Tag Archives: #Prophecy-NT

Jesus says, “My words will never pass away!” – Therefore…

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Since reading this verse early Thursday morning 6th April, I’ve been meditating upon it and especially how it puts current and future events into perspective. (Subsequent daily verses then formed a topical thread, as on my Facebook.)

Click to read the full chapter, also known as ‘The Olivet Discourse’ wherein Jesus tells His disciples about End-times and specifically prophesies the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, which happened about 40 years later. He foretells of false teachers and false prophets and great ‘falling away’ or full-blown apostasy, yet alongside full global evangelism, as Signs of the Times and End of the Age, with it’s Great Tribulation and His Return. The chapter continues from verses 32 to 37 and beyond

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.  Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it [He] is near, right at the door.  Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

The Day and Hour Unknown

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”

Thus, verse 35 alludes to a possible pre-Genesis and beyond Revelation period of non-existence of the earth, humanity, creatures, plants and physical objects, as well as the sun, moon, planets, asteroids, stars, galaxies and black holes, plus the entire electro-magnetic spectrum, physical forces and sub-atomic particles!

In other words, it would be an universal void with no sentient beings!!

My contemplation can imagine a situation where everything and everyone vanishes: all that exists IS ONLY ALL the words Jesus ever speaks, like  R~E~D  L~E~T~T~E~R~S   F~L~O~A~T~I~N~G   on an I_M_M_E_N_S_E invisible scroll.

Moreover, we know that before and right ‘In the Beginning’ Jesus really IS THE WORD which God spoke out to create the heavens and the earth that we live upon. His close disciple John perceived this truly awesome spiritual reality:

‘In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend [overcome] it.’

Furthermore, readers may recall how that first verse sits geometrically as the base of a triangle the apex of which is the opening verse of Genesis:

‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.’

For details click title of this post:

Amazing geometrical symmetry of Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 (cont’d)

AND we must not forget that in his first letter John describes what it was really like to know that awesome superhuman-being personally,

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning The Word of life..”

Consequently, John must not have been at all surprised during his deep experience of the ‘The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show His servants,’ to hear that ‘The Testimony (ie. ‘WORD’) of Jesus is The Spirit of Prophecy’!!

Thus, this puts all else – especially sin and all demonic beings and works such as rebellion against the written Word – into the perspective of non-existence. Or not quite, because Jesus doesn’t refer to the spirit-realm and Hell, which we expect to continue, or else The Holy Trinity would not be THE eternal divinity.

Also, as the Word exists and will never perish then Jesus’ Presence and speech is always in the present tense. So by His statement in Matthew, we can regard all Jesus’ recorded and unrecorded words (John 21:25) as being said not just in the past, BUT ALWAYS in the ‘here and now’.

Hence my thinking of and describing Jesus as “Always Now”!

In view of my interest in Time and science it’s salutary to contemplate it all. I encourage you to consider it, but note that not only was this a visual theological exercise over that weekend but also it gives an authoritative scriptural answer to the issues of our day, as exemplified by closure of accounts over transgenderism and how the Anglican General Synod that had just convened handles that topic.

IN mulling over all that and more, I had in mind to blog these thoughts as best I can. Furthermore, soon after awaking on Thursday, the 110th anniversary of my father’s birth, I ask how to connect those events succinctly within the post’s title along with Matthew 24:35. Next, simply using ‘therefore’ dropped into mind.

Minutes later the Lord CONFIRMS IT upon my seeing the first word in the Verse of the Day and upon which I shared the impact of this latest ‘God-incidence’:

[More prophecy-related news on my Telegram channel]

So thank and praise the Lord. In another post we’ll consider what this post title’s ‘Therefore’ is there for….

AND it’s repeated in this morning’s…

The Lion and the Eagles – Chris G Bennett

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PREAMBLE

The above Facebook screenshot isn’t shown because it’s yet another ‘coincidental’ appearance of my birthday number, but to introduce a ‘BOBOB’ – Background of Bit of Bother. On Tuesday morning prolific prophet Chris Bennett found he was blocked out of Facebook and unable to post anything. Linda sought help from a couple of friends who, like her, could publish his new items on their timeline. Therefore, Chris began moving over to Telegram under the moniker of ‘Ancient Disciple’ and wrote the above update which she posted, and over which I chuckled in view of 22!!

