Bible Question:
“If there’s no rapture, then how do you explain these six verses from 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18?”
.... View MoreBible Question:
“If there’s no rapture, then how do you explain these six verses from 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18?”
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Steve’s Answer:
I’ll be happy to explain them.
Please see my notes under each verse below:
1Thess 4:13-18
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1 Thessalonians 4:13
" 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."
This verse sets the subject matter.
The subject matter is this: "Where are the dead?"
That’s what Paul’s entire discourse here is about, from beginning to end.
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1 Thessalonians 4:14
"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him."
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That’s correct.
If you believe Jesus died and rose again, then you also have to believe that those who die, while believing in Christ, will also rise again, to be with Him.
When we die, our flesh and bones go back to the ground, and our spirit and soul return to the Father who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:6-7).
So, those who have died in Christ, are "already with Christ" in heaven. That’s all Paul is saying here.
More on this in just a second.
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1 Thessalonians 4:15
"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."
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Again, that’s right.
We cannot precede, into heaven, those who have already died.
Why?
Because they’re ALREADY with the Father.
The book of Ecclesiastes tells us that to be absent from the flesh is to be present with the Lord.
In other words, again, when you die, your flesh and bones go to the ground/dust, but your soul and spirit return to Father in heaven immediately.
"To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."
Period.
That’s all Paul is saying here.
And that’s why, in 2 Corinthians 5:8-9, Paul would reiterate:
[8] "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."
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[9] "Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him."
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And in Philippians 1:23,
Paul reiterates, again, the Bible Truth that to be absent from the flesh is to be present with the Lord:
[23] "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:"
[24] |Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you."
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Do you understand?
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We’re simply learning here what the Old Testament has already taught us. which is that when you die,
your soul and spirit 'immediately' return to the Lord.
If you are absent from the flesh, you are indeed present with the Lord.
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Continuing in 1st Thessalonians 4:
[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 rise first:"
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At the 2nd Advent, while Christ and His heavenly many-membered body are returning from heaven to earth,
the last trumpet will blow,
and we who are living on earth, in the flesh, will be 'changed' “in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor. 15:51-52) into our 'new' spiritual bodies.
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We will no longer be in the flesh at that point.
So, we will instantly join those who are already with the Lord.
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(But remember, they’re on their way HERE, to establish Christ’s Kingdom on earth.)
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1Thessalonians 4:17
"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."
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Paul uses the word "clouds", in this verse, as a euphemism for “crowds.” Just like he does in Hebrews 12:1:
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Hebrews 12:1
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a CLOUD of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"
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In other words, we JOIN with Christ and His many-membered body as they descend to Earth like a great cloud, to set up Christ’s eternal Kingdom here.
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(As an aside, check out 2 Peter 2:17, Jude 1:12 and Revelation 1:7, each of which use the word ‘clouds’ as a euphemism for groups of people.)
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Finally, the word “air” in this verse (i.e., vs. 17, above), is from the Greek word ‘aer,’ which does not mean sky or even atmosphere, or heaven. Instead, it means “a breath, as breathed unconsciously; to respire, to blow.”
(See Strong's Concordance G-109.)
In other words, at the second advent, as Jesus and His many-membered body are descending like a great cloud from heaven onto this Earth to set up His eternal Kingdom, and we here on Earth, in the flesh, are being changed into our new spiritual bodies ‘in the twinkling of an eye,’ the breath of eternal life enters into us and we instantly join that great cloud of witnesses coming to earth with Christ.
We join with the crowd who are on their way here.
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Here’s another spot in the Bible (Mark 13:24-27) where that’s very clearly explained:
[24] "But in those days, AFTER that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,"
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[25] "And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken."
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[26] "And THEN shall they see the Son of man coming IN THE CLOUDS with great power and glory."
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[27] "And THEN shall he send His angels, AND SHALL GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECT from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven."
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Our gathering together with the Lord clearly happens "after" the tribulation.
And that’s when we here on this Earth are gathered together with them who are coming to this Earth to establish Christ’s Kingdom. The very angels gather us all together.
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Let’s finish up in Thessalonians 4:
[18] "Wherefore (therefore) comfort one another with these words."
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Do you remember what the subject matter of these verses was?
It was "where are the dead"?
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Saint Paul tells us that they are with Christ, in heaven, and that they’ll be returning to this Earth with Christ, and we will then be joining them as they arrive.
And Paul says that should give us great comfort.
