Why It's Important to Understand End Times Terminolgy

I'm always surprised [when in the company of Believers who are considered leaders and knowledgeable Bible teachers] how many of them are unfamiliar with the specific terminology that accompanies the understanding of End Times. I think I know one of the reasons why. Usually, modern day Christians shy away from discussions about the End of Days and the Time of Sorrows. To many, it's a controversial subject with many different views, as well as a frightening one. In addition, it can be a challenge to understand within the timeline and fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. Many denominations don't even mention it or teach about it. 

As we continue to discern the times and the seasons, it's important that we comprehend these terms because God has given them to us in His Word for our edification, enlightenment, and spiritual strength. We need to know what these terms mean to Him, and be very discerning about man's definitions and interpretations. There's a reason Scripture cautions us with these words: But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. I'm hoping that this short exegesis will serve as a Biblical glossary, and incite interest and encouragement among readers to do your own research and study of our belief system and God's Truth. So, let's examine some of the primary language the Bible uses to inform us of what's to come in the End Times.

Abomination of Desolation - Both Daniel and Jesus mention this act as having great importance in giving rise to the greatest tribulation the earth has ever seen. It is an act of such detestable idolatry that it defiles the Presence of God in the Holy of Holies in His Temple, and brings desecration and degradation to God's people. It happened in the Old Testament and will happen again during the end of days, when the Antichrist sets himself up as God in the midst of God's Temple, shedding the blood of a pig on the altar, and declaring that all God's people will bow down and worship him. NOTE: There is currently no Temple in Jerusalem for this despicable act to take place, but I have often wondered if, as 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 says, we are now that temple? Do you now know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Antichrist - This is a false messiah. Throughout the Bible we are told there will be many of these. Again, Jesus connects these false christs and prophets with the Abomination of Desolation, and Tribulation in the End Times, telling us, If anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ', or 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand [Mark 13: 21-23]. We read in 1 John 2, Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. Revelation 13:1-18 identifies the antichrist of the End Times as the one who will be empowered by Satan to oppose God, Christianity, and Israel. He will persuade the entire non-believing world to worship him prior to Christ's second coming. He is known in the Bible as "The Beast".

Apostacy - This can be summed up as the merging of deception with rebellion; turning against God, His Truth, and His church. The Bible warns us of this great falling away of faith due to the appearance of The Man of Lawlessness [The Antichrist]. Everything I've mentioned to this point comes together in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the Man of  Lawlessness [or son of perdition, in Hebrew], who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.   

Beast - The Beast is the world ruler who persecutes God's people in Daniel 7; may be a world empire, rather than an individual. Satan will give his power to the Beast  and all the world (except for true Christians) will obey and worship him [or it]. After the final battle he will be thrown into the Lake of Fire for eternal punishment. (See above definitions for additional information).

Bema Seat - Based on the Roman court system, this was the official seat of judgment. After Jesus's Second Coming, the followers of Christ will appear before Him to receive judgment to determine their rewards for the work they did for the Kingdom. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [2 Corinthians 5:10]. Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss [no reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire [1 Corinthians 3:13-15]. NOTE: This is different than the Great White Throne Judgment (see below).

Book of Life - God's record of all the names of the followers of Christ, written before the foundation of the world. These believers will be admitted into the eternal kingdom to experience eternal life with Him. Also known as "the Lamb's Book of Life". But nothing unclean will ever enter it [the eternal kingdom of God], not anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life [Revelation 21:27].   

Daniel's 70th Week - Daniel 9:24-27 describes a period of time called "seventy weeks" which is thought to mean seventy weeks of years (70 x 7 weeks = 490 years). During this period events will take place leading up to the return of Christ, including the destruction of the Temple and its reconstruction, and all of history up to the 7-year peace covenant made with the Antichrist -- the first 3.5 years in peace; the remaining 3.5 years is believed to be the Great Tribulation described in Revelation chapters 6-18. NOTE: There is an undetermined amount of time between the 69th week and the 70th week -- we are in that time-frame, but staying alert for signs of the 70th week (the End Times). 

Day of the Lord - This is a period of time, not just one day, when God's cup of wrath is filled to overflowing, and His judgment comes on the wicked. Many of the Old Testament prophets spoke of this day. Joel, Zephaniah, and Isaiah foretold that this day would come, and indeed, they suffered incomplete versions of it. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed [2 Peter 3:10].  