Soon to follow, Chris brought another word relating to this blog’s strap-line, ‘Looking for signs of Jesus’ return’:

THE LION AND THE EAGLES – Chris G Bennett

I’m seeing a Lion sitting next to an Eagle

A large ‘crowd’ of Eagles sit behind them and one of the crowd separated and joined the Lion.

The Lion was looking this way and that, giving the appearance of scanning what laid before him.

However, I knew this, I don’t know, yet I knew that I knew that this was Jesus with the ‘two witnesses’ of Revelation 11!

The company of prophets was gathered behind them, watching and waiting expectantly.

I sat and watched this quiet scene unfold gently before my eyes. Jesus would look, perhaps intently, I couldn’t quite discern that, but as He looked, so the two witnesses turned to look in the same direction apparently seeing the same things.

Then a further revelation came by The Spirit. They were strategising — Jesus explaining, their roles in Revelation 11, and then the woes that followed.

In my mind, I thought, “Really? Surely that’s a way off still?”

Then The LORD spoke to me, firmly, “How long is not your concern, although it’s not as far off as most people think!

How many times have I told you to tell My People that I AM coming SOON?

Don’t stop! — keep telling them! Keep warning them!

Even so, some will still ignore the Warning and be left behind!”

Jesus is coming soon, sooner than you think!

~ Chris G. Bennett

Footnote – eagles and RB:

Eagle-eyed by John Mark Long: courtesy http://www.propheticartists.com

Why Write/blog?

A WAKE-UP CALL: The Days Are Coming!! – Christopher Wickland

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Now back to the purpose of this blog, as in its title’s strap-line: ‘Looking for the Signs of Jesus’ Return‘ – and to my very first post The Endgame Is Now In Play on hearing the Lord say as I opened a Bible to check the wheat & tares parable: “This is ALL about to be fulfilled!”

By the way, the reflection of numbers in timing and comments/shares of this screenshot taken as I begin drafting is sheer ‘coincidence’ – do you think?

Something which has been shown me in dreams…

THE DAYS WHICH ARE COMING

“Days are coming, says the LORD, where I will pour out terrible signs from the heavens.

I shall hurl stars to the ground that will make the nations reel and stagger in shock.

I shall pour down fire from above that will scold and chastise the nations. These will be terrible signs that will make men weak at the knees and bring great consternation.

There will be signs in the sun and moon, terrible signs that will fill the nations with fear.

Many will try to explain these wonders away with science, but like the magicians of Eqypt, there was a point where they were unable to do so.

The nations have come too far – I AM calling time on your technology, your finances and your Towers of Babel. I will hack you down and only leave a stump to remain.

The watchers have decreed that man’s great insolence and wickedness must be restrained before the Lawless One arises.

The nations will soon know that I AM GOD and that I AM King! Like the days of Sodom and Gomorrah I will pour down fire from heaven and scold and scorch nations with my wrath.

The nations will know their place and they will be restrained for a season before the restraint is taken away to reveal the Lawless One.

I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh and I will call many back to Me in these days ahead.

My people, you need to awake and arise from your slumber and sleep. I AM roused and rising up, the cry of the nations has come before Me and l must act accordingly.

Beware My saints that these signs that are coming will perplex and confuse many. For you will look to the scriptures and try to figure out that which has been sealed ’til the End of Days.

These are not those days yet, but the climax that leads to the End of Days. You are going to see signs that are both what you would call Old Testament and New. I AM unchanging and I will do what I will do.

My people, My children you need to arise from your sleepy slumber. Be prepared for signs that will shock and awe. Blood and fire, hail and storm, signs in the heavens and down upon the earth.

I will make the nations reel and stagger and all shall know that I AM God.

My people will learn to rightfully fear Me again and will learn to intercede again. My people are called to stay My hand but many are too asleep to know or to care.

Look to the heavens and watch, for the days of blood and fire are coming. My people will soon know that I AM their God.

Pray and intercede for the nations for terrible signs are coming. Signs so profound that none will dare mock or explain them away.

