THE END AND THE NEW BEGINNING
Since the days of Noah are already here and the coming of the “Flood of His Judgments – the Tribulation” is about to begin in a matter of very few years, it is desirable that we should see and understand the current signs and events that will point us to the reality of our time. “God’s clock” is ticking and when its bell shall ring in a few years, all the kingdoms of this world will come to their END and the time of God’s Everlasting Kingdom shall BEGIN.
Where we shall be and what we shall do will depend entirely on every one of us, on the decisions of our heart and will; on our responses to God’s Word and His calling. Shall we “press” toward our high calling in Christ Jesus, or shall we do nothing? (Phil. 3:14) Today we decide on many issues of our destiny and how we will get there. What we sow today, we shall reap at the END. If we keep going on the same road and do not change our course in any way, we will come to the end of our particular road not necessarily knowing what it shall be. What we believe may not be so at all. We should at least seek assurances of what the end of OUR road, on which we now walk, shall be and avoid unpleasant disappointments, surprises even tragedies when we arrive at its end. Shouldn’t we at least enquire of the Lord and search our roadmap (His Word) and take seriously what He is showing us also in this book? It would definitely be wise and prudent from us.
BEFORE WE APPROACH THIS SUBJECT OF THE END OF TIMES AND OF THE NEW BEGINNING (SEE ALSO THE TIMELINE AND THE ADDENDUM), WE MUST REALIZE THAT OUR LOGIC WILL NOT BE THE ALL SUFFICIENT INSTRUMENT TO APPREHEND THE TRUTH. WE WILL DEAL MAINLY WITH SPIRITUAL EVENTS IN THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. THE EARTHLY, PHYSICAL EVENTS WILL NOT BE THAT IMPORTANT AND THUS OUR INTELLECT MAY NOT BE OF MUCH HELP. WE MUST ACCEPT THIS SIMPLE FACT, IF WE ARE TO SEE THE UNSEEN SPIRITUAL FACTS THAT LEAD TO ETERNITY AND TO OUR OWN DESTINY.
The Timeline of God for the events of these last days which are before us, for the time and events of the END and of the New BEGINNING, started with Prophet Daniel (Dan. 9:24-27). Out of the “seventy weeks” shown to him, the sixty-nine weeks (69×7=483 years) had already passed up to the death of the Messiah. Then two millennia of the New Testament started with the establishment of the Church. The Church has never been a separate entity built by the Lord apart from Israel. Israel and the Church have always been ONE, THE CHURCH HAS BEEN GROWING OUT OF ISRAEL.
The Lord desires at this point that we would SEE and understand that the Church has been a NEW SPIRITUAL SHOOT GROWING OUT OF ISRAEL INCLUDING THE GENTILES WHO WERE LATER GRAFTED IN. THE ROOT OF ISRAEL – the original olive tree – has always been the Messiah, Jesus Christ, a JEW from the Tribe of Judah. Her first 12 branches, the Apostles, were all JEWS (Mt. 10:2-4), and Her first thousands of members were also JEWS, with some possible exceptions. She started to grow out of Jerusalem, the JEWISH Holy City. Read also Rom. 11:16-33. So the Salvation is of the JEWS (Jn. 4:22) and WITHOUT JEWS THE CHURCH WOULD NOT EXIST!
The last, seventieth week of Daniel (7 years) is before us. It is known as the Tribulation period, also as the Jacob’s trouble (Deut. 4:30,31// Jer. 30:7) and its last 3½ years are also called the Great Tribulation. (Mt. 24:21)
In order that this seventieth week be also fulfilled, the following events or preparations must take place (for points A1-A6 below, see also a research book “The New Temple and the Second Coming[13]” by Grant R. Jeffrey).
A1) The Third Temple of God must be built in Jerusalem and the animal sacrifices performed as in the Old Testament. Though this is an enormous and complicated task which 2-3 decades ago was doubtful, unimaginable even unrealistic, today IT IS READY TO PROCEED! The new place for the Temple has been researched and chosen based on the archeological proofs. Its construction would not interfere with the existing Islamic Dome of the Rock or Al Aqsa Mosque as was previously thought. Also, complete architectural plans of the Third Temple are ready so that its construction may begin as soon as “God gives His sign”.
