Bible Prophecy

1
Bible Prophecy 101
An Introductory Bible Information Seminar
Week 6
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Topic Outline

• Recap Week5
• Key Messages (New Covenant)
• Framework (Integration)
• New Testament Prophecy
• (Matthew, 2 Peter, 2Timothy)
• Linkage to Other Scripture
• Application Lessons for Us
• Question / Answer Session

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Recap Week 5
Daniel repeatedly said that only God could reveal
the future.
a) Daniel 2 is about Nebuchadnezzar's dream which
had an image with a head of gold, arms and
breast of silver, belly and thighs of bronze,
legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay.
b) Using information from Daniel 78, we learn
that after Babylon would come the empires of
Medo-Persia (bear/ram) and Greece
(leopard/he-goat).
c) The stone that became a mountain and filled
the whole earth is interpreted to be the Kingdom
of God.
Both Zechariah and Malachi prophesied to Jews who
had returned from exile in Babylon.
a) Zechariah 14 is part of an oracle whose focus
is on the city of Jerusalem.
b) Exciting things happen the Mt. of Olives is
split in two, there shall be continuous day, and
the LORD becomes king over all the earth.
c) Malachi 4 predicts the coming of Elijah to
turn the hearts of fathers and children to faith
before "the great the terrible day of the LORD
comes".
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Key Point Brought Forward
The stage is being set for the third and final
overthrow of Israel, when this happens, the Return
of Christ is very near.
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Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel
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Framework - Key Events / People

• Samuel to Malachi
• Samuel the prophet anointed and mentored first
  two kings
• David was a man after Gods own heart, and wrote
  prophetic psalms
• Davids zeal and faithfulness brings Seed
  promise 3
• Elijah the prophet confronted king Ahab over
  worship of false gods
• Micaiah the prophet predicted the certain death
  of Ahab in battle
• Isaiah the prophet confronted king Ahaz,
  encouraged king Hezekiah
• Jeremiah the prophet confronted king Zedekiah and
  his false prophets
• Daniel the prophet confronted Babylonian kings
  and wrong decrees
• Amos the prophet predicted a time when the
  prophetic message dries up

• Isaiah foretold the Kingdom age and the
  suffering Messiah

• Jeremiah predicted doom/exile for
  Jerusalem/Judah, and a new covenant
• Ezekiel the prophet (in exile) confronted his
  listeners, was a man of sign
• Ezekiel confirmed Jeremiahs message, and
  predicted restoration

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Framework - Key Events / People

• New Testament
• John Baptist the prophet who fulfilled
  Malachis prophecy ( Isaiahs)
• John Baptist prepared the people for Messiahs
  coming, baptized Jesus
• John Baptist confronted the religious
  authorities and king Herod, was killed
• Jesus predicted his death and resurrection,
  based on OT prophecy (cf. Isaiah)
• Jesus fulfilled Gods promises to Abraham and
  David, by his resurrection
• Jesus promised an outpouring of Holy Spirit,
  based on OT prophecy (cf. Joel)
• Jesus gave the Revelation via his angel for John
  (the apostle) to write
• The apostles fulfilled the OT Jesus prediction,
  and prophesied at Pentecost
• Other early believers were also given the gift
  prophecy (to upbuild the church)
• Agabus the prophet predicted an impending famine
  Pauls imprisonment
• John warned against antichrist, believers who
  became false prophets

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Key Messages (New Covenant)
There had been no prophet of God for 400 years...
Then John the Baptist came into the Jordan River
region "preaching a baptism of repentance for the
forgiveness of sins" (Luke 33)
This message clearly linked to Jeremiah's new
covenant (3134) "for I will forgive their
iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more"
John was getting the people ready for Christ,
saying (Luke 311) "I baptize you with water for
repentance, but he who is coming after me is
mightier than Ifor he will baptize you with the
Holy Spirit and with fire"
This message clearly linked to Malachi's prophecy
(32) "But who can endure the day of his coming,
and who can stand when he appears? For he is
like a refiner's fireas a refiner and purifier
of silver"
Thus the OT teaching was brought forward and
established by John
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Key Messages (New Covenant - cont'd)
Jesus preached exactly the same message as John
the Baptist "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand" (Matthew 32, 417)
Jesus also required baptism as necessary to enter
that kingdom "Truly, truly I say to you, unless
one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot
enter the kingdom of God" (John 35)
Thus when he explained his mission and gave the
commission to preach, he tied together
repentance, baptism forgiveness of sins "Thus
it is written that repentance and forgiveness of
sins should be preached in his name to all
nations" (Luke 2447) "Go into all the world and
preach the gospel ... He who believes and is
baptized will be saved" (Mark 1615-16)
Disciples would remember the new covenant in a
fellowship meal "Drink of it, all of you for
this is my blood of the new covenant, which is
poured out for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew
2627 see 1 Corinthians 1123-26)
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Terminology Definitions

