Overview of Prophecy
#2Daniel/Revelation
Transcript First Half
By: Fred R. Coulter--
February 13, 2016
In the Bible we see this: the Bible tells us a summary first, then gives us the details; after the summary! The details might not necessarily come in sequence right after the other, because we know the Bible is put together 'here a little and there a little,' etc.
Video, PDF, & Audio - At www.TruthOfGod.org.
About the "Truth of God website."
Video on Our YouTube Channel.
#2Daniel/Revelation
Transcript First Half
By: Fred R. Coulter--
February 13, 2016
In the Bible we see this: the Bible tells us a summary first, then gives us the details; after the summary! The details might not necessarily come in sequence right after the other, because we know the Bible is put together 'here a little and there a little,' etc.
Video, PDF, & Audio - At www.TruthOfGod.org.
About the "Truth of God website."
Video on Our YouTube Channel.
Let's stop and think about things for minute. Everything gets down sooner or later to the individual, everything! When God started out, what did He do? Created Adam, first man; then Eve! Things got so bad that He had to destroy everything with a flood. He started out again with one man and his family; his wife and his three sons and their wives. Then things got so bad again that God started out with one man, Abraham. Everything else that is in the rest of the Bible is because of Abraham.
So, numbers to God do not count. It is what is your relationship with God that counts, and how you love Him and obey Him. Then we come on down to through the children of Israel, and again it narrows down to a man David. Then that narrows down to the prophesied Messiah. From that comes the Church, and from that then comes all of the rulers for the Kingdom of God; the first resurrection.
In this we have a pattern in the Bible that we will see: the Bible tells us a summary first, then gives us the details; after the summary! The details might not necessarily come in sequence right after the other, because we know the Bible is put together 'here little and there a little,' etc.
As I mentioned in part one, the plan of God is pictured by His Holy Days and Sabbath. And two key important things on that, two simple things are:
What God does is He gives the outline and then He puts the details in different places. This is why we have to go through 'a little here, a little there' and 'rightly divide' the Word of God and put it together.
Daniel 9:1: "In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans."
This is just before the 70-year captivity of Judah ended in Babylon. I want you to notice one thing very important: there are patterns in the Bible that follow all the way through. You take what is called 'the Lord's prayer.' It starts out, 'Our Father in heaven, Holy is your name; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'
That's saying a lot right there. Think of all the details that come from that: for the things pertaining to God's plan in the world, and for the things in each life of everyone who is praying to God. Then 'give us our daily bread, forgive us our trespasses.' What we have here is the pattern.
Look at this pattern, v 4: "And I prayed to the LORD my God and made my confession, and said, 'O LORD, the great and awesome God, keeping the covenant and mercy to those who love Him, and to those who keep His commandments… [follows right along with outline] …we have sinned and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, and have turned aside from Your commandments and from Your ordinances'" (vs 4-5).
Confession of sin, forgive us our sins, and that's what He says, forgive. Let's see how it ends, and then we will see God's answer to this prayer.
Verse 24: "Seventy weeks…" These are not 70 weeks of 7-day weeks, but these are 70 weeks of 7-year weeks, like counting to the Jubilee; that is called a heptad. Though it is given in sequence, it is not an unbroken sequence.
Verse 24: "Seventy weeks are decreed upon your people and upon your Holy city [#1]to finish the transgression…"
"…[#3]and to make reconciliation for iniquity… [that took place with the death of Christ] …[#4]and to bring in everlasting righteousness… [that's New Jerusalem—new heaven and new earth] …[#5] and to seal up the vision and prophecy, [#6]and to anoint the Most Holy. Know, therefore, and understand that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem, to Messiah the Prince…" (vs 24-25). It gives a starting point, and this was with Cyrus.
"…shall be seven weeks… [49 years] …and sixty-two weeks. It shall be built again with streets and the wall, even in troublous times" (vs 25). You read the whole history of that in Ezra and Nehemiah and you can read that in Josephus, as well.
So, what were doing and looking at the Scriptures the prophecies, in many cases, are general outlines, then all the details come later. We will see that that's a pattern throughout the whole Bible.
