Heaven Past Present Future Ministries

ENCOURAGEMENT TO ETERNAL FOCUS IN UNITY AND FELLOWSHIP OF THE GOSPEL

Chapter 17       Chapter 19  Chapter Time Link Map

Messiah Unveiled - The Salvation of Israel

18

_[1]

Where and when in God's timetable does Israel accept Jesus as Messiah?

• Myth: Israel nationally has been replaced by the Gentiles and God's covenants to Abraham and David nullified

• Myth: Israel nationally will accept Jesus as Christ during the tribulation and preach the eternal gospel during that time before the coming of the Lord

• Myth: Daniel's last day prophecy applies to believers today

• Myth: John's visions in Revelation are linear time sequential prophecy

Scripture characterizes last day religious teachings as an intense spiritual blindness. The focus is only on temporal earthly religious matters in God's supposed plans. This same blurred understanding that characterized the popular religion of the times before the first coming of Christ will exist in the times before His second coming. Stories and myths not supported in Scripture raise up enormous stumbling blocks to spiritual knowledge that are so greatly promoted they prevent people from accepting truth.

 2 Peter 1:19-2:3
19 And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. NASB

On occasion I inquire from religious teachers about the current dominant 'temporal earthly-only focused Bible interpretation' mentioned above and elsewhere in Scripture. When asked about matters of "heaven" and the "things not seen" I am often told in excuse, "we cannot understand God or His ways of the spiritual in heaven."  These religious zealots often justify a restriction to an earthly observation with the idea God leaves us blind to spiritual heavenly matters pictured by the things on earth.

Isolated interpretation of earthly matters of God's religious design leads to much theological deviation and error. This was seen in earlier chapters about sections Heaven Past and Heaven Present. In Heaven Future this earthly temporal interpretational seclusion surfaces also in the teaching of Israel being replaced by the Gentiles or others in prophetic promises in matters of the earth. So many questions arise such as just who is Israel and when will they fulfill the multitude of promises from God's Word surrounding the Messiah and salvation? Let us consider the...

Messiah Unveiled - The Salvation of Israel

Identity Debated

It seems everybody wants to be God's chosen in some kind of replacement of Israel. Many of the ten thousand religions of the earth somehow wrest Scripture or even add to Scripture writings that self promote themselves as God's now chosen people. The ego of man constantly seeks for a place of value in earthly matters so as to feel his actions have some significance. For example the Mormons claim to be descendants of lost tribes of Israel through the Indians in America and claim golden tablets from an angel to Joseph Smith as one specially chosen in replacement. Jehovah's Witness in Kingdom Hall's claim they are the 144,000 sealed with the seal of God. Adolph Hitler exterminated the Jews on the basis of the Germans were God's chosen super race. Islam rejects the promises from Abraham to Isaac claiming God's blessing only come through Ishmael and new revelation from Mohammad that anyone who disagrees must be killed. I am sure it is temping for God to ask, "Will the real earthly Israel of promise please stand up?" 

Replacement theology comes from not understanding the earthly religious matters are only pictures of what God is actually doing in heaven. It is not the earthly that is eternal but the spiritual represented by the earthly as seen  in chapter  Worship in Spirit and In Truth. In these vast religions the spiritual unseen is ignored with focus only on the pattern on earth of the flesh. Forgotten is that national Israel on earth only pictures spiritual Israel in the coming Kingdom consisting of all those blessed in the accepting God's offer to eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Romans 9:6-8
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 neither are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "through Isaac your descendants will be named." 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. NASB (Emphasis mine)

Infinitely Desired

Many may use Paul's message about a localized event at Antioch Pisidian to ascertain that God has given up on the Jews and turned to the Gentiles completely.

Acts 13:44-52
44 And the next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles . 47 "For thus the Lord has commanded us,

'I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles ,
That You should bring salvation to the end of the earth.'"

