Study Six
scottSTANLEY
(All bracketed [ ] words inserted into the following scriptures are the author’s paraphrase.)
In this study we are going to begin looking at the prophecies dealing with end
time events. I pray that you have an open heart for what you are about to
hear. I am going to try to explain as the Lord gives me His wisdom, His
understanding, His words, to convey to you things that I know in most
denominational groups would be totally rejected. And yet I believe that I can
stand before you on a solid foundation of biblical evidence for what I’m
getting ready to share with you.
Two particular doctrines come into my mind when I think of end time
events, that play such an important part in the way
we interpret the book of Revelation. These two doctrines deal with the
rapture of the church and the antichrist. How we look at those
teachings is going to make a major difference in how we interpret the
prophecies found in Revelation. Already, we have looked at the one God, the
Father and Son, the Holy Spirit. We have looked at abiding in Jesus Christ
and learning to hear the voice, being in the kingdom of God. We have looked
at symbols and learning a way of interpreting the words of scripture. And I
think that is where I want to start, because I feel impressed to re-emphasize
Bible interpretation so that when we look at the rapture and the antichrist,
we’re not just simply only applying these things outwardly, but we’re
beginning to get a picture of ourselves.
You see, as you listen to these studies and as we dig deeper and deeper into
the word of God, you’re going to discover God would have a people on this
earth walking in the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. And
the only way we are going to do that is to learn what it means to trust in Him
so that He can make the changes in us – the things that need to be
changed, rectified, wounds that need to be healed – the unsanctified things
about us that need to be sanctified. We have to be able to see ourselves and
we have to understand Him and, in His eyes, what is holy and unholy, what is
right and just, and what is not right.
We’ve got to learn to think the way He thinks – that is why, in Isaiah 55, the
scripture we read where the Lord says: “My thoughts are not your
thoughts, My ways are not your ways.” If He
does not think like us, His words are not like ours. Now, it was suggested to
me that God would not write a book and put it in such a code, if you want to
use the word code, that people could not readily understand it – and I
would suggest to you, that’s true. I think the Lord has given us something
that we can understand, but I also want to tell you that the deeper things He
is going to have to give to you are spoken in a way you will not understand
except He tell you.
Now I want to prove that to you from scripture first of all, again, before we
get into the rapture and the antichrist, because the principle I’m going to
lay out here applies to both of those doctrines. And if we can learn to see
these things not simply as something outside of us, but see them as something
taking place within also, we’re going to be much further down the road
– and the deep things of God will begin to unfold for you in a new and living
way. I’m going to read from 1 Peter, chapter 1, something I’ve read in past
studies, especially covering some of the things we looked at in “Men of
Symbol,” and I want to re-emphasize a couple of points for you:
1 Peter 1:10-12
10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who
prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in
them did signify, when it [or Christ’s spirit] testified beforehand the
sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did
minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have
preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost [Spirit] sent down from
heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
That is a lot of words to have to look at, but the point you’ve got to see,
number one, it was the spirit of Christ speaking through the Old
Testament prophets. As these men recorded what we today call the Old
Testament scriptures – and though I believe this applies also to the new –
this particular verse is talking about the Old Testament, the prophets of
old. Christ was testifying through them, before the events happened, of His
suffering and the glory that should follow. He also revealed to these Old
Testament prophets that they were not ministering to
themselves, or to people in their lifetime alone, but what they were
saying would be applied and taught to people who would exist after Christ’s
incarnation and the sufferings, and so on.
Main, main point: The book is written for us, as Paul states in 1
Corinthians 10:11, upon whom the end of the world is come, but also, it
was Christ speaking through the prophets. Now that is key, because if Christ
spoke through these prophets – I want you to look with me at Mark chapter 4
and, in Mark 4, verse 34, there is an interesting scripture about the way
Christ taught:
Mark 4:34
34 But without a parable spake he not unto them:
and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
When Jesus Christ taught the multitudes, He spoke in parables only.
When He wasn’t speaking in a parable is when He was explaining to His
disciples the meanings of what He had said to the multitudes. In His
teaching, He only taught in parables. What’s a “parable”? That word means
to lay down alongside of – in other words, it
is a story that teaches you another story. It helps you to see a concept that
otherwise might be hard for you to understand. It just simply means to
lay down alongside of; to put beside something
– and here’s the point: When Jesus Christ taught the multitudes, He spoke
only in parables.
Who wrote the Old Testament? We just read the text – the spirit of Christ
moved on those prophets of old. If Christ, when He was standing on this earth
in His humanity, spoke only in parables, why would He have been any different
in speaking through the Old Testament prophets? Why would there be any
difference? Now, what I’m trying to tell you is this, a rule of
thumb for your Bible interpretation: Yes, the Old Testament is true. Yes,
the stories in the Old Testament are literally true, so that anybody can come
along and pick up the book and read the story of the flood, read the story of
David and Goliath, read the stories the Lord has laid out for us. But it is
just as true that, just as those stories teach a literal truth, every one of
them has been laid down beside a spiritual truth – so that, by using
that story as a parable or an allegory, we are able to look at another
spiritual truth. Now I want to give you an example of how the apostle Paul did
this. This was in our last study, Men of Symbol, but turn with me to
Galatians, chapter 4 and, in this chapter, I want you to see how Paul explains
the covenants:
Galatians 4:21-24
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye [you] not hear the law?
