Events Timeline with References

During the course of our Back to the Future teaching series, I tried to find a biblical events timeline I could share with our church, but couldn't find quite what I was looking for. So...I made my own.

Click here to see a version you can actually read! :) 

Questions from Back to the Future Week Three

Here's the third round of questions from our Back to the Future teaching series. I'll add new questions and answers to this post as they come in. 

Question #1: Hope you don't mind a minority viewpoint. Charles Schmitt is a Bible teacher who I have followed for the past 30 plus years. He recently wrote the attached article on the End Times. I have understood many of his key points for these many years such as the pretrib rapture theory starting with fifteen year old Scottish girl Mary MacDonald giving a prophesy. This theory then embraced by Darby, hence the term for this theory being called Darbyism. The theory then became widespread due to Scofield's Bible notes in his reference Bible. Some scholars say that there is no evidence of belief for a pretrib rapture before the 1800's.

After reading the attached article in the email I replied: 

Answer: Thanks for taking the time to write. It's great that you are studying these things further than just Sunday morning. 

I read the article and here are my thoughts: 

1. The author seems to view the Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Christ as one event, while the Bible describes them as two separate events. In the Rapture Jesus comes FOR his church (to take them to heaven) and at the Second Coming Jesus comes WITH his church (to reign on the earth for 1,000 years). 

2. The author says "historically, it [the idea of the Rapture] found its way into the evangelical mainstream only in the mid 1800's. This is 100% incorrect. Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica because they were concerned that their loved ones and friends who had died would miss out on Christ's Second Coming to reign on the earth for 1,000 years. Paul corrects their mistaken view (basically telling them they have nothing to worry about) by informing them that the Rapture will take place first. In other words, he told them that neither the dead in Christ, nor the living in Christ, would miss out on the thousand year reign inaugurated by Christ's Second Coming. Therefore, it is incorrect to think the church didn't start believing the Rapture would take place prior to the Second Coming until the 1800's. The Pre-Trib Rapture theory didn't start with a 15 year old Scottish girl named Mary MacDonalad giving a prophesy. It started with the Holy Spirit inspired teachings of the apostle Paul. 

3. The author establishes his case primarily by quoting Didache, Hermas, Irenaeus, and Augustine, but not the authors of Scripture. We have to build our beliefs on Scripture, not extra-biblical accounts. 

4. The author seems to view "the first resurrection" to take place after the seven year Great Tribulation. This resurrection is A PART of the first resurrection, but it certainly isn't the very first resurrection. I'm teaching on this on Sunday, so here's a section of my sermon that teaches on "the first resurrection". 

•  Now when the Bible talks about “the first resurrection” that includes multiple resurrections over a long period of time. 
• Jesus was the first to be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:23 - Christ, the first fruits) 
• Those who resurrected from their graves when Jesus did, were second to be resurrected (Matthew 27:51-52 says that when Jesus the curtain in the temple was torn in two, and the earth shook and the rocks split, and the tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into Jerusalem and appeared to many people.)
• When Christ returns in the Rapture, the dead in Christ will rise first, then those who are alive - these people are third to be resurrected (I Thessalonians 4:15-17) 
• Then after the Great Tribulation is over, a fourth group is resurrected - those who were beheaded during the Great Tribulation because of their faithfulness to Christ (Revelation 20:4) 
• All these people who have been part of what the Bible calls the first resurrection will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years, Rev 20:6 

5. The author seems to fail to see the difference between tribulations as trouble all Christians will experience on this side of eternity and tribulation as the wrath of God poured out on sinful man. Jesus said in this life we'll have troubles. Paul said in this world we'll have light and momentary troubles. But the troubles of this world are different from the tribulations to take place during The Great Tribulation. During the Great Tribulation God will pour out his wrath on sinful man, not on his church (1 Thessalonians 5:9, Romans 5:9). 

Since you seem interested in Biblical Prophecy, let me recommend to you some really good people, who have a solid understanding of the Scriptures as it relates to prophecy. 

1. Chuck Smith. You can listen to him teach on the book of Revelation verse by verse and chapter by chapter here http://twft.com/?page=C2000 He has also written some great books I think you would find helpful in understanding biblical prophecy: The Final Act and What the World is Coming To 

2. David Jeremiah. He has also written some great books including: What in the World is Going On?, The Prophecy Answer Book, The Coming Economic Armageddon and Escape the Coming Night. He doesn't have any free resources that I know of, but you can also get some great tools at http://www.davidjeremiah.org/shop/p-7032-prophetic-turning-points---30th-anniversary-prophecy-collection-cd-album.aspx 

Keep up the great work in studying these very important topics! I commend you for studying these issues deeper than just Sunday! 

Questions from Back to the Future Week Two

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) 

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). 

