Category Archives: Heaven

The Revelation of Isaiah, Isaiah 24, Part 5 of 5

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Before the end of this present world, even though most miss it, the entire world will turn to the worship of Satan, and his special man, who also called “the beast” and “the man of lawlessness” and “the corpse” and “the abomination of desolation.” IT WILL BAD TIMES FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD, with the surviving Christians who will not worship the beast being protected in “the wilderness.”

But then Jesus will finally come to rescue His own, and bring Judgment on the universe.

So there is also joy among the Christians because they know their deliverance is near.

Listen to this lesson above, or click on the player to download as a podcast.

My book Jewish Chronicles, is about things well before the end of this world.

Both Prophecy Principles and Revealing the Christian Age give more details on the end of this present universe, and the beginnings of the New Heavens and the New Earth. All are available from your bookseller.

The End of All Wars, Isaiah chapters 1 and 2, Part 4 of 5

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God will judge between the nations it says in Isaiah 2. And God will bring peace to the earth, and an end to death and decay and things running down!

Part of this is about what we often call “heaven.” It seems to speak of what we would call a earth in a new universe. Scripture repeatedly calls this “a new heavens and a new earth.

The imagery involved in this new earth is astonishing, dazzling, beyond our present earth bound minds to fully comprehend.

But also involved is the soon-to-be passing away of our present universe, IN ITS ENTIRETY! An equally daunting idea.

An audio lesson:

Listen to this audio lesson here, or click on the Audio Player to download as an MP3 file.

These subjects are discussed in more detail in my first two books, Prophecy Principles, and Revealing the Christian Age, which are available from your bookseller. Our age, and its outcomes have been revealed to us.

How Many will be Saved? Isaiah chapters 1 and 2, Part 2 o 5

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It is a big question, how many will be saved?

Many will assure you that ALL will be saved, but that is NOT what Scripture teaches.

The truth is that at some point God may say to you and men, “I have had enough.”

That can have disastrous result for us. However, God does give people, even really bad people, plenty of time to turn around, plenty of time to repent, and come to God, if we will.

An audio lesson:

Listen to this audio lesson here, or click on the Audio Player to download as an MP3 file.

Isaiah 1 indeed gives us a program for life, even if we are very deeply in sin.

The Real Masters of the Universe: Psalm 8, Man and Nature

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An audio lesson.

The Real Masters of the Universe will be those who are followers of the Jewish Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.

Listen to this audio lesson here, or click on the Audio Player to download as an MP3 file.
The basics of how Bible prophecy works is discussed in detail in Prophecy Principles.Available from you bookseller.

Man’s true destiny is only fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.

Prophecy, Knowing Changes Behavior, 14 of 15, Troubles in the World

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We live in a world of death and decay.

It has come to dominate our world because of sin. In physics it is described as the second law of Thermodynamics, which is that, as a we all know, things run down.

It can be troubles of all sorts

It can be national troubles when things fall apart. It can be an environment which falls apart, or weather disasters in a fragile climate. God does says He uses such things to work His will.

“10 By the breath of God, ice is given,
And the breadth of the waters is frozen.
11 Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture.
He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.
12 It is turned round about by his guidance,
That they may do whatever he commands them
On the surface of the habitable world,
13 Whether it is for correction, or for his land,
Or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.”
Job 37:10-13

These are parts of how God works His will.

“For by these he judges the people.
He gives food in abundance. ”
Job 36:31

Or at other times it may be a fragile social and economic situation. It can be trouble brought on us because of the sins of others, as Aachan’s sins brought trouble on ancient Israel.

“Joshua said, Why have you troubled us? Yahweh shall trouble you this day. All Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire, and stoned them with stones.”
Josh. 7:25

This was the sins of a single family, but sometimes it can be the sins of a national leader that brings trouble on all.

Paul says all of this is temporary, and that one day
all of this will change.

Paul says that none of these problems are worth comparing with the new universe which is coming, in which righteousness lives.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us.”
Rom 8:18

He goes on to say that creation itself waits for us to be revealed in our new roles, Rom 8:19. He describes this running down, falling apart characteristic of our sinful present universe, as the creation being “subjected to vanity,” that is, being subjected to futility, uselessness, worthlessness, Rom 8:20. It will not always be this way.

“that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.”
Rom 8:21

We are in the birthing of a new and glorious age, separated from sin and death. There is coming a day when God says, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Rev 21:5b

All of this is of course prophetic.

None of this has happened yet. If we believe this we will “hang in there,” looking forward to the, “new heavens and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.” 2Pe 3:13.

