RIGHTLY DIVIDING BIBLE PROPHECY

By Robert Phillips UK

2 Timothy 2 verses  15 -16

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”

These verses tell us to shun vain and profane babblings, by diligent study of the Word of God. We have no need to be ashamed if we rightly divide the Word of truth. Yet sadly, because of a neglect of in­ depth study of Bible prophecy in particular, on the part of both ministers and Christians, and the constant repetition of familiar misleading phrases and erroneous theories about the “Second Coming of Christ”, a great many today are confused .

Now we know there are many who call themselves ” Christians ” who don’t give much credence to the Bible. But it is fair to say that many of those who consider themselves to be Bible-believing Christians acknowledge that the signs of the times are indicating that Jesus is coming again. Up to that point we are in agreement. But when it comes to exactly what a great many people mean when they refer to the “Second Coming of Christ “, there is a vast difference between what the Bible actually teaches, and what many believe today.

For this reason, I believe many have been taken in by a strong delusion, because it is based on what has been repeatedly said, and what has been preached over and over again. Tell a lie often enough, even if it is totally without foundation, and eventually people will believe it. Sadly, many have not studied to show themselves approved, they have not rightly divided the Word of truth, and they have fallen for what the Bible calls “vain and profane babblings “.

There are lies that have been told about what the Bible supposedly says, that have been repeated for years. Many Christians have accepted these false ideas, as surely as children are brought up to believe in Santa Claus . When they get a bit older, children discover there never was a Santa Claus. But unfortunately, many do not discover that many of the theories they have been taught and heard about the Second Coming of Christ , are equally fiction – not fact!

It is popularly believed by many Christians that Jesus Christ is coming again twice! They believe that Jesus is coming first in the air, when He will take the Church to heaven, where they will have a great celebration – while the earth is handed over to Satan and the Beast, the Anti-Christ, and the False Prophet will take over  the earth for a period  of time. Some differ on exactly the length of that time, but the predominant view is that it will be for 7 years . After that, Jesus will come back to earth for a second time. Many believe there will be a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem, and that the Levitical priesthood and sacrifices will be re-instated.

Those who teach this erroneous theory about Christ coming again twice, believe that Jesus is coming to ” rapture” His Church, to escape the terrible things that will happen on the earth. Well, terrible things have been happening on earth, especially to Christians, throughout the history of the Christian Church. Over the centuries, multitudes have been beheaded, thrown to lions, tortured and martyred. More than 50,000,000 were tortured and burned at stakes, or killed by other means, for  their  confession  of  faith ,  during  the counter-reformation . Were they not ” worthy to escape  all  these  things ” ?   Why  wasn ‘t there  a ” rapture” for them?

Yes, Jesus did say : “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come  to  pass, and to stand  before the Son of man”.

However, this has nothing to do with escaping from the earth. Rather,  Jesus  was warning  His followers  to be accounted worthy [lit. prevail], and escape from the snares (temptations – see verses 34-35) that would come on the earth, and be ready to stand before the Son of man when He comes (Luke 21:36). In the same way, regarding  temptation,  the Apostle  Paul stated:

There hath no temptation taken you but such  as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

The word “rapture” does not occur in our Bibles . It is based on the Latin Vulgate translation of the phrase stating believers will be “caught up” to meet Christ when He returns. It is rather like taking a shuttle flight to a main airport, to welcome and escort back a Guest of Honour. Jesus Christ is the one arriving and believers will be “caught up” to meet and welcome Him. There will be a “gathering together” of true believers, as an advance  party  (see Matthew 24:31 with 2 Thessalonians 2:1) to welcome Christ, and be with Him as He arrives on earth, and takes His throne. It was in this sense that the word “rapture” was originally applied to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

The word “rapture” was originally used  to refer to the events associated with the Second Coming of Christ long before the theory of “two second comings”, with an interval of 7 years, was invented. For those who have adopted this “Two Advent Theory”, the term “Rapture” goes beyond the scriptural reference to believers being “caught up to meet the Lord”, but it incorporates the totally unscriptural notion that believers will be whisked away to heaven, whilst the earth is handed over to Satan and his agents for 7 years, after which a so-called “second” coming (actually a “third” coming) of Christ will occur.