For I alone AM God. I ALONE AM KING.”

Chris Wickland  29/6/23

[RB. Editing completed and publishing at 17:31 BST]

Latest examples of the Great Apostasy in Britain – Holy Writ on eunuchs

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Further to the prophetic word on the Great Apostasy let’s not overlook Apostle Paul’s insight recorded in 2 Thessalonians 2: and 1 Timothy 4:

“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of [a]Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of [b]sin is revealed, the son of perdition…”

“Now the Spirit [a]expressly/explicitly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of  demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth….”

Now, some screenshots with extracts and links of latest three examples on this ‘falling away’ before we check what Isaiah and Jesus say about eunuchs:

Continue reading →

UK prophet confirms ‘word’ heard on End-times shakings!

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When a friend asked my opinion of the transcript below, I was pleasantly surprised  to find that pastor Christopher Wickland confirms two personal prominent prophetic items, as shared in my Footnote below.

First however, let’s recall the importance of precedence of authority in the Holy Spirit gifting of prophecy, as follows:

  1. Bible End-times Prophecies
  2. Modern, contemporary prophecy
  3. Opinion, comment and discussion.

The following auto-generated transcript (hence continuous text) copied into Facebook, is kindly provided by Susie Pope to Prophetic Releasers for UK Revival and I’ve added a few sub-heads for ease-of-reference.

Note that this is a lengthy conversational presentation rather formal discourse.

CHRIS WICKLAND – COLLAPSE OF POLITICS, ECONOMIES AND CHURCH, PLUS WARS

“My name is Pastor Chris Wickland and I want to share with you some visions and dreams the Lord has given me a long time ago that I’ve never shared publicly with anybody but I feel now is the time to do so and it’s pertaining to things regarding the End of the Age which is not quite yet, but we’ll be soon and I’ll I’ll unpack that and explain that. So today’s date is the 15th of February 2023. Continue reading →

Bible Update: Revelation 13 and Daniel 11 now in play

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Yesterday I quickly posted items onto my Telegram channel of prophecy-related news. First, Leo Hohmann’s latest as re-blogged in the previous post:

ALSO, another item relates not only to Revelation 13 but also to Daniel 11, as well as to Apostle John’s second letter:

Beware of Antichrist Deceivers

‘7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that [c]we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. 9 Whoever [d]transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.’

Click next image for link to play 2.45 mins rumble video (replaces this window)…

NB:  The middle name is ‘Noah’ so maybe Jesus had hinted about this person?

The Coming of The Kingdom

22 Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, [h]‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them. 24 For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. 25 But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:…”   (Luke 17, NKJV, BibleGateway.com) 

For this blog’s coverage of Revelation chapter 13 click The Apocalypse tag.

Noteworthy that later I posted on Facebook  (click image to read advert-free TGP):

WHO Assembly, Geneva: a disturbingly deceptive global pandemic treaty – Leo Hohmann

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Texan Jack asks why Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson, RFK Jr. and Americans are persecuted by the Democrat Party!

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Why is Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. censored by media? Why are Americans being arrested for voicing their opinions against the Biden White House? Why does the Democratic Party support drag queen shows for children including grooming and sexualization? Do the Dems include transgender insanity (pro-hormone therapy, genital mutilation) so schools can transition children without parents’ […]  Why are Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson, RFK, Jr. & You Being Persecuted by Democrat Party? — Clever Journeys
ANSWER? > Is it not because we’re living through either, or both, chapters 7 and 13 of the books of OT prophet Daniel and The Apocalypse foreseen by Jesus’ Apostle John? PS: This proposal is too sensible for the ‘politburo over the pond’…

Bible Update: Rev 13 TODAY – Elon Musk cites Google’s Page as planning a “digital god”

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Courtesy Victor Books, The Bible Reader’s Companion by Lawrence O. Richards (1991)

The Beast from the Earth

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives [f]those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has [g]the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

[Read whole of Revelation 13, NKJV at BibleGateway.com]

Click to read TGP’s advert-free, printer-friendly version in full.

ALSO, recall this posted 6th December 2021:

Conspiracy Theories Proven #1: Archbishop confirms we ARE living though Revelation 13

SEEK the Lord while He may be found and enquire as to how Chapter 13 is unfolding.

