What Shall Be the Sign...Part 9 (updated)

VIII.      The great tribulation (Matthew 24:20-26, Mark 13:18-23, Luke 21:21-24)

Matthew 24:20-28	Mark 13:18-23	Luke 21:24
But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not.  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  Behold, I have told you before.  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, [he is] in the secret chambers; believe [it] not.  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.	And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.  For [in] those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.  And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.  And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here [is] Christ; or, lo, [he is] there; believe [him] not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect.  But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.	And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

a.       Daniel 12:1 – And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy People: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy People shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book

§         We can see a clear tie-in between what Daniel speaks of and what Jesus speaks of concerning the tribulation.

§         Therefore we can fix the time of when this occurs to the time when Michael shall stand up.

§         Daniel says “thy People shall be delivered” but is this a rapture event or something else.

o        Jesus is speaking to the disciples in these passages from the gospels.  He is giving commands and instructions to the disciples who are standing in the place of the body of Christ. 

o        If the body of Christ is not present on the earth at this time why is Jesus saying things like: “…I have told you before…”, “…If they shall say unto you…”, “…believe it not…”, “…go not forth…”?

o        These instructions are indications that He is speaking to a literal presence of believers on earth during this tribulation.

o        We also see that the “tares” are still very present so in order to be consistent with the parable of the sower, the idea of a rapture could not have occurred.

b.      Shortened days (Matthew 24:22, Mark 13:20)

§         Deuteronomy 17:18-20 - And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of [that which is] before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, [to] the right hand, or [to] the left: to the end that he may prolong [his] days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

o        The lawless one will not “…keep all the words of this law…” therefore his days will not be prolonged in his kingdom, the reign of anti-Christ will be a very short reign

§         Proverbs 10:27-32 - The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.  The hope of the righteous [shall be] gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.  The way of the LORD [is] strength to the upright: but destruction [shall be] to the workers of iniquity.  The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.  The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.  The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked [speaketh] frowardness.

o        How could the righteous be raptured if they “shall never be removed”?

c.       False messiahs abound (Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:6, 21-22)

§         ψευδόχριστος pseudochristos, masculine noun - one who falsely lays claim to the name and office of the Messiah

§         ψευδοπροφήτης pseudoprophētēs, masculine noun - one who, acting the part of a divinely inspired prophet, utters falsehoods under the name of divine prophecies

IX.                Post tribulation, Sixth Seal (Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-25, Luke 21:25-26)

Matthew 24:29	Mark 13:24-25	Luke 21:25-26
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:	But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.	And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

a.       These passages align with the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th trumps of the book revelation:

§         Revelation 8:10 - And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

§         Revelation 8:12 - And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

o        Revelation 12:4 - And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

o        Ezekiel 5:12 - A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.

§         Revelation 9:1 - And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

o        Revelation 9:2-6 -And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.  And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.  And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.  And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment [was] as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.  And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

-          So the 5^th trump occurs just after to the 6^th seal, because that is when the servants of God are sealed.

-          Revelation 7:4 -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.

-          144,000 are to be sealed representing the 12 tribes of Israel (occurs after the 6^th seal is opened)

b.      Revelation 12:7-8 – And there was a war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.  And the great dragon was cast out that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him.

§         The stars mentioned in Matthew 24:29 and Mark 13:25 are obvious allusions to angels.  Stars are giant balls of gas in outer space and cannot fall (under the present universal laws of physics)

§         According to the gospel record of this event we can see that it occurs subsequent to the tribulation

§         Satan is not physically present on the earth until “immediately after the tribulation”

c.       These passages also appear to align with the 6^th seal of the book of revelation:

§         Revelation 6:12 – And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.

§         Revelation 6:13 – And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

§         Revelation 6:14 – And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

d.      Sun darkened and the moon shall not give her light, stars shall fall (Matthew 24:29) in the Day of the Lord

§         Isaiah 5:30 – And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if [one] look unto the land, behold darkness [and] sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.

§         Jeremiah 4:27-28 – For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.  For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken [it], I have purposed [it], and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.

§         Ezekiel 32:7-10 – And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.  All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD.  I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations, into the countries which thou hast not known.  Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for thee, when I shall brandish my sword before them; and they shall tremble at [every] moment, every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall.

o        Who is the sword but the Word of God, the Son of God.  God will brandish His sword after he darkens the sun, moon and stars.

§         Joel 2:10 – The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

§         Joel 2:30-32 – And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.  And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

o        Acts 2:20-21 - The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

§         Joel 3:14-16 – Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision.  The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.  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.

o        The valley of decision – what side are you going to choose?