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It’s really that simple.
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I have no idea how these rapture believers turn that simple “where are the dead?” lesson from Paul into some fly-away into heaven to be with the Lord in the sky forever fairy tale. That is simply unbiblical.
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Christ and His Kingdom are coming 'here', to this earth, to be established eternally (Zechariah 14).
And when that happens, it will be heaven on Earth.
And all believers will live here on this Earth, in His eternal Kingdom, together with Him, in great joy and happiness.
Regards in Christ,
Steve Barwick
excerpt;
https://haveyenotread.com/bible-qa/if-theres-no-rapture-explain-these-six-verses/
DENY SELF || Take Up Cross, Follow Jesus | Be Not Wise In Thine Own Eyes | Perilous Times ➡️ Lovers Of Self | Cursed Be The Man Who Trusteth In Man ➡️ "Cursed HEATH" | Repent Ye, The Kingdom of Heav... View MoreDENY SELF || Take Up Cross, Follow Jesus | Be Not Wise In Thine Own Eyes | Perilous Times ➡️ Lovers Of Self | Cursed Be The Man Who Trusteth In Man ➡️ "Cursed HEATH" | Repent Ye, The Kingdom of Heaven Is At Hand
Discipleship Is Costly
(Mark 8:34–38; Luke 9:23–26 )
Matthew 16:24-27 [Read Whole Chapter!]
24¶Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
"The Rewards Of Wisdom"
Proverbs 3:5-7 [Read Whole Chapter!]
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
"Difficult Times Will Come"
2 Timothy 3:1-10 [Read Whole Chapter!]
1¶This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
"The Deceitful Heart"
Jeremiah 17:5-10 [Read Whole Chapter!]
5¶Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
6For he shall be like the HEATH in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
10I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
"The Preaching of John the Baptist"
(Mark 1:2–8; Luke 3:1–20 )
Matthew 3:1-3 [Read Whole Chapter!]
1¶In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
"Call to Repent"
Luke 13:1-5 [Read Whole Chapter]
1¶There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
#christianity #companionbible ##strongsconcordance #TruthInTheWord #shepherdschapelstudents #biblestudy
NEVER EVER forget the clear and precise statement Paul gave us in 2nd Thessalonians, chapter 2, verse 3.
It is a statement so simple that it can be understood by even the most basic reader.... View MoreNEVER EVER forget the clear and precise statement Paul gave us in 2nd Thessalonians, chapter 2, verse 3.
It is a statement so simple that it can be understood by even the most basic reader.
He said "let no man deceive you by any means, for that day [the day of Christ's return] shall NOT come UNTIL there is 'a great apostasy' when that man of sin, the son of perdition is revealed."
How can anyone read that sentence and still think Christ can return at any moment when that 'man of sin' has not been revealed?
Would you like to know a MYSTERY, something which is 'unknown' to most people because they have never read the Scriptures with understanding or without the "preconceived" traditions of men distorting their comprehension?
That man of sin, that son of perdition Paul said will be revealed, will be REVEALED to the world AS JESUS CHRIST, not some bad dude who goes around killing people!
Therefore, the mystery is that the FIRST Jesus who appears will actually be Satan, the false-christ, the imposter, the false messiah, BUT the "whole world" with the exception of those who have 'the seal of God' [His Word] in their foreheads (Rev. 9:4) will believe that he (Satan) is the Real Jesus Christ and will worship him (Satan) as God!
THAT IS the GREAT APOSTASY!
Do you now see why the any-moment Rapture Theory is such a dangerous doctrine?
It sets people up for the fall, even the great falling away, doesn't it?
In today's study we will examine some of the reasons why people will be so convinced he is Jesus Christ!
Let's get started.
2 Thes. 2:5
"Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?"
Paul now reminds the Thessalonians that he told them before, when he was with them, that there would be a great falling away, a great apostasy, before Jesus Christ returned and that the Wicked one would be revealed,
"Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God" (2 Thes. 2:4)."
We know that the apostle Paul was an Hebrew scholar (Acts 22:3) and that he "reasoned with them [the Thessalonians] out of the Scriptures" as it is written in Acts 17:2.
Therefore he would have been very familiar with the words of Daniel, whose prophecies concerning the false-christ parallel those of John in the Book of Revelation and Paul here in 2 Thes. 2.
Daniel 7:25
"And he shall speak great words against the MOST HIGH, and shall wear out the saints of the MOST HIGH, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time."
