coming agenda

Coming Agenda Coming Agenda

Week #10 (tonight)Week #10 (tonight)Olivet DiscourseOlivet Discourse

Book of RevelationBook of RevelationWeek #11Week #11

The Book of RevelationThe Book of RevelationWeek #12Week #12

Resurrection of the Dead Ones (plural)Resurrection of the Dead Ones (plural)Week #13Week #13

Synthesis Solution to Four Competing ViewsSynthesis Solution to Four Competing Views

Jesus’ Most Dramatic ProphecyJesus’ Most Dramatic Prophecy

• LongestLongest and most and most problematicproblematic teaching. teaching.

• ““Biggest, baddest, and best” Biggest, baddest, and best” comingcoming of all. of all.

• NotNot callcall it “Second Coming” or “Return.” it “Second Coming” or “Return.”

• Scripture Scripture doesn’tdoesn’t. .

• ““On the clouds” in judgment On the clouds” in judgment withinwithin the the lifetime of his lifetime of his contemporariescontemporaries——supposedly. supposedly.


• Baffled, confused, and troubled Baffled, confused, and troubled Christianity and the world for Christianity and the world for centuriescenturies..

• ““famous throughout the world”famous throughout the world”

(2 Maccabees 2:22 NRSV).(2 Maccabees 2:22 NRSV).

• The The problemproblem has been that some, many, has been that some, many, or most of the or most of the otherother thingsthings would occur at would occur at the the samesame time . . . time . . .

• FailedFailed to occur. to occur.

Why Can’t We Take Jesus at His Why Can’t We Take Jesus at His Word?Word?

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,Just to take Him at His word,Just to take Him at His word,Just to rest upon His promise,Just to rest upon His promise,

Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”1. Allegiance / bondage to a postponement

tradition. 2. Cannot fathom how “all these things”

could possibly have occurred.


1.1. The end of the age.The end of the age.2.2. Gospel preached in the Gospel preached in the

whole world.whole world.3.3. The two prime signs to The two prime signs to

read and flee.read and flee.4.4. Those days cut short for Those days cut short for

the elect’s sake.the elect’s sake.5.5. Deception of the elect. Deception of the elect. 6.6. Lightning flashing from Lightning flashing from

East to West. East to West.

7. Where the carcass and 7. Where the carcass and vultures (eagles) gather.vultures (eagles) gather.

8. Use of apocalyptic 8. Use of apocalyptic language.language.

9. Coming on the clouds.9. Coming on the clouds.10. The sign and sign in the 10. The sign and sign in the

sky.sky.11. The gathering11. The gathering12. Heaven and earth 12. Heaven and earth

passing away.passing away.13. Not knowing the day or 13. Not knowing the day or

hour? hour?


7) Where the carcass and vultures7) Where the carcass and vultures(eagles) gather (vs. 28)(eagles) gather (vs. 28)

• Physical vultures. • The Roman army. • The Roman standards.• “Lifeless shell or husk of anything.”• Desolate (Matt. 23:38).• Destroyed “to the uttermost” (1Thess. 2:16

KJV).


8) Use of apocalyptic language (vs. 29)8) Use of apocalyptic language (vs. 29)

• Numerous Numerous usesuses and and fulfillmentsfulfillments. .

• Jesus is Jesus is quotingquoting Isaiah 13:10; 34:4. Isaiah 13:10; 34:4.

• Physical creation Physical creation nevernever altered or affected. altered or affected.

• ““The The dayday of the Lord.” of the Lord.”


8) Use of apocalyptic language (vs. 29)8) Use of apocalyptic language (vs. 29)• Isaiah 13:10, 13.Isaiah 13:10, 13. The stars of heaven and their The stars of heaven and their

constellations will not show their light. The rising constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. . . . Therefore I will make the heavens its light. . . . Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the Lord Almighty, in the day of at the wrath of the Lord Almighty, in the day of his burning anger.his burning anger.

• FulfillmentFulfillment—destruction of —destruction of BabylonBabylon by the by the Medes in 539 B.C. (Isa. 13:1). Medes in 539 B.C. (Isa. 13:1).



• Isaiah 34:4Isaiah 34:4 ((Jesus quotedJesus quoted)).. All the stars All the stars of heaven will be dissolved and the sky of heaven will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.shriveled figs from the fig tree.

• FulfillmentFulfillment—destruction of —destruction of EdomEdom in the in the late 6th century B.C. (Isa. 34:5).late 6th century B.C. (Isa. 34:5).