Believing what God says in prophecy does matter! It is an ethical matter.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Prophecy, Knowing Changes Behavior, 5 of 15, The Thief

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For the common thief to survey the situation, to “case” the property and its occupants and how they act, and when they come and go, and the nature of their dispositions, is a common thing. In some places they say there are more break-ins during the day than at night. Why? Everyone one is at work or at school during the day. Seeing and understanding that, the thief shows up as a delivery person, a meter reader, a moving crew. Sometimes the family has posted on line their upcoming overseas trip, and the bad guys feel safe showing up in a moving van in broad daylight, to kick in the door and empty perhaps empty a house. Anticipation of what the situation will really be, alters behavior … and often alters final results

We are receiving an astonishing view of things
which we otherwise would never
think of actually happening.

Many are taken back by what the apostle John says in 1John 5.

“He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who doesn’t believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son.”
1Jn 5:10

I mean, who would call God a liar?

Further, part of that testimony God gives about His Son, concerns what God says He will yet do through the son. Sadly, we as men often hear what God says we should do or what will happen, and … then …. say to ourselves … I am not sure whether I believe that or not!

God makes provision to tell us astonishing things
which WILL BE, which we cannot
otherwise know!

“But as it is written,
“Things which an eye didn’t see, and an ear didn’t hear,
Which didn’t enter into the heart of man,
These God has prepared for those who love him.” ”
1Cor 2:9

Well no man may have heard or seen or imagined these things, however Paul goes on to tell us, that God has told us about these things!

“But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”
1Cor 2:10

Wow! Paul goes on to say that no man can know what is in a man’s mind unless that man tells us what he is thinking. Similarly, Paul says that no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God reveals them, 1Cor 2:11. So what are we given in Scripture and the prophetic word? We are being given in these things gifts of staggering value.

“But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.”
1Cor 2:12

This inside knowledge can give us tremendous advantages.

And we want to say, prophecy is of no consequence?

What we know, or what we think we know about what will happen, almost always changes behavior one way or another. Believing what God says in prophecy does matter! It is an ethical matter.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

The Kingdom of Glory is a Heavenly Country. 14 of 15

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One of the contrasts throughout all of Scripture is between this material earth and universe, and what is often called heaven.

First we need to recognize the “fall” of this creation.

Man’s part in initiating this separation, this fall, is in Genesis chapter 3. Man had been literally given a very good setup. Man is put in charge of “the garden” (which in Greek translation is paradeisos, or “paradise”, Genesis 2). This seems to almost to be a training field for man’s destiny to,

“… have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Gen 1:26

He does not have this yet! Evidently some restrictions were put on man, and one mentioned is that is he was NOT to eat of “the of the knowledge of good and evil,” Gen 2:16-17. Then man, by refusing God’s commands, joined the heavenly rebellion led by Satan, who also called the devil, and the serpent of old, Rev 12:9.

This of course has catastrophic results. Man is now to die, and death starts working in mankind. From now on there will be enmity between the seed of woman and the seed of the serpent, Gen 3:15. Specific curses are put on the woman, Gen 3:16; and then comes the curse on creation. “… cursed is the ground for your sake.” Gen 3:17. Without obedience to the Lord God, there is no more easy living for mankind.

“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Gen 3:19

Man still has a taste for that mastery of all of creation, Heb 2:6-8a; but it is not quite within his grasp, Heb 2:8b.

It is an epic tragedy, this bondage to decay which
dominates our present universe.

It is however not a permanent condition.

“that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.”
Rom 8:21-22

It goes on to say that we ourselves groan within us, thirsting for release from this bondage to decay, “waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.” Rom 8:23

This universe is now beyond redemption.

It will pass away with fire, with a roar, as the element melt with tremendous heat, on “the day of the Lord,” 2Pe 3:10-12.

But those who are willing will be redeemed.

By turning in faith to Jesus our Lord, repenting of our sins, being baptized in water for the forgiveness of our sins, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, etc.; and then living for Christ and not for ourselves.

Jesus kingdom is not from “here.”

As Jesus told Pilate,

“My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here.”
Jn 18:36

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

The Kingdom of Glory: ALL Opposition Will Be Eliminated, 12 of 15

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One of the great evils of this world is the toleration of evil. That alone can bring a nation down.

These principles are solidly illustrated
in Numbers 35.

First Israel is warned that murderers should be put to death. Additionally,

“Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death.”
Num 35:31

Well, why not? If they will repent, and pay a good fee, why not? Then we given the answer.

