Rev - The Keys to Escatology - Part 1

What we cover tonight

Video for those that missed last week: Apocalyptic Literature (the bible project)

Binders & handouts

New words

Matthew 24:1-28 the Beginning of Birth pain &

Next Week: Dan 9 Obamination of Desolation.

Welcome

(Opener for each class ) who am I: Ken Geer

Thanks for visiting our church. If your a member of another church, you remain a member of that church, and we bless your church, and thank you for joining us for this study. We look foreword to more unity in the body of Jesus.. each church of Jesus is a candle in the dark and we are praying that we may all grow brighter, in these end times. we must all work together.

Other churches may have slightly different perspectives on Revelation . That is just fine. I am comfortable with that . It is OK to have differences. I will give you my view, and why I hold my view. I will do my best to accurately represent other major views. we are looking to study the Bible, not confirm our bias. so we must be willing to study.

Our desire is to be like the good Bereans. they were challenged with a strange new teaching that Jesus was the messiah and had been crucified. they had to deal with a pretty unsettling set of thoughts. but they got through it.

If you do have a corrections for me. you may briefly state you concern in the class in the form of a question, but it would be best for others if we hold our discussion/or disagreements on these things till after class. - I am happy to learn and grow. I am not the final authority on revelation. For that I refer you to Jesus.

Pray

Invite the Holy spirit, ask him to give us a spirit of humility unity and love. Make us more like Jesus.

Video (skip)

to catch attention, and pull people in - but then do intro.

Intro

Revelation Controversy and Agreement

The book of Revelation was not written as a riddle for well-fed Christians to amuse themselves with. Rather, it was given for believers under a lot of pressure from the state, religious institutions, the economy, and even their fellow church members. It was not meant to be so difficult that ordinary Christians would be afraid to study and apply it for themselves without an authority to explain the puzzle. In fact, it is the only book of the Bible that states an explicit blessing just for reading it (see 1:3) and another for acting on it (see 22:7)! If God expects believers to read, take to heart, and apply the Revelation to their lives, then He must not have intended it to be a closed book. And indeed, although Bible-believing Christians differ widely on how to interpret many of the book’s details, they agree on many of its main issues and applications for today.

Revelation 1:3 ESV

3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Revelation 22:7 ESV

7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

New Words

Last weeks word: Apocalypse

Word from last week: Apocalyptic: A Greek word meaning revelation, (applied to the book of Revelation). Does not mean “cataclysmic end of the world” like we tend to see.

Revealing Ἀποκάλυψις = apokalypsis revelation (18x)

Luke 2:32; Rom 2:5; 8:19; 16:25; 1 Cor 1:7; 14:6, 26; 2 Cor 12:1, 7; Gal 1:12; 2:2; Eph 1:17; 3:3; 2 Thess 1:7; 1 Pet 1:7, 13; 4:13; Rev 1:1

revelation n. — communication of knowledge (previously hidden) to man by a divine or supernatural agency; especially communications that proceed from God or Christ.

Now WIDE OPEN… for us to understand. No longer a mystery.

This weeks Word: Eschatology

eschatology comes from a combination of Greek words meaning “the study of last things.” It covers the study of the end times, including death, the intermediate state, the afterlife, judgment, the millennium, heaven, and hell. Also refers to the time of Jesus’ second coming.

Most of the passages I covered in the Bible last week were eschatological

WHAT!? You don’t like eschatology?

By the way… if the word Eschatological puts you off, and does not interest you there might be a few reasons… (i got this list from Joel Richardson) 3 demonic excuses about the study of end times:

People who study eschatology are weird. (you notice that too? lets try to keep our head and perspective shall we?)

Eschatology is impossible to understand. (only because many people don’t like what the bible clearly says, and have to devise systems of interpretation to get around it)

Eschatology is irrelevant. I have better things to do. (but what could be more important that to know about Jesus coming back again? “The Return of the King”) - But Jesus expected us to know the signs of his return. so I guess it’s not so irrelevant after all.

Why you might want to like eschatology

1. eschatology gets people saved.

2. Jesus studied eschatology (“what would Jesus do?”) Matt 28:19-20

3. God put it in the bible (all over it! ) 2 Tim 3:16

4. This stuff is to serious to ignore Matt 24:9-13

5. We may live to see these events!

6. To give us understanding and prepare our hearts. (most important) 1 John 3:3; Eph 5:27; 2 Cor 11:2;

Hebrews 10:25 ESV

25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

7. As a basis for any Prophetic office

any prophetic ministry must have a proper and accurate view of bible prophesy. if we are not trustworthy with what he has given us, how can we be trusted with more?

Bible Memory Verse for this week

Matthew 24:44 ESV

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

How are we going to be ready? Get close to Jesus. study His word. Trust and Obey! There is no other way, to be happy in Jesus!

Today’s study

Asking Jesus

There are so many questions people have about Revelation. Wouldn't it be great if you could just ask Jesus “When are you coming back?” or “How will I know we are in the Last-Days”? or “What should I be concerned about in the last days”?

Aside:

Of course, you can do exactly that. Jesus says you have not be cause you ask not.

And if you ask with the right motives, you can be assured that He will answer you.

