Archive for Great Tribulation
Moses Spanks Preterism
Deuteronomy 4: 25When thou shalt beget children, and children’s children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke Him to anger:
26I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.
27And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.
28And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
29But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
30When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto His voice;
31(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which He sware unto them.
Well, to be truthful, it is less Moses, than the Lord Jehovah Himself Who spanks Preterism in the above passage. The passage teaches, firstly, that the tribulation will have been preceded by a dispersion of the nation; and secondly, that the Lord will never destroy Israel – even in the midst of tribulation. The conclusion is obvious: the scattering must precede the time of tribulation. Ergo, the tribulation cannot be equivalent to the national scattering which took place in A.D. 70. Nor can the scattering amount to any “destruction” of the Jewish nation.
If Deut. 4: 25-31 were only passage that teaches this truth, the conclusion would be at least open to question. But the concept is repeated in Ezekiel 22: 16-22, where the prophet implies that AFTER Israel has been dispersed, they will be gathered into the city of Jerusalem and melted. See also Ezekiel 36: 22-29, which depicts a yet future transaction, in which Israel will be gathered into the land in unbelief, and subsequently sanctified. The result will be the complete fulfillment of the New Covenant promises mentioned in Jeremiah 31: 31-40. The result will be national restoration – not national destruction!
What have we in the New Testament? Certainly a corroboration of the above. In Luke 21: 23-24 Christ predicts the taking of the city, in A.D. 70 at which time Josephus records 97,000 Jews were led away into captivity. If one notes the flow of Christ’s discourse, one cannot help seeing that the second coming must occur long afterwards, when the times of the Gentiles shall have been fulfilled (Luke 21: 24-27).
Hence, as we have pointed out many times, a true harmony of Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 will follow the chronological pattern laid down in Daniel 9: 26-27. In that passage, the destruction of the city and sanctuary is followed by the last week of Daniel’s 70, during which time Antichrist stops the daily sacrifice and desecrates the holy place (cf. Dan. 11: 31; 12: 11). Between the desolation of the city and sanctuary (Luke 21: 12-24) and the defilement of the temple (Matthew 24: 15; Mark 13: 14) lies the present dispensation, which was a secret hidden in God (Eph. 3: 9; Col. 1: 26).
Thus, it is clear that mere national dispersion cannot be tantamount to “the tribulation.” In accordance with the Old Testament prophetical motif of melting/refinement, the tribulation will result in the total sanctification of the nation (Isaiah 4: 3-4; Mal. 3: 3-4; Ezekiel 20: 34-38). It will issue in their deliverance, and not their destruction (Jeremiah 30: 7; Daniel 12: 1; Luke 21: 28).
This eschatological purging of Israel, as described so vividly by Moses and the prophets, did not take place at Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of the first temple, inasmuch as neither the 3,023 Jews of the first captivity (Jer. 52: 28) nor the 832 of the second captivity (Jer. 52: 29) were regathered into Jerusalem to be “melted.” The largest captivity took place four years AFTER the destruction of the temple, when 4,600 Jews were carried away (Jer. 52: 30). And as Daniel continued to prophesy long after the destruction of the temple, the restoration passages therefore await future fulfillment.
Preterism is a stone-age theology that must be recognized for what it is. It is an ideological rebellion against God’s purpose to restore the nation of Israel. We are now realizing this for the very first time. When dealing with Preterism, it is essential to remember that it is not ideas under fire, so much as the right of God’s chosen people to inherit the promises of the Abrahamic covenant. Although Preterism asserts otherwise, the law never states that Israel would be cast away – even after the curses of Deut. 28 have been levied (see Deut. 30: 1-10). O fools, and slow of heart to be believe all that the prophets have spoken!
Rev. D.M. Panton — The Coming Parousia Of Christ
(from Rapture, 1922)
“The Parousia of Christ runs simultaneously with the Parousia (2 Thess. 2: 9) of the Antichrist; the heavenly Parousia is the advanced outpost whither God calls His ambassadors, on the outbreak of war against the world and the last judgments of God; and unrecalled ambassadors are in peril from both batteries.”
“But Antediluvian and Sodomic wickedness recur, and remain obdurate, during the Parousia. At length ripness of iniquity below, and the close of the judgment scene above, together produce the break-up of the Parousia; scattering clouds on a sudden to reveal to every eye the triple glory (Luke 9: 26) burning in the heart of the Pavilion.
“For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the presence [see Revised margin throughout] of the Son of Man” (Matt. 24: 27); who shall paralyze Antichrist by the manifestation, or outburst, of His Parousia; and “then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matt. 13: 43). Our Lord’s feet at last alight (Zech. 14: 4) upon Olivet.