Great prostitute - The symbolic image of a prostitute sitting on a scarlet beast represents Babylon the great, which represents all evil and opposition in the world against God and His church. She is the mother of all the earth's abominations and she oppresses Christianity so harshly she is said to be drunk on the blood of Christian martyrs. She has dominion over the kings of the earth, but will be mercilessly destroyed during God's wrath. Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion [wrath] of her sexual immorality [Revelation 14:8]. 

Great White Throne Judgment - This is the "final" judgment of mankind, after the return of Christ, His 1,000 year reign on the earth, and the final battle of Armageddon. At this judgment all humankind will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and the wicked (the unsaved, those whose names are not written in the Book of Life) will be condemned to eternal punishment in hell and the righteous (those who are saved and whose names are written in the Book of Life) will be welcomed into the eternal kingdom. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it... And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done... And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire [Revelation 20:11-15].  

Lake of Fire - Those who are unsaved, and therefore whose names are not written in the Book of Life, will be condemned to this horrific place, along with Satan, the Beast, Death, and Hades. They will be separated eternally from God in everlasting punishment and damnation.

Man of Lawlessness - This man has been referenced above, and will make his appearance before the return of Christ, and will foment a time of apostasy and opposition against God, causing a great falling away from the Faith. He will proclaim that he is God and will take his seat in the Temple of God. Christ will return and slay him with the breath of His mouth. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of His [Jesus's] coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved [2 Thessalonians 2:1-10]. 

Rapture - This word does not appear in the Bible but comes from the Latin word for "snatch away". The Greek word harpadzo is translated as "will be caught up" . Throughout the centuries this has become a controversial topic and there are many divisions among the Christian body as to whether we rise to be with Christ before the seven-year Tribulation comes [and therefore avoid the persecution coming to Christians]; at the mid-way point of the seven years, before the Great Tribulation and martyrdom amps up; after the Tribulation is completed; or before the wrath of God destroys all the evil on the earth. Additionally, there have been deceptive versions of the Bible written within the last 200 years by false prophets that have promoted the various views. You can actually find verses in the Bible that defend each of these various perspectives. It is my personal decision to mind the words of my Savior which tell me to "Stay alert, Keep awake, and Be on Guard", so that I might be ready no matter when He comes.

Tribulation - This will be the period of severe persecution and suffering, experienced by the believers in Christ [as prophesied by Jesus, Himself]. The Bible hints that it will be a period of 7 years that occurs after a peace treaty is made with the Antichrist and before Jesus's return. There have been many "tribulations" [persecutions, sufferings, troubles, trials, and affliction] for God's faithful throughout history, but as modern-day Christians, we are especially cognizant of the End Times Tribulation. 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 [Matthew 24:21]. 

This glossary, is by no means, meant to be conclusive or complete, but touches on some of the fundamental and foundational concepts that gird our faith. You might have different understandings of the terms, and that's okay. The important factor is that you read the Word of God to gain His Truth and seek the Holy Spirit for understanding and wisdom. In the times in which we live, we cannot afford to be ignorant [or afraid] of what has been written and prophesied by God's messengers. I pray that if you are unfamiliar with this terminology that you will make the time to get quiet and get with God, so that you may receive His Word in your heart. I bless you as you come closer to Him and courageously and confidently prepare for the future we will all experience. And remember: Be careful not to be deceived, but earnestly seek the true meaning of God's glorious Word!

John 16:13   When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.

    

Now, More Than Ever, We Must Understand The Truth Of The Bible!

 

I know to many of you, these days look dark. I know you are facing fears that you haven't experienced before. I know, because I see it all around me. One of my dearest friends has received a serious cancer diagnosis; her nephew was killed in a car accident last night; my closest cousin died from a stroke that appears to be vaccine-related; our national and world economy is teetering; war threatens the entire globe; and "the nuclear option" is not just a slogan anymore. Many of you may be enduring far worse situations, or fearing the possibilities that you may soon face. But I am not writing from a position of fomenting fear, or "calling out" anyone's inability to accept what is coming upon the earth.

Instead, what I want to shout to everyone [especially people who proclaim their faith in Jesus] is that "Now is the time to see the truth of God in the world! Now is the time to come out from under the delusion that none of this should be happening! Now is the time to step into the unconquerable faith that we claim to possess!" That means we don't focus on the bad news, but we don't deny it, either. I don't understand why people are confused over troubling and painful events in their lives or the world. I have said it over and over, but people just look at me like it's not computing ... Why do we 21st Century American Christians think we deserve uncomplicated and trouble-free lives? Why are we convinced that somehow God has blessed us above all other nations, and that good fortune and security are our national and personal destiny?  