• Repentance
• the act of 'turning around' in one's thinking and
  behavior, as a result of being convicted by the
  word of God

it was the demanded response of anyone
who was not yet reconciled to God by belief in
Christ,

and the
expected response of believers who had strayed
from what they knew was the right way of living
before God (Matthew 32, Acts 822, Revelation
25)

• Baptism
• the act of immersion in water to signify the
  'washing away of sins' and burial of one's old
  way of life (Acts 2216, Romans 63)

it was an act
of faith obedience on the part of a Christian
convert (Acts 237-38, 835- 36, 1631-33)
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Terminology Definitions

• Tribulation
• a time of trouble, distress, ordeal and sometimes
  persecution it is experienced by those whom God
  is punishing, with the intention that they will
  'repent' and return to Him (e.g., Jeremiah
  1111-14, Revelation 222)

it is also experienced by those who have taken a
stand for God's way (e.g., Matthew 511-12,
1Peter 412-17)
Shortly after Paul had been stoned and left for
dead, he was speaking to the disciples,
"exhorting them to continue in the faith and
saying that through many tribulations we must
enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 1422 see also
2Timothy 312)
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Prophetic Pattern (Integration)
OT prophecies converge on the NT gospel record
The Gospel of Matthew quotes or cites all of
these Old Testament books
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Prophetic Pattern (Integration)
Jesus' Olivet prophecy a precursor to his
Revelation
The Apocalypse uses details and symbols from all
these sources
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Prophetic Pattern (Integration)
E.g., five earlier sources basis for Rev. 112
the city of chaos is broken down, the gates are
battered into ruin (last days context)
the city will be taken (last days context)
Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles,
until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled
transgression that makes desolate the host
trampled under foot (last days context)
A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it until he comes
whose right it is 3 distinct overthrows?

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Prophetic Pattern (Integration)
How three distinct overthrows could be understood
?? - by nations round about (Zechariah 121-4,
141)
?? - by Gentiles (Luke 2120,24, Revelation 112)
?? - by horn of 4th beast (Daniel 721-25, cf.
823-25)
?? - by beast 10 horns (Revelation 131-8,
1716)
?? - by 10 hostile countries (Psalm 831-8)
The stage is set right now for this to happen!
16
NT Prophecy - Matthew 24
"Jesus left the temple and was going away...
Who Jesus
When AD 29, three days before Jesus' death
Audience His disciples, who came in private with
their question
Setting Having just finished his pronouncement
of woes upon the hypocritical Pharisees and
scribes (see Context on next slide),
Jesus laments over Jerusalem (2337-39, citing
its desolation - Jeremiah 225).
He declares "You will not see me
again, until you say 'Blessed is he who comes in
the name of the Lord'" the people must repent
and declare true faith in him (see 219)
As he left the temple, his disciples comment on
its 'noble stones' Jesus states that the day
will come when each of those stones will be
"thrown down". So his disciples come and ask for
elaboration.
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NT Prophecy - Matthew 24 (contd)
Context

• Chap 21 - Jesus has ridden (mounted on an ass)
  as a king into
• Jerusalem in fulfillment of Zechariah 99 and
  to the acclaim of the
• people who shout "Hosanna to the Son of David!
  Blessed is he who
• comes in the name of the Lord" (Psalm 11826-27)

• He then cleanses the temple a second time in
  fulfillment of Isaiah
• 567, Jeremiah 711 and Malachi 32
  

• Chap 22-23 - Jesus then makes the temple his
  teaching location for
• his final appeal to the people and the
  religious leaders, citing Psalm
• 11822-23,26 1101 to indicate that he was
  the Messiah.

