OUTLINES ON BIBLE PROPHECY

Pages

Bible Prophecy 1.1 - 1.2

The World of Tomorrow 1.3 - 1.4

The Kingdom of God 1.5 - 1.6

The Kingdom and Power of Satan 1.7 - 1.8

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ 1.9 - 1.10

The Second Coming of Christ 1.11 - 1.12

Manner of Christ's Second Coming 1.13 - 1.14

The Theory of a Secret Rapture 1.15 - 1.16

Signs of Christ's Second Coming 1.17 - 1.18

Modern Spiritism 1.19 - 1.20

The Modern Jew in Bible Prophecy 1.21 - 1.22

Babylon the Great 1.23 - 1.24

The Anti-Christ 1.25 - 1.26

The Reformation 1.27 - 1.28

The Elijah Message 1.29 - 1.30

The Sabbath Reform Movement 1.31 - 1.32

Armageddon 1.33 - 1.34

The Millennium 1.35 - 1.36

The Kingdom of Glory 1.37 - 1.38

Our Eternal Home 1.39 - 1.40

BIBLE PROPHECY

2 PETER 1:19

A. GOD REVEALED HIMSELF

1. In creation:

a. Genesis chapters one and two

b. Creation is the key to the knowledge of His

eternal power and Godhead - Rom. 1:20

c. It is a declaration of His glory and majesty - Ps.

19:1-6; 111:1-9

2. In and through His only begotten Son, who is the

express image of His person: Heb. 1:3; John 1:18

3. Through the written word: John 5:39; 2 Tim. 3:15

B. BIBLE PROPHECY IS STILL ANOTHER SOURCE OF THE REVELATION OF

GOD

1. It brings to light God's hand in the affairs of men:

a. The story of the human race - Gen. 1:26, 27; Ps.

8:4-9; Acts 17:26

b. Nothing happens in the world but what God reveals

things to His servants, the prophets - Amos 3:7,

8; Jer. 13:18-22

2. Bible prophecy outlines God's plan beforehand:

a. Consider the history of the great nations - Dan.

2; 7; 8; 11; Rev. 12; 13; 15; 16

b. It portrays the great conflict between Christ and

Satan - Rev. 12

3. It gives glimpses of coming glory:

a. Rev. 21:1-17

b. 1 Cor. 2:9-11

c. Isa. 65:17-20; 66:22, 23

4. It gives full assurance of faith's final reward:

a. Isa. 34:16; 55:10-13

b. Rev. 22:1-17

c. Isa. 35:1-10

5. It holds the key to an intelligent understanding of

current events:

a. Amos 3:7

b. Isa. 60:1-5

c. 2 Pet. 1:19, 20

6. It alone can lift the curtain from what the world of

tomorrow has in store for the human race:

a. Isa. 43:18, 19

C. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD BIBLE PROPHECY

1. The unbelieving world:

a. 2 Pet. 3:1-13

b. Matt. 23:1-18; Luke 17:26-28; 21:25-30

2. God's people:

a. Heed the words of the prophets - Isa. 8:16, 20;

2 Chron. 36:15-17; 2 Pet. 1:19, 20

b. They are guided by the message of the prophets - 2

Chron. 20:20; 1 Thess. 5:20; 2 Pet. 1:19, 20

c. They joyfully believe God's prophets - 2 Chron.

20:20; Luke 24:25-28; Acts 24:27

3. Blessing of Bible prophecy:

a. It is a bright light that shineth in a dark and

sinful world - Isa. 60:1-6; 2 Pet. 1:16-20; 3:1-13

b. If heeded, it will bring spiritual prosperity -

Isa. 7:9; 2 Chron. 20:20

c. It will open up to our faith vistas of eternal

glory - 1 Cor. 1:9-11; Rev. 22:1-6

4. The prophetic gift is, in fact, the eyes of the church:

a. "Where there is no vision the people perish" -

Prov. 29:18

b. Spiritual drought prevailed among God's people

when there was no vision - 1 Sam. 3:1-6; 2 Chron.

15:3

c. That was true during the dark ages, when the

written word was unknown to the common people; and

the two witnesses had to prophecy in sackcloth -

Rev. 11:1-11

d. That will be true just prior to the second coming

of Jesus Christ; when the world, at large, will

reject Bible prophecy - Isa. 60:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-9;

4:1-6

e. How wonderful it is to have the Light of Bible

prophecy at a time like this -

(1) It is as light upon our path in a dark and

sinful world! Ps. 119:105

(2) It will give us a wonderful view of things to

come in the world of tomorrow! 1 Cor. 2:9-11

f. Dear Reader, shall both of us be more eager to

study Bible prophecy, as the noble Bereans did?

Acts 17:11

THE WORLD OF TOMORROW

ISAIAH 21:11

A. OUR PRESENT WORLD IS WITHOUT PARALLEL IN THE HISTORY OF THE

NATIONS

1. Scientific development:

a. Harnessing the Atom

b. The intercontinental missile

c. Space travel

2. Things that were new, but yesterday, are old today:

a. Nations are in great fear of what shall be

tomorrow - Luke 21:25, 26

b. Feverish preparation against the inevitable of

tomorrow seems like a nightmare to a careful

observer of current events - Joel 3:9-14; Isa.

24:17-23

c. The alarming part of present day conditions is the

steady decline of the morals of the people in the

home and in society in general - 2 Tim. 3:1-9

B. THE WORLD OF TOMORROW

1. What about the world of tomorrow?

a. Are you interested in the predictions of Bible

prophecy about the world of tomorrow?

b. Nebuchadnezzar was: Dan. 2:29

c. Peter was: 2 Pet. 3:13

d. The saints of all ages have been deeply interested

in Bible prophecy - Heb. 11:13-16

2. Who holds the future in his hand?

a. Is it the scientist? Dan. 2:1-45

b. Christ and Christ alone has the destiny of the

world of tomorrow in His hand - Isa. 40:12-15;

41:21-24; Ps. 2:6-12

c. He is the lawful heir to the world of tomorrow -

Matt. 21:38; Heb. 1:1-9

3. Prophetic forecast about the world of tomorrow:

a. Babylon - 606-538 B.C.

b. Medo-Persia - 538-331 B.C.

c. Greece - 331-168 B.C.

d. Rome - 168 B. C. - 376 A.D.

e. The ten kingdoms follow Rome; only seven of them

remain

4. It is significant that all human attempts to hold the

nations together have failed: Dan. 2:43

C. THE WORLD OF TOMORROW

1. Is not of an earthly nature:

a. "My kingdom is not of this world" - John 18:36

b. It will not be the fruit of human effort or modern

skill - Zech. 4:4-8; Dan. 2:34

2. It is the ultimate result or triumph of God's love:

a. Reclaimed by the second Adam - Mi. 4:8; Rom. 5:12-

19

b. The fulfillment of God's promise to His children -

Ps. 2:1-6; Luke 1:32-34; 12:32

c. It is the earth made new - Rev. 21:1-6; 2 Pet.

