The Return of Christ

A compilation of Bible passages about doctrines relating

to the return of the Lord Jesus

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the New
King James Version of the Holy Bible, copyrighted 1979, 1980 and 1982 by
Thomas Nelson, Inc.

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2006 by Ruben Isaac Mitchell.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic

or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and

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retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information write to the

Author at P O Box 1565, Georginia 1709, Roodepoort, South Africa.

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The Second Coming of Christ

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. PROMISES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, p. 7
God will come in a visible, audible act of judgment
Nebuchadnezzar sees an outline of world history
Daniel sees an outline of world history
Daniel sees resurrection at end-time
Enoch sees the second coming
2. THE END STARTED IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES, p. 11
The spirit of the Antichrist in New Testament times
The end-time started in New Testament times
3. THE TIME OF TROUBLE, p. 13
Job sees a glimpse
John sees the fulfillment of Job’s vision of hail
Daniel sees time of trouble just before Christ’s return
Believers protected in time of trouble
4. THE CERTAINTY OF CHRIST’S RETURN, p. 14
The coming of Christ is the hope of the church
Believers to prepare for visible second coming
The certainty of the second coming
5. THE MANNER OF CHRIST’S RETURN, p. 16
The second coming as visible as lightning
With power and great glory
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The second coming will be universal, not secretive

Christ’s return means destruction for some, salvation for others
Christ will return the way He ascended
Christ’s return will be unexpected
Unexpected, but we can do our part to hasten it
Christ’s return will be visible all around the world
6. THE SIGNS OF THE SECOND COMING, p. 20
There will be signs
Signs of approaching end, but not the very end
Persecutors without, false prophets within
A major sign: Global proclamation of the gospel
Flashback: Desecration of the Temple AD 70
Flashback: Destruction of Jerusalem AD 70
Centuries of religious persecution foretold
False christs, false second comings
Cosmic signs after persecution era, but before the second coming
John sees cosmic signs Jesus foretold
The final signs show the coming of Christ is near
Departures from the truth among professed believers
A great apostasy in Christianity
Spiritual condition of mankind will deteriorate
Economic collapse and labour unrest
Skepticism, but the second coming is as certain as the flood
An era of travel and increase of knowledge
The Sabbath becomes a prominent issue before the second
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coming
7. THE BEAST AND HIS MARK, p. 31
John sees an outline of world history
The Beast rules 42 ‘months’ or 1,260 ‘days’
The Beast killed, then revives
Another world power emerges as Beast revives
Beast Power 2 gains great influence
Beast 2 promotes Beast 1
Beast 2 inflicts mark, name and number of Beast 1
8. GOD MARKS HIS PEOPLE TOO, p. 34
The seal of God
A final warning, and two marked peoples respond
The sealing is followed by the second coming
9. VISIBLE EFFECTS OF THE SECOND COMING, p. 37
The unrepentant will try to hide
Judgment on the nations
A day of destruction
Atmospheric disturbances
Spiritual revival and cosmic disturbances
A day of wrath
The faithful rewarded, the wicked destroyed
Destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s presence
Heaven and earth destroyed
Judged for wicked deeds and words
Even the wicked will see the second coming
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The overcomers rewarded at Christ’s return

No escape for the wicked
10. THE SECOND COMING AND THE RESURRECTION, p. 43
Jesus predicted a resurrection for the just and for the unjust
The resurrection of the just on the last day
The resurrection of the just at Christ’s return
The resurrection of the just at the last trumpet
Resurrection saints and end-time saints meet Christ at the same time
11. THE FIRST RESURRECTION, p. 45
Christ’s resurrection is the guarantee of everyone else’s
Job will be resurrected
Daniel was assured of the resurrection on the last day
All the faithful to be resurrection together
The saints transformed and glorified
12. THE JUDGMENT AND THE SECOND COMING, p. 47
Why God permits suffering and injustice for now
Separating the sheep from the goats
Even secret sins to be judged
Christ will judge everyone at His return
God will help us stand in the judgment
13. PREPARATION FOR THE SECOND COMING, p. 51
A great decision-making time is coming
Who can stand before a holy God?
The bottom line is God-fearing obedience
The meek shall inherit the earth
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The ministry of forgiveness and the second coming

Obedience, not miracles, the mark of discipleship
No one knows when, so be ready all the time
Leaders (servants), be at your posts
Be prepared
The Holy Spirit prepares the church
The importance of service
Individual service before the coming of Christ
The more we know, the greater our responsibility to serve
Only those who have been cleansed from sin enter the kingdom
We can hasten Christ’s return?
Why the apparent delay?
14. AFTER THE SECOND COMING, p. 62
Satan bound for a thousand years
Fallen angels bound by the same chains
The earth destroyed and uninhabited for a while
The saints live, reign and judge for a thousand years
Resurrection of the wicked after the 1,000 years
Release of Satan after 1,000 years
The final deception and the last battle
Christ Himself will stand on the earth
The destiny of Satan and his followers
Death and destruction foreign to God’s nature
15. THE CITY FROM SPACE, p. 67
All earthly cities to be destroyed
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Believers look for the heavenly Jerusalem

Even Old Testament saints looked for that city
The New Jerusalem descends to earth
Final attack on the New Jerusalem
16. NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, p. 70
Conditions in the New Jerusalem
No temple in the New Jerusalem
God moves His Head Office
No more suffering or death
BONUS CHAPTERS
1. The Last Day – Proving the Second Coming using the
Watchtower’s “New World Translation”, 73
2. Is Revelation 4:1 the secret rapture?, 80
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1. PROMISES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

God will come in a visible, audible act of judgment

The Mighty One, God the LORD, has spoken and called the earth
from the rising of the sun to its going down. Out of Zion, the
perfection of beauty, God will shine forth. Our God shall come, and
shall not keep silent; a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be
very tempestuous all around Him. He shall call to the heavens from
above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people: “Gather My
saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by
sacrifice” (Psalm 50:1-5)

Nebuchadnezzar sees an outline of world history

Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were
crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing
floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was
found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain
and filled the whole earth. This is the dream. Now we will tell the
interpretation of it before the king. … And in the days of these kings
the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be
destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall
break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand
forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the
mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the
bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made
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known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is
certain, and its interpretation is sure” (Daniel 2:35,36,44,45).
Please read the whole chapter for background on world history from the

time of Babylon through the Medo-Persian empire, Greece, the Roman

empire and its remnants, the modern states of Europe).

Daniel sees an outline of world history

Four great empires
Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the
four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. And four great
beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. The first
was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were
plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on
two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. And suddenly
another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and
had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it:
‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ After this I looked, and there was
another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird.
The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. After
this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful
and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was
devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet.
It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten
horns. (Daniel 7:2-7)
The fourth beast has 10 offspring (Roman Empire
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becomes Western Europe)

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast,
dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it
was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its
feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had
ten horns. … The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this
kingdom. And another shall rise after them; he shall be different
from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. (Daniel 7:7,24)
Western Europe gives birth to a great religious empire
I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one,
coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were
plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the
eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words. (Daniel 7:8)
The little horn’s 1,260-year rule and his destiny
He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall
persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change
times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time
and times and half a time. (Daniel 7:25)

Daniel sees resurrection at end-time

“At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands
watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of
trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is
found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust
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of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and
everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:1-2)

The true church triumphs in the end-time

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the
LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and
shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many
people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain
of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His
ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth
the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:2,3)
Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of
the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains,
and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it.
(Micah 4:1)

Enoch sees the second coming

Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men
also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His
saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly
among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in
an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners
have spoken against Him.” (Jude 14,15)
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2. THE END STARTED IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES

The spirit of the Antichrist in New Testament times

Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the
Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which
we know that it is the last hour. … Who is a liar but he who denies that
Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who
acknowledges the Son has the Father also. (1 John 2:18, 22, 23)
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether
they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the
world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that
confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every
spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is
not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have
heard was coming, and is now already in the world. (1 John 4:1-3)
For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not
confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an
antichrist. (2 John 7)

The end-time started in New Testament times

Now all these things happened to them [the Jews of the exodus]
as examples, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the
ends of the ages have come. (1 Corinthians 10:11)
The Lord is at hand. (Philippians 4:5)
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Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are
coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are
moth-eaten. … You have heaped up treasure in the last days. ...
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how
the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently
for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient.
Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not
grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.
Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! (James 5:1-3,7-9)
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3. THE TIME OF TROUBLE