The Orange Mailman: Millennial Musings
In this brand-new 33 minute podcast, Brian Simmons interviews Darrin (a.k.a. The Orange Mailman) concerning one of the most intriguing topics of endtime prophecy – the Millennium. Darrin holds that the “new heavens and earth” of Rev. 21 are the same as those mentioned in Isaiah 65 & 66. He sees the New Jerusalem as descending at the beginning of the Millennium, and not after the Great White Throne Judgment. Other subjects discussed in this audio include Antichrist, the Great Tribulation, and the rise of “Mystery Babylon.”
Darrin has written a large number of articles dealing with Bible prophecy. To visit his blog, go to http://theorangemailman.spaces.live.com.
Listen to podcast: http://www.archive.org/download/TheOrangeMailmansMillennialMusings/orange_millennium.mp3
Dan Peek’s “Highway To Tribulation” and Other Prophetic Writings
I recently came across an excellent series of articles on endtime prophecy, written by Dan Peek. During the 1970’s, Peek played in the band “America.” He had a major hand in recording classic tunes such as “Horse With No Name,” “Ventura Highway,” “Don’t Cross The River,” “Tin Man,” “Sister Golden Hair,” and countless others. Peek left the band in 1978, however, after renewing his Christian faith. He’s been studying prophecy and eschatology for over 30 years, and has quite a few observations to make on the “end times.” Reading his articles has been a real blessing. I wish to thank him especially for giving me permission to quote from his articles.
I am pleased to find that the author holds to a Dispensational view of prophecy. That is, he believes that there is a future period of blessing in store for the Jewish people. Since one of the major purposes of my blog is to combat the erroneous Roman Catholic idea of “Replacement Theology,” Peek’s observations are strikingly relevant. He writes:
“The Church is not the new Israel. This is false teaching. Replacement theology is not biblically sound doctrine. Israel’s future begins when the Church departs. Why? Because their blindness ends when “…the fulness of the Gentiles be come in“. Romans 11:25.”
“The Church is the Bride of Christ and Israel is God’s wife. He says of her, “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth… because the Lord loved you“. Deuteronomy 7:6-8.
“When the time is right, Israel will turn again to the Lord, saying, “Come and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, AS THE LATTER AND FORMER RAIN unto the earth“. Hosea 6:1-3 (emphasis added).
“These verses in Hosea are like a trumpet blowing, loudly proclaiming prophesy. As mentioned earlier, the two days are finished and the third day has begun. Israel will soon recognize their Redeemer, the Messiah ben David, who will appear when the nation is surrounded by Philistines, literally and figuratively, as Palestinians, the Arabs and the rest of the “World“, invade the “pleasant land“. Messiah ben David will crush all these enemies to powder, as the stone cut out without hands. Truly a refulfillment of David versus Goliath.
“I believe the reference to the latter and former rains are the realization that Israel has seen Him before and now they see Him again and receive Him proclaiming, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord“.
He also writes:
“When Roman Catholicism went off the rails in the time of St. Augustine, the concept of replacement theology began its insidious growth. Both Catholic and some Protestant sects adhere to this unscriptural rendering of the Bible. Replacing Israel with the Church. This is not only unsound theologically it is an affront to God Almighty and will be punished. Though the Church and Israel share many areas of common ground, they are separate entities.”
As one who has major “connections” in the secular world, Peek is highly qualified to gauge the “signs of the times,” and believes we are nearing the end of the age. In his seven-part series entitled, “Highway To Tribulation,” he talks about the events happening around the world right now, which foreshadow the Tribulation. Despite discrepancies among Christians, most evangelicals believe that the world will endure some rough times before the new age of righteousness and peace dawns, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to rule and reign from Jerusalem.
Peek believes – and I agree with him – that the signs of a near tribulation are everywhere around us. All we have to do is open our eyes, and see that in the rise of globalization, new age theology, and developments in the Middle East, God is moving some major pieces across the checkerboard of this doomed world. Close our eyes though we may, we cannot deny the evidence. Things are not getting better and better. They are getting worse!
One of the more intriguing topics Peek discusses is the concept of the “666” numbering system. The author claims that this system is, in its incipient form, already present in the universal barcode system. In light of modern-day “tracking technology,” microchip implantations are also being utilized to pave way for the “mark of the beast.”
