blog.Tribulationperiod.com

THE SONG OF SOLOMON INTERPRETED IS AN ALLEGORY OF THE CHURCH AS JESUS’ BRIDE

MARCH 10, 2008

Jewish interpreters took this book to be a deep revelation of God’s love for Israel as his Wife.

Most Christian interpreters believe it to be a deep revelation of Christ’s love for the Church as his Bride.

The Redeemed – All those saved by God’s Grace

Church = The faithful in one of Christ’s Churches

Song of Solomon 2:1
I (church) am the rose of Sharon, and the lily (church) of the valleys.

Song of Solomon 6:3
I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.

Ephesians 2:22
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Isaiah 35:1-10
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. [2] It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. [3] Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. [4] Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. [5] Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. [6] Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. [7] And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. [8] And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. [9] No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: [10] And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Song of Solomon 2:2
As the (faithful church) lily among (unfaithful churches) thorns, so is my love (faithful church) among the daughters (unfaithful churches).

Hebrews 5:12 to 6:12
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. [13] For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. [14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. [1] Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, [2] Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. [3] And this will we do, if God permit. [4] For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, [5] And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, [6] If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. [7] For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: [8] But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. [9] But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. [10] For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. [11] And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: [12] That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

I Corinthians 9:24-27
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. [25] And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. [26] I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: [27] But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

The saved will not be rejected from heaven, but many will be castaways from bridal relationship with Christ, many will be rejected from the city of the New Jerusalem, many will have their works burned as thorns by the fire of judgment.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU BUILD ON THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR SALVATION.

1 Corinthians 3:11-17
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [12] Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; [13] Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. [14] If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by (through) fire. [16] Know ye not that ye (plural) are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in (among) you? [17] If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are (plural).

Song of Solomon 2:3a
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my (church) beloved (Christ) among the sons.

Romans 8:29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Hebrews 2:6-13
But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? [7] Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: [8] Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. [9] But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. [10] For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. [11] For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, [12] Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. [13] And again, I will put my trust in him And again Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

Song of Solomon 2:3b
I (church) sat down under his (Christ) shadow with great delight, and his (Christ) fruit was sweet to (church) my taste.

Luke 10:38-42
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. [39] And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. [40] But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. [41] And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: [42] But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

AN EXPOSITION OF THE SEVEN SEALS OF REVELATION – NUMBER 1
August 15, 2011

BEGIN 2003 NOVEMBER 8, 2003 SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 145A

November 8, 2003
The Seals, the Trumpets, and the Vials of Revelation
Part 1 – Beginning with comments about all the Seals followed by Seal 1

In October 2003, I presented the seventh trumpet pre-wrath position at the Missionary Baptist Seminary in Midwest City, Oklahoma, over a period that lasted from 8 A.M. to 10:30 P.M., with a break for lunch and dinner, and several short breaks for water and circulation relief. I am very grateful to one of the fine pastors there for a question he asked concerning the seven seals. He asked me where I placed them. I had not discussed them, and he wanted to be able to envision where I put them. I am grateful he asked me, because it suddenly made me very aware of something I knew, but had not really thought about for years. I covered the seals in my second book, “The Tribulation Triad,” when I wrote it in the late seventies, but during the 25 years I have lectured in more than 700 churches, seminaries, colleges, and universities I have never, to the best of my recollection, discussed the six seals as to “where” they fit in the tribulation period. I have discussed what they represent at great length, but simply did not position them as to where they belong in the tribulation period. There is a very good reason as to why I never placed them specifically in the tribulation period – I do not believe the first five occur during the tribulation period, and that the first four describe the events Jesus referred to as “the beginning of sorrows” in Matthew 24:7,8, Mark 13:8, and Luke 21:10,11.

Matthew 24:7-8
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.

Mark 13:8
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

Luke 21:10-11
Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: [11] And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