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid,
the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born
after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants;
...
Now stop – if you go back and read the story of Abraham, you’ll never find the
word parable or allegory or shadow. The Lord never tells you
that you could use that story allegorically – but here, through the apostle
Paul, the Lord is telling us, yes, you can do that. I believe, through
what the Lord has revealed to me, that Christ is the one who spoke through the
prophets, and Christ taught only in parables. Why should I then not be able
to go back and look at the Old Testament allegorically, and apply those truths
spiritually? In other words, to take a literal story such as Abraham, Hagar,
Sarah, their children – and see spiritual truth and concepts that, perhaps,
are hard for me to see but, knowing the Lord has recorded these particular
stories for me, so that I can see a higher truth.
Now, if you go on to read this in Galatians, Paul begins equating what each
woman represents, and so on – and the sons, and how they’re the two
covenants: one is free, one leads into bondage. He goes on to
explain, and he’s pretty accurate – not pretty accurate, we know he’s accurate
– but he’s pretty profound, and fine tuned in how he points out what equals
what. So let me give you another example: When we read the story of David and
Goliath, looking at the story of David and Goliath, I see David, who has
already been anointed to be king, and I see the Philistine, Goliath, and how
Goliath challenges all of the Israelites – and how David is the only one who
can stand against the giant. David does this by trusting in God and, in order
to do so, David goes to the river and collects five smooth stones from
the river – he brings them up, and he faces Goliath without fear – and
he takes a rock, and puts it in the forehead of that giant.
That is a true story – it literally is true – but what if we looked at
that “allegorically”? What if we took the meaning of those symbols used in
that story and applied it inwardly. For instance: What is a “river”?
“Water” represents thought – a “river” is a stream of thought.
A “stone” is a concept. “Five” is the number that represents God’s
grace. “David” represents the Anointed One, the Christ.
“Goliath,” the giant that defies all the armies of Israel, the giant all of us
have to deal with, is self. Only David can take the grace of God,
collect the five smooth stones from the river – that stream of thought – and
put a rock in the forehead of the giant, slay him and cut off his head. You
see, if I take that story spiritually, then I see how Christ will help me
defeat self. In other words, that story becomes a reality for me right
now – it isn’t just simply about “David.” It isn’t just simply about how he
slew “Goliath,” but it is also about how Christ helps us conquer and defeat
self; how only Christ can do that.
Now I’m telling you, every story in the Old Testament has a spiritual meaning
– if we will seek the Lord to give us insight as to why He wanted that story
recorded – because, honestly, when you look at Adam, say from Genesis to
Malachi, you know good and well the stories of humanity …there are millions of
stories, billions of stories of humanity. But, for some reason, the Lord
selected particular ones. I personally think it’s because they teach a
spiritual truth. Let me show you something else: Turn with me in your
Bibles to Hebrews, chapter 9 – and, in Hebrews chapter 9, let’s start reading
at verse 8:
Hebrews 9:8-9
8 The Holy Ghost [Spirit] this signifying, that the way into the holiest of
all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both
gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as
pertaining to the conscience;
This word “figure” is the very same word translated throughout the New
Testament as parable. Here, the King James simply put figure, and
Paul is using the word, telling you that the sanctuary itself was teaching a
parable. If the sanctuary was teaching a parable,
why not the entire law? In fact, in Romans 7:14 Paul writes,
we know that the law is spiritual.
The Lord began to give me a rule of thumb for Bible interpretation. Again, I
can look at it and see a literal truth, but I also can take this and see a
spiritual truth – or something that will apply to me right now, this moment,
and bring the reality of Jesus Christ to me right now. Now with that idea, I
want to read 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 about the rapture – what I was told
was the “rapture.” Now, as we go through this study, instead of using the
word “rapture,” I want to use the word resurrection, because
“resurrection” is something, is a word, I can see in the book – “rapture” is
not. Rapture, that word is actually a Latin word. It’s found nowhere
in the Bible, and the expression of the rapture, as I was taught, is seen
beginning in 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4. Let’s start reading at verse 13:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which
are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which
sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [The King
James has put “bring with him.” The word actually is lead away with him.]
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that
we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent
[precede] them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall
[will] rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in
the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the
Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Now, my point, applying the principle of a literal event, but also teaching a
spiritual truth is this: When I look at the resurrection, and I see God’s
people taken into the heavens and meeting the Lord in the air, and forever
being with the Lord in the air – I would like to say to you that if you are
not experiencing the resurrection now, inwardly, between your ears, and
meeting Him in the heavens (as there are three levels of understanding – the
“heavens,” the “earth” and the “sea” – and the heavens represent God’s,
the way God understands a thing) – if you are not experiencing the
resurrection and have not met the Lord in the heavens, to forever be with Him
in the heavens …that has got to happen first, or you will never literally see
that fulfillment in your life. Just as the Lord is going to raise the dead
and take them into heaven – meet them in the air and forever be with them – I
believe that event happens because it is the outward expression of an
inward truth. That is something that we have to experience right now. Let
me show you something that points to that – look at Colossians, chapter 1. In
Colossians 1, let’s read verses 12 and 13:
Colossians 1:12-13
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath [has] made us meet to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath [has - past tense] delivered us from the power [authority] of
darkness, and hath [has] translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
You see, if you are abiding in Christ – if you have learned the teaching from
your heart, to listen to Christ, allowing His mind to come down and fill you –
you have been translated into the kingdom. You should be experiencing
“resurrection power” in your life. It’s totally different than simply reading
the book and trying to do what you think it’s telling you to do – it’s
totally different. Listening to Jesus Christ and living moment by moment
in His mind puts you in the kingdom, and you have
already been translated into the kingdom. The authority
that Satan has in this world – you’ve been translated away and taken away from
the authority of darkness already. So I’m here to tell you, especially
for the last generation church, God has revealed this truth to you – and if
you are not living in that, and choosing not to experience that and thinking
it’s untrue – then, for you, you’ll never literally see the literal
translation because you’re refusing to experience the spiritual one.