His
appeal includes woes pronounced on the scribes
and Pharisees whom he labels "blind guides,
hypocrites, white-washed tombs, brood of vipers"

• Chap 25 - Chapter 24 is part of a discourse that
  carries over to include
• chapter 25, which contains three illuminating
  parables on how Jesus
• will deal with faithful and unfaithful
  disciples.

While this teaching is also
prophetic and very important, it is not discussed
at this time.
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NT Prophecy - Matthew 24 (contd)
1 Jesus left the temple and was going away,
when his disciples came to point out to him the
buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered
them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly, I
say to you, there will not be left here one stone
upon another, that will not be thrown down." 3
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples
came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when
will this be, and what will be the sign of your
coming and of the close of the age?"
Points
v.2 Per Josephus, this was done by the Roman
soldiers in AD70 when Jerusalem was sacked and
the temple rubble searched for melted gold.
v.3 Essentially two aspects of one question (see
Luke 217, Mark 134).
Jesus' answer turned out having two fulfillments
the first in the AD70 overthrow of Jerusalem, the
second in the "last days" (since the part of the
prophecy about his actual, literal "coming" has
not yet happened).
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NT Prophecy - Matthew 24 (contd)
4 And Jesus answered them, "Take heed that no
one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in
my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will
lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars
and rumors of wars see that you are not alarmed
for this must take place, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation will rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom, and there will be
famines and earthquakes in various places 8
all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.
Points
v.4-5 First warning about false prophets and
deceivers it definitely had application in the
first century (Acts 2138, 2029-30, Galatians
24-5)
v.6-8 Turmoil caused by war is hardly prophetic
but when coupled with 'natural disasters', they
were 'signs' God-caused happenings designed to
bring people back to things that really count and
to ask for God's help.
The "birth-pangs" a woman's labor pains, a
metaphor to describe the agony re-birth of
Jerusalem (e.g.,Jeremiah 431, Isaiah
2617,667-11).
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NT Prophecy - Matthew 24 (contd)
9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation,
and put you to death and you will be hated by
all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then
many will fall away, and betray one another, and
hate one another. 11 And many false prophets
will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because
wickedness is multiplied, most men's love will
grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end
will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the
kingdom will be preached throughout the whole
world, as a testimony to all nations and then
the end will come.
Points
v.9-10 First mention of tribulation like the
Master, the disciples would be persecuted,
betrayed by friends, and killed they had been
warned of such by Jesus earlier (1016-23 see
extra details in Luke 2112-18) .
v.11-13 Second warning about false prophets the
result of their work thus the necessity to keep
the faith until life ends or Christ returns
v.14 In some sense, preaching the gospel
world-wide would precede Christ's coming
Colossians 123 prior to AD70, ?? in last days
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NT Prophecy - Matthew 24 (contd)
15 So when you see the desolating sacrilege
spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the
holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then
let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains
17 let him who is on the housetop not go down
to take what is in his house...19 And alas for
those who are with child and for those who give
suck in those days!21 For then there will be
great tribulation, such as has not been from the
beginning of the world until now, no, and never
will be. 22 And if those days had not been
shortened, no human being would be saved but for
the sake of the elect those days will be
shortened.
Points
v.15-20 Understanding what Daniel wrote prompted
people to flee when the zealots took over those
who understood Jesus' words fled Jerusalem during
a temporary break-off of the Roman siege in AD 70
v.21-22 Describes an unprecedented time when
unless God intervened, there would be no
survivors

it's said the final Roman siege lasted 5 mo.
(see Revelation 95) God may further shorten the
"last days" tribulation
22
NT Prophecy - Matthew 24 (contd)
23 Then if any one says to you, 'Lo, here is
the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it.
24 For false Christs and false prophets will
arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to
lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25
Lo, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they
say to you, 'Lo, he is in the wilderness,' do not
go out if they say, 'Lo, he is in the inner
rooms,' do not believe it. 27 For as the
lightning comes from the east and shines as far
as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of
man. 28 Wherever the body is, there the
eagles will be gathered together
NIV translation carcass vultures
Points
v.23-26 Third warning about false prophets
their performance will be such that even faithful
believers might be fooled!