The blaspheme that this "little horn", the spurious messiah, the son of perdition, will speak against God is just as Paul said in 2 Thes. 2:4.
he will sit in the temple and blasphemously claim that he is God himself, i.e. that he is the Messiah returned, when IN FACT he is Satan, the "instead-of-Christ".
The "times and decrees" that he will think to change is to convince people that Jesus Christ has returned (before it is time), i.e. that it is the time of the 7th Trump when in fact it is only the 6th.
That will be easy for him considering that most people are expecting Christ to return at "any moment", thanks to the 'vision' of the Rapture Theory.
Couple that with Satan's supernatural abilities to perform "great signs and wonders in the sight of men",
and just like that,
in one day's time,
Christians all over the world will begin to worship the "dragon", the "religious beast", the "vile person", the "devil", "antichrist", "the son of perdition", as if he were Jesus Christ.
Again,
THAT is the "Great Falling Away" from the True Christ which Paul speaks of when the son of perdition is revealed!
So we now know from irrefutable Biblical documentation that the son of perdition is coming FIRST, 'before' (prior to) the real Jesus Christ returns and we gather back to Him.
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.
excerpt; American Wisdom Series
https://www.americanwisdomseries.com/5148.html
MORE QUESTIONS?
There are several short but "to the point" well documented (In my honest opinion) Bible studies by The "American Wisdom Series" in this link below
(click pamphlet # number in the link below to read) 🙏💕 https://www.americanwisdomseries.com/Rapturetoc.html
"How can Satan Deceive the Whole World?"
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Have you ever wondered how it could possibly be... View More"How can Satan Deceive the Whole World?"
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Have you ever wondered how it could possibly be
that Satan when he comes to earth is able to "deceiveth the whole world" (Rev. 12:9)?
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IF what "mainstream" Christianity is teaching,
i.e. their traditional doctrines, is True,
then how could this be?
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Is the majority right, when most professing Christians are completely Biblically illiterate?
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Think about it?
If a person is deceived it means that they believe something to be True, that is in fact, NOT so.
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Folks, it is "religion" that prevents our people
from seeing the Truth of God's Word.
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So, while the "majority" of Christianity today teaches that Jesus Christ can return "at any moment", both Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul
WARNED about "being deceived" concerning His return.
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Jesus said repeatedly that MANY would come "claiming" to represent Him,
i.e. as Christian ministers,
and would deceive MANY,
"the multitudes",
NOT just a few!
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Take a look at what the majority of our churches teach
concerning our gathering back to Christ,
then read what Paul says in 2 Thes. 2.
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Here it is:
2 Thessalonians 2:1
"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him,"
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Paul is now getting to the purpose for this second letter. Paul reminded them of his 1st letter to them (1Thes.), of Christ returning and our gathering back to Him. Because of the 'misunderstanding' that could be drawn from the first letter, he writes the following.
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It's IMPORTANT in this final generation that we PAY ATTENTION for this WILL HAPPEN "during our lifetime."
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The "subject" again of this letter is; "our gathering back to Christ"
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2 Thessalonians 2:2
"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 [the Lord is just] at hand."
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The subject is the 7th Trump,
the return of Christ, and our gathering back to Him.
Paul doesn't want you to misunderstand what he is about to say.
This is why he makes it 'plain and simple'.
Paul told them not to confuse what he is saying here, with any other teaching, or spirit, or even that first letter from him.
This is because there was a confusing part in the first letter where false teachers had crept in and "twisted" Paul's words.
The prime example of this today is the twisting of that first letter by the rapture theorist, to form the TRAP that has been set for Christians in this final generation.
Paul is saying, don't let ANYONE trouble you [confuse you], and tell you that "the day of Christ" is at hand.
The "day of Christ [the Lord]" is the day when Jesus Christ will return to earth, and gather His saints to Him.
This gathering will happen at the sounding of the seventh (last) trumpet. This is one of those tradition's of men [false doctrines] that can deceive you.
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2 Thes. 2:3
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"
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Jesus Christ is not gathering anyone to Him, nor is He coming here to earth, EXCEPT there be "a falling away" FIRST.
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The word for "falling away", in the Greek is "apostasy".
Jesus told us in His revelation to John, in Revelation 9:11, that "Apollyon" is one of Satan's names, and this name is derived from the word "apostasy".
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The word "perdition" means one that "perishes".