The problem these people have is, that whilst the Bible clearly says Christ will come again, it does not say He is coming, then going back to heaven, then coming yet again. To evade the fact that they not only believe in a “second coming“, but that they are actually adding a “third coming” of Christ, some say the “Second Coming” is in two-stages. But this description cannot apply if, as they say, Jesus goes back to heaven between the two events. This is just an attempt to evade the fact that they are advocating two ” second comings”. Others try to get around it, by defining the first of these two advents as the “Rapture” and the second as the “Second Coming”. Yet Jesus clearly stated in John 14:3 that He will come again, and His followers will be received [“caught up”] to be with Him – not two events, but one advent.

Of course, discerning Bible students realise that the use of phrases like “Two-Staged Second Coming” and the “Rapture and the Second Coming as Two Distinct Events” are merely window-dressing or semantics – a play on words – to disguise what they are really saying, and unable to support from scripture. Whatever terminology they use, what they actually teach is that Christ comes for His Church, then returns to heaven, then comes again (7 years later?). Admit it or not, what they are advocating is not only  a “second coming”, but also a “third coming” of Christ – for which there is absolutely no Biblical support!

This brings me to the questions I have been asking many, including ministers, for years:

1. 1. What verse or reference in the Bible states that Jesus is coming again twice?
   2. Where does the Bible state Jesus will come and “rapture” His saints before the tribulation?
   3. Where does the Bible state Jesus will come and ” rapture ”  His  Church to heaven?
   4. Where does the Bible state that Daniel’s ”70th Week”   Prophecy  is yet  to  be fulfilled?

We read in Matthew 24 verses  29-31  – 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.

This scripture states clearly:

(1) after the tribulation of those days … then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven. This tells us clearly that Jesus Christ is coming after (not before)  the tribulation.

(2) they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 25:31 states – When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall  he sit upon the throne of his glory –  not 7  years later.

(3) And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four .. Paul describe s this in 2 Thessalonians 2:1 as “our gathering together unto him”. Also in 1 Thessalonians 4: 16- 17, For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. In comparison it is clear that these verses all refer to the  same event.

It is so strongly and repeatedly taught , even to new converts, that Jesus is coming to “rapture” Christians to heaven. Yet there is not even one verse of scripture to support this! Note again the actual words of the most explicit verses which specifically refer to believers being “caught up” when Jesus comes. This event in 1 Thessalonians 4 verses 16-17 includes:

(i)   For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel,  and  with the trump of God:

(ii) and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

(iii) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be  with  the Lord.

Does this, or any other verse, say ” we shall be caught up to heaven“? Absolutely not. However, it does tell us

WHO –  the dead in Christ who will be raised,  and those who are alive and remain

WHEN – the Lord Jesus Christ “descends from heaven“,  will  be “caught  up”  to  meet Him

WHERE – in the “clouds“, in the “air” – within the earth‘s atmosphere –  not heaven .

They will “ever be with the Lord” who will descend from  heaven, and reign  on the earth!

If there is any statement  in  these,  or  any  other verses, that Jesus is going all the way back to heaven from which he had just come, taking believers with Him –  I challenge you to find it!

Can you imagine the Lord descending from heaven with a SHOUT , and then what should be the greatest event in human history turns into the greatest disappointment? Instead of the long awaited reign of Christ, suddenly all the Christians have disappeared from the earth, and Anti-Christ is sitting on the throne? What a sad picture – the greatest event in the history of mankind becomes a hand-over to Satan. Jesus takes away his Church, takes away his Holy Spirit, and leaves the Beast and the False Prophet in charge! What utter NONSENSE!!

Can anyone find where the Bible actually says this? I’ve been asking this question for years , and no-one has answered it, because it is simply not there! It is a house built on sand!

There are many today who try to discredit the Word of God. Certain talk show hosts make a point of ridiculing the Bible . They make fun of certain misrepresented passages, usually from the Old Testament. However, it is possible to scientifically prove the Scriptures, not only from creation itself, but also by numerics. Biblical numerics was discovered by the man regarded as perhaps the greatest of all Scientists , Sir Isaac Newton. Later, in the early 20th century, a man named Ivan Panin, a linguist and mathematical genius , whilst studying Biblical manuscripts in the original languages, realising that the Hebrew and Greek letters are also numbers, discovered that Biblical texts are based on a system of numbers that forms an unbreakable numeric pattern, that proves beyond doubt the Bible is the inspired Word of God.