Job sees a glimpse

“Have you entered the treasury of snow, or have you seen the
treasury of hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the
day of battle and war?” (Job 38:22,23)

John sees the fulfillment of Job’s vision of hail

Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud
voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It
is done!” And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and
there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as
had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city
was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And
great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of
the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away,
and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell
upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men
blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague
was exceedingly great. (Revelation 16:17-21)

Daniel sees time of trouble just before Christ’s return

“At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands
watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of
trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time.
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And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is
found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust
of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and
everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the
brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to
righteousness like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, shut up
the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run
to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” (Daniel 12:1-4)

Believers protected in time of trouble

One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: That I may
dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the
beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of
trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His
tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.
(Psalm 27:4,5)
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4. THE CERTAINTY OF CHRIST’S RETURN

The coming of Christ is the hope of the church

… teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking
for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and
Savior Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:12,13)

Believers to prepare for visible second coming

… since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation
those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us
when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty
angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know
God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He
comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired
among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was
believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10)
… keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our
Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing. (1 Timothy 6:14)
He [Christ] then would have had to suffer often since the
foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has
appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is
appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ
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was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait
for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
(Hebrews 9:26-28 – quoted under ‘The certainty of the second
coming’ below)

The certainty of the second coming

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in
Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I
would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself;
that where I am, there you may be also. … You have heard Me say to
you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me,
you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My
Father is greater than I.”. (John 14:1-3,28)
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait
for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:20)
He [Christ] then would have had to suffer often since the
foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has
appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is
appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ
was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait
for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
(Hebrews 9:26-28)
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5. THE MANNER OF HIS COMING

The second coming as visible as lightning

For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so
also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass
is, there the eagles will be gathered together. (Matthew 24:27,28)

With power and great glory

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all
the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He
will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will
gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of
heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:30,31)
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power
and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and
lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” (Luke
21:27-28)

The second coming will be universal, not secretive

And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go
after them or follow them. For as the lightning that flashes out of one
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part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the
Son of Man will be in His day. But first He must suffer many things
and be rejected by this generation. (Luke 17:23-25)

Christ’s return means destruction for some, salvation for others

“And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of
the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were
given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the
flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the
days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they
planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it
rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even
so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
“In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the
house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the
one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife.
Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life
will preserve it. I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one
bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will
be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two
men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”
And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?”
So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will
be gathered together.” (Luke 17:26-37)
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Christ will return the way He ascended

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was
taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they
looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men
stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why
do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken
up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw
Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11)

Christ’s return will be unexpected

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no
need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly
that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when
they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon
them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not
escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day
should overtake you as a thief. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4)

Unexpected, but we can do our part to hasten it

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the
heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt
with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be
burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what
manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of
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which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements
will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His
promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which
righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:10-13)

Christ’s return will be visible all around the world

7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him,
even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will
mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)
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6. THE SIGNS OF THE SECOND COMING

There will be signs

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him
privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what
will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
(Matthew 24:3)
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple,
Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, “Tell us, when
will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things
will be fulfilled?” (Mark 13:3-4)
So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things
be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take
place?” (Luke 21:7)
Signs of approaching end, but not the very end
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one
deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the
Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and
rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things
must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines,
pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the
beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:4-8)
And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one
deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’
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and will deceive many. But when you hear of wars and rumors of
wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is
not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there
will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
(Mark 13:5-8)
And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many
will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn
near.’ Therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars and
commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass
first, but the end will not come immediately.” Then He said to them,
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And
there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and
pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from
heaven. (Luke 21:8-11)

Persecutors without, false prophets within

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you
will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will
be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then
many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because
lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he
who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 24:9-13)
“But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to
councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be
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brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.
And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when
they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or
premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that
hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and
children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to
death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who
endures to the end shall be saved. (Mark 13:9-13)
But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and
persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You
will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it
will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it
in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;
for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries
will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by
parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of
you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But
not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your
souls. (Luke 21:12-19)

A major sign: Global proclamation of the gospel

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a
witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)
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Flashback: Desecration of the Temple AD 70

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of
by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let
him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the
mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take
anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back
to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those
who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may
not be in winter or on the Sabbath. (Matthew 24:15-20)
“So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by
Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader
understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter
to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not
go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to
those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight
may not be in winter. (Mark 13:14-18)

Flashback: Destruction of Jerusalem AD 70

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that
its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the
mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not
those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of
vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But
woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies
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in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath
upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be
led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by
Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:20-24)
Centuries of religious persecution foretold
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the
beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And
unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for
the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21,22)
For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been
since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time,
nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no
flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He
shortened the days. (Mark 13:19-20)

False christs, false second comings

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’
do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and
show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
See, I have told you beforehand. “Therefore if they say to you,
‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner
rooms!’ do not believe it. (Matthew 24:23-26)
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or,
‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false
prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if
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possible, even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things
beforehand. (Mark 13:21-23)

Cosmic signs after persecution era, but before the second coming
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be
darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from
heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Matthew
24:29)
“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be
darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven
will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they
will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and
glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His
elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the
farthest part of heaven. (Mark 13:24-27)
“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars;
and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the
waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the
expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the
powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Luke 21:25-26)

John sees cosmic signs Jesus foretold

I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a
great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and
the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth,
 30

as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.
Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every
mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the
earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men,
every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in
the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks,
“Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne
and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has
come, and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17; cf. Matthew
24:29; Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-26 and Joel 2:30-31)

The final signs show the coming of Christ is near

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has
already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer
is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is
near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no
means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth
will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. (Matthew
24:32-35)
“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has
already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer
is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that
it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will
by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and
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earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
(Mark 13:28-31)
Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all
the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for
yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these
things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Assuredly, I
say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things
take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by
no means pass away. (Luke 21:29-33)

Departures from the truth among professed believers

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will
depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and
doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their
own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and
commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be
received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the
truth. (1 Timothy 4:1-3)

A great apostasy in Christianity

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and
our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in
mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from
us, as though the day of Christ had come.
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come
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unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed,
the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is
called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple
of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that
when I was still with you I told you these things?
And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in
his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only
He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. (2
Thessalonians 2:1-7)

Spiritual condition of mankind will deteriorate

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For
men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving,
unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of
good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than
lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And
from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Economic collapse and labour unrest

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are
coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are
moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion
will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire.
You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the
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laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry
out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of
Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you
have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have
condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how
the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently
for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient.
Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be
condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! (James 5:1-9)

Skepticism, but the second coming is as certain as the flood

knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking
according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of
His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as
they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully
forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the
earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that
then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and
the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved
for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2
Peter 3:3-7)

An era of travel and increase of knowledge

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“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time
of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
(Daniel 12:4)

The Sabbath becomes a prominent issue before the second

coming
Thus says the LORD: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for My
salvation is about to come, and My righteousness to be revealed.
Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold
on it; who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and keeps his hand from
doing any evil.” Do not let the son of the foreigner who has joined
himself to the LORD speak, saying, “The LORD has utterly
separated me from His people”; nor let the eunuch say, “Here I am, a
dry tree.”
For thus says the LORD: “To the eunuchs who keep My
Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold fast My covenant,
even to them I will give in My house and within My walls a place
and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an
everlasting name that shall not be cut off.
“Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the
LORD, to serve Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His
servants—everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds
fast My covenant—even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and
make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and
their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be
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called a house of prayer for all nations.” The Lord GOD, who gathers
the outcasts of Israel, says, “Yet I will gather to him others besides
those who are gathered to him.” (Isaiah 56:1-8)
Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall
raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called
the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. “If you
turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on
My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD
honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding
your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall
delight yourself in the LORD; and I will cause you to ride on the high
hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 58:12-14)

7. THE BEAST AND HIS MARK

John sees an outline of world history

Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out
of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten
crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which
I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his
mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his
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throne, and great authority. (Revelation 3:1-2; cf. Daniel 2 & 7)

Daniel saw a lion, a bear, a leopard and an unidentified beast, while John

sees the same in reverse order, like in a mirror: unidentified beast, leopard,

bear and lion. Note that both visions are placed on the seashore.)