“33 … for blood, it pollutes the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him who shed it. 34 You shall not defile the land which you inhabit,”
Num 35:33-34

If a nation does not punish wickedness, it pollutes and ruins a country. Then the guilt and the retribution falls on that country overall, instead of just on the criminals!

The same is true of other sins.

Leviticus, especially chapters 18 20 gives some lists of detestable things which bring judgements on nations, and warns,

“Don’t defile yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations which I am casting out before you were defiled.”
Lev 18:24

We can ruin ourselves with these things!

The ancient church at Thyatira had
a problem with toleration.

“But I have this against you, that you tolerate your woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches and seduces my servants to commit sexual immorality, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.”
Rev 2:20

So some woman at this church, who is symbolically called Jezebel, is teaching sexual immorality as actually alright, and the church is tolerating this, and the church is being condemned for the tolerating.

It is good to not tolerate evil things.

Of the church at Ephesus Jesus says,

““I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can’t tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false.”
Rev 2:2

David as King said,

“I will silence whoever secretly slanders his neighbor.
I won’t tolerate one who is haughty and conceited.”
Psa 101.5

America has been way too tolerant.

Abortion has been tolerated and encouraged by law, and now the blood of over 60 million babies are on America’s hands.

We tolerated homosexuals and transvestites and even a great deal of Sodomy, so as our reward for our tolerant attitudes, the Left wants us now to worship at the altar of homosexuality and unhealthy habits, and demands that all children be trained from grade school in those things which destroy men and nations.

And the Left for sure has no room to lecture us on toleration, as intolerant as they are of righteousness and every good thing!

In heaven, all of those who really do not want
to do what is right, will have been
eliminated from being there!

They really would not be happy there!

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

The Kingdom of Glory: Satan is allowed a little power for a little while, 10 of 15

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Evidently Satan was originally one of the most powerful creatures that was ever made by God. Angels in themselves are powerful creatures. Peter tells us that angels are “greater in might and power,” than men, 2Pe 2:11. When Paul speaks of Christ coming on the last day, it will be “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire,” 2Thes 1:7. Story after story speaks of them having power far beyond that which a man personally can wield.

And Satan’s power?

At first it seems Satan was both good and glorious. Evidently the King of Tyre in Ezekiel 28 is a type, symbolic, of Satan. As is common when there are types or symbols in Scripture, part of Ezekiel 28 applies to the ancient King of Tyre, and part applies to Satan himself. It says that he was in the garden of Eden, Ezek 28:13. However, the King of Tyre was further away from the garden of Eden than we are from the birth of Christ! It says of Satan,

“14 You were the anointed cherub who covers: and I set you, so that you were on the holy mountain of God; you have walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you.”
Ezek 28:14-15

So Satan was originally good and pure, as indeed you and I were before sin seized us. Satan originally one of the covering cherub that surrounded the very throne of God Himself in heaven, as pictured in Ezekiel 1, and Rev 4:6-8. That is to say that Satan was one of the most powerful creatures ever created! It says of him,

“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”
1Jn 5:19

Or again it describes Satan,

“in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.”
2Cor 4:4

So Satan is described as “the god of this world,” or a better translation would be “the god of this age,” which is still quite a description. Further Satan is clearly described here as being able to influence the minds of mere men, and is able to even blind us at times

In Job 1 Satan is able,

to make fire fall from heaven, influence groups of men to steal and kill, cause mighty winds to blow. In Job 2 Satan is able to cause debilitating diseases, and on and on it goes.

If a man has a particular weakness,
Satan is quick to exploit it.

With Judas it was evidently money.

Satan can influence or even enter us!

Jesus says to Peter, “” Get behind me, Satan!” Mtt 16:23

“Satan entered into Judas, who was surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered with the twelve.”
Lk 22:3

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Prophecy Practice: Out of Egypt, 5 of 5

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An audio lesson.

How the end of the world is in many ways like when Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt. They were going to the earthly promised land of Canaan, and we are going a heavenly promised land in the New Heavens and the New Earth, Isa 65:17, and Isa 66:22, and 2Pe 3:13.

Listen to this audio lesson here, or click on the Audio Player to download as an MP3 file.

The basics of how Bible prophecy works is discussed in detail in Prophecy Principles.Available from you bookseller.

Psalm 22 makes an excellent example of how prophecy works, and it more fully discussed in “Prophecy Principles” in the section “Time and Image in Prophecy,” and in “Revealing the Christian Age” in the section “Balking at the Symbolism.”