Studies:
1. The Bible
2. God Controles the Weather.
3. Time of Jesus Retern.
4. The Coming antichrist.
The Bible :
The Bible: written by over forty writers, over a 1600 yr. period, and at the same time has only one author- God. (2 Tim. 3:16) It starts with creation, the fall of man through sin, death as the result of sin, and God unfolding His plan for redemption. At the beginning of this plan God chose a people through which he would be born in His son. This people are the nation of Israel.
Much of the Old Testament (old covenant) God had with man) traces the history of Israel, a nation that God Himself established. God gave Israel his law that must be followed for salvation. Animals were to be sacrificed as a covering for sin. God’s law says the wages of sin is death. The death of an animal did not take away sin but was a covering until the payment for sin was made by the death of Jesus on the cross.
When Jesus came, He kept the law and lived a sinless life, then gave his life as a ransom for sin. God raised Jesus from the dead after three days, showing His sacrifice was accepted. This is the start of the New Testament, being saved through faith and trust in Him (Jn.3:16).
Israel rejected Jesus and in so doing brought Gods judgment upon them. The Jews were expecting the messiah to defeat their enemies and set up His kingdom in Jerusalem, for it was prophesied He would do so. First however God had to deliver us from sin, a more oppressive enemy- bringing death. God is not finished. Though God drove Israel from their land and scattered them throughout the earth He promised to bring them back to their land. This happened in 1948.
Jesus second coming is yet to happen. Jesus spoke of a time when the nations of the world would be at war and against Israel, a time of great tribulation. If God did not cut this time short, all flesh would be destroyed (Mt. 24). This happens before the second coming. Over 180 prophesies were fulfilled at Christ’s first coming, and over 200 to be fulfilled for his second.
Factuality :
1. The Bible- over one quarter of the bible is prophecy.
2. Prophets speaking in the name of the Lord must be 100% accurate,
(Deut. 18:20 -22).
Just Think:
God has not cast us to the earth alone- He’s given us an instruction manual (so to speak) His word. God, reaching out to mankind with an invitation for all to join with Him and be part of His kingdom.
In conclusion:
The Bible is the Word of God..
God controls the weather:
God created us, we are all descended from Adam, the first man. Through Adam a sin nature has passed to all humanity. God shows His love for us by sending His Son, Jesus. (Jn. 3:16) for redemption from sin. This he did openly with many witnesses.
He also gives us his word, the Bible. To often though, Gods word is ignored or not followed. If God can’t get our attention through His word, He will try other means. The bible has many examples.
In the book of Hosea, Hosea is told to take a prostitute as a wife. Latter, after his wife is unfaithful, he is told to take her back. This is a living illustration of Gods love for Israel, taking back Israel after being unfaithful. Ezekiel is told to shave himself to show that God is about to remove Israel from the land. In the New Testament, Zacharias (the father of John the Baptist) because of his unbelief was made mute until the birth of John.
God also uses the weather, plagues, locusts, warfare to reach us. Though God has placed the universe and climate cycles in order they are also a means to get our attention.
There is and will be “Climate Change”
Luke 21:25 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; NKJV
Rom 8:21-23
because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. NKJV
Factuality:
1. The earth’s atmosphere is made up of 78 % nitrogen, 21 % oxygen. That is 99 % of the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide (Co2) is currently at about 0.040 parts per million. That comes to about 1/25 of 1 percent of the Atmosphere. In the 1800s, Co2 was at about 0.0288 parts per million. The increase in Co2 since the 1800’s is 0.0112 parts per million, or an additional 1/90 of 1 percent.
2. Plants “breath in carbon dioxide and breath out oxygen. (To help the earth one might want to plant a tree).
3. Cars today are some 100 times cleaner in emissions as cars of the 1960s.
4. The dust bowl years of the 1930s and the record heat of 1936 brought drought and some of the hottest summers on record. The Co2 back then was only .031 ppm.
Just Think:
1. Large cities in the 1800 were filled with smoke from wood and coal burning stoves, fireplaces and heaters. There was no electric for sewage pumps, horse dung was scattered throughout the city. What a blessing oil has been for health, welfare, and food production for our increasing populations.