The Beast rules 42 ‘months’ or 1,260 ‘days’

And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies,
and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then
he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His
name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted
to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And
authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All
who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not
been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world.
If anyone has an ear, let him hear. He who leads into captivity
shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed
with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
(Revelation 13:5-10)
Read Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6 for the meaning of a day in prophecy.)

The Beast killed, then revives

And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and
his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and
followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority
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to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the
beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:3,4)

Another world power emerges as Beast revives

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two
horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the
authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and
those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound
was healed. (Revelation 13:11,12)

Beast Power 2 gains great influence

He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from
heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who
dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the
sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an
image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
(Revelation 13:13,14)

Beast 2 promotes Beast 1

And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and
causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast,
whose deadly wound was healed. … And he deceives those who dwell
on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of
the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the
beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted
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power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the
beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the
image of the beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:12,14,15)

Beast 2 inflicts mark, name and number of Beast 1

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to
receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no
one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the
beast, or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the
number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is
666. (Revelation 13:16-18)
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8. GOD MARKS HIS PEOPLE TOO

The seal of God

Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and
with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s
name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven,
like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder.
And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it
were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures,
and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred
and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These
are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins.
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These
were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the
Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without
fault before the throne of God. (Revelation 14:1-5)

A final warning, and two marked peoples respond

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to
every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice,
“Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has
come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and
springs of water.”
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And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen,

that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of
the wrath of her fornication.”
Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If
anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on
his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of
the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of
His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the
presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the
smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no
rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever
receives the mark of his name.”
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the
commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed
are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and
their works follow them.” (Revelation 14:6-13)

The sealing is followed by the second coming

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One
like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His
hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple,
crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in
Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the
 41

harvest of the earth is ripe.” So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His
sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven,
he also having a sharp sickle.
And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over
fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle,
saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the
vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” So the angel thrust
his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw
it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress
was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress,
up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.
(Revelation 14:14-20)
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9. VISIBLE EFFECTS OF THE SECOND COMING

The unrepentant will try to hide

Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, from the terror of the LORD
and the glory of His majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be
humbled, the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the
LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of
hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything
lifted up— and it shall be brought low—upon all the cedars of
Lebanon that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan;
upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up;
upon every high tower, and upon every fortified wall; upon all the
ships of Tarshish, and upon all the beautiful sloops. The loftiness of
man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be
brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, but the
idols He shall utterly abolish. They shall go into the holes of the
rocks, and into the caves of the earth, from the terror of the LORD
and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth
mightily. (Isaiah 2:10-19; cf. Revelation 6:14-17)

Judgment on the nations

Come near, you nations, to hear; and heed, you people! Let the earth
hear, and all that is in it, the world and all things that come forth
from it For the indignation of the LORD is against all nations, and
His fury against all their armies; He has utterly destroyed them, He
 43

has given them over to the slaughter. Also their slain shall be thrown
out; their stench shall rise from their corpses, and the mountains shall
be melted with their blood. All the host of heaven shall be dissolved,
and the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; all their host shall fall
down as the leaf falls from the vine, and as fruit falling from a fig
tree. (Isaiah 34:1-4; cf. Revelation 6:14-17)

A day of destruction
Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come
as destruction from the Almighty. (Joel 1:15)

Atmospheric disturbances
Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the LORD
is coming, for it is at hand: A day of darkness and gloominess, a day
of clouds and thick darkness, like the morning clouds spread over the
mountains. (Joel 2:1,2)

Spiritual revival and cosmic disturbances

“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on
all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men
shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on
My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit
in those days. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the
earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned
 44

into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the
great and awesome day of the LORD.” (Joel 2:28-31)

A day of wrath
The great day of the LORD is near; it is near and hastens quickly.
The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; there the mighty men
shall cry out. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and
distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and
gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet and
alarm against the fortified cities and against the high towers.
(Zephaniah 1:14-16)

The faithful rewarded, the wicked destroyed

since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those
who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when
the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in
flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and
on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These
shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of
the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that
Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those
who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. (2
Thessalonians 1:6-10)

Destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s presence

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And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will
consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the
brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is
according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying
wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who
perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they
might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong
delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be
condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in
unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12)

Heaven and earth destroyed

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the
heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt
with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be
burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what
manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of
which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements
will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His
promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which
righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:10-13)

Judged for wicked deeds and words

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Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men
also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His
saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly
among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in
an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners
have spoken against Him.” (Jude 14,15)

Even the wicked will see the second coming

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even
they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn
because of Him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)

The overcomers rewarded at Christ’s return

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which
is in the midst of the Paradise of God. … He who has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall
not be hurt by the second death.
… And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to
him I will give power over the nations— … He who overcomes, I
will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out
no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of
the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of
heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. … To
him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I
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also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

(Revelation 2:7,11,26; 3:12,21)

No escape for the wicked

Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every
mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the
earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men,
every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in
the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks,
“Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne
and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has
come, and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:14-17; cf. Joel 2:28-
31 above)
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10. THE SECOND COMING AND THE RESURRECTION

Jesus predicted a resurrection for the just and for the unjust
For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to
have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute
judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this;
for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear
His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the
resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection
of condemnation. (John 5:26-29)
The resurrection of the just on the last day
This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given
Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees
the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will
raise him up at the last day.”
Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and
I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:39,40,54)

The resurrection of the just at Christ’s return

But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those
who are Christ’s at His coming. (1 Corinthians 15:23)

The resurrection of the just at the last trumpet

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
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kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all
be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put
on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal
has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that
is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” (1
Corinthians 15:50-55)

Resurrected saints and end-time saints meet Christ at the same time
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who
have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For
if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring
with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are
alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means
precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with
the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we
who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in
the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be
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with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1
Thessalonians 4:13-18)
11. THE FIRST RESURRECTION

Christ’s resurrection is the guarantee of everyone else’s

And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your
sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
(1 Corinthians 15:17-18)
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your
Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10)

Job will be resurrected

But man dies and is laid away; indeed he breathes his last and where
is he? As water disappears from the sea, and a river becomes parched
and dries up, so man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are
no more, they will not awake nor be roused from their sleep.
“Oh, that You would hide me in the grave, that You would
conceal me until Your wrath is past, that You would appoint me a set
time, and remember me!
If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service
I will wait, till my change comes. You shall call, and I will answer
You; You shall desire the work of Your hands. (Job 14:10-15)
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on
the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my
flesh I shall see God, (Job 19:25,26)
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Daniel was assured of the resurrection on the last day

“But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise
to your inheritance at the end of the days.” (Daniel 12:13)

All the faithful to be resurrection together

Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise.
Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew
of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. (Isaiah 26:19)

The saints transformed and glorified

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for
the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body
that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the
working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
(Philippians 3:20-21)
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been
revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we
shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (1 John 3:2)
… and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on
incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this
corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your
victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:52-55)
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“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem
them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be
your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.” (Hosea 13:14)
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12. THE JUDGMENT AND THE SECOND COMING

Why God permits suffering and injustice for now

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of
heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while
men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and
went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop,
then the tares also appeared.
So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you
not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He
said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him,
‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No,
lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with
them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of
harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and
bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my
barn.”’”
… Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house.
And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of
the tares of the field.”
He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is
the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of
the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy
who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and
the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and
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burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man
will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all
things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast
them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of
teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom
of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matthew
13:24-30; 36-43)
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast
into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was
full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good
into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the
age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the
just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and
gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:47-50)
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His
angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
(Matthew 16:27)

Separating the sheep from the goats

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels
with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations
will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from
another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will
set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the
King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My
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Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of
the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and
you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked
and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison
and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did
we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe
You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you,
inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you
did it to Me.’
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from
Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and
his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty
and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me
in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did
not visit Me.’
“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we
see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison,
and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying,
‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the
least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into
everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew
25:31-46)
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Even secret sins to be judged

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who
will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the
counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.
(1 Corinthians 4:5)

Christ will judge everyone at His return

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who
will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.
(2 Timothy 4:1)
Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these
men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His
saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly
among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in
an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners
have spoken against Him.” (Jude 14,15)
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me,
to give to every one according to his work. (Revelation 22:12)

God will help us stand in the judgment

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present
you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to
God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion
and power, both now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24-25)
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13. PREPARATION FOR THE SECOND COMING

A great decision-making time is coming

Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; for the
winepress is full, the vats overflow – for their wickedness is great.”
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the
LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will grow
dark, and the stars will diminish their brightness. (Joel 3:13-15)

Who can stand before a holy God?

Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His
holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not
lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. (Psalm 24:3,4)
The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness has seized the
hypocrites: “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?
Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” He who
walks righteously and speaks uprightly, he who despises the gain of
oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, who stops
his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing
evil: He will dwell on high; his place of defense will be the fortress
of rocks; bread will be given him, his water will be sure. (Isaiah
33:14-16)

The bottom line is God-fearing obedience

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep
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His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will
bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing,
whether it is good or whether it is evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14)

The meek shall inherit the earth

Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His
justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be
hidden in the day of the LORD’s anger. (Zephaniah 2:3)
I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they
shall trust in the name of the LORD. (Zephaniah 3:12)
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)

The ministry of forgiveness and the second coming

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother
sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up
to seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a
certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And
when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who
owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his
master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all
that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell
down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will
pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with
compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
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“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took
him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow
servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience
with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and
threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow
servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came
and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he
had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all
that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had
compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And
his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he
should pay all that was due to him.
“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from
his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” (Matthew
18:21-35)

Obedience, not miracles, the mark of discipleship

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom
of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many
will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders
in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you;
depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)
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No one knows when, so be ready all the time

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of
heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also
will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the
flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know
until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming
of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be
taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one
will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know
what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of
the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have
watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you
also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not
expect. (Matthew 24:36-44)
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in
heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray;
for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far
country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to
each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch
therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is
coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster,
or in the morning—lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And
what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:32-37)
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Leaders (servants), be at your posts

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler
over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that
servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.
But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his
coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink
with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day
when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,
and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the
hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew
24:45-51)

Be prepared
“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with
carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on
you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell
on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that
you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come
to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)

The Holy Spirit prepares the church

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who
took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of
them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took
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their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their
vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they
all slumbered and slept.
“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is
coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and
trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some
of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered,
saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go
rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they
went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in
with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord,
open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do
not know you.’
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in
which the Son of Man is coming. (Matthew 24:1-13)

The importance of service

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early
in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had
agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his
vineyard.
And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing
idle in the marketplace, and said to them, ‘You also go into the
vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went.
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Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did
likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others
standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here
idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to
them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will
receive.’
“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to
his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning
with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about
the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first
came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise
received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they
complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have
worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have
borne the burden and the heat of the day.’
But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you
no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is
yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to
you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things?
Or is your eye evil because I am good?’
So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but
few chosen.” (Matthew 20:1-16)

Individual service before the coming of Christ

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“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country,

who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to
one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each
according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with
them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had
received two gained two more also. But he who had received one
went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long
time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other
talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have
gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well
done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things,
I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your
lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord,
you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents
besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful
servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you
ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I
knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and
gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and
went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is
yours.’
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“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy
servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather
where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my
money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received
back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to
him who has ten talents.
‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have
abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will
be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer
darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew
24:14-30)

The more we know, the greater our responsibility to serve

“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you
yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return
from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to
him immediately.
Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes,
will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself
and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if
he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and
find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the
master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he
would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour
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you do not expect.”

Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to
us, or to all people?”
And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward,
whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them
their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his
master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he
will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in
his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the
male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the
master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for
him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two
and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare
himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many
stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of
stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is
given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been
committed, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:35-48)

Only those who have been cleansed from sin enter the kingdom
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have
the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the
city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and
murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
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(Revelation 22:14,15)

We can hasten Christ’s return

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of
persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for
and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the
heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt
with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look
for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2
Peter 3:11-13)

Why the apparent delay?

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day
is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is
not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is
longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that
all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8,9)
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14. AFTER THE SECOND COMING

Satan bound for a thousand years

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to
the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil
and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into
the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he
should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were
finished.
But after these things he must be released for a little while.
(Revelation 20:1-3)

Fallen angels bound by the same chains as Satan’s

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down
to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for
judgment. (2 Peter 2:4)
And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left
their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under
darkness for the judgment of the great day. (Jude 6)

The earth destroyed and uninhabited for a while

I beheld the earth, and indeed it was without form, and void; and the
heavens, they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and indeed they
trembled, and all the hills moved back and forth. I beheld, and indeed
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there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens had fled. I beheld,
and indeed the fruitful land was a wilderness, and all its cities were
broken down at the presence of the LORD, by His fierce anger. 27
For thus says the LORD: “The whole land shall be desolate; yet I
will not make a full end. (Jeremiah 4:23-27)
While this passage does not specify how long the earth remains in this

condition, there is little doubt that it refers to the millennium, since the

description fits no other period in earth’s history.)

The saints live, reign and judge for a thousand years

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was
committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been
beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had
not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark
on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with
Christ for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over
such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God
and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Revelation
20:4,5b,6)

Resurrection of the wicked after the 1,000 years

But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years
were finished. (Revelation 20:5a)
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Release of Satan after 1,000 years

Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released
from his prison. (Revelation 20:7)

The final deception and the last battle

… and [Satan] will go out to deceive the nations which are in the
four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to
battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.
They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the
camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from
God out of heaven and devoured them.
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be
tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:8-10)

Christ Himself will stand on the earth

Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, and your spoil will be
divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle
against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the
women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the
remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as
He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on
the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the
Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a
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very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north
and half of it toward the south. (Zechariah 14:1-4)

The destiny of Satan and his followers

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the
proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which
is coming shall burn them up,” says the LORD of hosts, “That will
leave them neither root nor branch.
“But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall
arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat
like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be
ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,” says the
LORD of hosts.
“Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded
him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of
the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts
of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their
fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” (Malachi 4)
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from
whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found
no place for them.
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and
books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the
Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by
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the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead
who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were
in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the
second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was
cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)

Death and destruction foreign to God’s nature

For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim, He will be angry as
in the Valley of Gibeon—That He may do His work, His awesome
work, and bring to pass His act, His unusual act. Now therefore, do
not be mockers, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard
from the Lord GOD of hosts, a destruction determined even upon the
whole earth. (Isaiah 28:21,22)
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15. THE CITY FROM SPACE

All earthly cities to be destroyed

For the form of this world is passing away. (1 Corinthians 7:31b)
For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to
come. (Hebrews 13:14)
Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of
the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to
give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.
(Revelation 16:19)

Believers look for the heavenly Jerusalem

but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
(Galatians 4:26)
He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My
God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of
My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem,
which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on
him My new name. (Revelation 3:12)

Even Old Testament saints looked for that city

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having
seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For
those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
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And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they
had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now
they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not
ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
(Hebrews 11:13-16)

The New Jerusalem descends to earth

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the
first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I,
John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven
from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation
21:1,2)
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled
with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying,
“Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” And he carried
me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me
the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from
God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious
stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Also she had a great and
high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and
names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of
the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north,
three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them
were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who
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talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its
wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its
breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand
furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Then he measured
its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure
of a man, that is, of an angel. The construction of its wall was of
jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations
of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones:
the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third
chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius,
the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth
chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The
twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one
pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
(Revelation 21:9-21)

Final attack on the New Jerusalem

They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of
the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of
heaven and devoured them. (Revelation 20:9)
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16. NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH

Conditions in the New Jerusalem

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former
shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice
forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing,
and her people a joy.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people; the voice of
weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 20
“No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, nor an old
man who has not fulfilled his days; for the child shall die one
hundred years old, but the sinner being one hundred years old shall
be accursed.
They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant
vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat; for as the days of a tree, so shall
be the days of My people, and My elect shall long enjoy the work of
their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth children for
trouble; for they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the
LORD, and their offspring with them.
“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and
while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall
feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be
the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy
mountain,” says the LORD. (Isaiah 65:17-25).
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While this passage is commonly understood to be a description of the new

earth, it was originally meant to be a description of a post-exile, earthly

Jerusalem, with people living to the age of one hundred years, and the land

inhabited by both saints and sinners. Taken as a description of the new

Jerusalem, some of these statements must therefore be interpreted

metaphorically. The saints will live forever, not just for one hundred years,

and sinners will have been destroyed, having chosen not to inherit the

kingdom of God.)