I find myself thinking of those favored by the Father and the Son in the Bible ... the Israelites, who were the apple of God's eye, yet found themselves being subjected to slavery in Egypt; of Moses, whom God used to deliver them from their bondage, yet was denied entrance to the Promised Land; of David and Abraham, who were both highly favored by God, yet experienced suffering in their personal lives, found themselves fighting in wars, and saw their sons become embittered foes. And can you imagine what it must have been like for the Disciples? These were men hand-picked by Jesus, Himself, and tasked with traveling to places like Turkey and India to spread the news that the Son of the Most High God, [whom these foreign people didn't even know] had come to earth to save them from eternal death. And they were willing to go, even though Jesus pretty much assured them they would endure tribulation and trials, and be killed by those who hated Him. Why would we think that we could [or should] make it through this world unscathed and untouched?

People throughout the world and throughout history have understood that we live in a fallen world, and suffering [in all its forms] is "normal". But somehow, we, who find ourselves modern citizens of the Western culture and mindset, have somehow come to expect a life of ease, convenience and constant safety. How many times have I heard people say, "That would never happen here"! We seem to have forgotten Paul's exhortation to the young church in Thessalonica "not to become unsettled by difficulties", for he had warned them in advance that they were going to experience persecution, and sure enough, it had come to pass. It was to be expected! Yet, when we look upon the tremendous suffering that is happening in our world today -- from disease, violence and crime, war, the trading of human souls, and the consequences of our individual sin -- we still cry out, "How could this be happening to me? I've been a good Christian [or at least a good person]"!

But God's Word never promises a guaranteed escape plan from the suffering in the world. In fact, Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:12, Indeed, all who delight in pursuing righteousness and are determined to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be hunted and persecuted [because of their faith]. He couldn't have said it any plainer. But it is also apparent that God has given much favor to those of us born in the United States. No other nation has been created with personal liberty and freedom such as we've been blessed with. And up until now, we have been able to pursue our faith, free from persecution. Although faith in Jesus in other countries around the world can be met with loss of employment, estrangement from family, imprisonment, beatings, or even death, we in America have so far been allowed to experience [and share] our faith without such repercussions. What would you do if that suddenly changes? Would you pick up your cross and follow Jesus, being willing to suffer for Him? Even unto death? Others have. 

Perhaps it's time to accept the truth of the Bible; that suffering is a natural part of the Christian life. Jesus tells us it is so. Just because we haven't experienced it here yet, doesn't mean we won't. It's time we examine our hearts and rid them of any form of entitlement or "right to be exempt". We must come to the realization that knowing Christ surpasses all else in this world -- including personal security, safety, prosperity, and health. We must recognize the cost of discipleship and offer nothing less to those we share the Gospel with. We must present the whole picture of the Christians life! Yes, we have our reunion with Jesus to look forward to, and to see His glory as He comes to redeem all who believe in Him. But we must be prepared to endure and persevere through tribulation until that glorious moment! Until that moment, we are to offer Jesus to others, and all that comes with that choice -- not just a cozy, easy life. 

A 2017 article by Zane Pratt provides wisdom about how to approach the subject of the trials, tribulations, and sufferings of the Christian life. I'd like to share that knowledge, with a bit of personal insight added... We should not be caught off-guard or surprised by the realities of the world; suffering is a given. We can experience and endure through suffering without losing our integrity [and moral righteousness]. As hard as it may be to do, we are to love our persecutors and pray for them. We are not to seek revenge; that is the Lord's prerogative. As faithful Christians, we must trust in God through the midst of our suffering and look for opportunities to do good for others. We can identify with others who are suffering, and can therefore offer encouragement. We must stay focused on Jesus. And this is always a difficult thing to understand, but we can rejoice when we suffer because our hearts find Him so worthy to be identified with. We must believe and know that our suffering will be temporary and cannot compare to the glory and joy that we will find in the Presence of the Father and Son!

So, my final thought is this ... If you are finding the chaos in the world to be frighteningly unsettling, and you haven't been prepared for it by the Church, or you are unfamiliar with what the Bible reveals as Truth, then I want you to know this ... The story of Jesus is more than the joy of the Virgin Birth or the Resurrection of the Savior of the World. Our faith is founded upon more than our culture's celebrations of Christmas and Easter. There are a lot of pages before and after those stories [in the Bible] that speak of the heart-break that accompanies our faith; of the cost of following Jesus; and of His power in us to endure against the Anti-Christ spirit that has invaded the earth. The story and evidence of our lives as Christians must be our ability to stand strong, established in a faith so deep in Christ that no amount of suffering or persecution can uproot us. We will sing of our love for Jesus in the midst of both trials and triumph! And at the end of our journey on this earth, we will celebrate IT ALL as a dedicated offering of our unshakeable faith in the One who redeemed us!

