HIStory, Our Future: Stumbling Blocks

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There are scriptures that are commonly accepted one way, but I believe the Bible explains further to provide more depth and reveal some amazing details. I've tried to get all interpretation from the Bible itself so as to preserve the original meaning and intent and reveal some pearls of wisdom in scripture.

I could always be wrong, I just believe what the Bible says first and foremost. When taken as written, I am seeing it explain in great detail what people have been trying to figure out.

If the Holy Spirit leads us into ALL truth, then why so many different answers for the same scripture?

Isaiah 28:9-14
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

What this is saying is that doctrine is not built on just one verse, but the whole council of God. The less of that council of God comes to remembrance, the less scriptures are used to build doctrine, snaring those who build beliefs on just one or two passages.

The Word of God, all of it, must be taken into account. A good example of this is the first resurrection. If we take just one scripture, Revelation 20:4-5 at face value, it appears that the first time anyone is resurrected is after Christ has returned in glory and Satan is bound. HOWEVER, that isn’t the only scripture that explains the times surrounding the end or God’s design. Our understanding must be based on all scripture working together to show the whole picture, or at least more of it. Knowing that the bride of Christ is not appointed to wrath, and that the marriage is in heaven before Christ returns in glory, and we are the bride of Christ, all comes together and if scripture must be 100% accurate, then every scripture must be taken as written and connected somehow with the other precepts found here a little and there a little throughout the Word of God.

I believe it is in this way that God reveals His Word to those that love it, because those that hate God don’t search the scriptures daily, they trip over the stumbling blocks placed there by dispersing precepts throughout the scripture and err in their doctrines or criticisms of God’s Word.

As always, hold yourselves to Acts 17:11 and validate whether these things are so in scripture for yourself. If you believe I am in error, please share Biblically why with me. I may have to change to fit scripture I haven’t taken into account yet. I’m willing, as long as the Bible dictates.

| God’s Plans vs. Satan’s Plans | Matthew 24:29-31 | Abomination of Desolation to The Day of the Lord |
| 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 | Dispensationalism | Eternal Israel vs. National Israel |

Stumblingblocks in the Bible

Romans 9:30-33
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

The just live by faith. Habakkuk 2:1-4 | Romans 1:16-19 | Galatians 3:6-15 | Hebrews 10:30-38 Faith without works is dead, James 2:14-26, but works without faith is nothing. The Jews were so focused on following the Law to obtain righteousness, but the Law was designed that none can follow it fully, and without following it fully, they aren’t justified. It exposes our imperfection and sin and only through faith in the shed blood of Christ are we justified, which was foreshadowed in the words of the prophets that came before. Christ is the chief cornerstone that the builders rejected. 1 Peter 2:1-11

The stumblingstone was the Law for them that tried to be justified through works of following the Law perfectly.

Romans 11:1-15
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

Romans 11 is extremely important for the Christian to really understand. It shows how Israel is always the natural branch and the Gentiles are always the wild branches. Both are broken off in unbelief and both can be grafted back onto the root, which is Christ, through faith in His sacrifice.

What’s interesting from the section above is that King David requested the stumblingblock for his people Israel. He requested their blindness, which started at the triumphal entry, Luke 19:41-44, and will end at the fullness of the Gentiles. Romans 11:25 This blindness was to cause them to fall so that salvation could come to the Gentiles. We as Gentile Christians are supposed to provoke the Jews to jealousy. Looking at church history, it looks more like we’ve been provoking them to fear.

They certainly aren’t jealous of us now, but I think that’s where the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. I believe our fullness marks the harpazo, and by our harpazo, Israel will be unblinded and begin to realize in their affliction that the New Testament is right. Then they will be jealous because the bride of Christ will have been caught up off the earth just before God’s wrath.

Romans 14:7-17
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

This passage shows us that we are capable of placing stumblingblocks in front of others. It’s in regards to clean and unclean foods. The Jews were very restricted as to what they could eat. Many still live under these restrictions today eating only kosher foods. According to scripture, there is no unclean food. However, some people still view it as unclean and we are to respect that.