3:13; Isa. 65:17; 66:22

d. It is the "Stone Kingdom" of Dan. 2:32-45

3. The world of tomorrow is still in the process of

development:

a. At the present we are living in the kingdom of

grace - Tit. 2:11; Rom. 5:12-19

b. This kingdom has its throne in the heart of the

Christian believer - Luke 17:20, 21; Col. 1:27

4. Subjects of the world of tomorrow:

a. Not chosen because of race or wealth - Acts 10:34,

35; Deut. 7:7; Gal. 3:26-29

b. Not flesh and blood - John 1:10-12; 1 Cor. 15:50

c. The new birth is the basic condition to become a

citizen of the world of tomorrow -

(1) "Ye must be born again" - John 3:3-9

(2) "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom

of God" - 1 Cor. 15:50

d. We must bring the fruit of the kingdom of heaven -

Matt. 21:41

e. The world of tomorrow belongs to all who have part

in the first resurrection - Rev. 20:5, 6; John

5:28, 29; Luke 14:14

f. Who are pure in heart - Matt. 5:5, 6; Ps. 15:1-6

g. Only the undefiled shall enter the world of

tomorrow - Rev. 19:27; Gal. 5:16-23

h. Friends of mine, will you be among the citizens

that will make up the inhabitants of the world of

tomorrow?

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

DANIEL 2:44

A. THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF TWO OPPOSING KINGDOMS IN THE UNIVERSE

1. The kingdom of Satan:

a. He claimed the kingdoms of this world as belonging

to him because they had been given to him - Luke

4:4-6

b. Our Lord recognized that Satan had a kingdom -

Matt. 12:26

c. It is the power of darkness - Col. 1:23

d. Christ spoke of "the prince of this world" - John

12:31; 16:11

2. The kingdom of God:

a. It is the realm where God is King, controlling the

affairs of men - Isa. 52:7; Ps. 22:28

b. For God is still governor among the nations - Dan.

2:21, 44; 4:17; Ps. 22:28

c. Lucifer got possession of the nations of this

world through fraud, beguiling Adam and Eve to sin

against their Maker - Luke 4:1-6; Rom. 6:16; Gen.

3:1-6

B. NATURE OF GOD'S KINGDOM

1. It is a dual kingdom:

a. Presently it is the kingdom of grace.

b. It functions in the heart - Luke 17:20, 21; Col.

1:27

2. This phase of the kingdom of God was set up as soon as

Adam and Eve became victims of Satan:

a. The first promise - Gen. 3:15

b. Grace became the hope of the fallen race - Tit.

2:11; Rom. 5:12-19; Eph. 2:7, 8

3. All believers, in all ages, have been subjects of the

kingdom of grace:

a. Paul teaches this truth - Tit. 2:11; Eph. 2:7, 8;

Rom. 5:12-18

b. The Bible is full of references to the kingdom of

grace - Gen. 6:8; Jer. 32:2; Ex. 33:12, 16; Zech.

4:8

c. This part or phase of God's kingdom prepares the

subjects for the kingdom of glory - Matt. 1:21;

Acts 4:12; John 3:16

d. It is the development of our character, suitable

for glory - Matt. 5:5; Rev. 19:7; 2 Cor. 3:18

4. The kingdom of grace is symbolized by:

a. The seed cast into the ground - Mark 4:26

b. The grain of a mustard seed - Mark 4:31

c. A leaven, which a woman took and hid in three

measures of meal - Luke 13:21

C. THE MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM

1. Was brought to our first parents:

a. The promised seed - Gen. 3:15

b. Evangelists before the flood proclaimed it -

(1) Enoch the seventh from Adam preached it -

Jude 14, 15

(2) Seth preached it - Gen. 4:26

(3) Noah proclaimed it - 2 Pet. 2:5

2. The Patriarchs preached the gospel of the kingdom:

a. Abraham - Gen. 18:17-19; Gal. 3:8

b. Isaac and Jacob built altars for the Lord, which

symbolized their faith in God's kingdom - Gen.

35:1; Heb. 11:14-18

3. This gospel of the kingdom centers in the person of our

Lord Jesus Christ:

a. It is called "the gospel of Christ" - Rom. 1:16

b. He and He alone can bring about the consummation

of the kingdom of God - Acts 4:12; Luke 23:42-44

c. It is He who teaches us to pray, "Thy kingdom

come" - Matt. 6:9-11

d. When we receive the Lord Jesus into our hearts, He

establishes His throne in our hearts. We become

the seat of the King of kings and Lord of lords -

Col. 1:27; Eph. 3:17

4. Seven Bible musts to enter the Kingdom of God:

a. "Ye must be born again" - John 3:3-9

b. Christ must increase and I must decrease - John

3:30

c. We must worship the Father in spirit and in truth

- John 4:22, 23

d. We must do all the Lord has commanded us to

perform - Num. 23:26

e. We must all appear before the judgment seat of

Christ - 2 Cor. 5:10

f. We must, through much tribulation, enter into the

kingdom of God - Acts 14:22

g. We must believe that God will keep His word to all

who walk in His way - Heb. 11:6

These are some of the musts that mark the pathway to

the kingdom of God.

THE KINGDOM AND POWER OF SATAN

MATTHEW 12:26

A. A CAREFUL STUDY OF THE BIBLE REVEALS

1. That Satan has a kingdom:

a. This was acknowledged by the Son of God - Luke

11:18; Matt. 12:26

b. Satan asserted, boldly, before the Son of God,

that the kingdoms of this world and their glory

are his - Luke 4:5, 6

c. Our Lord spoke of Satan as, "the prince of this

world" - John 12:31; 14:30

d. Paul wrote about "the prince of the air" - Eph.

2:2

2. It is important for us to know:

a. That the behavior of the nations is indicative

that they are motivated, in many ways, by Satan -

Dan. 7:1-17; Rev. 12:1-17; 16:13

b. They carry out, in most instances, the will of

Satan - John 8:44; 1 John 5:16-19; Rev. 17:1-11

B. THE KINGDOM AND POWER OF SATAN

1. How he got possession of this world:

a. By lies, deception, and default.

b. When our first parents yielded their lives to

Satan, they yielded their kingdom to the devil.

When we yield our lives to sin, we give him

possession of our lives, our talents, our

influence, and all the things we may possess -

Gen. 3:1-22; Rom. 6:16

2. Satan maintains his power in this world:

a. Through the children of unbelief - Heb. 3:12; Rev.

21:8

b. But some become slaves of sin, and so he uses them

to carry on his work - Luke 15:11-16

c. This fact must be kept in mind if we are to

understand the strange behavior of some people -

John 8:44; Mark 5:1-14; Acts 7:57

3. He who yields his or her heart to Satan becomes an

accessory of Satan and his kingdom:

a. Satan makes untold numbers captives to his will -

2 Tim. 2:26

b. How sad it is to realize that men, born to be

free, become slaves to Satan and his kingdom.