I know there are people in my past, in our past, that were never given this
truth – and the Lord is going to raise them. But never forget, this book was
written for those upon whom the end of the world is come. It’s written
for us – He is revealing a higher truth – and this principle of interpretation
is the way I’m going to be applying this all through the book of Revelation.
When you begin to see these prophecies unfold in Revelation, never forget, it
is something that takes place inwardly. He has got to help us
understand who we are, who we are in Christ, who He is, and what His hope for
us is.
Now with that, we’re getting into some pretty deep things, and I don’t want to
take any more time speaking on these things, in this way – putting these
things inward right now. I want to take a look at the “rapture” itself. It’s
important that we understand the timing of what He is talking about here
because, when you understand the timing of it, again, you’ll be able to apply
this inwardly. And let me tell you, if things don’t fit inwardly, then
it isn’t accurate the way you’re applying it outwardly because, I’m
telling you, the literal and the stories – the things the Lord has given us –
lay down beside a higher concept. He’s given you a higher truth, and He
has got to be the One to interpret it for you – no prophecy is of any
private interpretation. Why? Well, holy men of God
spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, if the Holy Spirit is what spoke through these men, the Holy Spirit
is going to have to tell you why they wrote what they wrote, depending on how
deep you want to go.
So, looking at the timing of the resurrection – the timing of it – I
want to just read some scripture for you, and I want to go back to 1
Thessalonians. We read, a few moments ago, 1
Thessalonians, chapter 4 – and when Paul wrote this letter, he didn’t put
chapters in it. That was done after the fact, so Paul is still writing about
this event when you come to what, in your King James Bible, says “chapter 5.”
He’s still talking about the same event – the resurrection. I want to read
and, again, we’re looking at timing – I pray to be able to come back to
1 Thessalonians 4 and pick out a few things in this to point out for you.
Right now, the timing of the event – let’s start in 1 Thessalonians 5:1:
1 Thessalonians 5:1-4
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye [you] have no need that I
write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh [comes] as
a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh
[comes] upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall
[they’ll] not escape.
Now, there are three phrases in this I want you to key on. First of all, the
“day of the Lord” – it comes as a thief in the night, and sudden
destruction will come upon the wicked – and I want you to notice something. In
verse 4, it states:
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as
a thief.
So here he’s talking about the resurrection as we read in 1 Thessalonians 4.
The day of the Lord is coming as a thief in the night and, when it happens,
sudden destruction on the wicked and – again in verse 4 – that that day isn’t
going to overtake you as a thief …you’re going to be aware of the
timing of it. Now, let’s turn over to 2 Peter chapter
3, and I want to read verse 10 – starting at verse 10:
2 Peter 3:10-14
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; [Already he’s
given us two of those phrases. Now what I want you to look at is the sudden
destruction that Paul wrote of, the next one would be sudden destruction. Look
at the way Peter writes this.] in the which the
heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with
fervent heat, the earth
also and the works that are therein shall [in it will] be burned up. [Read
this carefully.]
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of
persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation [conduct] and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the
day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall [will] be dissolved, and
the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens [a new
heaven] and a new earth, wherein dwelleth [in
which dwells] righteousness.
[Now again, verse 14...]
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye [you] look for such things, be diligent
that ye [you] may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
This sudden destruction as he describes it and, again, the elements
melt with fervent heat – the earth and the works in it are burned up; the
heavens are dissolved …and he says, we are
looking for these things. He doesn’t simply say that we’re “looking to be
resurrected.” What he does say is, we are looking for the destruction of the
earth – the heavens and the earth – the day of the Lord will come as a thief
in the night. When they say peace and safety, sudden destruction comes
upon all of them as travail upon a woman with child. Peter keys on that
destruction, that all things are destroyed – and we are to be looking for that
to happen. Now take this to Revelation 16 and, for those of you who don’t
readily know what Revelation 16 is about, it’s about the seven last plagues,
or the seven vials – and I want to read with you, just simply glancing
over these, and I hope you’ve got your Bible in front of you. In Revelation
16, verse 2, you have the first “plague” being poured out, and the part I want
to point out to you is that there is a grievous sore that falls upon the
men which had the mark of the beast, and who worshiped his image.