Satan, and only Satan, has already been condemned to die [to perish] by God.
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Satan's judgment day has been pronounced already back in the first earth age, and he will have no part in the Great White Throne Judgment, or any other Judgment yet to come. He has already been Judged, and sentenced by God to death "perdition"
[Ezekiel 28 covers this judgment].
Live Link to-EZEKIEL 28
http://americanwisdomseries.com/8028.html
What did Paul say again?
Jesus Christ is coming back to this earth,
but the saints of Christ will not be gathered to Him UNTIL the "son of perdition" [Satan] be revealed FIRST.
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How will we know who he is when he arrives?
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Revelation 17:8
"The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is [shall come]."
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This beast "thou [John] sawest", was in the first earth age; and is not on this earth now, as it is written in Revelation 12:7. Satan is in heaven, right now, being our "accuser", and will be cast out to this earth very shortly by Michael.
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"And shall ascend out of the bottomless pit; and go into perdition;"
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Who is he again?
He is Satan the false-christ.
Satan is not a man born of woman, but a "supernatural arch angel". In Ezekiel 28 it is written that Satan [Lucifer] is the most beautiful of all God's created beings.
And in Isaiah 14:12;
"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer (day star), son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!"
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"Lucifer" then is another name for Satan; he is also called the Dragon, the serpent, and many other names accounting for the roles he plays, and in our generation he will come to earth, in person, as the "spurious messiah", claiming that "he" is Christ.
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Isaiah 14:13;
"For thou hast said in thine heart, 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:'"
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Satan is saying,
I'm going to BE God, and be above the sons [stars] of God.
The "mount of the congregation" is on mount Zion; and that is "the side of the north" where Jesus Christ's Temple will be.
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Isaiah 14:14;
"I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the MOST HIGH."
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Satan is saying again, he is going to BE God.
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Isaiah 14:15;
"Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell [sheol], to the sides of the pit."
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Who is this that is going into the pit?
Who is this "son of perdition"?
It is Lucifer, who is Satan, the "son of perdition".
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The "son of perdition" of II Thessalonians 2:3 is none other than Satan himself, coming to earth to play the role of Jesus Christ.
Paul then is saying, that the True Christ, Jesus Christ, will not return to earth UNTIL this "apostasy" takes place "first".
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Isaiah 14:16;
"They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;"
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Following Jesus Christ's return to earth, and when the "false-christ" [Satan] is safely in the pit; the world [our unsaved brothers and sisters] will wonder; how could Satan have shook all the kingdoms?
They simply can't believe that they were deceived into believing this man to be God.
Are you going to be one of those deceived into believing Satan is the Christ, or do you know the difference?
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Paul is saying to the Thessalonians that Jesus Christ will NOT come, NOR will their be a "gathering of the saints" UNTIL you see the false-christ ("son of perdition") FIRST.
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It takes a lot of guts to believe the word of a false preacher/ a false Christian preacher, over Paul, Jesus, John, Isaiah, and a whole host of other prophets and disciples, but that is what many, many, WAY TOO MANY proclaiming Christians are doing!.
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This "apostasy" [falling away] is caused by the "son of perdition", and you will see him live and in person, very shortly.
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We are NOT going to gather back to Christ
until "the son of perdition" is revealed.
There is only one "son of perdition", Satan himself.
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What does this "revealing" mean?
2 Thes 2:4
"Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped;
so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,
shewing himself that he is God."
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What will he do when he is revealed?
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He will take over God's House,
even the body of Christ which results in the great apostasy,
and claims to BE God, i.e. Jesus Christ.
Satan will be revealed AS Jesus Christ!
It is a mystery to most.
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Hang on a few verses!
The "Son of perdition" is Satan and Isaiah just told us this very same thing.
Remember, the Temple of God is on mount Zion, and on "the side of the North".
This person sitting there is sitting in God's Seat, pretending to be God, but he's Satan: "Showing himself that he is God."
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Do you know what Jesus said about this very thing. Jesus called it in Matthew 24:15, the very same thing that Daniel called it in Daniel 9:27; "the Abomination of desolation".
A more correct translation in the "James Moffatt translation Bible" is called "The abomination by the desolator".
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"Satan claiming to be God" IS the abomination, and "he" [Satan] IS the desolator, for the entire world WILL believe him; except for God's elect, and all those who have the "seal of God" in their minds [foreheads]. The sealed of God have their gospel armour on, and they are ready to face Satan and his system in the spiritual warfare.