4. Marks of the kingdom of Satan:

a. It is full of darkness - Luke 22:53; Eph. 5:11

b. It practices the art of disguise - Gen. 3:1-3; 2

Cor. 11:13, 14

c. Satan's agents parade in sheep's clothing - Matt.

7:15; 23:27

d. Bitter opposition to the law of God is his chief

work - Rom. 8:6, 7; Ps. 94:20

e. Self-exaltation is still another mark of his

kingdom - Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:12-16

f. This is one of the marks of the anti-Christ - Dan.

7:25; 2 Thess. 2:3-7; Rev. 13:6

g. Cold blooded murder is the nature of his kingdom -

John 8:44; 1 Pet. 5:8

C. FINAL DOOM OF SATAN AND HIS RULE

1. His final doom was foretold in the Garden of Eden:

Gen. 3:15

a. This is one of the missions of the Son of God - 1

John 3:8; Gen. 3:15; Rom. 16:20

b. Christ came to reclaim the kingdom that Adam lost

through transgression - Mi. 4:8; Rev. 11:15

2. Satan and his kingdom will be destroyed:

a. He and his fellow rebels will be judged by the

saints - 1 Cor. 6:1-3

b. They will be imprisoned for one thousand years -

Rev. 20:2, 3; Isa. 24:21, 22

c. God will bring them to final justice - Ezek.

28:12-18

d. His final end will come at the end of the thousand

years when he will be cast into the lake of fire

where the beast and the false prophet are - Rev.

19:20; 20:10

e. Thus the reign of sin will come to an end; and the

kingdom of our God and His Christ will reign over

the universe; it will be an everlasting kingdom -

Dan. 2:44-45

f. Iniquity shall not arise the second time - Nah.

1:9; Rev. 21:1-6

g. This conflict between good and evil began in

heaven - Rev. 12:7-12; it will end on this earth

in the triumph of the Son of God, who loved us and

delivered us from the kingdom and power of Satan -

Col. 1:13

THE KINGDOM OF JESUS CHRIST

JOHN 18:36, 37

A. OUR LORD ASSURES US THAT HE IS A KING

1. John 18:36, 37; Matt. 22:11

2. That He has a kingdom: Luke 16:28; 22:30; John 1:49;

12:13

3. The Bible speaks of Him as "King of kings and Lord of

Lords":

a. Because the world and all that is in it was made

by and for Him - Col. 1:14-17; Heb. 1:3, 8, 9

b. He is the rightful heir to the universe - Heb.

1:1-6; Matt. 21:38; Ps. 2:6-12

4. He assures us that one reason why He went back to His

Father was to receive a kingdom: Luke 19:12; Dan. 7:14

5. He was anointed King: Heb. 1:8; Ps. 24:1-10

6. He is the King of glory:

a. Because He was valiant in battle and His right

hand has given Him glorious victory.

b. He defeated Lucifer in heaven and He defeated him

on the earth - Rev. 12:7, 8; Luke 4:1-11; Matt.

4:1-9

B. NATURE OF THE KINGDOM OF JESUS CHRIST

1. It is not of this world: That means that His kingdom

is not the result of war and bloodshed. John 6:15;

18:36

2. The kingdoms of this world are based upon physical

force: Dan. 2:7, 8; John 5:19

3. His kingdom is based:

a. Upon love - John 13:1-3; Hos. 11:4

b. Everlasting righteousness - Heb. 1:8, 9; 2 Pet.

3:13; Isa. 11:5

4. Subjects of His Kingdom:

a. The meek of the earth - Matt. 5:5; Ps. 11:5

b. The overcomers - Rev. 21:7

c. The faithful - Matt. 25:31-34

d. They that endure unto the end - Matt. 24:12

e. Those that keep his commandments - Rev. 14:12;

22:14

f. They that are born again - John 3:1-9; 2 Cor. 5:17

5. Territory of His kingdom:

a. The earth made new - 2 Pet. 3:13; Heb. 12:28; Isa.

65:17; 66:22

b. The curse which rested upon the earth because of

sin will have been removed for ever. Compare Gen.

3:17 with Rev. 22:3

c. His kingdom will be the reign of peace for ever

and ever.

C. WILL YOU BE THERE?

1. Many will seek to enter in but shall not be able:

Matt. 7:13, 14; Luke 13:23-27

2. At the present they prefer to remain on the broad road:

Matt. 7:13, 14

3. They are unwilling to pay the price of the kingdom of

the Lord Jesus Christ:

EXAMPLES -

a. The rich young ruler - Matt. 19:16-19

b. The invited guests - Luke 14:16-32

4. Seven specific conditions of being citizens of the

kingdom of Christ:

a. Accept Christ as our personal Saviour - John 3:16;

8:31-36; Luke 23:42-44

b. We must be born again - John 3:1-9; 1 John 5:1-6

c. We must bring the fruit of the kingdom - Matt.

21:43

d. We must do the will of our Father which is in

heaven - Matt. 7:21-26; Rev. 22:14

e. Purity of heart is a must - 1 John 3:1-6; Rev.

19:27; Matt. 5:8

f. We must be overcomers - Rev. 21:7, 8

g. Keep God's commandments - 1 John 2:4-7; Matt.

5:17-19; Rev. 12:17; 14:12

5. Our being in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ depends also

on our wanting to be there:

a. Some simply do not want to be there - John 5:40;

Luke 14:16-25

b. The way is open to all - John 14:6; Rev. 22:17

c. The invitation to enter the kingdom of Christ

still holds good; if we fail, it will be our own

fault.

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

JOHN 14:1-3

A. THE PROPHETIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

COVERS THE SACRED PAGES OF THE BIBLE

1. The first recorded promise:

a. Was given to our first parents at the time He had

to sentence them because of sin - Gen. 3:15

b. During the reign of sin and sorrow the believers

found a gleam of hope in the promise of the

Messiah.

2. It is inspiring to note how Enoch, the seventh from

Adam, pointed to the second coming of Christ: Jude 14,

15

3. The theme of the Patriarchs centered in the coming of

the Redeemer:

a. We think of Job, in the hour of great sorrow and

pain, pinned his hope on the return of his

Redeemer - Job. 13:17; 14:13; 19:25

b. The Psalmist emphasizes the importance of the

coming of the Lord - Ps. 50:1-9

c. Abraham rejoiced that he was permitted to see the

consummation of God's promises, which will

culminate in the second coming of Christ - John

8:56

d. Angels reassured the sorrowing disciples that

Jesus would come again - Acts 1:10, 11

B. THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

1. Paul called it the "blessed hope": Tit. 2:13

a. It is the blessed hope of the sleeping saints -

John 5:28, 29; 1 Cor. 15:22, 23

b. In John 14:1-3 the Lord assures us that He will

come to reunite with the believers.