Note the book: The Appointed Times of Jesus the Messiah. Get that because this fully explains the detailed history, which is quite complicated because—we will see in Dan. 10 and you look at the chart in Appendix Y—were looking at about 500 years just to the first coming of Christ. Then over 2000 years to His second coming.
When you have a statement like were told in Isa. 28 'a little here and a little there; line upon line; precept upon precept' and then we 'rightly divide' the Word of God and put it together.
Verse 26: "And after sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off but not for Himself…." What does that mean? It means the crucifixion, and that was not to happen until after 62 weeks. So, that 7 years times 62; just a little quick math you see what you come up with.
It didn't say long after the 62 weeks "…but not for Himself…" because that's for the sins of the whole world. But it doesn't tell us that here. Here is a mistake that people make when they read this:
"…And the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary…." (v 26). When Jesus came, did He destroy the city and the sanctuary? No! He did not! This is not referring to Jesus Christ, but this is referring to the one that we know today will be the beast power that has yet to arise.
"…But his end shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week" (vs 26-27).
When people first read that and they find out the Jesus was crucified in the middle of the week they apply this to Jesus. But it doesn't! It applies to the prince who is going to make an agreement be a seven-year time period. This is where we get in prophecy the last seven years, and there quite a few things that fit into that last seven years.
So, we had the building of the temple and after that is completed we come down to the time of Malachi and a prophecy of John the Baptist, and then down to Christ. Christ is not baptized until after the 62nd week has ended, and that ended on the on the last day of the 6th month, and the 1st day of the 7th month began the 63rd year.
In that year Jesus was baptized and His temptation started on the Day of Atonement, which was also a Jubilee. Now, that's profound because think of all the details that have been added to this Scripture through the Calculated Hebrew Calendar and through other Scriptures.
Furthermore, it says that Jesus came at the appointed time, and He died at the appointed time. All that brings in the Calculated Hebrew Calendar.
So, this beast power will come in, make a covenant for seven years and then in the middle of it that's when the Tribulation begins. From this we can understand that at the beginning of that seven-year period there will be a time—as 1-Thess. 5 tells us--of peace and security. Think about that!
In just America, in our entire history we've only had 12 years without war. That's something—isn't it? And consider the rest of the world.
Now then, we come into Dan. 10, and I want to point out some things here, as well. We won't get into Dan. 11 because I want to wait until we have all the research done from Carl Franklin. But I can tell you that when we go through it you're going to find that only a minority of the kings of the north and the south are the ones who carry out the event. There are many kings of the north and south that are not listed here that do not carry out the event.
The event then tells us which king! When you look at it from Daniel's time going forward you have no idea how long that is going to be, and down to Christ it is right at 500 years.
We will save Dan. 11, but we want to do a little reading in Daniel 10:12; apparently Gabriel was sent to him again: "Then he said to me, 'Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard….'"
Even though you pray and you don't get an answer right away that doesn't mean God hasn't heard. I know there have been things I've prayed about, some of them just a thought and then, lo and behold, God answers it. In several cases this happened years later! Then I looked back and I thought: God answered that prayer! I don't know if you've had anything like that happen to you but you will.
"'…And I have come because of your words…. [God responds to our prayers—doesn't He?] … But the prince of the kingdom of Persia…'" (vs 12-13). This also reveals to us, just like it says in Heb. 2, that this world is under angels—including Satan the devil and the demons and the angels of God—so the prince of Persia here was the angel or demon, probably in this case the demon over Persia.
Sidebar: Does that help explain what's happening in Iran today? Who knows! He's certainly not righteous is he?
"'…Then lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; for I had been there alone with the kings of Persia. Now, I have come to make you understand what shall happen to your people in the latter days… [and this does not end until Dan. 12] …for the vision is yet for many days.' And when he had spoken such words to me, I bowed my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. And behold, one looking like the sons of men touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who stood before me, 'O lord, my sorrows have overwhelmed me because of the vision, and I have retained no strength'" (vs 13-16).
Now then, he [the angel Gabriel] gives Daniel strength and he stands up on his feet.
