Complete Glossary of Terms, Explaining the Coming Days

As a pilot, I have learned many things about flight, but the most disturbing is the fact that you can obtain a pilot license with a 70% or better on your written test. Reading that, you might do just as I did and ask, “How important are the 30% of questions that were missed?” Whether it is the pilot of the plane you are a passenger in, or the doctor who is cutting on your parts, how important is 100%? One term I quiz fellow pilots on, is, “What is ground effect?” The answers I get are usually all over the map, then when I give them the right answer, they say, “Oh yeah! That's what I meant.”

Understanding Why the Term is Important

For the value that you will receive from this study, I first want you to know that “Ground Effect” is defined as “That area of airspace that begins at the ground and goes up to the bottom of your wing and is equal to the plane’s wingspan.” If your plane’s wings are 36 feet long tip to tip, and you are 38 feet above ground, you are not in ground effect—and you are flying. If you are 35 feet above ground in the same plane—you are in ground effect, and not flying; you are skimming on the air compressed between the wing and the ground. The closer you are to the ground, the slower the airspeed required to keep you “aloft.” Because of ground effect, planes can take-off and land at much lower speeds than it takes to fly. Many pilots lose their lives, even today, because they don't understand this aeronautical term. They lift off the ground and while it seems like flying, it is skimming, then they prematurely pull back the yoke to gain altitude and when they climb out of ground effect, the wing stalls, and the results are often fatal.

One can imagine what a kettle of fish we would be in if Bible teachers spoke of terms and built doctrine on the 30% of missed knowledge. Sadly, in almost every instant—that is precisely what happens and so, that is why there are as many doctrines as there are teachers. From the beginning of their lessons, they speak in terms not rightly defined, or loosely referred to.

An example of using the correct term wrongly is when believers quote the verse from I Thessalonians 5:9, “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Apostle Paul was speaking to the believers at Thessalonica, where there were many new converts and he wanted them to know the things concerning the coming of the Lord. His comforting words said basically that when the Lord comes, Salvation will be granted to the Believer, while Wrath will be granted to the unrepentant. Until He Returns, the gavel of His Judgment has not fallen on the living, nor the dead. At His Coming, Salvation and Damnation are delivered.

The term Wrath is correct, but then used wrongly when teachers pervert the scripture by calling the Great Tribulation—God's Wrath. So, it seems that many wrongly used terms or right terms used wrongly have caused most Believers to believe a preposterous version of the end time events, a version that is pleasurable, even effective evangelistically, but fatally wrong just the same. The only way to see our way clear to right understanding is to call the event or action by its correct name and then use it correctly. That is the purpose of this writing—to bring clarity to our Bible study by first establishing solid and Biblical definitions of terms widely used, yet narrowly understood. Once clarity is found, the words of prophecy are not difficult to handle.

So that we have the correct tools for handling terms correctly, we must understand the importance of proper verbs and nouns and common verbs and nouns. In proper English, proper terms are capitalized so they are set apart from the common reference, however, in scripture—we don’t see that. For example: if I say, “Let’s go down to the fishing hole and get some worms,” there could be misunderstanding if there were a bait shop named “The Fishing Hole.” A Biblical example (and a very important one) is the use of the term: wrath. God’s Wrath is released several times historically; once when Lot’s wife looked back at Sodom and Gomorrah and she received an instant response of His Wrath as He turned her into a pillar of salt. In the last sentence, I capitalized the word wrath because it refers to God or is associated with Him, not because it was a proper noun. There is a proper noun/verb usage of wrath and that’s because it has a specific time and place; that is the time to come when God’s Arm of Long-suffering is pulled back, His Patience has expired as the Grapes of Wrath are fully ripe and the Wrath of God is upon all mankind who rejected the Sacrifice of His Son.

So now, let's begin this wonderful journey and have fun knowing that this is the launching platform to understanding the Truth of God's Word.

“Apocalypse,  translated literally from Greek refers to a revelation of something hidden, although this sense did not enter English until the 14th century. In religious contexts it is usually a revelation of hidden meaning - hidden from human knowledge in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception. In the Revelation of John, “Apocalypsis” the last book of the New Testament, the revelation which John receives is that of the ultimate victory of good over evil and the end of the present age, and that is the primary meaning of the term, one that dates to 1175. Today, it is commonly used in reference to any prophetic revelation or so-called End Time scenario, or to the “end of the world” in general.” (Wikipedia)

While the term apocalypse is not a Biblical term, it is one associated with end time events, and wrongly associated. Most people when quizzed about the meaning of the word will describe an event of devastation, horror, mass-destruction and the end of all life, which has become the “conventional use of the term. The French Bible uses this word (Apocalypse) instead of the English word (Revelation), for the book of the same name. Apocalypse means; “revelation of a hidden meaning,” which the Book of Revelation is—The Revelation of the mystery of Jesus Christ. The reason for starting our study with this word is to show, right off the bat, how most of us have at the very least, some flaw in our vocabulary relating to the end time events. Apocalypse has been so misused that the average person on the street or in church, has no idea of its meaning, other than it's conventional and vague misunderstanding. Other terms in use are equally misunderstood. That happens when a wrong teaching is repeated long enough that it becomes traditional. The unredeemed world will see APOCALYPSE as some kind of disastrous end of the world due to global warming, nuclear war, jihad, or something similar, while in truth—the end will come with no less than the Return of Jesus Christ.

Most people don’t have a clear understanding of what events come or in what order, so we will present our glossary of terms in a streaming effect of order. Several things happen at the same time and when that happens, we will note how they seem to stack on top of each other when that occurs.

Evidently, the Holy Spirit, or Michael the Great Prince, did not restrain the growth and mutation of sin prior to the Great Flood of Noah's day. Then, fallen angels, (demons, referred to in Genesis 6:2 as “sons of God) possessed physical bodies, saw the beauty of woman and took the women sexually. The offspring of those ungodly unions were demonic half-breeds called: Nephilim and they were perverse and vulgar giants, who did the most unholy things to the point that God became so disgusted at the growth of sin, that He condemned the world to destruction; except for one man in whom He saw Righteousness. That man was Noah and his family. In the new world following the Great Flood, Michael, must have been assigned to monitor the growth of sin. I suggest Michael since there is no reference to the Holy Spirit overseeing this task.

6.And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8. 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: 9. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 2 Thess. 2:6-10.

He that letteth and will be taken away must be Michael the Restrainer, who is the prince of angels. Only after his removal from our presence, can the Man of Sin rise to power. Daniel 10:21. “²¹ But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.”

