Great Doctrines of the Bible
Lesson 35
“The Times of the Gentiles” – May Soon Be Fulfilled
Introduction
Please keep in mind that in Lesson 9 we fully covered what scripture
teaches concerning the Rapture of the Church. No dates are to be set
for this event. No prophecies must be realized before it occurs. God
means for all of us to live in the imminent or momentary expectation
of its fulfillment.
The Rapture is followed closely by the ushering in of The Day of the
Lord, The Rise of the Antichrist, the beginning of The 70th Week of Daniel,
the period
known as The Tribulation, and the final great Battle of Armageddon.
It is the purpose of this lesson to set forth these events with such
clarity, you, as a Bible student, will have a definite and distinct view
of the final
things that are to occur on this earth before the coming of Christ in glory.
Each of these events could be easily expanded into an individual lesson;
nevertheless, in our abbreviations our aim is to be sufficiently informative
so that your
understanding of them is perfectly clear.
Importance of this Lesson
- In
this lesson the following are discussed: The Day of the Lord, The
Anti-Christ, The Coming Tribulation, The 70th Week of Daniel and The
Battle of Armageddon.
- We have always believed that “the man
who can see the farthest lives the best.” The more we understand
prophecy, the better we understand current events.
- To be armed
with “the sure word of prophecy” is to
have a steadfast faith, a rock to stand upon when the world is crumbling,
and a hope that holds like an anchor, a peace that the world cannot
understand and the joy of anticipation.
- While there are those who
would discredit and deny prophetic truths, keep in mind that prophecy
occupies by far the largest segment of
the Bible.
- To be forewarned is to be forearmed. With a certain knowledge
of things to come we can faithfully and intelligently warn the unbeliever
to “flee
from the wrath to come.”
The Lesson
I. THE DAY OF THE LORD
- Careful Bible students must differentiate between
the Day of Christ and the Day of the Lord.
- The Day of Christ relates
to the Rapture of the Church and the Judgment Seat of Christ (Philippians
1:6,10; 2:16; 1 Corinthians 1:7-8; 3:13;
2 Corinthians 1:14; 2 Timothy 1:18; 4:8).
- The Day of the Lord embraces
all the events and periods of time after the Rapture to the New
Heavens and the New Earth (2 Thessalonians
2:2;
2 Peter 3:10; Joel 1:15; Zechariah 14:1-4). These verses show that
the events of the second advent of Christ and the entire millennial
age are
included (Revelation 21:1).
- The phrase, “The Day of Christ” in
2 Thessalonians 2:2 should read “Day of the Lord” as
in the oldest and best manuscripts.
- 2 Thessalonians was written
to assure these early Christians that they had not missed the
rapture and were not in the horrors
of The
Day of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8).
- This passage (verse
3) reveals that two things must occur before The Day of the
Lord appears:
- “The falling away” or “the departure,” which
here refers to the Rapture of the Church.
- The Man of Sin is
revealed – The Anti-Christ.
- The Day of the Lord is
primarily an Old Testament phrase.
- It is found over
75 times in the Old Testament.
- The Old Testament prophets
did not see the Rapture. They saw the
coming of Christ in power, the Antichrist,
the tribulation, and the millennium.
- Joel 1:15 calls
the Day of the Lord “a (day)
of destruction from the Almighty.”
- The Day of the
Lord is that time when God steps in and begins
to personally and directly interfere in the
affairs
of man and nations. Its beginning
point is The Day of Christ or the Rapture
(1 Corinthians 1:8; Philippians 1:6), and its ending point
is The Day of God (2 Peter 3:12), the judgment of The Great White
Throne
(for
sinners only) and the establishing of the new heavens and the
new earth.
II. THE ANTICHRIST
Bear in mind that the “man of sin,” “that wicked one,” does
not appear on the world scene until after the Rapture (2 Thessalonians
2:1-3), and after the one who restrains or one who hinders (The Holy
Spirit) is taken out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8). Therefore, all
speculation regarding world figures as being the Antichrist is utter
foolishness. Christians are to look for Christ – not the Antichrist.
