Whether Some
Like it or not!
                                                                                        By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                        November 30, 2018
     "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
     The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
      But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel," Philippians 1:15-17.
Introduction
     I make no claim to be on the same spiritual level as was the Apostle Paul.  I don't feel worthy to stand in his shadow.  However, I do have in common with Paul, a fervent desire for the great truths of God's Word, and therefore, like Paul, "I am set for the defence of the gospel."  
     My incentive for writing is that.......
The Word of God is Under Attack
     In my lifetime of 84 years, I have never previously seen a time when the inspired Word of God was being subjected to such attacks upon it, as I am seeing today.  Sadly, most often the attacks on the Word are coming from "professing Christians."  
     Every statement and subject in the Bible is under attack today.  Wicked men [and women] are doing everything they can imagine to do, to undermine and discredit the truths of God's Word in the eyes and minds of people living today.  This includes some true believers who have taken the bait from false teachers, and have fallen for their heresies and opinions, rather than staying true to what the Word of God actually and literally says and teaches.  
     Remember that the Lord Jesus Himself warned His disciples,
     "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," Matthew 24:24.  
A Warning to God's People
     Sadly,. I have heard even this warning from the Lord misapplied by some of God's people, by claiming that the Lord said that it is impossible for the elect [saved; chosen]  to be deceived.  This claim is false!  The Lord said no such thing!  
      Notice that the two words in this Scripture, "it were," are in italics.  This means that these two words are not in the Greek text.  The translators added these two words to this Scripture in translating, hoping to clarify the meaning of what the Scripture is saying.  In this case, what they did was make the Scripture say something which it absolutely does not say in the Greek text.  
     Read this Scripture, leaving out the two italicized words, and it is obvious that the possibility of being deceived, or not being deceived, rests solely upon those who are listening to the teachings of the "false christ's and false prophets."  Unless a believer is truly "rooted and grounded" in "the faith," and in the Word of God, they run the risk of being deceived by such "false teachers," Ephesians 3:17-19; Colossians 2:6-8.  Be very careful WHO you listen to, and of WHAT they are teaching!
      If it were not possible for true believers to be deceived, then the inspired Word would not have warned us, "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine [teaching], by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, Ephesians 4:14.  Read also 1 Timothy 1:3-4.  
     But a word of caution!  Instead of being filled with PRIDE that you are "rooted and grounded" in the faith, and therefore are not easily deceived, just bow your head and humbly thank the Lord God that He has kept you true to the faith, and to His Word.  Our spiritual strength does not lie in ourselves, but in the Lord God who saved us.  Hello!  
     Now having made this lengthy introduction, let's turn our attention to the prophetic Word, which is so much under attack today.  These attacks against the prophetic Word, clearly indicate that we are living in the very "last days," of this present Dispensation of Grace,  and our Lord's coming to resurrect and rapture every true believer to glory could occur at any minute of any day now.   Will every reader of this study be  ready?   I hope so, for the next thing that will follow the rapture is.......
The Terrible Seven Year Tribulation
     The prophecies of this seven year Tribulation are being attacked by many today, claiming that the Tribulation is not seven years in length, as is so clearly taught by the inspired Word.  Proof?  Gladly!
     God's Two Witnesses.......In Revelation 11:1-12 is the inspiired account of God's "Two Witnesses,"  It is not my intention to expound on this account in this study, but rather to emphasize  some clearly stated truths in the account.
     In 11:3, the Scripture plainly states that the length of the ministry of these "two witnesses" will be "...a thousand two hundred and threescore days...."  It doesn't take a genius to understand that this amount of days is exactly the same as forty-two months, or as three and one-half years.  The length of their ministry is then clearly established
as being three and one-half years by the inspired Word.  
     But also notice in 11:7,  that when their ministry is finished, they will be killed by "the beast" [anti-christ].   Now let's study about.....
     The Future anti-christ.......When the anti-christ comes on the world scene, he is a man, just like other men, Isaiah 14:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 6:2.  It is  likely that he is a slick tongued politician, lusting for power, and is already living on the earth today.  There are a number of such politicians in various governments ruling the world today, who are right now  pushing for the establishment of a one-world government.  Such a one-world government is exactly what the anti-christ will rule over during the Tribulation, Revelation 13:7.  