Questions from Back to the Future Week One

Here's some of the questions I received via email during week one of our new teaching series Back to the Future. 

Question #1: I am very confused about the tribes of Israel and why from each tribe 12,000 are chosen to bear the mark of God? Also, what happen to the tribe of Dan and why not 12,000 chosen from this tribe other then the obvious that it would not add to 144,000?

Answer: Revelation 6-19 describes God's judgments poured out on the earth during the seven year Great Tribulation period. The 144,000 are the number of the children of Israel that will be sealed (and therefore spared) from these judgments. We aren't sure why the tribe of Levi takes the place of the tribe of Dan in the listing of the tribes in Revelation 7, but some scholars believe its because Dan was the first tribe to give themselves over to pagan idolatry, which eventually led to exile. Hope this helps! Great question! 

Question #2: I have a question about believers who die before the rapture.  What did it mean that they are asleep in Christ and they will go first. What will be going on if we die before the rapture, will we not be with Jesus right away?  Also unbelievers, do they not get judged right away or go to hell?  Is this where catholics get the idea of purgatory?  
If we get raptures why do some believers stockpile supplies like they will live through the tribulation?  We know a few of those. Ok well thanks.  Hope I explained my question well enough

Answer: Great questions. Let me try to answer them. 

1. To fall asleep in the Lord simply means you died a believer. 1 Thessalonians 4:14

2. The Bible teaches to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Therefore, as soon as a Christian dies, his/her spirit goes to be with Jesus. At the Rapture their spirit will return with Jesus and receive a new body. After they receive their body, those of us who are left on the earth that are Christians will be translated (we will also receive a new body) and join the Lord and other believers in the air. 

3. People that die apart from Christ (they aren't saved) go to Hades (you can read about this place in Luke 16:19-31). They are judged after the Millennial Reign of Christ (refer to attached Biblical Events Timeline). 

4. I think Catholics got the idea of purgatory because BEFORE JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS believers (after they died) went to Abraham's bosom (see Luke 16:19-31). This was the place of waiting for the righteous dead (those who died as believers). However, once Christ died on the cross he descended to Abraham's bosom and led out those who had placed their faith in him and were waiting for their redemption (Ephesians 4:9). For those born after Jesus died on the cross - if they/we die believers before Jesus returns - our spirit goes immediately to heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8). 

5. Some Christians believe (despite the clear teaching of Scripture) that believers will go through the Great Tribulation. They may be stockpiling supplies because they don't believe the Rapture will take place prior to the Great Tribulation. 

Hope this helps! And thanks for writing :) 

Question #3: I have always believed that Christians would be raptured before the Tribulation.  I have always wondered what would happen to children, babies, those with mental retardation, etc.  I was brought up to understand that those who die in this age group and mental capacity would go to heaven so I was curious if they would be raptured or if there were answers to that somewhere?

Answer: Great question. 

In 2 Samuel 12:23 David says of his baby son who has just died "I will return to him, but he will not return to me." In other words - someday when David goes to heaven he fully expects to see his son. But his son won't be returning to him (coming back to life). From this verse we know that babies who die before they reach the age of accountability go straight to heaven. At what age does God begin holding us responsible? I don't know the answer to that question (the Bible doesn't say). 

Concerning those who have mental handicaps, etc. we can rest assured that the Judge of all the earth (God) will do what is right (Genesis 18:25). 

Hope this helps! :) Have a great night! 

Question #4: I would like to first thank you for this weeks sermon it was packed full of information and opened my eyes to a lot of things that I was confused on.Secondly I have a question on YouTube there are videos going around about the trumpets in the sky. Can

you help give me some information on these trumpets? There are many
videos and I was just wondering is this a sign of the apocalpyse?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXXfHfixRvU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3oFDtLRcSk&feature=related

Answer: Thanks for your kind words about the sermon! 

Concerning your question - I read something by Dr. David Jeremiah in his book What in the World is Going On? that I think will help answer your question: 

The Bible teaches that when Christ returns for his church at the Rapture...

"...the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God" (1 Thessalonians 4:16a) 

Some claim the shout is for the church, the archangel's voice is for the Jews, and the trumpet is for all Gentile believers. But these claims are mistaken. Paul was not describing three separate sounds; he was describing only one sound in three different ways. 

This sound will be like a shout, ringing with command authority like the voice of an archangel. 

It will also be like the blare of a trumpet in its volume and clarity. 

And the sound will be exclusively directed - heard only by those who have placed their trust in Christ. 

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he shouted "Lazarus, come forth!" (John 11:43). At the Rapture that is exactly what will happen. His shout of "Come forth!" will not name a single individual, but it will be heard by every believer in every grave around the world. All those tombs will empty, and the resurrected believers will fly skyward. 

So to answer your question - no, I don't believe any trumpet sounds described in the YouTube videos are signs of the apocalypse. 