- Monetarily, numerically, socially, linguistically and politically
the world today is rapidly preparing for a one-world government and
the
takeover of that government by a super-dictator spoken of in the Bible
as “The Beast” or the Antichrist.
- The Reality of His Existence – This
is best confirmed by the great variety of names ascribed to him in
both the Old and New Testaments.
- In the Old Testament, he is:
- The prince that shall come (Daniel
9:26).
- The abomination desolation (Daniel 9:27).
- The little horn
(Daniel 7:8).
- The king of fierce countenance (Daniel 8:23).
- The willful
king (Daniel 11:36).
- Possibly the Assyrian (Isaiah 10:5-12).
- The king of Babylon
(Isaiah 14:2).
- Idol shepherd (Zechariah 11:16-17).
- In the New Testament
he is:
- The man of sin (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
- The son of perdition
(2 Thessalonians 2:3).
- That wicked one (2 Thessalonians
2:8).
- The abomination desolation (Matthew 24:15).
- The Antichrist
(1 John 2:18, 22).
- The Beast (Revelation 13:8-10).
- When will he appear?
- He will arise during “the latter
time” of Israel’s
history (Daniel 8:23).
- He will arise after the revival
of the old Roman Empire (Daniel 7:7-8; Revelation 13:1-2).
- He will initiate Daniel’s 70th week – at which
time he pretends to be Israel’s friend (Daniel 9:27).
- He will arise after the Rapture of the Church (2 Thessalonians
2:1-3), and after the one who restrains
is removed (2 Thessalonians
2:6-8).
- Where does he come from?
- He comes from one of the nations that
will make up the revival of the Roman Empire (Daniel
7:8, 24-25). Some think
he will
be a Gentile.
- He will probably arise out of Syria
and will most likely be of Jewish descent but a citizen
of Rome.
In Daniel 7
and 8, he
is likened to
Antiochus Epiphanies of Syria, 175-164 BC
who hated the Jews and desecrated their
temple.
- What we know about his character and
personality.
- He will be the epitome of man – the humanistic
dream.
- He will be a man of enormous pride – Daniel
11:36,38. He shall magnify himself above all.
- He will be
godless and profane, setting himself up as God – 2
Thessalonians 2:4.
Daniel 11:36-39 –“...he shall exalt himself and magnify himself
above every god..
- He will be extremely eloquent and persuasive – Daniel
7:8, “...a
mouth speaking great things.” Daniel 8:25 – “...he
shall cause craft to prosper...and by peace shall destroy many...” Also,
2 Thessalonians 2:9.
- He will be a liar and a deceiver – 2 Thessalonians
2:9-10, with “...lying
wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness….”
• Note how easily millions are deceived today through the humanistic claims
of the New Age Movement, and by false religious leaders, etc.
- He
will be Satan-inspired, controlled and empowered – 2 Thessalonians
2:9, “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan.…” Revelation
13:4, “...the dragon (Satan) which gave power unto the beast.…” So,
he will have all the wiliness, subtlety, trickery, smooth sophistication
and power of personality of Satan himself.
- What will be the
scope of his power?
- He will have the power to change laws and
customs (Daniel 7:25).
- He will have complete control of the
world’s economy (Revelation
13:16-17).
- He will have absolute religious control (Revelation
13).
- He will disregard God, blaspheme, magnify himself, sets
up an image and demands worship
(2 Thessalonians 2:4 and Daniel 11:36).
- He will rise to power through
the aid of the corrupt, apostate religious system called “the
great harlot.” The
system will try to dominate him and he will have it destroyed
(Revelation 17:3, 16, 17).
- His power will be particularly directed
at the Messiah and the Jews
(Revelation 12:4-6, 12-14; 13:7; see also Daniel 7:21,25; 8:24).
- His downfall, destruction and destination.
- His actual diabolical
and tyrannical control will be the last 3½ years
of the Tribulation (Revelation 13:5).
- Near the close of the Tribulation,
the federated armies, under the Anti-Christ, will come together
to besiege Jerusalem (Zechariah
14:2).
- The great Battle of Armageddon will ensue (Revelation
16:13-16), during which time Christ will return with the armies
of heaven
to make war with
the beast and to smash him and his power (Revelation 19:15-19;
2 Thessalonians 2:8).
- The Beast will be taken and cast
into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).