I certainly do not believe we are now in the tribulation period, because I have long taught the first seal opened following the end of World War I on this planet, and that the others began to open in chronological when World War II began. I should have presented this series at the time we started on this web site several years ago, but better late than never. It is diagrammatically pictured on page 154 of my book, “The Tribulation Period – 777.” Even though I did not believe the first part of the tribulation period would last three and one-half years because I believed the three “he’s” in Daniel 9:27 are Messiah the Prince, and not the antichrist, knowing the vast majority of the prophetic teachers of today believe it is the antichrist, I showed the first three and one-half years on my diagram, and jammed all of it as occurring during the fifth seal. I believe when seal six opens it starts the last three and one half years of the tribulation. I do believe there will be a brief period of false peace just before the opening of the sixth seal, during the time of the fifth seal, but it will be of much, much shorter duration that most believe today. I have always taught that the sixth seal is a preview of all the horrifying events that will occur from the seventh seal through the seven trumpets and seven vials. At the time I wrote “The Tribulation Triad” I placed the time of Satan’s casting out of heaven (Revelation 12:7-12) in what most identify as the first three and one half years of a seven-year tribulation period. I have since changed my mind. Do I still change my mind about prophecy? I do not change my mind about the doctrines of salvation, the ordinances of the church, or that Jesus is coming, but I do indeed continue to change my mind about the many things in prophecy. If you are not prepared to do that, you will never learn anything. The only one who could lecture about prophecy, and never have to correct what he taught, is the Great Three-In-One. I feel sorry for all those who think they got it right the first time, and still teach exactly the same things they taught when they first taught prophecy fifty years ago. I have changed what I once believed about some things, and hopefully, if I don’t grow to think I am God, and understand it as well as He does, I will continue to change. God got it right the first time, the rest of us will have to keep changing our minds if we want to be more accurate in our interpretation of what God already knows.

I will begin this series with the first seal and, if the Lord is willing, will go through the seals, and then identify how I believe the seals, trumpets, and vials are laced into a pattern from the seventh seal through the last vial.

Again, I am grateful I was asked where the seals fit in the tribulation period, because it made me realize that what I have long believed about it had become such so engrained in me that I proceeded like the hearer already knew where I placed them, which was a real goof on my part. I knew that the vast majority of writers place the seals in what is known as the tribulation period. Knowing this, I should have explained the seal positioning at some point before he asked the question, and it suddenly made me realize that I should have put this on our web pages when we first began. So I will be putting it out on updates for some time, giving the seals in chronological order.

The riders on the first four seals do not picture specific individuals – they do not represent men, but rather all of mankind. They represent four phases through which mankind will pass preceding the tribulation period. I do not believe the tribulation period has seven full years, because Jesus fulfilled more than three years of it after his baptism. The horse colors portray the characteristics of four phases in chronological order: white for peaceful conquests, red for the blood shed in wars, black for the dark eyes associated with famine, and pale for the color of death associated with pestilence or a corpse.

Seal 1

Revelation 6:1-2
And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. [2] And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

The first great world war to engulf all the known world that existed when John wrote the book of Revelation in about 96 A.D. during the great Roman Empire, which was the fourth beast of Chapter Seven in Daniel, out of which a final revived empire of antichrist was to arise in the latter days, was what we called World War I. Out of World War I came the Balfour Declaration, which did finally lead to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. The Balfour Declaration was a British statement of policy issued in 1917 by Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour. It stated British support for a Jewish national home in Palestine without prejudice to the rights of the non-Jewish population. The white horse rider represents the state of mankind that existed between the two great world wars that occurred between two German tyrants. The color of the horse, like a white dove, symbolizes the state of peace that existed between 1918 and 1932 across the territories recognized as the Roman Empire during its maximum extent. I believe most of the prophecies in the book of Revelation will be fulfilled across the known world of John’s day, not in the western hemisphere.

A long series of conquests by Hitler’s shaking of the bow, without firing any arrows, allowed the relative peace to continue until 1939. He was able to occupy several of the lands to his west, southwest, south, and southeast by a series of bluffs, without firing a shout. They succumbed to his threats, and he occupied large sections of nations around Germany. Threats, rather than arrows, secured him much land. The Prime Minister of Great Britain, Arthur Neville Chamberlain, followed a policy appeasing Hitler, rather than confronting him. So, in 1938, he went to Germany and signed the Munich Pact, which allowed Hitler to occupy part of Czechoslovakia. It was a time of peace where those who “went forth conquering, and to conquer,” did so by bluff rather than by blood. He returned home with the cry “Peace in our times.” The first of the four horse riders has come and gone. He departed the scene when Hitler invaded Poland in 1939. That is when the red horse rider came on the scene. I will cover his activities in Part 2. The number of wars did increase after World War II then declined after the great Soviet Union collapse, but they have never stopped, and the red blood of Americans and the rest of the world is still flowing in the Middle East. The Tectonic Chaos of the Tribulation Period will not begin until the opening of Seal 6, and its full wrath fury will not come on the earth until Vial 1 is poured out on an unbelieving world, which ends with the greatest wrath of Vial 7.

