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Introduction
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When most people think of prophecy they immediately think of the
“Revelation” which is perfectly natural. However, it must be
understood that Revelation is not a complete comprehensive book
on prophecy. There are a number of major matters not mentioned,
such as: |
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a) |
Specific mention of the rapture (1 Thess. 4:15-17) |
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b) |
The Judgment seat (Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 3:12-15; 4:5) |
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c) |
The presentations of the saints (Eph. 5:27; Col. 1:22, 28) |
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d) |
Or the judgment of the Living nations (Matt. 25:31-46) |
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There are two specific goals in Revelation: |
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a) |
The unveiling of the administrative glories that reside
exclusively in Christ (Rev. 1:12- 20:11) |
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b) |
The “things which must shortly come to pass” (Rev. 1:1) |
Distinct Rules For Biblical Interpretation
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A doctrine is always wrong if: |
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a) |
It does not promote holiness of life. (2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Jn. 2:20) |
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b) |
It promotes preoccupation with the world (1 Jn. 2:16-17) |
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c) |
It nullifies or degrades the Person and work of our Lord. (Lk.
1:35; Rev. 5:9) |
The Understanding That There Are Two Kings Seeking To Clarify Or Confuse
People Relative To Prophecy:
We are in a world where there are two great opposing kingdoms, the
“power” kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of God. The following sets
out some of the distinctions between them. Note that where there are no
names or references is because there is no reference to them in the
scriptures.
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The Kingdom of God |
References |
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The Kingdom of Satan |
References |
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God is King |
Psa. 95:3 |
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Satan is King |
Rev. 9:11 |
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Principalities |
Eph. 3:10 |
Principalities |
Eph. 6:12; Col. 2:15 |
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Powers |
Eph. 3:10 Col. 1:6;
1 Pet. 3:22 |
Powers |
Eph. 6:12; Col. 2:15 |
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Dominions |
Col. 1:16 |
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Dominions |
Col.1:16 |
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Thrones |
Col. 1:16 |
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Authorities |
1 Pet. 3:22 |
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Cherubim |
Gen. 3:23 |
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Archangels |
1 Thess. 4:16 |
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Angels |
Gen. 28:12 |
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Seraphim |
Isa. 6:2 |
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Living Creatures (Beasts) |
Rev. 4:7 |
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a) |
These two kingdoms are direct opposites because their Kings are
total opposites. |
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God |
Reference |
Satan |
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Light |
1 Jn. 1:5 |
Darkness |
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Order |
1 Cor. 14:33 |
Confusion |
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Holy |
Isa. 6:3 |
Unholy |
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Magnifies Christ |
Phil. 2:9 |
Dishonors Christ |
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Truth |
Deut. 32:4 |
Error |
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Seeks men’s good |
Psa. 73:1 |
Seeks mens destruction |
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Abundant life |
Jn. 17:3 |
Second death |
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Omnipresent |
Psa. 139:7-9 |
Localized |
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Omnipotent |
2 Chron. 20:6 |
Defeated |
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Selfless |
Rom. 8:32 |
Selfish |
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b) |
Due to these diametrically Kings both seeking to give prophetic
teachings, great care must be given that saints do not fall into
the traps of over zealous emotionalism. I have heard of a
coming cashless society, yet no prophetic teacher has been able
to show where the Bible teaches such a thing. For years it was
taught that the ten kingdoms was being developed by the E.E.C.,
yet such is not the case. Even today, according to the Mayan
calendar there is to be an economic deflation and possibly the
world to end. Such are not the teachings of the scriptures, and
on this we must make a major observation. There are often major
errors presented due to the failure to keep to that which the
scriptures say and what we infer, and ignoring passages which do
not fit into our interpretation. For instance: |
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i) |
It is generally taught that the rapture is in view in Rev. 4:1,
but the question is: “Do the scriptures actually say that this
is the rapture, or have we put our interpretation on that
passage to make it teach the rapture?” |
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ii) |
Again, it is generally taught that John was in the Spirit on the
Lord’s Day and that was a Sunday, however, do the scriptures say
that was a Sunday, or do we make it a Sunday morning since we
call Sunday the Lord’s Day? |
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iii) |
The two on the road to Emmaus knew the scriptures which told of
the Lord’s death, but this did not fit into their interpretation
of His coming to set up His kingdom so they drew the inference
that Christ would not have been the Messiah. |
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iv) |
When Eve had her first child she called him Cain meaning: “I
have gotten a man from the Lord”. She was right in believing
what God had said, but wrong in what she inferred from His words
of God, and wrong in the timing. |
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c) |
It must be clear that the scriptures are never wrong but our
assumptions can and at times are. When the Lord said to Peter
concerning John: “ If I will that he tarry till I come, what is
that to thee?” (Jn. 21:23), the disciples took it that the Lord
said John would not die. It was an assumption which was wrong.
