MEANING OF THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION PART FOUR

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In Part Three we did the Church of Pergamum: “The church in Pergamum …where Satan’s throne is. It was incredible to explore the history of the altar of Zeus; how it was taken from Pergamum to Germany and used in Hitler’s Nuremberg rallies. Moves are now taking place to have it moved back to Turkey. I asked the question could the Antichrist use it during his short reign?

The Church of Thyatira is the fourth letter describing the church in the fourth year of Daniel’s 70th Week prophecy. The Turkish equivalent of “Thyatira” means “graveyard on a hill.” If this is the correct meaning, it fits perfectly with the Fourth Year of the 70th Week of Daniel—-the year the Green Horse rides, signifying death.

A quick read of the Letter to Thyatira doesn’t seem to give any obvious clues about why this letter applies to the fourth event in the Pattern of Seven Events and the Fourth Year of the 70th Week. But, although the symbols are a bit obscure, they have an amazing correlation to the Fourth Year.

ATTRIBUTES OF JESUS IN THE LETTER TO THYATIRA: Both aspects of the appearance of Jesus given in this Letter to Thyatira involve fire and glowing. This is somewhat symbolic of the trial of fire that the Church is about to enter: “The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this: Revelation 2:18

Notably, Jesus is listed as the Son of God. This is the only reference to this title in the Book of Revelation. It appears here to reinforce the authority of Jesus. In the Fourth Year, the Antichrist will sit in the temple of God and proclaim to be God. He will speak great blasphemies against the Father and the Son (1 John 2:22), especially against Jesus’s divinity. This idea of Jesus being God’s Son is found first in Psalm 2. Amazingly, after this Letter to Thyatira, Jesus quotes this very Psalm. This dual reference to Psalm 2 in this letter “time stamps” this Psalm as being primarily about the Fourth Year. Let’s look at the quoted section: “He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them (the gentile nations). Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, “But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain. I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will surely give the nations as your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall shatter them like earthenware.’” Psalm 2:4-9

This is a critical section of scripture about our understanding of the 70th Week of Daniel. We see God saying he has installed his Messiah (Jesus) as King upon Mt. Zion. During this Fourth Year, the Antichrist will take his seat in the Temple and proclaim himself god. God the Father says, “No, you are not king and not God. I have a son, even if Muslims deny it, and his inheritance will be the entire earth and all nations.” Psalm 2 is God’s answer to the Antichrist’s blasphemous statements. Furthermore, Jesus will rule, not the Antichrist, and He will rule with a rod of iron.

In the Letter to Thyatira, Jesus quotes the conclusion of this passage and applies it to the Church as well. Resurrected believers will rule with Jesus during His Millennial reign on this Earth:

“He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father.” Revelation 2:26-27

This letter is Jesus’s reminder to the Church that no matter how hopeless the Fourth Year looks, they are to know how the story ends.

AUTHORITY is a very important aspect of the Fourth Year. From a spiritual perspective, it may be the principal, defining aspect of the Fourth Year. In Revelation 13 we see Satan giving the Beast his authority and his throne in this year: God grants the Beast (the rider of the Green Death Horse) authority to kill in this Fourth Year: “Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.” Revelation 6:8

God also grants the Beast authority to war with the saints and defeat them. He also grants him authority over every tribe and people group. So, when Jesus writes that to him who overcomes he will give authority over the nations (Rev. 2:26), it is this same authority that is granted to the Beast for 42 months that Jesus will wrest from him and give to its rightful owners—-the faithful. This wonderful encouragement is needed in the Fourth Year because it is at that time that the authority is temporarily given to the Beast. It will appear all is lost, but Jesus wants his Church to remember the end of the story, that ultimately the authority will be given back to Jesus and the redeemed.

THE APPEARANCE OF JESUS: The two aspects of his appearance Jesus mentions in the Letter to Thyatira are quoted from both visions of Jesus in Daniel and Revelation. “His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace.” Revelation 1:14-15, and “His eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze.” Daniel 10:6

Jesus’s “eyes” are the seven Spirits of God (see Rev. 5:6) who are sent into all the earth. The second aspect of Jesus’s appearance mentioned in this Letter to Thyatira is his feet of burnished bronze that appear to glow “white. Feet are symbolic of sinful uncleanliness. In Solomon’s Temple a great bronze sea was set up for the priests to wash their hands and feet. (2 Chron. 4:6). During the Last Supper, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. (John 13:5) but Jesus’ feet glow “white hot” in purity.

