4/30/11
Greetings, I want to begin by reminding you that you are precious in the sight of God. He loves you so much and no obstacle or challenge in life can change that. You are special, you are gifted, and you were created with a purpose. You are mighty in Christ!
This week we are going to discuss a little eschatology. Eschatology is fancy terminology for “the study of the last things.” In light of the last things, we are going to discuss the cost of unity. We are also going to define the timeframe where unity will finally be achieved.
Many Christians are familiar with the term antichrist. This term has been popularized not only in Christian circles, but also by media. It is a fearful term that reminds us that Satan has a plan to counterfeit our very Savior. The interesting thing is that the only place where the Bible uses this term to describe this person is in 1 John 2:18. Other terms that are used for this person are little horn, king, son of perdition, man of sin, and beast.
This antichrist is on earth for an indeterminable amount of time. However, we do know that from the time he signs a covenant with the nation of Israel (and possibly several other nations) there will be a period of seven prophetic years before the return of Christ (Daniel 9:27). We also know that this seven year period has two halves. After the first half of this seven year period, the antichrist will break his covenant and end the sacrifice and offering in the temple of Israel. He will also place the abomination of desolation at this time. The second half of this period is referred to as the great tribulation. The great tribulation begins immediately after the sacrifice is ended.
“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 shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:15, 21)
Before Jesus made this comment, many of the Jews believed that the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel had already happened. They believed this because Antiochus Epiphanies, a Greek general, slaughtered a pig on the altar of the temple several hundred years prior to this comment. When Jesus said this, it was shocking. In essence, Jesus said that there was yet a future fulfillment of this prophecy. The destruction of the temple in 70 AD and the absence of a state of Israel left many confused for thousands of years
Some have suggested that this prophecy is entirely symbolic of what the antichrist wants to do to Christians because there is no literal temple in Jerusalem. I see no logical reason to conclude this. The temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem at some point in the near future. As evidence, consider these notes I took from a sermon by Jimmy DeYoung on March 11, 2011.
- Erecting the temple can be done in six months
- 28,000 priests are necessary to operate temple. A Rabbi at a Yeshiva has a computer that serves as a database for Jews qualified to be priests. They have called them all to Jerusalem to be prepared and trained because they are going to build a temple.
- The priests need a special garment made out of a single piece of cloth. There are currently 28,000 special garments already made to biblical specifications and they are in storage
- A mizrok is necessary as well. This is a container made out of pure gold and pure silver. It doesn’t have a base but a point so that it cannot be set down. These contain the blood from the blood sacrifices. If blood sits it will coagulate. The form of these containers makes it so that they cannot be set down but must be carried around by the priests at all times. Four thousand mizroks are needed and four thousand have already been prepared
- They have the table of showbread prepared
- They have the altar of incense prepared
- Two years ago they made the menorah, the seven branch candle holder, and it is on display in the Old city, the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem
- David had called for 10-string harps to be made for worship in the temple. A 10-string harp was made by Micah and Shoshanna Harrari and reported on by the paper: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/126936.
- It was reported on by the newspaper that this was the first 10-string harp made in Israel in 2000 years. According to the Talmud, when the 10-string harp reappeared in Jerusalem it would be time for the Messiah to arrive.
- 2 years ago 70 Jewish wise men came together and reformed the Sanhedrin. They operate the temple and elect the high priest. Professor Weiss, spokesman for the Sanhedrin, says that the high priest has been elected.
- A conference was held a few weeks prior to March 11, 2011 for qualified priests from all over the world to receive their final training in priestly duties for the coming temple.
- 2 Rabbi’s claim to have been within 25 feet of the Ark of the Covenant and say they will bring it out from its hiding place when they have a place to put it.
Once the temple is built, the sacrifice will resume as it did thousands of years ago. It will be conducted according to the outline provided under the Old Covenant. This is the sacrifice that the antichrist will end halfway into the seven year period we discussed.
“And arms shall stand on his [the antichrist’s] 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.” (Daniel 11:31)
We must understand that the eleventh chapter of Daniel, from where we take the above scripture, is entirely chronological. This means that verse 2 does not happen before verse 1. Verse 10 happens after verse 9. This is extremely important because the following verse comes after the sacrifice is taken away. It is written:
“And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.” (Daniel 11:35)
Since this passage is occurring after the sacrifice is removed it must occur during the great tribulation. Remember that Jesus told us the great tribulation begins when the sacrifice is removed and the abomination of desolation is placed. This passage discusses that some of them that have understanding of the True God and His ways will die during that time. These individuals will die for the purpose of making their brethren white. White means clean and pure. It also symbolizes righteousness. Where else does the Bible speak of similar activity?
“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:26-27)
God intends to present His Son a bride without blemish. This means she will be white, clean, and righteous. This also means that she will be unified (Ephesians 4:13). In other words, she will come to a place of maturity. Jesus is not coming back for a little girl, He is returning for a mature bride. The timeframe where people are specifically prophesied to die for this occurs during the great tribulation. The idea that God comes to catch His church away before a great tribulation is entirely illogical. According to scripture, the great tribulation will actually be the necessary medium through which God will perform this work in His church. Are you prepared?
Discussion
1. How many prophetic years are there between the time the antichrist makes covenant with Israel and the return of Christ?
2. What happens halfway into this seven prophetic year period?
3. Are people prophesied to die for the sake of God’s purpose in the church before or after this midpoint event?
4. What kind of church is Jesus returning for?
5. Do you consider yourself mature in Christ?
