EARTHQUAKE RESURRECTION
CHAPTER BY CHAPTER SUMMARY
OVERALL
BOOK SUMMARY
The prophetic scriptures forecast an
epic worldwide catastrophe before the seven-year tribulation period
begins. A three-stage event will trigger
this catastrophe: the resurrection of the dead in Christ, the transformation of
the bodies of believers to immortal ones, and the catching up of all
believers. The reader will embark on an
exciting and intense exploration of the prophetic scriptures that will serve to
illuminate a patter of God’s supernatural resurrection power resulting in a
shaking of the surrounding earth. This biblical
pattern, when applied to the exponentially more massive future resurrection of
the dead in Christ, presents a unique and interesting, yet ominous forecast for
the fate of Earth and its inhabitants before the beginning of the seven-year
tribulation period.
CHAPTER
BY CHAPTER SUMMARY
Section
I - The Future Hope of Believers
Chapter
1: I Tell You a Mystery. . .
Purpose: To introduce the future three-stage event
that will take place, and to demonstrate from the scriptures the importance of
the study of Bible prophecy.
Chapter
2: The Mystery of the Resurrection of
the Dead
Purpose: To
introduce the nine specific resurrections of the dead back into mortal bodies
recorded in the Bible in order to contrast them with resurrections of the dead
into immortal bodies.
Key Concepts:
·
Paul received his revelation directly from Jesus Christ,
whom Paul said he saw and personally met. In addition, Paul went to Arabia, and
may have gone to Mount Sinai to receive the revelation of the many mysteries he
revealed in his New Testament epistles. In Galatians, Paul said Mount Sinai was
in the region of modern-day Saudi Arabia. (Sections 2.1; 5.5, 5.10)
·
Jesus provided the Jewish leaders of his day with the sign
of Jonah the prophet as a sign that he was the Son of God. Jonah was thrown
over the side of a ship and perished in the bottom of the sea. A large fish
scooped up his dead body and preserved it for three days and three nights
before he was resurrected from the dead. Similarly, Jesus stated that he would
be dead within the heart of the earth for three days and three nights prior to
raising from the dead. (Sections 2.3; 3.1)
Chapter
3: The Resurrection to Immortality
Purpose: To
introduce the three specific resurrections of the dead into immortal, incorruptible
bodies recorded in the Bible, and the three future resurrections to
immortality.
Key Concepts:
·
Those righteous who died from Adam until the thief on the
cross were not all resurrected from the dead with the "many
saints", but are still dead and buried. At least Abel and David were still
dead and buried after the resurrection of Christ and the "many
saints" had taken place. Their spirits will be reunited with a resurrected
body, and they will be part of the future resurrection of the dead in Christ. (Sections
3.4, 3.6)
·
Hebrews states that the heroes of faith will be made perfect
together with believers under the new covenant established by Jesus Christ.
This is further proof that all those who died from Adam until the thief on the
cross, with the exception of the "many saints" who have already been
raised, will be part of the future resurrection of the dead in Christ. (Section
3.6)
Chapter 4: The Transformation to Immortality
Purpose: To examine the mystery of the
transformation of the body of the resurrected believer to an immortal body, and
to explore the qualities that Jesus possessed for the 40 days he was on earth
in a resurrected, immortal body.
Key Concepts:
·
First Corinthians chapter 15 and Philippians 3:21 are
passages that present the best description of what will happen at the event in
which the bodies of believers are transformed into immortal bodies. In these
bodies, believers will be able to cloak their identity, move in and out of
different dimensions, and vanish from sight. Just as Jesus in his resurrected
body, they will not be subject to the dimensions in which humans are currently
confined. (Sections 4.1, 4.6, 4.7)
·
The power that Jesus possesses in sustaining and holding
together all things is the same power by which he will be able to transform the
mortal body into the likeness of his glorified body. While in that glorified
body, Jesus displayed the supernatural ability to cloak his identity, to move
into and out of different dimensions, and to vanish from sight. (Section 4.6)
Chapter 5: The Mystery of the Catching Up of Believers
Purpose: To explore the many examples
of sudden catching up of living believers throughout the Bible, as well as to
explore the similarities between the Exodus chapter 19 account of the descent
on Mount Sinai and the future catching-up event.