So here we have – as far as timing is concerned – these plagues don’t even
begin to happen until at least the beast, and the image of it, is known. We
know that, according to the eschatology of most denominational groups, we’re
talking about the end of all things. If you’ll look at the second plague in
verse 3, the sea becomes as blood. If you’ll look at verse 4, the
third plague, the rivers and the foundations of water become as blood.
Looking at the fourth plague, the fourth angel pours his vial out on the sun
and men are scorched with fire and blaspheme God. The fifth plague –
the beast’s kingdom is full of darkness.
Now, why am I reading these? Because I want you to grasp what
happens after the sixth plague – because it’s
evident we’re talking about the end of all things. In the sixth plague, it’s
poured out on the river Euphrates and it says, in verse 13, three unclean
spirits like frogs come out and they go out to deceive and they gather the
people together for the great day of God. Now, I want you to notice verse
15 – and I hope you’re looking at your Bible:
Revelation 16:15
15 Behold, I come as a thief. ....
Stop. Even unto the point of the sixth plague, Christ has still not come as a
thief. Paul states his picture of the resurrection, then he says of the time
and the seasons: Brethren you have no need that I write unto you for the
day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. When they say peace
and safety, they’ll receive sudden destruction. Peter describes the
destruction and again, the heavens are melting; the earth is on fire.
Everything is being destroyed. He says, we look for a new heaven and new
earth, and he says, because we’re looking for these things to take
place, what manner of conduct should you have? And here you’re at the end
of all things, and Christ has still not come as a thief. Does this begin to
tell you something about the timing of this resurrection? Turn with me – let
me just read a scripture – a statement from Christ Himself. In the gospel of
John, chapter 6, I want to read verse 39:
John 6:39
39 And this is the Father’s will which hath [has] sent me, that of all which
he hath [has] given me I should lose nothing, but [I] should raise it up again
at the last day [but I should raise it up at the last day].
Verse 44:
John 6:44
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath [has] sent me draw him:
and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 11:24
24 Martha saith [said] unto him, I know that he
[Lazarus] shall [will] rise again in the resurrection [when?] at the last day.
Now, how much more clear can it be spoken to you?
The resurrection is going to take place at the last day. How many
resurrections do you think there are? I want to show you – since we’re in the
gospel of John – I want to show you John, chapter 5, starting at verse 28:
John 5:28-29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which [in which] all
that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall [they’ll] come forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of
damnation.
He speaks of two resurrections – simply two resurrections: The
resurrection of the just and the resurrection of damnation.
Everyone in the grave is going to be raised, whether they are evil or
righteous – everyone is going to be raised. There are only two, and
the resurrection of the righteous takes place on the last day.
Now, before I get into this further, there is another text I want you to see
out of Revelation that really confirms this, and really sets it in concrete as
far as the timing. But I want you to apply this inwardly because your last
day can be right now, if you are abiding in Christ. If you have understood
and made the decision, and the choice, to meet the Lord in the heavens – to
understand the way He does – then you have reached the day where the heavens
and earth are going to be destroyed in your understanding. The way you have
perceived God’s understanding and the way you’ve taken your own interpretation
of the book, He will burn it up – and you can meet the Lord right now in the
air, and forever be with Him in that kingdom of His mind, receiving His
understanding perfectly.
You see, when you do this – that is your last day. That is why,
on the last day, the Lord performs the miracle, because it is the outward
expression of the inward truth. For so many years, I spent my time trying
to decipher the book myself, and listening to others give
me their explanation of what God meant when He wrote this. You see, that
is the heavens and the earth that needs to be destroyed. It is that
understanding that needs to go, and don’t think – now listen – when He
literally creates a new heaven and new earth; when He literally does
this, in their minds they will have a new understanding of the heavens and the
earth! Just as He produces it outwardly, it’s going to take place inwardly
but, right now for you – being His child – He makes the offer now; just like
one day every knee will bow and confess that Christ is Lord. You can do that
right now. Literally it will happen – every knee will bow to Him – but you
can bow right now, and come before Him right now, and be judged right now, and
receive His thoughts right now, and be in His kingdom right now.
You know, I had it spoken to me one time, that when the Lord literally appears
the second time, the world is going to say: Here comes Jesus – yet His
remnant church, His last day church – their reaction will be: Oh, I thought
He was already here! He is already here. He is the I AM, and He
is present with you now – and let me tell you – if you receive His
understanding by means of abiding in Him and letting Him teach you Himself,
and letting Him give you the explanation of what He meant when He moved on
these prophets to write what they wrote, you’ll discover your understanding,
and what you think He meant, dissolving and burning up – and His spirit will
so fill you with life, that you will be walking present tense. Remember,
Jesus is the “I AM,” not I WAS or I WILL BE WHEN YOU GET HERE –
He is the I AM. Right now, He’s with
you – present tense – and He will destroy all of those ideas and concepts out
of you, and give you pure truth.
Now let me show you, again concerning the timing of the resurrection – I want
you to look at Revelation 20, and let’s read the first verse:
Revelation 20:1-4
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless
pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and
Satan, and [he] bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon
him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years
should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. [Now
look at the next verse very carefully.]
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:
....
