Search the Community

“Israel’s 144,000. Signed, Sealed, Delivered and Restored.” Signed: “But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judæa flee to the mountains:” ~ Mark 13:14 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?” ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:3-5 “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” ~ Revelation 13:18 (Ezekiel 8:1 And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month,...) “Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord God unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land. 3 Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations. 4 And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.” ~ Ezekiel 7:1-4 “He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand. 2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar. 3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side; 4 and the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.” ~ Ezekiel 9:1-4 “For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, 12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13 Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. 16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 17 And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. 18 Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.” ~ Isaiah 8:11-18 “He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.” ~ John 3:33 Sealed: “And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.” ~ Revelation 7:1-4 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:19 “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” ~ Ephesians 4:30 Delivered: “But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.” ~ Ezekiel 7:16 “And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.” ~ Ezekiel 11:23 “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22 he took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.” ~ Exodus 13:21-22 “And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 20 and it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.” ~ Exodus 14:19-20 “And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” ~ Revelation 12:13-15 “When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. 9 For the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. 10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. 11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: 12 so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.” ~ Deuteronomy 32:8-12 “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” ~ Matthew 19:28-29 Restored: “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” ~ Revelation 14:1-5 “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” ~ Exodus 19:4-6 “Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. 3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. 4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. 5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. 6 Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: 8 and they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. 9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. 11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” ~ Isaiah 13:2-10 “The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. 17 So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.” ~ Joel 3:15-17 Zechariah 14:1-9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. 6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: 7 but it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. 8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. 9 And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. “And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God.” ~ Amos 9:14-15

[Note: “Israel Gives Birth to Christ in Revelation 12” ~ John Young] “The Nation of Israel as Represented In Revelation 12” By Maurice Young, February 7, 2007 The identity of the “women” in Revelation 12 is of importance to the serious students of the scriptures as it is the object of Satan’s attack and God’s protection. As usual, the correct interpretation of the passage and its context will lead to a correct conclusion. Therefore, the scriptures are the final source of authority as to the identity of the woman in Revelation 12. From Revelation 6:1 to Revelation 18:24 the context is the time of “Jacob’s Trouble”, or the 7-year Tribulation Period. The “times of the Gentiles” and God again deals primarily with the sons of Jacob, the nation of Israel. Revelation 12:1 is a direct reference to the 12 sons of Jacob (Israel) as taught in Genesis 37:5-10 in the two dreams that God gave to Joseph. In Genesis 37:9 we read in the second dream, “And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.” This is a direct reference to the 12 tribes of Israel as written in Revelation 12:1. Dr. Harold B. Sightler correctly states, “The women is symbolic of the twelve tribes of Israel, the people of Israel.” ~ [Dr. Harold B. Sightler, Revelation, (Greenville, SC: The Bright spot Hour, n.d.), 161] This woman giving birth in typology is consistent throughout the Old Testament as a reference to the nation of Israel. Jeremiah 4:31 is one example. “For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! For my soul is wearied because of murderers.” In the scriptures, and throughout the history of other nations, a dragon is a symbol of Satan. Satan is an adversary to God and to His people, the sons of Israel. In Revelation 12:6 we read that the woman flees into the wilderness by the protecting hand of God due to the persecution of the dragon. In the scriptures, the only nation said to have journeyed in a wideness is the nation of Israel. In typology this is a direct reference to the nation of Israel. Clarence Larkin brings out, “As the ‘Woman’ and the dragon are symbols, so are the ‘Eagle's Wings’. They speak of the rapid and swift flight of the ‘Women’ (Israel) into the ‘Wilderness’ where she shall be safely kept and nourished for 3 ½ years until the Dragon is bound”. ~ [Clarence Larkin, The Book of Revelation, (Glenside, PA: Rev. Clarence Larkin Estate, 1919), 99.] As we consider our interpretation of Revelation12 and notice the reference to the “man child” we can only come to the conclusion that eh man child is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ, Since the man child is a reference to Christ the only inescapable conclusion, based upon scripture, is that the woman is Israel. Romans 9:4 & 5 clearly states, “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of Gog, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of the whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” The Faithful interpreter of scripture can only come to the conclusion that the “woman” in Revelation 12 is a direct reference to the nation of Israel.

