Biblical Eschatology Presentation by: D. Paul Beck May 4, 2016 Ground Rules

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  Daniel’s 70^th Week will conclude once the Jew’s acknowledge their offence and petition for the Lord’s return:
  

[Hos 5:15 NASB]

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  Israel’s petition for the Lord’s return is found in Hosea 6:
  

[Hos 6:1-3 NASB]

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  Daniel’s 70^th Week ends with Christ’s Second Coming:
  

[Dan 12:1 NASB]

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  See also: Rev 19:11-19, Mt 24:36-41, Zech 14:1-9, Isa 11:11, Isa 11:1-5
  

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  The earth begins the process of being renovated during the Tribulation period.
  
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  Expanding upon the Olivet Discourse, the Tribulation period is most detailed within the Book of Revelation, chapters 6 through 18.
  

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  Within the entirety of the New Testament, this one book poses the most serious and difficult interpretive challenges.
  
• 
  It is the only book within the Bible that promises a special blessing to the reader – Rev 1:3.
  
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  Four predominant interpretive approaches have been produced for interpreting the Book of Revelation:
  

1. 
   Preterist – everything occurred within the 1^st century AD.
   
2. 
   Historicist – it is just a panoramic view of church history.
   
3. 
   Idealist – it is a timeless depiction of the cosmic struggle between the forces of good and evil. A collection of stories designed to teach spiritual truth.
   
4. 
   Futurist – insists that the events described in chapters 6 through 22 are yet future and that those chapters should be understood literally.
   

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  Foundational to any understanding of the Kingdom is to capture the chronological order of the Book of Revelation.
  
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  It is to be taken at face-value – a literal hermeneutic.
  

• 
  As soon as one says they don't have to interpret the Bible literally, then what in the Bible don't they have to interpret literally? How can one say, "Well I don't interpret prophecy literally, but I interpret everything else literally," on the basis of what? Where are we instructed to change the rules of interpretation between all of the events documented within Scripture?
  
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  We must maintain a literal, historical, grammatical contextual hermeneutic of interpretation - that's the only way one can understand the Bible, to take it at its historical, contextual, linguistic face value.
  

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  The ‘ordoeschaton’ – the sequence of events within the Book of Revelation:
  

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  Chapters 6 through 18 detail Daniel’s 70th Week.
  
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  If studied properly, this one book will take you to virtually every other book within the Bible.
  

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  The Book of Revelation is written in ‘code’ and those codes are used consistently throughout the Bible - “Principle of Expositional Constancy.”
  
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  The Holy Spirit uses idioms consistently throughout Scripture.
  

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  The most important chapters to the 21^st-century Christian are chapters 2 and 3 – Christ’s Seven Epistles – the seven letters to the seven churches.
  

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  Roughly 20 occurrences of the term “Church” or “Churches” occur in chapters 1 through 3.
  
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  The last word of the last verse in chapter 3 is “churches.”
  
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  Throughout chapters 4 through 18, Daniel’s 70th Week, the word “church” is never found.
  
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  The church does not reappear within the Book of Revelation until chapter 19, Christ’s Second Coming chapter, when it is called in verse 7 the “bride” of the Lamb.
  

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  The Book of Revelation is written chronologically and should not be read allegorically.
  

• 
  The chronological sequence and the structure to the Book of Revelation places the Rapture of the Church before Daniel’s 70th Week (the Tribulation period).
  
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  The “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” found in Rev 6 correlate to the beginning verses within the Lord’s Olivet Discourse.
  

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  The argument is that the Olivet Discourse is distinctly “Jewish” and is not speaking to the Church, since the Church will be Raptured before the seals are opened at the start of Daniel’s 70^th Week.
  
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  See terminology used in Mt 24:14, Mt 24:16, Mt 24:20
  

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  In analyzing the “structure” to the four Gospels, one can say that the Gospel of John is written to the Church and we notice that it does not contain the Olivet Discourse.
  

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  The conclusion: the Church is not going to go through what is detailed within the Olivet Discourse, the Tribulation Period.
  
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  The Church will be Raptured before Daniel’s 70th Week begins.
  

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  Let’s be honest, this is one of the strangest subjects in all of Christendom (compared to a virgin birth (Mt 1), talking donkey (Num 22:28), global flood (Gen 6-8), etc.).
  
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  Dispel the myth – “the word ‘Rapture’ is not in the Bible” -
  

“deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus”

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  In the Greek, the term is “Harpazo”:
  

• 
  The Harpazo = to be forcibly caught up.
  
