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Revelation Bible Study – Part 18

Revelation Bible Study Notes & Aids

The Great Tribulation – Part 1

Mark 13:14-23 (ESV)

The Abomination of Desolation

14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.

——————————————-

“Where the Bible makes plain sense,
seek no other sense,
lest you turn it into nonsense”.

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. https://www.crossway.org/


Genesis Bible Study – Part 7

In the Beginnining

Note: in the video I refer to this as “Part 6”. This is Part 7. It was just a mistake on my notes.

The Test: Believe or Not Believe

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis: Origins, Beginnings

In the Beginning (time), God (force), created (action),
the Heavens (space), and the Earth (matter).

A loving, eternal, all powerful, personal God
created us in His image for a purpose
OR
Nothing  X Nobody = EVERYTHING

In the Beginning

“And the earth was …”

It is significant that every verse in the first chapter of Genesis (except Genesis 1:1) begins with the conjunction “And” (Hebrew waw).

  • This structure clearly means that each statement is sequentially and chronologically connected to the verses before and after.
  • Each action follows directly upon the action described in the verse preceding it.

“Without form and void”

This phrase is, in Hebrew, tohu wavohu, or tohu waw bohu.

  • It was formless and void (tohu and bohu), darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 
  • Tohu means wilderness or unformed. 
  • Bohu means empty or uninhabited.  

“Darkness upon the face of the deep”

  • The physical universe, though created, was as yet neither formed nor energized, and light is a form of energy.
  • The absence of physical light means darkness, just as the absence of form and inhabitants means a universe in elemental form, not yet completed.
  • No evil is implied in either case, merely incompleteness.

“Darkness was over the surface of the deep,” because God hadn’t created light. 

The entire surface of the earth is water; a global, primordial ocean, surrounded by universal darkness. 

  • Psalm 104:5–6 (NKJV)  5 You who laid the foundations of the earth, So that it should not be moved forever,   6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment; The waters stood above the mountains.
  • Like a cloak that covers you, the garment of the earth was water, and it says the waters were standing above the mountains. 
  • The unformed earth was literally covered with water.

In a sense, this is like a potter, who wishing to fashion a beautiful vessel and then to fill it to be used, first takes a lump of clay and places it on the wheel to mold and fit it to his purpose. 

  • God first gets the raw material, and it is a mix of elements covered with water existing in universal darkness – this before He begins to shape it. 

Proverbs 8:23–29 (NKJV) [The writer of Proverbs confirms Genesis] 23 I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.   24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.   25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth;   26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world.   27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,   28 When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,   29 When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth,

  • This section of Proverbs 8 is a remarkable summary of the work of the Second Person of the Godhead on each of the first three days of creation.

It was He who existed before there was an “earth” or a “deep” (Proverbs 8:23, 24), and it was He who “set a compass upon the face of the depth [deep]” (Proverbs 8:27).

  • It is thus a striking reference to the earth’s sphericity, especially referring to the shape of the ocean, the spherical form of whose surface is everywhere the standard of measurement in the vertical—that is, from sea level.

The fact that this “compass” had to be “set” on the face of the deep shows that the face of the deep originally had no such sphericity—it was formless, exactly as intimated in Genesis 1:2.

4 “The face of the waters”

Although the marvelous universe had been called into existence by the omnipotent Creator, it had not yet been imbued with energy and set in motion.

  • This must await the energizing action of the Spirit of God and the activating power of the Word of God.

5 “The Spirit of God moved” (hovered)

The word “Spirit” is the Hebrew ruach, which is also the word for “wind” and “breath.”

  • Since the universe was everywhere in need of activation, that person of the Godhead who is both omnipresent and energizing is appropriately mentioned as working in the creation at this point.

This activity of the Holy Spirit is called that of “moving” in the presence of the waters.

In modern scientific terminology, the best translation would probably be “vibrated.”

  • If the universe is to be energized, there must be an Energizer.
  • If it is to be set in motion, there must be a Prime Mover.

As the outflowing energy from God’s omnipresent Spirit began to flow outward and to permeate the cosmos, gravitational forces were activated and water and earth particles came together to form a great sphere moving through space.

  • Other such particles would soon come together also to form sun, moon, and stars throughout the universe.
  • There was now a “compass” on the face of the deep, and the formless earth had assumed the beautiful form of a perfect sphere.
  • It was now ready for light and heat and other forms of enlivening energy.