2. Events connected with the second coming of Jesus

Christ:

a. The first resurrection takes place; it is the time

when the dead in Christ shall come forth out of

their dusty chambers - Dan. 12:2; 1 Thess. 4:13-

17; John 5:28, 29

b. It is the time when the Lord will bestow

immortality upon the saints - 1 Cor. 15:13-18; 50-

58

c. Saved families will be reunited - Jer. 31:15-17; 2

Thess. 2:1-3. That will be wonderful to behold -

Ps. 126:2

3. For the world:

a. Separation of the wheat from the tares - Matt.

13:40-44; 25:12, 31-38

b. It will not be a time of conversion of the wicked,

as assumed by some people. Compare Luke 13:25

with Heb. 9:28, 29; Matt. 25:31-33; Rev. 6:14

c. That will be a real shock for some deluded souls

when they find that their hope was pinned on

falsehood and deception.

C. ATTITUDE OF MEN TOWARD THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

1. The saints:

a. They are praying, "Come Lord Jesus" - Rev. 22:20

b. They will say, "we have waited for him" - Isa.

25:9

c. They have actually looked for His appearing - Heb.

9:28; Phil. 3:20

d. They are making preparation for His coming.

Compare 1 John 3:1-3 with Rev. 19:7, 8; Matt.

22:1-12; 24:44; 25:12

2. The world at large:

a. Will be occupied with the sinful pleasures of this

world - Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-31

b. Many professed Christians will be indifferent to

His coming - Matt. 24:48-51; Luke 14:16-32

c. Some will actually scoff at the promise of His

coming - 2 Pet. 3:1-3

d. To all these the Lord will come suddenly, when

they do not think that He will come. Compare 1

Thess. 5:1-6 with 2 Thess. 1:7-9

e. They will seek shelter beneath the rocks and the

mountains - Rev. 6:13-17

3. "Be ye ready also":

a. This is the admonition of the Lord, and we are

wise if we heed it.

b. As it is, we are a long way from being ready to

stand before the Son of man when He comes - Rev.

3:14-17

c. We know considerable about the coming of the Lord;

it is, therefore, up to us to be prepared when He

comes.

d. May the God of mercy and grace give us the courage

to make ready for that blessed event.

MANNER OF CHRIST'S SECOND COMING

A. I KNOW OF NO OTHER BIBLE SUBJECT ABOUT WHICH THERE IS MORE

CONFUSION THAN ABOUT THE MANNER OF OUR LORD'S SECOND COMING

1. The secret rapture theory:

a. This theory would have us believe that the second

coming of Christ will be secret to the world at

large.

b. We are told that the saints will be raptured away,

unknown to even some of their very close

relatives.

2. There are, of course, different views held by different

organizations, even about the secret rapture:

a. Russelism teaches that a certain selected group

(144,000) will be removed secretly from this earth

to the realm of the spirit.

b. Others have other concepts about the secret

rapture of the saints.

B. BUT WE ARE PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES

ABOUT THE MANNER OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

1. The Bible teaches that:

a. The second coming of Christ will be both personal

and visible.

b. "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into

heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have

seen him go into heaven" - Acts 1:11

c. "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye

shall see him, and they also which pierced him;

and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because

of him. Even so, Amen." - Rev. 1:7

2. Out of these Bible passages three facts stand out

against the secret rapture theory:

a. It will be the same Jesus that ascended up into

heaven in the presence of the disciples. They saw

Him ascend!

b. He will come in like manner; He ascended in a

cloud and He will come in clouds.

c. Every eye shall see Him; that excludes the secret

rapture theory.

d. The effect of the second coming of our Lord is

visible and universal - Rev. 6:15-17

e. "They shall look upon me whom they have pierced" -

Zech. 12:10

3. Other facts about the manner of the second coming of

Christ:

a. He will appear with a shout, the voice of the

archangel, and with the trumpet of God - 1 Thess.

4:16

b. The dead in the graves will hear his voice - John

5:28, 29

c. He will come the second time with power and great

glory - Matt. 16:27; 25:31

C. THE EFFECTS OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST ARE ALL AGAINST

THE SECRET RAPTURE THEORY

1. Upon the world:

a. They will pale when they see Him coming in the

clouds. Compare Luke 21:34, 35 with Rev. 6:14-17;

1 Thess. 5:1-6

b. They will seek to hide beneath the rocks and the

mountains - Rev. 6:14-17

2. Upon the children of God:

a. To them it will be the signal of their deliverance

from all their enemies, including death.

b. That is what the prophet Isaiah foresaw - Isa.

25:9; 1 John 2:28; Rom. 8:18-23

3. Upon the earth:

a. The earth will reel to and fro like a drunkard,

and it shall be removed like a cottage - Isa.

24:17-20

b. No, dear friends, there will be nothing secret

about the second coming of the Lord - Heb. 12:26

c. There is nothing in the Bible that supports the

secret rapture theory.

d. The living wicked will be slain by the breath of

His mouth at His appearing. Compare 2 Thess. 1:7,

8 with Rev. 19:11-19; Isa. 11:4; Jer. 25:31-34

e. The secret rapture theory is one of Satan's master

deceptions to deceive the people who have not

heeded the instructions of the Bible about the

second coming of the Lord - Matt. 24:4, 5, 24; 2

Thess. 2:9-11

f. These few facts should safeguard us against the

deception of the so-called "Secret Rapture

Theory".

THE THEORY OF A SECRET RAPTURE

A. A POPULAR THEORY ABOUT THE OBJECT OF CHRIST'S SECOND COMING

1. He, according to this theory, will come in secret:

Matt. 24:44

a. Two will sleep in the same bed, one will be taken

away, while the other will not know anything about

it.

b. The bride of the Lamb, the church, will be

snatched away in a rapture, while the world will

continue as usual.

2. It is then, according to this theory, that anti-Christ

will begin his reign upon the earth:

a. He will cause all men to receive his mark; and

those who refuse it will have great tribulation.

b. Christ will begin His thousand year reign in old

Jerusalem; the Jews will see that they were wrong

when they crucified Him and they will accept Him

as their Saviour.

B. BIBLE FACTS ABOUT THE APPEARING OF THE SON OF MAN AND ITS

EFFECT UPON THIS WORLD

1. His coming will not be secret by any means:

a. ". . . every eye shall see Him" - Rev. 1:7

b. The living wicked will seek cover in the rocks and

beneath the mountains from the face of Him that

sitteth upon the throne - Rev. 6:15, 16

c. Christ will come with a shout which will awaken

the dead - John 5:28, 29; Matt. 16:27; 24:30; 1

Thess. 4:16

2. It will not be a time for a second chance:

a. Experience of the five foolish virgins - Matt.