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jews aroused the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. NASB (Emphasis mine)

Yet Paul years later at Athens was still sharing God's news with the Jews. They were not forsaken in the invitation to eternal life at any point in his ministry. While called as an Apostle to the Gentiles Paul still carried his message to any Jew who would listen and hear the Word of Life.

Acts 17:16-18
16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was beholding the city full of idols. 17 So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles , and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present. NASB (Emphasis mine)

Paul in Romans shares his hearts desire for Israel to be saved. In doing so he clearly shows God had not forsaken His chosen people Israel. In His mercy God used the evil choices of the Israelites to demonstrate His power to the Gentile peoples. But even though the Gentiles are invited Isaiah shares God has a remnant among His chosen people that will be saved.

Romans 10:1
10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. NASB
 

Romans 9:22-28
22 What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And He did so in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles . 25 As He says also in Hosea,

"I will call those who were not My people, 'My people,'
And her who was not beloved, 'beloved.'"
26 "And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ' you are not My people,'
There they shall be called sons of the living God."

27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, "Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved; 28 for the Lord will execute His word upon the earth, thoroughly and quickly. " NASB (Emphasis mine)
 

Romans 11:1-5
11:1 I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 "Lord, they have killed Thy prophets, they have torn down Thine altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life." 4 But what is the divine response to him? "I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice. NASB (Emphasis mine)

The book of Hebrews is a wonderfully detailed appeal to the "brethren" of national Israel as the chosen nation of God's covenants. The author systematically appeals to the Israelites of his day in hopeful persuasion that Jesus is the Christ of their wonderful message from God to the world through them.

Every religious expression of Israel on earth was so designed to picture spiritual activity in heaven as seen in the chapter Tabernacle Not Made With Hands. It was Paul's knowledge of the earthly meaning and heavenly blessings pictured that so grieved him in his thoughts about Israel's national rejection of Christ.

Romans 9:1-5
9:1 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. NASB

Intentionally Destined

God made everlasting covenants with Abraham and David as seen in chapter Blessing to All Nations. To replace Israel nationally would mean God breaking His Word. God still will fulfill this covenant with Israel nationally on earth according to His promises.

Jeremiah 31:2-6
2 Thus says the LORD,
"The people who survived the sword
Found grace in the wilderness-
Israel, when it went to find its rest."
3 The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying,
"I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.
4 "Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt,
O virgin of Israel!
Again you shall take up your tambourines,
And go forth to the dances of the merrymakers.
5 "Again you shall plant vineyards
On the hills of Samaria;
The planters shall plant
And shall enjoy them.
6 "For there shall be a day when watchmen
On the hills of Ephraim shall call out,
'Arise, and let us go up to Zion,
To the LORD our God.'"  NASB (Emphasis mine)

 

Romans 11:28-32
28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, in order that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all. NASB (Emphasis mine)

Incessantly Defended

So when will national Israel fulfill this covenant God made with Abraham and David? The remnant God has chosen in fulfilled prophecy is unveiled by the Apostle John in Revelation chapters 7 and 14 in the 144,000. Popular Christianity claims these sealed are saved in the tribulation and preach the gospel in the tribulation before the Lord returns. However this is taught mainly to fill the void of identifying the "great multitude" in Revelation chapter 7 as discussed more thoroughly in chapter The Gathering Together.

The claim to the salvation is Israel in Revelation chapter 7 is based upon the word "seal"^[2] and the act of sealing a remnant of Israel from harm. The word refers to a mark that verifies protection. It pictures to fence in the object so marked in some level of protection. For example the word is used of the seal on the tomb used to place Jesus body to protect it from access by others for misuse or harm in Matthew 27:66, "And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone." NASB Another example is the seals on the scroll in heaven containing the judgment of God in the tribulation in Revelation 5. These judgments were protected to keep someone not worthy opening and applying God's judgments on the earth. In Revelation 7 the seal of Israel is applied by an angel to protect from the harm of the judgments to come on the earth. Nothing is said about the indwelling Holy Spirit of spiritual birth and protection to eternal life.