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1

We are including this term here, not because it happens here, but because it doesn't happen, but if it did, this is where most of those who teach it say it would. There is an “in gathering” or and “up gathering” of Saints, but that occurs at the Harvest at the Coming of Christ. The term “Rapture” does not appear in the Bible, neither does its teaching. Each verse used to teach it, is a verse describing the Resurrection of the Redeemed, at the last day.

“The Rapture is a term in Christian eschatology which refers to the "being caught up" discussed in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, when the "dead in Christ" and "we who are alive and remain" will be "caught up in the clouds" to meet "the Lord. The Rapture is used in at least two senses in modern traditions of Christian eschatology: in pre-tribulationist views, in which a group of people will be "left behind", and as a synonym for the final resurrection generally.

There are many views among Christians regarding the timing of Christ's return (including whether it will occur in one event or two), and various views regarding the destination of the aerial gathering described in 1 Thessalonians 4. Denominations such as Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Lutheran Christians, and Reformed Christians, believe in a rapture only in the sense of a general final resurrection, when Christ returns a single time.

Pre-tribulation rapture theology was developed in the 1830s by John Nelson Darby and the Plymouth Brethren, and popularized in the United States in the early 20th century by the wide circulation of the Scofield Reference Bible.” Wikipedia

For the purposes of this writing, we will use the word “rapture” to refer to this teaching of pre-resurrection of God’s Redeemed, while using the word “Resurrection” for the raising of the dead-in-Christ, then joined by those yet living on the earth, who belong to Him at His Second-Coming.

There are at least four prominent rapture scenarios, the most prominent being pre-tribulation rapture.

1. Pre-tribulation rapture: To accept this teaching, you must first believe in the seven-year Great Tribulation thought. Daniel’s 70th week is believed by those teachers to be “Seven-Years of Tribulation.” While the Great Tribulation lies within that 7-years, it is only the last-half of that time.
2. Mid-tribulation rapture: This term is used by those who believe that the Great Tribulation lasts for seven years (as they have been taught by great teachers) and that Christ will rapture the Church out of this difficult time, half way through the seven years of Jacobs Trouble (3 ½ years). This term must be discarded, as we learn, first of all, that the Great Tribulation is 3 ½ years, 42 months, or 1260 days in length. There is no Biblical reference for a 7-year Tribulation period, so the term “Mid-tribulation rapture” is meaningless for further discussion.
3. Pre-Wrath Rapture: This teaching is most recent and is presented by evangelist Marvin Rosenthal and places a rapture event somewhere mid-way of the Abomination of Desolation (beginning of the G.T.) and the Second Coming of Christ (end of the age). Like many other teachers, Pastor Rosenthal is a Godly man, however, calling the Judgments of God as God’s Wrath wrongly uses the word as defined. God’s Judgments are wrathful, but they are not His Wrath which is death. (see definition of Wrath)
4. Post-Tribulation Rapture: Here is an example of correct theology but wrong definition. Rapture means to take out the G.T. thereby preventing suffering by the Saints of God. You can’t take Saints out of G.T. if it is indeed over all ready! Therefore; the G.T. is ended just before the Harvest of Saints (by about ½ hour) it is ended as the Two Witnesses are raised to life, within that same hour—Christ comes.

I could share with you books of information and studies done by others, (such as Dave MacPherson and John Bray) that document the trail of development of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture Thought, beginning with the publishing of Emmanuel Lacunza's writing in 1812, clear up to today. Emmanuel Lacunza was a Chilean Jesuit Priest and the book he wrote in Spanish was called: The Coming of Messiah in Glory and Majesty. What appears to have happened (in condensed version), Lacunza's introduction of “dual returns of Christ” (Rapture/Resurrection) was expounded upon by Dr. Edward Irving who did the translation into English in 1827 and tried to take credit for it. Margaret Mcdonald seized the moment for her version as did John Nelson Darby with his group called The Plymouth Brethren, as did William Kelly. Following the lead of these and others (all seeking credit for the “double coming” thought), the greatest modern-day influence of pre-tribulation rapture is the widespread distribution of the Scofield Reference Bible.

There is much speculation as to who published and why Lacunza’s book was published, as he died in 1801 and the book was published in 1810 under the pen name of Juan Josafat Ben-Ezra.

We know that a Jesuit priest takes vows of poverty and owns nothing, the Catholic Church owning all that he has. Thus, it has been suggested that publishing the book under the Jewish-sounding pseudonym could be a trap set for Protestantism (one of heresy) in retaliation for the Reformation of the Catholic Church.

David MacPherson offers an array of books that record a lifetime of study of the evolution of the Pre-Tribulation Doctine which had it's beginning with Emmanuel Lacunza. Contact: Dave MacPherson, Artisan Publishers, POB 1529, Muskogee OK, 74402, www.artisanpublishers.com.

While several events have definite lengths of time attached to them such as a sunrise and sunset, the time at which we know when the Antichrist is revealed—is not that clear. We can know a lot about him, as circumstantial evidence, but when it becomes necessary to label a suspect as “The Antichrist” we need at least one hard-core (damning) piece of evidence. Working backwards from a time when we would most certainly identify and separate The Beast from just “brazen,” would be the time of Abomination of Desolation, whereby the Antichrist stands in the Holy Place and declares himself to be god.

Just before that (3 ½ years), when he grants to Israel, a Covenant of Peace, we can be assured that he must be the Antichrist. Prior to that time, we just have our suspicions. One thing that happens before the Great Tribulation, is that a man receives a mortal wound to the head, but “heals himself.” He then declares that he is the one that the world has been awaiting, that he is god himself. This one event would be the evidence most convincing to any student of the Bible.

Another thing that happens at some point in time, is the introduction of the “Mark of The Beast,” which has several descriptions. The Mark is “placed in,” not on, the right hand. In cases where a right hand is not available, the forehead is the second choice for insertion. The Mark of the Beast contains the number of his name. In Hebrew, each letter has a numeric assignment, except vowels. The sum of these numbers equal—666. There is also a similar image of the Beast “that appears to move” within this mark. Anyone receiving this mark must in some way bow before an image of the Beast or accept him in some way—maybe the mere acceptance of the Mark identifies the bearer as a worshiper of the Beast. When the Prophet Daniel wrote of this mark, I am sure he must have been baffled at the sight of it in his vision. Of course, he had never seen a cellular phone, I-pad, Ipod, or Television so when he envisioned someone's hand passed over by a scanner and the information therein flashed up on a monitor, the words he used to describe it were the only words he could have used.

Accompanying the institution of the Mark of the Beast, must be the combining of nations to form a one world government, ruled by the Antichrist. The Antichrist must pass a litmus test of prophetic descriptions: He must be: charismatic, capable of leading masses of people, be like no other who has come before him, be full of pride, and have no regard for the desire of women.

