Here's some of the questions I received via email from week two of our new teaching series Back to the Future.
Question #1: In chapter 20 it says that those that were beheaded will be raised up in the first resurrection to live on earth during the 1000 year reign with Jesus but that the rest of the dead (verse 5) did not resurrect until after the 1000 years. Who are the "rest of the dead"? I know that you are going over this on Sunday but I am too curious. =)
Answer: After the seven year Great Tribulation Jesus will return to earth with his Raptured believers and with his angels (Jude 1:14, Colossian 3:4) to overthrow the unholy trinity (Satan, anti-Christ and the False Prophet) in the Battle of Armageddon, and to set up his thousand year reign on the earth, known as the "Millennial Reign" of Christ.
During the Great Tribulation there will be people that remain faithful to Jesus, despite the severe persecution they will endure for doing so. These people will not worship the anti-Christ or his image and won't receive his mark on their foreheads or their hands. As a result they will be beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the Word of God they will refuse to quit preaching. For those beheaded for their faithfulness to Jesus, God grants an early resurrection so they can reign with him during the Millennium. The rest of the dead refers to the other believers who will die during the Great Tribulation but won't be beheaded.
Question #2: Revelation 20:13-14 seems to differentiate between death and Hades? It says that some will be brought up out of death and Hades and thrown into the Lake of Fire. Could you explain that? I was a bit confused. (and soooo grateful I am going to HEAVEN!!!!) I am loving this sermon series btw, my favorite one you have ever done. This is the book of the Bible that has always confused me the most and I am so glad you are bold enought to talk about it.
Answer: First of all, thanks for your kind words! Now to answer your question...The statement “death and hades gave up the dead” means that the physical bodies of people that died as non-Christians will be joined with their spirits which have been in Hades. The mention of “the sea” giving up its dead makes it clear that even if someone wasn't properly buried, they will still be resurrected for this judgment.
When someone dies as a non-Christian their body goes in the ground but their spirit goes to Hades. This is a temporary holding place until the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15. After being judged, the people that were up to this point held in Hades, will be thrown into an eternal lake of fire (Revelation 20:14). You can read more about Hades in Luke 16:19-31. Although it's not the lake of fire, Luke 16:28 still describes it as a place of torment.
On the other hand, when someone dies a Christian their body goes in the ground, but their spirit goes to be with Jesus. Second Corinthians 5:8 teaches that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Before Jesus died on the cross, this wasn't the case. Before Jesus died on the cross, when people died believers, they went to a place called Abraham's bosom (see Luke 16:19-31). Even though Abraham's bosom wasn't heaven, Jesus called it Paradise in Luke 23:43. Once Jesus died on the cross though, he decended to Abraham's bosom and led the captives out and into heaven (Ephesians 4:8-10). The reason people had to wait in Abraham's bosom until Jesus came to get them is found in Hebrews 10:4, which says "...it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." But now that Jesus has died there is no need for us to go to Abraham's bosom. Instead, we go directly to be with the Lord forever.
Question #3: My children have a couple of questions: In regards to the rapture will those being raptured be visible to those left behind? Will those left behind see our bodies rising toward heaven? Or will we simply vanish leaving our material possessions behind?
Answer: First Corinthians 15:51-52 teaches that the Rapture will take place in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye. Therefore, no - those raptured will not be visible to those left behind. The unsaved who remain on the earth will not see our bodies rising toward heaven. We will simply vanish leaving our material possessions behind (Job 1:21).
Question #4: In regards to the Anti Christ does this last Sunday's message mean that Christ's church will never encounter the anti Christ?
Answer: The Bible clearly teaches that the Rapture of the church will precede the rise of the anti-Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:11). With that said, it is possible the anti-Christ is alive today, although He will not rise to power until the restraining force of the work of the Holy Spirit in and through the church is removed.
Question #5: What do you think the mark of the beast is?
Answer: The mark of the beast (anti-Christ) spoken of in Revelation 13 is the mark the false prophet will try and force people to receive on their forehead or right hand during the Great Tribulation. Without this mark no one will be able to buy or sell during the Great Tribulation (Revelation 13:16-17). I do not know what the mark of the beast (anti-Christ) is, but I do think it's fun to speculate, so here goes...