Revelation 7:1-8
7:1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind should blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads." 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 5 from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 6 from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 7 from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.  NASB (Emphasis mine)

The word seal is misconstrued to be salvation in sealing of the Holy Spirit in the spiritual birth. It actually is only a seal of protection by God in sending angels. The Holy Spirit and indwelling baptism of spiritual birth are not mentioned. It must be read into the text. Note in comparison with the sealing of believers in verses noted below that the type of seal is different. The latter application below is the Holy Spirit indwelling of the baptism of spiritual birth unto protection to enter God's kingdom in eternal life. The former of the 144,000  is God's seal applied by an angel to those on earth to protection from harm of the tribulation judgments.

John 3:4-7
5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' NASB
 

2 Corinthians 1:21-22
21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.  NASB
 

Ephesians 1:13-14
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. NASB
 

Ephesians 4:30
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. NASB

Incredibly Delivered

The title of the Apostle John's book is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" seen in verse 1. The word "revelation" means unveiling or uncovering. The Apostle John writes about how Jesus will finally be completely unveiled to Israel. This unveiling of Jesus Christ to Israel is not completed until the Lord actually comes to earth. One might ask if Israel spiritually discovers in repentance who Jesus is in the tribulation then why does God continue the judgments of His wrath? God's continuance of wrath would go against His nature of forgiveness for repentance. From Scripture the purpose of the heavenly pressure is to bring Israel to repentance - not punish new believers for past sins. As seen later in Scripture Israel nationally will have clear understanding of who the Messiah is when they see Him at Mt. Zion at the end of the Great Tribulation.

As one reads "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" the visions of these future events are not linearly sequential as an uncut taping from beginning to end. We often treat the visions like our old time ordered home movies that just keep taping without rearrangement. In this Revelation God much like a movie director to John gives scenes that often overlap or change in time to previous events already mentioned. What John sees are multiple visions of often chronological overlapping events from different perspectives much like a movie. There is a beginning and ending to the overall theme but the linear time content varies jumping to different themes and views of the same or similar time periods as God unveils the story. See Appendix 4- Bible Prophetic Last Days Chronology for more details about God's method of unveiling the activities of the end of the age in His plans. It is the attempts to make the Revelation time line linear that lead to so many different interpretations of the visions John records. In the linear view all must somehow fit in interpretation before the coming of the Lord. In truth perhaps many of the passages actually apply to the 1000 year reign of Christ with Israel preaching the eternal gospel for that time and seen in chapter The First Thousand Years.

Another reason that fuels misunderstanding is misapplication of visions God gave to Daniel. Daniel's prophecies do not deal with the local churches or believers on earth but his people Israel and their difficult path to the New Kingdom to come in Jesus Christ at His second coming. As Daniel understood what would happen to his people before their acceptance of Christ he was sick for days. He requested more information in understanding of when these awful times would end. but was told the information would be sealed in understanding until the end.

Daniel 10:12-14
12 Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14 "Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future."  NASB (Emphasis mine)

Daniel 12:5-13
5 Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the river, and the other on that bank of the river. 6 And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be until the end of these wonders?" 7 And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. 8 As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, "My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?" 9 And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. 10 "Many will be purged, purified and refined; but the wicked will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. 11 "And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 "How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days! 13 "But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age."
NASB (Emphasis mine)

Nationally Israel will only accept the Messiah when the meet Jesus personally at His coming to earth at the end of the great tribulation. They will see Him - the Christ they have longed for all the years. Jesus even implied this in warning of Matthew 24:27 when He said don't believe anyone who says I am here or there for when He comes they will all see Him coming in the clouds as lightening from the east to the west. The heaven on earth religion of Babylon in the time of tribulation will deny this coming and its necessity. Peace and safety with Eden achieved will be offered to Israel but they are warned to reject it. When the abomination that bring desolation is seen in the temple Israel is told to flee immediately to the place of protection God has given in the desert.

Israel by the second coming will be delivered from terrible persecution.