Hope this helps! And again - great question :) Hope to see you Sunday. 

________________________

If you have a question about my Rapture sermon or about the book of Revelation as you're reading through it, please email me at mike@newdaychurch.cc  and I'll do my best to answer. 

When Will the Rapture Take Place?

The short answer to the question "When will the Rapture take place?" is: Before the Great Tribulation. 

How do we know the Rapture of the Church takes place prior to the start of the Great Tribulation - that period in history Revelation 6-19 speaks of where God pours out his wrath against sinful man? Let me give you three reasons: 

1. The church is in heaven singing God’s praises before the Great Tribulation begins. 

The Great Tribulation begins with the breaking of the first seal in Revelation 6, yet in Revelation chapter 5 we see the church singing God's praises before the first seal is broken. 

Look at Revelation 5 with me, starting in v.9

Revelation 5:9-10, And they (this is a group of people - not angelic beings) sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth." NKJV 

Look at that song. Look at the lyrics of that song (you have redeemed us to God by Your blood). Who can sing this to Jesus? Only the church can sing that song. 

• The nation of Israel can’t sing that song - they’re not redeemed from all the nations. 
• The angels can’t sing that song - they aren’t redeemed (Jesus redeemed humans, not angels). 
• This song is sung by the church, in heaven, before the first seal, which initiates the Great Tribulation period upon the earth, is even opened (that happens in Revelation chapter 6)
• The Bible teaches the church will not go through the Tribulation. 

The second reason we know the church won’t go through the Great Tribulation is...

2. The events of Revelation chapter five take place after the church age is over. 

The church has completed its ministry on the earth by Revelation chapter three. When Revelation 4:1 begins with "After these things..." that means that everything from Revelation 4:1 onward are future events. They haven't happened as of 9/9/12. 

Jesus told the apostle John in Revelation 1:19, Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. NIV This verse is the key to properly understanding the book of Revelation. It’s the table of contents of the book. Jesus tells John to write down...

“what you have seen” which refers to the vision John had of Jesus in Revelation 1 

“what is now” which refers to the church age in Revelation 2-3 

“what will take place later” which refers to events that will transpire after the church has finished its mission on the earth and has been removed. 

Again - Revelation chapter four begins with the phrase “after these things” to which we need to ask “After what things?” After the things of the church are completed. Beginning with Revelation 4:1 we are dealing with things that are future - things which have not yet taken place but will take place after the church’s work is finished on the earth. 

The third reason we believe the church will be spared from the Great Tribulation is...

3. The Bible clearly teaches that God’s children will be spared from the Great Tribulation. 

In Revelation 3:10 Jesus says to us who live in the church age, “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. NIV The trial that is going to come on the whole world is a reference to the Great Tribulation, and Jesus here says “I will...keep you from the hour of trial” that’s coming. 

All this to say - we who believe in Jesus will be raptured (or snatched away) prior to God pouring out his wrath against sinful man on the earth in the seven year period known as the Great Tribulation. Followers of Christ who are raptured will be spared the trauma of death and the coming disasters that will occur when the Tribulation breaks out on the earth. As the Scriptures state...

I Thessalonians 5:9, For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. NIV 

Romans 5:9, Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 

• In Exodus 10 God’s wrath was poured out on the Egyptians, but not the Israelites 
• In Genesis 6-7 God’s wrath was poured out on sinful man (those who rejected God), not Noah and his family 
• In Genesis 18-19 Lot was taken away before God’s wrath was poured out on Sodom and Gomorrah

In the same way - during the Great Tribulation God will pour out his wrath on the world (who is in rebellion against him), not on the church (we’ll have been taken up to heaven by then). Yes, as Christians we will have “light and momentary troubles” (2 Corinthians 4:17) but we don’t experience God’s wrath against sin. Jesus already experienced that for us - thank you Jesus! 

Christians are told repeatedly in the New Testament to be watchful for the Lord’s appearing (for the rapture). Never are they taught to watch for the Great Tribulation or the appearance of Antichrist. Believers are told to wait “for his Son from heaven,” not the Great Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 1:10). When the signs of the end of the age are evident, we are to look up and lift up our heads in expectation of our redemption, not the Great Tribulation (Luke 21:28). Why? Because we won’t be here! (thank God!) 

Is the Word "Rapture" in the Bible?

Some object to the idea of the Rapture because they argue “the word Rapture is not even in the Bible” but that’s not necessarily true. It just depends on what translation you are reading. 

The New Testament was written in Greek and the word Rapture comes from the Greek word harpazo found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. The word harpazo in Latin is translated “Rapture”. The word harpazo in English is translated “caught up”. But both words mean the same thing. The bottom line is: whatever you call the event, it’s biblical! 

If that's not clear, maybe this keynote slide will help.