire did on November 2, 1917, it signaled the corruption and downfall of a World Superpower.  The British Empire, the superpower of its epoch, made promises that could have given Isreal permanent legitimacy. Instead, England betrayed the Zionist movement and reneged on its recognition of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. We can learn many lessons today from this perfidy. It is doubtful whether America's leaders of today can rectify this perfidy, Revelation 13:1 seems to be unfolding.  A new nation, a sinful nation (The Beast) is being born out of the Sea (confusion).

There are those that believe the End of Days started sometime this century, most likely around the year 1947 AD when Israel became a nation.  During that time three end-time prophecies were said to be fulfilled. The first is found in Jeremiah 16. It is mind-boggling. Read it carefully:

14) “Therefore behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’

15) but, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries where He had banished them.’ For I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers.”

This same prophecy is repeated verbatim in Jeremiah 16, Jeremiah 23:7-8.

The second prophecy I want to bring to your attention is found in Isaiah 11:

10) Then in that day, the nations will resort to the root of Jesse, who will stand as a signal for the peoples…

11) Then it will happen on that day that the Lord will again recover the second time with His hand the remnant of His people, who will remain, from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

"For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather ALL NATIONS, and will bring them down into the `Valley of Jehoshaphat,' and will plead with them there for MY PEOPLE and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the Nations, and parted my land." Joel 3:1-2.

This prophecy clearly states that there is to be a "Judgment of Nations" on the earth in the "Valley of Jehoshaphat" at the time of the final and complete restoration of the Jews to their own land, and that the basis of judgment is the treatment by the nations of Christ's brethren-- The Jews.

Part #4, The Rapture

The Rapture is another eschatological term used by certain Christians, particularly within branches of American Evangelicalism, to depict or describe an end time event when all elect Christian believers, living and the resurrected dead, will rise into the sky and join Christ in Heaven.  This can be a hotly debated subject in bible study sessions where we are more concern about the present rather than the future.  The point of contention seems to be the use of the translated word "Rapture". 

John Darby supposedly invented the rapture doctrine in 1830, but there is a problem with this assessment seemly how the scripture predicts this event.  “For the Lord, Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1^st Thessalonians 4:16–17).  Either we can allow these verses to stand or we can explain them away.

In Matthew 25:1-10, Jesus give us, an account of the coming of the bridegroom to claim his bride, which is the church and this scenario, illustrates a type of rapture or being "caught up".  It was not a call to the general populace; it was a call to a selected few.  There were those that were ready and there were those who were not ready. "And while they went to buy, (or get ready) the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut." (Matthew 25:10)  Now we need to remember that a marriage ceremony is a transforming event, "we become as one". Those that went in with him were transformed into Holy angels, given crown and ruled with him in Heaven for a thousand years.

Belief in the rapture tends to debunk the dying and going straight to heaven ideology that has become prevalent.  Lack of belief allows us to shape the scripture. In today's society, our loved ones are usually in Heaven looking down on us long before the casket is in the ground.  Even rock stars are called home early because they are needed to sing in the heavenly choir. 

Matthew 25:31 begins with Christ returning with his Holy angels to establish his kingdom on earth.  "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:" A detailed study of this event can be found in "The Five Judgments Part #4." Where is the throne of Glory?  There are different thrones mention in the Holy Scripture.  The Throne of Glory which is on Earth is the key to understanding this verse, it must not be confused with The Great White Throne which is in Heaven. 

Some adherents believe this event is predicted and described in Paul's First Epistle to the Thessalonians in the Bible, where he uses the Greek "harpazo" (ἁρπάζω), meaning to snatch away or seize. Though it has been used differently in the past, the term is now used by certain believers to distinguish this particular event from the "Second Coming" of Jesus Christ to Earth mentioned in Second Thessalonians, Gospel of Matthew, First Corinthians, and Revelation.  In the second coming of Christ, he returns with his Holy angels.  The rapture is usually viewed as preceding the Second Coming and followed by a thousand year millennial kingdom.  The error in this thesis occurs when we place the millennial kingdom here on earth before the tribulation.

Adherents of this perspective are sometimes referred to as premillennialist dispensationalists, but amongst them, there are differing viewpoints about the exact timing of the purported event.  The reason for the lack of a Consensus is the desire to protect the church and its mission.  If the church is still here on earth then 1^st Thessalonians 4:16-17 has not been fulfilled, thus the event is still in the future.   If this event is in the future then the fulfillment of the prophecies of Revelation also must be in the future. Thus the church, a divided body, all 30,000 different denominations is still a functioning entity.

The rapture of the church is the event in which God “snatches away” all believers from the earth in order to make way for His righteous judgment or wrath to be poured out on the earth during the tribulation period. The rapture is described primarily in 1^st Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1^st Corinthians 15:50–54. God will resurrect all believers who have died, give them glorified bodies, and take them from the earth, along with all living believers, who will also be given glorified bodies at that time.  This will be the beginning of the tribulation.  Salvation will still be available for those who live during the tribulation and wish to live forever and be ruled by Christ.  Remember the huge number John saw that no man could number coming out of the tribulation.