1 Corinthians 1:17-31
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

This is the stumblingblock, the chief cornerstone that is Christ from Romans 9:30-33 above. Yeshua was not what the Jews of the time were expecting of a Messiah and even today they don't see the dual nature of Christ, the suffering servant and the conquering king, as the same Messiah but rather two figures. Christ's message of the new covenant through Yeshua's death and resurrection was a stumbling block to the Jews.

1 Corinthians 8
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your’s become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

What I believe this is teaching us is that it’s not the physical food that is bad or wrong, but the spiritual nature that can cause corruption. Those who do not understand this place significance on the spiritual nature of these things and do eat them without Christ as the focus, but those idols to which they were offered. Those with a solid foundation in Christ have that freedom in Christ. Those without that solid foundation and relationship may be led astray in their hearts. With greater understanding comes greater responsibility.

1 Peter 2:1-11
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Reading the Word of God is central to really knowing Him. In the Bible are written all the ways of God. If we are to obey those ways in order to know Him, then we should desire to soak in the Word and grow in the knowledge and understanding of Christ and His plans for us. For some, Christ is the stumbling block. They typically don’t like the idea of One God, especially not the Jewish God, nor His Son Yeshua (Jesus) the Christ. To them it is foolishness and they are disobedient to the Word which instructs them in the way to live in love and peace under God’s authority and Love.

1 John 2:1-11
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our’s only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Here it is laid out plainly, we know that we know Christ if we keep His commandments. The Law is shadows of love. By following Christ's command, our lives are kept free of those things of the flesh which cause conflict and strife, those things in Galatians 5:19-21. I believe Matthew 22:35-40 says it all in regards to the two commandments upon which all the Law hangs, Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. These are the centerpieces of who the true Christian is and it all centers around Love. Each of the 10 Commandments represent the Spirit of God, showing forth the fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-26 By obeying the 10 Commandments, not stealing, not murdering, etc, we are living in peace with each other.

Revelation 2:12-17
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Those who obey the Word will get a white stone with a new name that only they and God know. That’s a personal relationship on a very personal level, and something special that each person will have with just God and just God with them. What a loving God we serve!

Scriptural Stumbling Blocks in Bible Prophecy

Looking through the scriptures above, we see that the stumbling blocks that we commonly trip over are from assumptions we make or beliefs based on not having the full information. I believe the Bible interprets itself in all cases. This eliminates the need for us as believers to require anything but knowledge of the whole council of God’s Word to interpret those things written later on. I ask that if you come across a link for a definition that you follow it to my more detailed explanation.

If God only wants those that truly love Him to understand then He has to spread the pearls of wisdom in scripture throughout the Bible so that only by research and deep study of His Word, with the guidance of its author the Holy Spirit, will you truly understand the deep meanings and implications. So you need to ask for His guidance in prayer before continuing. If we love Him, we will obey Him. 1 John 2:1-11 What these pearls do is clarify scripture for us and literally lay out the future. This is the promised understanding He has given us in His Word. Amos 3:7 I pray you are as edified and built up in faith by the amazing detail of God’s Word as I still am to this day. All glory to God with thanks to my Comforter the Holy Spirit sent by Christ who died so I could be in His Love forever.

Please follow the links to the Bible studies when listed if you haven’t already. To understand how the pieces fit together, we must understand each piece completely first. Only then can we truly understand how to put it with another piece that has been studied to see how they fit. There are many interpretations out there. I’ve tried to interpret with scripture and posted it in those studies to clarify my foundation for building upon. I do this so that you are assured of Biblical accuracy. Please let me know if you find any problems. This is a search for Truth we are on. I can learn from you as well as I don’t know it all. Keep watching!

God’s Plans vs. Satan’s Plans

This is just a quick breakdown more fully explained at the 70th Week of Daniel page regarding God’s week vs. Satan’s week.