 
2 Corinthians 6:4-10   We commend ourselves in every way as servants of God: in great endurance, in sufferings, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in sleepless nights, in hunger, in purity and sincerity, in knowledge and spiritual insight, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [like holding the sword to attack] and for the left [like holding the shield to defend], amid glory and dishonor; by evil report and good report; branded as deceivers and yet [vindicated as] truthful; as unknown [to the world], yet well-known [by God and His people]; as dying, yet we live; as punished, yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, yet possessing all things.

 

Take It To Jesus!

 

I don't know if what I have to say today has any real significance according to the dictates of the Throne Room in Heaven. I am not a prophet; Jesus has not anointed me with that assignment. But, that doesn't mean that I cannot share the promptings that my spirit is receiving, and question [with discernment and grace] what others are hearing in their spirits. 

To begin, I know that I am not the only one recognizing the storm clouds on the horizon. It is apparent that the world is rapidly changing and chaos and disorder is on the brink of erupting in all areas of our lives. From the economy to the education of our children; from the instability and destruction at our borders, to the unreliability and quagmire in the halls of Congress, we are a nation in deep conflict. And we don't just feel the threat from domestic sources. We can sense the anticipation of our foreign enemies to take advantage of our internal turmoil. We are on the verge of lawlessness. Just as Jesus says, "And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold". 

And that brings me to a subject that I've decided to rely on Jesus to show me His truth. I'm not one to receive or accept everything the modern day "prophets" share. Mind you, I do not dispute that Godly men and women are receiving some amazing downloads from the Holy Spirit, and many of their prophecies witness to my spirit in truth. I know that one of the more recent prophecies that the Church is giving credence to relates to the year 2025. Some are predicting that 2025 will start the final age of man, with a possible cataclysmic collision with an asteroid somewhere around 2029. Others are saying that 2025 will bring famine, civil war, and the threat of nuclear war; still others are predicting that 2025 will be the year of the Rapture. I cannot say, with any certainty, that any of these prophecies are correct. But I will share, in a moment, some interesting thoughts that are beginning to emerge in my spirit regarding this timeline.

We have seen such prophecies come and go in our lifetime. So I hold fast to the Biblical truth that no one knows the day or hour of Christ's return and the destruction of evil on the earth. However, we CAN be alert and watching for the signs and seasons. 1 Thessalonians 5 tells us we "are not living in the dark, allowing that day to creep up on you like a thief coming to steal".  But, He only comes as a thief in the night to those who are watching for Him! We Christians are to be on alert! And Luke shares Jesus's parable of the fig tree in chapter 21 ... as soon as the fig tree puts out its leaves, we know that summer is near. Jesus then reminds His listeners that "So you too, when you see these things happening, know [without any doubt] that the kingdom of God is near." 

We, who are discerning correctly, will know that the time is at hand and what to look for; so knowing the times and seasons is important. In fact, the truth is that the Anti-Christ doesn't want us to know the times and seasons as attested to in Daniel 7:25, "He will speak words against the Most High [God] and wear down the saints of the Most High, and he will intend to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, [two] times, and half a time [three and one-half years]".

We all recognize this familiar Scripture as describing the Tribulation, which according to the Bible, will be a seven-year period in which the hand of God is removed from a world that has rejected Him for so long -- which results in the Anti-Christ and his agenda of evil which will reign down on the just and the unjust. [NOTE: Remember, we still have hope ... "And if those days [of tribulation] had not been cut short, no human life would be saved; but for the sake of the elect (God’s chosen ones) those days will be shortened".] Our God is a righteous Judge, and in the end, Evil will be defeated and His people will be victorious.

I also want to point out that the Bible references both the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation [which is the three-and-a-half period that Daniel 7:25 references. This is the last half of the seven year covenant [or treaty] that the Anti-Christ enters into with Israel, foretold in Daniel 9:27, "And he will enter into a binding and irrevocable covenant with the many for one week (seven years), but in the middle of the week he will stop the sacrifice and grain offering [for the remaining three and one-half years]. The first half of this covenant is what Jesus talks about in Matthew 24... the beginning of birth pangs. He warns us of false messiahs who misappropriate the strength of the Name that belongs to Him; misusing it and calling themselves the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One. The one who will "rise to the top", so to speak, will be the Antichrist, who appears to be the champion and friend of Israel, only to turn against her in the middle of that seven years and begin to severely desolate her.