III. THE COMING TRIBULATION AND THE 70TH WEEK OF DANIEL
Since Christ promised us tribulation in this world (John 16:33), and
since the Church has already suffered much tribulation during the Dark
Ages and under the Spanish inquisition, many deride and deny any special,
unprecedented tribulation through which the world will yet pass. However,
the times of tribulation already past, cannot compare with the indescribable
suffering yet to come on this earth (Daniel 12:1; Jeremiah 30:7; Matthew
24:15-21, 29; Revelation 7:14).
- When does it begin?
- After the Rapture of the Church and after the
restraining Holy Spirit is removed (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8).
- Before
the coming of the Lord in glory (Matthew 24:29-30).
- With the
beginning of the 70th Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:20-27).
- It was common
usage to speak of weeks as years (Genesis 29:27-28, 30).
- After
69 weeks of years, Messiah is to be cut off (the death of Christ)
and Jerusalem destroyed – 70 AD. In other
words there was to be a lapse between the 69th and 70th week
of Daniel’s prophecy.
- The 70th week begins with a covenant
between the Anti-Christ and Israel that is broken after 3 ½ years.
The last 3 ½ years are
called “The Great Tribulation.” That this is yet
future is shown in Matthew 24:15, where Christ identifies it
with that
which is
yet to happen.
- What are the chief characteristics of the Tribulation?
- It will be
a time of poured out wrath:
- Wrath of Satan against Israel (Revelation
12:9, 12-13; Revelation 13:17).
- Wrath of Christ, The Lamb
of Revelation (Revelation 6:16-17).
- Wrath of God against an
ungodly, Christ-rejecting world that received the mark of the
beast (Revelation 14:9-11; 15:7;
16:1-12;
Luke 21:23).
- It will be a time of judgment for both Israel
and the nations (Ezekiel 20:37-38;
Revelation 3:10; 14:7; 16:1; Matthew 25:31-46).
- It will be time
of terrifying tyranny by both the beast and the false prophet (Revelation
13:1-10 (note 5-7); Revelation
13:11-18
(note 14,16-17)).
- It will be a time of widespread demon activity
(Revelation 16:13-14).
- It will be a time of immeasurable human
suffering, desolation and destruction.
- Men, scorched by the sun
and smitten with painful sores, will gnaw their tongues with
pain and pray to die (Revelation 16:8,10;
9:6).
- One-third of the human race will be destroyed (Revelation
9:18).
- Rivers will be turned to blood (Revelation 16:4),
the sun will be darkened and the moon become like blood (Revelation
6:12).
- One-third of all trees and grass will be burned up
(Revelation 8:7). One-third of the sea will become like the
blood of
a dead man (Revelation
8:8; 16:3).
- What are the major purposes for the tribulation?
- To purge Israel
and prepare her for her Messiah. Read Ezekiel 20:37-38. Jeremiah
30:7 says that this is the time
of Jacob’s
trouble.
- To punish Gentile rejecters of Christ who receive
the mark of the beast (Revelation 16:2; Zechariah 14:3;
Micah
5:15).
- To bring an end to the Times of the Gentiles
(Luke 21:24; Acts 15:14-16).
- How long will it last?
- Daniel’s 70th week (Daniel 9:20-27),
is definitely a week of 7 years. It begins with the signing
of a covenant “The
Prince” makes
with Israel, which he confirms for one week. So,
the answer is one week of years.
- The Great Tribulation will
come on the earth during the last half of Daniel’s
70th week.
- In the middle of this 7-year period, “The Prince” breaks
the covenant he made with Israel, desecrates
the temple at Jerusalem, and sets himself up as God
(Daniel 9:27;
11:37;
Matthew 24:15-22;
2 Thessalonians 2:4).
- This 3 ½ year period
is presented in three ways:
- Time, times, and
half a time (Daniel 12:7; Revelation 12:14).
- Forty
and two months (Revelation 11:2; 13:5).
- A thousand
two hundred and threescore days (Revelation
12:6).
- It will climax with the Battle of Armageddon,
followed by the return of Christ in power
and glory.