Timing the 70th Week of Daniel

• God’s 7-Year Plan 70th Week - Set in the stars, Revelation 12:1-3, and founded around the judgments of Israel according to the promises of God. It is also on the prophetic 360-day calendar. (See how in the Bible study, HIStory, Our Future: Pearls for the Bride)
   
• Satan’s 7-Year Plan First Seal - This may or may not coincide with the timing of God’s plan, but is allowed by His plan. It starts with a covenant the man of sin confirms with many for seven years. Daniel 9:27 This seven years is never completed because Christ returns in glory and cuts short Satan’s plans. Revelation 19:20 This seven year period is on the modern calendar of 365 years as opposed to 360-day years. Guy Cramer explains this difference from the Biblical text. I believe Satan’s 7-year plan begins at the opening of the first seal.

• Satan’s Wrath - Called the time of great tribulation and starting with the time of Jacob’s trouble, Satan is cast to earth and goes after Israel through the beast to whom he gives his power. (Revelation 12:13, Matthew 24:15-21, Revelation 13:1-5) That power is given to the antichrist (beast/man of sin) for 42 months, 1260 days. See below. When Israel is saved out of that time (Revelation 12:14-16) the dragon, through the antichrist, goes global and continues his war on the remnant of Israel unprotected in the world and Christians. (Revelation 12:17)
• God’s Wrath - God’s wrath comes after the sixth seal, Joel 2:31, which is immediately after the time of Jacob’s trouble. (Matthew 24:15-29, Jeremiah 30:4-7, Daniel 12:1) The bride of Christ is promised to escape this time that will come on the whole world and contained from the 1st trumpet through the 7th bowl.

The Abomination of Desolation to the Day of the Lord

Matthew 24:29-31 - AoD to the Sixth Seal

There’s much debate about when the sixth seal takes place. Some place it at the end just before Christ returns in glory, others like myself place it in the midst of the 70th week of Daniel. Why? The first place we will look is scripture for timing.

Matthew 24:29-31
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven,

and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Sixth seal is immediately after the abomination of desolation and time of Jacob’s trouble [Matthew 24:15-22]
God’s wrath signaled [Isaiah 13:10-13 | Day of the Lord] start: Revelation 6:12-17 | end: Revelation 16:17]
Christ’s return to gather His elect

The “tribulation of those days” is Matthew 24:15-29, which the Bible labels the time of Jacob’s trouble. This time of Jacob’s trouble is what a remnant of Israel is saved out of. Zechariah 13:8-9 This is connected directly to starting at the abomination of desolation. So the “tribulation of those days” begins at the abomination of desolation and when taking the other unparalleled times spoken of in history, Jeremiah 30:4-7 and Daniel 12:1, we see that this time is specifically for Israel. This is also seen in the warning only to those in Judea to run to the mountains when the abomination of desolation takes place.

This next passage clarifies how Satan’s wrath, the great tribulation, is split into two focuses. First on Israel in Judea (according to Christ) at the abomination of desolation. Then once Israel is protected, the dragon turns worldwide to go after the Jewish remnant and those with the testimony of Christ. Verses 13-16

Revelation 12:13-17
[Time of Jacob’s trouble]
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. [Israel, 2/3 Cut off Zechariah 13:8]

[Just before the sixth seal]
14-16 And to the woman [1/3 Israel Remnant “all of Israel” Zechariah 13:9] were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

[Last 41 months of antichrist’s reign: Christ’s return in glory Revelation 19:20]
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

This transition time after Israel is protected for the remainder of the 70th week of Daniel, is when God’s wrath comes upon the children of disobedience. That is called the day of the Lord, and comes just after the sixth seal, which Matthew 24:29 places “immediately after” the time of Jacob’s trouble, which according to the exact day prophecies, can only be a maximum of 30 days, but that time is cut short. Matthew 24:22 | Mark 13:20 | Daniel 12:1 | Jeremiah 30:7 It can only be 30 days because:

Daniel 12:11
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. [1290 days: abomination of desolation to end of 70th week of Daniel]

Revelation 13:5
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. [1260 days: Dragon cast down/gives beast power to Christ’s return in glory Revelation 19:20]

Revelation 12:13,14
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. [1260 days: Protected from dragon in the wilderness to end of 70th week of Daniel]

Matthew 24:15,21
15 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:)
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. [Places timing of dragon giving the beast his power to the abomination of desolation, which is then tied through Daniel 9:27 to the “midst of the week,” the 70th week of Daniel]

We have a sun/moon/star event that matches that of the sixth seal immediately after Israel is protected in the wilderness.