Two scenarios are
given to help recognize their deceitful teaching
(e.g., invisible coming).
v.27-28 The flash of lightning is very bright and
unmistakable unless blind or your eyes are
deliberately closed, Christ's return is obvious.


The vulture image also obvious a
fitting metaphor for Jerusalem's end.
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NT Prophecy - Matthew 24 (contd)
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those
days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will
not give its light, and the stars will fall from
heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be
shaken
Together, sun, moon stars are OT symbols for
Israel (Genesis 37 9-10), and a fitting metaphor
for Israel since they are to last forever
(Jeremiah 3135-36, Ps. 8936-37)
being darkened and shaken its
downfall (Dan. 810, Lamentations 21-2, Joel
210)
30 then will appear the sign of the Son of man
in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth
will mourn, and they will see the Son of man
coming on the clouds of heaven with power and
great glory
"the sign" the unmistakable lightning (and
other divine things as in Revelation 1119) which
announces his coming?
"tribes"
Israel mourning "him whom they pierced"
(Zechariah 1210)

Jesus "coming on the clouds" literally seen
the way he went (Acts 19-11)
24
NT Prophecy - Matthew 24 (contd)
31 and he will send out his angels with a loud
trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from
the four winds, from one end of heaven to the
other.
Compare Matthew 1341,49 where Jesus said his
angels would gather in the righteous
The "trumpet call" could signify assembly, alarm,
war, or times of gladness (Numbers 101-10)
all aspects line up with the 7th trumpet blast
which heralded "the kingdom of our Lord and of
his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever"
(Revelation 1115)
"elect" the faithful from all the ages who
chose to follow the teaching of God, who call on
His Name, and whom He takes care of (Colossians
312, Luke 187, Romans 833, Titus 11)
it also aligns with "the last
trumpet" associated with the resurrection of the
dead (1 Corinthians 1552)
both risen dead and the living are included in
the gathering (1Thessalonians 415-17)
25
NT Prophecy - Matthew 24 (contd)
32 From the fig tree learn its lesson as soon
as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its
leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So
also, when you see all these things, you know
that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I
say to you, this generation will not pass away
till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and
earth will pass away, but my words will not pass
away. 36 But of that day and hour no one knows,
not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but
the Father only.
Points
v.32-33 When the apostles saw all these
predictions of Jesus coming to pass, they rightly
expected his Coming to be near the "last days"
had come upon them (e.g., 1Peter 47-17, 2Peter
31-13, 2Thessalonians 21-11, 1John 218,
Revelation 13,2220)
so why didn't Jesus come?
v.34-35 "this generation" could be those who
lived long enough to see the events of AD70
unfold in the last days, something comparable?
v.36 since no one except God knows the exact
date, it is fruitless to try to figure it out
what matters is readiness, not calculating dates
26
NT Prophecy - Matthew 24 (contd)
37 As were the days of Noah, so will be the
coming of the Son of man. 38 For as in those
days before the flood they were eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until
the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they
did not know until the flood came and swept them
all away, so will be the coming of the Son of
man. 40 Then two men will be in the field one
is taken and one is left. 41 Two women will be
grinding at the mill one is taken and one is
left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know
on what day your Lord is coming.
Points
v.37-39 Everyone expected normal daily activity
to continue they were willfully ignorant of what
Noah was preaching or doing (i.e., building an
ark), to their utter destruction (2Peter
25,35-7) Jesus predicted and Peter confirmed
that people's behavior will be the same in the
"last days"
v.40-42 Christ's coming involves the final
selection (via angels v. 31) that can
include/exclude anyone, anywhere, anytime since
we do not know exactly when, we must be ready to
be taken when the time comes
27
NT Prophecy - Matthew 24 (contd)
43 But know this, that if the householder had
known in what part of the night the thief was
coming, he would have watched and would not have
let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you
also must be ready for the Son of man is coming
at an hour you do not expect. 45 "Who then is
the faithful and wise servant, whom his master
has set over his household, to give them their
food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that
servant whom his master when he comes will find
so doing.
Points
v.43-44 In case his disciples missed the lesson,
Jesus restates the need to be ready (AKA watch,
be prepared) why? because he is coming when we
do not expect it things not happening according
to our understanding? distracted? given up?
stopped praying? (Luke 181,8)
v.45-46 Readiness does not mean sitting down and
waiting for the event it means to be up and
doing the service of the Master (see chapter 25
parables) Christ will reward based on such doing
(v. 47)
28
NT Prophecy - Matthew 24 (contd)
Jesus' Olivet prophecy is recorded in three
Gospels
Mark 13
Matthew 24-25
Luke 21
29
NT Prophecy - Matthew 24 (contd)
More information from Luke 21
20 But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by
armies, then know that its desolation has come
near... 22 for these are days of vengeance, to
fulfill all that is written. 23 ...For great
distress shall be upon the earth and wrath upon
this people 24 they will fall by the edge of
the sword, and be led captive among all nations
and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the
Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are
fulfilled.
Points
v.20,24 Jerusalem is explicitly identified
stated to be downtrodden by Gentile enemies who
kill and take captive until their time is up.
v.22-23 This desolation is part of God's wrath
and vengeance upon the people, because they had
murdered all the prophets sent to them --
especially God's Son -- and continued to
persecute those who preached Christ (Matthew
2332-36, 2133-41,1Thess 216, Revelation 69,
8-9)
30
NT Prophecy - Matthew 24 (contd)
More information from Luke 21
25 And there will be signs in sun and moon and
stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in
perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the
waves, 26 men fainting with fear and with
foreboding of what is coming on the world for
the powers of the heavens will be shaken ... 28
Now when these things begin to take place, look
up and raise your heads, because your redemption
is drawing near.
Points
v.25,26 The distress is not limited to Israel
other nations will feel the "perplexity" (Greek
'no way out') and men around the world will be
"fainting with fear and with foreboding"
illustrated in the recent events around the
aftermath of the terrorist attack at the World
Trade Center
v.28 In striking contrast to the distress and
despair experienced by people in the world,
believers are to regard these times as a
precursor to Christ's return and their redemption
cause for joy witnessing
31
NT Prophecy - Matthew 24 (contd)
More information from Luke 21
34 But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts
be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness
and cares of this life, and that day come upon
you suddenly like a snare 35 for it will come
upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole
earth. 36 But watch at all times, praying that
you may have strength to escape all these things
that will take place, and to stand before the Son
of man.
Points
v.34 This lists some of the distractions and
indulgences which cause believers to be not
ready so beware of being ensnared (Isaiah
511-12)
v.35 "the whole earth" global the Return
impacts all mankind
v.36 Reinforces the need to "watch at all
times" Luke adds the need to pray for "strength
to escape" (prevail, overcome) believers will
go through the tribulation "to stand" be
worthy,accepted (Ephesians 613)
32
Olivet Prophecy Last 50 years

