Common Misinterpretations concerning the End Times. (Jeff Unsworth)
This leaflet is to draw attention to common misunderstandings relating to the end times known as Eschatological Events. ( what happens at the end of this age )
Statements that are misconstrued and made without any scriptural bases.
Mistake 1. The teaching that the seventieth week of Daniel (seven years) is the seven years Great Tribulation.
There is nowhere in scripture that refers to this time as “The Seven Year Tribulation”.
On the contrary, the seventieth week of Daniel is referred to in scripture as a Seven Year Covenant made by the antichrist with many.
Daniel 9:27: 27 And he (the antichrist) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation (offering) 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.
This seven year period is split up into three parts.1260 days ( 42 months or 3 1/2 years ) and 1290 days ( 42 months or 3 1/2 years, plus 30 days). There is also an extra 45 days making the second period into 1335 days.
In the book of Daniel we read these words, which are significant for the end-time generation living just before the coming of the Messiah: “Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing, one on one bank of the river, the other on the other bank of the river. One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the water of the river, ‘How long until the END of these awful things?’ Then I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the water of the river, swear by the Ever-Living One as he lifted his right hand and his left hand to heaven: ‘For a time, times, and half a time; (3 1/2 years) and when the breaking of the power of the holy people comes to an end, then shall all these things be fulfilled.’” Daniel continues: “I heard and did not understand, so I said, ‘My Lord, what will be the outcome of these things?’ He said, ‘Go, Daniel, for these words are SECRET AND SEALED to the TIME OF THE END. Many will be purified and purged and refined; the wicked will act wickedly and none of the wicked will understand; but the knowledgeable will understand.
From the time the regular offering is abolished, and an appalling abomination is set up -- it will be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Happy the one who waits and reaches one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days’” (Dan.12:5-11).
The first three and a half years of this covenant is the continuation of the Tribulation that the church has suffered since it’s inception.
The second half of this time is made up of Great Tribulation and The Wrath of God.
Jesus said “ In the world ye shall have Tribulation “( Greek Thlipsis ).
In Matthew 24, Jesus said: 15 “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso ever readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Great Tribulation ( Greek, Mega Thilipsis )
We see all this happening in Chapter 5 & 6 of Revelation and this corresponds to Matthew 24. The Olivet discourse.
After Seal Six is opened in Revelation chapter 6, we are told:
12. “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her
untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
The Wrath of God ( Greek Orge )
So the three periods within the seven year covenant, are, a time of Tribulation ( Greek Thlipsis ) - a time of Great Tribulation ( Greek, Mega Thilipsis ) and a time of The Wrath of God ( Greek Orge )
Seeing that the scriptures tell us that the church is not appointed to Wrath.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 : For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Also in Revelation Ch 3: 10 : Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (keep from, Greek “Terheo Ek” meaning out of) The church will be removed after the 6th seal.
Mistake 2. The covenant of Seven years is made with Israel.
Nowhere in scripture does it say that the seven year covenant is made with Israel.
Daniel 9:27: 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:
The covenant is said to be made with many. This may very well include Israel but the scripture does not say this. It may be implied that Israel is involved because at the mid point of this covenant the antichrist breaks this covenant and begins to persecute the Christians and Israel.
Mistake 3. The Rapture of the church takes place prior to this seven year covenant.
Yet again, there are no scriptures to support a pre covenant rapture.
This view is based on Eisegesis ( reading into scripture ) rather than Exegesis ( extracting from scripture ).
According to the Pre Tribulation rapture believer, the church must be removed before the Great Tribulation, which they believe is the 7 year covenant.
The passage used for this is Revelation 4 : 1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
The “Come up Hither” is said to be the Rapture.
Also Verse 4: And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
The 24 Elders are said to represent the whole of the redeemed church.The 24 Elders do represent the redeemed but only the souls of the believers that have died. 12 Patriarch’s representing all those that died in faith from the Old Testament and the 12 Apostles representing all New Testament believers who have died since the beginning of the church age.These scriptures do not support a Pre Tribulation Rapture.
Mistake 4. All Professing Christians will be Raptured.
The common mistake concerning “Professing Christians” is that those who profess Christianity are in fact Christian.
Matthew 7:21: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Also: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Professing Christians are not necessarily Possessing Christians.
Five of the ten virgins had no oil in their lamps. They were in the dark.
Whilst they were away buying oil, the Bridegroom came and they were locked out. They were not prepared.
Psalms 119:105 : Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Romans 8:9 : But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.
There are those that profess Christ but do not have the Holy Spirit and are still in darkness. They are not born again.
2 Corinthians 13:5 : Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
2 Corinthians 6:2 : (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee:behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Not All those professing Christ will be raptured but only those that possess Christ (Those that have been born again and are indwelt by the Spirit of God) will be caught up. The dead in Christ and those that are alive at His coming.