No temple in the New Jerusalem

But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb
are its temple.
The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for
the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light,
and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates
shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And
they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But
there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an
abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s
Book of Life. (Revelation 21:22-27)

God moves His Head Office

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the
tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and
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they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their
God. (Revelation 21:3)

No more suffering or death

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no
more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for
the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne
said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for
these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21:4-5)
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BONUS CHAPTER 1
The Last Day of Planet Earth
(How to prove the visible Second Coming using the Watchtower’s own “New

World Translation”, 1984)

Introduction
One of the main reasons why members of the Watchtower Society
can’t see a literal Second Coming in the Bible is because their New
World Translation (NWT) persistently translates the Greek word
parousia as ‘presence’. But they go a step further by interpreting this
‘presence’ to be invisible, even though the normal, natural meaning
of the word in both the English and the Greek is simply ‘being here’,
‘being present’.
A fact they overlook is that the parousia has a very visible effect
on the whole world, on believers as well as unbelievers. When Jesus
comes, everyone will know it. Yet the Watchtower and its members
claim Jesus came in 1914, and His coming can be seen only with
spiritual eyes. It should be patently obvious that the unbelieving
world (and for the Watchtower that means everyone outside of their
organization) does not believe Christ came in 1914. It is just as clear
that unbelievers don’t have spiritual eyes! I’ve questioned many
members of the Society over many years, and I’ve never yet received
any answer, let alone a satisfactory one. Yet, only one group that
once visited me ever admitted that this is a thorny issue.
Among the proofs they present that Jesus came in 1914 is that
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conditions in the world fit the descriptions of the ‘last days’ in 1

Timothy 4:1 and 2 Timothy 3:1-5. However, these passages describe
the last days before the Second Coming. It’s not even logical to talk
about the last days after the Second Coming!
One of the biggest mistakes of the Watchtower is that it
interprets the Bible metaphorically in places where it is quite literal.
This is why, when the Bible says Jesus’ return will be a day of
destruction for the rebellious and therefore will not go unnoticed, the
Jehovah’s Witness just doesn’t get it.
Another major hurdle for proper understanding of the Scriptures
is that the NWT is deliberately translated to support the doctrines of
the Watchtower organization. For a list of mistranslations, please
contact the author.
The purpose of this tract is show that the Scriptures describe the
parousia as a literal, visible, audible, glorious and global event,
which even the NWT can’t hide. When Jesus comes, all the world
will know it!

Christ will appear a second time.

“… and the second time that he appears it will be apart from sin and
to those earnestly looking for him for [their] salvation” (Hebrews
9:28).
Note: This is a highly misleading translation. The underlined words are not

found in the original Greek. They’ve been added to split up the sentence into

two clauses to make it appear as if Christ is going to appear only to those

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who believe in Him. This bad translation is a contradiction of passages like

Matthew 24:30, Rev. 1:7 and Rev. 6:16, 17 which make it very clear that

even the wicked will see Christ coming and try to hide from Him. The Greek

simply says the Christ will be seen (optanomai – recognize the word

“optic”?) a second time without sin by those expecting Him for salvation.

However, the main point is still clear – He was visible the first time and will

be visible the second time.

The Bible says Christ’s invisible presence has been in effect since
the ascension.
“For he has said, ‘I will by no means leave you nor by any means
forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). “And look, I am with you all the days
until the conclusion of the system of things” (Matthew 28:20).
The underlined words are a mistranslation. The original Greek here is

“aion”, meaning simply a period of time or an age. As it is translated, it

sounds as if not all things will come to an end. But this passage as well as

many others in the Bible clearly show that the end is the destruction of the

world followed by the millennium and then the creation of the new heaven

and earth. The main point, however, is that Christ has always been here.

When He says He will come obviously He means something different from

His invisible presence.

He will come back to this earth.

“… and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of
heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30).
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“Keep on the watch therefore, because you do not know on what

day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42).
“Also, if I go my way and prepare a place for you, I am coming
again and will receive you home to myself, that where I am you also
may be” (John 14:3).
“I am going away and I am coming [back] to you” (John 14:28).
“This Jesus who was received up from you into the sky will
come thus in the same manner as you have beheld him going into the
sky” (Acts 1:11).
“YOU turned to God from [YOUR] idols … to wait for his Son
from the heavens” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10).
“These very ones will undergo the judicial punishment of
everlasting destruction from before the Lord and from the glory of
his strength at the time he comes to be glorified in connection with
his holy ones and to be regarded in that day with wonder in
connection with all those who exercised faith” (2 Thessalonians
1:9,10).
The word parousia is used in the New Testament in connection with a very

literal, visible, audible, universal and glorious event. The fact that one of its

meanings is ‘presence’ is immaterial. To be present, one first has to come.

Jesus is coming, and when He has come He will be present and the whole

world will know and react.

The parousia will be visible.

“When the Christ, our life, is made manifest, then you also will be
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made manifest with him in glory” (Colossians. 3:4).

The Greek word for ‘made manifest’ is phaneroo, ‘to become visible’, or ‘to

appear’.

“So now, little children, remain in union with him, that when he
is made manifest we may have freeness of speech and not be shamed
away from him at his presence” (1 John 2:28).
“For just as the lightning comes out of eastern parts and shines
over to western parts, so the presence of the Son of man will be”
(Matthew 24:27). “…observe the commandment in a spotless and
irreprehensible way until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ”
(1 Tim. 6:14).
The Greek word here is epiphaneia or ‘appearing’.

How the second coming is like the ascension

“And after he had said these things, while they were looking on, he
was lifted up and a cloud caught him up from their vision.
And as they were gazing into the sky while he was on his way,
also, look! Two men in white garments stood alongside them, and
they said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?
This Jesus who was received up from you into the sky will come thus
in the same manner as you have beheld him going into the sky” (Acts
1:9-11).
(1) He was visibly taken away on a cloud and will return on clouds. (2) His

disciples saw him go and His disciples will see Him come.
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How the second coming is not like the ascension

“And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and then
all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in lamentation, and
they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30).
(1) The Bible never says the two events will be absolutely identical. (2) No

Bible prophet ever said every eye would see Him ascend into the clouds, nor

did they. (3) The Bible says even His enemies will see His return and try to

hide. (4) The whole world didn’t have to witness His ascension because the

ascension didn’t have a global purpose, but the whole world must witness

His return because the return has a global purpose.

He will descend at His parousia.

“For this is what we tell you by Jehovah’s word, that we the living
who survive to the presence of the Lord shall in no way precede
those who have fallen asleep [in death]; because the Lord himself
will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an
archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in
union with Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:15,16).

When He comes He will reward believers and punish the

rebellious.
“… it is righteous on God’s part to repay tribulation to those who
make tribulation for you, but to you who suffer tribulation, relief
along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with
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his powerful angels, in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance upon

those who do not know God” (2 Thessalonians 1:6,7).
“Look! I am coming quickly, and the reward I give is with me, to
render to each one as his work is” (Revelation 22:12; cf. 6:12-17).

At the parousia, Christ will be physically reunited with His

followers.
“However, brothers, respecting the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ
and our being gathered together to him …” (2 Thessalonians 2:1; cf.
Matt. 24:31).

The resurrection will take place on the last day.

“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone that beholds the Son
and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life, and I will
resurrect him at the last day” (John 6:40).

The resurrection will take place at Christ’s parousia

“For as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made
alive. But each one in his own rank; Christ the firstfruits, afterward
those who belong to the Christ during his presence” (1 Corinthians
15:23).
If the resurrection takes place on the last day, and at the parousia, then

logically the parousia will take place on the last day.

The resurrection will take place at the last trumpet.

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“We shall not all fall asleep (in death), but we shall all be changed, in
a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, during the last trumpet. For the
trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised up incorruptible” (1
Corinthians 15:51,52).

The second coming will take place at the sound of a trumpet.