Does the rapture "theory" still look inviting to you? If it does, friend, your in a heap of trouble. This is not me talking, but Paul; for he is warning you to be watching out for the false-christ, for he is a copy of exactly what you expect of Christ.
The spurious messiah [Satan] will have supernatural powers, and he will come first, [at the sixth trump] before our Lord Jesus Christ returns [at the seventh trump].
We are given the exact time of the false-christ's arrival upon the earth in Revelation 9.
It is at the sounding of the SIXTH TRUMPET. The trumpets are sounded in order, and the sixth trumpet is prior to the seventh.
It can't be that hard to understand.
Satan will be God to all the people of the world, including all Christians who DO NOT HAVE "the Seal of God" in their minds [foreheads], to know the Truth.
They fall because they will not take the simplicity and understanding in which Christ taught.
Most of them never even read it for themselves; they've taken their preacher's word for it, because he is such a 'nice' man and he wouldn't tell them a falsehood! would he?
They "actually believe" it's in God's Word. "Let's sing the song on page 666. Praise the Lord, and would the ushers please pass the felt lined plate!", said the "one verse" rev.
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The whole purpose for Paul to write the II Thessalonians letter, was to warn that church, as well as the churches of today, of the errors in teaching that others were making of his 1st letter. Don't expect Christ's return tomorrow,
for these things of II Thessalonians 2:1-4 MUST TAKE PLACE FIRST.
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2 Thes 2:5
"Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?"
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Paul says "Don't you remember I told you all of this?"
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2Thes 2:6
"And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time."
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You know what Satan's status is now.
What is this "mystery"?
Let's look up the Greek word (mystery) in Strong's: musterion, moos-tay'-ree-on, Greek 3466;
from a derivative of muo (to shut the mouth); a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites) :- mystery.
It's RELIGION!
Hidden Religion!
Even the "Hidden (Secret) Dynasty of Religion"
that has crept into the churches.
It's "Churchianity",
ceremony and religious rites,
'disguised' as Christianity.
Do you not remember the 1st Seal in Rev. 6:2
and the rider of the 'first' white horse?
It is deception brought about by Satan,
the rider of the first white horse which looks like Christ's white horse,
but it isn't!
DON'T BE DECEIVED!
If you need a refresher then go back and re-read (Rev. 6:2) the 1st Seal!
Note:
Many, way too many, churches
teach that the "only he who now letteth will let,
until he be taken out of the way" in verse 7 refers to the Holy Spirit departing the earth when they are Raptured away.
That's because the "mystery" has already completely
taken over their unlearned minds.
They are "not going anywhere" before the false-christ (Antichrist) is revealed.
Paul just said so in plain and simple language.
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The subject being discussed is;
When will the "man of sin" be revealed?
The answer is;
"When Michael let's him go" in Rev. 12:7-9.
Michael is holding him back!
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Here's verse 7 from the Living Bible translation:
2 Thes. 2:7
"As for the work this man of rebellion and hell will do when he comes, it is already going on,
but he himself will not come until the one who is holding him back steps out of the way."
(Living Bible)
When Michael steps out of the way and lets Satan go, he will come to the earth (disguised) as Jesus Christ.
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There is no mystery around when this will take place, for we will know his methods of operation [withholdeth], and the signs, the seasons, and the times of Satan's arrival to earth.
If you are in the Word of God and not following these "one-verse" preachers, you will know when to expect the spurious messiah. You will also know within hours of when to expect our Lord Jesus Christ's return.
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Satan's reign on earth is not seven years because God reduced that time to "five months" for the elect's sake, as Jesus told us in Matthew 24:22.
Jesus also revealed that the time is shortened to five months, to John in Revelation 9:5, and 9:10.
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The "mystery of lawlessness" is the mystery of iniquity. "He who now letteth will let"; in the Greek should be translated;
"He who holds fast [ketcho] will stand."
The ellipsis, or "omission from an expression of a word clearly implied"; "There is one who hold's fast", instead, by repeating the verb, "will let". However, "katecho" is a transitive verb, and an object must be supplied also.
So if the subject in verse six is Satan, then the object must be his position in the heavenlies [see Ephesians 6:12], from which he will be ejected from heaven by Michael [Revelation 12:7-9].
"Out of the way", in the Greek is "out of ek", or "the midst". It is the same expression used in Acts 17:33, and I Corinthians 5:2.