Zechariah 14:1-9

1 A day of the LORD is coming when your plunder will be divided among you. 2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. 3 Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5 You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. 6 On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. 7 It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime-a day known to the LORD. When evening comes, there will be light. 8 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter. 9 The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name. NIV (Emphasis mine)

As the world in delusion follows the Anti-Christ claim to be God’s Son, Israel is blamed for the earthly suffering of the Great Tribulation. All nations will come against Jerusalem as Scripture promises there will be no national ally seen in Jeremiah 30:13-14 and chapter Judgment Scrolls Opened - Labor Contractions.

 Israel will suffer a holocaust as never previously known. God will seal by His angels at least 144,000 as safe during this terrible judgment upon the earth. These while awaiting destruction east of the Mt. of Olives are delivered by the Lord. He comes with “the holy ones” and sets His feet on the Mt. of Olives creating an earthquake. This destroys the army of the Anti-Christ and creates a valley for which Israel to flee. The dust will be so thick the sun will not be able to shine. However it will be light due to the Light of the Lord in a “unique day” as Zechariah describes it.

It is here Israel is saved accepting Jesus as Lord. Israel flees through this valley to meet their long awaited Messiah. As we stand behind our Lord we will watch and rejoice as Israel comes to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. As prophesied by the prophet Joel and taught by Jesus, after enduring the horrors of the tribulation they will call on the name of the Lord for salvation.

As Joel prophesied Jesus shares how those who survive to the end of the tribulation “will be saved.”  Finally after years of public denial "in partial hardening" Israel nationally receives the blessing that was for all the peoples of the earth promised to Abraham. According to Paul "all" Israel on that day are saved on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem. Mount Zion refers generally to the hills east of Jerusalem where the temple will be built. Once saved Israel will begin as a nation to fulfill the Davidic Covenant and rule the world in a government unlike any ever seen. They will preach the gospel of the kingdom until the next “end” that will come referring to “the end of the age” where God brings the New Heaven and New Earth at the completion of His purpose in redemption.

Joel 2:30-32

30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 32 And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls. NIV (Emphasis mine)

 

Matthew 24:9-14

9 "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. NIV (Emphasis mine)

Isaiah 4:2-6
2 In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and the adornment of the survivors of Israel. 3 And it will come about that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy — everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem. 4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, 5 then the LORD will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy. 6 And there will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain. NASB (Emphasis mine)
 

Revelation 14:1-7

14:1 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion[3], and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless. 6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth-to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." NIV (Emphasis mine)

 

Jeremiah 30:4-9
4 Now these are the words which the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah, 5 "For thus says the LORD,

'I have heard a sound of terror,
Of dread, and there is no peace.
6'Ask now, and see,
If a male can give birth.
Why do I see every man
With his hands on his loins, as a woman in childbirth?
And why have all faces turned pale?
7'Alas! for that day is great,
There is none like it;
And it is the time of Jacob's distress,
But he will be saved from it.

8'And it shall come about on that day,' declares the LORD of hosts, 'that I will break his yoke from off their neck, and will tear off their bonds; and strangers shall no longer make them their slaves. 9'But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. NASB (Emphasis mine)

 

Romans 11:25-27
25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,

"The Deliverer will come from Zion,
He will remove ungodliness from Jacob."
27 "And this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins." NASB

As Israel meets and bows before their Savior the Lord will walk from the Mount of Olives to the millennial temple through the Eastern gate of the temple wall. This gate[4] seen below is now closed today. As we walk behind our Lord watching Jews accept Christ as Savior we can understand why Zechariah calls this a “unique day.”