Daniel 11:1: "And I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him. And now I will declare to you… [this is the angel speaking] …the Truth" (vs 1-2). Very interesting!
We have to go back to Daniel 10:21, a profound and important verse: "But I will show you that which is written in the Scripture of Truth…." Think on that one for a minute.
What is written in heaven at God's throne concerning the plan of God is called "…the Scripture of Truth…."
Daniel 11:1: "And I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him…. [the words of the angel] …And now I will declare to you the Truth" (vs 1-2). Coming from the Scripture of Truth! Let's expand our thinking. What did Jesus declare Himself to be? The First and the Last, the Beginning and the Ending! He said that twice (Rev. 1). He says it later in Rev. 21-22. He says it in Isa. 45.
"…Behold, there shall yet stand up three more kings in Persia. And the fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And when he grows strong, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece" (v 2). That's over 300 years later.
When you read some of these things, and it looks like it comes one after the other, it really doesn't. That's why the Bible is hard to understand. Isn't it amazing?
I've been doing some series on Church at Home (churchathome.org) how that the world is awash in Bibles. Yet, no one understands it, and the Bible tells them what is going to happen. Yet, if they read it they don't know it. All of this gets down to, like I said in the segments on Church at Home, it gets down to three words: Obey My voice!
You have people who say the Bible is out of date. If your mind is closed you're blinded automatically!
Then it talks all about the king of Greece, and then it goes King of the North/King of the South; King of the North/King of the South right up to the end-time. So, what are we dealing with? We are dealing with about 3,000 years of history in Dan. 11! You take that back to Nebuchadnezzar.
We covered that in Dan. 2; that image begins with Nebuchadnezzar and ends with the return of Christ. Examine all of the book of Daniel and it starts with either Nebuchadnezzar or the kings of Persia and comes to the return of Christ. None of this tells us when or where or how. It just tells us the events.
I have some questions that were raised from the book of Revelation, also covering the two witnesses. Remember the man who said, 'I'm one of the two witnesses, but I can't reveal who the other witness is.' Finally, he revealed who it was, and then he was thrown into jail because he was absconding money to Switzerland from the tithes and offerings of the brethren. I suppose that within a year he's going to get out. You know, there are people who are still following him. That's an amazing thing it's an amazing thing what people will do if they really don't check it all by the Bible.
If you want to help study the book of Revelation get the version of the reading of Revelation with all of the special effects put in there by Randy Vild. He did a wonderful job of putting in the music and all that.
People check it out but they still believe the lie, and that's because they want what they believe rather than what God wants us to believe. That's a different thing and that's a mistake that people make right off.
I made it right off when I was first learning about the Bible. I started reading it to find out if I could find in there something that I believed, which was totally wrong! I couldn't find it! Why? Because it wasn't there! So, think of this way: every time you listen to the book of Revelation I've listened to it over and over again; not out of that I want to hear myself speak, but I did read the Word of God and the music is so inspiring that it brings it really to life.
Were going to read a little bit of Rev. 1 then we'll skip over and get to some other things.
Revelation 1:1: "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him, to show to His servants the things that are ordained to come to pass shortly…" Shortly in our minds is different than in God's mind. Why? Because with God a day is a thousand years and a thousand years as a day! Why? Because God inhabits eternity; a whole different level of living.
The reason that we go through what we go through is because God wants us to live on that level with Him as His family. That's a fantastic thing! That is absolutely incredible! So, shortly in our lifetime and many other lifetimes is quite a while.
This was given about 95-98A.D. Here we are in 2016. In my book that's a delayed appointment, but in God's book it is going to be shortly, and where does all of this come from? What do we read in Dan. 10:21? From the Scripture of Truth! Another book in heaven! What do you know about that? You think of this: 'all Scripture is God-breathed' and it is Truth. What is the source of that Truth? God and the 'Scripture of Truth' of heaven! That's an amazing thing!