Revelation 6:12
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;

Revelation 16:1-2
And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. [2] And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

A SALVATION REST AND A TEACHING REST – PART 13

THE REST WE RECEIVE AT SALVATION

Matthew 11:28
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

THE REST WE RECEIVE AS HE TEACHES US

Matthew 11:29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Bible Teachers used Questions to Teach Disciples!

Often a Shocking Statement is made to get Listeners to ask a Question or Questions, which the Questioner can answer either directly, or with another Question which he plans to answer.

John 6:53-60
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. [54] Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. [55] For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. [56] He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. [57] As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. [58] This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. [59] These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. [60] Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

John 6:61-69
When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? [62] What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? [63] It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. [64] But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. [65] And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. [66] From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him [67] Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? [68] Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. [69] And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

John 6:24-37
When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping and came to Capernaum seeking for Jesus. [25] And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? [26] Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. [27] Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. [28] Then said they unto him, What shall WE do, that we might work the works of God? [29] Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. [30] They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? [31] Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. [32] Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. [33] For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. [34] Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. [35] And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. [36] But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. [37] All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Luke 21:5-12
And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, [6] As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. [7] And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? [8]And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them[9]But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.[10] Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom: [11] And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven[12] But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.

THE REGATHERING

This is the final Chapter in my 1976 “Tectonic Chaos” Book

Tectonic Chaos – Chapter 36 – The Final Judgment of Mankind

Have you ever wondered when those saved in the millennium will be judged by God? Please read this chapter very carefully. I am in complete agreement with the teaching that all the lost of all the ages will appear at this judgment and be cast into a lake of fire.

BUT please check the chronological context very carefully, and then ask yourself some questions about what you have read.

Please remember as you read this that I DO believe all the lost will be judged at the great white throne of judgment, but the discourse has some interesting comparisons between verses 12 and 13 that are worth exploring.

Revelation 20:11-15
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. [12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. [13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. [14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The key to understanding this final judgment involves the consistent chronological pattern followed from Revelation 19:11 to 21:1, which begins with the return of Christ at the end of the tribulation period in Revelation 19:11 – “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.” He deals with the antichrist, the false prophet, and finishes off their armies in Revelation 19:19-21 – “And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. [20] And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. [21] And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” Then the old Devil is cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years in Revelation 20:2 – “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.” He is released when the thousand years are expired, leads a rebellion against the people of the Lord, has his armies devoured by fire out of heaven from God, and is cast eternally into the lake of fire and brimstone with the antichrist and the false prophet, as detailed in

Revelation 20:7-10
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, [8] And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. [9] And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. [10] And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Thus far, a pattern of perfect chronology has been laid out before us – not one break in it. And it continues to be picture perfect right up to Revelation 20:15 – “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Now we need to carefully examine Revelation 20:11-15 in a sequence of chronological events that begins in Revelation 19:11, and continues in perfect contextual chronology for 26 verses to Revelation 21:1.

Revelation 20:11-12
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. [12] And I SAW the dead, small and great, STAND BEFORE God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

We see a group of men and women standing before God with the book of life and other books being opened, out of which they are judged according to their works. The book of life is open because the names of this group are in it – they are all those men and women saved during the millennial reign of Christ.

They will be judged for rewards for their works, just as were the saved caught out more than a thousand years prior to this judgment. Following their judgment, they will be removed quickly from the great white throne locale. Then a second group will be collected from hell, the sea, and the grave and assembled before God

Revelation 20:13
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

The chronology has been perfect from Revelation 19:11 to 20:13, and it does not break down here. So there must be two different groups judged separately at the Great White Throne! Why? (Verse 12 – “And I SAW the dead, small and great, stand before God”). (Verse 13 – “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them:”). How could John have actually SEEN the group in verse 12 standing before God to be judged, if they were not resurrected until verse 13? The souls of all lost men and women are in hell. The souls of all saved men and women are in heaven. The bodies of both the saved and the lost are either in water graves (the sea) or in land graves (death). The particles of the bodies of the verse 13 resurrection, that historically held lost souls, are delivered from the dust or the liquid surface of the earth, and reunited with their souls that come up out of hell. But the first group in verse 12 represents those who were saved in the millennium, and their souls in heaven will be reunited with glorified bodies that were resurrected before those in verse 13. They will be judged separately from the lost. The lost of all the ages will appear before the white throne JUST after the millennial saved. All of the lost of all the ages from Genesis through the millennium will be in the second group. All the names of the first group will be in the book of life. None of the names of the second group will appear there.