“And he will send forth his angels with a great trumpet sound, and
they will gather his chosen ones from the four winds, from one
extremity of the heavens to their other extremity” (Matthew 24:31).
Matthew 24:31, 1 Thess. 4:16 and 1 Cor. 15:52 all associate the second

coming and the resurrection with the sounding of a special trumpet sound.

This is strong evidence that these two events will take place at the same time,

at the very end of this world’s existence in its present form.

Everyone who believes will be resurrected on that day.

“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone that beholds the Son
and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life, and I will
resurrect him at the last day” (John 6:40).
“And yet all these [Old Testament saints], although they had
witness borne to them through their faith, did not get the [fulfillment
of the ] promise, as God foresaw something better for us, in order
that they might not be made perfect apart from us” (Hebrews
11:39,40).
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BONUS CHAPTER 2
THE SEARCH FOR THE MISSING CHURCH
Is Revelation 4:1 the secret rapture?
A Chapter from my Book, “A Kingdom Divided”

INTRODUCTION
Around 96 AD, John the Beloved Apostle wrote an unusual little
book in which he revealed the future of the brand new Christian
church. First, Christ instructed Him in vision to write general
counsels to seven churches in Asia Minor. Then he heard a voice
saying, “Come up here” (Revelation 4:1). Suddenly he was wrapped
in a vision of the throne room of God in heaven. But was it a vision
or did something else happen here?
Millions of sincere Christians believe something did. They are
convinced that the book of Revelation is divided into Christian and
Jewish dispensations. According to this argument, the church is
mentioned only in the first three chapters and the final chapter of
Revelation. The ascension of John in Revelation 4:1 is not merely a
vision, they say. It is the instantaneous removal or “rapture” of the
church. The Jews and the unconverted billions of the earth then go
through seven years of tribulation, which ends at the Second Coming
of Christ together with the church.
This article will examine some of the main arguments for and
against the idea of a rapture in Revelation 4:1.
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EXEGETICAL ARGUMENTS
Personal instruction to John
The voice that said, “Come up here” was giving a personal
instruction to John. If we interpret his ascension in vision as the
rapture of the church, then we should logically interpret his
appearances on earth in subsequent visions as reappearances of the
church on earth (e.g. Revelation 10:8-11; 11:1; 13:1-18; 17:1-3; 18:1;
20:1).

Not a bodily ascension

It is unlikely that John ascended to heaven bodily. His disappearance
from the island of Patmos, where he was exiled, would have caused
no small disturbance among his captors and in the church and would
undoubtedly have been recorded.

The Revelation is not always chronological

There is so much evidence that the book of Revelation is not written
in chronological order that only a very careless student of the Bible
could miss this fact. For example, the Second Coming is described in
Revelation 6, but the pre-advent sealing of the 144,000 only in
chapter 7. The first advent is described even later, in chapter 12, and
the world empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome, and
the Western European Catholic nations are described in chapter 13.
This doesn’t mean the book is badly written or poorly organized.
Revelation is a highly structured book. Bible scholars have shown that it
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is one of the most carefully organized in the entire Bible, and that its
structure is not a timeline describing events from A to Z. Simply put, we
can understand John’s message far better when we can discern the
structures within the book. Consider, for example, how he contrasts
things with one another:

The Beast and his mark (13) The Lamb and His seal (14:1-5)

The persecuted woman (12:6-12:17) The 3 angels (14:6-13)

First advent (12:1-12:5) Second advent (14:14-20)

Trumpets to unrepentant (8:2-11) Bowls on Babylon; fall (15-19)

Seals, saints serve (4-8:1) Millennium, saints judge (20)

Churches, gospel (2-3) New Jerusalem, glory (21-22)

Prologue and intro. vision (1) Last vision, epilogue (22:6-21)i

Within this general A-B-C-B-A structure there are also several

substructures. For example, the events can be easily divided into
pairs as follows:

Vision of Christ among the seven churches

Seven letters from Christ to the churches (Rev. 1-3)

Vision of the throne room, the Lamb and the seals

Opening of the seals (Rev. 4-6)

Sealing of the 144,000 servants

Vision of the great multitude, the fruit of their service (Rev. 7)

Trumpet calls to the unrepentant

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Proclamation of their judgment (Rev. 8-11)

Great tribulation

War on the remnant (Rev. 12)

Beast from the sea that makes war on the woman

Beast from the land makes war on the remnant, inflicts mark (Rev. 13)

Sealing of the 144,000 is revisited

Final proclamation of the gospel (Rev. 14:1-13)

THE SECOND COMING (Rev. 14:14-20)

Vision of the seven bowls

Pouring out of the bowls (Rev. 15-16)

Vision of Babylon

Fall of Babylon (Rev. 17-18)

Proclamation of the fall of Babylon in heaven

Second Coming (Rev. 19)

Satan bound, the first resurrection, start of the millennium

Satan released, the unjust resurrected, second death (Rev. 20)

Coming of the New Jerusalem

Description of the new earth (Rev. 21-22).

Another pattern we can see is how John’s view takes in an ever-

widening sweep of history, first from the church era to the end, then
from the first advent to the end and then from the Babylonian era to
the end (chapters 1-13). Then from chapter 14 his view narrows:
from the final work of the gospel through the 144,000 or the three
angels’ messages to the end, from the seven last plagues to the end,
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until we get to the last four chapters, which deal exclusively with the
Second Coming, the millennium and the New Jerusalem.
Clearly the structure of Revelation is far more complex than a
mere division between a church age from Revelation 1 to 3 and a
great tribulation from Revelation 4 onwards.

Revelation is a book of symbols

With such a meticulous structure, we should also expect a well-
structured and deliberately organized use of symbols.
It is undeniable that the pure woman, the Lamb, the wilderness
and the beasts are symbols. Babylon and the twelve tribes are
therefore also likely to be symbols. For example, the immoral
woman in Revelation 17 is obviously not the literal city of Babylon.
This ancient city was already in ruins at the time John was writing
and the prophets said it would never be rebuilt . “Babylon, the
glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans’
pride, will be as when God overthrew Sodom and
Gomorrah. It will never be inhabited, nor will it be
settled from generation to generation” (Isaiah
13:19,20; cf. Jeremiah 51:26,37).
Peter, for example, was speaking symbolically when he said,
“She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you” (1 Peter
5:13). Statements about Babylon in Revelation show that it couldn’t
possibly be the literal city rebuilt. It is hard to foresee how an ancient
city, now uninhabited, in ruins, under Muslim control and under the
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curse of God, can become the great harlot that controls peoples,
multitudes, nations, and tongues (Revelation 17:15), as well as all the
rulers and religions of the world (vv. 2 and 5). The ruins of Babylon
are not situated on seven hills (Revelation 17:9). The only city in the
world that fits this particular description is Rome. Besides, no future
Babylon could logically be punished for persecuting the apostles and
prophets as this mystical Babylon surely will (Revelation 18:20).
Furthermore, the church is called by many names in the New
Testament – “the elect”, “the kingdom of heaven”, “the tabernacle of
David”, the “remnant”, “the temple of God”, the “servants of Christ”,
“the Israel of God” in Galatians 6:16, “the household of God”, “the
twelve tribes” in James 1:1, “the pilgrims of the Dispersion”, a
“royal priesthood”, a “holy nation”, “the elect lady and her children”
and of course most commonly “the church”, “the saints” and “the
believers”.
Under the Old Covenant, God’s chosen people were also called
by different names, including “Israel”, “Judah”, “Rachel”, “the
mountain of the Lord’s house”, “Ephraim”, “house of Jacob”,
“Zion”, “the Priests of God”, “servants”, “the remnant”, “the elect”,
the “wife” and the “betrothed”.
It’s not hard to see that many Old Covenant names were retained
and applied to the church, not accidentally but for the deliberate
purpose of teaching that the New Testament church is the remnant of
the Old Testament church.
What is more, this remnant idea is explicit apostolic doctrine.
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Thus James together with the church council declared that the New
Testament church is the rebuilt “tabernacle of David” (Acts 15:16).
Paul taught that unconverted Jews are natural branches broken off
the root (Christ), onto which they may be grafted back together with
the wild branches, the Gentiles (Romans 11:15-23). Earlier in this
epistle he had said, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, … but
he is a Jew who is one inwardly” (Romans 2:28,29). In another
epistle he said, “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s
seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).