8) Use of apocalyptic language (vs. 29)8) Use of apocalyptic language (vs. 29)• Ezekiel 32:7, 8a.Ezekiel 32:7, 8a. ...I will cover the ...I will cover the

heavens and darken their stars; I will cover heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. All the shining lights in the give its light. All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you.heavens I will darken over you.

• FulfillmentFulfillment—God’s warning to the —God’s warning to the Pharaoh of Pharaoh of EgyptEgypt of his impending fall in of his impending fall in the mid-6th century B.C. (Ezek. 32:2).the mid-6th century B.C. (Ezek. 32:2).



• Nahum 1:5.Nahum 1:5. The mountains quake before The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world, and trembles at his presence, the world, and all who live in it.all who live in it.

• FulfillmentFulfillment—God’s coming in judgment —God’s coming in judgment on the city of on the city of NinevehNineveh in 612 B.C. (Na. in 612 B.C. (Na. 1:1).1:1).



• Isaiah 40:4.Isaiah 40:4. Every valley shall be raised Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.rugged places a plain.

• FulfillmentFulfillment—description of the 1st-century —description of the 1st-century ministry of ministry of John the BaptistJohn the Baptist (Matt. 3:1-3). (Matt. 3:1-3).


8) Use of apocalyptic language (vs. 29)8) Use of apocalyptic language (vs. 29)• Joel 2:30, 31.Joel 2:30, 31. I will show wonders in the I will show wonders in the

heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

• FulfillmentFulfillment—figurative description of the actual —figurative description of the actual events accompanying the coming of the Holy events accompanying the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:16-21). Spirit on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:16-21).



• Numerous Numerous fulfillmentsfulfillments sets the sets the precedentprecedent..

• TranscendsTranscends its literalism. its literalism.

• Understood Understood figurativelyfiguratively. .



• Matthew 24:29.Matthew 24:29. ...the sun will be ...the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give is light; darkened, the moon will not give is light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.heavenly bodies will be shaken.

• FulfillmentFulfillment—the coming judgment and destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in A.D. 70.


8) Use of apocalyptic language (vs. 29)8) Use of apocalyptic language (vs. 29)• 2 Peter 3:10, 11a.2 Peter 3:10, 11a. But the day of the Lord will But the day of the Lord will

come like a thief. The heavens will disappear come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?way, what kind of people ought you to be?

• FulfillmentFulfillment—The fulfillment came upon his —The fulfillment came upon his contemporariescontemporaries. .



• ChangedChanged meaning. meaning.

• Literally and physically.Literally and physically.

• NeverNever meant meant before.before.

• Must be Must be futurefuture..

• Problem—Problem—nono biblical grounds. biblical grounds.

• IgnoresIgnores precedent and pattern. precedent and pattern.


8) Use of apocalyptic language (vs. 29)8) Use of apocalyptic language (vs. 29)• AppropriateAppropriate for the destructions of Babylon for the destructions of Babylon

and Edomand Edom• Why notWhy not for the destruction of Jerusalem for the destruction of Jerusalem

as wellas well??• ConsistentlyConsistently employed! employed! • DemandDemand we understand Jesus’ usage in we understand Jesus’ usage in

exactly the exactly the samesame way. way.


9) Coming on the clouds (vs. 30)9) Coming on the clouds (vs. 30)

• AnotherAnother long biblical long biblical precedentprecedent..

• TwiceTwice Jesus specified Jesus specified howhow He would He would comecome again in judgment. again in judgment.

• Matt. 24:30; 26:64.Matt. 24:30; 26:64.

• OT portrayals of God the OT portrayals of God the FatherFather descending and coming.descending and coming.

• Armies or nature.


9) Coming on the clouds (vs. 30)9) Coming on the clouds (vs. 30)• “The Lord is a man of war” (Exod. 15:3 KJV) • “The day of the Lord.” • To Egypt, Edom, Assyria, Babylon, and on

Israel.• “I have indeed seen the oppression of my people

in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free . . . .” (Acts 7:34; from Exod. 3:7-8).


9) Coming on the clouds (vs. 30)9) Coming on the clouds (vs. 30)• See, the Lord rides on a swift See, the Lord rides on a swift cloud cloud and is and is

coming to Egypt (Isa. 19:1). (For the coming to Egypt (Isa. 19:1). (For the earthly fulfillment, see Isa. 20:1-6)earthly fulfillment, see Isa. 20:1-6)

• Look! He advances like the Look! He advances like the clouds,clouds, his his chariots come like a whirlwind (Jer. 4:13).chariots come like a whirlwind (Jer. 4:13).