Ezekiel 43:1-5

1 Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, 2 and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. 3 The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown. 4 The glory of the LORD entered the temple through the gate facing east. 5 Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. NIV (Emphasis mine)

Matthew 24:13-14
13 "But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved. 14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come. NASB

Israel nationally will begin a new era for the world as messengers of an eternal gospel. The time of this blessing as God's remnant is not in the tribulation. It comes when these actually meet the Lord Jesus Christ at Mt. Zion. The above verses actually summarize a thousand years of activity by Israel. Jesus in His discourse of Matthew 24 is answering two distinct questions. The questions were as noted in Matthew 24:3, “what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” NIV According to Scripture His coming to the earth and the end of the age occur at two different distinct times in future history. They are separate events by 1000 years. The “coming” in Matthew 24 relates to Israel and the end of the tribulation where Jesus comes to the earth and marks the beginning of the Day of the Lord. Concerning the remnant of Israel that God promised the survivors that call upon the name of the Lord at Mt. Zion will be saved.

Once saved as discussed more thoroughly in the next chapter Israel will preach the gospel until the next "end" mentioned in question to Jesus. This end is that of the “end of the age” that refers to the end of this current "evil age" that began with Satan's fall and darkness in God's kingdom and ends at the completion of the Day of the Lord. God’s completion of His seven days of redemptive purpose is at the end of the thousand year kingdom of Christ’s rule and the establishment of the New Heaven the New Earth. Each has it’s own distinct “end.” Jesus tells His disciples of signs and events that “ end”[5] these two different periods.

In the next chapter The First Thousand Years we shall review many prophetic teachings about this time called the Day of the Lord - the seventh day in God's plan of redemption. As believers we are not in the heaven promised of eternal life yet. We patiently will serve as priests of the Lord in His temple until the thousand years are finished as mentioned regarding the Lord standing on Mt. Zion with those 144,000 that come to him for salvation.

Revelation 14:12-13
12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them."  NASB

Chapter 17       Chapter 19  Chapter Time Link Map

End Notes

[1] Mount of Olives site of Jesus return to earth.

[2] 'seal' sphragis NT:4973 sphragis (sfrag-ece'); probably strengthened from NT:5420 (See below); a signet (as fencing in or protecting from misappropriation); by implication, the stamp impressed (as a mark of privacy, or genuineness), literally or figuratively: KJV - seal.

NT:5420 phrasso (fras'-so); apparently a strengthening form of the base of NT:5424; to fence or inclose, i.e. (specifically) to block up (figuratively, to silence): KJV - stop.Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary, 1994, 2003, Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.

[3] Descriptions of the Apostle John should be taken literal unless otherwise told they are figurative. Taking the view the Sixth seal is a summary of God’s wrath in the Great Tribulation of 3 ½ years; the Trumpet and Bowl judgments run concurrently describing different views of similar escalation of God’s use of the earth in judgment; then Revelation 14 is actually a description of the setting up of the Millennial Kingdom. [See Chronological Study of Tribulation Prophecy] Jesus is actually seen on Mount Zion with the 144,000. There is no Scripture that tells us the 144,000 are saved in the Tribulation, somehow killed or translated to heaven or that Mount Zion here is a figure of heaven. According to Revelation 7 they are "sealed" in protective care of angels which is not to say they are "saved" or sealed by the Holy Spirit to day of redemption as believers in this age. The evangelism of the 144,000 is during the Millennial Kingdom rather than the Tribulation. Under Christ's rule the world will explode in population with the bulk of those saved into eternity to be born spiritually during this time.

[4] Jeffrey, Grant R. Heaven-The Last Frontier. (Frontier Research Publications, Toronto, Ontario), p. 134-13

[5]‘end’ NT:5065 telos (tel'-os); from a primary tello (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly, the point aimed at as a limit, i.e. (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination [literally, figuratively or indefinitely], result [immediate, ultimate or prophetic], purpose); specifically, an impost or levy (as paid): KJV - + continual, custom, end (-ing), finally, uttermost. Compare NT:5411. Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary,1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.

© 2002-2010 Heaven Past Present Future Ministries.

Operated by William Henry Publishing, LLC PO Box 2651, Batesville, AR 72503-2651 williamhenry@heavenpastpresentfuture.com    Email Response Form      Permissions