FOOTNOTE:

Earlier today, Chris Moyler writes about a certain character:

“Yuval Noah Harari is co-Founder of Sapienship, a multidisciplinary organization advocating for global responsibility whose mission is to clarify the public conversation, support the quest for solutions and focus attention on technological disruption, ecological collapse and the nuclear threat.

Harari serves as a lead advisor for Klaus Schwab, author of ‘COVID-19 / The Great Reset’ and founder of The World Economic Forum. He has been praised by notable figures such as Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates.”

Brief Sit Rep: 3 – As foretold, Days of Noah NOW here!

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WE HONOUR THESE DEAR MARTYRS OF THE FAITH:

AMEN and again AMEN. Make it so dear Lord!

AND, CLEARLY NOT A REAL BROTHER IN CHRIST:

THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM – Luke 17 NKJV (BibleGateway.com)

20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, [f]‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is [g]within you.”

22 Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, [h]‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them. 24 For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. 25 But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

31 “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his [i]goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two [j]men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 [k]Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”

37 And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?” So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”

Two visionary signs of the sun. (A reminder)

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[Posted 16 June 2021]
Returning to my focus upon Jesus’ Return you may recall these two confirmations of my ‘nudges’:

As told in Lillian Brown’s message from the Holy Spirit to “Brace yourself. Get ready for Jesus’ soon return!”, pastor Rachel Bird mentioned having that impression some time ago and referred to visions of a supra-natural atomic bomb that her husband and I had. On the following Saturday morning Nina had an open vision that related not only to that but also to Lillian’s asking about the glory, “What will it look like?” (From 17:45 mark of her video she urges us to await God’s glory as Jesus comes closer.)

Here’s my dear wife’s example of what it may look like: Continue reading →

End-Times Briefing 6: New Ager sees first pieces of God’s ‘jigsaw’

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How a New Age follower got hooked into the Bible’s prophecies.

A unique take from die-hard anti-Christian confronted by facts in non-Christian book!

As an ex-unbeliever rescued by Jesus Christ in person and ‘born-again’ by Holy Spirit into life everlasting through His sinless blood, I reiterate Chuck Missler’s concern:

“You may not believe what the Bible says, but what’s utterly astonishing is that so very many claim to believe in Jesus yet have no grasp of the idea Christ is to literally return and rule!”

The aim of these Briefings is to help my readers be better informed and thus grasp that truth. If an ardently anti-church guy deeply involved in New Age teachings, who viewed ‘Bible-bashers’ as bigots, could grasp and keep hold of this mind-blowing stuff, then how much easier is it for believers in Jesus to fully appreciate these things?

So, come on a revelatory journey with me that hints at the relevance of Bible ‘coding’: Continue reading →

End-Times Briefing 5: pastor’s ‘Sign in the Sun’ vision warns of coming global cataclysm! [Prophecy coming to pass!]

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[NB.Bible Update Luke 21:25 – and there will be signs in-the sun posted 11 days ago.]

Those following these Briefings will appreciate the direct relevance of Sign #27 to this video and transcript, for which I’m grateful for Carolyn Stewart’s very helpful expertise.

On 27th May 2020 Revd Christopher Wickland posted this alarm or warning on what’s soon to hit the world. (To date, his November 2019 prophecy of a great humbling then spiritual revival of Britain is accurate.) As with all prophecies, please seek the Lord in weighing this vision. Continue reading →

End-Times Briefing 4: expert’s excitement – More are coming to know this…

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This post, one of my first blogs in November 2011, later featured on the Home page to inform visitors of the acceleration of prophetic fulfillment, as may be inferred from the links to confirmatory events two years later:

As you may have gathered from my Welcome, I’m into eschatology – the theological study of the destiny and judgement of nations and all people, even angels!  It’s about  ‘The Last Days’, as in the ancient Torah’s description: Acharit Hayamin, ie. ‘Last of the Years’, and were regarded as the years immediately following Jesus’ ministry. They’re more popularly known in Christian circles as the ‘End-times’.