They and them who? Now, I want to compare this to the way the
Lord moved John to write Revelation 7 – and I want you to see something that
happens here, because I want to apply the same principle of interpretation to
Revelation 20. If you’ll look at Revelation 7, I want to begin reading at
verse 2:
Revelation 7:2-3
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the
living God: ...[How many angels to you see? One …]
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the
living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was
given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, [And he said] Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees,
till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Here you have “one messenger,” singular, referring to himself in the
plural – now think it through. That must mean this messenger, even though in
God’s eyes it is a single messenger, yet the literal of it is that it’s a
multitude. You could say it’s the body of Christ. You could say, in God’s
eyes, He looks at the body as His messenger but, when we go deliver the
message, we say, “we” – we are sealing the servants of God. We
are ascending from the east – one messenger in the plural. Well, let’s take
that to Revelation 20, and notice in Revelation 20, you have this angel –
let’s look at verse 1:
Revelation 20:1-4
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless
pit [abyss] and a great chain in his hand.
2 [He binds the adversary in verse 2.] And he laid hold on the dragon, that
old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 [In verse 3, he tells the adversary you’ll deceive the nations no more.] And
cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him,
that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be
fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4 [And in verse 4 ...] And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them,
....
“They” -- referring to the messenger who, in
one hand, had the key of the abyss and, in the other hand, a chain – and with
this key and chain He is able to bind the adversary and say: You’re going
to deceive the nations no more at all. And then he says: I saw thrones
and they sat upon them. Look closely at verse 4:
Revelation 20:4
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:
and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and
for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his
image, neither had received his mark upon their
foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a
thousand years.
In this verse, you are seeing two groups of people: People who gave their
lives because they would not worship the beast, and people who never saw
literal death. Look at it again:
Revelation 20:4
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them ....
Who? The ones in the first three verses – who had the chain and the key of the
abyss, and bound the adversary and said: You’re not going to deceive the
nations anymore. Do you know what those nations are? Can you take that
and apply it to a spiritual concept? Remember the sower
of the seed? He sows seed into the earth. The “seed,” Jesus says, is
words. Therefore, the “words” are planted into the earth of your mind
and God promises to give you the Promised Land. That “land” is what’s
between your ears - and He tells them: I’m going to bring you into the
Promised Land; I’m going to bring you into this land I promised your fathers,
and there will be seven nations stronger and mightier than you. Those
nations represent the sin problems – your bent to
sin – in your life. “Seven” is a spiritually perfect number, and here you
have a messenger – God’s messenger with a chain, with the key of the abyss –
and he makes the statement: You will deceive the nations no more at all – I
have an understanding. And he binds the adversary, and he says: And
then I saw thrones and they were sitting on them. Judgment was given unto
them and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded.
You have two groups: You have the people who literally die, giving their
lives, and the people who don’t literally see death. Are there people that
will not literally see death? Of course there are – I want you to see these
two groups of people. First of all, 1 Corinthians, chapter 15 – start reading
at verse 51:
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
51 Behold, I shew [show] you a mystery; We shall
not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet
shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed.
Now, I’ve got to point out a couple of things. Number one: Here is one of the
resurrections. Who is being resurrected first? The righteous, before the
wicked are resurrected. The righteous are being resurrected, and what is it
that happens in the twinkling of an eye? I was always told that, in the
twinkling of an eye – poof, I’m gone – I blast out of here and, in the
twinkling of an eye, I’m in heaven. Well that isn’t what he said at all –
look again:
1 Corinthians 15:52
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the
last trump: ....
What? Look at the verse above it: We shall all be changed, in a moment, in
the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of the last trump. What changes?
My outward body is going to change in the twinkling of an eye. Notice what he
says – the trumpet is going to sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible,
and we’re going to be changed. Now what I want to do is compare this to what
we’ve already read in 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4; you’ll see the two groups of
people, those who are asleep or those who have died, and those who
don’t. Again:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which
are asleep, that ye [you] sorrow not, even as others which have no [those
people who don’t have any] hope.
14 For if we [you] believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep [are sleeping] in Jesus will God bring with him [lead away with
Christ].
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive
and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which [precede
or go before the ones who] are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall [The Lord is going to] descend from heaven with
a shout, with [it’s going to be] the voice of the archangel [that raises the
dead], and with [and the] the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall [are
going to] rise first [As compared to whom? When he says rise, what do you
see? Rise as take off into heaven? No – it means rise out of their graves.]:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and
so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Now, notice that the dead in Christ rise out of the grave, and then we are
caught up together with Him. In other words, everyone goes up at the same
time. That is what he means when he says we shall not precede those that
are asleep. So here are your two groups of people: those who are alive at
the coming of the Lord, and those who are dead – rising together to meet the
Lord in the air. Those who are alive change in the twinkling of an eye, and
are made ready to go meet the Lord in the air. Now, notice in Revelation 20 –
and I want to look at verse 5:
Revelation 20:5
5 But the rest of the dead [or the wicked] lived not again until the thousand
years were finished. [Then he says] This is the first resurrection.
Now, what does he mean? Well, you can’t just simply read verse 5 without
looking at 4 with it. In verse 4, he says:
Revelation 20:4
4 And I saw thrones [them, the people who are alive at the coming of
the Lord – the people who had bound the adversary.] ...
You see, those people who are alive when the Lord
comes back – those people serving Him – have reached the measure of the
stature of the fulness of Christ. They have bound
the adversary and said: You’ll deceive the nations no more. They have
reached a completed perfection – and I saw them, but then I saw those who
were beheaded, those who literally gave their lives. Now again, I want you
to look at verse 4 with me:
Revelation 20:4
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:
and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus,
...