Rapture Timing – Simplified. By Brother John Young 2-16-2024 While there are many nuanced and complicated terminologies and reasonings for when the rapture will occur, most all consistent positions are divided into two types before (pre) or after (post) the tribulation (or no rapture at all) as described in the Book of Revelation. The primary factor that determines which position one takes is determined by what is believed about Israel and the Church. If they believe Israel and the Church are based on separate covenants, then when they read the Revelation, they must put the rapture BEFORE the tribulation. If they believe the Church takes over, or is part of, Israel’s covenant then they must place the rapture AFTER the tribulation or to reject the consept of rapture altogether and simply maintain a resurrection at the end of the tribulation or millennium. Saints (believers) appear throughout the Book of Revelation and are only saved from tribulation at the return of Christ at the end of the book so many do accept this as a reason to reject a rapture and simply opt for the resurrection. In the Book of Revelation, churches by name are dealt with at the beginning of the book and Israel by name near the middle to end of the book, yet saints and sinners in general throughout. Those who maintain a separation of covenants (Pre-tribulationist) will simply keep each group separate and see the rapture occurring in the chapters dealing with the churches (chapters 1-5) and will take the book progressively in order. Yet those who do not (post-tribulationist) must make references to Israel’s or saint’s gathering apply also to the church as well (chapters 14 and 20-22). If this separation of covenants is not maintained, then the progressive chronology of the Book of revelation itself also cannot be maintained and must be split and overlaid in order to make proper sense (some less constant and unconstrained pre and post adherents will split and overlay the book up to four times to make their given theology work! We will not deal with those here.). As an example of a truly consistent pre-tribulationist, Pastor Steven Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe Arizona teaches a Post-trib pre-wrath theology were chapters 1-11 of Revelation are chronological then starting at 12-16 is read as taking place with 1-11, before continuing again to 17-22. (www.faithfulwordbaptist.org/chronology_of_revelation_chart.jpg) This has the simplifying effect of ensuring Churches, Israel, and Saints, and their terminology, line up with a single rapture and return event, after the tribulation. If it is not done it results in either a pre-tribulation rapture or multi-rapture event depending on the person’s misunderstanding of Church and Israeli covenants. While simplifying and compelling, this popular position, as do most Post-tribulation (and many pre-tribulation) rapture theologies, falls prey to several issues. 1. It must split and break up the chapter order of Revelation in order to work. 2. It must conflate terms (ie. insist, without proving, that one term also means the other). 3. It must overlay the seals, trumpet judgments, and vial judgments. If one removes these three common abuses of the Book of Revelation, the books own progressive structure takes shape into four distinct stages of events witch tend to also support a pre-tribulation rapture for church body while keeping the church and Israeli covenants intact and consistent with the overall context of scripture in both Old and New testaments. These divisions can be summed up as: (wwwfacebook.com/BaptistChristians/photos/pb.100064810983595.-2207520000/3464239283588565/?type=3) In summery: 1. Pre-Tribulationist must keep terminology, and the covenants of Church and Israel SEPARATE, and must keep the book of Revelation in progressive order to be consistent with a true pe-rapture theology. 2. Post-Tribulationist must CONFLATE terms and covenants, split up the book order, and overlay the Judgments to remain consistent with a Post-Rapture theology. 3. Many are unable to do either so end up with a hybrid of theologies gleaned from those who have gone before them. Many are also so confused by the rapture concept that they simply allegorize much of Revelation to come up with their position on the rapture or in order to do away with it altogether. 4. The two examples above will most likely be the simplest examples of Pre and Post tribulation raptures that are most consistent with the Book of Revelation. Feel free to examine both to determine which is most consistent with the scriptures in order to come to their theological conclusion. References: Brother Anderson does a good job in presenting his position and is well worth examination His material can be found here: https://www.faithfulwordbaptist.org/page9.html My work on this topic is ongoing. What I have can be found here: https://johnyoungblogs.blogspot.com or here: https://www.facebook.com/BaptistChristians or here: www.youtube.com/@BaptistChristians Revelation: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPBnTVkjTpCJl70DpxmR1R5OXjRQbTe4j

What is the progressive order of Christ's Revelation to Mankind on Earth? In this post we show six progressions as presented in the Book of Revelation. The Progressive Revelation of Christ. (according to the Book of Revelation) Admonishing the Churches: To preach the Gospel of Christ until the “here after”. (Chapters 1-5) Breaking the Seals: To prepare the world for the Revelation of Christ. (Chapters 5-7) Calling the Trumpets: To announce the Coming of Christ. (Chapters 8-11) Declaring the Thunders: To reveal God’s divine plan for Christ’s rule on Earth. (Chapter 10) Executing the Vials: To pour out judgment upon those who reject Christ’s rulership. (Chapters 15-20) Founding the City: The coming vision and nature of Christ's New Jerusalem. (Chapters 21-22)