The “hovering” is not a MINOR point.

  • God is that He is directly involved in His creation. 
  • His hand is never lifted from the elements and the working of the material order. 
  • His presence is there superintending. 

—————————————————————————————–

Genesis 1:1 (NKJV)  1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Show the slides from “The Size of Things”

The plain meaning of Genesis 1:1 is unmistakable.

  • Let the Bible determine your system of belief…
  • Or bring your system of belief to the Bible and make the Bible fit it.

“The only proper way to interpret Genesis 1 is not to ‘interpret’ it at all. That is, we accept the fact that it was meant to say exactly what it says.” (Morris)

“Where the Bible makes plain sense,
seek no other sense,
lest you turn it into nonsense”.

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. https://www.crossway.org/


Revelation Bible Study – Part 17

Revelation Bible Study Notes & Aids

An Overview of the Tribulation

Overview of the Tribulation

Mark 13:14-23 (ESV) The Abomination of Desolation

14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.

The best way to understand the characteristics of this period of time – The Tribulation – is to follow three sequences in the book of Revelation.

  • You have the seven seals and out of the seventh seal come the seven trumpets, out of the seventh trumpet come the seven bowls. The seven seals stretch over the whole period.
  • The seven trumpets cover the middle point and beyond.
  • And the seven bowls are all the rapid fire at the end

Seven-sealed scroll is opened by the Lamb:

  1. Rider on a white horse, he has a bow and a crown and this is the Antichrist.
  2. Red horse and peace is taken from the earth and men begin to slaughter each other
  3. Famine follows.
  4. Death and Hades come forth and a fourth of the earth are killed with the sword and famine and pestilence and the animal kingdom is turned loose on the world.
  5. Martyrs who are beginning to be martyred, slaughtered for the Kingdom.
  6. A great earthquake and the sun becomes as black as sackcloth made of hair.
  7. Silence before impending doom.

Trumpets

  1. Trumpet 1 in brings hail and fire, mixed with blood, thrown to the earth. A third of the earth is burned up. A third of the trees burned up. All the green grass burned up.
  2. Trumpet 2: a great mountain burning with fire, some kind of an asteroid or meteor thrown into the sea. A third of the sea became blood. A third of the creatures in the sea had life, died. A third of the ships are destroyed.
  3. Trumpet 3: another flaming torch comes out of heaven and falls on the fresh water and the springs of water called wormwood, a third of the waters become bitter.
  4. Trumpet 4: A fourth angel sounds, a third of the sun , a third of the moon changes everything, day, night, tides, seasons. A third of the stars are struck. A third of them darkened and the day wouldn’t shine for a third of it and the night in the same way.
  5. Trumpet 5 hell opens up and belches out demons who have been bound but they’re fully released in the time of the Tribulation. It’s going to be so bad, demon infestation that verse 6 says, men will seek death and not find it, a long to die and death will flee from them.
  6. Trumpet 6: a third of mankind will be killed. And there will be an army coming from the east numbering two hundred million and their path will be made ready.
  7. Trumpet 7:  right at the very end and ushers in the six rapid-fire bowl judgments

Bowls

  1. Malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image… the Antichrist.
  2. Poured into the sea, every living thing in the sea died.
  3. Pours in all the rivers and springs of water, all the fresh water becomes like blood.
  4. Causes the sun to scorch men with fire and they blaspheme the name of God.
  5. Pours out on the throne of the beast, the king, and becomes dark. They gnaw on their tongues because of pain and they blaspheme the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores and didn’t repent of their deeds
  6. Poured out on the great river Euphrates, water was dried up and the way would be prepared for the kings coming from the east, probably the army of two hundred million to come to Armageddon because Armageddon starts in the next verse.
  7. Flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and a great earthquake such as there hadn’t been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it and so mighty.

That is a glimpse of the time of Tribulation and its escalating terrors and horrors. This is what is coming on the world.

Islamic eschatology, the Mahdi, the Islamic Antichrist, who comes, it says, in their eschatological literature, their authoritative literature, when he comes he will set up his throne and establish world Islamic rule in Jerusalem on the temple mount.

  • He will be aided and abetted by a prophet and the prophet will be Jesus, who will come back and say, “You were all wrong about me all the time, I didn’t die, I didn’t rise, I didn’t pay for sin, I am a radical Muslim.”
  • he will correct all the misunderstandings about him
  • anybody who doesn’t worship the Mahdi will be massacred.
  • The Islamic Messiah is the Bible’s Antichrist.