Of all the desires of Satan to bring his christ to this position, he cannot do so until the restraint on sin is removed by God. When God does this, the environment for the Man-of-Sin to thrive and grow is fertile and sin takes a sharp rise. Because of the increase of sin, men's love will wax cold. Satan thinks his power over God has finally reached maturity and the times of trouble increase. Daniel also speaks of this man of sin and how he “wears out the saints of the Most-High God.” As his power increases, he “will change the laws,” and the “times” as well, so that the possibly years will number after his birth or his reign, doing away with calendars based on the birth or time of Christ. It's not hard today to see how one man could fit this profile, nor is it hard to imagine a scenario whereby he could be quickly thrust into a position of worldly power.

There is little information as to who the False Prophet may be, but his function is to be similar to a press secretary or public information officer. He is not the Beast but one who serves the Beast or goes before him to pave the way much the same way that John the Baptist paved the way for God's Messiah. Being an imitator, Satan mimics God in every possible way as it is his desire to ascend to the heavens and surpass God.

The Apostate Church

Many people think that because churches today fold and dwindle, and church membership is out-paced by other Sunday activities, that—this is the great falling away. I am reminded of a story of two Russian soldiers who kicked open the doors of a church and announced that anyone who remained after 5 minutes would be shot. Five minutes later, the soldiers walked in and sat on the front pew and told the pastor that he could begin now, since all the hypocrites are gone. The Western world has not seen religious persecution such as European, Eastern Bloc, Asian, Arab, and African countries have endured, so when the Antichrist institutes the Mark of the Beast and declares all others who do not bow down to him, to be enemies of the New World Order and to be turned in to authorities for “questioning,” then, like the church in Russia, you will see wholesale flight from the faith! The Church will then be divided into two groups: The True Church, and the Apostate (fleeing) Church. Perhaps the most important need for understanding the events of the End Times, is so each of us who claim Christ as Lord, not be shocked or disillusioned when Christ does not appear to rapture His Church away before the Antichrist is revealed. I am sure that when he comes, he will tell the world that he is truth and that all other preachers and religious teachers have lied to us, even our governments. Then possibly, he will reveal hidden information and secrets, such as about UFO encounters and such things. He will point out how pastors have told about Jesus coming to take His friends out of this world before “enlightenment” comes. He will heal himself and perform miracles, and those who are easily led will quickly change their allegiance like rats jumping ship. They do so, because they are not prepared to live life on the run with no means of support, no health insurance, and no money with which to purchase food, clothing and shelter. The lies that he will tell will have enough truth in them that most will be deceived. Thus, if our doctrine and our teachings are incorrect in one area, who will be willing to suffer or die, for fear that the whole premise of Salvation is also incorrect.

I have placed “THE GREAT FALLING AWAY” here, because it is not clear where it should fit, certainly after the Antichrist is revealed and somewhere before or just after the Great Tribulation begins.

This is a time spoken of by the prophets Daniel and Isaiah. It is the first predictor of time until Christ's Return. It is established when the Antichrist signs with Israel, a Covenant of Peace for seven years. This coming one event will establish several things in prophecy, but the most important items are: The positive identity of the Antichrist, and the countdown until Christ's Return. The identity of the Antichrist may be established before this time; by the institution of the Mark of the Beast, or by an event whereby a leader is assassinated and receives a “mortal head wound.”

The thing to know about the Covenant of Peace is that not just anyone can sign it. To grant peace with this troubled nation, which everyone wants to destroy, is that the guarantor must be in a position to grant such a thing. He must by that time, either be the head of a much-strengthened United Nations, or a very large nation (like the United States) that possibly has grown to a much larger entity. The Time of Jacobs Trouble is just that. It is not the Great Tribulation. The covenant lasts for seven years, however, the peace that is guaranteed—does not. Halfway (3 ½ years) into the guarantee, the Antichrist cancels his promise for peace. He does that in keeping with being Satan's christ. Satan is a liar and a thief, he cannot keep his promise. The moment he does, the time of the Great Tribulation begins and lasts until the end of the term of the Covenant. As Isaiah said, “Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:” Isaiah 28:15.

For some reason, because the Great Tribulation occupies the last half of the Time of Jacobs Trouble, (the broken half) teachers call the entire seven-year period of this covenant—the Great Tribulation, and that is a great error, because it causes other puzzle pieces not to fit. The broken covenant is like a contract for deed, or a home mortgage. If the payments end, the contract is void, and another time such as eviction or repossession takes over. The Covenant of Peace ends, not because Israel no longer wants peace, but because the Antichrist can't stand peace any longer. He cannot be trusted to keep his word.

The Beginning of the Great Tribulation

This is the name for the time when the Antichrist travels to Jerusalem to declare himself as the only god. At this time, he curses the God of Heaven from the Holy Place (most likely the temple mount where the Mosque of Omar sits). Immediately thereafter, he calls on the Gentile armies to come and to crush the Jewish people. It has always been the desire of Satan to destroy the Chosen People and here—he will go all out. Just before that, however, the 144,000 ultra-orthodox Jews, who possibly will be previously converted to Christianity, will sound the S.O.S. and the Jews will flee into the wilderness and many escape the slaughter. Maddened by the failure of the long-planned design, he then turns his hostile venom against the “remnant of her seed,” (Rev. 12:17) the Christians. This time will be a time like no other since there was a nation and it will last for 3 ½ years. This is the time the Bible refers to as: THE GREAT TRIBULATION. Its sunrise is the Abomination of Desolation and its sunset is the SECOND-COMING of CHRIST. The times issued in prophecy are based on the Lunar Calendar which contains 360 days rather than our Gregorian calendar of 365 days. 3 ½ years of the Lunar Calendar equal 1260 days which is often used to describe this time of Great Tribulation, as well as 42 months. The end of this time of tribulation actually, or more accurately, is pin pointed to the moment that the Two Witnesses are raised from the dead when the Spirit of Life from God enters them. Another thing that ends when the Two Witnesses are raised is—XMAS! (See Two witnesses)

This is the time in Daniel's visions of the coming days, that made him so sick that he was bed-fast for three weeks, unable to do the King's work. It is time brought by Satan himself, thus not known to Jesus, but to the Father alone. Just as Jesus' ministry from Baptism to Ascension was exactly 3 ½ years in length, so will be the reign of the Antichrist—to the day. While Jesus came to save the Jew and Gentile alike, the Antichrist will come to destroy the same who proclaim the Name of God or His Son Jesus. Jesus came to free His followers from bondage to sin, the Antichrist comes to enslave his followers to sin. Daniel calls this terrible period of time, “a time such as was never a time since there was ever a nation.” While the spirit of Satan enters the person prepared to fill the shoes of Antichrist, he will embody evil. When he commits the Abomination of Desolation, it seems that he then is baptized in the “unholy spirit” so that he is capable of unspeakable horrors against God's people and against all that is Holy. The Great Tribulation sunrises at the beginning of the “Abomination of Desolation” and sunsets abruptly as the Two Witnesses receive the Spirit of Life from God. Within the same hour, Christ returns and the Wrath of God on the ungodly begins.