Ivan Panin was an agnostic, a Russian immigrant to  the  USA.  He  was  converted  to  Jesus  Christ, because his discovery of the numerics of the Bible convinced him it was God’s Word . Even superficial numerics, such as names  of  males  and  females, animals, nouns and vowels in the Biblical texts are all divisible by seven. Panin takes the first verse of the Bible, and shows there are amazing numerical facts just in Genesis 1 verse 1. I will mention just four of these:-

1. 1. • The number  of Hebrew  words = 7
      • The number of letters equals 28 (7  x 4 =  28)
      • The first 3 Hebrew words ” in the beginning God created” have 14 letters (7 x 2 = 14)
      • The last four Hebrew words “the heavens and the earth” have 14 letters (7 x 2 = 14)

Then, going deeper into the actual text itself, there is indisputable evidence that many would not want to be taught in universities, because it proves that the Bible is the Word of God.

But there is another way to prove that the Bible is God’s Word , and that is Bible Prophecy.  Properly under stood, it can be proved again and again , that its prophecies have been fulfilled – not just possibly fulfilled – but precisely fulfilled. For instance , Daniel gave an over 2,500 year “time-line” of prophetic dates of events that have been fulfilled, some historically, and others more recently. And the more I research it, the more mind-blowing it is.

Many today are taken up with the vague , mystical predictions of Nostradamus, and others go to psychics and astrologers, failing to realise the far superior accuracy of Bible prophecy.

Yet sadly, the way Bible prophecy is taught in many churches is also based on speculation and supposition. How often are people taught Daniel’s “time-l ine ” for instance ? They seize on one event as a prophetic fulfilment , not actually understanding, or properly interpreting it.

This brings me to my final question – Where does the Bible state that Daniel ‘s prophetic 70th week is postponed and yet to be fulfilled? “The 70 Weeks Prophecy”  –   Daniel 9:24-27:

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

The 70 weeks was actually fulfilled on a day-for­ a-year scale – 490 days= 490 years. This is a principle for calculating prophecy (see Numbers 14:34, Ezekiel 4:6). 7 weeks (49 years) for the rebuilding of Jerusalem, followed by a period of 62 weeks (434 years) leading up to the time of Christ’s baptism and anointing –  a total of  69 weeks (483 years) fulfilled.

Those who believe the last part of this prophecy is future, will admit that the temple was built, and Jesus did come as the anointed Messiah within the 69 weeks of the prophecy. But to fit their scenario, they have invented a “gap” between the 69th and the 70th week and the postponement of the 70th week for an indefinite period. Hence my question – Where does  the Bible say that Daniel ‘s prophetic 70th week is postponed  and  has yet  to be fulfilled?

The fact is, verse 24 specifically stated ” Seventy weeks are determined ... ” This was not an indeterminate period. It was not “Sixty nine weeks are determined , and after a long interval (2,000 years?) there will be one more week ” . The ” 70 weeks” was a determined period.

Many do not realize that the totally false view that Daniel ‘s 70th week is yet to be fulfilled – the “70th Week Postponement Theory”, also known as the “70th Week Gap Theory” – is the real basis of what is known as FUTURISM – belief in a future 7-year “Great Tribulation” and reign of Antichrist. Closely linked with this is the popular belief in a pre-tribulation “Rapture” (i .e. supposedly to occur before the Tribulation). This is known as DISPENSATIONALISM.

Whilst Futurism is perhaps the most popular way of viewing Bible prophecy, it is fair to say that few are even aware that there are other ways of interpretation. Without going into details, Futurism was developed by Jesuits during the time of the Reformation, in desperation to find an alternative to the view of the Reformers, that Bible prophecies relating to antichrist, and those in Revelation about the false prophet etc., were being fulfilled by the Roman Papacy. Futurism was exactly what it set out to be, an attempt to reinterpret Bible prophecy. It was developed with an intention to deceive, and hinder the Reformation . It failed to do so at the time, but from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the concept of Futurism developed from the theory that Daniel’s “70th week” is still future, and began to apply this principle of interpretation, that prophecy, particularly in Daniel and Revelation applies to the future, rather than the past or present. However, the Futurist scheme of interpretation is without foundation .