2. The world blames, substitutes, refutes, the climate factor. How convenient to blame and tax what benefits man rather than considering man’s apostacy to the God of the Bible, our Creator, as a factor.
From God:
When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chron 7;13-15
NKJV See also Hag. 1;9-11; Ps. 135:7; Amos 4;7-8.
In Conclusion:
It is God that has control over the weather. It is God that has given us natural resources. He has provided for man’s salvation.
It is man’s responsibility to use natural resources wisely, to be moral, to choose what is right. God has shown us the way.
Time when Jesus is to return:
Jesus Himself gives us the answer.
Privately, the disciples asked Jesus in Matthew 24, When will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming, and the end of the age? Jesus answers them, He describes events that will take place just before His coming. that lawlessness will abound, that the abomination of desolation will stand in the Holly Place, great tribulation will come upon the world, and all flesh would be destroyed unless those days were shortened. Then in verse 30, Jesus tells of the Son of Man coming on the clouds.
Jesus then answers the question, “when will these things be” by giving them the parable of the fig tree.
Matt 24:32-34
"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near — at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. NKJV
“This Generation”
Jesus declared and even emphasized by stating assuredly, this generation will not pass till all these things take place.
Jesus spoke of another Generation:
Matt 23:31-36
"Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. NKJV
Jesus, in speaking of the generation He was in, told of the judgement that would come upon them. Not only were they about to crucify the Son of God, but they will yet persecute and even kill those he will send them. He emphasized that generation also with “assuredly, I say to you”. This judgement, from Able to Zechariah will include the invasion of Israel by Rome, the taking of Jerusalem, destruction of the Temple, and the final conquering of all Israel with the taking of Masada. Many Jewish people killed or enslaved with a remnant escaping, scattered though out the world. All this took place in that generation.
Generation of Christ’s first coming:
Birth of Jesus, Triumphal entry / Cross,
Jewish revolt / Destruction of Temple/ Masada
1 BC- 1 AD, 32 AD , 66-70- 74 AD
|………………|_________________|___|___|_
Though this judgement came upon Israel, God has not forsaken them, at the time of the end, God will bring them back to their land. (see Ezekiel 36-37)
The Time of Jesus return:
The parable of the fig tree and all trees gives us the answer. In scripture the fig tree represents the nation of Israel. Jeremiah 24 and Hosea 9:10, Israel is likened to figs. In the New Testiment, Luke 13:6 seems to be a reference to Israel.
By combining this parable with the same told by Mark and Luke, it tells us when the start of this this generation will be. We are told by Jesus “learn this” when its branch has already budding, become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you will know for yourselves that summer is now near- at the doors.
The fig tree, coming back to life after a long winter, budding, putting forth its leaves, represents the rebirth of the nation of Israel- May 14th. 1948. The birth of Israel is not the start of this generation. (as I once believed). The branches becoming tender, budding, putting forth its leaves, takes place in the spring. The start of this generation takes place in the summer. Summer is a time when a tree greatly expands its growth. Israel greatly expanded its growth in June of 1967. As in the parable,”you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near — at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place” This may be the “this generation”.
A Bible Generation:
1. How long is a generation in the Bible? Abram was told in Genisis 15:12-14 that his descendants will be strangers in a land for 400 years. Four generations. (This when lifespans were much greater than now).
2. In Numbers 32:13-14 it was a forty-year generation.
3. The Generation exiled to Babylon was for seventy years. Jeremiah 7:29, 25:11-12.
Generation of Christ’s second coming
Birth of nation,
6 Day War,
Peace Treaty w/Egypt,
7 yr. Peace Treaty w/ Many (Daniel 9:26)
1948 AD 1967 1979 7 years
|……………|________|_________________|___|__||_
About:
1. Fig trees have no blossoms on there branches, they are actually inside the fig.
2. For the winter when trees become dormant, they had sensed a change in daylight and became tolerant to cold temperatures.
Just Think:
God tells us in Isaiah 42:9 that He will declare new things before they spring up. Jesus tells us that not one (so to say) dot of the i or cross of the t in the Law or Prophets will go unfulfilled. Mt. 5:17-18.