CONDITION OF THE CHURCH OF THYATIRA: By the Fourth Year, many lukewarm Christians have fallen away. The Church, though smaller, is now stronger in their faith and in their deeds due to the refining of persecution. Jesus recognizes them for it in this Letter to Thyatira, “I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first” (Rev. 2:19) This is the opposite of what was said in the First Year in the Letter to Ephesus: “repent and do the deeds you did at first.” The fire of the trial is refining the Church of Thyatira.

Jesus does rebuke the Church, however, for its relationship to “Jezebel”: Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads my bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. Revelation. 2: 20

Jezebel worshipped the god, Baal. Is there a connection between Baal and Allah? Many scholars contend that the gods Hubal, Baal, and Allah are the same god. Hence, Jezebel is a symbol of Islam. Also, her name means “where is the prince?” This was a ritualistic phrase called out by Baal worshipers during times of the year he was supposedly in the underworld. This phrase would be shouted to usher him onto the earth. In addition to requiring that Baal worship be recognized as the national religion of Israel, Jezebel was the first to persecute the people of God based on their faith in YHWH. Jezebel killed as many prophets of God as she could. This also has an eerie similarity to the persecution of the “woman” and Christians about to take place at the hand of the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation. Jezebel also desired the vineyard of Naboth whose name means “fruit producer.” She had two false witnesses accuse Naboth of blasphemy and then had him stoned to death to acquire his vineyard (1 Kings 21:8-10). Isn’t this also a perfect picture of the persecutions to come when Muslims will accuse faithful, “fruit-producing” believers of blasphemy against Allah (Baal)?

In total, the career of Jezebel seems a perfect foreshadowing of Islam during the Fourth Year of the 70th Week. By using this one symbol of Jezebel, Jesus has given us so much information. Let’s return to the Letter to Thyatira and see what Jesus adds to this symbolic account: The woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. (Rev. 2:20). All food eaten under the system of the Mark of the Beast can be considered food sacrificed to this idolatrous religion. The sexual immorality mentioned may be physical as we have discussed in previous sections or may be a spiritual unfaithfulness as believers fall away and commit apostasy rather than face death. Jesus will begin to punish the false religion of Islam with pestilence in the Fourth Year as well: “I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts, and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. Revelation 2:21-23

If there is still doubt in your mind about the end-time fulfillment of the Letters to the Seven Churches, the following passage should finally help you overcome those doubts. Jesus uses the term “great tribulation.” This phrase only occurs two other times in the New Testament (Matt. 24:21 and Rev. 7:9), and in both instances, it refers to the period of the tribulation by the Antichrist in the last half of the 70th Week of Daniel, as named by Jesus himself in the Olivet Discourse. Jesus and the disciples frequently use the term “tribulation” (Gk: THLIPSIN) to represent persecution during this life, but the term “Great Tribulation” is specific to one future time. Completely consistent with our thesis, this term occurs in the letter about the Fourth Year of the 70th Week—-the year the Great Tribulation begins.

The passage has much more information than just a reference to the Great Tribulation. It says that Jesus has allowed “Jezebel” (Islam) time to repent. Most scholars date the beginning of Islam with the writing of the Quran in 609 AD. Jesus has given Jezebel (Islam) 1400 years to repent, but at some point, Jesus’s long-suffering patience with Islam will end. And that time won’t be pretty. We then see that Islam and her children will be thrown onto a bed of sickness. Jesus specifically says he will kill her children with pestilence, and that this will be cause for all the churches to know that Jesus is the one who searches minds and hearts. In my opinion, this implies that the pestilence will be of supernatural origin, and will specifically target Muslims. Psalm 91 states the following related to this pestilence: “You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. Psalms 91:5-10. The passage in Rev. 2:21-23 also says those who commit adultery with Jezebel (Islam) will be thrown into great tribulation. This passage specifically differentiates between those who commit adultery with Islam and her children. To me, “those who commit adultery with her” are not those who convert to Islam, which are her “children.” Rather they are those who do not actively oppose Allah and accept some of Islam’s practices. Jesus is clear that those people (Christians and non-believers alike) should not be fooled; they will not escape the wrath of Islam and they will be thrown into great tribulation by God. In other words, they will be persecuted unto death. Their passivity will not save them. Jesus then addresses those who have remained true to the faith: “But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you. Nevertheless, what you have, hold fast until I come. He who overcomes, and he who keeps my deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations. Revelation 2: 24-26 This verse implies that a significant trial is coming in which believers will have to hold fast. Jesus is encouraging the church to do just that because he is coming with his reward “to give authority over the nations” during His Millennial reign on this Earth.