• For the day is near, the day of the Lord is For the day is near, the day of the Lord is nearneara day of a day of cloudsclouds, a time of doom for , a time of doom for the nations (Ezek. 30:3).the nations (Ezek. 30:3).


9) Coming on the clouds (vs. 30)9) Coming on the clouds (vs. 30)• Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him

who rides on the clouds . . . (Psa. 68:4).• . . . He makes the clouds his chariots and rides

on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants (Psa. 104:3-4).

• Also see Ezek. 30:18; Psa. 18:9-12; 2 Sam. 22:10-12; Nahum 1:3; Joel 2:1-2; Zeph. 1:14-15).



• The The comingcoming of the Son of Man of the Son of Man intointo Heaven (Dan. 7:13). Heaven (Dan. 7:13).

• ““seesee the Son of Man the Son of Man sittingsitting at the right at the right hand of the Mighty One and hand of the Mighty One and comingcoming on the on the clouds of heaven.” (Matt. 26:64)clouds of heaven.” (Matt. 26:64)

• ““He has spoken He has spoken blasphemyblasphemy!” (Matt. 26:65).!” (Matt. 26:65).


9) Coming on the clouds (vs. 30)9) Coming on the clouds (vs. 30)• So I have So I have come downcome down to rescue them from the hand to rescue them from the hand

of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land . . . . (Exod. 3:8)into a good and spacious land . . . . (Exod. 3:8)

• Look! The Lord is Look! The Lord is comingcoming from his dwelling place; from his dwelling place;he he comes downcomes down and treads the high places of the earth and treads the high places of the earth (Mic. 1:3).(Mic. 1:3).

• See, the Lord is See, the Lord is comingcoming out of his dwelling to punish out of his dwelling to punishthe people of the earth for their sins (Isa. 26:21).the people of the earth for their sins (Isa. 26:21).



• But your many enemies will become like But your many enemies will become like fine dust, the ruthless hordes like blown fine dust, the ruthless hordes like blown chaff. Suddenly, in an instant the Lord chaff. Suddenly, in an instant the Lord Almighty will Almighty will comecome with thunder and with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames of a windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire (Isa. 29:5-6).devouring fire (Isa. 29:5-6).



• God was never physically visible.

• Unseen by human eyes!

• God’s presence and personal intervention.

• Was not a claim to come visibly to the human eye.


10) The sign (vs. 3) . . . in the sky (vs. 30)10) The sign (vs. 3) . . . in the sky (vs. 30) • Turn to Ezekiel 4-5.• Daniel 12: 4, 7—”time of the end.”• “with the garments of vengeance for clothing”

(Isa. 59:17f; see also Rom. 12:19), • “the day of vengeance of our God” (Isa. 61:2). • Luke 21:20-22—this very wording. • Destruction of Destruction of JerusalemJerusalem and its and its TempleTemple was the was the

““signsign.” .”


10) The sign (vs. 3) . . . in the sky (vs. 30)10) The sign (vs. 3) . . . in the sky (vs. 30)

• Scoffers confirmed this sign (2 Pet. 3:3-4).

• Transfiguration prefigured it (Matt. 17:1-8).

• Sign in the sky?

• “revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angles” (2 Thess. 1:7).

• “great signs from heaven” (Luke 21:11).


10) The sign (vs. 3) . . . in the sky (vs. 30)10) The sign (vs. 3) . . . in the sky (vs. 30)

• ““show show wonderswonders in the heaven in the heaven aboveabove and and signssigns on the earth on the earth belowbelow . . . . before the . . . . before the coming of the great and glorious day of the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord” (Acts 2:19-20; quoting Joel 2:30-31). Lord” (Acts 2:19-20; quoting Joel 2:30-31).

• ““At that time the sign of the Son of Man At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the will appear in the skysky [in [in heavenheaven] (Matt. ] (Matt. 24:30). 24:30).


10) The sign (vs. 3) . . . in the sky (vs. 30)10) The sign (vs. 3) . . . in the sky (vs. 30) • Destruction of a Destruction of a citycity and a and a nationnation was the was the signsign. . • ““KingKing of kings and of kings and LordLord of lords” (Rev. 19:16). of lords” (Rev. 19:16). • ExactlyExactly Who He Who He claimedclaimed to be. to be. • Christianity is Christianity is truetrue. . • EmpiricalEmpirical proof of proof of timelytimely and and preciselyprecisely fulfilled fulfilled

prophecy. prophecy. • One trueOne true God is—see again: Isaiah 41:22-23; God is—see again: Isaiah 41:22-23;

42:9; 44:6-8; 45:21; 46:10-11; 48:4-6.42:9; 44:6-8; 45:21; 46:10-11; 48:4-6.