Daniel  11:31 has a very interesting mention of the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATIONS in reference to what Antiochus Epiphanes

The Antichrist will make war with the saints, according to Revelation 13:7

  • He will also kill the Jews, according to Revelation 12, 13, 17.
  • This is part of the judgment of God on unbelieving Israel.

Mark 13:21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.

  • It will be convincing with signs and wonders in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect.
  • You don’t have to be fearful of false teachers.
  • Luke 21:28, “When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draws near.” For that generation alive in the Tribulation, all we have to do is open the Bible to the Olivet Sermon of Jesus and the book of Revelation, they’ll know exactly where they are.

That’s an overview of the Tribulation… next message we will look at the GREAT TRIBULATION.

——————————————-

“Where the Bible makes plain sense,
seek no other sense,
lest you turn it into nonsense”.

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. https://www.crossway.org/


Genesis Bible Study – Part 6

In the Beginnining

The Test: Believe or Not Believe

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis: Origins, Beginnings

In the Beginning (time), God (force), created (action),
the Heavens (space), and the Earth (matter).

A loving, eternal, all powerful, personal God
created us in His image for a purpose
OR
Nothing  X Nobody = EVERYTHING

True Science

True science is the direct, firsthand knowledge that comes from observation, testing, repeating: the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.

  • So by definition creation/origins is not and cannot be “science”.
  • Evolution, uniformitarianism, Darwinism, the Big Bang… they are all called “science” because the world knows this will elevate those ideas in authority and perceived credibility rather than the words: theory, ideology or material “religion”.

If we want to understand creation, origins, and how the universe came into existence and everything that is in it, we have to look at theology, not science.  

  • Genesis gives a very straightforward and unmistakable account of the origin of the universe and the earth and everything on the earth.

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 And The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

  • It is not an ambiguous. It is not unclear. It does not need explanation.
  • And yet in those simple, clear, unmistakable words there is a treasure of profound data.
    • In the Beginning (time),
    • God (force),
    • created (action)
    • the Heavens (space)
    • and the Earth (matter).

The Test

You are not going to get past the first verse in the Bible without facing a test: do you believe the Scripture? Do you believe the Bible to be authoritative Word of God? Do you submit to Scripture?

  • Either you believe what the Bible says or you don’t.
  • You can accept what Genesis says or you can reject it.
  • You can’t change it. You don’t have that privilege.

And yet, even millions of Christians have made the Bible subservient to “science”.

  • There is no such thing as the science of creation.
  • There is no scientific way to explain creation.
  • It was not a natural event or a series of natural events.
  • It was a brief series of monumental super-natural events that cannot be explained by science.
  • All science is based on observation of natural events.
  • No one but God observed the supernatural creation.

Nothing Miraculous Can Ever Be Explained by Subsequent Scientific Observance

Take any miracle (supernatural occurrence) in the Bible. Can observing the results or aftermath give you the “science” to explain the original event?

  • Could observing Lazarus after being risen from the dead explain scientifically how it happened?
  • Can observing the wine at the wedding, testing it, measuring it, explain how it miraculously and instantly went from water to wine?
  • Can setting experiments, theories, re-creations or tests on the five loaves and fishes reveal the science behind how they became thousands and thousands of loaves and fishes?

Creation Was a Series of Supernatural Events

You can observe the way things are now but that doesn’t tell you anything about how they became what they are.

  • Creation cannot be understood any other way than by believing the revelation of the creator in the Book that He provided that has passed every test of veracity and authenticity.
  • Creation is not a scientific event and cannot be explained scientifically as if natural law or processes played any part.

Believe It Or Not

The Genesis account is clear, written in indisputably historic terms without ambiguity or nuance.

  • God does mention, imply or leave room for “gaps”, evolution, long days, uniformitarianism, explanation by material processes or competing theory.
  • Take it or leave… but don’t presume to improve upon God’s account by declaring it must conform to some human declaration or understanding.

God’s Response to Those Who Presume to Correct Him

Job 38:1–40:2 (NKJV)

1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said:   2 “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.” [You, the one who declares that God’s Word is wrong, YOU answer all these questions since you are so smart!]

  • We never have a right to take something the MAN declares as fact, and make the Bible bend to it.
  • If what we think we know doesn’t match Scripture, then we will be proven wrong when the truth is discovered

The Writers of the New Testament Affirm the Genesis Account

Every New Testament writer refers to Genesis and universally affirm the plain meaning and truthfulness of Genesis.