In the next post on the seven churches of Revelation, we will look at the fifth church, the church of Sardis.

MEANING OF THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN REVELATION

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This post follows my previous post: Purpose of the seven letters to the Churches in Revelation. It proposes that each of the Seven Churches represents the Church in one of the seven years of the 70th week of Daniel. The first letter is to the Church during the First Year of the 70th Week of Daniel, the second letter is to the Church during the Second Year, etc. Scripture provides multiple other “pictures” of these seven years, particularly the seven seals and Jesus Olivet Discourse. Studying these other scriptures provides a stunningly consistent Pattern of Seven Events: 1) Deception by False Messiahs, 2) War and Bloodshed, 3) Famine, 4) Abomination of Desolation, 5) Martyrdom and Apostasy, 6) Celestial/Earthly Disturbance and Rapture, and then the 7) Wrath of God/Day of the Lord.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE LETTERS

Not only do the letters match the seven-year pattern. they also all have a somewhat complex internal structure consistent among each of the seven letters. This internal structure shared by all the letters helps the reader to compare and contrast how the environment surrounding the Church is changing during each year and how the Church reacts to this changing environment. Let’s look at the basic elements of these seven letters. Each of the church names has a symbolic meaning. Each letter is addressed to an angel in the church. John is commanded to write to the angels. Angels who stand before God himself have no need to have a human write to them. Human messengers need divine revelation, so this highly favors an interpretation that the “angels” are human messengers that relay God’s instructions to his churches. According to Nelson Walters the “angels” of each church are those that bring the message of “overcoming” to the Christians during each year of the 70th Week of Daniel. Many will die and be martyred, so the “angels” may differ from year to year in each of the churches. Each of the letters includes a call to listen, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” This call to listen is a favourite phrase of Jesus that he included at the end of many of his parables (Matt. 11:15, 13:9, 13:43; Mark 4:9, 4:23; Luke 8:8, 14:35). The extended Parable of the Sower in Luke 8 seems to give the best understanding of this phrase. I believe this is the primary reference Jesus was giving us when he used this phrase in each of the seven letters. By quoting the reference to this parable in each of the letters, Jesus is telling us that only a portion of the Christians will have a receptive heart (good soil) for his message. Notice those with good soil will hear, retain, and persevere. By quoting from this parable (Luke 8:5-8) in each of the seven letters, Jesus is warning us there will be those in each year of the 70th Week that “fall away,” and for Christians to be mindful of the snares the devil will set. Now that we have examined the two common elements—-they are all addressed to an “angel” and they all have the same “call to hear”—-let’s investigate each of the individual seven letters.

If the letters are prophecy, then the name given to each church may be symbolic of the general condition facing believers during that respective year of the 70th Week of Daniel, and the purpose of all of Revelation is to prepare and equip believers to overcome this time of trial.

Concerning the first letter, Ephesus means “the desired one.” This name is highly reflective of the immense spiritual battle about to take place. God and Satan both desire the souls of believers. All of the 70th Week of Daniel will revolve around this battle. In year one Satan’s counterfeit messiah and False Prophet will burst upon the world scene. The conflict for the souls of believers will be between the false messiahs and the true Messiah, Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life. The battle lines are drawn for the “desired one.”

The attributes of Jesus’s appearance mentioned in the letter to each church is symbolic. The description of Jesus to the church in Ephesus is: “The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:” (Rev. 2:1) Jesus himself has defined both of these aspects of his appearance for us. The seven stars are the angels of each church. Human messengers delivering Jesus’s instructions on how to overcome the 70th Week of Daniel. Jesus holds these angels in his right hand. The right hand is the hand of blessing. God’s right hand is also a place of power, “Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy” (Exodus 15:6). Jesus will use these angels to help shatter his enemies by the revelation of His Word, and he will bless these human messengers. The seven lampstands are the seven churches. The Seven Churches are all pictures of the one true Church (as there was only one lampstand in the Tabernacle). Also, it says that Jesus walks among the lampstands. Jesus will be right there with us as we endure and overcome.