25:1-12

b. The bitter disappointment that will come to those

who accepted the second chance theory - Luke

13:24-28

c. The time of salvation is "Now" - 2 Cor. 6:1-3;

John 9:4; Heb. 3:7-9

d. This gospel of the kingdom, which is now going to

all nations, will be preached before probation

ends; then the end will come, and no other

opportunity for salvation is open - Matt. 24:14

C. EVENTS WHICH WILL MARK THE SECOND COMING OF OUR LORD

1. The Righteous:

a. Will be immortalized - 1 Cor. 15:50-57; Mark

10:28-30; John 5:28, 29; Dan. 12:2, 3

b. They will be removed from this planet - John 14:1-

3; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; Rev. 4:6; 15:1-3

2. The living wicked:

a. Will be slain by the breath of the mouth of the

Son of God. Compare 2 Thess. 1:7, 8 with chapter

2:9-11; Isa. 11:4; Rev. 19:15

b. There will be no living human being on this earth

after the second coming of Christ for the space of

one thousand years - Jer. 4:25; 25:31-38

c. The earth will not be suitable for human survival

- Isa. 24:17-20

3. Just before the Lord comes, the people who have been

deceived by the false shepherds:

a. Will turn upon them with all the fury to destroy

them.

b. The false preachers themselves will weep because

God will destroy their pasture - Isa. 56:9-12;

Jer. 25:34-38

4. Bible facts to keep in mind:

a. The time of probation is now - John 9:4; 2 Cor.

6:1-3

b. There will be bitter disillusionment for many, who

accepted the second chance theory - Luke 13:25-28;

Matt. 25:12; Rev. 1:7

5. Beware of the so-called secret rapture theory:

a. It is not true; it is false and must be rejected

by every truth-loving person.

b. This theory was invented by Satan to keep the

minds of men from recognizing the great prophetic

truths for our time.

c. Theological claims for this theory gave no

Biblical foundation and are intended to keep the

people from accepting God's message.

d. To escape these deceptions we must study Present

Truth and cleave unto it with all our

hearts.

SIGNS OF CHRIST'S SECOND COMING

MATTHEW 24:1-28, 43-51

A. THE THREEFOLD QUESTION OF THE DISCIPLES

1. "When shall these things be?"

2. "What shall be the sign of thy coming?"

3. "And of the end of the world?" Matt. 24:3

B. OUR LORD'S ANSWER

1. What He did not do:

a. He did not brush aside their questions.

b. He did not tell them that it is not important for

them to know the sign of His coming.

2. What He did do in consequence of their questions:

a. He emphasized the importance of paying close

attention to the signs of the times, particularly

the sign of His coming and the end of the world -

Luke 21:34, 35; Matt. 24:33-35

b. He speaks out against those who ignore the signs

of the times - Matt. 16:1-3; Luke 19:44

3. The apostles warn us to take heed to the signs

foretelling the nearness of the coming of our Lord's

return, and the end of the world:

a. Paul warns us against indifference -

1 Thess. 5:1-6; Rom. 13:11-14

b. James, too, warns us of the last days - Jas. 5:1-9

c. So does Peter warn us of conditions in the last

days - 2 Pet. 3:1-13

4. Some of the signs of our Lord's second coming:

a. Worldwide deception - Matt. 24:4, 5, 24

b. The apostles, too, warn against being mislead by

the errors of the last days - 2 Thess. 2:1-7,

9-11; 2 Cor. 11:13, 14; 2 Pet. 3:1-4; Jude 24-26

c. Signs among the nations -

(1) Wars and rumors of war

(2) Distress among the nations

(3) Moral breakdown in society. Compare

Mi. 7:5, 6 with Luke 17:26-30; 2 Tim. 3:1-9;

1 Tim. 4:1-3

d. Signs in nature: There will be signs in the sun,

the moon, and the stars - Luke 21:26; Amos 8:9;

Acts 2:19, 20; Rev. 6:13. Earthquakes in divers

places - Matt. 24:7; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:11. It

must be noted that all these heavenly phenomena

have taken place and are no longer in the future.

C. WHAT THESE THINGS MEAN:

1. To God's children:

a. They are signals of the nearness of the coming of

the Lord - Matt. 24:32, 33, 42; 1 Thess. 5:1-3

b. They admonish us to be ready for the coming of the

Lord - Matt. 24:42-44

c. They urge us to share our faith with others as

quickly as possible.

d. We are to put off the works of darkness and put on

the armor of light - Eph. 6:10-18; Rom. 13:11-14

e. It means that we must secure purity from all

defilement - 1 John 3:1-3

f. We must be clothed with the garment of salvation.

Compare Rev. 3:14-17 with chapter 16:15; 19:7, 8

2. To the world:

a. The world will ignore the signs of our Lord's

return - 1 Thess. 5:1-6; Luke 21:34, 35;

2 Pet. 3:1-13

b. But those signs indicate plainly that long-

suffering of the Lord has reached its final limits

- 1 Pet. 3:1-9

c. That soon the Lord will leave the throne of mercy,

put on the garment of vengeance against those who

have rejected His mercy and despised sacrifice -

Luke 14:14-28; 17:26, 27

3. Finally:

The fulfillment of the predictions of our Lord's return

has been consummated. It means that God's people are

to look up with hope and confidence because the time of

their deliverance is drawing near. What a wonderful

experience it will be when the shout of deliverance

will come from the open graves, the prisons, and the

hiding places, where God's people are sheltered during

the storm!

MODERN SPIRITISM

A. HISTORICAL SETTING OF MODERN SPIRITISM

1. Date: 1847-48 A.D.

2. Place: Hydesville, New York

3. Actors: The Fox Sisters

B. CLAIMS OF SPIRITISM

1. "The dead seek to communicate with the living":

2. "Spirit Mediums are agents used by the departed spirits

to commune with the living":

3. Methods of communication:

a. Knocking or rapping; usually three knocks in

succession.

b. Floating objects in the air; table dancing.

c. Spirit Photos are used to prove the phenomena of

Spiritism.

4. Unusual success claimed for Spiritism:

a. Millions subscribe to Spiritism, openly and

secretly.

b. A number of noted scientists are among the

proponents of Spiritism.

c. Power of bodily healing is claimed by

Spiritualists.

5. Fertile soil for Spiritism:

a. In time of war and great loss of life.

b. The loss of loved ones in the home where members

of the family are deeply devoted to each other.

c. People filled with great curiosity about the state

of the dead.

d. Demonstrations in their meetings and the eagerness

of some people contribute to the success of

Spiritism.

e. They believe that the soul is immortal, which is

another contributing factor to the growth of

Spiritism.

f. It is said that the cult of Spiritism has millions

of secret adherents in the Catholic church and

also among many Protestant organizations.

C. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FACTS ABOUT THE PHENOMENA OF MODERN

SPIRITISM?