The resurrection, (Greek, Anastasia) of the dead and the snatching away (Rapture) of those that are alive, (Greek, Harpazo). This is the Gathering in the air, ( Greek, Episunagarge).
Mistake 5.
The Parousia = The Rapture.
The Parousia is not referring to the Rapture but to Second Coming of Christ to the earth.
When Jesus sets foot on the earth.
Zec 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
Parousia (/pəˈruːziə/; Greek: παρουσία) is an ancient Greek word meaning presence, arrival, or official visit.
Definition: Presence. The Coming, Arrival, Advent, The future visible return from heaven of Jesus Christ, to raise the dead and hold the Last Judgement and set up His formally and gloriously the kingdom of God.
The Parousia is the Return of Christ to the earth. Whether we are alive or dead at the coming of Christ. Whether we lived a thousand years ago, one hundred years ago or whether we are alive at Christ’s coming, we all have the Blessed Hope. The apostle Paul had the Blessed Hope but he was not raptured in his lifetime, although he will be raised at the rapture, when Christ come in the clouds.
The Blessed Hope does not depend on the timing of the Rapture but is dependent on our relationship with Christ.
All born again believers, (True possessing Christians have "The Blessed Hope".) All true Christians will either be raised from the dead. (those that sleep in Jesus). All those true believers who are alive at His coming will be raised with them to meet the Lord in the air.
When Christ returns to the earth, all true Christians will return to the earth with Christ at the Parousia.
Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Our blessed hope is the appearance of Jesus Christ, at the rapture of the church, when He comes with the clouds.
All true Christians share in the blessed hope.
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
1Th 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
This is why the Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian believers, who were worried that some had died and missed the blessed hope.
1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 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:
1Th 4:17 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.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Therefore we conclude that the Rapture, Jesus coming with the clouds, is our blessed hope and the Parousia is the coming of Christ to the earth.
Mistake 6.
Imminency = The Rapture. (Anytime Rapture)
Imminency has nothing to do with the timing of the Rapture.
The Parable of the rich man.
Luke 12:13-21
16. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Christ can call on us at any time, this is imminency.
To say that to take away the imminency of a pre tribulation Rapture robs Christians of the impetus to live moral upright lives is not true.
This does not only apply to the close of the age. It has always applied to Christian life.
We should always live as though our lives could end today.
Can the Lord come at any moment, at any time?, Yes. He can come for me or you at any moment. This is why we should live a moral upright life.
Can the Rapture take place at any time? No.
Certain things must happen before the Rapture takes place.
The Apostle Paul speaking of the Rapture says this.
2 Thess 2: 1-4 “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (Greek, Episunagarge)
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
The Rapture cannot happen at any time ( imminency ) There must first be a falling away ( which is occurring now, by the way ) and the Man of Sin ( the antichrist ) be recognised by the church.
Mistake 7. The church will not go through the Great Tribulation.
Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Who has the Testimony of Jesus? - The Church)
This scripture shows that the church will be on the earth during the Great Tribulation and will suffer persecution at the hand of the antichrist system.
There is no Pre Tribulation Rapture.
The church will be removed from the earth by Rapture sometime during the last half of the seven years but before the Wrath of God. (No man knows the day or the hour.) Matthew 24:36.
Between the sixth seal, at the end of Rev 6 and the Wrath of God at the beginning of Rev 8, something happens. What happens?
The thing that happens is Chapter 7.
After the sixth seal there is a pause and John takes us back to his vision in Heaven. Ch 7: 1st verse “ After these things” .
There comes the sealing of the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel. Then John shows us the raptured church.
9..After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (who have washed robes in the blood of the Lamb? - The church)
Notice, the difference between v9 The great multitude, v11The angels, v11 The Elders and 4 Beasts.
Also, v13. It was one of the Elders that asked "What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
The great multitude is the church.
This is the Rapture before the Wrath of God is poured out on the earth.
Mistake 8. There is only one resurrection.
This is not correct, for there will be two resurrections, three if you count the new birth (spiritual resurrection from spiritual death).
The Rapture, This is the first resurrection.
For in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming (1 Corinthians 15:22,23).
For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
The fact that there is a first resurrection implies a second resurrection. The rest of the dead will not be raised for another thousand years.
(The second resurrection)
Revelation 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
There will be two physical resurrections: The Rapture is the 1st resurrection ( Christ was the first fruit of them that sleep). The second resurrection is the resurrection of all, And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne.
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.
At the end of the Wrath of God, Christ will return to the earth in Power and Great Glory. His feet will stand on the mount of Olives. Zechariah 14:4
And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
There will be a great battle of Armageddon. The antichrist and the false prophet will be defeated and cast into the Lake of Fire and Christ will set up a one thousand year millennial Kingdom.
At the end of the thousand years, there will be the second resurrection (the final one). This will come at the Great White Throne judgment.
Then I saw a Great White Throne and the one who sat on it; the earth and the heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, as recorded in the books. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and all were judged according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire; and anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).