You see, he sees them and they are alive – they have been resurrected. That’s
why, when you come to verse 5, he says:
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again [didn’t live] until the [after
this] thousand years were finished. [Then he says] This is the first
resurrection.
What is? What he just described in verse 4 – and, actually, verse 5 could be
put in parenthesis, or at least the part: the rest of the dead live not
until a thousand years were complete. Then he says:
Revelation 20:5-6
5.... This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath [has] part in the first resurrection: on
such the second death hath no power [has no authority], but they shall
[they’ll] be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand
years.
So you see this thousand year period and, before it,
begins the resurrection of the righteous – and after it is over, the
resurrection of the wicked. That is why Satan is loosed out of his prison –
because the wicked are raised – and he deceives the nations again. It is the
wicked that this happens to, that face the second death. The righteous are
raised before that thousand year period – there are
only two resurrections, and the righteous are raised at the last day. Those
who are alive have reached an understanding of God, walking in the measure of
the fullness of Christ, as Paul states in Ephesians (Ephesians 4:13). You see,
one of the greatest signs of the end of all things is what’s happening in
the church. It isn’t just simply what’s taking place around you, but what
you can see happening in the church, because God’s people, by abiding in the
mind of Christ and allowing Him to live in their hearts in a moment-by-moment
relationship, allows the Lord to cut the work short in righteousness – and He
will make a short work of it because now you’re finally listening. Now
you’re finally speaking only as He leads you to speak. Now you’re finally
acting only as He leads you to act, and He gives you His understanding – which
begins to straighten out the crooked places – and He begins to make you and
form you in His image.
Now, speaking of timing, there is still another scripture. This begins to
bring in the antichrist, and this also is so clear about the timing of the
Lord and what comes before what – but if you’ll look at 2 Thessalonians,
chapter 2:1:
2 Thessalonians 2:1
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by
our gathering together unto him,
That has to be the resurrection, when He gathers together us, and all things
into Christ. There is a verse I want you to compare with this, about our
gathering together, and it’s found in Ephesians, chapter 1, verse 10:
Ephesians 1:10
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of
times [or the dispensing out of all time, or the last day] .....
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of
times [time], he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which
are in heaven [in the heavens], and which are on [the] earth; even in him:
So here you see the resurrection taking place, and in 2 Thessalonians, chapter
2:
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by
our gathering together unto him, [According to Ephesians 1, it’s when all of
time has been dispensed out. That’s why I know we’re talking about
the resurrection, the gathering together of us.]
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor
by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of
Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come [that they
shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that [the] man of
sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
So here we see, we’re not going to have a resurrection or, as I was taught –
the rapture – until the man of sin is already revealed, and there’s a
falling away. This word in the Greek, “falling away,” is apostasy.
“Apostasy” means to quit believing what you once believed. There’s
going to come a great apostasy – the man of sin is
going to be revealed – and the Lord is
going to come and stop it and, at the last day, is the resurrection. That
means that this antichrist he is speaking of – we’re going to see – we’re
going to know who that is. Now, I can’t help but think as I read 2
Thessalonians, chapter 2, the Lord moved upon Paul to write about a specific
individual; a specific person – because, as you read this in 2
Thessalonians
2, it’s evident in Paul’s mind that he saw someone fulfilling this. Let’s
read what he says – verse 4:
2 Thessalonians 2:4
4 Who opposeth [opposes] and
exalteth [exalts] himself above all that is called God, or that is
worshipped; so that he as God sitteth [sits] in
the temple of God, shewing [showing] himself that
he is God.
Now, before I go on and read this – and I feel like we do need to continue
reading this – but when you see this individual playing that part of exalting
himself above God, sitting in the temple claiming to be God, I want to put
that inwardly. And I want to ask you to turn to 1 John, chapter 2. This is a
scripture that we read in looking at the Godhead:
1 John 2:22
22 Who is a liar but he that
denieth [denies] that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that
denieth [denies] the Father and the Son.
I pointed out to you that it is possible to believe in the Father and Son, and
yet deny that they are Father and Son – and that way is the trinity. But I
want you to look also at 1 John, chapter 4 and I want to start reading at
verse 1:
1 John 4:1-3
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of
God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that
confesseth [confesses] that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of
God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth [confesses] not
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit
of antichrist, whereof ye [you] have heard that it should come; and even now
already is it in the world.
So, look at this verse carefully: Every spirit that confesses not Jesus Christ
did come? No. Is going to come? No – is come in the flesh. What
does that mean? The Holy Spirit, or the mind of Christ, is come – in whose
flesh? In our flesh! He is abiding in His church, and anyone who doesn’t
confess that is antichrist. What does “anti” mean?
Instead of. It’s just a Greek preposition –
it means instead of. If Christ is come in the flesh, that means you’re
listening, you’re abiding – you have been translated into the kingdom, and He
is living in you. He is speaking through you. He is giving His testimony
through His church, and anyone who denies Jesus Christ is come
in the flesh, is another spirit – it is anti-christ;
it is “instead of” Christ. You see, there actually are people who deny the
Holy Spirit is Christ – that Jesus Christ is come. They deny the Holy
Spirit is Christ, but they also deny the abiding truth. I’ve had people
challenge me and say: Well, how do you know who’s
voice you’re listening to? That we’re to live only according to the
Bible, and the Bible alone, nothing else – that
we’re to read this book and interpret it ourselves. I would suggest to you –
read the gospel of John, chapter 10: My sheep hear my voice and they know
me and they follow me, He says.
