Back to: “The End Times”

Back to: “The End Times”

I know that many of you read the Bible often, yet when it comes to the Book of Revelation” it may seem like the going is slow and may be misinterpreted due to so much “unfamiliar and extravagant symbolism” that the average reader cannot make sense out of. What exactly does this book, shrouded in mystery, say about the End Times that are to come upon us? Let’s take a look. I have taken the liberty to see what “Issues, Etc” had to say about the ensuing End Times:

To the early Christians, Revelation provided a very simplistic description of the times that seem to be quickly approaching. The early Christians had this to say about the End Times: “[Jesus now] sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead…We believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.” This was taken directly from the Apostles Creed. For centuries, the early Christians followed this belief.

In these modern times, however, many false teachers have made up many complex and confusing interpretations of the Book of Revelation. False doctrines have been added such as the Rapture as well as the Millennium to the last book of the Bible’s summary of the End Times. As a result of this false doctrine, there are many Christians who are confused about the future happenings. Here is a summary of the false opinions of what the future holds: Christ’s visible earthly life, the age of the Church, Jesus returns for the Rapture, the seven years of Tribulation, Christ returns to earth in order to bind Satan and begin the Millennium, the Battle of Armageddon, period of 1,000 years, Satan is released upon the earth, the Resurrection of the wicked takes place for their final judgment and finally the beginning of a new Heaven and a new earth. Here is what the TRUE timeline that Revelation speaks of: Jesus’ reign of the symbolic 1,000 years, Satan is released upon earth, the Day of Judgment returns when the resurrection of the dead occurs and now a new Heaven and earth begin. Who knows what in the world to believe?

There are so many things that I could write about the above paragraph, but the best thing I could do for you is to direct you to the following website: http://www.mtio.com/articles/bissart5.htm It contains everything you would want to know about Armageddon and the End Times. For those of you who do not have a computer, I want to make the following remarks.

Here is the popular opinion about the meaning of Millennium. As we all know this means 1,000. Many people believe that Jesus will come back to earth in order to crush all of His enemies and set up a 1,000-year earthly kingdom. The Jewish people were frustrated that the Romans had domination over them even before the birth of Jesus. Therefore, the ancient Jews made up the false teaching called Millennialism. In this day and age, most Pentecostals, Adventists and Baptists spread the teaching that our Lord will come back to earth to not only destroy His enemies, but He will establish an earthly kingdom, and His rule will last for 1,000 years.

Now listen to the true meaning of the Millennium. In the Book of Revelation 20:2, the 1,000 years that are mentioned is not to be taken literally but symbolically. This is an illustration of the New Testament era starting with the time of Jesus’ birth up to the time of Armageddon which is just before the End. This can be found in the prophesies and poetry of the Old Testament where 1,000 symbolizes a great period of time (Psalms 50:10, 84:10, 90:4). There is no need for Jesus to come back to earth to set up His kingdom on earth since He already established, among all of His believers, His kingdom. You can find mention of this in Matthew 12:28, Romans 14:17, John 18:36 and Revelation 1: 5-6.

Now here is what the difference in meaning that it makes for you. First of all, if you succumb to the heresy that Jesus has not yet established His kingdom, you deny the preaching of Jesus that “the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand” which can be found in Mark 1:15. You also disbelieve that God has already “delivered you from the domain of darkness and transferred you to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom you have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” This can be found in Colossians 1: 13-14. You should reject the heresy that Jesus has not yet established His kingdom. Instead, we should always live daily in the Kingdom of Jesus and be 100% assured of not only God’s complete forgiveness but His total protection from every evil power. This is taken from Romans 8: 37-39.

In my next blog, I will deal with the meaning of the Rapture. Please stay tuned for my next insert.