1. Blind denials of the claims of Spiritism are not

necessarily proof against it:

2. The claims of Spiritism must be tested with the Bible:

a. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak

not according to this word, it is because there is

no light in them" - Isa. 8:19, 20

b. Only in the light of the Bible can the truth about

Spiritism be known.

3. A study of the claims of Spiritism:

a. The Bible teaches that the dead know not anything

- Eccl. 9:5, 6; Ps. 6:5; 146:3, 4

b. Proof is found in Isa. 63:16; Job 14:21; 17:13

c. Christ did all His work in the open, never in the

dark - John 18:20; Matt. 24:26

4. The Bible warns us against Spiritism:

a. The practice of consulting the dead was forbidden

by the severest punishment for those who practiced

consulting the dead. Compare Lev. 19:31; Deut.

13:1-5 with Deut. 18:9-13; Isa. 8:19; Acts 16:16

5. Spiritism is not new at all:

a. It was introduced by Lucifer in the Garden of Eden

- Gen. 3:1-3

b. Ancient nations practiced it in different forms;

in Egypt; in Greece; and among the Romans.

6. The facts are that Satan and his angels are the true

actors of Spiritism: 2 Cor. 11:14, 15

7. Saul's meddling with Spiritism brought disaster to him:

1 Sam. 28:1; 1 Chron. 10:13, 14

8. New Testament times witnessed this phenomena: Mark

5:9; Matt. 8:29; Acts 13:8; 16:16

9. A full explanation of Spiritism: 1 Tim. 4:1; Matt.

24:23-25; Rev. 13:13; 2 Thess. 2:9; Eph. 6:12

THE MODERN JEW IN BIBLE PROPHECY

A. THE MODERN JEW IN THE LIGHT OF BIBLE PROPHECY

1. The modern state of Israel:

a. A problem child for the United Nations.

b. The Arab League seeks to destroy the state of

Israel.

2. Some Theologians claim:

a. That the state of Israel is the answer to Bible

prophecy.

b. That the prophets foretold the reconstituting of

Israel as a state shortly before the second coming

of Christ.

B. LET US TAKE A BRIEF LOOK AT THE MODERN JEW IN THE LIGHT OF

BIBLE PROPHECY

1. Israel:

a. Origin and meaning of the name: It was given by

the angel of the Lord to Jacob at the ford of

Jabbok - Gen. 32:22-28

b. It signifies: a prince having power with God and

men prevailing - Gen. 32:28

c. An Israelite is one in whom there is no guile -

John 1:47; Zeph. 3:13

d. A person circumcised in the heart is a true

Israelite - Rom. 2:28, 29

e. All who are Christ's are Israelites indeed - Gal.

3:26-29

2. This shows that the name - Israel - is of spiritual

origin and is a misnomer when applied to the flesh:

Rom. 9:6-8

3. There are two kinds of Israel:

a. Israel after flesh - 1 Cor. 10:18; symbolized by

Ishmael, son of the bond woman - Gal. 4:21-28; a

false seed - Isa. 57:4, 11

b. Israel of God - Gal. 6:16; symbolized by Isaac,

son of the free woman - Gal. 4:31. This is the

seed according to the promise made to Abraham -

Rom. 9:6-9

C. LET US CONSIDER, PRAYERFULLY, GOD'S PROMISES TO ABRAHAM AND

HIS SEED

1. The seed of Abraham, to whom God made the promise, is:

a. None other but Jesus Christ our Lord - Gal. 3:16

b. Christ and Christ alone is the true heir to God's

eternal promise - Heb. 1:1-3

c. The Jews knew that - Matt. 21:37, 38

2. All who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour

become fellow heirs with Christ to all God's promises:

Gal. 3:26-29; 4:7; Rom. 8:17

3. It must be remembered:

a. That God is no respecter of persons - Acts 10:34,

35; Job 34:19; Rom. 2:11

b. The new birth is the key to sonship in Christ -

John 3:3-9; Rom. 8:14-17

c. Flesh and blood are excluded - John 1:12, 13; 1

Cor. 15:50

d. Character, and not blood relation, is what

qualifies one to be an heir to God's promises.

e. Character comes to us when we become partakers of

the divine nature - Eph. 3:6; 2 Pet. 1:2-9

4. One of the missions of our Lord was:

a. To remove the wall of partition, set up by the

selfishness of sinful human beings - Eph. 2:11-16;

to bring into union all men into one faith and one

hope through the preaching of the gospel of Jesus

Christ - Compare Eph. 2:11-16 with chapter 1:10-12

Our Lord considered this objective a Must - John 10:15,

16; the modern Jew occupies the same place in the

scheme of God as does any other sinner for whom Christ

died - Gal. 3:26-29

BABYLON THE GREAT

REVELATION 17:1-15

A. BABYLON THE GREAT

1. Why this subject?

a. Nations have committed spiritual adultery with her

- verses 3 and 15

b. Nations are drunk with the wine of her teaching.

c. Her spiritual daughters practice the same lewdness

toward civil powers.

2. God's judgment is pending against her:

Rev. 14:9-11, 16:19; 17:1

B. WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT

1. Origin and meaning of the word - Babylon:

a. Dates back to the building of the tower of Babel -

Gen. 11:7-11

b. The gate to heaven

c. Utter confusion - Gen. 11:3, 4, 5-9

2. Mystery of iniquity:

a. 2 Thess. 2:7

b. Rev. 17:5

3. Mother of Harlots:

a. That indicates that this woman has daughters which

follow her practices.

4. She holds a golden cup in her hand:

a. That symbolizes her doctrines with which she has

made drunk all nations.

b. This was foretold in prophecy - 2 Tim. 4:1-6; 1

Tim. 4:1-6

5. This woman is carried by a scarlet colored beast:

a. A beast, in Bible prophecy, stands for a civil

power or government. Compare Dan. 7:1-15 with

Rev. 13:1-17

b. To be carried by a beast or a civil government

simply means that the woman uses civil governments

to subjugate the people to her doctrines and will.

c. This happened during the dark ages when over

50,000,000 persons lost their lives for refusing

to follow the teaching of Rome - Rev. 17:6; 18:24

C. TRUTHS ABOUT BABYLON THE GREAT TO BE MADE KNOWN TO THE WORLD

1. There are many of God's people in her system: Rev. 18:4

a. That is one great reason why God is withholding

her final destruction.

EXAMPLES -

(1) Long suffering of God in the days of Lot -

Gen. 18:23-32; 19:22

(2) Jonah and the city of Nineveh - Jonah 4:11

(3) The city of Corinth in the days of Paul -

Acts 18:10

b. These must be brought out of her before she will

be destroyed - Rev. 18:4; John 10:15, 16

2. Specific marks of this fallen system:

a. Speaks blasphemy against the most High. Compare

Dan. 7:25 with Rev. 13:6; 2 Thess. 2:1-7

b. Destroys God's people - Dan. 7:25; Rev. 13:7, 16-

18

c. Attempts to change times and law - Dan. 7:25; Ps.