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  The Rapture is God’s next event within His prophetic plan -
  

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  The ‘mechanism’ that ends the Church Age so that God can then complete His plan with Israel.
  
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  It concludes the “time of the Gentiles” – Rom 11:25.
  
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  No other event must precede the Rapture of the Church.
  
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  It is considered “imminent”:
  

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  Believers are taught to expect their Savior from heaven at any moment.
  
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  Phil 3:20, Titus 2:13, Heb 9:28, 1 Thes 1:10, 4:18, 5:6, Rev 22:20.
  
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  This should result in a victorious and purified life (1 Jn 3:2-3).
  

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  The Apostle Paul appeared to include himself among those who looked for Christ’s soon return (1 Thes 4:15, 17; 2 Thes 2:1).
  
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  Timothy was admonished to “keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Tim 6:14).
  
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  Jewish converts to Christianity were reminded that “for yet in a very little while, he who is coming will come, and will not delay” (Heb 10:37).
  
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  Other events prophesied within Scripture may occur before the Rapture (Is 17:1, Ps 83, etc.), but they are not prerequisites to the Rapture of the Church.
  
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  Daniel’s 70th Week is started by a covenant being enforced by a coming world leader (the Antichrist), not by the Rapture of the Church.
  
• 
  The Antichrist will not be revealed until after the Rapture of the Church (2 Thes 2:6-9).
  

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  The most popular “Rapture” views include:
  

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  Pre-Trib
  
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  Mid-Trib
  
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  Pre-Wrath
  
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  Post-Trib
  

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  One question we must ask within this Eschatological debate is: “Are we looking for Christ or are we looking for the Antichrist?”
  
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  We must also ask “what is our blessed hope?”:
  

[Titus 2:11-13 NASB]

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  Is your “blessed hope” the Rapture or the Second Coming?
  

• 
  Why do we need resurrection bodies?
  

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  In Rev 21:3, 22, 23, after the Millennial Kingdom, we learn that God Himself is going to dwell with man.
  
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  We know from Ex 33:20, Jn 1:18, 1 Tim 6:16, 1 Jn 4:12 that no mortal man can see God and live.
  
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  We also know from 2 Pet 3:10 and Rev 21 that the present heavens and earth are going to be destroyed and replaced.
  
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  Only those in their resurrected/glorified bodies can endure the sight of God and the recreation of all things.
  

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  Different “Raptures” in Scripture:
  

2) Elijah 2 Kgs 2:1, 11

3) Jesus Mk 16:19, Acts 1:9-11; Rev 12:5 (Harpazo)

4) Philip Acts 8:39 (Harpazo)

5) Paul 2 Cor 12:2-4 (Harpazo)

6) Body of Christ 1 Thess 4:17 (Harpazo)

Some commentators argue:

7) John Rev 4:1 (“Come up here”)

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  One of the biggest debates within the Dispensational “camp” is the timing of the Rapture.
  

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  Enoch and the Flood of Noah Gen 5:24
  

1. 
   Those that perished in the Flood
   
2. 
   Those preserved through the Flood
   
3. 
   Those removed prior to the Flood (Enoch)
   

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  Isaac’s absence after his offering Gen 22:19-24:62
  
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  Ruth during the threshing floor scene Ruth 3:7-9
  
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  Daniel’s absence from the fiery furnace Daniel 5
  

1. 
   Promise of; from hour of trial Rev 3:10
   
2. 
   Not the object of God’s wrath Rev 6:16, 1 Thes 5:9
   
3. 
   Escape (not endure) tribulation Lk 21:36
   
4. 
   Restrainer removed before Antichrist 2 Thes 2
   
5. 
   In the air, not on the earth 1 Thes 4:17 vs. Zech 14:4
   
6. 
   Conflict between Dan 7:21 & Mt 16:18
   
7. 
   The structure to the Book of Revelation
   
   1. 
      The Church is mentioned nowhere in chapters 6-18
      
   2. 
      The lampstands (1:20) are before God (4:5) before the seals are opened
      
   3. 
      The Bride returns with Christ at His Second Coming (19:11).
      
8. 
   The Jewish Wedding Model
   
9. 
   The structure of the four gospels
   
10. 
    No mention of resurrection during the Second Coming
    

John Walvoord’s book, The Rapture Question, provides 50 reasons.

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  Jude: one of four half-brothers of Christ (Mt 13:55, Mk 6:3).
  