"…and He made it known, having sent it by His angel to His servant John who gave witness to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, and all the things he saw. Blessed…" (vs 1-3). This is the blessing to claim every time you read it or hear it, because you will find that the Bible is made in such a way that you need to read it and study it and read it and study it over and over again. You will learn more and more things from the same things that you have read in the past, because as you read other parts of the Bible then when you come back to say the book of Revelation again you have more understanding in your mind with which to make connection with the Scriptures. It's a lifetime study!
Verse 3: "Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of this prophecy and who keep the things that are written therein; for the time is at hand."
The time is at hand whatever you're coming close to the end of your life. Isn't that true? Yes! What can you find in here that you need to keep? Have you ever done that study? It talks about:
Verse 4: "John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace and peace be to you from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; and from the seven spirits that are before His throne."
We have a sermon explaining the seven spirits--Spirit of God, Spirit of Man, Seven Spirits of God—what are the seven spirits? What do they do? They're basically the eyes of God telling God what's going on, on the earth. That answers the questions:
Verse 4: "John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace and peace be to you from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; and from the seven spirits that are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth" (vs 4-5).
You tie v 5 together with Matt. 1:18 when Jesus was born he was the firstborn of Mary; He's the Firstborn from among the dead, so Jesus was born again. This tells us you're not born again until the resurrection.
"…To Him Who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood" (v 5). That's the whole Gospel; here you have the four Gospels. Everything that's contained in there is summarized in this verse.
Verse 6: "And has made us kings and priests to God and His Father…" Not yet, but designated to be. If God says something it's as good as done.
"…to Him be the glory and the sovereignty into the ages of eternity. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen" (vs 6-7). Let's analyze v 7 for just a minute:
How is "…every eye…" going to see Him? We'll see that in a minute! You can apply this different ways. At His return "…every eye shall see Him…" That means everyone who's alive. But how is every eye going to see Him, and yet, they have previously died? They have to be brought back to life!
"…those who pierced Him…" There was the soldier who pierced Him with the sword and the ones who nailed in the nails in His hands and His feet. When will they see Him? At the second resurrection! I wonder what they're going to do? I wonder what their thoughts will be? They shall see Him at that time! Here is a very good example of Isa. 28, again. That's the way the Bible is put together.
"…all the tribes of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen."
How will every eye see Him of those who are living when Jesus returns?
For the Scriptural References - CLICK HERE.
So, numbers to God do not count. It is what is your relationship with God that counts, and how you love Him and obey Him. Then we come on down to through the children of Israel, and again it narrows down to a man David. Then that narrows down to the prophesied Messiah. From that comes the Church, and from that then comes all of the rulers for the Kingdom of God; the first resurrection.
In this we have a pattern in the Bible that we will see: the Bible tells us a summary first, then gives us the details; after the summary! The details might not necessarily come in sequence right after the other, because we know the Bible is put together 'here little and there a little,' etc.
As I mentioned in part one, the plan of God is pictured by His Holy Days and Sabbath. And two key important things on that, two simple things are:
- the Sabbath
- the Passover
What God does is He gives the outline and then He puts the details in different places. This is why we have to go through 'a little here, a little there' and 'rightly divide' the Word of God and put it together.
Daniel 9:1: "In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans."
This is just before the 70-year captivity of Judah ended in Babylon. I want you to notice one thing very important: there are patterns in the Bible that follow all the way through. You take what is called 'the Lord's prayer.' It starts out, 'Our Father in heaven, Holy is your name; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'
That's saying a lot right there. Think of all the details that come from that: for the things pertaining to God's plan in the world, and for the things in each life of everyone who is praying to God. Then 'give us our daily bread, forgive us our trespasses.' What we have here is the pattern.
Look at this pattern, v 4: "And I prayed to the LORD my God and made my confession, and said, 'O LORD, the great and awesome God, keeping the covenant and mercy to those who love Him, and to those who keep His commandments… [follows right along with outline] …we have sinned and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, and have turned aside from Your commandments and from Your ordinances'" (vs 4-5).
Confession of sin, forgive us our sins, and that's what He says, forgive. Let's see how it ends, and then we will see God's answer to this prayer.