     No!  I do not know the identity of the anti-christ.  But I have not hesitated to count the numerical values of the letters in the names of various politicians living today, for the inspired Word says the numerical value of his name is how he can be identified, 13:18.  And, Yes!  I have found a couple of well known politicians whose names total out to a numerical value of 666.  But I am not claiming that either one of them is or will be the future anti-christ.  The inspired Word clearly states that  the anti-christ will be revealed "in his time," 2 Thessalonians 2:6.      
     However, the anti-christ shall not remain a man.  He will be assassinated during the first half of the Tribulation, and his soul shall descend into Hell, Isaiah 14:9-10.  
     But he will not be left in Hell.  Through the power of Satan the anti-christ shall become a "beast," Rev. 13:2.  Satan will cause him to be  brought up from "the bottomless pit"  Revelation 11:7;  13:1-3; 13:12; 13:14.  But not as a man!  Satan has no power to resurrect mankind, but he obviously has some power to corrupt fallen, unbelieving, incorrigibly evil, mankind, and restore them to life by his own wicked spirit indwelling them.  Such is what he will do with the anti-christ.  When this is accomplished, the anti-christ will then go by the name of "Lucifer," Isaiah 14:12.  
      The anti-christ, as a "beast," will be similar to the nephilim brought into existence by Satan and his angels in Genesis 6.  The anti-christ, living as a "beast"  will no longer be a true human.  He will be part human and part evil spirit, very similar to the ancient nephilim.  He will resemble a human, in order to deceive, just like the ancient nephlim did, but he will  be a "beast" brought up from the bottomless pit by the power of Satan.
      Notice in studying Revelation, that the anti-christ is never referred to as a man again in the entire Book of Revelation after chapter 10.   The term used to describe him in the remainder of the Book of Revelation is always  "a beast," or "the beast."  
Fascinating Calculations
     But now let's go beyond this description of the anti-christ, and get to the main point of even speaking about him.  
      The future anti-christ, living and ruling as a man, will be killed, on or near the middle of the Tribulation period.  We know this to be so, because he is never referred to as "the beast," or "a beast" until 11:7.   
     Then it is AFTER being brought up out of the bottomless pit, that he lives and reigns as a "beast" for "forty two months," 13:5.  
     One of the first things the anti-christ does, AFTER being brought up from the bottomless pit,  is to kill God's "two witnesses," 11:7.  At that time, He already will have, or is yet preparing, to enter the Jewish Temple and proclaim himself to be God [2 Thessalonians 2:4], and demand the worship of all mankind.  Have our readers ever tied this event in with his ambition described in Isaiah 14:12-14?     
      Now notice that it is only AFTER the 1,260 day ministry of the "two witnesses" has been completed, that  "the beast" is permitted to kill them, Rev. 11:7.   
      It is clearly stated that the reign of the "beast" continues for "forty two months," 13:5.  But he didn't become a "beast" until after he had been killed as a man on or near the middle of the Tribulationt, and then restored to life by the indwelling presence of Satan.  Then he kills the "two witnesses" AFTER their ministry has been completed, 11:7.  
     Are our readers following my line of thought?  Let me make it very clear.....
     The 1,260 days ministry of God's "two witnesses" has to be during the first half of the Tribulation period, for they are killed right after the anti-christ is restored as "the beast" near or on the middle of the Tribulation.
     Then following their death and rapture on or near mid-trib "the beast" continues for another "forty two months," 13:5.  
     Now dear readers, I've never claimed to be the brightest bulb in the lamp, but I did learn how to count, add, subtract, divide, and multiply, when I was a kid in school.
      It doesn't take a great deal of intelligence to understand that 1,260 days for the ministry of God's "two witnesses," plus another 42 months [1,260 days] for the reign of the "beast," adds up to a total of 2,520 days, or 84 months, or seven years for the length of the Tribulation period.  This period of time on God's calendar of reckoning time, is 30 days to a month and 360 days to a year,  SEVEN COMPLETE YEARS!  
Conclusion
     All of these so-called "great scholars," and "prophecy teachers" who are attacking the teaching of a seven year Tribulation period, might do well to spend less time running their mouths, and more time in serious study of God's Word.  2 Timothy 2:15 is still in the Bible.
     The Tribulation period will be seven years in length whether some like it or not!  
       Have I been enabled to point out this truth clearly enough for even the simple minded to understand?  If some think I haven't, then let's look at another prophetic passage which is being attacked today.......
Daniel 9:27
     "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:  and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate,"  Daniel 9:27.