In Conclusion:
The return of Jesus is near.
The Coming antichrist
The Bible tells of a man coming to power that will lead the world to its near destruction. He is given many names in scripture such as “the antichrist, man of sin, son of perdition, the beast”. We have been given much in the description of this man.
The antichrist, (son of perdition) is to be revealed at a time of moral decline:
2 Thess 2:3-4
unless the falling away (apostasy) comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition. NKJV
Once a part of the church:
1 John 2:18-19
Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; NKJV
Types of the antichrist:
Nimrod-
Gen 10:8-9 Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord NKJV
Nimrod, described as mighty. He was the founder of great cities such as Nineveh and Babel (Babylon), and apparent leader in an attempt to build a tower whose top is in the heavens. The tower of Bable (great ziggurat) was an attempt in uniting the people with a name for themselves, a religious center in defiance to God. (Gen 11:4)
Antiochus IV-
Revealed by Daniel. He was the little horn which grew exceedingly great in Dan ch. 8. This little horn would exalt himself. Through transgressions, he will take away the daily sacrifices, cast truth to the ground. This was a reference to the sacrifices in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, over 300 years before these events took place. At the time of Daniels writing the temple in Jerusalem was in ruins.
Further descriptions in Daniel 11:21-35 also details him coming in to power peaceably with flatteries, promises. Antiochus came against Jerusalem, forbid Jewish observances, took away the daily sacrifices and set up the abomination of desolation. In the temple he set up an image of zeus (Jupiter) and sacrificed pigs on the alter (an unclean sacrifice to the Jews.) Over a hundred thousand were killed.
In both of these sections in Daniel while describing the atrocities of Antiochus, the prophecies jump time and concludes with describing the man of sin.
Leviathan-
Job 41 describes the Leviathan (the dragon of the sea). His power, scales are his pride, heart as stone. Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail. He is the king over children of pride. Leviathan is further mentioned in the Psalms, and in Isiah. (Note, in Job leviathan is described as having one head, in Psalm 74 as having heads).
Judas Iscariot-
One of the twelve disciples. Betrayed Christ. When Jesus told of one of them betraying Him, the other disciples were perplexed of whom He spoke. Judas is the only one in the Bible called the son of perdition other than the man of sin. Satan is mentioned as entering Judas on two different occasions. (John 13:27; 22:3; 2 Thes Luke. 2:3).
Coming to Power:
Dan 8:24 pt
24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; NKJV
Dan 7:8 pt
8. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous (great things) words. NKJV
Dan 7:24 pt
He shall be different from the first ones, (former) And shall subdue three kings. NKJV
Even as Nimrod, the antichrist is described as a mighty man, As Antiochus he will take power peacefully speaking great things. Revelation 17 reveals that he will serve as a king, loose his position, and become a king once more. Daniel 7 tells that as the 11 horn he will be different from the former.
His Passion:
Dan 11:37-39
But in their place (his estate) he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, NKJV
In his estate, His god, a god of strength, he shall honor with gold and silver, precious stones and pleasant things…with a foreign god. which his fathers knew not.
Accomplishments:
1. Finds favor with the Jews. John 5:43-44 pt.- Jesus, “I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive”. NKJV
2. Obtains great power. Rev 13:4 pt.- "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" NKJV
3. Takes power on a platform of peace. 1 Thess 5:3 pt.- For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them,
4. Confirms a seven-year agreement with many Dan 9:27pt.- Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week, He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. NKJV In the middle of the seven years he causes the sacrifices and offerings to cease, for this to happen there needs to be a temple in Jerusalem. This agreement may well authorize the building of the temple.
Suffers Deadly Head Wound:
This eleventh king from Daniel 7, eighth king from Revelation 17 will suffer a deadly head wound, even unto death. Rev 13:3 pt-And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. NKJV
The word here for deadly in the Greek is thanatou, meaning death of the body. This is the same word Jesus used in John 11:4 to describe Lazarus. Though Lazarus had died, Jesus called him back to life. The antichrist is allowed the same.