Since no one can buy or sell without the mark of the beast, it appears as though it will be some type of Satan-inspired debit or credit card. You go in the store, they scan your forehead or right hand, and money is debited from your account so you can buy groceries or what have you. I was in Williamsburg VA not too long ago and I saw a device in the check out line whereby someone could scan their thumb print and be charged for their groceries. Their thumb print was somehow connected to their banking account, and when they scanned their thumb print at the check out line, their account was debited. All this to say, you can see how modern technology is paving the way for this "mark of the beast (anti-Christ)".
I also think it's very interesting to learn about Radio Frequency Identification devices, know as RFID chips, which are implanted in the human body for a variety of reasons. Here's a picture of one next to a grain of rice.
These chips are currently put in pets and even Alzheimer patients so if they get lost you can locate them. These chips have been implanted in people and encoded with medical information in case of an emergency. If the patient arrives at the hospital without identification, participating hospitals can scan the person with an RFID scanner and pull up a medical profile of the patient. Some of these chips have been implanted into VIP guests granting them access once their identity has been confirmed at exclusive clubs. Some of these chips have been implanted in workers granting them access to power plants or secure video surveillance rooms. One hobbyist has even programmed his implanted chip to open his home, his car door and to log on to his computer. Guess where one of his two chips is implanted? On his right hand. (his name is Amal Graafstra and he’s the author of the book FRID Toys if you want to look this up for yourself)
Question #6: Have you ever read the "Left Behind" series by Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins? If so what do you think of them as far as Biblical accuracy?
Answer: I've never read these books so I couldn't tell you. I have watched a couple of the movies based off the book and didn't notice anything that stood out as unbiblical. I know that great Bible scholars such as Dr. David Jeremiah often quotes Tim LaHaye in his own books on prophecy, which to me gives him great credibility as someone "who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
Question #1: In chapter 20 it says that those that were beheaded will be raised up in the first resurrection to live on earth during the 1000 year reign with Jesus but that the rest of the dead (verse 5) did not resurrect until after the 1000 years. Who are the "rest of the dead"? I know that you are going over this on Sunday but I am too curious. =)
Answer: After the seven year Great Tribulation Jesus will return to earth with his Raptured believers and with his angels (Jude 1:14, Colossian 3:4) to overthrow the unholy trinity (Satan, anti-Christ and the False Prophet) in the Battle of Armageddon, and to set up his thousand year reign on the earth, known as the "Millennial Reign" of Christ.
During the Great Tribulation there will be people that remain faithful to Jesus, despite the severe persecution they will endure for doing so. These people will not worship the anti-Christ or his image and won't receive his mark on their foreheads or their hands. As a result they will be beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the Word of God they will refuse to quit preaching. For those beheaded for their faithfulness to Jesus, God grants an early resurrection so they can reign with him during the Millennium. The rest of the dead refers to the other believers who will die during the Great Tribulation but won't be beheaded.
Question #2: Revelation 20:13-14 seems to differentiate between death and Hades? It says that some will be brought up out of death and Hades and thrown into the Lake of Fire. Could you explain that? I was a bit confused. (and soooo grateful I am going to HEAVEN!!!!) I am loving this sermon series btw, my favorite one you have ever done. This is the book of the Bible that has always confused me the most and I am so glad you are bold enought to talk about it.
Answer: First of all, thanks for your kind words! Now to answer your question...The statement “death and hades gave up the dead” means that the physical bodies of people that died as non-Christians will be joined with their spirits which have been in Hades. The mention of “the sea” giving up its dead makes it clear that even if someone wasn't properly buried, they will still be resurrected for this judgment.
When someone dies as a non-Christian their body goes in the ground but their spirit goes to Hades. This is a temporary holding place until the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15. After being judged, the people that were up to this point held in Hades, will be thrown into an eternal lake of fire (Revelation 20:14). You can read more about Hades in Luke 16:19-31. Although it's not the lake of fire, Luke 16:28 still describes it as a place of torment.