- it has to do with Israel
- it has to do with the whole plan of God
- it has to do with the coming of the Messiah
- it has to do with the end of the age
- it has to do with the new heavens and the new earth
Verse 24: "Seventy weeks…" These are not 70 weeks of 7-day weeks, but these are 70 weeks of 7-year weeks, like counting to the Jubilee; that is called a heptad. Though it is given in sequence, it is not an unbroken sequence.
Verse 24: "Seventy weeks are decreed upon your people and upon your Holy city [#1]to finish the transgression…"
- What is the transgression?
- How far back does that reach? Reaches back to Satan, then Adam!
- Do we all sin because of Adam? Yes, indeed!
- Do we all die because of Adam? Yes, indeed?
- the binding of Satan forever
- the Lake of Fire for the incorrigible wicked
"…[#3]and to make reconciliation for iniquity… [that took place with the death of Christ] …[#4]and to bring in everlasting righteousness… [that's New Jerusalem—new heaven and new earth] …[#5] and to seal up the vision and prophecy, [#6]and to anoint the Most Holy. Know, therefore, and understand that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem, to Messiah the Prince…" (vs 24-25). It gives a starting point, and this was with Cyrus.
"…shall be seven weeks… [49 years] …and sixty-two weeks. It shall be built again with streets and the wall, even in troublous times" (vs 25). You read the whole history of that in Ezra and Nehemiah and you can read that in Josephus, as well.
So, what were doing and looking at the Scriptures the prophecies, in many cases, are general outlines, then all the details come later. We will see that that's a pattern throughout the whole Bible.
Note the book: The Appointed Times of Jesus the Messiah. Get that because this fully explains the detailed history, which is quite complicated because—we will see in Dan. 10 and you look at the chart in Appendix Y—were looking at about 500 years just to the first coming of Christ. Then over 2000 years to His second coming.
When you have a statement like were told in Isa. 28 'a little here and a little there; line upon line; precept upon precept' and then we 'rightly divide' the Word of God and put it together.
Verse 26: "And after sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off but not for Himself…." What does that mean? It means the crucifixion, and that was not to happen until after 62 weeks. So, that 7 years times 62; just a little quick math you see what you come up with.
It didn't say long after the 62 weeks "…but not for Himself…" because that's for the sins of the whole world. But it doesn't tell us that here. Here is a mistake that people make when they read this:
"…And the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary…." (v 26). When Jesus came, did He destroy the city and the sanctuary? No! He did not! This is not referring to Jesus Christ, but this is referring to the one that we know today will be the beast power that has yet to arise.
"…But his end shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week" (vs 26-27).
When people first read that and they find out the Jesus was crucified in the middle of the week they apply this to Jesus. But it doesn't! It applies to the prince who is going to make an agreement be a seven-year time period. This is where we get in prophecy the last seven years, and there quite a few things that fit into that last seven years.
So, we had the building of the temple and after that is completed we come down to the time of Malachi and a prophecy of John the Baptist, and then down to Christ. Christ is not baptized until after the 62nd week has ended, and that ended on the on the last day of the 6th month, and the 1st day of the 7th month began the 63rd year.
In that year Jesus was baptized and His temptation started on the Day of Atonement, which was also a Jubilee. Now, that's profound because think of all the details that have been added to this Scripture through the Calculated Hebrew Calendar and through other Scriptures.
Furthermore, it says that Jesus came at the appointed time, and He died at the appointed time. All that brings in the Calculated Hebrew Calendar.
So, this beast power will come in, make a covenant for seven years and then in the middle of it that's when the Tribulation begins. From this we can understand that at the beginning of that seven-year period there will be a time—as 1-Thess. 5 tells us--of peace and security. Think about that!
In just America, in our entire history we've only had 12 years without war. That's something—isn't it? And consider the rest of the world.
Now then, we come into Dan. 10, and I want to point out some things here, as well. We won't get into Dan. 11 because I want to wait until we have all the research done from Carl Franklin. But I can tell you that when we go through it you're going to find that only a minority of the kings of the north and the south are the ones who carry out the event. There are many kings of the north and south that are not listed here that do not carry out the event.