Peek writes:
“The New Age version of the Millenial Messianic Kingdom will of course be counterfeit. The 666 or Beast System will hold out the promise of earthly paradise, peace and prosperity. The Mark of the Beast which will be placed in the hand or forehead of those who receive it, is a counterfeit of the seal of the Holy Spirit by which God recognizes his children. Therefore I feel it’s entirely possible that the Mark of the Beast will be invisible to the “naked eye” but readable by some type of machine or electronic sensor. A chip implant would for all intents and purposes be invisible except to a machine programmed to read it. This would mimic the “invisible” seal with which all saved/redeemed children of God are sealed. “…in whom also after ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance…” Ephesians 1:13. Again in Ephesians we are reminded of this. “…the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30. In the book of Revelation, the 144,000 are sealed “…of our God in their foreheads.” Revelation 7:3.
“The demonic counterfeit seal is near, even at the door. Within the last year Shenzhen, China a city of 12.4 million people, issued residency cards with powerful computer chips embedded in them to the vast majority of the citizens. These chips contain not only their basic I.D. info such as name and address but list the carriers’ work history, education, religious affiliation, ethnic background, police record, medical insurance information and their landlords’ telephone number. It was recently announced that starting in 2009 National Identity Cards will be issued to all British citizens linking all of their personal information with a fingerprint, facial recognition or iris (eye) pattern.
“Of course the Anti-christ will be a counterfeit of Jesus and many scholars believe the False Prophet will be a counterfeit of John the Baptist or a type or shadow of him. There will of course be a false “Church”. The word “Church” is one of the most abused and misused words in the world’s lexicon. To true Believers in Jesus Christ, the Church is His Body, comprised of all the various members of this living organism. The false “Church” will of course be all those who choose to worship the Anti-christ.”
Although all of this seems to paint a somewhat bleak picture of upcoming events, Peek is no shallow doomsday prophet. His writings hold out the hope of a speedy return of Christ — a truth that is all the more salutary in these trying times. This is what every Christian should be waiting for.
Of course, the above quotes provide only a slim sample of the material Dan Peek has written. It is recommended that the reader go to Peek’s site for himself to read the articles archived there. He is currently working on more multi-chapter articles, which will be released directly to the web. However, these articles, collected together, would make an excellent book, and help spread the news about Jesus Christ’s soon return to establish His Millennial kingdom.
The Prince That Shall Come
Most Christians who read their Bibles know that the Scriptures predict the rise of an individual known as “the prince that shall come.” Who this person is, has been the topic of fervent debate for centuries. However, it is pretty clear that he is the equivalent of Paul’s “man of sin” and John’s “the antichrist” (1 John 2: 18). That he will seat himself in the temple at Jerusalem and demand divine honors and worship, is conceded by almost all futurist students of prophecy.
What some folks don’t know, however, is that the “people of the prince” already came to destroy the city and the sanctuary in A.D. 70. The people are none other than the Roman armies, who under Titus destroyed Herod’s temple and led 97,000 Jews into captivity. Because this happened at the close of the 40 year probationary perdiod allotted to Israel, prophecies concerning the parousia were necessarily postponed at that time. Meanwhile, the secret administration given to the apostle Paul, which he calls the “dispensation of the mystery” (Eph. 3: 9) fills up the present interval between the desolation of the city and sanctuary by the people of the prince, and the defilement of the temple by the prince himself.
Obviously, the temple must be rebuilt in order for Scriptures concerning Antichrist to be fulfilled. This also applies to all prophecies concerning the return of Jesus Christ. When Christ returns He will destroy the desolator, and bring in His 1000 year reign from the rebuilt city of Jerusalem (Jer. 3: 17; Zech. 6: 12-13). This is the familiar subject of Old Testament prophecy.
Daniel 11: 21-45 gives a rundown of the events which will take place in connection with Antichrist’s rise to power. From this passage it is evident that he will make some kind of “league” with the Jewish people (v. 23). This league will be ratified with a representative of the Jewish people, whom Daniel calls “prince of the covenant” (v. 22). The league will be made prior to the actual seven-year covenant which Antichrist will break. The League will allow him to get his foot in the door, and enter the arena of Middle-Eastern politics (v. 24).
The covenant will involve the rebuilding of the Jewish temple. It is likely that the sacrifices will begin 220 days into the commencement of the 70th week (see Dan. 8: 14). In the middle of the week, Antichrist will break the covenant and stop the daily sacrifices, setting up the abomination of desolation in the holy place (Dan. 9: 27; 11: 31; 12: 11). From this point until the return of Christ, there will be “great tribulation” (Dan. 12: 1; Matt. 24: 15-21). Israel will be tried and tested during this time, and many will fall (Dan. 11: 33, 35; 12: 10). However, the nation shall be saved at the end (Jeremiah 30: 7), when Jesus Christ returns from heaven with His mighty angels (2 Thess. 1: 7-8), taking vengeance on the heathen (Zech. 1: 14-15) and casting the beast and his confederate, the false prophet, into the lake of fire (Rev. 19: 20).