IV. THE GREAT BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON
Both Daniel and Christ predicted that wars would always be a part of
this world’s scene (Daniel 9:26; Matthew 24:6-8). The Bible teaches
further that this age will conclude with a great tribulation climaxed
by the Battle of Armageddon (Zechariah 12:2-3; 14:2; Revelation 16:13-16;
19:17-19).
- What is Armageddon?
- It is a time when through demon power, the nations
of the earth are gathered into one place to battle. This demon
power shall operate through
the unholy trinity of Satan, the Anti-Christ and the False Prophet
(Revelation 16:13-16).
- It involves the whole world (Revelation
16:14).
- It is called “the great day of God Almighty,” (God
will have His day).
- It is a battle (verse 14). Battle is “polemos” which
means a war or campaign (not just one brief battle).
- It will be the
day of the Lord’s fury against the nations:
- For their treatment
of Israel (Joel 3:2,12; Matthew 25:32).
- For their sin (Isaiah
26:21; 34:2-3, 8).
- Where is Armageddon?
- The word actually means the Mountain of Megiddo.
It is located west of the Jordan River in north central Palestine
about ten miles south
of Nazareth and fifteen miles inland from the Mediterranean
on the north side of the plain of Jezreel.
- This area
has been the setting for many battles for hundreds of years. Here:
- Deborah and Barak defeated the Canaanites (Judges 4-5).
- Gideon defeated the Midianites (Judges 7).
- Saul was slain
by the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:8).
- Ahaziah was slain by
Jehu (2 Kings 9:27).
- Josiah was slain by the Egyptians (2
Kings 23:29).
- Scriptures indicate that all of Palestine will
be involved in this final war.
- Zechariah 12:2-11 and 14:2 show
that Jerusalem will be in a state of siege and the center of
conflict considerably
south
of Megiddo.
- Revelation 14:14-20 states that the
blood will run as deep as the horses bridle for 1600 furlongs
(over 182 miles)
or
the entire length
of Israel.
- Final events involving this battle:
- The Beast or Anti-Christ will
make a covenant with Israel, lulling them into a false sense of
security
(Daniel 9:27;
Ezekiel 38:8,11,14).
- Russia, thinking the Beast
will not interfere, will move against Palestine (Ezekiel 38:1-16),
to take a
spoil (verse
12), perhaps
the riches of
the Dead Sea.
- God will rain fire on the Russian
army (Ezekiel 38:22), will put a hook in Russia’s jaws
(verse 4), and will crush Russia on the mountains
of Israel
(Ezekiel 39:2)
and will leave but a
sixth of the Russian army.
• Perhaps it is at this time that, at the sight of God’s
great victory over Russia, that millions will
turn to the Lord through
the mighty ministry
of the 144,000 anointed Jews (Revelation 7:3-4,14;
Ezekiel 38:23; 39:22).
- Apparently encouraged by
Russia’s failure,
the nations will come together under the
Antichrist to wage
war in Palestine
against the
powers of the north and east and the King
of the south (Daniel 11:40-45).
- They will be drawn to fight by demonic power
(Revelation 16:14).
- All the nations will
fight to take Israel (Zechariah 12:2-3; 14:2-3).
- An army of two million
men will now comes from the East (perhaps China), cross
the dried up Euphrates
River, and
enter the war
(Revelation 9:14-16;
16:12).
- When the Antichrist moves
into Palestine, he will break his covenant
with Israel
(Daniel 9:27)
and commit
the “abomination of desolation” spoken
of by Christ (Matthew 24:15). This
will initiate the period known as “The
Great Tribulation” with which
we have already dealt
(Matthew 24:21).
- During the close of this awful
battle, the Sign of the Son of Man
will appear
in the heavens
(Matthew
24:29-30).
We are
not told what
this sign is.
- However, the Beast
will know it signals the return of Christ in glory,
so he
will turn all
the firepower
of his
armies against
Christ.
Christ
will smash the armies, cast the Antichrist
and his false prophet into the Lake
of Fire and set
up His
throne in
Jerusalem. Read
carefully
Revelation 19:11-21.
• In our next and final lesson we shall deal thoroughly with the
details of Christ’s return in glory
and power to this earth.
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