§         Amos 5:20 – [Shall] not the day of the LORD [be] darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

§         Zephaniah  1:14-16 - The great day of the LORD [is] near, [it is] near, and hasteth greatly, [even] the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.  That day [is] a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,  A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.

o        Yom Teruah – The Day of Blowing (Feast of Trumps)

o        The seventh trumpet?

e.       Powers of the heavens shaken (Matthew 24:29, Luke 21:26)

§         Isaiah 13:6-13 – Howl ye; for the day of the LORD [is] at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.  Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: 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.  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.  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.  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.  I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.  Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.          

f.        Sixth Trump

§         Revelation 9:13-16 - And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.  And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.  And the number of the army of the horsemen [were] two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

o        4 angels bound, 4 measures of time 1) hour 2) day 3) month 4) year

o        Jude 1:6 - And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

o        Could the bottomless pit of Revelation 9:1 be under the great river Euphrates?

g.       Day of Atonement and the 144,000 of Revelation 7 (still in the 6^th Seal)

§         Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement will be day that Israel calls upon Messiah

§         Revelation 7:1-10 - 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. 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, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 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. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

o        So we have here 12,000 from 12 tribes of Israel being sealed with the seal of the Living God.

o        What does it mean to be sealed?

-          1 Corinthians 15:52 -In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

-        One might think that the 144,000 being “sealed” is equivalent to when they are “changed” but if we examine the text a little closer we can see that the “change” occurs at the last trump and the 144,000 are sealed sometime before the 6^th trump.

-          So if being sealed does not bring about some physiological change then what does it do?  This is possibly something pertaining to the helmet of salvation providing some protection of the mind against deception.  We see that the seal is placed in their foreheads which is also one of the two places that the mark of the beast is placed (the other being the right hand)

o        Noticeable exceptions are:

-          Ephraim – but they are part of Joseph (Manasses is listed separately)

-          Dan – Possibly because of their idolatry, they do not reserve the right of having representatives among the sealed

o        The Day of Atonement, a fall feast day that fell on the tenth day of the seventh month is a Feast day of the Lord, a Holy Convocation or a dress rehearsal of things to come.

o        Initially on Yom Kippur the High Priest offers a sin offering for himself, then, after he is cleansed, he offers the sin offering for the atonement of the nation of Israel.

o        The Feast of Tabernacles is then the atonement of the nations through Israel

o        Likewise, here we see the sealing of the 144,000 representatives of Israel then, AFTER THIS we see a great multitude before the throne which are the peoples of the nations.

-          Since there is no mention of this multitude being “sealed” and that they are wearing white robes, can we assume that these are the saints who were martyred for their faith? 

-          So we have 144,000 servants of God present on the earth and multitudes in white robes before His throne

-          They are awaiting the opening of the 7^th and final seal!

What Shall be the Sign...Part 8

VII.                  Abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15-19, Mark 13:14, Luke 21:20-23)

Matthew 24:15-19	Mark 13:14-17	Luke 21:20-23
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.  And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!	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 Judaea flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter [therein], to take any thing out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.  But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!	And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.  Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.  For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

 

a.       What are these passages referring to with regard to the abomination of desolation?  Since Daniel is referenced we shall begin with those passages in Daniel that reference the event.

§         Daniel 11:29-32 - At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.  For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.  And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily [sacrifice], and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do [exploits] (work effectually).

o        Observations:

-          He (king of the north) shall return at an appointed time

-          He shall come toward the south

-          Arms shall stand at his command

-          He will corrupt the covenant (what covenant?)

-          God will strengthen those who know Him

-          Those who know God will take action against him

o        Isaiah 14:12-13 - How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

-          Of the congregation - מועד mow`ed, appointed place, appointed time, meeting

-          Same word used for the appointed feasts of the Lord

o        Is the mercy seat the throne of God? 

-          God instructed Moses to fashion an ark of the covenant and a mercy seat upon the ark.

-          Exodus 25:10-22 - And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it. And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them. The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it. And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee. And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. (about 45 inches X 27 inches) And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubim on the two ends thereof. And the cherubim shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

-          Was this mercy seat placed on top of the ark God’s throne or a replica of God’s throne in heaven?

-          Stars of God

1.       Job 38:7 - When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

a.       Morning stars sang and Sons of God shouted

b.       In this context stars clearly represent supernatural beings created by God

2.       Genesis 22:7 - That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

a.       The stars that Lucifer/Satan wishes to exalt himself above could be the descendents of Abraham

-          What did the children of Israel treasure above all?  The Ark of the Covenant which is, either the throne of God or a replica of the throne of God in heaven.