Key Concepts:
·
Paul stated in I Thessalonians 4:14 that those who are dead
in Christ will accompany the Lord at his return. Yet, in I Thessalonians 4:16,
he stated they will be resurrected. This is possible because of the difference
between the spirit and the body. The Lord will bring with him their spirit, but
he will raise and transform their mortal bodies. (Section 5.4)
·
The catching-up event will include both the resurrected dead
in Christ and those living at the moment of the resurrection and
transformation. First Thessalonians 4:17 states that living and remaining
believers will be caught up together with them into the clouds, where
both groups will meet the Lord in the air at the same time. (Section 5.8)
·
The Exodus chapter 19 account of the descent of the Lord on
Mount Sinai is an interesting prophetic model of the future catching up of
living believers. The similarities include sanctification and washing of the
people, the third day descent and the third day resurrection, the trumpet sound
of God’s voice, the descent of the Lord, and Moses being summoned up. (Sections
5.10; 6.1-2)
Section
II – Earthquake Resurrection Prophetic Model
Chapter
6: Earthquake Resurrection
Purpose: To
explore the interesting parallel trait of earthquakes evident in all three of
the resurrections to immortality, and to introduce the sixth seal as the event
when the resurrection of the dead in Christ, the transformation to immortality,
and the catching up of believers will take place.
Key Concepts:
·
The trumpet of God heard at the resurrection,
transformation, and catching-up event will be his voice, and will cause a
worldwide shaking of the earth. The various Greek verbs from which the Greek salpiggo, or “trumpet”, are derived all
have root meanings of shaking, agitation, waves, or reverberation. (Sections
6.1-2)
·
In all three specific accounts of resurrection from the dead
to immortality in the New Testament, the text records earthquake or shaking
activity accompanying the event: Jesus, the “many saints”, and the two
witnesses in the future. (Sections 6.3-4)
·
The great preponderance of the evidence suggests that the
Shroud of Turin is the linen burial shroud of Jesus Christ, and is a nuclear
“photograph” of the moment of his resurrection and transformation into an
immortal body. The power that was displayed in the moment of his resurrection
and transformation, captured on the shroud, caused the earthquakes described in
Matthew chapter 27.(Sections 6.5-11)
Chapter 7: Opening the Sixth Seal of the Scroll
Purpose: To
analyze the events that take place at the time of the opening of the sixth seal
in comparison with other scriptures which describe the moment of the
resurrection of the dead and transformation to immortality.
Key Concepts:
·
The natural world will feel the effects of the supernatural
resurrection and transformation of the dead in Christ at opening of the sixth
seal. The effects will include massive worldwide earthquakes, movement of every
mountain and island, volcanic eruptions, a black sun and a blood-red moon.
(Section 7.1)
·
The sixth seal description of the sun turning to darkness
and the moon to a blood-red color was foretold in Joel to occur just before the
beginning the day of the Lord, a day of wrath and judgment. (Sections 7.2-3)
·
The verbal reaction of the people on the earth to the events
of the sixth seal is strong evidence that the resurrection and catching-up
event had taken place. They will declare that the day of the wrath of the Lamb
and God has just begun after the events of the sixth seal had taken place.
(Section 7.7)
Section
III – Understanding the Prophecy of Daniel’s 70 Weeks
Chapter 8: The Key to Understanding Prophecy
Purpose: To
introduce the important 70 weeks prophecy given to Daniel by the angel Gabriel,
to examine the starting point of those 70 weeks, and the ending point of the
first 69 weeks, or 483 years.