• ditto global (now)

• ditto global (now)

• ditto global (now)

• ditto global (now)

• have all the makings for this to
• start anytime (Israel global)

• Jerusalem trodden down by Gentiles
• (prediction of Zech 14, Rev 11)

• Christ to return (prediction - this
• time he really will come )

33
Olivet Prophecy (contd)
Application / Lesson - false prophets

• Jesus warns about false prophets three times
  must be an important
• subject the letter of 2 Peter is focuses on
  the topic as well

Chap 1 - "we have the prophetic word made more
sure you will do well to pay attention to this
as to a lamp shining in a dark place..."
states the value of Bible prophecy, especially in
a dark world
Chap 2 - "but false prophets also arose among the
people, just as there will be false teachers
among you, who will secretly bring in destructive
heresies, even denying the Master who bought
them..." the danger is internal, i.e., within
the church
Chap 3 - "first of all you must understand this,
that scoffers will come in the last days and
saying 'Where is the promise of his coming?'"
this is a 'last days' problem and we are
experiencing it now
34
Olivet Prophecy (contd)
Application / Lesson - the 'rapture'

• Illustration it is taught that believers are
  'raptured' up to heaven to
• avoid the great tribulation on earth the
  primary text to prove this is
• 1Thessalonians 417. Is this sound exposition?
  Let's see

a) neither v.17 nor its context says anything
about "tribulation" or "heaven" these
terms/ideas are being read into the text
b) the Greek word presumed to mean 'rapture'
simply means 'caught away' (e.g., Acts 839), not
'caught up'
c) v.16 says the the Lord will "descend from
heaven" he is coming down to the earth v. 17
says that the risen dead alive believers are
caught away together "to meet the Lord in the air
not heaven, and so we shall always be with the
Lord".