The verse that set the timing of this and other controversial events is often overlooked because it places the modern day church with its grand edifices and rock-star preachers in an untenable position.  In Revelation 1-3, after the church had digressed into a state of apostasy and suffered the indictment of Jesus, John vision, and the church ceased to exist on earth.  "After this, I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne." (Revelation 4:1)

"And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived." (Revelation 18:23)

"And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife." (Revelation 21:9)

The events outlined in Revelation 20 is not a new or continuation of the prophecy, it is a recap of all of the events that are set to take place at the end-time and in the order that they are to set to happen.  Some believe this event took place before the church become polluted and divided, other believe the last days started sometime this century, most likely in 1947 AD when Israel became a nation and the Jews returned to their homeland, (Jeremiah 16, Jeremiah 23:7-8).  Whether this is true or not the tribulation began with Satan being bound for a thousand years.  (Revelation 20:1-2).  During the tribulation, the church is safe in heaven ruling with Christ (Revelation 20:4).   The binding of Satan is to give humanity a chance to mend its ways and turn to the one true God, but the antichrist spirit has infected the hearts of humanity and initiated a war against the Holy Spirit.  The time of the Gentiles is upon us.  "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison," (Revelation 20:7), and all of the forces of darkness will be unleashed for a short period, then there will be judgment.    

 The account of this judgment is in Revelation 20:11-15. It will take place at the close of the Millennium and before the "Great White Throne." The "Great White Throne" will not be on the earth, for the "Great White Throne Judgment" will take place during the renovation of the earth by fire.  The "renovation" of this Earth is reserved or kept until the time of that judgment, which Peter calls "The Day of Judgment and Perdition of Ungodly Men" (2^nd Peter 3:7), because the judgment of the "Great White Throne" is the judgment of the wicked dead.

 All the Righteous dead will arise at the First Resurrection. If any Righteous die between the First Resurrection and the Resurrection of the "wicked" or Second Resurrection, they will rise with the wicked dead at that Resurrection and become a part of that great number seen by John.   The words-- "Whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life" (vs. 15) imply that there will be "some," righteous at the second resurrection.

 At the close of the Millennium and just before the renovation of the earth by fire, the living Righteous will be translated to a place of safety like in the days of Noah and the living Wicked or Ungodly will be destroyed in the flames that will consume the earth's atmosphere and an exterior surface.  

This entire thesis has been leading up to a rhetorical question.  Have you ever considered the possibility that the rapture has already taken place and we are enduring the tribulation?  Numerous ancient societies or civilizations seem to have vanished, leaving behind only relics of their existence.    Science attempt to explain these events is nothing but speculations and conjectures.  The dark cloud that overshadowed the ancient cities of Africa, Egypt and even North America poses many unanswered questions.  In America, names such as "Maya", "Aztec" and "Inca" immediately come to mind.  In the Bible, it began with the Tower of Babel, a dispersal implemented by God that left behind the remains of a lost civilization.    Is there something that connects these sites - a hidden key that will disclose the riddles of our past?   Did God call his children home leaving those left behind to wander in darkness?

Continues in Part #5

The End Of Days

Part #3 Armageddon

Since my early childhood days, the battle of Armageddon has always filled me with a sense of dread.   The scary end of times scenario explained to me in such a manner that caused fear to overcome me. Much of my fear was because of the lack of understanding of this Bible prophecy by those who sought to use it as a whip to scare church members into compliance.   The shaped truth can be an effective tool when seeking to intimidate and influence the mind of Christian worshippers.  We must remember when it comes to rightly dividing the word of truth; there is the truth, the myth, and the big lie.

The ancient Kings James Bibles often showed pictures of angels and humans engaged in bloody battles.  Supernatural beings against mortal man did not depict a level playing field.  These biblical pictures often fueled many of my childhood nightmares.  My hope was simple; I did not want to be around when this battle began.  Even making that assessment did little to calm my fear, because not being here would mean that I was dead, the same outcome of that of the battle with the Angels.   The outcome of all scenarios was that irreconcilable unknown.

Just as there are many different denominations in the Christian or Religious community, there are numerous interpretations of the end time prophecies.  As stated earlier in part #1 of this study, one error many Bible students make is to insert the "church" in the place of "nations" or "Jews".  Paul's meaning should be clear, "Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:" (1^st Corinthians 10:32)  In essence whats for the Jews must remain for the Jews, the same as with the church.  Another error is to place all of the events mention in the end time prophecies in our future, rather than acknowledging the possibility of the fulfillment of the prophecies in our lifetime. 

As long as we can keep all of the events of the end-time prophecies in a future realm, we are justifying our inane existence in a feudal attempt to prolong the inevitable.  Bible prophecies set in motion one millennial, not two or three as some propose.  After the millennium then there is an eternity.  There is a timeline and there is a starting point which we can choose to overlook.  Where are we in the timeline set forth in  Revelation?  These questions should be at the forefront of our Bible Study.  Join me as I in a rambling fashion attempt to sort through the conflicting and often self-serving rhetoric with the hope of arriving at a common sense conclusion.