94:20

3. The burden of the Advent Movement:

a. To present the specific prophesies of the Bible

which will expose this great fallen and

counterfeit system - Isa. 58:1, 2; Rev. 18:1-4

b. To call out of the fallen churches the people that

hunger and thirst for the truth which will save

their souls.

c. That shows that the Advent Movement is prophetic

in its existence and also in its worldwide mission

- Rev. 14:7

4. End of Babylon the Great:

a. She will be visited with one of the seven last

plagues - Rev. 16:10-13

b. She will be burned as with fire - Rev.

17:16; 18:6

THE ANTI-CHRIST

A. THE WORD "ANTI-CHRIST" IS MENTIONED THREE TIMES IN THE

EPISTLES OF JOHN

1. "Little children, it is the last time; and as ye have

heard that anti-Christ shall come, even now are there

many anti-Christs; whereby we know that it is the last

time." - 1 John 2:18

2. "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ

is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that

spirit of anti-Christ." 1 John 4:3

3. "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who

confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.

This is a deceiver and an anti-Christ." 2 John 7

B. THE STUDY OF BIBLE PROPHECY REVEALS CLEARLY

1. That the anti-Christ is not a person but a system:

a. Daniel speaks of the anti-Christ as a beast power

- "the little horn" - Dan. 7:24, 25

b. John writes about a "Leopard beast" - Rev. 13:1-9

2. It is a religious system personified:

a. In the man of sin - 2 Thess. 2:3-7

b. "The throne of iniquity" - Ps. 94:20

c. "The son of perdition" - 2 Thess. 2:3

3. The anti-Christ is the man of sin, the throne of

iniquity, and the man of sin:

a. Because of the crime committed by this system

against the law of God - Dan. 7:25

b. Because this system is a centralized organization

- the city of Rome - Rev. 13:1-10

c. And finally, this system centers in a person, the

head of the church, to whom all render absolute

loyalty at all times.

4. To be noted is the fact that this anti-Christ system

is:

a. Worldwide - Rev. 13:3

b. The world pays homage to this system

c. Even civil power supports and upholds this system

- Rev. 13:2

C. FOUR UNMISTAKABLE MARKS OF IDENTITY OF THE ANTI-CHRIST

1. He speaks great words against the Most High:

a. Uses titles that belong to God alone -

2 Thess. 2:6, 7; Rev. 13:6, 7; Dan. 7:25

b. Wears out the saints of the Most High; that is, he

seeks to destroy all who oppose this system.

Think of the martyrs of the dark ages - Rev. 12

c. He attempted to change God's law and the seventh

day Sabbath commanded in the fourth commandment -

Dan. 7:25; Ps. 94:20

2. He claims:

a. Power to forgive the sins of the people.

b. He claims that his priests have creative power

when they read the mass to turn the Son of God

into a piece of bread.

c. He claims infallibility when speaking doctrines.

3. This system teaches the doctrine of holy flesh:

a. Since Christ came in the flesh, John 1:14, this

system claims that its saints are, including their

flesh, holy.

b. But the Son of God states that flesh and blood

shall not inherit the kingdom of God - John 3:1-6;

1 Cor. 15:50

4. It may be useful to add that the ladder seen by Jacob

in his dream, Gen. 28:12, symbolizes Christ; but the

Papacy claims that its priest-craft represents the

stairway to heaven:

5. It must be noted, further, that the system of the anti-

Christ has been working since the days of the apostle:

a. Paul says of it, "For the mystery of iniquity doth

already work" - 2 Thess. 2:7

b. John connects this system with Pagan Rome - Rev.

13:17

c. He saw this power reappearing with renewed vigor

in the end of time - Rev. 13:1-9

THE REFORMATION

A. WHY THIS SUBJECT?

1. Current efforts of nominal Protestants to curry the

favors of Rome:

a. Lutheran leaders, brushing aside many plain and

direct testimonies of Martin Luther against the

Papacy, seek reapproachment with Rome.

b. Methodists and other Protestants invite Roman

leaders to participate in their devotional

gatherings, something unheard of a few years ago.

2. What do all these things mean?

a. Was the Reformation ill-conceived?

b. Do Protestants owe an apology to the Papacy?

c. Has Rome had a change of heart toward the hated

heretics - called rebels?

3. Claims of Seventh-day Adventists:

a. That it is here in answer to Bible Prophecy - Rev.

12:17

b. To finish the Reformation - Acts 3:19-21; Isa.

58:1-14

B. LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE REFORMATION

1. The great reason for it:

a. The apostasy following the apostolic movement -

Acts 20:28, 29; 2 Tim. 4:1-6

b. The Papal supremacy was foreseen - 2 Thess. 2:1-7;

Dan. 7:8-12; 8:12; Rev. 13:5-9

2. The Reform movement:

a. Was to continue until all gospel truths, brushed

aside by the Papacy, would be restored to the

believers - Acts 3:19-21

b. That includes the restoration of the creation

Sabbath - Isa. 56:1-7; 58:13

3. The Platform of the Reformation:

a. The Bible and the Bible only.

b. The slogan of Protestant incentives.

c. A free will to make our own decision as to what is

the truth.

4. Justification by faith: Rom. 5:1-6; Eph. 2:7, 8

5. Forming our own convictions about our duty to God,

based upon what the Bible teaches, regardless of the

theory of the church of Rome:

6. Putting the main emphasis of the doctrine "saved by

grace" in deference to the works of the flesh:

7. Restoration to God's people of all the duties and

provisions of the Bible:

a. Including the Bible teaching on the nature of man

- Gen. 2:15, 16; 3:1-6, 19-23; John 3:16

b. The Sabbath of the fourth commandment - Acts 20:8-

11; Jas. 2:8-11; Rev. 12:17; Isa. 56:1-7; 58:1-14

C. WHAT GOD WILL ACCOMPLISH THROUGH THE REFORMATION

1. Will restore to His church all truths brushed aside or

buried by the Papacy during the 1260 years of its

supremacy:

a. Based upon Bible prophecy. Compare Dan. 7:25 with

Rev. 13:1-18; 14:7-12

b. Paul warned the Elders of the apostasy in no

uncertain language - Acts 20:20-28; 2 Thess. 2:1-7

c. This is the work of the Holy Ghost as foretold by

our Lord - John 16:12, 13

d. He will prepare a people for His second coming -

Mal. 4:1-4; Rev. 14:1-12

e. It will be a remnant only - Rev. 12:17; 14:12;

22:14

2. The glorious Banner of Truth:

a. God's people will hold it high to be seen by all

the inhabitants of the earth and the seas - Isa.

13:2; Ps. 60:4

b. The banners of God's people are emblems of

conflict and glorious victory - Ps. 20:5; Song of

Solomon 6; 7

c. Let us do our prayerful and dedicated part to

hasten the consummation of the Reformation begun

by the Apostles and to be completed by the

Seventh-day Adventist Church in this

generation.