In all Seven Letters after the address and the description of Jesus’s symbolic appearance, he briefly describes the Church. For most of the seven years, Jesus provides both positive and negative feedback. This is what our Lord says will be the positive aspects of the church in the First Year of the 70th Week of Daniel: “I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for my name’s sake, and have not grown weary.” Revelation 2:2-3

The primary condition of the world during this First Year will be deception by false messiahs. It appears from this passage that the Church is initially able to test and then recognize the false messiahs and false prophets as liars. Jesus also commends the Church for hating the works of the Nicolaitans: the word “Nicolaitans” means “overcoming the people of God” and it is tied to the actions of the rider of the white horse whose “conquering” in Rev. 6:2 is a spiritual overcoming. By this, we determined the Nicolaitans here are the followers of the Antichrist, most likely Muslims. Jesus also commends the Church for their perseverance. The Greek word for perseverance is HUPOMONE which is also sometimes translated endurance. This is the identical Greek word we just saw in Jesus’s explanation of the Parable of the Sower which is critical to understanding Jesus’s call to hear: But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance (HUPMONE). (Luke 8: 15. Bearing fruit in the coming trial will require endurance. Additionally, the trial will help produce this endurance, “We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance (HUPOMNE)” (Romans 5:3, emphasis mine). This is one purpose of Daniel’s 70th Week—refining the Bride of Christ.

Jesus has one rebuke for the Church, and it’s a big one: But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent” (Rev. 2:4-5). Bringing the Bride of Christ back into a love relationship is the main purpose of the 70th Week of Daniel. Jesus is clear that the Church will cease to be the Church if they don’t repent and act accordingly. They will fall away and apostatize.

Entering the trial, the Church will do “works” and will “toil,” for the Lord says, “I know your deeds and your toil” (Rev. 2:2). The Church will be expending effort, but it will not be done through the love of Jesus. Just a few verses later, we learn the Church’s works are not adequate. Jesus wants the Church to “do the deeds you did at first” (Rev. 2:5). Even though Jesus is aware of the effort the Church is expending in “good deeds,” these deeds are not done in the right spirit.

Next post we will look at the church in the second year of tribulation, the church at Smyrna. Nelson Walters’s video is excellent but you will need 2 hours and 51 minutes to watch it.

A WAKE UP CALL FOR CHRISTIANS

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The following verse from Revelation should be a wake-up call for all Christians. John is given this revelation about the final 3 1/2 years before Jesus returns to Earth for the battle of Armageddon. The Antichrist is allowed by God to exercise authority over the Earth and to wage war against the Saints.

“If anyone has an ear, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.” Revelation 13:9-10

Surely, for nonbelievers, these prophetic Scriptures prove the Bible is the inspired word of God. Who would follow a God who allows his enemy to slay His followers? Only born-again believers who have received the Holy Spirit can understand and obey this instruction to endure even unto death.

“And the beast (Antichrist) was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also, it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on the earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” Revelation 13:5-8d

THE GOOD NEWS: The following words are written to the church of Philadelphia, the sixth church, the church that is raptured by God at the end of the sixth year before He pours out His wrath upon an unrepentant world with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements.

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name… Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” Revelation 3:10-11

This word given to the church of Philadelphia is so different from the word given to the church of Laodicea, the seventh church, which is left behind to face the Trumpet and Bowl judgements.

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:14-17

The good news for these people left behind to face the wrath of God is they still have a chance to repent and be saved.

“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” Revelation 3:18-19

Each of the seven seals and each of the seven churches reveals what transpires on Earth during the final seven years before Jesus returns to Earth. It is at the sixth seal and the sixth year, when the celestial signs appear in the sky and we are told the great day of God’s wrath has come.

“Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

It is the sixth church, the church of Philadelphia that is raptured at the end of the sixth year.

It is immediately after the sixth seal that the four angels are told not to pour out God’s wrath upon the Earth until the 144,000 Jews, servants of God are sealed on their foreheads.
“Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:” Revelation 7:3-4

Next John sees all those who were raptured standing before the throne of God the Father and Jesus.

“After this, I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10

It is only after this scene, that the seventh seal is opened and the first of the seven trumpets is blown initiating the seven Trumpet judgements.

TIMING OF THE END OF THE AGE

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Nelson Walters suggested I take a look at this website Counting from Caleb. This is a short (18 minutes) video by Ryan who presents evidence that Daniels 70 weeks prophecy can also be seen as 70 weeks of Jubilees (Shavuot) 70 x 7 x 7 = 3430 from the time of Caleb’s inheritance of the land in 1400 BC. This would mean that the final seven years (Daniel’s 70th week of years) would start on 4th October 28th, 2024, and end on 28th September 2031. This would be the end of the age and the start of Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom.