The landscape, as we know it, will be vastly different on the earth during this terrible time. The first half of the Time of Jacobs Trouble is described Biblically as a time of “peace and safety,” and for the “world” (unsaved) it will be a time of enlightenment. They will have their adored leader and be in submission to him. They will also have a common enemy: The Israelite and the Christian. Increasingly, the Chosen and the Elect will be ostracized from society. For the Christian, it will be tribulation in varying degrees as the Mark of the Beast will be instituted most likely before the Great Tribulation. When the 1260 days of the Great Tribulation begins, Christians will be declared a nuisance to society and brought into the courts. They will be tortured for ten days, then given a chance to renounce Jesus, and bow to the Beast. (Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life). Revelation 2:10. Decapitation will be the punishment for following the Christ. Very possibly, trials will resemble today's reality shows on Television and the testimony given for the Lord will be the message given in every tongue and thereby, all the world will hear the Gospel Message. His Return then is nearby. (Mark 13:10,11)

Becoming an enemy of the world, torture, and death will be the picture of the Great Tribulation for the Christian. It is brought by Satan through his christ in his attempt to rid his kingdom of all references to God. However, God responds in kind by issuing His Judgments from Heaven for what the ungodly do to the Israelite and Christian. He does so by the hand of the Two witnesses who most likely are Moses and Elijah. They have had experience in calling down judgments and they both have witnessed Christ at the Mount of Transfiguration.

Revelation 11

The ministry of the Two Witnesses sunrises at the Abomination of Desolation and sunsets “within the same hour” of the Coming of Christ. Theirs, coincides with the same time as the Great Tribulation. The Two Witnesses testify against the Antichrist and because the people hate that, many try to kill them, but the word that proceeds from their mouths kills their attacker’s dead. These two stop the rain and call down plagues and that is why everyone of the Beast wants them dead. The Believers at this time, rejoice over anyone who can stand up against this personified evil, and it is from the Two that those in Christ are able to receive their provision and protection. At the end of the 1260 days, the Lord pulls His Protection from the Two and the Antichrist is able to slay them. They lie dead in the streets of Jerusalem for 3 ½ days, then suddenly the Spirit of Life from God, enters them. While they were dead, the “world” rejoices with feasts and the sending of gifts to each other, but when they were raised “BREAKING NEWS” is all over the air waves and the party abruptly, almost violently ends. The people who are the enemy of God have done a very foul thing—they have celebrated the death of God's Chosen prophets, and when those prophets miraculously are raised, the best day in their miserable lives just turns to the worse day. That moment for them, must be like the moment when King Belshazzar saw the hand-writing on the wall, (Daniel 5) after he mocked God by toasting to the gods of iron, wood, bronze and silver, from the vessels taken from the Temple of God in Judah. His hip joints went slack and he couldn't sit nor stand. There was no repentance in his heart, only great fear that comes when God pulls the plug and His Wrath is near. Likewise, when the Two are raised, the time to turn to God has passed, those who celebrate the death of the Two cannot possibly find repentance before the clouds part and Christ claims His Bride. The end of this age has now come.

JUDGMENTS FROM GOD

Within the time of Great Tribulation, come judgments from Heaven and these judgments are not to be confused with Judgment with a capital “J,” which comes in two parts: The Second-Coming of Christ, and the Judgment Seat of Christ (as mentioned in this guide). Judgments are reserved for those who do not have the Seal of God in their foreheads but have taken the Mark of The Beast. They have been deceived and believe that the Antichrist is from God and is God. Because they have worshiped him, judgments are sent to convince and chastise them for their ungodliness. Judgments come as signaled by trumpets and are in succession to bring final victory of God and His people, just as in the days of conquest for Jericho. Then, just as the final trumpet caused the walls to fall into the earth, so shall the kingdom of the earth will fall into Christ's Hands at His Second-Coming, at the last Trump.

This period-of-time sunrises with the death of the Two Witnesses and sunsets when they receive the Spirit of Life from God. It is while they lie dead in the streets for 3 ½ days, that the people of the world make merry and send gifts to each other as they celebrate their death. This celebration of God’s Chosen Prophets is the very thing that ends God’s Merciful Long-suffering. Revelation 11:8-11.

Prior to this time, when “it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” those who hate the manger scenes, caroling, the story of prophecy and birth of Christ, and all that goes with it, now have a time that they can really celebrate without someone telling them “It’s Christmas with a capital C”. For now, Christians will be hard to find and finally, they have a celebration that they can really sink their teeth into: God’s Prophets are lying dead in the street!

Can you imagine hearing the victory voice from Jerusalem as The Beast declares that the Age of Aquarius is finally upon them, that the voice of God has been silenced—then the awful news that the Two Witnesses are alive and talking.

It won’t be long now (about an half-hour) and the Savior will come in the clouds and for those celebrants, it will be hell!

There is a time that must be mentioned here, because it is one of the vague generality types of times, whereby reference to it is made, but understanding of it eludes us. This time is the last hour of this world as we know it and contains all that is climax to God's purpose of testing the souls of mankind, separating the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:31-46), and the wresting from Satan his power and reign over the earth. This hour contains the “Silent Half Hour in Heaven” (Revelation 8:1) and the trumpet judgments. It sunrises at the raising of the Two Witnesses, which, if you haven't seen yet; is also the time of resurrection of the 144,000 Jews, and the raising to life on earth of the Damned of the dust. They are raised to inherit God's Wrath and though the Bible doesn't specifically put it anywhere, we know that they are raised “first and bundled for the fire” (Matthew 13:30). They are clearly raised before Christ comes and before the Saints of God are raised, because when He comes, they wail, cry, and mourn at the sight of Him. (Daniel 12:2, Matt. 13:30, Malachi 3:18, Revelation 1:7, Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 11:18, and John 5:28, 29). There is an hour, when all this takes place: “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28, 29. The order of “coming forth” is not given in these verses, but “the hour” of these things, as well as the fact that both those of Salvation as well as those of Damnation are raised.