The minor prophets often speak of the “man of sin“ by means of cryptic (and sometimes hard to understand) allusions to his destructive power. In Nahum he is likened to a “wicked counsellor“ (see 1: 11). Habakkuk calls him a ”proud man… who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people” (Hab. 2: 5). His invading armies are compared to an influx of locusts (Joel 1: 4-7; 2: 2-10).
During the Great Tribulation, this individual will be given power to rule over “all kindreds, and tongues, and nations” (Rev. 13: 7). He will “make war with the saints” and “wear out the saints of the Most High” until the last three-and-a-half years of the age have run their course (Dan. 7: 25). Then his dominion shall be taken away, and the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, given to the people of the saints of the Most High (Dan. 7: 27; cf. Rev. 11: 15).
Many prophecy students feel that the time is nearing when Antichrist shall step on the scene. We know not how long it will be. But as the world plunges deeper and deeper into the abyss of moral stagnation, and as human failure becomes all the more evident, we thank God for the mercy He has showed us. Let us remember we have a commission to carry out (2 Tim. 2: 2). And let it not be said “in that day” that we succumbed more to strife and division than to the awesome power of God’s grace in Christ Jesus.
They Came To Elim
“And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters” (Exodus 15: 27).
The Old Testament history contains many precious types and lessons written for our learning. By studying these types, we gain insight into spiritual truths which may not always lie on the surface. Nevertheless, we must understand that the nation of Israel is given prominent position in God’s plan and purpose for the ages. This is seen again and again throughout the sacred record.
The above passage contains one of these types, which is expanded in the Apocalypse. It is a historical type which has prophetic significance. After Israel crossed the Red Sea, and Pharaoh’s hosts were destroyed, the nation sang a song of deliverance (Exodus 15). This song proclaims Jehovah as a “Man of War” (Exodus 15: 3) the very thing affirmed of Jesus Christ in Revelation 19: 11. When the Lord returns from heaven at the repentance of His people (Zech. 12: 10; Acts 3: 19-21), He will turn transgression from Jacob and punish the heathen (Isaiah 59: 20; Micah 5: 15). This will be the true fulfillment of the type given in Exodus 14. The resultant song of deliverance is found in Isaiah 25: 1-5.
But let us look at the Old Testament type in more detail. After Israel was saved from Pharaoh’s hosts, they then came to a place called Elim, where twelve wells watered seventy palm trees. The typological significance of this resting-place may be seen by the discerning Bible student. The number twelve denotes governmental perfection, and has to do with the nation of Israel. The tribes are twelve in number, representing the nation in its corporate capacity.
On the other hand, Genesis 11 contains a list of the seventy nations that sprang from Noah’s posterity. From this it is clear that Israel was saved from Pharaoh’s hosts to become a blessing to the nations. The holy people, typified by the twelve palm trees, would water the nations of the world, and function in both a priestly and governmental character. It was Jehovah’s purpose to make them a “kingdom of priests, and a holy nation” (Exodus 19: 6).
But, alas, fulfillment of Israel’s role was conditional upon obedience to the covenant. Israel never kept the law; and so the Gentile blessings never materialized, though Israel’s headship was foreshadowed by the reigns of David and Solomon. These kings were imperfect types, however, only sketching forth some of the perfections of Messiah, the True King. David represents Jesus Christ as “Man of War;” while Solomon pre-figures Him as the “Prince of Peace.”
Among the many nations of the world, there is only one which God has chosen to be the channel of blessing. That nation is Israel. To them pertains the adoption (Romans 9: 4); and though the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing, the kingdom will come to the daughter of Jerusalem (Micah 4: 8) after Israel is redeemed with a spiritual deliverance far greater than that by which Pharaoh and his hosts were subdued. In that day the horns of the Gentiles shall be cast out (Zech. 1: 18-21).
Israel will yet fulfill the type set forth by the 12 wells of water. In the New Jerusalem, there are four walls, and in each wall three gates (Rev. 21: 12-14). “And at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.” This is descriptive of the eternal economy. However, even before the New Heaven and New Earth appear, Jerusalem will be a place of glory, and the administrative center of the tribes of Israel (Ezekiel 48: 30-35). The prophets abound with glowing visions of a yet-future era, when the knowledge of the Lord shall fill the earth, as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11: 9).