That's why Jesus gives us the signs of His Second Coming -- we are to be alert to the season of time which begins with wars and rumors of wars; nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom; famine, pestilence; and earthquakes. That is tribulation coming on the earth and the beginning of birth pangs for three-and-a-half years. But those pains will become more severe in the last three-and-a-half years, which will be characterized as the great tribulation. But all those signs point to His imminent return! All of this must happen immediately before His glorious return to defeat Evil on the earth and usher in God's Millennial Kingdom! Hallelujah!

And here is what I also want you to know .... in His amazing Grace and Wisdom, God has given us His Feasts as appointed times; to be on the lookout for these momentous seasons. And my spirit is on high alert about the approaching Feast of Trumpets in September. This Feast has great significance in God's plan for redeeming the world. God instructed the ancient Israelites to blow trumpets [shofars] on that day to call a holy assembly. It is a time to reflect both on the righteous judgment of God and a time to contemplate repentance for sins ten days later, on the Day of Atonement [pointing to the Bema seat judgment of Jesus to distribute crowns and award inheritance] . 

It is significant to note that the blowing of shofars was done for various reasons, among them to sound an alarm, to announce the reign of a new king, and also as a call to battle or war. This all comes into focus when we understand that early Jewish Christians [who regarded Jesus as the Messiah] recognized that Jesus was born on the Feast of Trumpets -- not December 25th, which was instituted as His birth date when the Roman empire took over the world in the 4th century. Constantine [who hated the Jews] initiated "Christ-Mass" in honor of his old pagan celebration of the sun god on that date, and in homage to the festival of Saturnalia. All true Biblical scholars know that Jesus was not born on December 25th.

In fact, modern scholars have been able to precisely pinpoint His birth as corresponding to Tishri 1, the first day of the Feast of Trumpets. For a very detailed picture of the astronomical signs in the heavens which point to this phenomenon, you can read this article. For the purposes of this blog post, I want to concentrate on the import of the Feast of Trumpets. If we can believe that Christ was born on this particular Feast day, then we can see that His birth on this day announced that a new king from the Kingdom of Heaven had arrived to battle the kingdom of darkness in the world. For over 2000 years, the ultimate battle between Good and Evil has been building to a future Feast of Trumpets when the shofars of Joel 2 will be blown in Zion, to sound an alarm for battle; that days of darkness and gloom are coming that will ultimately bring forth the return of Christ and the Day of the Lord, and when evil will be judged and destroyed. Could this September see the fulfillment of that prophesied Feast of Trumpets?

If so, then it will coincide with the modern day prophecies of 2025 as a most consequential year for mankind. If the world continues on its rapid decline, then this September could begin those birth pangs; those things that Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 "must take place"; when we will be "handed over to [endure] tribulation". If the Feast of Trumpets in September 2021 kicks off the Tribulation, then three-and-a-half years later [March 2025] would find us entering The Great Tribulation period. Am I uncategorically endorsing this prognostication? No. But I also am not dismissing it. I will continue to do what Jesus and the Bible tell me to do ... receive council and understanding from the Holy Spirit, stay alert to the signs I've been given, and pray for discernment to recognize the Abomination of Desolation when it appears. 

I know this is not a popular message or topic in this day of hopeful revival that will delay any semblance of tribulation. It is not a message that anyone who loves the Lord enjoys giving. But we all know we serve a God of both love and mercy, as well as justice and righteousness. I pray for individual as well as corporate revival. And I welcome the warning blasts of the shofar, as they call us to repentance and God's righteous judgment against evil, because they also announce the impending return of the Messiah to establish God's Kingdom on the earth and the return of man's dominion over His creation. The shofars are also a call to battle for those of us on the earth to fight for the Kingdom! The prophesied Day of the Lord IS coming! I don't know if it is this year, or 2025, or some year far in the future. But I am looking forward to the day that the return of my Lord, Savior, and King is announced by the sound of a trumpet. Until then, I/we have work to do to prepare as many people as we can to get ready to receive Him. And it will be worth whatever is coming with the approaching storm clouds. Stay alert, use your discernment, and be active in the Kingdom!

Matthew 24:34    I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [the people living when these signs and events begin] will not pass away until all these things take place.