Ryan could be wrong but I believe we are in the Biblical prophesied end times before Jesus returns to Earth to rule and reign on Earth for 1000 years. Jesus Millennial Kingdom (http://www.millennialkingdom.net).

WHERE ARE WE IN THE BIBLICAL END TIMES?

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Has the Rider of the White Horse from Revelation 6 been identified, who is it, and when does he ride? And by extension has the timing of the Tribulation also been identified. Does the White Horse happen at the same time as the Covenant with the “Many”? What do the symbols of the white colour, the bow, and the crown all mean?

Revelation 6:1-2 The rider of the white horse. What do these symbols mean? Is the white horse a real horse or is it spiritual? Is the rider also spiritual, a spiritual being. He has a bow but no arrows. Is it a covenant? A peace covenant? A false peace covenant? The rider also has a crown. Also a sign of peace. He shall make a covenant with the many. What does all of this mean?

Will the UN timing of their Pact for the Future on September 2024 which fits with Rosh Hashana be the timing of the start of the final seven years of the 70th Week of Daniel?

Watch this excellent LANDMARK Nelson Walters video to find out, answers to all of these puzzling questions.

WHEN DOES THE LAST SEVEN YEARS BEGIN BEFORE JESUS RETURNS

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What event begins The Tribulation or 70th Week of Daniel? Is it a peace treaty with the Antichrist, the Rapture, the revealing of Antichrist, the start of the twice-daily Temple sacrifice, or is it something else? It is crucial that we know because those days are almost here. Watch this Nelson Walters video to find out, and why knowing will help prepare us for those times.

If you have not already done so can I suggest you read my recent post “What will initiate the last seven years before Jesus return?” It shows how important the Seventy Weeks prophecy of Daniel is in understanding what is playing out in world events today.

The Seventy Weeks prophecy of Daniel is a foundational end times prophecy

“Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.” Daniel 9:24

In this Seventy weeks (seventy weeks of years) prophecy, the first 69 weeks have played out exactly as prophesied including Jesus first coming to this earth and being killed “cut off”. There is an unspecified time gap between the 69 weeks and the last seven weeks (seven years) but as many of the other end-times events specified by Jesus in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24) and in Revelation are beginning to play out we know that the last seven years before Jesus returns to set up His Millennial Kingdom is not too far off.

WHEN WILL THE LAST PROPHESIED SEVEN YEARS BEFORE JESUS RETURNS BEGIN?

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Will the End Times (70th week of Daniel) begin on Rosh Hashanah? There are a lot of people who think that Rosh Hashanah 2021 is the beginning of the appointed times of the end. Why do so many people associate Rosh Hashanah or Yom Teruah with the beginning of the 70th Week of Daniel, others with the Resurrection, and others with the Rapture?

What is special about the appointed times, the Mo’edim or Feasts of the Lord and what can we learn about Jesus’ return from them? They are dress rehearsals of what is to come on God’s Timetable. The Spring Feasts and Pentecost have already been fulfilled in Biblical prophecy so we can be assured the Fall Feasts will be fulfilled as well. Watch this excellent Nelson Walters video to find out more.

LAST SEVEN YEARS PRIOR TO JESUS RETURN

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The last seven years prior to Jesus return to earth as outlined in the Daniel 70 weeks prophecy.

There is a lot of controversy over what occurs to start this period and the events that occur during the seven years. Nelson does a great job of looking at the relevant Scriptures and you will be surprised at the outcome. His exegesis is thorough and I would suggest you watch this video several times with a notebook in hand.

What event begins The Tribulation or 70th Week of Daniel? Is it a peace treaty with the Antichrist, the Rapture, the revealing of Antichrist, the start of the twice daily sacrifice, or is it something else? It is crucial that we know because those days are almost here. Watch this Nelson Walters video to find out and why knowing will help prepare us for those times.

Who is the “Prince who is to come”? Is he the Antichrist or could he be Jesus? Could Jesus be is the one who commanded the destruction of Jerusalem and which covenant is confirmed for one week? Could it be Jesus is the one who strengthens His covenant with us by pouring out the Holy Spirit as prophesied by Joel in the last days? Jesus will strengthen believers to cope with the intense tribulation that occurs at this time when Satan is cast down to the earth.