Revelation 6:12-17
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Sixth Seal and the Day of the Lord

The day of the Lord is God’s wrath coming on the earth. As Christians, we have a promise to know the times if we’re watching.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Therefore, if at the sixth seal those who don’t have understanding of scripture perceive God’s coming wrath, then in order for scripture to be correct, that wrath must come suddenly at the sixth seal. Indeed we see the seventh seal is silence in heaven for 1/2 hour before the trumpets begin to blow. If you have not done so yet, please read the Bible study on the sixth seal.

In relation to the sixth seal, the day of the Lord occurs on the same day as I will show from scripture.

Isaiah 2:12-21
For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols he shall utterly abolish. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

Compare this to...

Revelation 6:12-17
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

This happens at the sixth seal. Isaiah 2:12-21 ties that hiding for fear of the LORD to the day of the Lord, when He rises to shake the earth. Isaiah 13:6-13 also makes this connection...

Isaiah 13:6-13
Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

To me, these scriptures pretty clearly connect the sixth seal with the day of the Lord beginning. The day of the Lord comes as destruction from the Almighty. The first trumpet follows the seventh seal, the last one needing to be broken to open the scroll written on both sides. More on that here. Hail mixed with fire and blood followed by an asteroid striking the sea is certainly going to cause sudden destruction and shake the earth not to mention the following trumpets such as the demon locusts being loosed on the earth and the subsequent next three woes.

If we read Matthew 24:29-31 without understanding what “the tribulation of those days” is referring to, the time of Jacob’s trouble and not the whole 1260 days of the antichrist’s reign on the earth. This can lead to the belief that the sixth seal and our harpazo occurs when Christ returns in glory at the end of the 70th week of Daniel, a post-trib gathering of the elect.

The day of the Lord is a time of terror for the world, seeing the signs of the sixth seal, the powers of heaven being shaken and the sign of the Son of man coming in great glory. However we are promised to escape the wrath of God in the pre-wrath gathering of the elect, which is depicted in Matthew 24:31 and Revelation 7:9-17. Our escape from the wrath of God is promised we are not appointed to wrath, but salvation through Yeshua the Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 | Luke 21:29-36 | Revelation 3:10

For the wise virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) they are caught up around the sixth seal, which takes place in the middle of the 70th week of Daniel before God’s wrath (Joel 2:31) and immediately after the tribulation of Matthew 24:15-22.

Joel 3:13-17
Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

This is the same sequence found in Isaiah 13:10-13. It shows the second sickle harvest from Revelation 14:17-20. This is the harvest of the wicked into God’s wrath. This takes place just after the sixth seal when the day of the Lord begins after the harpazo. Revelation 6:12-17 is the sixth seal and Revelation 7 goes into the sealing of the 144,000 and the multitude in heaven (the bride of Christ before the throne in heaven after the harpazo).

I believe this also supports a pre-wrath harpazo of the bride sometime after the abomination of desolation, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, and before the first trumpet. Revelation 8:1,2 Given the placement of the multitudes in heaven after the sixth seal and before the trumpets, I would think the harpazo closer to the sixth seal in the middle of the 70th week of Daniel.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

The timing of our gathering to Christ in relation to the man of sin being revealed:

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day [our gathering unto Him, “day of Christ”] shall NOT come, except:

• there come a falling away first, and
• that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
  • Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

Here scripture gives us this order:

1. Falling away (apostacia)
2. Man of sin revealed (antichrist: Takes place when he reveals himself at the abomination of desolation)
3. Our gathering to Christ (harpazo)

Notice too, that the “day of Christ” is directly connected to our gathering to Him. We see this differentiated from the day of the Lord in several passages that talk about the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is not a day of darkness, but for Christians a day of rejoicing. (1 Corinthians 5:5 | 2 Corinthians 1:12-14)

The timing of the revealing of the man of sin in relation to the restrainer being removed:

This color coding only applies IF we view the restrainer as the Holy Spirit/church, and therefore tying the un-restraining to our removal in the harpazo.