When applied to us, we are aware that Paul wrote of something
happening “in a moment”. Without looking it up, “what was going
to happen in a moment?” Will it be: |
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i) |
Us translated to Heaven? |
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ii) |
People raised from the dead? |
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iii) |
Bodies changed? |
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iv) |
All three? |
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v) |
The answer is found in 1 Cor. 15:52 |
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d) |
We must be very careful to distinguish between what we read in
the scriptures and what we infer from the scriptures. |
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e) |
On the other hand, there is Satan who seeks to destroy peoples
confidence in true prophecy by the practices of, astrology, palm
reading or numerology, horoscopes, and false prophets. As well
there have been men such as Joseph Smith who predicted the
coming of the Lord in 1891. Harold Camping predicted the Lord
would come on 21st May 2011. The fact is we do not know when
the Lord will come, either to the air or earth, and any prophecy
declaring such and such a date is without Biblical foundation.
The scriptures and the words of the Lord stand true: “Of that
day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of Heaven, but
my Father only (Matt. 24:36). In Mark there is the added
expression: “neither the Son” (Mk. 13:32).
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Prophecy Can Be Complicated
Prophecy gets complicated, and we are inclined to give up when things
get like that, unless the complicated thing is to our advantage. For
instance, great Aunt Mary had died and left something about me in her
will. In a moment the complication does not matter for great is my
eagerness to learn what she has left me! However, if I had not been in
it, I would give up after a few minutes. So with prophecy. When we
learn what is in it for us, about us, then the complication will only
serve to excite our anticipation. There is none more interested in
prophetic truths than divine Persons, and if I am in tune with them, it
will be highly interesting to me, not as a matter of intellectual data,
but with the excitement of a child at a birthday party waiting to see
Christ being glorified.
Prophetic Teaching Must:
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Develop a deeper appreciation of the wonder of Christ for there
is none who has ever done a greater work. (Rev. 1:1; 5:5-13) |
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Result in greater Glory to God, for it is more than the
unveiling of the activities of God. It is showing the unfolding
of those purposes which he has decreed despite every revolt of
Satan and the arrogance of foolish man. (Psa. 2:2, 6; 138:4;
Rev. 19:19-21) |
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c) |
Promote worship and praise. (Dan. 2:19) |
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d) |
Promote holiness of life. (2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Jn. 2:29; 3:2-3) |
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Promote separation from the world, not by the externals, but by
the Holy Spirit living the life of Christ within. (Col. 2:20) |
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f) |
Cause one to live in the reality of: |
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i) |
The imminent coming of the Lord. (Jn. 14:2-3) |
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ii) |
The Lord’s coming in manifested glory. (2 Thess. 1:7-10) |
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iii) |
Living in view of millennial glory and our places of
administration. (Rom. 8:19) |
Summarized:
All references for the following acrostics are in “Prophetic
Outlines and Schematics” to follow:
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1) |
No. 1 |
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1) |
Church Age |
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2) |
Coming of the Lord to the air |
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3) |
Confederation of the kingdoms and the rise of the man of sin.
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4) |
Covenant being confirmed |
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5) |
Chastening of Israel by God |
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6) |
Coming of the Lord to the earth |
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7) |
Combat between the Lord and the nations |
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8) |
Cleansing of the earth |
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9) |
Communion between God and man restored |
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10) |
Consuming of earth's rebels by fire |
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11) |
Condemnation at the Great white Throne |
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12) |
Conclusion and the eternal state |
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2) |
No.2 |
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1) |
Resurrection |
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2) |
Rapture |
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3) |
Review |
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4) |
Rise and rule of the Beast |
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5) |
Retribution |
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6) |
Return of Christ |
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7) |
Reigning of Christ |
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8) |
Removal of all that offends |
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9) |
Renewal |
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May God grant us good understanding as He, by His
Holy Spirit, deigns to guide us into all truth.
John 16:13
Rowan Jennings, Abbotsford,
British Columbia
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