What is Armageddon? In the King James Version, the word is mention only one time.  "And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." (Revelation 16:16)  Who gathered them (who) together?  This event precedes Revelation 16:12.  "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared."  The uptake from this verse is that when the sixth angel poured out his vital the Euphrates River become crossable.  The Euphrates River is a marker used in the Old and New Testaments.  September 26, 2017, The Russian military has built a bridge across the Euphrates River near Deir al-Zor to move troops and vehicles to the other side to support a Syrian army offensive.

According to the Book of Revelation, Armageddon is the prophesied location of a gathering of armies for a battle during the end times, variously interpreted as either a literal or a symbolic location. The term is also used in a generic sense to refer to any end of the world scenario. 

The traditional viewpoint interprets this Bible 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 supposedly based on scripture references regarding divine obliteration of God's enemies.  Are we guilty of creating our own end time scenario? 

"For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather ALL NATIONS, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat,' and will plead with them there for MY PEOPLE and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the Nations, and parted my land." (Joel 3:1-2)  This verse references a point in time when Israel was not counted among the nations, she was a scattered people and the land promised her by God was divided among other nations.  The use of the word plead seems to imply a type of negotiation.  This verse does not depict a war or judgment of the Nations and it should not be merged with Matthew 25:31-32.

The history of the 1948-9 Arab-Israeli war is deeply controversial. Israelis and their supporters have traditionally referred to the conflict as the War of Independence, seeing it as a defensive war to prevent the destruction of the fledgling Jewish state in the face of overwhelming Arab aggression. Many believers have interpreted the victory of the new Jewish state over five Arab armies as a miracle. 

"When the son of man shall come in his glory, and all of the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; and before him he shall gather all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a Shepherd divides his sheep from the goats." (Matthew 25:31-32)  This is the Judgment of the nations and remembers the judgment of the nations is based upon how they treated the brethren. 

The visualization of this verse is clear, but the use of the words holy angels can cause several questions to emerge.  Through Bible study and reading we are told, "The Saints shall judge the world".  We will revisit that question in the timeline set forth in Revelation 20.  Now another question that is emerging is are we looking for the battle of Armageddon to take place or has it already happen.  We shall ask the same question about other end-time events.

At the close of the Great Tribulation, the devil will deceive the entire world into worshipping him.  Some interpretations will say he will come in the form of The Antichrist, but there is no scripture to support the coming of "The" antichrist.  When John made the statement about antichrist, he said antichrist, which was a spirit, was already here.  "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." (1^st John 4:3)  There is the Devil and there is the spirit of the Devil.  There is Christ and there is antichrist. Throughout the tribulation, it is the spirit of antichrist that will cause men to turn away from God. 

The battle of Armageddon taking place at the close of the millennium is not entirely scripturally sound.   This scenario achieved through the twisting of scriptures and combining bible verses that should not be combined to support the myth surrounding Christianity.

Revelation 20 is not a separate prophecy, it encapsulates all of the events that have taken place or set to take place.  It is a recap of all of the events prophesied by John in the order that they are to take place.  For this study, we have divided Revelation 20 into four sections: 

1.     The account, of the binding of Satan for a thousand years, Revelation 20:1-3. 

"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand." (Revelation 20:1).  Most theologians set the time of this event in the future, and is said to be at the close of the millennial.  This is one of those confusing aspects of Christ rulership.  Why would he rule on earth for a thousand years then turn the Devil lose?  

2.     The reign of the saints with Christ at the same time, Revelation 20:4-6.

In these verses, it seems that while the saints are reigning with Christ in Heaven the Devil on Earth is bound.  This is not acceptable to most Christian who proclaim the Devil is loose on earth and is causing destruction.  Also the word of Paul who stated, The Devil is as a roaring Lion walking to and fro upon the earth seeking whom he may devour." 

3.     Of the loosing of Satan and the conflict of the nation, become intense, with Gog and Magog, Revelation 20:7-10.

The evilness on man has flourished and before the final consummation of things, the Devil and the nations are given their last chance. 

4.     Of the Day of Judgment, Revelation 20:11-15

For the above verses and the timeline to hold true, the events must proceed as follows.  First, the devil is bound, Christ comes for his Church, "the Saints", and at the close of the millennial, the devil is released.  Christ comes back with his Holy angles to judge the nations.  

What makes the interpretation of Revelation so complicated is the attempt to include the church in the end-time prophecies.  In John's past, Jesus was seen interacting with the church.  In John present day, Jesus addressed the church and issued an indictment against a Church that had lost it way.   In Chapter 4 John is caught up into Heaven and the prophecy proceeds with John's view from Heaven.  The Church is no longer mention as being on earth. 

Have you ever considered the possibility that we are enduring the tribulation?  Remember the huge number John saw?  He was asked the question, "Who are these?"  "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Revelation 7:14)