A2) The new priests from the tribe of Levi have been selected and are being trained to perform their Temple duties according to the laws of Moses and the instructions from the new Sanhedrin, the Highest Court of Israel in all religious matters. This new Sanhedrin has been reestablished and it convened in January 2005, in Jerusalem. This Assembly has been very much involved in all matters and decisions of this most important project in the religious life of Israel in this end time. They make sure that all the details of the Law of Moses are meticulously met. The final deliverance and Salvation of Israel depend also on this Third Temple, and the Temple depends on other things and details briefly mentioned below.
A3) All the Temple furnishings and accessories have been either recreated or found at various locations specified in the old scrolls found mainly in the area of Qumran, at the Dead Sea. These furnishings include the four most important pieces, namely, the Ark of the Covenant, the table of shewbread, the table of incense and the menorah. The Ark of the Covenant is said to have been returned to Israel from Ethiopia, where it was hidden for over two millennia. It shall be installed into the Holiest of Holies once the Temple is finished. Many other furnishings and vessels have been either recreated according to their original designs or found buried and restored.
A4) The oil of anointing, which was a very precious product and indispensable for the anointing of the Temple furnishings and of the High Priest and his sons and which will also be used to anoint the Most Holy, that is to say, the Messiah, Lord Jesus Christ, (Dan. 9:24) was also found in a clay pot buried in a cave near Qumran in the Dead Sea area. (Ex. 29:7,21; 30:23-33)
A5) The special blue dye necessary for the garments of the priests was originally made from the rare kind of mollusks that lived in the Mediterranean Sea and died out during the two millennia. Now they were again discovered in the Red Sea and the blue dye was made and the first sets of priestly garments have been already prepared. (see Ex. 28:31,33,37)
A6) The red heifer, without any spot or blemish, which is a very rare animal in the world is required by the Law of Moses to be burned outside of the camp and its ashes used for the water of separation and purification. (Num. 19:2-9) Some of these red heifers without any spot or blemish were found outside of Israel, namely, in Finland and the United States and are being kept in Israel for the right time of sacrifice. The use of this water of purification was also prophesied by Ezekiel when he prophesied about the return of Jews from among the nations into their land of Israel and that they will be sprinkled by this clean water and they shall be clean. (Ez. 36:24,25) This water of purification is extremely important since it must be used also for purifying the building site and the foundation stones of the New Temple; without it the Temple cannot be built.
B) The Antichrist must appear on the world scene to take the power over the whole world. Because he will imitate the true Messiah in many signs and wonders, he will also be of Jewish origin as the true Messiah was. The vision given to Daniel says that he shall not regard the “God of his fathers”, which is always used for the Jewish generations and proves his Jewish roots. Nor will he regard “the desire of women” which shows that he will also be unmarried as the Lord was. (Dan. 11:37) Furthermore, he shall be of the lineage of David to imitate Christ. That man is already alive today as a young boy. Let us see and understand that he must be about 33½ years old when, in the middle of the seventieth week of Daniel, he presents himself as God desecrating the Third Temple of God. He then receives the deadly wound (as some Jewish zealot might kill him) and is “resurrected” to imitate the true Messiah, Who was also about 33½ years old when He was crucified and resurrected. (Rev. 13:3-9) So, let the Church watch for a young man about 30 years old taking power over the New Roman Empire.