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  He distinguishes himself from the Apostles (v.17).
  
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  The only NT book devoted exclusively to confronting “apostasy” (defection from true Biblical faith).
  
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  Emphasis is for Believers to contend for the faith.
  

[Jude 1:14-15 KJV]

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  Enoch “walked with God” and he was taken directly to heaven without having to die (Gen 5:24, Heb 11:5).
  
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  Enoch, before the Flood, prophesied not just about wicked apostates (Jude 3-13), but also about Christ’s Second Coming in judgment (Col 3:4, 1 Thes 3:13).
  

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  Stop and think about how someone represented in Genesis 5 prophesied not about the First Advent of Christ, but about the Second Advent of Christ.
  

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  Rev 19:14 tells us that Believers will accompany Christ at His Return.
  
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  Angels are also certainly in view within this prophecy and angels are the executioners of God at His Second Coming (Mt 13:39-41, 49-50, 24:29-31, 25:31, 2 Thes 1:7-10).
  
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  What do we know?
  

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  We know the Lord’s coming is sure. (Rev 19:11-14)
  
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  We know who will accompany the Lord. (the Saints, the Holy Ones)
  
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  We know the purpose of His coming. (To execute judgment)
  
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  We know the result of the Lord’s coming. (ungodly convicted of their works of ungodliness).
  
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  We know who will be judged. (“All”)
  

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  He’s coming to judge the earth Ps 96:13
  
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  …all nations Joel 3:12, Mt 25:32
  
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  …with their cities Mt 11:22, 12:41
  
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  …every man, living or dead 2 Tim 4:1, 2 Thes 1:7-9
  
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  …fallen angels (v.6) Isa 24:21
  
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  …and demons Mt 8:29
  

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  We must ask “who are the Saints and where do they come from?”:
  

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  Believers of all the ages. (all dispensations)
  
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  Order of First Resurrection:
  

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  Jesus Christ (the First Fruits – 1 Cor 15:20, 23).
  
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  The Church (they that are Christ’s at His Coming – 1 Cor 15:23).
  
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  Old Testament Saints (Dan 12:2, Isa 26:19).
  
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  Tribulation Saints (Rev 13:7, Rev 20:4).
  
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  Saints from the Millennial Kingdom (implied given the chronology of the Book of Revelation).
  

The “Ordoeschaton” – the order of last things:

Scripture speaks to three “Judgments” being within our prophetic future:

1. 
   Bema Seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10, 1 Cor 3:11-15)
   

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  Rewards: crowns, assignments
  
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  Kingdom Parables: talents, virgins, uninvited…
  
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  Call of the Bride to the Marriage of the Lamb
  

2. 
   Sheep and Goat Judgment (Mt 25:31-46)
   

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  Also labeled as the “judgment of the nations”
  
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  On the earth: must understand the different parties involved
  
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  Mortals are judged on the basis of “works”
  

3. 
   Great White Throne (Rev 20:11-15)
   

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  At the end of the Millennium, of the unsaved dead
  
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  Resurrected to eternal damnation
  
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  Then: New Heavens, New Earth, New Jerusalem
  

1. 
   Righteousness – (2 Tim 4:8) – for those who loved His appearing.
   
2. 
   Life – (Jms 1:12, Rev 2:10) – for those who have suffered for His sake.
   
3. 
   Rejoicing – (1 Thes 2:19) – for those who win souls.
   
4. 
   Incorruptible – (1 Cor 9:24-25) – for those who press on stead-fastly.
   
5. 
   Glory – (1 Pet 5:4) – for those who fed the flock.
   

1. 
   How we treat other believers (Heb 6:10, Mt 10:41-42).
   
2. 
   How we exercise our authority over others (Heb 13:17, Jms 3:13).
   
3. 
   How we employ our God-given abilities (1 Cor 12:4, 11, 2 Tim 1:6, 1 Pet 4:10).
   
4. 
   How we use our money (1 Cor 16:2, 2 Cor 9:6-7, 1 Tim 6:17-19).
   
5. 
   How we spend our time (Ps 90:12, Eph 5:16, Col 4:5, 1 Pet 1:17).
   
6. 
   How much we suffer for Jesus (Mt 5:11-12, Mk 10:29-30, Rom 8:18, 2 Cor 4:17, 1 Pet 4:12-13).
   
7. 
   How we run that particular race which God has chosen for us (1 Cor 9:24, Phil 2:16, 3:13-14, Heb 12:1).
   
8. 
   How effectively we control the old nature (1 Cor 9:25-27).
   
9. 
   How many souls we witness to and win to Christ (Prov 11:30, Dan 12:3, 1 Thes 2:19-20).
   
10. 
    How we react to temptation (Jms 1:2-3, Rev 2:10).
    
11. 
    How much the doctrine of the Rapture means to us (2 Tim 4:8).
    
12. 
    How faithful we are to the Word of God and the flock of God (Acts 20:26-28, 2 Tim 4:1-2, 1 Pet 5:2-4).
    

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  After the Great White Throne Judgment of Rev 20.
  