Sadly, the entire prophetic scenario taught by many churches and popular TV preachers, is actually based , not on fact but on fiction. The popular ” Rapture”, and “Left Behind” fantasy is a multi-million dollar enterprise, reinforcing a delusional view of Bible prophecy, leaving Christians unprepared for the real coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom .

Preterists mistakenly believe the majority of prophecy was fulfilled by 70AD, and Futurists believe the bulk of prophecy, especially in the book of Revelation, is reserved till the latter end of the Christian era. Dispensationalists are Futurists who have slotted  in an extra “dispensation” between  the ” Rapture ” and the supposed “second stage” of Christ’s Coming.

Whereas Preterism relegates prophecy to the past, and Futurism pushes it into the future, the Historical (“Historicist”) view of prophecy is the only logical interpretation, recognising that it is being unfolded and fulfilled throughout the course of history – past, present and future.

Those who study prophecy, applying the principles used by Daniel, recognise that it is not based on futurist speculation, but it is being outworked throughout history.

Daniel said – I Daniel understood by books the number of the years ... (Daniel 9:2). He discovered the meaning of “days”, “weeks” , ” times” etc. in prophecy, and he was able to give an authentic ” time­ line” of events of both ancient and recent history , that have been exactly fulfilled, with ongoing fulfilment in events occurring  right  now  (e.g. Daniel 12:7-12) .

In fact, if you look at Bible prophecy throughout the entire Old and New Testaments, prophecies sometimes had an immediate application in the day they were given, but usually they were to be fulfilled on a long-term basis, during the course of history.

Matthew 24, Mark 13 and  Luke  21  make  clear the fact that Jesus was prophesying events, both shortly to come to pass (e.g. the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans), and events throughout the entire period of history, from that time, culminating in His Second Coming.

A further example is the book of Revelation, which was addressed to the seven  Churches,  representing the Church throughout the ages.  Its  prophecies  did not apply to some fictitious dispensation  between two “second” comings of Christ, but have had an unfolding fulfilment throughout history. We have seen antichrist at work, not only personified in the Papacy, which has literally fulfilled many of the characteristics, enforcing its number and mark on its adherents, but also in an ongoing apostasy within the churches down to the present day. We see God fulfilling His word right the way through the book of Revelation and unfolding throughout the Church ages. That is why the book of Revelation was sent to the 7 Churches who represented God’s Church through the ages. Think about it , if the prophecies of the book of Revelation apply to the so-called ” Great Tribulation ” period after the Church has been taken away , why did God send the book to the Church – why address it to the wrong people?

I thank God , He IS fulfilling His prophetic word through the Church , the Christian Nations and true Israel, at this particular time . Antichrist, the “Man of Sin ” , shall be revealed in an unprecedented way , “after the working of Satan with power signs and lying wonders”, whom Christ will “consume and destroy with the Spirit of his mouth, and brightness of his coming”. (2 Thessalonians  2:8-9).

In answer  to  the questions  previously  raised –

1. 1. 1. No verse or reference in the Bible says that Jesus is coming again twice .
      2. No verse  or  reference  in the Bible says that Jesus is coming before the tribulation.

1. 1. 3. No verse or reference in the Bible says that Jesus will ” rapture ” the Church to heaven.
      4. No verse or reference in the Bible says that Daniel’s “70th week ” is postponed.

The 70 weeks (490 years) was a period determined for certain  things  to be fulfilled:

Daniel 9 verse 24 says –

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression , and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

All this was to be accomplished by the end of the 70 weeks. But the 70th week is supposedly spliced off from the other 69 weeks, and pushed of into the future.  And   the   Futurists   tell   us  the  “beast”, ” antichrist”, ” false prophet” will come along … and do what ?

Is Antichrist going to finish the transgression ? Will the Beast make an end of sins? Is the False Prophet going to make reconciliation for iniquity ? Arebut by Antichrist, possibly accomplish any of these things? they going to bring in everlasting righteousness, seal  up the vision and anoint the most holy? How could a postponed  70th week of Daniel fulfilled, not by Christ but by Antichrist, possibly accomplish any of these things?