Key Concepts:
·
The decree of Artaxerxes I Longimanus in approximately
457-456 BC to restore and rebuild the temple and the wall in Jerusalem is the
starting point of the prophecy of the 70 weeks of Daniel. (Section 8.3)
·
The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, followed by the
40-day temptation and the beginning of his ministry in Galilee, marked the end
of the 69th week of Daniel’s prophecy in approximately 27-28 AD.
Jesus was anointed by the Holy Ghost in the form of a dove in the Jordan River,
and began his ministry in the power of the Spirit. In the synagogue at
Nazareth, he announced that the anointed one had come the very day that he read
the scroll of Isaiah before them. (Section 8.4)
Chapter 9: Daniel’s 70th Week: The Final
Seven Years
Purpose: To
examine the final week of seven years in Daniel’s 70 Weeks, including the gap
of time from the completion of the 69th week until the beginning of
the 70th week, and to confirm the presence of the seven-year period
within Revelation.
Key Concepts:
·
The confirmation of the covenant by the coming prince will
initiate the final week of Daniel’s 70 weeks. An excellent candidate for the
covenant that was weak, but is made strong by the coming prince, is the Oslo
Accords of 1993. This covenant, which involved the Palestinians and the Jews
division of the covenant land of Israel, is currently in a weak state. (Section
9.3)
·
The reference to the second woe passing after the three and
one-half year ministry of the two witnesses is an important clue that reveals a
full seven-year period within Revelation chapters 7 through 19. Because the two
witnesses minister for three and one-half years, and the beast will conquer
them and remain in power 42 months, this proves a full-seven-year period
conclusively. (Section 9.4)
Section
IV – Revelation: From the Ascension to the Catching Up
Chapter 10: The Setting for the Hereafter
Purpose: To
examine how John was introduced to the vision of the throne room scene
described in Revelation chapters 4 and 5, and to understand the identity of the
24 elders as angelic “sons of the high priest” in connection with the Old
Testament priesthood.
Key Concepts:
·
The 24 elders are a heavenly representation of the 24 orders
of the Levitical priesthood. Just as the Levitical priesthood had 24 men who
served the high priest on earth, so the high priest in heaven has 24 elders who
serve him. The 24 elders were holding the prayers of the saints in golden bowls
in Revelation chapter 5, and in Revelation chapter 8, Jesus is offering these
prayers on the golden altar of incense before the throne of God. (Sections
10.3-7)
·
In Revelation chapter 4, John was taken in a visionary state
to the throne room scene at the time just prior to the ascension of Christ to
heaven. He watched as no one was found to open the seven sealed scroll, then
saw the Lamb suddenly appear in the midst of the throne room. (Sections 10.1;
11.2-4)
Chapter 11: The Ascent to the Right Hand of God
Purpose: To
introduce the concept of the ascension of Jesus Christ to the right hand of God
in Revelation chapter 5, and to examine the words and actions of the four
living creatures and 24 elders after the appearance of the Lamb in heaven.
Key Concepts:
·
The scroll that Jesus took from God on the throne was at his
right hand. In Psalms, David prophesied that the Son of God would sit at God’s
right hand, and in the New Testament, the epistle writers made it clear that
Jesus was on the right hand of God. Paul declared that he would remain there,
waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for him. (Sections 11.1-3)
·
Revelation 5:9-10 contains the words of the four living
creatures and the 24 elders about the kingdom of priests, not about themselves.
Because the four living creatures were singing the song about redemption of the
kingdom of priests, they could not have been referring to themselves. Angels
are not in need of redemption because they are eternal beings. (Section 11.4)
·
The “new song” that was sung by the four living creatures
and the 24 elders could only be new if it were sung in response to Christ’s
recently completed death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to the right hand
of God. If the Lamb was appearing just after the catching up of living
believers, the redemption about which they were singing would not be a new
concept, but over 2,000 years old. (Section 11.5)
Chapter 12: The First Seal: Religious Domination in
Christ’s Name
Purpose: To
understand the spiritual nature of the first four seals, and to examine the
symbolism and interpretation of the first seal.