But what a long night this present economy has turned out to be! Men sometimes ask, does God’s silence imply that His work is finished? Has Israel ceased as a nation? The answer to both questions is no. God’s silence is merely indicative of the spiritual nature of this Dispensation. The church cannot hope to partake of Israel’s earthly blessings, so long as the nation is absent from the Divine program. As premier among the nations of the earth, Israel will brook no rival. But when God’s principles of administration are moved from the terrestrial to the celestial, then all national limitations vanish, and Jews, as well as Gentiles, are able to equally partake of spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Eph. 1: 3). Such an administration, which fills the present period, is a secret which was only revealed to Paul (Eph. 3: 9; Col. 1: 26).
The time will come, of course, when even this dispensation must end. Then will begin the breaking of those seals and sounding of the trumpets, which tell of so much woe for earth’s inhabitants. When the Lamb comes forward to take the scroll from His Father’s hand (Rev. 5), the throne of grace will be exchanged for a throne of judgment; and the events which should have followed the crucifixion of Christ, will then commence as if the economy of grace had never happened at all.
Israel will play such an important part in God’s dealings with the world during the last of Daniel’s “sevens.” It will be a turbulent time for the nations at large, and one during which Israel will be severely tested, to bring them under the bonds of the New Covenant (Ezekiel 20: 35-38). But the result will be national and spiritual deliverance of a level which we can hardly imagine. And when Israel is redeemed from the hand of her enemies, and sanctified by the Lord Jesus Christ at His parousia, she will at last have come to Elim.
Q & A On Matthew 23: 39
QUESTION:
Once Israel accepts Jesus as the messiah, why are they still judged with everyone else? I was looking to see if any preterists had any kind of good arguments against Matt 23:39 and I can’t find any but I did come across one confusing thing.
“Second, it also ignores the fact that Israel’s salvation would come at the time of Israel’s judgment. See Isaiah 2-4; 64-66; Zechariah 12-14, etc.. In other words, Israel would be saved by judgment, not from judgment. She would be saved by eschatological transformation, not national restoration. Toussaint suggests that Zechariah 12-14 must speak of the time of Israel’s repentance and conversion. He emphasizes the fountain opened for taking away Israel’s sins, insisting that this must refer to her repentance and conversion. However, chapter 13 describes the judgment that would fall on her. It was a judgment that would destroy “two thirds of the people’ (13:8f). Further, chapter 14 very clearly posits the destruction of Jerusalem in the Day of the Lord.”
This confuses me. The rest of the site, http://donpreston.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=304&Itemid=61 is just full of a lot of arguments I’ve heard you go over all ready and aren’t all that convincing. They actually try to make it that when Jesus says “You shall not see me again until you say “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” true because the destruction of Jerusalem was near a feast day when they quote that.
Also, what’s the point of having Jerusalem destroyed if it’s not when Jesus comes back?
ANSWER:
Hi Tim,
Good to hear from you. I believe that Israel will be judged as a nation during Daniel’s 70th week. This period is the “dispensation of judgment.” The last 3 1/2 years of this period is the Great Tribulation. It is at this time that 2/3 of the nation will be purged. But when the national purging is through, those who remain will be holy (Isaiah 4: 3-4) because they will have accepted Christ as the Messiah. So their judgment will be to determine placement in the Millennial kingdom. Of course, there will be a “first-fruits” gathering before the Tribulation actually begins. In my view, these are the wise virgins (a.k.a. 144,000) who are raptured in the middle of the 70th week.
I’m not sure what Don Preston is trying to say. Matthew 23: 39 is definitely about national repentance. Notice how Christ says first, that their house will be left desolate. THEN He says, “Ye shall not see Me until,” etc. Preterists act like Christ was saying: “Ye shall not see Me henceforth until ye say, etc. But behold, your house is left desolate.” In that case, it wouldn’t matter if they repented or not, because desolation would have been the final predicted outcome. But Christ mentions desolation FIRST, and THEN holds out a hope of His return, which will only be accomplished when the nation accepts Him as Messiah. The order of those two statements is very important IMO.
As for the destruction of the city, we should keep in mind that there are two desolations mentioned in Daniel 9: 26-27. The first is the desolation of the city and sanctuary by the people of the prince (which took place in A.D. 70). The second is the defilement of the temple by the prince himself (the “desolator“). These take place at different times. Luke 21 deals mainly with the desolation of the city and sanctuary, while Matt. 24/Mark 13 deals with the defilement of the temple by Antichrist. The city will be desolated during this time, as a process of Israel’s judgment. The desolations will be ended when the desolator is destroyed (Dan. 9: 27; 2 Thess. 2: 8).