     This is another inspired Scripture which is under attack by some who believe themselves to be great "prophecy teachers."  How great?
     Well, it is claimed that this Scripture; Daniel 9:27, does not have anything to do with a seven year Tribulation period.  Those claiming this insist that the Tribulation is only 3 1/2 years in length; not the seven years clearly taught in the Word of God.  They further teach  that the rapture of God's people does not take place until sometime in Revelation 6, 10, 12, or 13.   
     Do our readers recall the many warnings about "false teachers" and those who would corrupt God's Word?  Well, they are here!  
     As this theory has been presented to me, the claim is made that Daniel 9:27 in most versions of our English Bibles,  is  mis-translated.  
     I personally know that such a claim is not true, for I didn't go to some man's book to check this Scripture out.  Neither did I listen to and repeat what some slick tongued TV preacher is teaching.  I went directly to the Hebrew text, and using my own King James Version Bible, I compared the English translation of this Scripture, word by word with the Hebrew text.  Here, in English so our readers can read it, is exactly the way the Hebrew text reads.......[punctuation is added for clarity].
 
     "And he shall confirm a covenant with the many week one.  And in the half of the week he shall make cease sacrifice and offering, and upon a wing as abominations a desolator, even until end.  And that which was decreed shall pour out on the desolator."

     Now our readers can judge for themselves if our KJV Bible follows the Hebrew text closely.  I think it is obvious that it does.  Notice that the Hebrew word translated as "week" occurs twice in this Scripture.  
     Now the "week" in this Scripture typifies the seven year Tribulation period, whether some like it or not.  The last time I checked Genesis 1- 2:1-3, the Lord God Himself put seven days in a week, even as He has put seven years in the Tribulation period.  And lo and behold, the last time I checked my calendar, there was seven days in a week.  Now isn't that amazing?  Hello!
     Now what Daniel 9:27 is prophesying, is that the anti-christ, whomever he presently is, is going to "strengthen" a covenant already made, "with many,"  for a seven year period.  Do the Israelites and the Palestinians compose "many?"  Or how about the Israelites and all of the Muslim nations around Israel?  Would that be many?  How about this covenant being "confirmed or strengthened" before the United Nations  That certainly would constitute "many."
     Then at the middle of the week; the seven years agreed upon, the anti-christ will break or violate that covenant.  So here again, in this inspired Scripture, are typified two periods of three and one-half years to each period, or a total of seven years.   
     In view of this inspired prophecy, it is fascinating that right now as I write, a Middle East Peace Agreement is being discussed in the United Nations, which at the present time, would set the borders for the land of Israel, and for the Palestinians, allowing the PLO to have some land of their own, and supposedly bringing "peace" to the entire Middle East..  What will come out of these present  discussions?  I haven't the slightest idea.  But at some point, according to this inspired Scripture, there will be a covenant made.     
      Then in the middle of the "week," the anti-christ will break [violate] the agreement, exactly as described in Matthew 24:15-22 and Revelation 13:7,  when "the beast" comes on the world scene.  The violation of the covenant will result in the Israelite people having to flee for their lives to Petra, where they are kept safe for the last half of the seven year Tribulation period.  
     This Scripture does speak of the "abominations" that will be set up by the anti-christ, resulting in the "desolations" of the land of Israel, and perhaps other nations which have close ties to Israel [presently Jordan and Egypt].  I mention this, because I have been told that Daniel 9:27 doesn't even speak of "the abomination of desolation."  Now those readers who truly believe God's Word know better.
     Daniel 9:27 teaches a seven year Tribulation period whether some like it or not!    
The Timing of the Rapture
     I am, without apology to anyone, a Pre-millennial, Pre-tribulational Rapturist.  This means that I do not place the resurrection and rapture of all true New Testament believers anywhere within the seven years of the Tribulation period.  This is my position on Bible prophecy, whether some like it or not!
      Why is the "appearing of Christ" referred to as our "blessed hope" in Titus 2:11-15?  Is it possible that it is because the pre-tribulation resurrection and rapture will be a rescue of all true believers just in the nick of time to keep them from going into any part of the seven year Tribulation?   Of course it is!  Think about it!  
       We who are true believers,  saved during this present dispensation have been assured that we are not ".....appointed...to wrath, but to obtain salvation [deliverance] by our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Thessalonians 5:9.  Father God and the Lord Jesus Christ always keep their Word!  Hallelujah!  Glory to God!