C) The war of Gog and Magog must take place as prophesied by Prophet Ezekiel (Ez. Chpt. 38+39) where the armies of Russia and her allies from the Islamic states of Middle East (chiefly Iran) and North Africa will attack Israel trying to annihilate it. They shall all be destroyed by the supernatural power of God and only the sixth part of them shall be left. (Ez. 39:2) This must take place 3½ years before the Tribulation period of seven years starts, since the people of Israel shall burn the captured weapons for seven years (Ez. 39:9) and they will not do it during the Great Tribulation period of 3½ years. Note that there will be another war of Gog and Magog against Jerusalem one thousand years later and God shall destroy them the second time by fire and that time for good. (Rev. 20:7,8)
D) The “SMALL REMNANT” (Is. 1:9) – the currently living Bride of Christ, (virgins that have oil in their souls and are ready – Mt. 25:10) the currently living Maiden of Shulamite, (S.Sol. 8:5) the currently living Man-child, (Rev. 12:1,2,5) the currently living Overcomers from Rev. Chpts. 2 and 3 – all these believers, who truly love the Lord, who have crucified their flesh, (Gal. 5:24) cleansed the filthiness of their flesh and spirit, (2Cor. 7:1) went through FIRE and WATER and on to their perfection (Ps. 66:12// Heb. 6:1,2) walking on the narrow way, not on the broadway, (Mt. 7:13,14), all THESE are being prepared to be TAKEN UP! (Mt. 24:40,41; more later)
The Bridegroom “steals” His Bride from the earth (Mt. 25:1-10) sometime before the Great Tribulation starts in the middle of the seventieth week of Daniel when the Antichrist takes power over the entire world and is revealed, who he truly is. (2Thes. 2:3-9) Up till that time, the Antichrist will only be ruling the so called “New Roman Empire” including the current European Union, but afterwards, he will rule the whole world. (Rev. 13:5b,7b)
When we considered the Word of God in Is. 1:9 and its application for the Church (above paragraph and also pages 192,193) the words “very small remnant” may be misinterpreted in that the Man-child would only be a handful of people (like 8 people during the Flood). But the Man-child will be comprised of all Overcomers of all nations that will be alive on the earth and ready for their translation (the “field” and the “mill” are on the earth – Mt. 24:40,41). Concerning the Overcomers that had “died” before this rapture of the Bride, see point G) below and the Addendum.
There are two Remnants described in the Book of Revelation: one from the Church and one from Israel.
The Remnant from the Church is the 144,000 (spiritual) virgins (Mt. 25:1) that follow the Lamb whithersoever He goes, redeemed from the earth and from among men being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb and without fault before the Throne of God. (Rev. 14:1-5) These are not sealed from among Israel. Furthermore, they have the Father’s Name written in their foreheads, which is only promised to the Overcomers of the Church in Philadelphia (Rev. 3:12) and they are already “perfect” (without fault) before the Throne of God. These are taken to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Mt. 22:1-14; 25:1-12) which will last 3½ years and where every true born-again believer had been invited, but the majority refused to come or were not allowed to enter in. (Mt. 22:3,5,8,14; 25:11,12) This was already discussed previously.
The Remnant from Israel is also 144,000, namely, 12,000 from every tribe of Israel, sealed on the earth. (Rev. 7:4-8) These were not in Heaven where the Remnant from the Church was taken and seen by John. (Rev. 7:3 vs. Rev. 12:5 and Rev. 14:3-5) Now, the “Remnant from Israel” was sealed-anointed, as it were, evangelists for the time of the Tribulation. It will be the Jews, who will be preaching the “Gospel of the Kingdom” in all the world and also to the “Woman” (Rev. 12:14) during the Tribulation and before the end comes. (Mt. 24:14) Due to their mission, the multitudes of all nations and kindreds and peoples and tongues will be redeemed from the Great Tribulation, as seen by John, before the Throne of God. (Rev. 7:9,14,15)
Let us, at this point, see and understand that the last four churches of the Book of Revelation, namely, Thyatira (Catholic churches), Sardis (Protestant churches), then Philadelphia (Brethren, during the latter rain) and Laodicea (Modern, Liberal churches, after the latter rain), all four are existing side by side until the end of this age. Sardis was “born” out of Thyatira; Philadelphia was “born” out of Sardis and what fell from Philadelphia (from love of the brethren), formed Laodicea which is known to be a prideful and blind and naked and miserable and lukewarm church of today.
We should also note that the number 144,000 has a spiritual significance; it is the multiplication of 12x12x1,000 where 12 represents the eternal perfection, eternal government and 1,000 is 10x10x10 where 10 represents the ordinal perfection and it indicates the abundance of the eternal perfection. You will notice when reading about the New Jerusalem, that it is wholly determined by number 12, so, everything in it is absolutely and eternally perfect. The two Remnants described in the previous paragraph represent eternally perfect firstfruits indicating that the harvest, once it ripens, will, in time, be the same – eternally perfect.
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To be continued next week in chapter 8 – part 9
brother Hanola
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