[Rev 21:1 NASB]

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  The New Jerusalem
  

[Rev 21:9-11 NASB]

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  The Apostle John was told to measure the city:
  

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  12,000 furlongs (stadia) cubed (Rev 21:16).
  
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  If taken as 606ft (measures differed in Biblical times) the city would be about 1,400 miles cubed.
  
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  A cube? [The Holy of Holies was a cube.]
  
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  Some commentators, however, argue that the same measurements provided can be used to create a pyramid.
  

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  When all of this is said and done, every person who has had a “positive volition” towards God throughout the ages will be placed into their resurrected (glorified) bodies and will enter the eternal state where they will dwell with God Himself for all of eternity.
  
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  Those who have had a “negative volition” towards God, the unsaved, will be cast into the Lake of Fire, also in their resurrected bodies, where their torment will be eternal:
  

[Mat 13:41-43 NASB]

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  The “marching orders” for the Church are clear:
  

[Jhn 20:21-22 NASB]

[Act 1:8 NASB]

[Mar 16:15-16 NASB]

[Luk 24:47 NASB]

[Mat 28:19-20 NASB]

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  Let us be obedient to His calling and labor to assist in His harvest so that as many as possible can be granted the privilege of entering the Kingdom of our Lord. Maranatha!
  

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  Are we living in the Last Days?
  
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  The Antichrist
  
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  Traditional European Antichrist Theory vs. Islamic End Time Theory
  
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  The Mark of the Beast
  
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  Prophetic items on our near horizon:
  

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  Psalm 83 War
  
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  Isaiah 17 – Destruction of Damascus
  
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  Temple rebuilt
  

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  The Gog/Magog Invasion
  
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  Historic writings/positions regarding the Millennial Kingdom and the Rapture
  
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  Post-Rapture events – Marriage of the Lamb, Marriage Supper of the Lamb
  
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  Different “functions” for different Saints during the Millennial Kingdom:
  

• 
  See Rev 7:13-17, Rev 20:4-6, Rev 1:6
  
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  See the “12 Kingdom Parables” found in Mt 13, Mt 18:23-35, Mt 20:1-16, Mt 22:1-14, Mt 25:1-13, Mt 25:14-30
  

http://www.gotquestions.org/Old-Testament-salvation.html

https://www.gracechurch.org/sermons/11489

https://www.gracechurch.org/sermons/5216

https://www.gracechurch.org/sermons/11557

https://www.gracechurch.org/sermons/5231

https://www.gracechurch.org/sermons/7625

https://www.gracechurch.org/sermons/8460

https://www.gracechurch.org/sermons/11847

http://www.gty.org/resources/sermon-series/263/when-jesus-comes

http://www.gotquestions.org/replacement-theology.html

http://www.gotquestions.org/grafted-Israel.html

• 
  Eschatology 101
  
• 
  Daniel’s 70 Weeks – Part 1
  
• 
  Daniel’s 70 Weeks – Part 2
  
• 
  The Kingdom and the Saints
  
• 
  Daniel’s Dream, the Antichrist, and Christ as King (Daniel 7)
  
• 
  The Dream of Daniel 2 and the Rise of Imperial Paganism
  
• 
  JMac - Part 1 of 4 - Eschatology and Reformed Theology
  
• 
  JMac - Part 2 of 4 - We Must Get Israel Right
  
• 
  JMac - Part 3 of 4 - God makes Covenants and He keeps them…!
  
• 
  JMac - Part 4 of 4 - Was Jesus an Amillennialist?
  

“The Progress of Dogma”

James Orr

ISBN 978-1-4400-8904-6

Renald E. Showers

ISBN 0-915540-50-9
“When a Jew Rules the World”

Joel Richardson

ISBN 978-1-938067-71-6
“Heaven”

Randy Alcorn

ISBN 978-1-4143-0282-9