The Wrath of the Lamb
      I have also been told by some that the "wrath of God" does not begin until the last half of the Tribulation.  Therefore, according to their theory, the Lord's church and people will have to go into the first half of the Tribulation "to be purified."  Hogwash!   If the precious blood of Jesus has not "purified" the souls of those who are true believers, then they certainly are not going to be "purified" by the judgments of the Tribulation period.  
     But this is why some are trying to place the rapture in Revelation 10, some in 12, some in Revelation 13, some in Revelation 6, and on and on.    
   Hogwash!  Why don't some claiming to be "believers" read again 2 Timothy 2:15 and take the word, "study" seriously?  In Revelation 6:12-16, the wicked are praying for the rocks and mountains to fall on them, and hide them ".....from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb," 6:16.  There are terrible judgments poured out upon mankind on the earth during the first half of the Tribulaton, exactly as recorded in Revelation, chapters 6 through 12, and parts of 13 and 14.  
     Some today appear to think that the Lord Jesus Christ is an all loving little wimp, who could never hurt anyone. Surely He would never  pour out judgments upon mankind for whom He died.  Have such readers forgotten what the Lord Himself said in John 5:22?  All judgment during the first half of the Tribulation, is by the decree, command, and will of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is the time of the Lord's "vengeance" for being treated so cruelly by those for whom He was dying.     
The Wrath of Father God
     But if any reader thinks "the wrath of the Lamb" during the first half of the Tribulation is bad, then take a long, hard, look, at the "wrath of God" during the last half of the Tribulation.   
     There is a progression to the judgments set forth in the Book of Revelation, which some readers have overlooked, or have ignored.  
     Notice the result of the judgments poured out upon mankind  on the earth by the Lord Jesus during the first half of the Tribulation, These judgments are described in Revelation 5 and 6, and 8 - 12. In spite of  these terrible judgments, most of wicked mankind on the earth will still refuse to repent and turn to God for salvation, through the saving grace of God's Son; the Lord Jesus Christ, Revelation 9:20-21.  Some readers appear to believe that the loving Lord Jesus never gets angry, but a careful study of these chapters definitely show otherwise.          
     It is then that "the wrath of God" [Father God] takes over.  The "wrath" of Father God does not even come into the prophetic picture until the last half of the Tribulation, as recorded in 15:1.  It will be at that time when Father God turns to His Son, and says to Him, ".....Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool," Psalm 110:1; Matthew 22:44; Acts 2:34-35.  
     Notice that during the pouring out of the seven ".....vials full of the wrath of God.....," 15:7, the Temple in Heaven is filled with smoke ".....from the glory of God, and from His power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled," 15:8.   
      Now let's put some Scriptural truth together.....
     During the first half of the Tribulation, as the Lord Jesus Christ is pouring out His "wrath," He still extends His mercy to mankind, so that those who have been left behind on the earth when the rapture occurs, can still be saved, and many of them will be, Revelation 7.  
     But during the last half of the Tribulation, the Temple in Heaven will be filled with smoke from the glory of God and His power.   No man will then be able to enter the Temple until all the judgments carried out by the  seven angels bearing "the vials" of the wrath of God have been poured out upon mankind on the earth.  Have our readers ever realized
the spiritual significance of this inspired statement?  
      Since no man will be able to enter the Temple, then no man will be able to get to the  Mercy Seat [throne] in the Temple during that time.  This means that during the last half of the Tribulation, no one on the earth can be, or will be, saved.  All mercy will have been withdrawn from mankind on the earth, during the last half of the Tribulation, until   the seven angels have poured out "the wrath of God."  
     Remember that the inspired Word of God explicitly states, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God," Hebrews 10:31.  
Read Jeremiah 25:32-33.   
Conclusion
    Dear readers, I am just getting warmed up in defending the truths of God's Word against some who are taking Scriptures out of context, twisting the meanings of Scriptures,  reading into Scriptures meanings other than what they actually say, refusing to accept the plain statements of God's Word, and  outright denying some Scriptures.   
     But I feel the need to bring this study to a close for the present time.  If the Lord permits, I will write a "follow up" to this study, and shine the light of truth on some more of these attacks of God's precious word.  
     Please keep me in prayer, and may the Lord God add His blessings to this study.  In the love of Christ Jesus and His Word,
     Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 Co. Rd. 8120, Rolla, Missouri 65401
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