The End Times According to Scripture ... Part 1

BIBLICAL PROPHECY

Biblical Prophecy - that is what we are about to study.  But just what does this word mean?  It is quite simply the study of things to come according to scripture. 

TESTING

How are we to approach this study and this presentation?  Well scripture tells us that too.  1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 states: "...Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt.  Test everything.  Hold on to the good.  Avoid every kind of evil."  And again in Acts 17:11: "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day the see if what Paul said was true."  So if the Bereans tested the great apostle Paul, and it was written in scripture that they were "of noble character", it is even more important that you test this and all presentations according to scripture for consistency with God's truth.

SEEKING THE HOLY SPIRIT'S GUIDANCE

There may be times when we find a passage difficult to understand.  At this time we should focus our attention to careful and thorough study of the passage under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  According to John 14:26, "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."  God's promise is specific: the Holy Spirit will enlighten you.  However God did not set a time limit on when we could expect a response.  So if difficulty arises, approach it with prayer to the Spirit and diligent study.  You may receive the answer immediately, in a while, a while longer or in God's infinite wisdom in His presence.

APPROACH TO SCRIPTURE

To appreciate scripture we must understand three things about a passage: 1) what the text says, 2) What the text means, and 3) What is the text's context.  In the following pages we will study in detail the nature of selected texts.  We will basically study prophetic texts, which answers item 2.  But to understand the full context of the text, you should explore all the scripture quotations given at length.  Feel free to explore much of what comes before, and after the selected texts.

To understand my approach, you need to understand my assumptions about scripture.  I write from a perspective that cherishes a deep and central commitment to the Bible as the ultimate criterion for understanding, and God's vehicle for self-revelation.  I believe that the Bible is an authentic, reliable record of God's truth and purposes.  That we must study the whole scripture, and not reject portions, which may be difficult to understand or reconcile with other scriptures.  2 Timothy 3:15-17 clearly states Paul's view of scripture and purpose:  "You have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

One must always be on guard for the false teachers described in Matthew 24:4-5: "Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name...and will deceive many."  Your protection against this deception is to test as the Bereans did, test this presentation, test all writers, test all books, pamphlets and ideas.  Test, test and test again.  Protect yourself from false doctrine with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:13-14 states: "But when he, the Spirit of truth comes he will guide you into all truth...he will tell you what is yet to come.  He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you." 

Do not expect all prophetic scripture to be crystal clear or to be readily organized for easy reading.  These pearls of truth seem to glow, however, with diligent study.

I also believe that the true church is composed of all true believers in Jesus regardless of denomination.  Salvation is not linked to a particular denomination, but to a personal acceptance in faith of Jesus Christ as stated in Galatians 2:16: "...know that man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ."  The true church of Jesus Christ is not therefore a building or an organization, it is a living organism called the body of Christ.  Ephesians 1:22-23 says: "...And God placed all things under his (Christ's) feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.  1 Corinthians 12:12-28 states: "...for we are all baptized by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  Now the body is not made up on one part but of many..."

One should also understand that there are many current interpretations of the time line of the rapture and the world's situation during the "70th week of Daniel."  What is presented here is my best understanding to date based on my study, reflection and prayer.  It will most likely evolve as my understanding grows.  However to present a complete picture, the references at the end of this work will lead the reader through all of the major prophetic interpretations and time lines.  This is why it  is important for you to test this work and study the scripture yourself.

PROPHETIC SCRIPTURE

Did you know that a greater part of scripture is given to prophecy than any other one subject?  Approximately twenty-five percent of the Bible was prophetic at the time it was written.  Since God dedicated a large portion of scripture to prophecy it is prudent to study prophecy.  It is wise in studying the prophetic word to interpret literally. 

Davidson states:

    "This I consider the first principle in prophetic interpretation - to read the prophet literally - to assure that the literal meaning is his meaning - that he is moving among realities, not symbols, among concrete things like peoples, not among abstractions like our Church, world, etc.1 

Pentecost goes on to state:

      "The reason a non-literal method of interpretation is adopted is, almost without exception, because of a desire to avoid the obvious interpretation of the passage.  The desire to avoid the teaching of scripture into harmony with some predetermined system of doctrine instead of bringing doctrine into harmony with the scriptures has kept the method alive.2

Masselink also sets the precedent of fulfilled new testament prophecy by stating:

        "We can therefore derive our method of interpretation for the unfulfilled prophecy from the fulfilled, because we may safely deduce the guiding principles for the unfulfilled prophecy from the fulfilled predictions which are recorded in the New Testament.3

For this reason I prefer a literal interpretation first; and if that interpretation makes sense then I believe there is no need to search further.         

KEY PERIODS OF PROPHECY

Bible prophecy forecasts events in God's involvement with man.  Here is a timetable of prophetic events, from the angelic hosts heralding the coming Messiah to the saints singing praises before the King of Kings. 

Be aware however of the words of Matthew 24:32-44: "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: as soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.  Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door...No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."  So if anyone comes to you saying the Lord is coming tomorrow, next week or the next century; Beware!  For surely no mortal man will know the time of the Lord's return.

Matthew continues: "...As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.  That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.  Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.  But understand this: if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

KEY PROPHETIC BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

There are books of the Bible that contain a preponderance of prophetic texts.  The Old Testament contains significant works in Daniel, Isaiah and Ezekiel which speak of post rapture, or Tribulation - Millennium - Final Uprising issues.  These are the items focused on in Daniel and specifically the "70th week of Daniel" prophecies.

New Testament prophetic texts appear focused in Revelation, Thessalonians, 2 Timothy and Matthew.  They speak mainly to the church age, rapture events and "signs of the times." 

This split at first may appear unusual, till one considers that God's chosen people were the Jews (Israel), and that He primarily dealt with them till the Messiah was rejected through Old Testament writings.  The rejection of the Messiah interrupted God's direct dealing with Israel, it did not end His dealing with them. 

The New Testament focuses on the Church age where there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile.  As 1 Corinthians 12:13 states: "For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." 

However with the removal of the true church from the earth at the rapture, God again begins to deal directly with Israel.  Therefore the return to Old Testament texts for insight into post rapture events.

… Part 2 to come … The 70 Weeks of Daniel Link here