Key Concepts:
·
The four horses and riders within the first four seals are
symbolic of evil spirits that have been granted permission in God’s sovereign wisdom
to unleash the oppressive evil agenda of the devil on mankind. (Section 12.1)
·
The first seal white horse and rider are symbolic of an evil
spirit of religious domination that was unleashed in the first century, and is
still currently in force. This spirit uses religious orders to deceive mankind
into believing that the name of Christ can be used to force, coerce, or
brainwash its adherents. (Sections 12.2-9)
Chapter 13: The Seals Continue: Birth Pains Before the
End
Purpose: To
examine the symbolism and interpretation of the second, third, and fourth
seals.
Key Concepts:
·
Like the first seal, the second, third, and fourth seals
were opened in the first century and continued to occur on earth until the
present time. (Sections 13.1-6)
·
The third seal black horse and rider is an evil spirit of
financial bondage and oppression. The Greek word for balance scales, zugon, has its origins in the bondage
that is placed on cattle, such as a yoke. Though wheat and barley are mentioned
in the description of the seal, a balance scale is not what is in view. The
rider was carrying a yoke in his hand, representing the financial oppression
and bondage he was going to unleash. (Sections 13.3-4)
Chapter 14: The Fifth Seal: The Blood of the Innocent
Purpose: To
understand the cry of the souls under the altar within the fifth seal, and to
thoroughly examine the Old Testament laws against shedding innocent blood and
the defiled state of land when innocent blood is shed thereon.
Key Concepts:
·
Until that full number of Christian martyrs is reached, the
souls under the altar will continue to cry out for vengeance, and their
innocent blood will continue to build up on the earth and defile the land.
(Sections 14.1-3)
·
The land is cursed when innocent blood is shed upon it, and
the land remains defiled until the blood of the guilty person is shed to purge
the guilt of the innocent blood from the land. Pilate demonstrated
understanding of this concept when he washed his hands of the innocent blood of
Christ just before his crucifixion. (Sections 14.4-9)
·
The trumpet and bowl judgments of Revelation result in blood
being poured out upon the land and the seas. This is the Lord’s purging of the
guilt on the earth from the shedding of innocent blood. (Sections 14.9-11)
Chapter 15: Contrasting the Seals and the Judgments
Purpose: To
compare the opening of the first five seals with the trumpet and bowl
judgments, and to note the many differences between them. The differences prove
conclusively that the opening of the first six seals are not part of the wrath
of God during Daniel’s 70th, but that the trumpet and bowl judgments
are.
Key Concepts:
·
A comparison of the events in the first through fifth seals
reveals that they match very closely with the birth pains before the end of the
age described by Jesus in Matthew chapter 24.
These include wars, famine, pestilence, Christian persecution, and
death. (Section 15.2)
·
The first four seals are carried out by evil spirits through
human beings on the earth, while the trumpet and bowl judgments are carried out
by holy angels in heaven at God’s command. In addition, those on earth respond
to the sixth seal events with fear and humility, while they respond to the
trumpet and bowl judgments with blasphemy and rebellion. (Section 15.2)
·
The activities in the heavenly temple just after the opening
of the seventh seal, and just before the beginning of the trumpet judgments,
will be necessary in order for God to begin releasing his wrath on the earth.
All of the seals will have been opened by this time, further proof that the
wrath of God will begin after the opening of the seals. (Section 15.2)
Section
V – The Regrafting and the Covenants
Chapter 16: The Regrafting of the Olive Tree
Purpose: To
examine Revelation chapter 7’s view of what will take place on the earth just
after the events of the sixth seal are completed, including the sealing of the
144,000 Jewish men, and to examine the enormous group of people before the
throne.