And he promises that you can hear his voice. If your having trouble hearing his voice, there are things you can do. we are covering that on Sundays.

Well I have some good news for you.

The disciples asked those questions. and your bible has Jesus answers. To me this is essential reading before jumping into Revelation.

Jesus answers the question on Eschatology

Matt 24; Mark 13; Luke 21 all cover Jesus answer, and contain important parts of the answer. so glad there were 3 synoptic gospels!

These three sections must be taken into account before you get to Revelation.

Read and re-read it a bit.

What Gospel is missing? john

John does not record this. But It is believed that he wrote the Gospel of John on the island of Patmos.. so he probably needed a break from eschatology. (if he rote Revelation first)

Read Matthew 24

For a greater understanding of Matt 24, read Matt 25! The parables of Matt 25 help illustrates the sermon of chapter 24.

The most hotly debated aspect of this text is “what time period was Jesus referring to?” This is not the only time Jesus gave a reply that He knew would confuse his disciples.

“Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood” was at the top of my list.

So it is Ok that Jesus gave a confusing response. right… he does that to get us to think!

What 3 questions do the Disciples ask Jesus?

Matthew 24:1–3 ESV

1 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

LESSON: Never ask someone 3 questions, if there is a good chance you could get the answers mixed up!

When will these things be? v 3b

what will be the sign of your coming? v 3c

what will be the signs of the end of the age? v 3d

there appear to be several break points as jesus replies. the trick is identifying what answer goes to what question. many Scholars get this all muddled. (IMHO)

Several different breakpoints in Matt 24.

Abomination of desolation Matt 24:15 (Daniel 9:27)

Jesus coming again Matt 24:29-31

Figtree Matt 24:32

The Birth Pangs.

The first thing Jesus talks about is a section of signs that are collectively called the beginning of Birth Pangs.

Matthew 24:4–8 ESV

4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Notice the phrase the beginning of birth pangs. ON the cross Jesus cries out “my go, My god why has thou forsaken me? “ making some teachers think God turned his back on Jesus. But God is one and there is complete unity in the trinity, so this is absurd. instead Jesus was quoting the old Testimate to draw their attention to the prophesy in the Psalm22. COuld he be doing the same thing here? His disciples would be much more tuned to these scriptures, having herd them so many times.

The phrase “the beginning of birth pangs” is a translation of the Greek archē ōdin (ἀρχή ὠδίν). The meaning of the phrase, translated in the KJV as “the beginning of sorrows” is a direct reference to preliminary birth pangs that ultimately lead to the full scale contractions and travail, which leads to the actual birth. Recognizing the Old Testament reference that Jesus was hearkening to is an essential, but often overlooked key to determining the timing of the prophecy. Jesus was pointing his disciples to two key passages from the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 26:16–18 NLT

16 Lord, in distress we searched for you. We prayed beneath the burden of your discipline. 17 Just as a pregnant woman writhes and cries out in pain as she gives birth, so were we in your presence, Lord. 18 We, too, writhe in agony, but nothing comes of our suffering. We have not given salvation to the earth, nor brought life into the world.

They are upset that the their suffering (birth pangs) has not ended in some great purpose. (a child) or tin their case the Salvation for the world.

God’s reply: (not Jesus as a Baby as you might guess)

Isaiah 26:19 ESV

19 Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.

But instead he point to the rapture! the Resurrection of the dead.

Followed by....

Isaiah 26:20–21 ESV

20 Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. 21 For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain.

describing the Great Tribulation… (perhaps? as w mentions shortly in Matt 24:21)

Another Passage in Isiah may also come to mind for the Jewish disciples when he mentions “birth pangs”.

Isaiah 66:7 ESV

7 “Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son.

this is weird. The son would be delivered BEFORE the birth pangs of child birth.

what does that make you think of?

Jesus is born way before the birth pangs of his 2nd coming! .. BUT…

Isaiah goes on to describe

Isaiah 66:8 ESV

8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment? For as soon as Zion was in labor she brought forth her children.

the Nation of Israel as the the CHild being born before the birth pangs. Israel was born again in a Day. (1948)

But he goes on to explain… the love of God will not allow a “nothing” birth. the Birth pangs will have a purpose. — it just did not come when they expected. - it waited till the last days, the end times.

Isaiah 66:9–16 ESV

9 Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?” says the Lord; “shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?” says your God. 10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her; 11 that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance.” 12 For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. 13 As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 14 You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bones shall flourish like the grass; and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants, and he shall show his indignation against his enemies. 15 “For behold, the Lord will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to render his anger in fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire will the Lord enter into judgment, and by his sword, with all flesh; and those slain by the Lord shall be many.

you see that the term Birth pains is connected to very closely to escatalogical events described in Isaiah:

The great tribulation.

The coming of the Messiah.

The judgment of the nations.

The vindication of Israel.

The resurrection of the righteous dead.

The redemption of creation.

The glories of the Messianic age to come.