The event then tells us which king! When you look at it from Daniel's time going forward you have no idea how long that is going to be, and down to Christ it is right at 500 years.
We will save Dan. 11, but we want to do a little reading in Daniel 10:12; apparently Gabriel was sent to him again: "Then he said to me, 'Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard….'"
Even though you pray and you don't get an answer right away that doesn't mean God hasn't heard. I know there have been things I've prayed about, some of them just a thought and then, lo and behold, God answers it. In several cases this happened years later! Then I looked back and I thought: God answered that prayer! I don't know if you've had anything like that happen to you but you will.
"'…And I have come because of your words…. [God responds to our prayers—doesn't He?] … But the prince of the kingdom of Persia…'" (vs 12-13). This also reveals to us, just like it says in Heb. 2, that this world is under angels—including Satan the devil and the demons and the angels of God—so the prince of Persia here was the angel or demon, probably in this case the demon over Persia.
Sidebar: Does that help explain what's happening in Iran today? Who knows! He's certainly not righteous is he?
"'…Then lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; for I had been there alone with the kings of Persia. Now, I have come to make you understand what shall happen to your people in the latter days… [and this does not end until Dan. 12] …for the vision is yet for many days.' And when he had spoken such words to me, I bowed my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. And behold, one looking like the sons of men touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who stood before me, 'O lord, my sorrows have overwhelmed me because of the vision, and I have retained no strength'" (vs 13-16).
Now then, he [the angel Gabriel] gives Daniel strength and he stands up on his feet.
Daniel 11:1: "And I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him. And now I will declare to you… [this is the angel speaking] …the Truth" (vs 1-2). Very interesting!
We have to go back to Daniel 10:21, a profound and important verse: "But I will show you that which is written in the Scripture of Truth…." Think on that one for a minute.
What is written in heaven at God's throne concerning the plan of God is called "…the Scripture of Truth…."
- God is true
- His Word is true
- His commandments are true
- all His precepts are true
- Jesus is 'the Way the Truth and the Life'
Daniel 11:1: "And I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him…. [the words of the angel] …And now I will declare to you the Truth" (vs 1-2). Coming from the Scripture of Truth! Let's expand our thinking. What did Jesus declare Himself to be? The First and the Last, the Beginning and the Ending! He said that twice (Rev. 1). He says it later in Rev. 21-22. He says it in Isa. 45.
"…Behold, there shall yet stand up three more kings in Persia. And the fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And when he grows strong, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece" (v 2). That's over 300 years later.
When you read some of these things, and it looks like it comes one after the other, it really doesn't. That's why the Bible is hard to understand. Isn't it amazing?
I've been doing some series on Church at Home (churchathome.org) how that the world is awash in Bibles. Yet, no one understands it, and the Bible tells them what is going to happen. Yet, if they read it they don't know it. All of this gets down to, like I said in the segments on Church at Home, it gets down to three words: Obey My voice!
You have people who say the Bible is out of date. If your mind is closed you're blinded automatically!
Then it talks all about the king of Greece, and then it goes King of the North/King of the South; King of the North/King of the South right up to the end-time. So, what are we dealing with? We are dealing with about 3,000 years of history in Dan. 11! You take that back to Nebuchadnezzar.
We covered that in Dan. 2; that image begins with Nebuchadnezzar and ends with the return of Christ. Examine all of the book of Daniel and it starts with either Nebuchadnezzar or the kings of Persia and comes to the return of Christ. None of this tells us when or where or how. It just tells us the events.
I have some questions that were raised from the book of Revelation, also covering the two witnesses. Remember the man who said, 'I'm one of the two witnesses, but I can't reveal who the other witness is.' Finally, he revealed who it was, and then he was thrown into jail because he was absconding money to Switzerland from the tithes and offerings of the brethren. I suppose that within a year he's going to get out. You know, there are people who are still following him. That's an amazing thing it's an amazing thing what people will do if they really don't check it all by the Bible.
If you want to help study the book of Revelation get the version of the reading of Revelation with all of the special effects put in there by Randy Vild. He did a wonderful job of putting in the music and all that.