Key Concepts:
·
The appearance of the 144,000 Jewish men after the events of
the sixth seal is confirmation that the Lord has turned his attention back to
Israel, the Jews and Jerusalem. It confirms that the gap between the 69th
and 70th week will end, and that the 70th week will begin
after the sixth seal has been opened. (Sections 16.1-3)
·
The group standing before the sea of glass in Revelation
15:2 is described as those who had conquered the beast. They conquer the beast
by not loving their lives, suffering beheading at the hands of the beast. This
group is in sharp contract with the enormous and innumerable group before the
throne. Their differences prove that they are two different groups, and that
the group in Revelation chapter 7 are not martyrs during Daniel’s 70th
week. (Section 16.4)
·
The reference to the enormous Revelation chapter 7 group
coming out of “great tribulation” is a reference to the anguish, persecution
and affliction of life, not to a time period. The Greek thlipsis is not relegated to mean only “tribulation” in English.
(Sections 16.5-6)
Chapter 17: Covenants: The Lord’s Prophetic Timepiece
Purpose: To
examine the covenant-making history of the Lord with and through selected
individuals and groups throughout history, and to understand, based on Matthew
1:17, the prophetic significance of covenants.
Key Concepts:
·
Matthew 1:17 refers to three divisions of 14 generations
each, with the four markers beginning and ending the three divisions all being
involved with either an established covenant or the breaking of a covenant.
This passage reveals that the length of a generation, indeed, the Lord’s
calculation of prophetic time, is not calculated based on the number of years,
nor on the number of persons within a certain period of time. On the contrary,
it reveals that the Lord remembers his covenants and that they will shape the
future of prophetic progression. (Sections 17.2-8)
·
The final week of Daniel’s 70 Weeks will begin with the
strengthening of a covenant by the coming prince Antichrist. The strengthening
of this covenant may be in direct defiance to the unconditional covenants the
Lord established with Abraham for the land of Israel, and with David for his
seed to sit as king in Jerusalem. The strengthening of a covenant such as the
Oslo Accords would be a hindrance to the Lord taking his throne for the 1,000
year period. (Sections 17.9-10)
Chapter 18: Conclusion: A Cataclysmic Forecast
Purpose: To
explore the current seismic, tsunamic, and volcanic activity taking place on
the earth, and to compare it to the descriptions of the prophetic scriptures. A scenario for the future three-stage event
is explored, focusing on the aftermath of the resulting disaster and an
explanation for the missing and unaccounted for.
Key Concepts:
·
Recent seismic, tsunamic, and volcanic activity on the earth
has provided a timely preview for the aftermath of the future resurrection,
transformation, and catching-up event, though they pale in comparison to the
events that will take place at the opening of the sixth seal. (Sections 18.1-2)
·
Due to the destruction and chaos on the earth after the
sixth seal events take place, an accounting for the whereabouts of the missing
will be impossible. This is a plausible explanation for the disappearance of
Christians after the catching-up event. (Sections 18.3-4)
·
Humanity will unify in order to rebuild after the
destruction, resulting in peoples who had before been enemies coming together
for a common cause, and may result in the strengthening of a covenant between
the Jews and Palestinians in Israel.
Such unification was evident after the December 26, 2004 tsunami
devastation in Southeast Asia. (Section 18.5)
Chapter 19: The Amazing Failure and Restoration of King
David
Purpose: To
explore the sin of David and Bathsheba considering the covenant the Lord had
previously established with David, his restoration and forgiveness, and the
hope for all humanity based on David’s experience.
Key Concepts:
·
David broke several of the Ten Commandments in his tryst
with Bathsheba, including coveting, adultery, murder, lying, and stealing. As a
covenant partner with the Lord and King of Israel, David was even more
responsible for his actions than the average individual. (Sections 19.1-4)
·
All humanity can take heart from the story of David,
realizing that all faults can be confessed in humility and forgiven. (Section
19.5)