DOCTRINAL ARGUMENTS
The wrath of God theory
One of the most important teachings of dispensationalism is that the
purpose of the rapture is to save the church from the “wrath”, that is,
the 7-year tribulation. The text most frequently used to support this
doctrine is 1 Thessalonians 5:9, “For God did not appoint us to
wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ”.
There is not a single statement in the Bible equating “wrath”
with the great tribulation. The wrath that the Bible warns us about is
the judgment of God on unrepentant sinners at the Second Coming.
Thus, 1 Thessalonians 5:9 compares wrath to salvation, and when we
read the previous eight verses it is clear that both will happen on the
day of the Lord, which will come with sudden destruction, like labor
pains on the pregnant woman, leaving the wicked with no escape.
John tells us that at this time, the sky will roll up like a scroll,
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mountains and islands will move out of place and the unrepentant all
over the world will cry out, “The great day of His wrath has come,
and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17). It is to this day that
Paul refers when he says “you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in
the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to
those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory,
honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not
obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness – indignation and wrath”
(Romans 2:5-8). Paul clearly believed that the church would receive
its reward at the Second Coming, not at the secret rapture.
God doesn’t promise His people that they will always escape
from tribulation. Instead, He encourages them to face it cheerfully
and to rejoice because they are following in the footsteps of Christ.
“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have
overcome the world” (John 16:33). “Then they will deliver you up to
tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My
sake” (Matthew 24:9).ii
The wrath of God is promised as the reward of the wicked, and is
the other side of eternal life, which is the reward of the repentant.
Both rewards may be tasted in this present life. “He who believes in
the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son
shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). iii ;
The saints are saved from wrath, not by the rapture but by the blood
of Christ. “Much more then, having been justified by His blood, we
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shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9).

Does God have to remove His people before He can afflict
judgments on sinners? Of course not. The children of Israel were still
in Egypt when the ten plagues fell on the Egyptians all around them.
God also promises protection during the seven last plagues
(Revelation 7:2,3; 9:4; 16:2). Contrary to what many
dispensationalists believe, there is no mention of any saints being
targeted in any of the “wrath” statements in the Bible.

The Second Coming is the hope of the church

If Christians were to be raptured from the earth seven years before
the Second Coming, then they would have no reason to look forward
to the Second Coming. Yet Scripture emphatically declares that
Christians will be waiting on earth to receive their reward (eternal
life, immortality, rest from tribulation, etc.) at the Second Coming,
e.g.

• “… so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the

revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you
to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord
Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:7,8).
• “… and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord
Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels” (2
Thessalonians 1:7).iv
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The resurrection of the saints

Separate destinies for the church and Israel would mean separate
resurrections too. Yet the Bible teaches only one resurrection for all the
saints, Old and New Covenant. Thus 1 Corinthians 15:50-55 declares
that “all” believers will be changed “at the last trumpet” and that this
will be the final victory over death”. John 6:39 and other Bible
statements agree that the resurrection will happen “at the last day”.
Equally clear is Hebrews 11:39,40. Talking about some of the heroes
of faith from the Old Covenant, Paul says that “these, having obtained
a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God
having provided something better for us, that they should not be made
perfect apart from us” (my emphasis).

The greatest sign of all: Matthew 24:14

Arguably the greatest sign of the Second Coming of Christ and the
end of the world is given in Matthew 24:14. “And this gospel of the
kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the
nations, and then the end will come.” To argue that the church will
preach the gospel until it is removed from the earth and that the Jews
will then receive a further probation would render Jesus’ words
meaningless. The end is the end.

LANGUAGE ARGUMENTS
The Revelation was addressed to all the churches of Asia
The entire book of Revelation was addressed to the churches of Asia,
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and they would have accepted the whole book as being relevant to
them. In order to understand the Revelation, we must try to understand
what it would have meant to first- and second century Christians,
perhaps look at history to see how prophecy has been fulfilled and
how reputable Bible students have interpreted the book, and, most
importantly, let Scripture explain itself.

The use of the word “church”

The fact that the word “church” is not used after Revelation 3 does
not prove the church is no longer on earth. The pattern in the New
Testament epistles is to address the church in more personal terms,
like “saints” or “brethren”, or, most commonly, simply “we” or
“you”, and to use the word “church” far less frequently, if at all. Thus
in Romans, Paul uses the word “church” a total of five times, but
“saints” eight times, “beloved” nine times and “brethren” 14 times.
The Revelation uses many names by which to describe God’s people
after chapter 3, including “saints”, “brethren”, “servants”, “souls”
and “martyrs”. Interestingly, “grace” is never mentioned in the seven
epistles in Revelation 2 and 3, while “works” is used seven times.
For those who are willing to see it, the church is very present in
the book of Revelation. Anyone wishing to prove the contrary will
have to produce stronger evidence.

John doesn’t say the church is in heaven either

If the absence of the word “church” after Revelation 4:1 can be
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interpreted to mean that the church is no longer on earth, then by the

same reasoning it is not in heaven either. In the entire book of
Revelation, there is not a single explicit mention of the church being
in heaven. By contrast, John sees the great multitude, who are said
to have come through the tribulation, standing before the throne of
God in heaven (Revelation 7:9-17; cf. 19:1) and “those who have the
victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the
number of his name, standing on the sea of glass” (Revelation 15:2).
Even the 144,000 are not located consistently. In Revelation 7 they
are shown being sealed on the earth, but in Revelation 14:1-5 they
are shown standing on Mount Zion with Christ and are said to have
been “redeemed from the earth”.
A more satisfactory explanation is that John is not concerned
about the geographical or spatial location of the church, whatever
name it goes by. The book of Revelation is about the gospel, and the
gospel is about spiritual things. For example, in Ephesians 2:6 Paul
says that God has “made us sit together in the heavenly places in
Christ Jesus”. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly to
the throne of grace”.
There are many Bible statements showing that there is another
reality beyond what we can see and touch. Physically, the Christian
may be on earth, but in the spirit he or she is in Christ, in the
heavenly places, following the Lamb wherever He goes, serving God
in His temple until what we can see with the spirit can also be seen
with the eyes. John’s descriptions are not so much about where the
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saints are physically, but where they are spiritually. Ultimately, of

course, there is one destination. Whether Old Covenant saints or
Christian church, the great multitude or the 144,000, the departed
saints or the last generation, all who are in Christ will end up with
Christ.

Why didn’t John use “church” after Rev. 4:1?

This section catalogues every reference to the saints from Revelation
4:1 to the end of the book to see if John could have used the word
“church” better.

Revelatio Word used “church” better?

n
5:8 “prayers of the saints” Not really
6:9-11 “the souls of those who had been slain” No
7:1-8 “sealed the servants … on their foreheads” No
7:9-17 “a great multitude” No
8:3 “prayers of the saints” Not really
9:4 “the grass … any green thing … any tree” No
11:3 “my two witnesses” No – not saints
11:18 “Your servants the prophets and the saints” No
12:1 “a woman clothed with the sun” No
12:10 “our brethren” No
12:17 “the rest of her offspring” No
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13:7 “war with the saints” No; cf. Dan. 7:25

13:15 “as many as would not worship the image” No
14:1-5 “one hundred and forty thousand” No
14:12 “patience of the saints” No
15:2 “those who have the victory over … his mark” No
17:6 “the blood of the saints and … martyrs” No
18:20 “holy apostles and prophets” No
18:24 “the blood of prophets and saints” No
19:1 “a great multitude in heaven” No
19:2 “the blood of His servants” No
19:8 “the righteous acts of the saints” No
20:4 “the souls of those … beheaded for their No
witness”
20-22 “men”, “people”, “the nations”, servants”, etc. No

Out of more than 24 references, John could perhaps have used the
word “church” in two of them, Revelation 5:8 and 8:3. The rest are
made up of symbolic references or references where “church” would
not have been grammatically or logically possible. Importantly also,
in the plan of salvation God usually deals with us individually, not
corporately.