Many "rapture theorists" claim this one who "letteth" is the Holy Spirit, and they claim that when He is taken away, then the false-christ will come.
By reversing the role of the characters in the verses here, and attributing what is Satan's to the Holy Spirit, you have a whole "new" doctrine called the "Any moment" doctrine.
This false doctrine is better known as the "rapture theory".
It is dangerous to play around with a foreign language; and when the flock relies upon their shepherd for the Truth, and the shepherd is "assumed" to be correct; in ignorance it is 'accepted' just because 'he said so'.
It is Michael who "holds fast" on to Lucifer [the false-christ], and Michael will continue to keep Lucifer held until The Appointed Time, spoken of above. That time is Appointed by God. Then at the Appointed time God will give Satan the keys [authority] to release his fallen angels and they will be cast to the earth [see Revelation 9:1-10].
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Let's take a look at the one [Michael] who holds on to Satan now.
Revelation 12:7;
"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,"
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Michael [that is who the "he" is in II Thessalonians 2:7 and his [Michael's] angels fought against the dragon [another name for Satan] and his [Satan's] fallen angels.
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Revelation 12:8;
"And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven."
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This war takes place in heaven, and that is where Satan and his angels are now; though Satan's spirit, and demonic spirits are all over the earth today.
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Now we will see what Michael does with Satan, in fulfilling II Thessalonians 2:7.
Revelation 12:9;
"And the great dragon [Satan] was cast out
[that is the transitive verb of verse seven], that old serpent [this is the role Satan played in the Garden of Eden], called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world [except for God's elect]: he was cast out onto the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
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This is when Satan will 'physically' appear on earth as the antichrist with his angels. This is the time of the false-christ's coming, and we must know when this time is, by when these events take place, for Satan comes at the sixth trumpet.
Then the verse picks up where Satan is standing in the holy place. Satan's object is to DECEIVE ALL THE WORLD, and have the world take his mark in their minds.
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God's Word thus says that Satan will come to earth and stand in that Holy place, "before" Christ will come and gather anyone back to Himself.
Back to the KJV and continuing in 2 Thes.:
2 Thes. 2:8
"And then shall that Wicked [one] be revealed,
whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:"
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Most of Christianity is awaiting an evil, Hitler like, butcher to be revealed.
Don't you SEE the mystery at work?
The "wicked one" will be revealed (disguised) as Jesus Christ.
He won't appear to be doing anything wicked at all!
He's very religious. He heals the "deadly wound".
As Daniel shows us, the "little horn", Satan, brings (false) "peace and prosperity" to the world.
The whole world will love him!
They will think Christ has returned!
Is that hidden, or what?
"The wicked" is better translated, "wicked one":
What comes out of the Lord's mouth?
It is the Truth.
That is also the Word that God put in the mouth of Paul in this writing. Satan shall then be destroyed after being cast out, and also after standing in the holy place. "After this", is the time of Jesus Christ coming and gathering of His saints. There is NO "anytime" doctrine here.
It is in the course of certain (specific) events, and God lets us know clearly the order of these events, and exactly what to expect. In Matthew 24:15 Jesus is saying exactly what Paul is saying, Satan will come FIRST and reign BEFORE "the gathering of the saints".
Then Christ will destroy Satan.
"Even him" also includes Satan's religious beast system. Satan's religious system will be present with Satan. The religious beast is discussed in Revelation 13, and this, the religious role, that gives support and authority to Satan. If you believe in the Rapture theory, you will take part in that role.
Many Christians will assume Satan to be Christ when they visibly witness the supernatural powers he possess, and the deceptions that will take place, all except God's elect.
2 Thes 2:9
"Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,"
Even if you see "religious miracles" performed by religious leaders,
especially by one claiming to be Jesus,
DON'T BE DECEIVED!
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2 Thes 2:10
"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved."
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God is writing this Letter to us "personally",
and WE are responsible for "understanding it".
We are accountable to God to give answer for our actions. It is you and I, individually, that will stand before God and give our personal answer for the personal handling of His Word. There will be no preacher, friend or family member with you on that Judgment Day, for they will all be explaining and accounting for their own words and actions.
If your pastor is one of the false shepherds, and led many saints astray, his ignorance won't help him or you.
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This is something WE MUST think about,
our souls are at stake here!
If you "love Truth" you will study the Truth, which is His Word.
Look out across the land.
How many folks do you know that Truly study His Word?