On the other hand, when someone dies a Christian their body goes in the ground, but their spirit goes to be with Jesus. Second Corinthians 5:8 teaches that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Before Jesus died on the cross, this wasn't the case. Before Jesus died on the cross, when people died believers, they went to a place called Abraham's bosom (see Luke 16:19-31). Even though Abraham's bosom wasn't heaven, Jesus called it Paradise in Luke 23:43. Once Jesus died on the cross though, he decended to Abraham's bosom and led the captives out and into heaven (Ephesians 4:8-10). The reason people had to wait in Abraham's bosom until Jesus came to get them is found in Hebrews 10:4, which says "...it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." But now that Jesus has died there is no need for us to go to Abraham's bosom. Instead, we go directly to be with the Lord forever.
Question #3: My children have a couple of questions: In regards to the rapture will those being raptured be visible to those left behind? Will those left behind see our bodies rising toward heaven? Or will we simply vanish leaving our material possessions behind?
Answer: First Corinthians 15:51-52 teaches that the Rapture will take place in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye. Therefore, no - those raptured will not be visible to those left behind. The unsaved who remain on the earth will not see our bodies rising toward heaven. We will simply vanish leaving our material possessions behind (Job 1:21).
Question #4: In regards to the Anti Christ does this last Sunday's message mean that Christ's church will never encounter the anti Christ?
Answer: The Bible clearly teaches that the Rapture of the church will precede the rise of the anti-Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:11). With that said, it is possible the anti-Christ is alive today, although He will not rise to power until the restraining force of the work of the Holy Spirit in and through the church is removed.
Question #5: What do you think the mark of the beast is?
Answer: The mark of the beast (anti-Christ) spoken of in Revelation 13 is the mark the false prophet will try and force people to receive on their forehead or right hand during the Great Tribulation. Without this mark no one will be able to buy or sell during the Great Tribulation (Revelation 13:16-17). I do not know what the mark of the beast (anti-Christ) is, but I do think it's fun to speculate, so here goes...
Since no one can buy or sell without the mark of the beast, it appears as though it will be some type of Satan-inspired debit or credit card. You go in the store, they scan your forehead or right hand, and money is debited from your account so you can buy groceries or what have you. I was in Williamsburg VA not too long ago and I saw a device in the check out line whereby someone could scan their thumb print and be charged for their groceries. Their thumb print was somehow connected to their banking account, and when they scanned their thumb print at the check out line, their account was debited. All this to say, you can see how modern technology is paving the way for this "mark of the beast (anti-Christ)".
I also think it's very interesting to learn about Radio Frequency Identification devices, know as RFID chips, which are implanted in the human body for a variety of reasons. Here's a picture of one next to a grain of rice.
These chips are currently put in pets and even Alzheimer patients so if they get lost you can locate them. These chips have been implanted in people and encoded with medical information in case of an emergency. If the patient arrives at the hospital without identification, participating hospitals can scan the person with an RFID scanner and pull up a medical profile of the patient. Some of these chips have been implanted into VIP guests granting them access once their identity has been confirmed at exclusive clubs. Some of these chips have been implanted in workers granting them access to power plants or secure video surveillance rooms. One hobbyist has even programmed his implanted chip to open his home, his car door and to log on to his computer. Guess where one of his two chips is implanted? On his right hand. (his name is Amal Graafstra and he’s the author of the book FRID Toys if you want to look this up for yourself)
Again - let me be clear. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE MARK OF THE BEAST IS. I just think it's fun to speculate since modern technology is making possible the fulfillment of acient prophecy.
Question #6: Have you ever read the "Left Behind" series by Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins? If so what do you think of them as far as Biblical accuracy?
Answer: I've never read these books so I couldn't tell you. I have watched a couple of the movies based off the book and didn't notice anything that stood out as unbiblical. I know that great Bible scholars such as Dr. David Jeremiah often quotes Tim LaHaye in his own books on prophecy, which to me gives him great credibility as someone "who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
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