The seven “Christian” letters are written in Jewish language

The style of the language, symbols, names and ideas in the epistles to
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the seven churches is Jewish. The seven lampstands (Revelation 2:1)

are clearly from the Jewish temple; Christians are by implication
commended for being true Jews worshipping in the true synagogue
(Revelation 2:9; 3:9); and there are numerous other “Jewish”
references, for example to Balaam’s doctrines (Revelation 2:14),
manna (verse 17), Jezebel (verse 20), the Book of Life (Revelation
3:5), the key of David (verse 7), the temple and the New Jerusalem
(verse 12).

QUESTIONS OF LOGIC
Whose prayers rise to heaven in Revelation 5:8?
In dispensationalist theology, the first 3½ years of the 7-year
tribulation is a time of world peace, prosperity and “remarkable
progress”.v During this time, Moses and Elijah preach the gospel and
seal the 144,000 “Jewish evangelists”.vi Yet Revelation 5:8 shows
bowls full of incense, which John says are “the prayers of the saints”.
These are prayers offered before the seals have been opened. The
144,000 are only sealed under and probably directly before the sixth
seal (see Revelation 6 and 7). Clearly there couldn’t be saints offering
prayers before the 144,000 “Jewish evangelists” have been prepared.
The best explanation is that these saints are the church and that the
church is on earth during the great tribulation.

Who will preach the gospel to the first Jews?

Christ gave His church an important commission. “Go therefore and
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make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to
observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19,20).
The Jews are included here.
What happens to those who refuse to accept the gospel? Are they
left behind to face the Antichrist? Do they get a second chance to
accept Christ? Who will preach the gospel to them, seeing that every
Christian believer will be in heaven? Why do they need to evangelize
the other nations of the world – wasn’t that the task Christ gave to
the church, or did the church fail? Don’t Jews who accept Christ
become Christians? If so, why should there be Christians in heaven
and on earth? The Bible offers a very simple answer that obviates
any need for a Jewish tribulation. Paul says, “it is a righteous thing
with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give
you rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with
His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do
not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-8).
The doctrine of separate dispensations would leave the church
with a dilemma: either preach the gospel to the Jews and let them
choose their destiny before Christ comes for His church, or don’t
preach it so that they can go through the tribulation, in which case
the church has failed to carry out the gospel commission.
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“Tribulation events” that don’t fit into the 7 years

• The two witnesses ascend to heaven 3½ days after the 1,260
days, and they leave their enemies behind (Rev. 11:12) with the
third woe as well as 10 chapters of “tribulation events” still in
the future (Rev. 11:14ff).
• The dragon makes war on the remnant of the woman’s seed
after the 1,260 days (Rev. 12:17).

Will Babylon and the Jewish saints be in the wilderness together?

A popular teaching of the dispensationalist school (although it is a
fairly modern innovation) is that the wilderness in which the
tribulation saints will hide from the persecutions of the Antichrist
(Revelation 12) is the ancient rock city of Petra, south of the Dead
Sea. Petra, a popular tourist destination and, until a few years ago,
home to about 450 Bedouin families, was discovered in 1812 by
Swiss adventurer and explorer Johann Burckhardt. It is said that
Christian businessmen have stocked the city with food and
evangelistic tracts written in Hebrew. However, this teaching raises
far more questions than it answers, for e.g.:

1) How can they hide from the Antichrist in the city of Petra
when the Antichrist is also in the city of Petra? See Revelation
17:3.
2) How can it be a hiding place for all the converts from all over
the world that will be made by the 144,000?
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3) If the hiding place will only be for the Jews, why would their
converts be exempt from persecution, and won’t Jewish
converts be Jews too?
4) Why would the saints travel especially to Petra to hide when
there are much better hiding places in their own countries?
5) How can Babylon mean the ancient city rebuilt if Babylon is
also going to be sitting on the beast in the wilderness?

A BRIEF HISTORY OF DISPENSATIONALISM

Lineage doesn’t necessarily prove anything, but there has to be some
significance to the fact that the theories relating to the rapture are of
fairly recent origin and can be traced back to the very church
Protestants broke away from in the sixteenth century.
The early church, as well as Protestants for three centuries
following the Reformation, saw history as the gradual fulfillment of
prophecy. Using this method of prophetic interpretation (known as
historicism), Christian scholars for more than a thousand years were
convinced that the papacy was the Antichrist of biblical prophecy.
These men included not only large groups of persecuted men and
women such as the Waldensians and the Albigensians, but also such
illustrious scholars and artists as Bernard of Clairvaux, the Italian
poets Dante Alighieri and Francesco Petrarch, the first great
Reformer, Oxford scholar John Wycliffe, and John Huss of Bohemia.
Others who expressed these same ideas included the chief voice of
the Reformation, Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, William Tyndale,
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Nicholas Ridley, Hugh Latimer, Thomas Cranmer, Alexander

Campbell, founder of the Churches of Christ, and Sir Isaac Newton.
Luther challenged the church most forcefully of all in 1517 with
his 95 theses. A war broke out, many were burnt at the stake and
many were converted to the teaching of justification by faith. The
Catholic Church called the Council of Trent from 1545 to 1563 to
deal with the crisis that was splitting the church, but they couldn’t
persuade Luther and the other millions to return and in fact officially
rejected the Reformation. Then, in 1590, a Jesuit priest named
Francisco Ribera introduced futurism. He taught that almost all the
events in Revelation would happen in the last 3½ years of earth’s
history, so the pope couldn’t be the Antichrist.vii
In the nineteenth century, Samuel Roffey Maitland became the
first Protestant to accept futurism. viii A lawyer, Bible scholar and
librarian to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Maitland is believed to
have discovered Ribera’s commentary in the library.
Maitland’s ideas were accepted by John Nelson Darby and his
Plymouth Brethren in England.ix Darby introduced dispensationalism
into the equation, teaching essentially that God has different plans
for Israel and the Church. Darby visited America and influenced
James H. Brookes from St. Louis who proceeded to teach these
ideas. Both Brookes and Darby influenced Cyrus Ingerson Scofield,
who published his Scofield Reference Bible in 1909. Millions more
were published in the years that followed. One of Scofield’s disciples
was Lewis Sperry Chafer, who founded the Evangelical Theological
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College for the specific purpose of teaching Darby’s ideas. It was

renamed Dallas Theological Seminary and produced two great
teachers of dispensationalism, futurism and the secret rapture. They
were John F. Walvoord, who served as Chancellor of the Seminary,
and his disciple, Hal Lindsey. x Few, if any, scholars have been more
successful in popularizing futurism than Hal Lindsey has.
This is not a personal criticism of any of these people. Every one
of them has been openly acknowledged as being deeply sincere and
spiritual. But their authority on Scripture is not final. What is
important is not so much where they got their ideas from, but how
their teachings measure up against the Bible, the standard by which
all of us must be tested.

CONCLUSION
The doctrine of dispensationalism has very serious implications for
the church:

• It virtually obliterates from Scripture any reference to more than

a thousand years of persecution of Christians by Christians, with
more to come;
• It makes it impossible for many to see how the Bible identifies
the role of the papacy in church history.
• It threatens to divide God’s kingdom and erect barriers that
Christ died to break down;
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• It creates the impression that the Bible contradicts itself, and

that we can apply it to our lives in a selective fashion.

John the Revelator said, “Blessed is he who reads and those who
hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are
written in it; for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3). His words were
both a challenge to study and keep the whole Revelation and an
invitation to enjoy the blessings it contains. It is up to you and me to
accept.
i
Based in general, though not in detail, on the work of Kenneth Strand and C.
Mervyn Maxwell.
ii
See also Acts 14:22, 1 Peter 4:12-13, Revelation 1:9, etc.
iii
See Romans 1:18, 9:22-24, Ephesians 2:3, etc.
iv
See 1 Timothy 6:14, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 9:28, 1 Peter 5:4, etc.
v
Hal Lindsey, The Late Great Planet Earth, Zondervan Publishing Co.,
Grand Rapids, Michigan 1970; pp. 33-34.
vi
Hal Lindsey, The Rapture: Truth or Consequences, Bantam Books, New
York 1983; p. 184.
vii
B.W. Ball, The English Connection, James Clarke & Co., England 1981;
p. 205.
viii
L.E. Froom, The Prophetic Faith of our Fathers, Review and Herald
Publishing Association, Washington D.C. 1948, Vol. III; pp. 543-544.
ix
Ibid., Vol. II; p. 511.
x
James M. Efird, End Times, The Abingdon Press, Nashville 1986; pp. 31-
34.