I am drawing attention to this Mid-Night Hour, because as you study, you will see all the things that occur there. We see in Revelation 11:13, that the same hour the Two Witnesses are called “up hither,” the earth starts to break down, as a great earthquake strikes Jerusalem and seven-thousand are killed; the remnant who yet remain on the earth are “affrighted” and give glory to God. The sunset of the Mid-Night Hour is when those yet living on earth join in the air, those Dead-in-Christ who have just been resurrected. They meet Christ in the clouds and leave the earth to proceed to the banquet hall where the Marriage Supper is about to commence.

(The Day of Jesus Christ)
(The Harvest Portion of the First Resurrection)

Prophets have given us insight into the purpose of Creation and they center around the First Advent of Christ as the Messiah and then again at the Second Advent of Christ, which is His Return, or—Second-Coming. He comes firstly to establish Hope and He does that by fulfilling a name given Him—Emanuel, “God with us.” His ministry on earth lasts for exactly 3 ½ years beginning with His Baptism by John the Baptist and ending at His Ascension into Heaven, but not before oft referring to His Return, in the clouds, quickly, and following the tribulation of those days. It is interesting here to note, that when Satan sends his messiah to rule the earth, his ministry also lasts for 3 ½ years (to the day), as once again Satan is shown to only imitate or pervert that which is already created.

Christ's Coming Again is referred to as The Day of Christ, or the Day of Jesus Christ, because it is His special time and a time anticipated by His Believers. His Coming again is also referred to as The Harvest of Saints, because both the dead-in-Christ and the living-in-Christ are resurrected to meet Him in the clouds, starting with the Dead-in-Christ. The coming of Christ caps the end of the age of decision and the time of testing for the soul of man. That moment of ending ends just prior to His appearance in the clouds. When the Day of Jesus Christ comes, there are notices of His Arrival. They are so stark and breathtaking that mankind will only be barely able to stand it and do that alone. They will not be able to pray, repent, or correct any part of their life, but only comprehend that the day has come. The Day of Jesus Christ begins when the sun is darkened—this moment also marks the end of the age, not when Christ appears. This moment coincides with an event occurring simultaneously in Jerusalem and that is the coming to life of the Two Witnesses after lying dead in the street for 3 ½ days. Once they are raised to life, the only thing those who hated them can do—is dread and wail each coming moment.

“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.” Matt. 24: 29:31

Jesus tells us in these verses, (taken from the Olivette Discourse) many things that give solid clarity to when and how.

1. His coming follows the Great Tribulation which is 1,260 days in length. It comes nearly immediately, so that we can say His Coming is what ends the Great Tribulation, though it actually ends a half-hour earlier.
2. We see also that the tribes of the earth mourn, it being His great power and glory that cause them to mourn, plus the knowledge that He isn't coming for them.
3. Following that time, a great sound of a trumpet signals the assignment of His Angels to the four winds to gather His Elect. From one end of Heaven to the other is the all-inclusive reach. Remember that the four winds refer to the four directions on earth, North, South, East, and West. From one end of Heaven to the other is mentioned to include all His Own. Remember, that in Genesis 1:8 God called the firmament (solid ground) “Heaven,” and the waters: Seas.

It may be confusing that the tribes of the earth mourn when they see the sign of the Son of Man as it comes in the heavens. It's clear—they mourn because their heart tells them immediately that it is He, Who is coming and they do not belong to Him, because they did not receive Him but instead, followed a false christ—the Antichrist. There is another thing that creeps them out and that is the immediate and unexplained presence of some very unsavory and ungodly characters. You see, something has just happened when the sun is darkened and the moon fails to give it's light...

That horrid something is the thing omitted from the Sunday School lesson as well as the pulpit message: The dead-to-Christ are raised (not resurrected) to stand on earth with the living damned and thereby see first-hand the most dreaded sight in all imagination: the coming of Christ to gather for eternity, those who chose Him when He called them. In the parable of the tare and wheat, we can see the distinct order of gathering, first the tares, then the wheat:

“He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” Matt. 13:28:30

This parable is an actual reference to the Harvest at the Lord's Return. It is fully accurate and representative. Here we can see:

1. The devil has planted evil in the earth, the tares are his servants.
2. The Lord forbids the servants to take out the evil ones until the Harvest. He certainly did not suggest that the Saints of God be taken out prior to the Harvest, but to “let them grow together.”
3. “Gather ye first the tares—for the coming fire.” This is the raising from the dead, the “tares” so as to be prepared for the fire, which is forthcoming (God's Wrath).
4. Part of the coming fire for the unregenerate soul is being on hand to witness the signs of His Return: The darkening of the sun, the moon not giving its light, disturbances in the heavens, stars falling from the sky, great earthquakes and finally—the sign of the Son of Man in the sky. These things will cause great horror and heart weakness; words simply cannot describe the suffering caused from the knowledge of His Coming, not because of anything that is done to them at that time, but from the knowledge of what is to come.

The prophet Daniel gives perhaps the clearest Old Testament view of the end times, as he speaks of the raising of the dead:

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:1,2.

1. Now; Michael the archangel stands up that “thy people might be delivered.” Michael “stands up” is a little confusing, because that describes something he does prior to the Great Tribulation. The Lord told Daniel that there is none that “holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.” Dan. 10-:21. We must assume then, that Michael is the one who holdeth or letteth the restraint on sin and it is he who is “taken out” when we read 2 Thessalonians 2:7. There seems to be no other option for anyone else to be “taken out,” for certainly the Holy Spirit cannot be him, because the work of Salvation will be great during the Great Tribulation, and Salvation without the Holy Spirit is not possible.
2. Though Daniel doesn't specify the dead-to-Christ as being raised first, he does say that they “awake” to shame and everlasting contempt.
3. He does put the raising of the dead, both the damned and the Redeemed, after the “time of trouble, such as never was.” (The Great Tribulation)

Finding another verse that puts the dead-to-Christ alive on the earth is one which also takes the surprise out of His Return, where everyone will see Him:

“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” Revelation 1:7

1. Contrary to some modern teachings, when Jesus comes—every eye will see HIM.
2. The kindreds (tongues) of the earth shall wail.
3. The ones who pierced Him, though they have died, will be on deck to see Him.

There is so much more to add about the Second Coming which is the Resurrection, but it is best to allow those things to come out as we present the other glossary items.

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb and The Wrath of God, occur simultaneously, so I can't list them in order or they would be on top of each other. When Jesus served the wine and bread at the Last Supper, He said, “I so wanted to share this supper with you, but henceforth, I will not partake of the fruit of the vine until I partake with you in Heaven.” It is this time of the Marriage Supper, when the Groom is joined to His Bride that He will eat and drink of the vine. It will be a Heavenly Feast, complete with toasts and wedding gifts. These gifts can be found in the message to the seven-churches; for those who overcome sin, He will shower them with great intimacies and favor.