1.       Could sitting upon the mercy seat (unauthorized) be considered an abomination of desolation?

2.       Where is the Ark/mercy seat?  It was in Solomon’s temple, but there is no mention of Nebuchadnezzar capturing it when he pillaged Jerusalem.

a.       Was it hidden prior to Nebuchadnezzar’s raid

b.       Was it taken by God?

c.       Was it possibly hidden within or underneath the temple awaiting an appointed time or the מועד mow`ed?

§         Daniel 12:11-12 – And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination of desolation that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days (1,290 days or 3½ ,360 day years plus 30 days ).  Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days (1,335 days 45 days later).

o        Observations:

-          Commences when the abomination of desolation is set up

-          1,290 days of desolation

-          Blessed is he that reaches the 1, 335^th day

-          45 day transition period?

-          Is this when the Messiah returns?

§         It appears that the abomination of desolation coincides with the commencement of what is commonly referred to as the great tribulation

§         This corresponds to our current place in the  outline of the gospel accounts

b.      Deuteronomy 7:25-26 – The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.  Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.

§         Graven images of gods are an abomination

§         We are to detest any such item

§         Could the abomination of desolation be a form of idolatry?

§         Daniel 3:1, 4-6 - Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height [was] threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon….4) Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, [That] at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

o        Could this have been a type of the abomination of desolation?

o        Image set-up , people forced to worship the image

o        But…know this…

-          Isaiah 43:2 - When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

c.       Daniel 8:13-14 - Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain [saint] which spake, How long [shall be] the vision [concerning] the daily [sacrifice], and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?  And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

§         The word sacrifice is added by the translators

§         What is the “daily” spoken of here?  Could be referring to the daily (morning and evening) time that Daniel spent in prayer

§         Could be a reference to the forced worship of a false god like the one Nebuchadnezzar established. 

d.      2 Thessalonians 2:3b-4 – …that man of sin revealed, the son of perdition, 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.

§         “…called God…”

o        Called – λέγω legō, verb, to say, to speak

o        God - θεός theos, masculine noun, whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way

o        Can be said to exalt himself above all that is spoken of God or established by God

§         This son of perdition inhabits the Temple of God, is this a physical temple of God rebuilt? Or is it the temple that Christ referred to as His body? The body of Christ being the Church?  Or perhaps both

§         What better way to proclaim to be God than to sit upon his throne (the mercy seat atop the Ark of the Covenant) inside a rebuilt temple.  By giving an appearance of establishing an outward or external authority, he will establish the inward by deceiving God’s people (or the stars) into worshipping him.

§         1 Corinthians 3:16-17 – Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the Temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the Temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

§         The same man, prompted by the same Spirit wrote 2 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians, if he is referring to a brick and mortar Temple in Thessalonians wouldn’t that be a contradiction?

§         If we are talking about the body of Christ being the Church, could this passage refer to a grand deception whereby we have a great apostasy in the Church? Can we see evidence of this now? Are churches caving to the pressure from the world to adapt to the world?

§         Zechariah 6:12-13 - And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name [is] The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

o        Zechariah prophesied that Messiah would build the temple of the Lord.  Did Christ come and build a physical temple? No, He built… and is still building His temple through the preaching of His Word through His servants

§         Another far out idea is the possible cloning of the original body of Christ through blood found either on the shroud of Turin or on the Ark of the Covenant.  This seems highly sci-fi, but it at least warrants mention as this is a theory promulgated by some modern authors.  This technology is recent and worth exploring as a possibility.  New technologies seem to be discovered almost daily and as we continue to advance in ways of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, some prophecies may become clearer whereas in past generations understanding would be limited to the technologies of that day (unless divine understanding was given by the Holy Spirit).

e.       Revelation 13:5-6 – And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months (3½ years).  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

f.        2 Timothy 3:1-5 – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

g.       Is it feasible that this correspond to one of the woes given in Revelation?  The Woes given in Revelation 8-12 correspond to the last three trumps (5^th, 6^th& 7^th)

§         Revelation 8:13 - Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

§         Woe - οὐαίouai, interjection, alas, woe, grief or of denunciation

h.       Woe to them that are with child and give suck

§         Jeremiah 30:5-7 – For thus saith the Lord; “We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.  Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child?  Wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?  Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

§         The passage here in Jeremiah is not referring to a literal pregnancy, but a metaphor for being pregnant with the doctrine of fear contrary to the doctrine of peace preached by Messiah.

§         Christ is expecting to find a virgin bride; woe to those who are pregnant depicts an unfaithful bride who has received false doctrine.  Mark 13:22 says the false prophets seduce, a sexual reference meaning deceive.  So it can then be said that one who is seduced by these false prophets are impregnated with deception and are then with child.