Come with me to one of my favourite video classes where (the late) Dr Chuck Missler is asking his students, “Why Eschatology?” Continue reading →

End-Times Briefing 3: the ‘What?’ of Watching > Signs!

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So far we’ve considered the Who, Why and When we’re to watch. Now to the rationale of this blog, as stated in its title’s strap-line, ‘Looking for the signs of Jesus’ return’ and we examine what Jesus told us to look out for:

WHAT?

Omitting those which apply to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70, here’s a selection of signs stated in the first Gospel (Mark 13), augmented by Matthew (chapter 24) and Luke (chapters 17 & 21) plus insertion of Paul’s first and follow-up letters to believers in Salonika, to whom he stressed the origin of his teaching; ‘For this we say to you by the word of the Lord…’ Continue reading →

End-Times Briefing 2: the ‘When?’ of Watching > NOW!

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Continuing the reasons for watching for the End-times, we consider when that might happen:

WHEN?

Jesus’ major End-time teaching was given soon after leaving the Temple with some of His disciples and having foretold its complete destruction, which was fulfilled about 40 years later with the infamous Roman siege of Jerusalem. Continue reading →

End-Times Briefing 1: the ‘Who?’ and ‘Why?’ of Watching

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[Reprise of mini-series published June 2020]
In view of current events it’s time to reconsider the End-times foretold in the Holy Bible with a series of very brief overviews, followed by others’ recent insights.

First, we revisit the mini-series published in February 2018 and lodged in the main menu for reference purposes. It was preceded by a couple of re-blogs referring to one of eight possible eschatological scenarios – a pre-Tribulation Rapture – and, together with a theological blog’s discussion, I was prompted to expand upon one of this blog’s earliest entries – ‘Why Watch?’

Now, let’s quickly consider the ‘Who, Why, When and What’ of our watching: Continue reading →

Bible Update: Luke 21:25 “And there will be signs in the sun…”

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Thank you to ReadyToWorship for this link to SPACE: Sun Vortex-poles with lead photo by NASA and extract below (emphases RB):

A huge filament of solar plasma has broken off the sun’s surface and is circling its north pole like a vortex of powerful winds, but scientists have no clue what caused it.

“Talk about polar vortex! Material from a northern prominence just broke away from the main filament & is now circulating in a massive polar vortex around the north pole of our star,” space weather forecaster Tamitha Skov said on Twitter while sharing a video sequence taken by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory showing the odd whirlwind. “Implications for understanding the sun’s atmospheric dynamics above 55° here cannot be overstated!”

Other solar physicists shared Skov’s excitement about the unusual phenomenon. But what exactly is it and why is it important?

…The European Space Agency Solar Orbiter mission may shed some light on this odd phenomenon in the coming years. The mission, which is taking images of the sun from within the orbit of Mercury, will have its orbit tilted by up to 33 degrees. McIntosh thinks that might not be enough to crack the mystery of the polar vortex. Scientists might need a completely new mission to do that….’

We know Who foretold doing this, as doctor Luke in chapter 21 of his gospel account  quotes Jesus saying:

The Coming of the Son of Man

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

4 – Structure of the Book of Revelation, and conclusion

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Continued from part 3:.

STRUCTURE OF THE REVELATION

 “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.  18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.  (Rev 1:17-19 NKJV)

  • The Present:
  • chpt 1. Vision of the Son of Man, the one ascended Lord
  • chpt 2-3. Letters to seven churches (and for all churches)
  • chpt 4-5. Vision of heaven, the Lion of Judah and the Lamb
  • The Near Future:
  • chpt 6-11. Judgments, great tribulation, martyrs and two witnesses
  • chpt 12-16. Woman, child, dragon, beast 666, antichrist, false prophet
  • chpt 17-19. Fall of Babylon, Messianic judgement of Armageddon
  • THE RETURN OF ‘THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS’ 
  • The Far Future:
  • chpt 20. The Millennium, Satan rebels/defeated, Judgement, lake of fire
  • chpt 21. New heaven and new earth, the Bride, the New Jerusalem
  • chpt 22. River of Life from God’s throne, Tree of Life for healing the nations.

David Pawson explains that each future period has bad news and things get much worse, but the good news is that things will get very much better afterwards. Through it all Jesus encourages his people to ‘endure’ and ‘overcome’ until He returns.