But the location is
not specified. To claim it is heaven is an
assumption. A more likely location is the earth
since (1) that's where the Lord was coming in the
first place (2) countless other passages put the
Kingdom there.
35
Olivet Prophecy (contd)
Application / Lesson - the 'rapture'

• Furthermore, when you align the details of 1Thes
  4 with those of
• Matthew 24, it is apparent that the 'caught
  away' occurs after the
• tribulation, not before it! Here's the
  analysis

Pt 2 - but v.29 in Matthew says "Immediately
after the tribulation of those days" v.30-31
take place after the tribulation
Pt 3 - since v.16-17 same event as v.30-31,
they also take place after the tribulation
being "caught away" is upon Jesus' Return
36
Olivet Prophecy (contd)
Application / Lesson - the 'rapture'

• Does it matter? Yes! This is far more that
  getting a sequence wrong.
• The rapture is an attractive teaching because
  it gives the (false) hope
• to believers of not going through the
  tribulation. What will these
• believers think when they are not 'taken away'
  but 'left behind'? Panic?
• Believe that Christ has abandoned them?

They may overlook the
verses that indicate persecution (on account of
God and Christ) has been the experience of the
faithful throughout the ages.

They
may forget that God uses the time of
tribulation to bring people back to Him, and
that's the best time to have His people there
witnessing to to the unbelievers and
demonstrating God's love in very tough times.
So, while the church in Philadelphia was told
they would be "kept from the hour of trial that
is coming on the whole world" (Rev 310) they
were the exception, not the rule (e.g. Rev
210,13,69-11,117).
37
Olivet Prophecy (contd)
Application / Lesson - the fig tree
Hypothesis Suppose the passage in Luke 2129-31
about the "fig tree, and all the trees" is not
merely a metaphor, but is a parable whereby a
tree represents a nation (as in Ezekiel 31).

Then interpret the "fig
tree" to be Israel, based on Jesus' cursing
the fig tree in Matthew 2119-20, cf. Hosea
916).
Then interpret the
other "trees" nations in the Middle East (cf.
Ezekiel 3116).
IF this is a valid interpretation, then

• Then our generation may be the one (picked by
  God) who would
• recognize the sign and "know that the kingdom
  of God is near"!

38
NT Prophecy - 2 Timothy 3
" But understand this, that in the last days...
Who Paul, the apostle
When AD 65-67
Audience Timothy, a young elder in the church at
Ephesus
Setting Given that this was Paul's last letter,
he would have laid out the most crucial and
vital matters to his "son in the faith". One such
matter was the lack of sound Scripture teaching
and consequent false doctrine that had
infiltrated the church (e.g., Galatians 24-6,
Titus 110-16, 1 Timothy 41-16).