Most Christians aren't even aware of the Marriage Supper, because there is little directly given information about it. It is mentioned only a few times in the Bible and seldom do pastors speak of it. It is actually a crowning event that should be our goal. Like all events of the end -times, there is a sunrise and a sunset. The gathering for the Marriage Supper is just shortly following Christ's Return when “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. Revelation 11:18. The reward for the saints, servants and prophets that fear His Name now comes at the same time as the Wrath of God to destroy them which destroy the earth. So, the reward of the Marriage Supper begins simultaneously with the Wrath on the ungodly, following the Harvest at Resurrection. The only reference found for the length of time given for the Feast of the Lamb is thirty days and coincides with the Wrath by the Father upon the ungodly. This time frame is Daniels 1290 days (1260-1290=30 days. Daniel 12:11.

(The Day of The Lord)

Why it is so easy to become confused about this term, is because of its complexity and timing. Adding to confusion is the interchangeable use with the term—The Day of Jesus Christ. Even dictionaries and encyclopedias have the definition all over the map. The thing for us to keep in mind is that the Day of the Lord and the Day of Jesus Christ are not the same thing, exactly. The way to keep them separate is to note that the Day of Jesus Christ is the door closing on choice for mankind, it is the end of the world as we know it. However, the door closes just a bit before Christ Returns and is marked by the Resurrection of the Two Witnesses, who, after lying in the street, dead for 3 ½ days, are brought to life and walking around. This is the time when the signs of the coming Christ appear in the heavens and about one-hour elapses.

“And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 11:11-15

The Day of The Lord begins precisely when the Spirit of Life from God enters the two witnesses. It is the announcement or the proclamation of the changing of the guard from Satan to Jesus. Releasing the present ruler and god of this world, Satan, and replacing him with the majesty of Christ, takes a little time and a lot takes place just then. I once thought that the Day of Jesus Christ and The Day of The Lord as butting together, one beginning when the other ends, but they actually overlap by the space of “within that same hour.” As a tenth of the city falls by earthquake, the Remnant (Redeemed) are “affrighted and give glory to the God of heaven.” While fear comes upon them (Believers), it is not fear of being lost that is so debilitating, but the fear that results from witnessing a transformation of the world at the Hand of Almighty God. Anyone who has felt an earthquake or tremors, can understand “affrighted.” The Saints who know the Word of God will rejoice and most likely hold hands in anticipation, so they can await Christ coming in the Clouds. They will know, because of their faith in God's Word, that within that same hour—Christ the Redeemer will split the clouds and send His reapers to gather by Resurrection—the dead, then the living-in-Christ! Hallelujah and Amen!

One thing happens when we read the above verses: Our belief that no man knows neither the day nor hour of His Return—dissipates, because once the Two Witnesses receive the Spirit of Life from God, less than one hour from that time—the clouds will roll like a scroll. By that time the number of Redeemed living on earth will be few, but they will know the above scripture and most likely head to an open-field, so they can get a good view of Christ in the clouds just before the Dead-in-Christ are resurrected. It will be quite a time and quite a sight for sure. I remember from the movie, “Titanic,” Molly Brown making the comment, while watching the great ship sink, “Well, that's something you don't see every day!” Likewise, the sight of Christ appearing in the sky, as His angels gather the Dead-in-Christ, will most likely take away the heartbeat. For it is then, that those yet living must come also, as they shed their corruptible and mortal bodies. They are living when He comes, but when they are called, they die quickly to receive their glorified bodies.

No one who trusts in scripture can deny that Christ and the living-in-Christ as well, will have full knowledge and anticipation of the time of His Return—within one hour after the Two Witnesses are raised. Taking that knowledge one step further, according to scripture, all of us who are living in the last days will know closely (very closely) the time of His Coming also. We will know that 7 years from the signing of The Covenant of Peace with Israel by the Antichrist, the clouds will part. We know further, 1260 days following the Abomination of Desolation, the Day of Jesus Christ will come. A closer look at Matthew 24:36 reveals that while Jesus was speaking with His disciples, He couldn't tell them when His Coming would occur. “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Knoweth is a term in the present tense, not future. Any prediction of His Return such as we have seen in the past, brings contempt to this verse, that is—until scripture is fulfilled by the signing of a covenant of peace with Israel for seven years. At that time, 2,520 days (1260 + 1260) will elapse before Christ returns.

A final thought about the two terms: The Day of Jesus Christ, and The Day of the Lord, is that they represent Judgment. Like our courts today, when the gavel falls, guilt or innocence is assigned to the one on trial. Jesus' Coming is that kind of judgment and after the Two Witnesses are raised from the dead, no more arguments will be heard. The guilty will mourn until Jesus comes, because they know they have no advocate. When Jesus appears, the dead-in-Christ are joined by those Saints yet living on earth and they are separated from the damned who are about to enter God's Wrath.

The Prophet Daniel gives obscure clues as to the segments and duration of the Wrath of God. Julia Howe penned the words to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and she seemed to have an understanding of the first segment of this time of unleashed anger and vengeance from God: “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord, He has trampled out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored, he has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword...” Here we see God serving up a bitter cup of Wrath for what the ungodly have done to His Son, the One who died for them. Daniel adds a new length of time “1290 days,” which is 30 days longer than the Great Tribulation. Then he adds another 45 days extending that time to 1335 days. This second segment of time is not that of the Father's Wrath, but for that of the Son. He avenges the enemy of God for what they have done against the Children of God, His Bride. When He comes, they come with Him, mounted on white horses. The Wrath of God ends with the Battle of Armageddon. (Jude 14-17), (Rev. 19:11-21

“And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth” Rev. 16:1

Verses 1-16 of Revelation chapter 16 speak of the time called The Wrath of God and it ends just prior to the Millennium at a place called Armageddon. The Damned are gathered there just as the children of Ammon and Moab came against those inhabitants of Mount Seir, killing one another, then turning on each one until all were dead, and so The Wrath of God ends with the enemy killing themselves just as in Judah under King Jehoshaphat, when God’s Prophet Jahaziel told the people not to be dismayed, “for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chron. 20:15

(The Millennium)

This thousand-year event can best be understood as the Sabbath of Creation. At the Second Coming of Christ, the twenty elders proclaim that “thou has taken to thee, thy great power,” meaning that the work of the prior 6,000 years is complete and from Satan, Jesus has taken the power that was given him at the time of “original sin. Now (the Millennium) will be lived according to the way God wished His Creation to be lived. At this time, the Bride of Christ will live out this thousand-years and it will be a glorious time. The lion and the lamb will lie together, and swords will be beat into plowshares. Children will be born to those whose names were found in the Lamb's Book of Life. They will not marry, but wives will be given to husbands just as Adam was given a wife. Many generations will populate the earth, but this time, the Tempter and the blight of sin are gone. Those born during this time will also have the gift of choice, but will have the advantage of Godly parents, teachers and rulers. They will also have the King of Kings to know and to follow. Then, when Satan is loosed for a little season at the end of the Millennium, he finds no one to deceive, because; number one—he lost his power and has no power with which to deceive, number two; those born during the Millennium and those who are raised to life at the end of the Millennium (Revelation 20:5) will have seen Jesus and felt His Love and Power. They convince Satan that without the power that God gave him at the Garden of Eden, he is no better than those he deceived. At that moment, Satan goes straight up in frustration, and calls the deceived from Gog and Magog to come fight against God and all that is of God. It all ends at what is known as “The Last Battle” or “The Battle of Gog and Magog.” It is not much of a battle at all, because God sends down fire and they are all destroyed.