People check it out but they still believe the lie, and that's because they want what they believe rather than what God wants us to believe. That's a different thing and that's a mistake that people make right off.
I made it right off when I was first learning about the Bible. I started reading it to find out if I could find in there something that I believed, which was totally wrong! I couldn't find it! Why? Because it wasn't there! So, think of this way: every time you listen to the book of Revelation I've listened to it over and over again; not out of that I want to hear myself speak, but I did read the Word of God and the music is so inspiring that it brings it really to life.
Were going to read a little bit of Rev. 1 then we'll skip over and get to some other things.
Revelation 1:1: "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him, to show to His servants the things that are ordained to come to pass shortly…" Shortly in our minds is different than in God's mind. Why? Because with God a day is a thousand years and a thousand years as a day! Why? Because God inhabits eternity; a whole different level of living.
The reason that we go through what we go through is because God wants us to live on that level with Him as His family. That's a fantastic thing! That is absolutely incredible! So, shortly in our lifetime and many other lifetimes is quite a while.
This was given about 95-98A.D. Here we are in 2016. In my book that's a delayed appointment, but in God's book it is going to be shortly, and where does all of this come from? What do we read in Dan. 10:21? From the Scripture of Truth! Another book in heaven! What do you know about that? You think of this: 'all Scripture is God-breathed' and it is Truth. What is the source of that Truth? God and the 'Scripture of Truth' of heaven! That's an amazing thing!
"…and He made it known, having sent it by His angel to His servant John who gave witness to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, and all the things he saw. Blessed…" (vs 1-3). This is the blessing to claim every time you read it or hear it, because you will find that the Bible is made in such a way that you need to read it and study it and read it and study it over and over again. You will learn more and more things from the same things that you have read in the past, because as you read other parts of the Bible then when you come back to say the book of Revelation again you have more understanding in your mind with which to make connection with the Scriptures. It's a lifetime study!
Verse 3: "Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of this prophecy and who keep the things that are written therein; for the time is at hand."
The time is at hand whatever you're coming close to the end of your life. Isn't that true? Yes! What can you find in here that you need to keep? Have you ever done that study? It talks about:
- the love of God talks
- the commandments of God
- the Holy Days of God
- the testimony of Jesus Christ
- the spirit of prophecy
Verse 4: "John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace and peace be to you from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; and from the seven spirits that are before His throne."
We have a sermon explaining the seven spirits--Spirit of God, Spirit of Man, Seven Spirits of God—what are the seven spirits? What do they do? They're basically the eyes of God telling God what's going on, on the earth. That answers the questions:
- How does God know when a sparrow falls?
- How does God know how many hairs are on our head?
- What are our thoughts?
Verse 4: "John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace and peace be to you from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; and from the seven spirits that are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth" (vs 4-5).
You tie v 5 together with Matt. 1:18 when Jesus was born he was the firstborn of Mary; He's the Firstborn from among the dead, so Jesus was born again. This tells us you're not born again until the resurrection.
"…To Him Who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood" (v 5). That's the whole Gospel; here you have the four Gospels. Everything that's contained in there is summarized in this verse.
Verse 6: "And has made us kings and priests to God and His Father…" Not yet, but designated to be. If God says something it's as good as done.
"…to Him be the glory and the sovereignty into the ages of eternity. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen" (vs 6-7). Let's analyze v 7 for just a minute:
How is "…every eye…" going to see Him? We'll see that in a minute! You can apply this different ways. At His return "…every eye shall see Him…" That means everyone who's alive. But how is every eye going to see Him, and yet, they have previously died? They have to be brought back to life!
"…those who pierced Him…" There was the soldier who pierced Him with the sword and the ones who nailed in the nails in His hands and His feet. When will they see Him? At the second resurrection! I wonder what they're going to do? I wonder what their thoughts will be? They shall see Him at that time! Here is a very good example of Isa. 28, again. That's the way the Bible is put together.
"…all the tribes of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen."
How will every eye see Him of those who are living when Jesus returns?
For the Scriptural References - CLICK HERE.
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