Master, What Will be the Sign of Your Coming? Vol 1

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End Times Considered
by John McGlone

Perhaps Eschatology, the study of the End Times is one of the most controversial, divisive, and polyviewed doctrine in all of Christendom.  There are Pre, Mid, Post Tribulation and PreWrath Rapture views of when the saints of God will be caught up in the air to be with Him forevermore.  There are Pre ,Post Millennial, and Amillennialism  views of when the New Jerusalem will be upon the earth.

Premillennialism, in Christian eschatology, is the belief that Jesus will physically return to the earth (the Second Coming) before the Millennium, a literal thousand-year golden age of peace. The doctrine is called “premillennialism” because it holds that Jesus’ physical return to earth will occur prior to the inauguration of the Millennium.

Amillennialism (Greek: a- “no” + millennialism), in Christian eschatology, involves the rejection of the belief that Jesus will have a literal, thousand-year-long, physical reign on the earth. This rejection contrasts with premillennial and some postmillennial interpretations of chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation

Postmillennialism, in Christian end-times theology (eschatology),  is an interpretation of chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation which sees Christ‘s second coming as occurring after (Latin post-) the “Millennium“, a Golden Age in which Christian ethics prosper.[1] The term subsumes several similar views of the end times, and it stands in contrast to premillennialism and, to a lesser extent, amillennialism (see Summary of Christian eschatological differences).

Preterism is a Christian eschatological view that interprets some (partial preterism) or all (full preterism) prophecies of the Bible as events which have already happened. Much of this view is based upon seeing the prophecies of Revelation as events that happened in the first century AD  at the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.  They hold annihilationism, that eternal hell is not true.  Also, they believe that Jesus is not actually God.  This is heresy of the oldest and basest sort.

There are many other views and ideas about the end times, but I believe we should just let the Bible interpret the Bible and the Holy Ghost to show us the way to the Kingdom, amen?  I believe the Lord showed me years ago an excellent key to understanding the end times as they unfold is to look for a key question that the disciples and the Jews were constantly asking Jesus, “Tell us, when shall these things be? …. and of the end of the world?”

Matt 23:3-4 “…the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.”

Matt 24:3-14  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8  All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

So, a first step in end times understanding is to look for the keys in the New Testament Scriptures.  Then we can assemble them all in one place which will begin to give us a clearer picture of what will be seen before the end of the age actually is upon us!  Secondly, we should take a look at any Old Testament prophecy or Scripture that relates to these New Testament passages we just mentioned.  Now we will have many pieces to arrange and put into some type of chronological order.

PUZZLE PIECE #1 THE TWO WITNESSES

Rev 11:1-14
And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. 7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.  14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

God’s Two Oil Lamps

Some of My Suppositions
1. The world has never seen these two prophets outside the Temple in Jerusalem. 
2. These two prophets will do Moses & Elijah like miracles and then some! They will hold back water, turn water to blood, and even kill their enemies that are attempting to kill them with fire out of their mouths!
3. They are finally slain by the beast who will rise out of the pit.
4. Their death and resurrection after 3.5 years is a major flag! 
5. The whole world will create a holiday to celebrate their murder. I call it, “Happy We Killed the Prophets Day”. They will give gifts to each other, what lunacy!
6. This will be midway through the tribulation, 3.5 years remain for about the time the Seventh Seal will be broken and the Saints will go to be with Jesus Christ in the air. . 
7. Verse one implies a third temple to be built. The Jews have been preparing this for years.