(The Gleanings portion)

This is the final installment of The First Resurrection and it happens at the end of the Millennium and just before Satan is loosed for “a little season.” Revelation 20:5: “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” The rest of the dead are people who once lived, but for some reason of life, were not held accountable for what they did or did not do with Christ. First coming to mind are those under the age of understanding, and those who did not have the mental capacity to understand Redemption. We can speculate all day about that, but most likely, they are the unmentioned group in Daniel 12:2. “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” While “many” are raised, it is the offset to that many who aren't raised. Those who are raised, do so for what they have done with Christ. The others who aren't raised then, are then raised following the Millennium, as GLEANINGS of the Harvest. Those little ones who died at the hands of an abortionist and the many children who lost their lives before they were able to live them, possibly make up the greater portion of this group. As a comfort to the grieving loved ones, we often say that the Lord must have needed another little baby in Heaven, because that is all we can imagine; the babies and children going to Heaven. I think the scriptural comfort of little ones in Heaven, comes at the understanding of the Gleanings following the Millennium, because after Satan is loosed for a little season to tempt the nations, it will most likely be that he deceives no one because his power is taken from him at the Second-Coming of Christ. So, as Satan fails to deceive the nations, the little ones and those born into the Millennium will choose the King of kings and Lord of lords and their reward will be: Heaven on Earth. So, when we indicate that the little ones go to Heaven when they die, we are partially correct, but miss the timing of attaining the promise of Heaven, by at least 1,000 years.

^“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth” Rev. 20: 7,8a

This verse in Revelation chapter 20 has baffled students for hundreds of years, because: Who is he going to deceive? He can’t deceive the Redeemed of God who live in the Millennium because they inherited incorruption and immortality at the Resurrection of the Dead. (1 Corinthians 15: 51-54)

We learned in the same chapter verse 5 that the rest of the dead are raised, that is—those who were not of the two groups Daniel spoke of in Daniel 12:2. Many of the dead are raised but there are also many who are not; they are not Damned nor Redeemed, but untested.

Also, there are those who are born into the Millennium who have not spent their choice of whom to serve and for that reason, Satan is loosed. The problem he finds in his escapade of deception is that he no longer has the power to deceive, Christ took that to Himself at His Return. That is most likely the reason he spends little time on his deception voyage. He then is steaming red-hot with anger and venom because of the 1,000 years in chains and because he now sees what a worm he is without the power that God gave him. That’s when he calls up Gog and Magog for all-out war, but the time is over, and God sends fire to destroy them. This is at least the third death for the Damned, in the sentence of Eternal Death.

Either title is correct, because there are references of this battle, using both terms. Actually; this event isn't much of a battle at all: (in the since that we think of a battle involving one foe against another) Satan leads the assault against the God of Heaven and all his followers are with him. For the final bit of convincing, God destroys them all with fire. All have died at least a second time and shortly following this they are resurrected in what is known as the Second Resurrection or The Resurrection of the Damned. This battle is the picture of finality for the gathering of all the Redeemed behind their Master—The King, and, of all the Damned behind their leader—The Prince of Lies.

Up unto this point, you have heard some things possibly that you have never heard before. Some were new to me until the scriptures opened up. All my life I have heard many different scenarios of who Gog and Magog might be and those scenarios varied with differing political settings throughout the years. I don’t have Biblical basis for this suggestion of Gog and Magog meaning; this is Tom Buttram theory, and I say that not to claim for myself anything, I just have never heard any such thing before, and after I voice it, you may agree that seems very plausible.

Study, (first of all) the relationship of the names Gog and Magog with one coming out of another or at least sharing some odd commonality. It is much like the terms: male and female, one coming out of another but not being the same while yet, being same in many ways.

Realize also that Satan wants to ascend to the heavens and be God himself. He cannot create but only imitate or pervert the created thing for his own purpose. There is a strange characteristic of God, in that He has a select people whom He calls THE CHOSEN, which is Israel. He chose them to be His People and all Israel will be saved. He gave them the land of Goshen and called it Israel because of the promise He gave Jacob. They will have to accept Jesus and will do so at His Coming but there is another group of people (souls, spirits, angels) called THE ELECT and they come to God by the calling of the Holy Spirit and they come before the Apocalypse by their choice.

Satan has his messiah, (the Antichrist) his false prophet, his millennium—called The Age of Aquarius, and a set time of his messiah’s ministry (a period of 1260 days exactly equal to the ministry of Christ on earth—1260 days) and now the only thing missing is his two groups of people to equate to THE CHOSEN and THE ELECT. He has these groups, but we didn’t know their names until now: When Lucifer was cast from Heaven, also cast were one-third of the angels (souls, spirits created at the beginning of time). Those found him irresistible and declared him as their god. They spent their choice before the time of testing and consequently were denied bodies just as Lucifer was.

Since they came first, I call them Gog and they (demons) serve their master by inhabiting and tempting the uncommitted spirits on earth (humans) to a damned lifestyle. Those who are unable to overcome the damned lifestyle, then, at the Apocalypse become “out of Gog, or—Magog” and instead of occupying the position of ELECT, become the default position of: DECEIVED.

The Biblical part of this TB theory rest in the observation of the time when they are called from the four-quarters of the earth (same description of Christ sending His Angels to the four-corners of the earth to raise the Dead-in-Christ) they come UP to the breadth of the earth to do battle. “And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them” Revelation 20:8,9

The fact that they come up suggests that they are below, and I suggest it is Hades that they reside until the Great White Throne Judgment where they are cast into the fiery Hell. This description eliminates any suggestion that Gog and Magog represent any evil empire on earth and furthermore—during the Millennium because the earth during that time is under the rule of Jesus Christ and all power is His. Furthermore, the verse that keeps the damned from being on the earth during the Millennium is Revelation 20:6, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Those who are on the earth for the thousand years have come to the First Resurrection by Harvest or are part of the Gleanings portion. They are blessed and holy! No one else participates; no evil empires, not Turkey, Yemen, Iraq, or Iran. The enemy of God is banished from this “Heaven on Earth” until the Final Battle which immediately initiates the Second Resurrection.