Cast into the bottomless pit:
Rev 11:7pt.- the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. NKJV
Rev 17:8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. NKJV
During his death experience the man of sin will be cast into the place of the bottomless pit, then brought back to life.
Becomes the power of Satan, the Son of Perdition:
8:24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. NKJV
Thess 2:3-4 pt.- and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. NKJV
Rev 13:4pt.-So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; NKJV
Revelation 17 reveals that the antichrist becomes a king on two different occasions, described as “was (among the seven, then out from them), was not, (was not a king), and will be the eighth. He comes from a nation represented as a beast. Daniel in ch. 7, tells of this nation by describing four beasts. A lion, a bear, and a leopard. The man of sin arises from the fourth beast. This beast seems to be a composite of the beasts before it. Revelation 13 confirms this, only in Revelation this beast has seven heads whereas the beast in Daniel, described as being dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong, has one head.
Revelation 12 describes Satan being cast out of heaven in the midst of this seven-year period, (the conclusion of Daniel 9:24, seventy-week prophecy). Satan, is represented as a dragon with seven heads, having great wrath knowing he has a short time left. This short time is for a times, time and a half, some three- and one-half years. Satan’s work will be through the son of perdition, the antichrist, even as he worked though Judas to betray Christ.
The beast in Revelation 13 has seven heads, the dragon having united with the beast. This uniting seeming would have takin place from the bottomless pit, the depiction of seven heads after Satan was forced out of heaven to the earth in ch. 12. The devil had offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world in Matthew 4:8. He will make this same offer to the man of sin.
Isa. 14:12, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!
Physical Consequences from the Deadly Head Wound:
Zech 11:17 Woe to the worthless shepherd, who leaves the flock! A sword shall be against his arm and against his right eye; His arm shall completely wither, and his right eye shall be totally blinded." NKJV
Other consequences may be implied, such as when he defiles the temple (Matt.24, 2 Thes.4) He is mentioned as both sitting in the temple and standing in the Holy Place, possibly in need of a wheel chair?
Attempts Great Things:
Dan 7:8 pt.- in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words. NKJV
Dan 8:24 pt.- And shall prosper and thrive; NKJV
Dan 7:25 pt.- And shall intend to change times and law. NKJV
He will unite with 10 kings, (though not kings, but receive power as kings). This may be to divide the world into 10 economic zones.
Rev 17:12-13 "The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.
Rev 13:16-17 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. NKJV
Dan 11:39pt-. and divide the land for gain. NKJV
Deceives:
1. The Jewish people:
John 5:43-44 (Jesua speaking) “I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive”. NKJV
2. The Saints:
Dan 7:21-22pt.- the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,
3. The Elect:
Matt 24:24-25 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. NKJV
4. All peoples:
Rev 13:16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark…
5. Jewish authorities:
Matt 24:15 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" NKJV
Organizes the Nations of the world to fight God:
After a short time of peace when the antichrist takes power, there will then be wars that break out across the globe. This told in 1 Thes. 5:3; Daniel 11:40-45; Joel; Zech. 14; and Revelation, along with many other scriptures describing this time. With God’s intervention, the seven seals having been opened, the decimation of judgement from the seven trumpets, the witnessing of the 144,000, Gods two witnesses being resurrected for all to see, and the rapture having taken place, The son of perdition is able to convince the nations of the world to turn their weapons on Christ…
Ps 2:1-3, Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 "Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us." NKJV
Calculates to 666:
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
Judgement of the man of sin:
At Christ’s return in Revelation chapter 19 The beast (man of sin), will be cast alive into the lake of fire. (One reason he will not be cast into the bottomless pit may be that he has already been there).
Return of the Lord:
Zech 8:3
"Thus says the Lord: 'I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of the Lord of hosts, The Holy Mountain.' NKJV
Matt 24:30-31
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. NKJV
Rev 19:11
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. NKJV
In conclusion:
John, (the desciple and writer of Revelation), his conclusion after his writing adds a warning not to add or takeaway the words of this prophecy. (Seems that applies to all of scripture).
Rev 22:20-21
He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. NKJV