SO what does all this mean?

the disciples when they heard jesus reply. they knew

analogy of birth pain is easy to understand. initial labor begins, and becomes stronger till birth takes place. So he was giving them the context. If he was calling the first few signs he listed as “the beginning of birth pains” the rest of the passage must be the stuff that comes later! (does not make sense he would then back up to stuff that would come earlier)

The disciples would have recognized the beginning of Birth Pangs connections with Isaiah and know it was about the end times, Resurrection, and been thinking that he is answering the the question about the last days!

SO we can now understand that Jesus begins answering the Last question first!

This means Jesus was not referring to the destruction of the Temple in his response, because when the temple was destroyed there was no physical resurrection of the dead!

there is a view that Jesus was referring to the destruction of the temple.

If you realize that Jesus entire answer is about the last days and not the question about the destruction of the temple. it simplifies the passage considerably… it is not longer bouncing around time.

Bite that jesus reply appears to be very much the

What are the signs of the end of the age?

Beginning of Birth Pains include:

Religious deception (vv. 4–5)

Wars (v. 6).

Famines (v 7a)

Eathquakes (v 7a)

These things happen all the time... but like birth pangs, we could expect that they will increase in frequency and intensity as the time gets close.

There is fascinating graphs looking at Earthquakes frequency and intensity.

Then... things will heat up (v 9 - 12)

Jews/disciples will be be tested (tribulation, litereally tressed, squashed, pressed - like apple cider) (v 9a)

Jews/disciples will be will be put to death - Martyrs (v. 9b)

Jews/disciples will be will be hated by all nations. because of His name. Jesus? or YHWH? United Nations.

many Jews/Disciples will falling away from the faith -Apostasy (v 10a)

many Jews/Disciples will betray each other!

many Jews/Disciples will hate each other!

more (many) False Prophets and lead people stray (v 11)

Lawlessness will increase (v 12a)

love will grow cold (because of lawlessness (v 12b)

Are all these things happening? Yes

Could they get worse? Yes

Are we in the last days based on this? Could be!

I Need a better sign to know.

What are we to do through all of this?

ENDURE. what does revelation say so often to the churchs? to him who OVERCOMES! (NKJV) — Conquers (ESV) , is victorious(NLT)

Revelation 2:7 NSFLB

7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

note the tree of life, is back in revelation, when did we last see that? In the garden. See the Book ends?

So are we In the last days?

OK so I look at all thous signs and I think hmm, could be the last days, but they thought that before, how will I know for sure?

So what is the ultimate sign of all in this list?

Matthew 24:14 ESV

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Has the gosple been preached to the whole world?

The whole world had not been reached when when Dr. Livingston was exploring the Congo in 1870… because he was reaching tribes that had never heard.

The whole world had not been reached when Bruce Olsen in Bruchko told the Motilone Indians about Jesus for the first time in 1970.

The whole world had not been reached when John Allen Chau, died as a martyr in 2018 as he tried to tell the Sentinelese people on an island in India who he felt were “Satan's last stronghold” on earth.

They are yet to be evangelized. there may be others.

We are on the threshold. but the end times cannot and could not have occured at any time prior to the Gospel of the kingdom being proclaimed to the whole world. That means we are still a few days away.

This is the same sign we could glean from reading Revelation.

Revelation 7:9–10 ESV

9 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, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

As of last year, in September 2022 all of the Bible has been translated into 724 languages, the New Testament has been translated into an additional 1,617 languages, and smaller portions of the Bible have been translated into 1,248 other languages according to Wycliffe Global Alliance. Thus, at least some portions of the Bible have been translated into 3,589 languages.[1]

So if proclaiming the Gospel to the whole earth requires a bible (and it probably does not), then we have a big push in bible translation to go.

The point is this sign is happening during OUR LIFE!

But can I get a sign that really really clinches it?

The abomination

so Jesus is that all the signs? nope. not all!

Matthew 24:15–20 ESV

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.

This is were some think suddenly jesus has Gone back to describing the seige of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

I certainly did.

The Christians in the days of the seige of Jerusalem noticed the similarity too, and did not take changes, so they fled jerusalem before the end (or so I have been told I was not there)

But it is clear that this prophesy although was foreshadowed by the events of 70 AD with the destruction of the temple, it is still to come.

why? (you know the answer. we just covered it)

The Gospel has not been preached to the world yet! I told you this would not be to tough.

We need to study Daniel to know what this “abomination of desolation” is about. (more on that later - but Dan 9:24 explains it is about the holy people and …the holy city … so this is definitely all about the JEWS and we should not attempt to pretend it is about the CHURCH.

There is an interesting (let the reader understand) note. This means there is something that later readers of this passage would understand, that perhaps those listening to Jesus were not prepared to understand. Readers could study Daniel 9 and know that the end did not come John is writing this in 80 or 90 AD so it is after the destruction of Jerusalem, so … perhaps that was a clue that he knew it was not a prophesy about 70 AD!

Matthew 24:21–22 ESV

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

well the cinches it… the days were not cut short… it has been 2000 years, so us readers know, that 70 AD was not the time.

But the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. so how can an abomination that causes desolation stand in the “holy place”

what is that holy place? the temple ?

Now we have to go to Daniel 9. to understand what Jesus is referencing…

Next Week

Daniel 9 the center point of Prophesy

Q&A