Again, either term is correct, because both represent the time immediately following the Second Resurrection. The thing to remember is this: The eternal destiny of all who have ever lived is sealed at the Revelation 20:5 Gleanings event. The Great White Throne is like the “sentencing phase” of the trial of guilt or innocence which was established at Christ's Second-Coming. This part of judgment determines the punishment meted out for the Damned, as well as the rewards issued for the Redeemed. For the Damned, you would think a sentence of eternal death would be sufficient, but it is not. There will be those whose crimes against God's Creation exceeds those of drunken slough and coming to mind would be Adolph Hitler and those of his ilk. Those who so hated the Father, and the Son as well, that they worked evil against all things of God, will inherit the most hideous of positions in Satan's Hell.

Likewise; for the Redeemed, inheriting eternal glory will be reward enough for calling upon the Name of Jesus, but for those who gave their lives as martyrs or in service to His Kingdom—added glories will be theirs for eternal Heaven on Earth. Thus, the scriptures that say only that which is done for Christ will last, say so, because during this time of Judgment—the earth is burning with a great and fervent heat, so great that all the works of man are destroyed. The planet Earth is not destroyed, but the elements are melted as man's accomplishments and treasures flow down the hill in a river of futility and a vapor of vanity. Trusting in riches and thick portfolios will be a loss to Christians, who should have invested in Heavenly Treasures. The same riches and thick portfolios belonging to the Damned represent the same folly and false security, for what doeth it profit a man, to gain the world and lose his own soul.

It might be confusing, (the seventh Heaven), but there are seven Heavens and they are what they are because of some change of abode. The first Heaven is before the planet Earth was prepared for the testing of souls. Then Lucifer, The Star of The Morning, lived there and he wanted to be God. He was jealous of God. When Lucifer was kicked out of Heaven, along with a third of the angels, we note the second Heaven. The third Heaven is noted by the absence of the Darling of Heaven, Jesus, while He was fulfilling His ministry on Earth. The fourth Heaven is marked by Jesus' Ascension to sit at the right hand of the Father. The fifth Heaven is marked by Jesus' Return to Earth to Redeem His Bride. The sixth Heaven is a celebration of epic proportions. Jesus is joined by His Bride for the Marriage Feast of the Lamb. The seventh and final Heaven is Heaven come down with the new Earth. Heaven will be the New Jerusalem, a city built four-square. God's Throne will stand there, and the Father will be the Temple of the people. This city of Heaven will be 375 miles in all directions with three large gates standing open on each side. Redeemed of God will live not in the city, but in the new Earth, prepared as our home. We will call on Jesus and He will answer. He will be our king and our Husband.

That time represents the finale of Creation. God desires to be loved and worshiped, but His Creation, mankind, wanted another to serve for a king. The picture we get of Christ being the husband and His Redeemed as His Bride at His Coming, is the perfect understanding of our relationship to Him. We are to desire Heaven, because of Him, not because of who else may be there. We also must desire to lead sinless lives in order to please Him. Lucifer was expelled from the first Heaven because He was prideful and was jealous of God. For our perfect place in the coming world, we must see ourselves as servant—unto Him, who is Master; as wife to He, who is Husband; Redeemed as to He, Who is the Redeemer; and Creature as to He, who is Creator. The Lord God is mighty, and all glory is due Him.

There are two Resurrections. The first one contains the resurrection of many people over a period of 3,000 years. Those of the First Resurrection belong to God and are not hurt by the Second Resurrection. There are three parts of the First Resurrection and they match the harvest events of old Israel. The First Resurrection should be seen as a process while the Second Resurrection is an event.

First Resurrection

1. The first fruits represent the tithe that was the pick of the crop or litter and had to be perfect, free from spot or blemish. Of the Harvest of God's Saints, Christ is our First Fruits, because He was offered to God as a sacrifice for our sins. “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” 1 Cor. 15:20. The second part of First Fruits is that of the raising of the 144,000, because of their Holy lived lives. They are raised just prior to the general Harvest at His Coming.
2. The Harvest at His Coming includes those Dead-in-Christ as well as those yet living on earth, but whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. No one holding the Mark of the Beast will inherit God's Kingdom. This great time of Harvest represents the time when the farmer takes all the crop for himself and stores in his barn.
3. Revelation 20:5 tells us that at the end of the Millennial Reign of Christ, the rest of the dead are raised, these are the Gleanings of the Harvest. They are like the grain or strayed livestock not taken during the general Harvest. They are picked up later. These Gleanings represent those whose choice was taken from them once conceived on earth.

Second Resurrection

Unlike the First Resurrection, which takes 3,000 years to complete, the Second Resurrection only takes a moment. After the Damned are killed at the Last Battle, they are soon, or immediately resurrected to stand before the Judgment seat of Christ. There, their sins will be revealed to the world, and also; at the sound of the Name of Jesus, shall every knee bow and every tongue confess that “JESUS IS LORD.”

There are two mysteries: The mystery of God and the mystery of Sin. The mystery of sin is the power to deceive and destroy. The Mystery of God eludes most until the Great White Throne Judgment where the Sheep and the Goats are eternally separated, and the greatest achievement of Creation is accomplished—And that is: the BLAME GAME HAS ENDED. God can now cast to Hell those spirits whom He created at the beginning of time, but also whom did not truly love God. They were tested by their incursion to earth (as we all are) and exposure to the temptation of sin as well as the Word of God. Those who failed that test were the ones who did not truly love God but were jealous or antagonistic to His mighty Power and were weak to the lure of Lucifer. When they were caught in their trespass at the Coming of Christ, they blame everyone and everything because the whole thing wasn’t fair as they will claim. They will blame    preachers, pedophile priests, absentee fathers, drug-dependent mothers, childhood disease/deformity--whereas they learn that the test was hard for all, not just them. God couldn’t put it to rest with souls going to their punishment blaming Him. They must come to their senses and realize that God is God and they are the Damned fool. At their sentence of Damnation, they will even praise God because He allowed them to see the folly of sin and that all the blame is on them. The Mystery of God is fully revealed at the sound of the Name of Jesus, and personally—will your heart rejoice at hearing that Name which is above all names? Or, will it be the sickening reminder of all the opportunity you had to surrender your faith and life to the Lamb that was slain? Jesus said that today is the day, now is the time for Salvation. For whosoever shall call upon His Name, the same shall be saved. Don't neglect that call, come to Him today.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11

Tom Buttram