2 Thessalonians 2:6-10
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Here, if the restrainer is the Holy Spirit which dwells in the church, we have this order:

1. Our gathering to Christ must take place (The restrainer [Holy Spirit/church] has to be taken out of the way)
2. Then the man of sin can be revealed

There is a direct opposition when defining the restrainer as the Holy Spirit symbolizing the removal of the church before the revealing of the antichrist. By placing the Holy Spirit/church as the restrainer, a contradiction is set up by assuming our gathering to Christ is directly related to the restrainer being removed. I believe the Holy Spirit wrote it this way to remove confusion. This leads us to the clincher for me as to who the restrainer is.

So according to 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, the day of Christ won’t come until there is a falling away from God and the man of sin (antichrist/beast) is revealed. This happens at the abomination of desolation, when he declares himself to be God. Then we will know for sure who the man of sin is and after that, will come the day of Christ. As we see in Luke 17:24-37, the first time the Son of man, the Christ Yeshua, is revealed is around the time of the abomination of desolation and in that night is the harpazo. Here the Bible confirms itself for us and strengthens our faith.

John 14:1-3
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

It is soon after the harpazo that the sixth seal takes place, and soon after that the day of the Lord comes. For more on the possible identity of the restrainer, go here.

Timing of our gathering before the day of the Lord:

mark s on FulfilledProphecy: “They were troubled by the report that the “day of the Lord” had come. Now, whether it meant to them that they had missed the harpazo, or whether it meant to them that the current persecution would just get worse and not better, I don’t know for sure, except that Paul says, “concerning the coming of the Lord, and our gathering together to Him.” This would make it seem to me that they were worried about the ramifications of the Day of the Lord having come, and what that would mean as far as their being gathered together to Christ. Now, if they believed that the Day of the Lord came first, this would be good news, and they wouldn’t be troubled. If they believed the gathering came first, then this would be troubling news indeed.”

Dispensationalism is born of Bible prophecy

My foundation for believing that God has plans for blinded Israel separate from the church, which includes both Jew and Gentile, comes from a yet unfulfilled prophecy.

Daniel 9:24-27
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 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.

Notice that Daniel’s people, Israel, and Jerusalem are both linked together as the subject to whom this prophecy is referring.

Is this saying that Jews somehow get saved outside of Christ? No, it has nothing to do with salvation, except that there is a remnant of national Israel that will eventually come to Christ at the end of this final 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy. Christ is the only way to salvation. The whole point behind dispensationalism is simply recognizing that God has a plan for national Israel that is separate from the Israel of heaven only because we are trapped in space-time and cannot see beyond now except through Bible prophecy.

The national Israel that will be saved is in reality part of the Israel of heaven, the eternal Israel comprised of Jew and Gentile. We are all spirits inside temples of flesh. Genealogy only matters when we’re in the flesh. In spirit, there is no difference between Jew or Gentile in Christ. However the only way to eternal life is to be grafted to the root, which is Yeshua the Christ. The things of the spirit are outside of space-time. God knew who was His before creation and of those who are His, He will lose none.

I go by the common definition given in a dictionary so that all have a common foundation upon which to build a discussion. Some previous religious leaders use of the term surrounding their detailed viewpoints doesn’t negate the plain meaning of the term.

Dispensationalism
the interpreting of history as a series of divine dispensations.

Dispensation
a. the divine ordering of the affairs of the world.
b. an appointment, arrangement, or favor, as by God.
c. a divinely appointed order or age: the old Mosaic, or Jewish, dispensation; the new gospel, or Christian, dispensation.

This is what the prophecy to Daniel is all about. God laid out the future of the nation of Israel ending in a 7-year period of time in the midst of which the man of sin would declare himself god and demand worship. It is central to Bible prophecy about the end times, pinned there by Christ. Israel must exist for it to be fulfilled because the 70 weeks are determined for Israel and Jerusalem. Only the children of Abraham have that genetic and space-time connection to a location called Jerusalem. Therefore, it is clear that God’s design has built into it a genetic heritage through which events would unfold. He chose a people from which to become flesh then die for our sins and it was the children of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob. The Bible actually lays out the lineage to Christ from Adam, but most people (including me) skip through that without truly considering. The events of the Old Testament all center on Israel and the coming Messiah. The New Testament is simply the Old Testament revealed, while the New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed - as Chuck Missler would say.