In John, chapter 5, remember where he says: Search the scriptures, for in
them you think you have life and they’re telling you about me, and
you’re not coming to me that you might have life. If you’re not listening
to the Holy Spirit and recognizing that there is a higher revelation of God
than what is written in this book, it’s called the Holy Spirit – and, in fact,
you’re never to going to understand this book if the Holy Spirit isn’t telling
you – if you are simply reading this book and following your intellect, and
what you think the book means, then you are another spirit other than
Christ. It is antichrist. If you can’t confess Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh, you are antichrist. If you are denying the Father and the
Son, you are antichrist. That is why that trinity doctrine just stands out to
me, because it denies the Father and the Son, and it denies who the Holy
Spirit is. It makes the Holy Spirit another god. Key on the word another.
Not that the Holy Spirit isn’t divine, He is but, in our study on the Holy
Spirit, I think we covered that thoroughly. It’s obvious that it’s Christ,
and it is the mind of Christ in you – and if you deny Jesus Christ is come,
you see there are two things in there. Jesus is the Holy Spirit and He
is come – I’m abiding; He is in me. I’m living in
Him, and He is living in me. If you’re in that place then you are in the
temple of God, and that temple of God is between your ears – you are the
temple. The Holy Spirit abides in you. If you’re denying those truths,
then you are sitting in the temple of God, exalting yourself above all that is
God, because you’re taking your understanding over and above what God is
giving His church. That’s heavy!
Yes, I believe that we can look at history and see an individual exemplifying
what antichrist is. Believe it or not, there actually is someone who sits in
God’s church and proclaims himself to be God. But I don’t want to point the
finger at this moment and say: Look at him, he’s antichrist. If we are
still standing back, holding on to that trinity doctrine, and claiming that
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are co-eternal – a unity of three
co-eternal persons, that God is one – well He’s three, well, it’s a mystery …
If that’s where you are, you’re no different. You’re sitting in God’s temple
too, exalting yourself above God; and you’re taking your understanding over
and above what He is revealing to His people. There’s no way you’re ever going
to be that angel with the key to the abyss and the chain in your hand to bind
the adversary – you cannot do it, if you’re a Trinitarian. It is impossible.
We’re going to be getting into things, in the future, in these prophecies that
will reveal to us the meaning of those words and help us understand the love
of God – and a Trinitarian will never understand what is being spoken. It
will not make sense and, I’m telling you right now, if that’s the camp you’re
in, you’re no different than this fellow, the antichrist, that I believe Paul
was talking about.
Let’s go back to 2 Thessalonians and continue reading this. 2 Thessalonians,
chapter 2, starting at verse 5:
2 Thessalonians 2:5
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye [you] know what withholdeth [is
withholding or restraining] that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already [is already at] work: only he who
now letteth will let [only he who now restrains
will], until he be [he is] taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall [will] consume
with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his
coming:
Now what does he mean there? I was always told: Well, that’s a rapture
verse – that the one restraining him is the church and, when the church is
taken out of the way, or the Holy Spirit in the church, when the Holy Spirit
is taken out of the way, then the antichrist will be revealed. I don’t know
how many times I’ve been told that and, let me suggest to you, that if you go
back reading prophecy, reading Daniel, and you look at the four kingdoms – the
“lion,” the “bear,” the “leopard,” the non-descript “beast”; Babylon,
Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome – and you look at those
things, and then you see the little horn come up, where the antichrist appears
…I would have to ask you: What was holding him back? What held back any of
those beasts? The one before it held back the one after it, until it
no longer had the power – and then it was conquered.
Now understand what I’m saying: The only thing that was restraining this
picture of the inward antichrist – and that is what I’ve tried to explain;
that’s what I think John was explaining in the book of 1 John – that inward
application of antichrist. But there is someone who exemplified the
person who does that. There is actually a person on this planet today who
claims
to be God on this earth; who claims Christ to the church; who claims to have
the power to call Jesus Christ out of heaven and put Him in a cookie, and put
that cookie in your mouth to give you Christ. It’s called
“transubstantiation”; it is the ultimate in literal understanding of the Bible
and, for me, it’s the ultimate in hypocrisy. That person is the pope – he
claims to be God on this earth. “Vicarius
Felii Dei” – the name on his hat when he’s
coronated; the substitute, the vicar of the Son of God – he is God to
the church. He is – one of his titles is “Lord God the Pope.” I’m simply
telling you – and by the way, the Catholic church
says their main doctrine, the one they base everything on is – you guessed it
– the trinity. They base everything on the trinity …It starts right
there.
