Israel: at Center Stage

2. Israel: at Center Stage • Jerusalem will be destroyed. • Jews will be scattered across the globe. • Gentiles take control of Jerusalem. • UNTIL… “Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land” Ezek.37:21 In that day the Lord will bring back a remnant of his people for the second time, returning them to the land of Israel from Assyria… and all the distant coastlands. (Is.11:11) “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near…They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations.” – Luke 21:20,24a Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” – Luke 21:24b

3. The “times of the gentiles” Jerusalem restored to the Jews1967 Jerusalem destroyed, Jews dispersed AD 70-130 Israel: the Prophetic Timeline Until… FULFILLED PROPHECY! Jesus teaching AD 33

4. Israel: the Prophetic Timeline 1 Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. 2 And He said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down." Jerusalem restored to the Jews1967 "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will…"Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 6 "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Matthew 24:1-22 Jerusalem destroyed 70AD

5. The Great Tribulation: Rev. 6-16 • Details Christ’s teachings on it (Mt.24:30-31) • He knows the future because he has authority over it: the Scroll (biblion) is the plan of God (prophecy). • Jesus is theworthy authority in the universe, and he holds authority over mankind (Rev. 4:11; 5:2,9). • The worthiness of Jesus Christ’s authority is answered in full. • He steps aside and allows autonomous rule: “Come!” • Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and unroll it? (Rev.5:2) • Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come."- Revelation 6:1 (NASB) • I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. -Revelation 6:1 (NASB)

6. The Great Tribulation: Rev. 6-16 • Details Christ’s teachings on it (Mt.24:30-31) • Launched by the dominion of a Great Ruler (6:2) • The epitome of the Cult of Man. • The most charismatic ruler ever before seen. • The central trigger of the Great Tribulation: “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship…And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed.”- 2 Thes. 2:3-7 “All men's problems were created by man, and can be solved by man.” – J.F. Kennedy • I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. -Revelation 6:1 (NASB)

7. The Great Tribulation: Rev. 6-16 • Details Christ’s teachings on it (Mt.24:30-31) • Launched by the dominion of a Great Ruler (6:2) • The inevitable outcome of the Cult of Man. • War: the red horse (6:3-4) • When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, "Come!" • And another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to remove peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere.(NLT)

8. The Great Tribulation: Rev. 6-16 • Details Christ’s teachings on it (Mt.24:30-31) • Launched by the dominion of a Great Ruler (6:2) • The inevitable outcome of the Cult of Man. • War: the red horse (6:3-4) • Famine: the black horse (6:5-6) • When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, "Come!" And I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. • And a voice from among the four living beings said, "A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley for a day's pay. And don't waste the olive oil and wine."

9. The Great Tribulation: Rev. 6-16 • Details Christ’s teachings on it (Mt.24:30-31) • Launched by the dominion of a Great Ruler (6:2) • The inevitable outcome of the Cult of Man. • War: the red horse (6:3-4) • Famine: the black horse (6:5-6) • Chaos, destruction and death: the green horse (6:7-8) • And when the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living being say, "Come!" • And I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green like a corpse. And Death was the name of its rider, who was followed around by the Grave. They were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals.

10. The Great Tribulation: Rev. 6-16 • Details Christ’s teachings on it (Mt.24:30-31) • Launched by the dominion of a Great Ruler (6:2) • The inevitable outcome of the Cult of Man. • War: the red horse (6:3-4) • Famine: the black horse (6:5-6) • Chaos, destruction and death: the green horse (6:7-8) • Widespread persecution of believers (6:9-11). • And when the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their witness. • They called loudly to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge…” • Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus—had been martyred.

11. The Great Tribulation: Rev. 6-16 “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will…“Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” • Details Christ’s teachings on it (Mt.24:30-31) • Launched by the dominion of a Great Ruler (6:2) • The inevitable outcome of the Cult of Man. • War: the red horse (6:3-4) • Famine: the black horse (6:5-6) • Chaos, destruction and death: the green horse (6:7-8) • Widespread persecution of believers (6:9-11). • Nearly destroying the earth (6:12-17) • I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood…

12. The Great Tribulation: Rev. 6-16 • Details Christ’s teachings on it (Mt.24:30-31) • Launched by the dominion of a Great Ruler (6:2) • The inevitable outcome of the Cult of Man. • War: the red horse (6:3-4) • Famine: the black horse (6:5-6) • Chaos, destruction and death: the green horse (6:7-8) • Widespread persecution of believers (6:9-11). • Nearly destroying the earth (6:12-17) • Expounded in chapters 8,9,16 • 7th Seal -> 7 Trumpets: land, oceans, water, atmosphere… • 7th Trumpet -> 7 Bowls: land, oceans, water, atmosphere… • The 7th Bowl: “Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed…” (Rev.16:18)

13. The 3rd Trumpet: “…a great flaming star fell out of the sky, burning like a torch. It fell upon one-third of the rivers and on the springs of water…and many people died because the water was so bitter. (Rev.8:10,11) “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved…” • the day of the LORD is near! It will come as destruction from the Almighty…They will be terrified, Pains and anguish will take hold of them; They will writhe like a woman in labor, They will look at one another in astonishment, Their faces aflame. (Is.13:6,9) How did they know? • Now this will be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem; their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth… (Zech.14:12)

14. I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around…I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.” (Zech.12:1-3) How did they know?

15. The Great Tribulation: Rev. 6-16 • Details Christ’s teachings on it (Mt.24:30-31) • Launched by the dominion of a Great Ruler (6:2) • The inevitable outcome of the Cult of Man. • God is not inactive during this time. • Witness through a vast number of martyrs (6:9-11) • Through nation Israel • They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord…?” • Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed. - Rev.6:9-11 • “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” • Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. - Rev.7:3-4

16. The Great Tribulation: Rev. 6-16 • Details Christ’s teachings on it (Mt.24:30-31) • Launched by the dominion of a Great Ruler (6:2) • The inevitable outcome of the Cult of Man. • God is not inactive during this time. • Through the “Two Witnesses” • Through nation Israel • “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” • Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. - Rev.7:3-4 • They have power to shut the skies so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to send every kind of plague upon the earth as often as they wish. (Rev.11:6) • "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." (Rev.11:3)

17. The Great Tribulation: Rev. 6-16 • Details Christ’s teachings on it (Mt.24:30-31) • Launched by the dominion of a Great Ruler (6:2) • The inevitable outcome of the Cult of Man. • God is not inactive during this time. • Through the “Two Witnesses” • Through nation Israel • Witness through a vast number of martyrs (6:9-11) • After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. And they were shouting with a mighty shout, “Salvation comes from our God on the throne and from the Lamb!” (Rev.7:9-10) • Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer – Rev.6:10 • They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord…?” • …and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed. - Rev.6:9-11

18. The Great Tribulation: Rev. 6-16 • Details Christ’s teachings on it (Mt.24:30-31) • Launched by the dominion of a Great Ruler (6:2) • The inevitable outcome of the Cult of Man. • God is not inactive during this time. • The unmasking of the “ruler of this world.” the Kosmos Rev. 9:11 Their king is the angel from the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon—the Destroyer “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light…” 2 Cor. 11:14 “the ruler of this world will be cast out.” John 12:31

19. “Who is worthy?” He who sits on the throne will live among them and shelter them… For the Lamb who stands in front of the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to the springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away all their tears.” -Rev.7:15-17

20. Luke 21 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. •  "But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. • “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the son of man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. - Mt.24:30-31

21. Luke 21 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.