Christ said Himself that the Jews would be blinded until the fulness of the Gentiles and Gabriel tells Daniel of a time not yet come to pass where God will deal with Israel again. Give those periods whatever name you want, but they are periods of time where different people are dealt with in different ways. God clearly has a defined plan for national Israel in the land He promised them that differs from how he treates eternal Israel.

Eternal Israel vs. National Israel

Connected to the idea of dispensationalism is the distinction between the Israel that will inhabit eternity and the disbelieving nation of Israel today. Bible prophecy is centered around the fulfillment of Daniel’s 70 weeks for National Israel. Israel is the name God gave Jacob, whose 12 sons made up the 12 tribes of Israel.

Eternal Israel is comprised of Jews who live by faith, accepting Christ, and Gentiles who live by faith accepting Christ. They have a common spiritual bond outside of genetics and it must be recognized that this group is outside of space-time in that God foreknew all that were His and of those He will lose none. This is where the grafting comes into play in that eternal Israel is comprised only of those who have been grafted back onto the root, which is Christ. I believe it is further divided into groups based on earth’s space-time. The groups are the bride of Christ, comprised of those who accept Christ before the harpazo of the bride, and those who accept Christ during the great tribulation and during the millennium.
 

National Temporal Israel is the physical lineage of the seed of Abraham in a literal sense. What differentiates this group is that not all in this group are part of eternal Israel because many are broken off in unbelief.

So when is the Bible talking about which group? It depends on the context. Bible prophecy speaks about events that have happened and will happen within space-time involving earth history and the plan of redemption of the human race. Many immediately turn away when terms like “dispensationalism” are used, but when it comes to Bible prophecy, to deny it is to disregard scripture as I touched on above. Daniel’s 70 weeks are pivotal to the timing of the abomination of desolation and all 70 weeks of years are “determined upon thy people [Israel] and upon thy holy city. [Jerusalem]”

So is this Bible prophecy referring to eternal Israel or temporal, national Israel? Since the prophecy was given before the existence of the church in New Testament terms (followers of Christ), and given to a national people and their city Jerusalem, and concerning events within earth’s space-time, I believe it is clearly speaking of the temporal, national Israel. In this way we can see the difference between which Israel is being discussed.

I believe this way of thinking is also important when looking at things like temporal, national Israel rebuilding the temple and starting the daily sacrifice. There are some Christians who try to wiggle out of the idea in prophecy that God would allow the temple and daily sacrifice to happen because Christ died and was that sacrifice once and for all. They seem to view Bible prophecy as God dictating what SHOULD happen instead of God letting His people know what WILL happen. It is here that an understanding that God doesn't have to sign off on a future event to let us know it will happen. And furthermore, the Jews are currently blinded and have not accepted that Yeshua is Messiah. They're still in the Old Testament, where temples and sacrifices are what they are told to do as a temporal, national people.

In scripture we see that we as Christians are heirs of the promises of Abraham and part of Israel. However, this is speaking in terms of eternal Israel, not national Israel to which the prophecies within earth’s history are referring. They are bounded by time whereas eternal Israel is not. I believe that Bible prophecy speaks of national Israel and it is therefore central to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. We see that in the 70 weeks prophecy given to Daniel. We see it in the unparalleled time of great tribulation initially focused on national, temporal Israel -- the time of Jacob’s trouble. (Daniel 12:1 | Jeremiah 30:4-7 | Matthew 24:15-22)

Replacement Theology

There are some who look at the promises to the church that they become the seed of Abraham and then place that perspective on Bible prophecy. The problem with this is that Bible prophecy is covering events within earth’s space-time regarding future events. As I went over above, these events refer to a specific people. For instance, the woman of Revelation 12. If we look at this woman who is protected in the wilderness and say, “We are now Abraham’s seed, so this is referring to us too,” then I believe we run into some problems.