  • Genesis is alluded to by the New Testament 200 times; 165 of them are quotes or direct references.

Creation Focuses on Redemption

Redemption is the reason why the universe exists.

  • It is the reason why there is an earth. It is the reason why there is a supporting life system for man.
  • Creation is the very beginning of the purposes of God in redemption.

—————————————————————————————–

Genesis 1:1 (NKJV)  1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Show the slides from “The Size of Things”

The plain meaning of Genesis 1:1 is unmistakable.

  • Let the Bible determine your system of belief…
  • Or bring your system of belief to the Bible and make the Bible fit it.

“The only proper way to interpret Genesis 1 is not to ‘interpret’ it at all. That is, we accept the fact that it was meant to say exactly what it says.” (Morris)

“Where the Bible makes plain sense,
seek no other sense,
lest you turn it into nonsense”.

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. https://www.crossway.org/


Revelation Bible Study – Part 16

Revelation Bible Study Notes & Aids

Chapter 5 – The Scroll & The Lamb

Revelation 5 (ESV)

1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

——————————————-

“Where the Bible makes plain sense,
seek no other sense,
lest you turn it into nonsense”.

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. https://www.crossway.org/


Genesis Bible Study – Part 5

In the Beginnining

The Creation of the World

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis: Origins, Beginnings

In the Beginning (time), God (force), created (action),
the Heavens (space), and the Earth (matter).

A loving, eternal, all powerful, personal God
created us in His image for a purpose
OR
Nothing  X Nobody = EVERYTHING

The lie that the universe as we know it today evolved over millions of years is the most sophisticated, complex and highly educated lie in existence.  

  • It is an obvious and direct attack on the Bible, on a Creator, and on any accountability to a transcendent God.
  • It is promoted to kids starting with cartoons and Kindergarten, mandated to be taught without question or competition by schools, driven home by higher education, depicted relentlessly in movies, museums, books and the media.

Even though it is an impossible and irrational and on closer inspection and absurd concept, evolution and millions of years is still presented as indisputable FACT while with anything else being “anti-science”.

It’s not easy to impose millions of years and evolution on Genesis 1. 

There is absolutely nothing in that section of Scripture, or for that matter any other place in the Bible, to allow for such a bizarre interpretation as evolution. 

They do that to accommodate the Bible to godless, irrational, and impossible evolution. 

Millions of Years: Uniformitarianism

Everything just continues the same way we observe it today in this long, multi-billion year process. 

  • However, the Bible doesn’t allow for any such thing, any such illusion as “things have always been the way we see them NOW”

2 Peter 3:5–6 (NKJV)  5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,   6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.

Was Genesis 1:1 followed by a long gap of time which billions of years and evolution can fit into?

Two centuries ago in an effort to explain “prehistoric” fossils, Christian leaders introduced the idea that a gap of time is missing between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2.

You can look at this issue from the standpoint of honest science and have all of the affirmation you want for a young earth.  Various physical chronometers, chemical measuring items used to establish the earth’s and heavens’ age, you can see real science will yield you an accurate answer if you understand this one thing: that when God created the earth,

There is nothing in Genesis 1 to hint at, imply or leave room for billions of years.

  • It is only inserted to accommodate “science”
  • Rather than letting the Bible be authoritative, science demands the Bible be tortured to fit its ever changing “truth”.

Honest science that observes the same evidence we observe could never follow that evidence to evolution and uniformitarianism.

God created the Heavens and Earth as it is.  He created it mature.  He created it with the appearance of age.

  • Mature trees, animals, man, rivers, hills, light… all mature. 
  • Stars with light in transit from “billions of light years away”.

Logic, reason, physical evidence and true unbiased science leads directly to exactly what God reveals in Genesis 1-11.

—————————————————————————————–

Genesis 1:1 (NKJV)  1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Show the slides from “The Size of Things”

The plain meaning of Genesis 1:1 is unmistakable.

  • Let the Bible determine your system of belief…
  • Or bring your system of belief to the Bible and make the Bible fit it.

“The only proper way to interpret Genesis 1 is not to ‘interpret’ it at all. That is, we accept the fact that it was meant to say exactly what it says.” (Morris)

“Where the Bible makes plain sense,
seek no other sense,
lest you turn it into nonsense”.

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. https://www.crossway.org/