The following statements are taken from a book entitled Dignity and Duties
of the Priest. Reading from page 26:
“With regard to the power of priests over the real body of Jesus Christ, it is
of faith that when they pronounce the words of consecration, the incarnate
Word has obliged Himself to obey and to come into their hands under the
sacramental species (or the wafer). God Himself descends on the altar, that
He comes wherever they call Him and as often as they call Him, and places
Himself in their hands, even though they should be His enemies. And after
having come, He remains entirely at their disposal. They move Him as they
please, from one place to another. They may, if they wish, shut Him up in the
tabernacle, or expose Him on the altar, or carry Him outside the church. They
may, if they choose, eat His flesh and give Him for the food
of others.”
Page 27:
“The angels abide by the order of God, but the priests take Him in their
hands, distribute Him to the faithful and partake of Him as food for
themselves.”
Page 32:
“Mary conceived Jesus Christ only once, but by consecrating the Eucharist the
priest, as it were, conceives Him as often as he wishes, so that if the person
of the redeemer had not as yet been in the world, the priest by pronouncing
the words of consecration would produce this great person of a man God.
Hence, priests are called the parents of Jesus Christ. Thus the
priest may in a certain manner be called the creator of his creator, since by
saying the words of consecration, he creates as it
were, Jesus in the sacrament, by giving him a sacramental existence and
produces Him as a victim to be offered to the eternal Father. Oh venerable
sanctity of the hands. Oh happy function of the priest. He that
created, gave me the power to create Him, and He
that created me without me, is Himself created by me.”
Reading from page 27:
“And God Himself is obliged to abide by the judgment of His priest, and either
not to pardon or to pardon according as they refuse or give absolution,
provided the penitent is capable of it. The sentence of the priest precedes
and God subscribes to it.”
Reading from page 31:
“When Saint Michael comes to a dying Christian who invokes His aide, the holy
archangel can chase away the devils but he cannot free His client from their
chains till a priest comes to absolve him. If I saw an angel and a priest, I
would bend my knee first to the priest and then to the angel.”
Page 34:
“Priests are called vicars of Jesus Christ because they hold His place on
earth. When he ascended into heaven, Jesus Christ left His priests after Him
to hold on earth His place of mediator between God and men, particularly on
the altar. Let the priest approach the altar as another Christ. The priest
holds the place of the Savior Himself. To pardon a single sin requires all
the omnipotence of God.”
Page 36:
“Indeed, it is not so much to say that in view of the sublimity of their
offices, the priests are so many gods.”
Page 33:
“The power of the priest is the power of the divine person, for the
transubstantiation of the bread requires as much power as the creation of the
world.”
So there is a fellow who, I believe, is fulfilling the outward. But there are
millions who are simply looking at the outward and saying: It has to be
him, therefore it can’t be me; and yet inwardly, they too are exalting
themselves above all that is called God, because they are taking their own
interpretation of the book, and claiming it to be so when the Lord is saying:
Hey, you need to die to self. Let me give you the meanings. Let me tell
you what I meant when I wrote that through Peter, through Paul, through
Matthew, through Isaiah, Jeremiah. You see, there is an abomination that
leaves you desolate and maybe, in future studies, we can get into that but,
right now, to put it in a nutshell, it’s when you refuse to hear God –
and He says: OK, I’ve had enough. You’ll no longer hear the voice –
that abomination is allowing your self to be put in God’s place, and shutting
out His speaking to you through your conscience, to the point where your
conscience is seared, and your land will then become desolate.
I would like to pray that you consider these things. I pray that these things
be a blessing to you. We’re going to continue into the Revelation, and we’re
going to be looking at the seals. I believe that’s the next
study, and we’ll be looking at the trumpets, the
vials – and as the Lord impresses me – I continually update these studies. So
if you’re taking the Revelation studies, I would ask you to, ever so often,
come back and see if there are any updates. And I also pray for your input.
I know the Lord does not just simply give everything to one person, and I’m
open. I pray for your input and to help me understand deeper things too. I
pray that the Lord is glorified. There are many texts dealing with this
antichrist that perhaps, in further studies, we’ll get into and cover, such as
Daniel 9. There are things in there that need to be seen and need to be
unraveled because, to be perfectly honest with you, this rapture doctrine was
invented by the Catholic church in the first
place. If you’ll just do some digging, and look at history and check this out
- because the Protestants, those who protested Catholicism, read the
scriptures and said: This is the papacy - and the papacy had to answer
the charges. He held a counsel, and his theologians invented “the rapture” –
I believe it was a Jesuit priest named Ribera –
and he had to come up with the rapture because, in his words: If the
rapture happens before the antichrist is revealed, then the pope can’t be him.
That teaching has been brought into the protestant realm through a series of
events and, today, there are so many people proclaiming that – and it’s simply
Catholicism. It was given to protect the pope’s status with the church,
because they could not answer – he was, in their literal understanding,
fulfilling these verses. So I’m just simply telling you, the papacy might be
an outward expression of it, but what about us? Is there any way we are on
that throne disregarding our Savior, our Heavenly Father, and accepting self
over Him?
Again, it isn’t until you’re the third ruler of the kingdom – just as
Daniel, read the story of Daniel – another allegory. Yes,
it’s literal – but the night Babylon fell, Daniel was made the third
ruler of the kingdom, a picture of us.
Dani’el – God is my judge; the third ruler -- the Father,
the Son and me. When you’re the third ruler of the kingdom, God can rule.
Babylon will fall, and the confusion will dissipate – and you let God give you
His understanding of truth; and may He be glorified.