How can this woman be referring to the church when it was Christ who made the church and Christ was born of that woman? What came first, the chicken or the egg? How can the bride give birth to her husband? The Bible is very clear on physical lineage and traces it from Adam to Christ through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel. The symbology of Revelation 12:1 is seen initially in a dream Joseph had. Genesis 37:9-11 Jacob/Israel recognized the symbology and interpreted it for us labeling himself as the sun, his wife the moon, and his 12 sons the stars. All of this is before the church existed and it all refers to Bible prophecy, which is always focused on events transpiring on earth within the confines of the period of time that it will exist. (i.e. Not eternity)

Therefore it would follow that even though we are part of Israel, grafted onto Christ our root, we are not the Israel that Bible prophecy refers to. This is seen in other prophecies as well. And upon further examination of the events and the subjects of those events, when Christ says to run to the mountains, He is only talking to those in Judea. Matthew 24:15-22 There’s only one Judea and it’s in the land of Israel. This should also be some indication that the warning is for a particular group of people living in a particular place at a particular time.

I should further define my terms here because otherwise I’ll probably be misunderstood. When I use the term “church,” I’m referring to the bride of Christ. This is comprised of all who accept Christ as their Messiah, Jew or Gentile. However, not everyone in heaven eternally will be the bride of Christ. We can see this in the fact that the marriage of the Lamb occurs on heaven before Christ returns in glory and yet there is still a resurrection of the just in Revelation 20:4 after the marriage. The bride of Christ is a mixture of Jew and Gentile, but under Christ those terms don’t matter, we are one body with Christ as our head. They would appear to be a select group, defined by a temporal period of time from the beginning until the harpazo, who lived by faith and accepted Yeshua. Since there are people after the harpazo who will accept Yeshua, like national Israel protected in the wilderness, then it would follow that they will be in heaven, but since they missed the marriage they wouldn't be the bride even though they are in heaven to stick with the analogy of the bride, bridegroom and marriage. There is a later marriage supper to which all those saved attend.

In terms of the woman going into the wilderness in future Bible prophecy, there is no indication that this is anyone but those in Judea that fled and the woman described earlier in Revelation 12 as being specifically national Israel, which resides, for the most part, in Judea. The key to understand is that only those who accept Christ and obey are promised to escape the wrath of God.

Luke 21:34-36
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

The fact that all believers in Yeshua are promised to escape God’s wrath indicates a dispensation (divine ordering of earthly affairs) different from those who don’t accept Christ. Israel is blinded until the fullness of the Gentiles. Romans 11:25 The wrath of God comes with the beginning of the day of the Lord.

Isaiah 13:6-13
Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

It follows the sixth seal.

Joel 2:31
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.

The sixth seal is “immediately after the tribulation of those days,” (Matthew 24:29) referring back to Matthew 24:15-28. This is the unparalleled time of great tribulation that starts at the abomination of desolation. There are three scriptures claiming to be the worst in all of history, meaning that they all must be the same time. All three directly refer to Israel, Jerusalem, and Judea. (Daniel 12:1 | Jeremiah 30:4-7 | Matthew 24:15-22)

In Revelation 12:13-17, the dragon first goes after the woman, Israel. It is only after she is taken to the wilderness and protected from him that he turns his attention outside of Judea where it began at the abomination of desolation to get the remnant of Israel worldwide and those holding the testimony of Christ.

So there are two different “dispensations” or divine plans for different groups. National Israel is protected in the wilderness and unblinded while the watching obedient church (bride of Christ) is harpazod to the marriage of the Lamb before the wrath of God is poured out on all who dwell on the whole earth. This is another indication that national, temporal Israel is different from the eternal Israel in which we as the bride of Christ are part of. National Israel being taken into the wilderness marks the end of the time of Jacob’s trouble when the dragon moves worldwide in his persecution and the sixth seal is broken. Since the wrath of God comes suddenly and unexpectedly for the world, their recognition of God’s wrath at the sixth seal is telling in that for the Bible to be true, God’s wrath must come soon after that. The seventh seal is ½ hour of silence and then the trumpets start so it would seem that God’s wrath would most likely come on the same day the sixth seal occurs but after it.