You can tell by just listening to people
that they have not received the "love of the Truth",
even though they may attend a church regularly!
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2 Thes 2:11
"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:"
If you want to believe a lie, God will allow it;
in fact he will help you into the system of deceptions Satan will bring on the earth.
Do you really think God will come here and Personally show you, and talk to you when you "refuse to believe His Word", when He gave it in such detail through the prophets and His Son.
If you desire to believe that your going to "fly outta here", and refuse His Word, He will so block your mind that you will not be capable of understanding Truth. God will send the "strong delusion" over your mind.
The strong delusion is an act of love given by God for your "protection".
What is the lie that they believe?
It is that Satan is Jesus,
and that his (Satan's) "church systems," his "religions,"
are True Christianity.
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.
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excerpt:
http://americanwisdomseries.com/1089.html
Luke 10:17
"And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name.'"
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... View MoreLuke 10:17
"And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name.'"
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"THROUGH THY NAME", This is something that you NEVER want to forget.
The "Name of Jesus" is where the power of God comes from. You pray to the Father, but you ask in Jesus' Name, because that gives you credentials that you are of Christ. That you are a Christian, a believer, and have faith in Jesus the Christ.
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When you are giving the devil an order to leave, "don't ever" say please.
YOU are in command and carry the Power and Authority of Jesus Christ, and just like a General gives an order to a private in the Army, there is NO "please". YOU give THE COMMAND (verbally) "in Jesus' Name" to go "back to the Abyss!"
And the devil and his demons and realm MUST respond. You aren't afforded that right to come in the Power of Jesus Name and say "please" to the devil. We please GOD not Satan, get it?
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The power that you have is not in your name, or position, but in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Demons are real, and they do exist even today. These demons are what is called evil spirits, and there are many evil spirits in the world today. Every entity has a spirit, and we have a spirit with the soul that is within each one of us.
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Satan himself has a spirit, and God allows him to project his spirit and those evil spirits that follow him, to project themselves to this earth.
They can't walk "to and fro", like he (Satan) did in Job's day. However those evil spirits are able to enter and control the mind of those souls that "allow" them to enter into them. You have to allow them into your mind and soul before they can control you. Some people call these evil spirits, evil thoughts or other terms, but they do exist and they do control people that allow them in.
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When you began to notice too many negative things happening to you and within your family, that is the time to make that stand, and order them out (verbally) of your life and your family.
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When you accept Jesus and repent of your sins in Jesus' Name, Father gives you the right to use Jesus' Power and Authority to order those negative things out of your life,
but YOU have to make that stand,
YOU do the ordering,
and Satan and his demonics do the leaving.
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However, it requires YOUR FAITH in Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit within your soul before the Power of Christ is present within you.
This isn't a mind game between men, but the very Spirit of the Living God taking control over your life, to place the power and authority at your command. We will see now the instruction that Jesus gives to us on taking that power.
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These seventy that were sent out witnessed the fact that even the evil spirits were subject to each of them, through the name of Jesus.
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Luke 10:18
"And He said unto them, 'I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.'"
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This now is a new subject that Jesus is Teaching us.
This is Jesus speaking to His followers and it is prophetic, and refers back to the time of the garden of Eden, and Satan's fall from the first earth age. It also applies to Revelation 12: 7-9, when Michael will cast Satan out onto the earth, and his fallen angels will come with him.
The word "fall" indicates that Satan will be here "in person" because he was kicked out of heaven, and not on his own accord. The plan is set in motion, and it will take place 'exactly' as it is written. Satan came the first time as a deceiver, to destroy the seed line that the Christ would come through. The second time he will come as the false Messiah, to deceive all the people of the earth. It will happen exactly as it was prophesied.
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Luke 10:19
"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
In the Greek text, this verse is;
"Behold I have given you the power..."
The enemy is Satan, the one that will fall "as lightning from heaven onto the earth".
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Remember in the prior verses Jesus had stated that "I send you out as sheep among the wolves." Yet God will give those lambs that He sends out, Power over all the wolves that come against them, but they must know how to attain that power and authority.
It isn't valuable to them until they know how to use that power.
Jesus gave us, His lambs, "power over all our enemies."
then Jesus said;
"And nothing shall by any means hurt you."
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If you say you're a Christian; and Jesus gave you a Promise like that, how can you have any fear of any enemy that is on this earth.