11) Gathering of his elect (vs. 31)11) Gathering of his elect (vs. 31)

• Resurrection of the dead ones.Resurrection of the dead ones.

• We will We will addressaddress this in our this in our Session #12Session #12..


12) Heaven and earth passing away 12) Heaven and earth passing away

(vs. 35)(vs. 35)

• 3 3 differentdifferent heaven and earths. heaven and earths.

• God’s God’s wordswords..


13) The day or hour (vs. 36, 25:13)13) The day or hour (vs. 36, 25:13)• Classically misused by extrapolating.• Time is unknowable.• Not an excuse for 1st-century Christians.• Two prime signs given.• Compared to the birth of a baby (vs. 8).• “It is the last hour . . . this is how we know

it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18) !!!


ConclusionConclusion

• He He camecame in exactly the in exactly the samesame wayway (“on the (“on the clouds”). clouds”).

• For exactly the For exactly the samesame purposepurpose (judgment). (judgment).

• To accomplish exactly the same thing (destruction of a nation).

• “in the glory of the Father” (Matt. 16:27).


ConclusionConclusion• “the day of the Lord” (Jehovah) of the Old

Testament. • Became “the day of Christ” (Christos

2 Thess. 2:2; kurios 2 Pet. 3:10) in the New Testament.

• All judgment entrusted to Jesus (John 5:22). • “Make himself known” (Isa. 19:20-21; 37:20;

64:2; 74 times in Ezekiel, and many more).



• ““tell of his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy tell of his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; . . . Remember the wonders he has name; . . . Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the done, his miracles, and the judgmentsjudgments he he pronounced” (Psa. 105:2-5).pronounced” (Psa. 105:2-5).

• ““upon whom the upon whom the endsends of the of the agesages have have come” (1 Cor. 10:11 NAS, Lit. Greek).come” (1 Cor. 10:11 NAS, Lit. Greek).



My Israel Trip 1993My Israel Trip 1993

with Pat and Shirley Boonewith Pat and Shirley Boone



““contendcontend for the faith that for the faith that waswas once for all once for all delivereddelivered to the saints.” to the saints.”

(Jude 3)(Jude 3)

With divine perfection! With divine perfection!

The Book of RevelationThe Book of Revelation

• The The mostmost——mismis-read, -read, mismis-understood, and -understood, and mismis-taught books of the Bible. -taught books of the Bible.

• Question:Question: How do we get to How do we get to knowknow someone, anyone?someone, anyone?

• ““The The greatestgreatest story ever told.” story ever told.”

• HistoricalHistorical Jesus. Jesus.

• ContemporaryContemporary Christ. Christ.


The Contemporary ChristThe Contemporary Christ

• He looks different than the way we usually picture and think of Him.

• He’s not just sitting around up in Heaven waiting to come back.

• He’s in our midst all around the world.

• He drops in (comes), unexpectedly and occasionally.



• He rides a horse.

• He hosts a banquet.

• He fights against some people in the world and in the Church.

• He conquers some awesome creatures.

• He judges people and nations.



• He makes everything new.

• He dwells in a new earthly city.

• He wants you and me to enter this city and reign and rule with Him, here and now.

• The exalted, glorified, transformed, transfigured, transcendent Christ of the Apocalypse.


So So howhow do you do you picturepicture Jesus in your Jesus in your mind’s eye . . . when you mind’s eye . . . when you thinkthink of him? of him?

• One One lastlast story . . . story . . .

• ““An Exegetical Basis for a An Exegetical Basis for a Preterist-IdealistPreterist-Idealist Understanding of the Book of Revelation,” Understanding of the Book of Revelation,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society,Society, Vol. 49, No. 4 (Dec. 2006). Vol. 49, No. 4 (Dec. 2006).

Coming AgendaComing Agenda

Week #11Week #11


Week #12Week #12

Resurrection of the Dead Ones (plural)Resurrection of the Dead Ones (plural)

Week #13Week #13

Synthesis Solution to Four Competing ViewsSynthesis Solution to Four Competing Views

coming agenda

Documents

dramatic prophecylongest

dramatic prophecybaffled

dramatic prophecy7

dramatic prophecythe

stars of heaven

lord almighty

heavens tremble

earth trembles