Let us have a closer look at Daniel 9:27 – is its fulfilment HISTORICAL or FUTURE? It is ironic that those who believe this prophecy is postponed to the future do not seem to realise the horrific events to occur in Jerusalem, and its repercussions for the Jews, if they  are right.

Below are the two contrasting views of this scripture  –  is it horrendous –  or tremendous ?

• And he shall confirm the covenant with many for  one week:
• and in the midst of the week he shall cause the  sacrifice  and  the  oblation  to cease,
• and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Each of the statements above is contrasted below from a futurist and historical perspective.

The above chart shows how the Historical view of this prophecy follows on from the 69 weeks, which incudes the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple, up to the Baptism and Anointing of Christ. The 70th Week includes the 3½ years of Christ’s  ministry, and His death in the middle of the covenant week. Then, after His resurrection , and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the covenant week continued for a further 3½ years. The Gospel was preached in Jerusalem and Judea, until Stephen was martyred. Then the Gospel began to go to other lands , especially amongst settlements of the dispersed tribes of Israel (1 Peter 1:1, James 1:1).

The Futurist interpretation of this prophecy violates, twists, distorts and corrupts one of the most wonderful Messianic Prophecies of the Bible. It takes a prophecy wonderfully fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ, and wrests it from its context, and applies it to Antichrist. And whilst I realise most do this in ignorance, to take this wonderful prophecy about the Finished Work of Christ and apply it to Antichrist, is actually nothing short of blasphemy!

Daniel 9 verse 24 tells us the 70 weeks (490 years) was a period determined for certain things to be fulfilled:

Seventy weeks are determined upon  thy  people and upon thy holy city

• to finish the transgression. Jesus was wounded  for  our  transgressions (Isaiah 53:5).
• to make an end of sins For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins (Romans 11:27).
• to make reconciliation for iniquity Jesus came to make reconciliation for the sins of the people (Hebrews 2:17).
• to bring in everlasting righteousness We have assurance of righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ (Romans 5:21) .
• to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. John saw the seals of vision and prophecy in the hands  of Jesus (Revelation 5:1).

Jesus Himself was the “most holy” and He was “anointed … with the Holy Spirit” at His baptism (Luke 3:21-22, 4:1,18, Acts 10:38) . He poured out His Spirit to anoint His Church – the Body of Christ – to proclaim His Word. (Acts 2:33, 2 Corinthians 1:21).

If, as Futurists believe , the 70 weeks will not be complete until the 70th week is fulfilled , after the Church has been ” raptured to heaven” , then all the above has yet to take place. We know that Jesus  is  the ” most holy ” –  He is the Anointed  Messiah. Yet, if the 70 weeks are not yet complete, who is the most holy –  who  is yet  to  be anointed??

WHO was wounded for our transgressions – took away our sins- made reconciliation for iniquity – gave us righteousness  and  everlasting  life –  has the seals of vision and prophecy – and is the Most Holy Anointed One? We all know the answer – THE LORD JESUS  CHRIST!

Since all the above has already  been  fulfilled  by the Lord Jesus Christ, then the 70 weeks have already been fulfilled, and could not have been postponed  for a further  2000 years .

In John 19:30 Jesus said – ” It is finished“. He did not say “it is postponed”. He did not say “it will be finished in another 2000 years”. He said “IT IS FINISHED!” The work was done. The prophecy given by Daniel was fulfilled. There is no postponement. The spirit of antichrist has been at work and is at work. We see that spirit in all forms of religion, secularism and terrorism that are at war with Jesus Christ, and against God ‘s Law and Word. We especially see that spirit personified in the Papacy, and in an apostate, ecumenical church system today.

But I thank God when Jesus comes, He is not going to hand  this earth  over  to Satan.  When  Jesus comes – JESUS WILL REIGN AS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!

When Jesus comes, the tempter’s power is broken

When  Jesus comes, all  tears are wiped  away

He takes  the gloom, and fills the light  with glory

For all is changed,  when  Jesus comes  to stay.