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We will see in Luke 21 that
"not one hair on your head can be hurt"
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excerpt; Luke chapter 10 https://www.americanwisdomseries.com/
Bible Question:
"Why Do Some Christians Say the Tribulation Will Last Only Two-and-a-Half Months?"
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... View MoreBible Question:
"Why Do Some Christians Say the Tribulation Will Last Only Two-and-a-Half Months?"
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Steve Barwick's (in-depth) Answer:
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As you know, the original time period for the great tribulation was to be seven years, based on Daniel 9:27.
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Daniel 9:27
"And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."
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The “one week” is widely believed by scholars to be a week of years, meaning just as a week has seven days, this prophetic “week” is composed of seven years.
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And about halfway through that seven-year time-span (i.e., “in the midst of the week”), the antichrist kicks the deception into high gear by seating himself in the temple and proclaiming himself to be God (as it’s written in II Thessalonians 2:1-4), telling the world that sacrifices and oblations to God are now no longer necessary (Daniel 9:27), since he’s here on this earth.
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But…Jesus would later tell His disciples, regarding that original seven-year time-frame:
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Mark 13:20
"And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom He hath chosen, He hath shortened the days."
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So, the Lord, knowing how astonishingly deceptive the antichrist is, shortened the “one week” (i.e., seven years) of Daniel 9:27, so the elect would not be deceived by the antichrist when he proclaims himself to be “God,” and starts working “great wonders…in the sight of men” (Revelation 13:13-14).
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But how long would those days be shortened to?
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Well, let’s take a look at a few more Scripture passages, from Revelation 9 where it talks about the “locust army” that helps usher in the deception for the antichrist:
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Rev 9:3
"And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power."
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Rev 9:4
"And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads."
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Rev 9:5
"And to them it was given that they should NOT kill them, but that they should be tormented FIVE MONTHS: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man."
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Here we learn that the antichrist’s locust army cannot harm or deceive anyone who has the seal of God in their foreheads, meaning full knowledge of the Truth of God’s Word.
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Everyone else can be deceived, but not those who have God’s seal of knowledge. They know better than to fall for the lies being promulgated worldwide by those who work for the antichrist.
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We also learn that the locust army only has "five months" to help Satan deceive the rest of the world. So, it looks as if the seven-year timespan of Daniel has been shortened to five months.
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Let’s see if there’s a second witness to that:
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Rev 9:10
"And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men FIVE MONTHS."
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Rev 9:11
"And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon."
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Here, we learn once again that the locust army only has power to afflict men with deception for five months.
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We also learn that the “angel of the bottomless pit” – which is Satan himself, the false Christ — is their king. Abaddon and Apollyon are both titles of Satan, with the former meaning “a destroying angel,” and the latter meaning “the destroyer.”
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The 2 ½ Months
So, where does the 2 ½ months come from?
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Well, if you remember what we learned in Daniel 9:27, the original seven-year period was divided roughly into two halves, with the verse telling us that “in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease”.
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In other words, at that halfway point of the seven-year tribulation period – about 3.5 years — Satan tells the world that the sacrificial offerings can now cease, because he, as “God,” is now here on earth to “save” everyone.
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Likewise, with the original seven-year period being reduced by God to only five months “for the elect’s sake,” then Satan would stand up halfway through that five months – i.e., 2 ½ months – to cut off the sacrifices and oblations, and proclaim himself to be the Savior God while seating himself in the temple.
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It’s really that simple.
The antichrist will be here for the full five months. But he operates behind-the-scenes for the first half of the five-month period, and then openly – even to the point of proclaiming himself to be “God” — during the second half.
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I cannot speak for Pastor Arnold Murray, of course. So, I’d suggest obtaining from Shepherd’s Chapel the taped Bible study entitled “The Change.”
(or visit the link below)
"The Change" (in-depth) video lecture by Pastor Arnold Murray
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEdBMb33LSo
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Transcript of "The Change" Here;
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1088977836753972&set=a.414914777493618
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In that study, Pastor covers, in more depth than I have here, the Scriptures pertaining to the time-frame of the great tribulation, including the final 2.5 months of the antichrist’s reign.
I’d also suggest reading through the very good explanation provided by Brandon Ward over at World Events & the Bible – one of my favorite Bible-oriented resources.
Regards in Christ,
Steve Barwick
excerpt;
https://haveyenotread.com/bible-qa/why-do-some-christians-say-the-tribulation-will-last-only-two-and-a-half-months/
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