“‘This Generation’ is Spiritual” By John Young “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” ~ Matthew 24:34 Many end times theologies use “this generation” in Matthew 24:34 as a physical generation because it works better that way with their end times theology. They present it as either the physical generation alive when Jesus preached these words or as a future physical generation that will live when the events would start to occur some time in the unknown future. Those who say the events were on those of the past are called Preterist (who believe the events partially or fully finished around 70 A.D.). Those who say some or all have not occurred are called futurist and are looking for the events to start in order to identify which “this generation” it will be. These two positions are generally read into the text from already formed viewpoints rather than the context itself. Yet, contextually Matthew 24:34 is clearly connected to chapter 23 which states, in verse 33 “ Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” and verse 36, “Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.” When we study Chapter 23 we see “this generation” is referring to the spiritual generation who’s father is the devil (John 8:44) but they physically lived among and appeared outwardly as Israelites who claimed to follow God. The passage goes on to state in verse 35 that this generation was present to persecute the righteous generation from Able to Zacharias (about 4,000 years) and would continue to be present until the events of Matthew 24-25 comes to pass to rid them out of the land of Israel. Contextually this means that both spiritual generations have been on earth from the time of Cain and Able (1 John 3:12) and will be in Israel, and in the world, until the end when Christ our deliverer returns to the land to purge out “this generation” of vipers and save us. In Matthew 13:30 He states of these spiritual generations, “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” Paul the Apostle also states of this time that God is waiting for the gentiles to fully enter in before this purging will take place. Romans 11:25-27 says “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” Matthew 23:38-39, in connection to Paul’s Passage in Romans 11, goes on to state that God is waiting for the Israel to repent of this generation and say “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” before He will fully complete the promise of deliverance form their evil generation. Christ says, “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” In regard to end times, knowing “this generation” is the “Generation of vipers” of chapter 23 means the evil people will persecute righteous people “till all these things be fulfilled”. Seeing “this generation” is still with us means we are still waiting for the final Olevet fulfillment. This final fulfillment is waiting on several things to come to pass first as noted, 1. For the gentiles to fully come in (Romans 11:25), 2. For Israel the nation to repent and turn to Christ (Matthew 23:39), and 3. For their house (the temple in Jerusalem) to not be desolate (Matthew 23:38). Until then “this generation” will remain among us. As stated in Matthew 25:46 the final fulfillment will happen with their departure. “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

Why there is confusion on “End Times” among Baptist. By John Young, 9-23-2023 The “End Times” is of great interest, yet there is confusion and hindrances which keeps even the most experienced bible believer from properly understanding the subject. Below I show generally and simply 10 hindrances I see. If you can think of more feel free to comment them below. Over time we will expound on each in more detail to show why we believe each is a hindrance to understanding the truth. 1. Bible Theology: Of the three main theologies (Covenant, Dispensational, Stewardship), Covenant and Dispensational wrongly lump all bible covenants into one. The only main difference is Covenant holds to a transfer of ownership from Israel and Dispensational holds to a pause of ownership. Yet the bible holds that Promises, Covenants, Testaments and etc. are held by God and only apply to persons qualified by him to be in them and their regulations are to be considered individually held. 2. Order of Revelation: Many have to split up and re-arrange the book to fit their theology. Yet the book does not call for spitting, retelling, or overlaying its events. Rather it shows a clear progression. Covenant and Dispensationist both try to split up and re-arrange the book while ignoring its structure. 3. Division of Church and State: Covenant reject the teaching and commands of the Apostles, that the church and Israel are separate institutions, as stated in Acts 2:41-47; 15; 16:4-5; 21:19-28 in favor of their own theology. Many adherents, particularity Pre-wrath supporters, state boldly, and without fear, that the Apostles teaching and command for the churches to follow is wrong. This a great concern. 4. Appeals to History: While outside history can compliment the scripture it does not have authority to supplant or justify fulfillment of prophesy. This right belongs only to scripture. So, unless the bible shows or states the event as being fulfilled, then the event is yet future. Covenant and Dispensationalist will often appeal to flawed “customized to the event” version of history to fulfill a particular prophesy, so that the scripture will not interfere with their theology on future events. This is wrong. 5. Confusion of Terms: Intentional intermixing of separate and like terms are used to re-order events to favor theology over the plain reading. Day of “***”, Gathering, Rapture, Return, Resurrection, etc. 6. Substitution Theology: Often when the plain reading cannot be ignored and there is no scriptural justification, they will simply switch out the terms for one that does fit in their conceived teaching. Some examples are Angels to Pastors, Day of the Lord to Day of Christ, Babylon to USA. 7. Assumption Theology: When coming to a seemingly confusing or hard passage, rather than leaving it alone or searching scripture for an explanation (which usually will contradict his theology), the teacher will uphold his theology by appealing to “It seems” or “looks like” or “I think” statements. 8. Opposition Theology: Rather than developing theologies to give understanding and to show the clarity of scripture on a matter, many teachings arise in opposition to another teaching. Over time this develops In a disregard for scriptural context in favor of promoting one flawed theology over another. 9. Vilifying Opponents: Frustrated by opposition theology that lacks the contextual clarity of scripture, the adherence have little choice but to keep followers by tribalism and fear-mongering, leading to willful ignorance and stalled development of the true scriptural position or investigation on a matter. 10. Biblical Context: Rather than a culture of teaching deep contextual study of scripture, in the order and priority of scripture, theology and opinions of men are sought to teach on a topic and treated as if studying a matter, leading to a prioritizing, reordering and systematizing of things scripture does not.