Paul already had
predicted that this would happen at Ephesus (Acts
2028-32), where the solution was the same as
here "I commend you to God and the word of His
grace, which is able to build you up and give you
the inheritance among all those who are
sanctified"
39
NT Prophecy - 2Timothy 3 (contd)
1But understand this, that in the last days
there will come times of stress. 2 For men will
be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud,
arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents,
ungrateful, unholy, 3 inhuman, implacable,
slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit,
lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5
holding the form of religion but denying the
power of it. Avoid such people.
Points
v.1 Explicitly, this is a "last days" problem
relevant to ourselves.
v.2-5 This list of detrimental characteristics
could easily describe the behavior of worldly
people, but astoundingly enough, these people
are professed members of the church! They go
through the motions of religion, but evidently
expect and seek nothing from God or His Book.
40
NT Prophecy - 2Timothy 3 (contd)
6 For among them are those who make their way
into households and capture weak women, burdened
with sins and swayed by various impulses, 7 who
will listen to anybody and can never arrive at a
knowledge of the truth. 8 As Jannes and Jambres
opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the
truth, men of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith
9 but they will not get very far, for their
folly will be plain to all, as was that of those
two men
Points
v. 6-7 Itinerant false preachers were worming
their way into the house churches and placing
more burdens on emotionally-charged women.
v.8-9 Citing two false prophets out of the past,
Paul exposed these "men of corrupt mind and
counterfeit faith" however, when rightly and
firmly opposed by men of truth (such as Timothy
and Titus -- see 224-25, 41-3, Titus 19-11),
they would be thwarted and silenced.
41
NT Prophecy - 2Timothy 3 (contd)
10 Now you have observed my teaching, my
conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience,
my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions,
my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at
Iconium, and at Lystra, what persecutions I
endured yet from them all the Lord rescued me.
12 Indeed all who desire to live a godly life
in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while
evil men and impostors will go on from bad to
worse, deceivers and deceived.
Points
v. 10-11 Paul rehearses his past accomplishments
and characteristics, not to boast, but to lay out
the God-directed experiences of suffering which
"produces endurance, and endurance produces
character, and character produces hope, and hope
does not disappoint us, because God's love has
been poured into our hearts" (Romans 53-5).
v.12-13 Thus Timothy should expect to join the
company of prophets and apostles who suffered for
their stand in the fight against evil men.
42
NT Prophecy - 2Timothy 3 (contd)
14 But as for you, continue in what you have
learned and have firmly believed, knowing from
whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood
you have been acquainted with the sacred writings
which are able to instruct you for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture
is inspired by God and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction, and for training in
righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be
complete, equipped for every good work.
Points
v. 14-15 Timothy had a great heritage in
godliness from both his mother and grandmother
(15) plus the benefits of Paul's mentoring him
from an early age (Acts 161-3). The core of his
upbringing and continued instruction "for
salvation through faith in Christ" was Scripture.
v.16-17 The purpose of the inspired word of God
is to transform and train the individual believer
for the Lord's work in that process, it is also
the primary and most effective weapon against
false teachers (224).
43
NT Prophecy - 2 Timothy 3 (contd)
Application / Lesson
Paul wrote to Timothy (and therefore to us)
2 Timothy 43 For the time is coming when
people will not endure sound teaching, but having
itching ears they will accumulate for themselves
teachers to suit their own likings, 4 and will
turn away from listening to the truth and wander
into myths. 5 As for you, always be steady,
endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist,
fulfill your ministry.
Given this forecast, we should not be surprised
to observe such happenings in today's churches.
Our response? Make sure we are neither the false
teachers nor the lazy listeners, but make it a
point to check things out against the Bible text
(Acts 1711).
Then get on and do the work given to us.
44
NT Prophecy - 2 Timothy 3 (contd)
Application / Lesson
Paul also said to Timothy (and therefore to you
and me)
2 Timothy 41 I charge you in the presence of
God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the
living and the dead, and by his appearing and his
kingdom 2 preach the word, be urgent in season
and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort,
be unfailing in patience and in teaching.
Given this charge, in the context of the
certainty of Christ's return to judge us and to
set up the Father's kingdom, we should be keen
to share our faith and understanding of Scripture
with everyone and anyone, any time, any place.
45
Key Point To Take-away
Bible prophecy is given, not to help us predict
future dates, but to make us faithful servants
of God who "watch" by being prepared for
the Master's Return
46
Review
Matthew 24-25 (along with Luke 21) is a prophecy
by _____
a) Jesus is answering the disciples' question
about when the temple ____ would be thrown
down, and what would be the signs of his
______.
b) It turns out that the destruction of the
temple would be in the year ___ while the
actual _______ of Christ would not be until the
____ ____.
c) Jesus warned about false ______, predicted a
time of great _________ such as never had
been, declared there would be a downtrodding of
the city of _________, but assured that he
would be returning from heaven in power and
glory, and send out his ____ to gather the ____.
d) To "watch" means to be ________, doing the
work of the _____.
2Timothy 3 is Paul's warning about things in the
____ ____.
a) The times of stress and godless living were to
be seen in the _______.
b) The only way to overcome evil times and to
refute false teaching was to use God's
inspired ________, and keep faith in _______.
47
Final Words
The bad news is Israel, and probably ourselves,
are in for some very tough times.

• The good news is
• Israel will be delivered,

• we have a tremendous opportunity to be
• witnesses for God and His Word, and

• there is total certainty that Jesus is returning
• as King to make everything on earth right
• again, to the glory of the LORD.

48
Question / Answer Session

Now concluded