“First, Jesus tells the churches they must deal with internal problems if they are to face external pressures. Compromise in belief of behaviour, tolerance of idolatry or immorality, weaken the Church from within. (LESSON FOR TODAY!)”

For the 2nd period He shows the worst that can happen but believers will not have to go through anything worse! “And the very worst time ahead will be at most a few years”.

Then, Jesus reveals the wonders that will follow in the 3rd period when all believers will be with Him.

CONCLUSION

On a personal note, what impresses me is the comparison of this closing book with the Bible’s first book, Genesis.

Revelation promises a full restoration not only for those who believe in God, to life with Him, but also and because of that for the earth too.

The Tree of Life is a main feature in the garden of Eden, in the beginning, but through it Satan perverted Adam and Eve’s relationship with their fatherly Creator and so they lost and fell from their glory. In the end that usurper gets his just desserts, the saved return to living in the glory of God in the New Jerusalem and the Tree’s leaves bring healing to all people, as it is written.:

But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honour into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Revelation 21 NKJV)

This short blog can never hope to do justice to the Book of Revelation. It is an awesome subject but you may wish to meditate upon it yourself along with suitable aids such as in the links below.

Acknowledgements – thank you to:
  • David Pawson, for Unlocking the Bible and books & audio series here and here.
  • Neil MacKereth, for several in-depth courses at Winchester Vineyard church using Chuck Missler’s and David Pawson’s extensive teachings.

PS – click to read about what happened after writing the above post!

3 – Different understandings of The Book of Revelation

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Continued from part 2:

INTERPRETATIONS OF THE REVELATION 

Thus, this complex ‘end-times’ revelation can only be understood with God’s overall purpose for humanity in mind. So, it’s not surprising that scholars are divided over the Book’s meaning and predictions for the end of 1st Century and any later events it may forecast for the world and the Church.

There are five main ‘schools’ of exposition based upon interpretations of when these predictions would be fulfilled, as below:

  • Preterist  – during the first centuries AD with the decline/fall of Roman Empire
  • Historicist – all centuries between the First and Second Advent of Jesus Christ
  • Futurist – end of final century AD (held by early Church and evangelical today)
  • Dispensational – (newest) separate timescales apply to the Church and Israel
  • Symbolic – of spiritual truths, no particular time (some say its spiritual ‘myth’).

Moreover, in ‘Dealing With “Last Things” – The Rapture, Second Coming, Millennium’ my New Spirit-Filled Life Study Bible not only provides a useful summary with charts but also shows EIGHT differing scholarly viewpoints, citing The Last Days Handbook, 1990, by Robert P Lightener, viz:

  1. Saint Augustine’s Amillenial View
  2. A Second Amillennial View (BB Warfield)
  3. Pre-Millennial Pre-Tribulational View
  4. Pre-Millennial Post-Tribulational View
  5. Pre-Millennial Mid-Tribulational View
  6. Pre-Millennial Pre-Tribulational Partial Rapture View
  7. Pre-Millennial Pre-Wrath Rapture View
  8. Evangelical Post-Millenial View

We can now appreciate Hank Hanegraaff’s ‘preterist’ position that Revelation refers only to John’s days 1900 years ago and the persecutions that took place. But he fails to take the whole account into consideration because its closing chapters clearly refer to things that have not YET happened. For example, unprecedented global catastrophes, return of millions of deceased Christians alongside Jesus to overthrow Satan and rule upon earth, Satan’s final rebellion with many nations and demise in the lake of fire, the arrival of the ‘holy city’ and ‘wedding of the Lamb’!

So how are we to understand The Apocalypse? David Pawson suggests using the four main ‘schools’  in conjunction for each of the three main time periods, the present, the near future and the far future (not ignoring the switching between earth and heaven) – yet,

“..the fundamental question is not ‘when?’ but WHY?”

David answers his question:

“Not just to tell us what is going to happen but to get us ready for what is going to happen…Revelation is a ‘manual for martyrdom’…which is why this book becomes so meaningful to Christians under persecution. Maybe this is also why Western Christians in comfortable churches fail to find it relevant.”

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