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” Joel 2:28-29

TO THE ONE WHO CONQUERS

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“For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.” Hebrews 6:4-6

The last seven years prior to Jesus second coming

From the prophecies of Daniel, Daniel’s 70 Weeks, Olivet Discourse, and Revelation we are given a lot of detail about the last seven years before Jesus returns. first to take the saints to heaven (dead raised first and then those alive) and second when he comes to earth with the glorified saints to liberate Israel at the battle of Armageddon.

I believe as does Nelson Walters (thegospelintheendtimes.com) that the seven seals and the letters to the seven churches each give us a picture of the last seven years. For example, the sixth seal and Philadelphia, the sixth church, and the sixth year give us a picture of the final year the saints are on this earth just prior to the wrath of God being poured out onto an unbelieving world.

“When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood… Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Revelation 6:12,17

To the church at Philadelphia: “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” Revelation 3:10-11

At the trumpet blast of the seventh seal, the saints are raptured and at the same time the scroll is opened and the wrath of God is poured out on the earth with the Trumpet and Bowl Judgements. For the saints, the last year is a sabbath year. At the time of Noah’s Flood, Noah was on the Ark for one year and 10 days. Perhaps, this is one reason why Jesus said that at His return it will be as it was in the days of Noah, God’s wrath will be poured out once again for the same time it was poured out when He first judged mankind.

The Last Days Church is entreated to conquer, to overcome, to be faithful unto death.

EPHESUS – “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’” Revelation 2:7

SMYRNA – “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’ Revelation 2:10

PERGAMON – “To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’” Revelation 2:17

THYATIRA – “The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron” Revelation 2:26-27

SARDIS – “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life.” Revelation 3:5. Note also “But the LORD said to Moses, Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.” Exodus 32:33

PHILADELPHIA – “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Revelation 3:11

LAODICEA – “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

The final church of Laodicea is “left behind” but they still have an opportunity to be saved. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Revelation 3:20-21

The last days’ church will go through the prophesied time of tribulation and will see the Antichrist declare himself to be God. This will be a time when the tribulation for believers and Jews escalates. The pressure to take the mark of the Antichrist will be intense but Jesus told us to stand firm be overcomers as our deliverance is at hand.

PASTORS – PREPARE FOR THE COMING TRIBULATION

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There are thousands of pastors out there that should be preparing the bride of Christ for the coming tribulation, but instead they are taking the easy road.  Since most American and many Australian Christians have embraced the Pre Tribulation position due to best selling books such as The Left Behind Series it is comforting for them to get confirmation from their pastors that they won’t face the Antichrist nor the great tribulation spoken of in Revelation. And yet Scripture is replete with warnings such as Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  2 Timothy 3:12

Moreover, Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27 Luke 21:25-28 clearly teach that the Rapture takes place “immediately after the tribulation of those days“

Paul confirms it “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Then many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. Matt. 24: 9-12

It was granted to him (Antichrist) to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. Revelation 13:7

All of the apostles were killed for their faith.  Some early Christian leaders were stoned, others were killed by sword or spear, and some were even reportedly crucified upside down. Later on, the Roman Empire invented even more sadistic ways to kill Christians.  Entire families were fed to lions, and one emperor even lit the roads with the burning bodies of Christians that he had killed. During the Dark Ages, the popes of Roman Catholicism tortured and killed millions that did not submit to their authority.  Great men of God were burned at the stake for “crimes” such as translating the Bible into English and preaching a gospel of salvation by faith. Even today, Christians are being raped, tortured, beheaded and crucified by radical Islamic groups in the Middle East such as ISIS. Once again, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:10-12

Paul to the church at Thessalonica: “and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow labourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.” 1 Thessalonians 3:2-4

It is sad to contemplate that many Christians will be faced with horrors that they have never been prepared for.  Perhaps many will deeply question their faith or give in to despair and depression. Even of more concern, some may commit suicide so that they can get the “escape” that they were promised.

Ultimately, it really will come down to whether you will trust God regardless of your circumstances, knowing He is in control and will be with you every step of the way, just as He was with the early martyrs. Be encouraged, read some of their stories in Foxe’s Book of the Martyrs (updated 2006).

In fact, knowing Jesus return is not too far off we should be excited and committed to making sure we are in the centre of His will for the short time we have left on this planet and prior to meeting Him at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb – Revelation 19:7.