THE ELIJAH MESSAGE

MALACHI 4:5, 6

A. THE ELIJAH MESSAGE

1. A reformatory message: 1 Ki. 18:19

2. Directed - mainly to Israel: Mal. 4:5

3. Accompanied by great power: 1 Ki. 18:30-38

4. The work of Elijah was symbolic of:

a. The work of John the Baptist - Matt. 11:1-14;

16:14

b. The Three Angels' message of Rev. 14:6-12; Mal.

4:1-7

B. LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT

1. The man Elijah:

a. He was a man of like passions as we are - Jas.

5:17

b. Those passions revealed themselves on a number of

occasions in his ministry. Compare 2 Ki. 1:10-12

with 1 Ki. 18:40; 19:4

2. He was a man of great power:

a. Heaven withheld rain for the earth the space of

three and one-half years at his petition - Jas.

5:17

b. Fire consumed the offering, the water, the stone -

1 Ki. 18:37, 38

c. This power was recognized by his disciples and

they desired a portion of it - 2 Ki. 2:9

3. Secret of this great power:

a. The presence and indwelling of the Holy Ghost in

his life - Acts 1:8

b. It is the Holy Spirit which energizes human beings

to do exploits for God -

EXAMPLES -

1. Joseph - Gen. 41:38

2. Daniel - Dan. 4:8, 18

3. Our Lord - John 7:26

4. The Spirit and Power of Elijah was to be repeated:

a. In the ministry of John the Baptist - Matt. 3:1-9

b. In the Second Advent Movement - Rev. 18:1; Acts

2:17

C. NATURE OF THE ELIJAH MESSAGE

1. A reformatory message: 1 Ki. 18:1-32; 19:1-26

2. A reform that would affect the family relationship:Mal. 4:6

3. The work of Elijah was typical of the work of John the

Baptist:

a. That is what Christ said - Matt. 11:14

b. The work of John the Baptist was a preparatory

work, preparing the way for the first coming of

the Son of God - Luke 1:17

4. Of special interest to us today is that the closing

work of the Third Angel will be marked by great power:

Rev. 18:1-3

a. This work, too, is a reformatory work - bringing,

among other things, the Bible Sabbath to God's

people - Isa. 56:1-7; 58:1-14

b. It will restore to the believers all those gospel

truths that the Reformers in the earlier days of

the Reformation were either unwilling to preach or

were uninformed about it.

c. The Advent message, too, will affect family life

in its truest relationship to godliness and love

for the truth - 2 Cor. 6:14-17

d. God will have a people separated from the world

and its defilements - Rev. 18:4; 1 John 2:15, 16

e. God's people will have come out of Babylon in

every word, thought, and action - 2 Cor. 6:17;

Rom. 13:11-14

f. God's ideal for His people will have been brought

about through the proclamation of Present Truth -

John 8:32-36; Rev. 14:12; 19:7; Eph. 5:26-28

g. Significant to us is the fact that the closing

work of the third angel will be accompanied with

great power - Early Writings, pages 277-

278.

THE SABBATH REFORM MOVEMENT

ACTS 3:19-21

A. THE SABBATH REFORM MOVEMENT

1. Pertinent questions by our Sunday keeping friends:

a. "If the keeping of the seventh day of the week is

obligatory of Christians, why was such an

obligation not emphasized by the great Reformers?"

b. "Why did Paul not command believers in so many

words, 'if ye fail to keep the seventh day

Sabbath, ye are lost'?"

c. "If the Reformers were led by the Holy Spirit, why

did they ignore the Sabbath?"

2. These and similar questions have been brought to my

attention on many occasions:

a. They are asked in the assumption that the supposed

silence of the Reformers is proof that the seventh

day Sabbath is not a moral obligation to the

Christian believers.

b. That the assumed silence of Paul is further

evidence against the Sabbath concept.

B. FACTS IGNORED, OVERLOOKED, BY OUR SUNDAY KEEPING FRIENDS

1. That the Reformation, as guided by the Holy Spirit, is:

a. Progressive - Acts 3:19-21

b. It is cognizant of man's limitation to recognize

and accept light and truth - John 16:12; Luke

18:34; 24:25

2. That the path of the just is as a shining light that

shineth more and more unto the perfect day: Prov. 4:18

3. That twelve hundred and sixty years of darkness cannot

be dispelled in the minds and lives of the people in a

short time or through the preaching of a few men:

a. Human beings do not possess the capacity or

willingness to accept light all at once.

b. God, in mercy and long-suffering, adjusts His

program to our comprehension.

C. THE SABBATH REFORM MOVEMENT BASED UPON BIBLE PROPHECY

1. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, assures us:

a. That Christ will not come the second time until

complete restitution has been made of all things

spoken by God since the world began - Acts 3:19-21

b. James seems to allude to the same work of

restoration - Acts 15:15-18

2. The Prophet Isaiah speaks about the Sabbath reform

movement:

a. In Isa. 56:1-7

b. Isa. 58:1-14

3. Four prophetic facts stand out in the above two

chapters:

a. Special emphasis is placed upon the proper keeping

of the Sabbath of the Lord - Compare Isa. 56:1-3

with chapter 58:13

b. The keeping of the Bible Sabbath is spoken of as

"repairing the breach" - Isa. 58:12

c. That indicates that someone had made a breach in

the law of God - Compare the Ten Commandments as

written in Ex. 20:1-17 with the law as changed by

the Church of Rome - Dan. 7:25; Ps. 94:20

d. This breach is brought to God's people's attention

through the Sabbath Reform Movement today.

Upwards of over one hundred thousand people take off

their foot from God's holy day every year in all the

world.

4. Both our Lord and the apostles did not only keep the

true Bible Sabbath but they gave strong emphasis to its

loving observance:

a. Compare Luke 4:16 with Matt. 12:8; Mark 2:27, 28;

Luke 6:5; Matt. 24:20

b. Compare Rom. 3:31 with Acts 13:42-44; 16:13; 17:1-

9; 18:1-6; Rev. 22:14

ARMAGEDDON

A. ARMAGEDDON

1. Bible students among us are sharply divided as to the

nature of the Battle of Armageddon:

a. One school of thought, toward which I lean, holds

that "the Bible Armageddon" is both a physical as

well as a spiritual battle.

b. A relatively new theory holds that the Armageddon

of the Bible will not be a physical but a

spiritual battle.

B. BIBLE FACTS

1. Historically, the valley of Megiddo is noted because

many historic battles have been fought there:

a. The battle between Israel and her neighboring

nations - Judg. 5:19; 2 Ki. 9:23-27; 2 Chron.

35:22, 2 Ki. 23:29

b. It is this area to which the book of Revelation

seems to have reference to - Rev. 16:12-16

2. It is the crossroad between the East and the West; the

inevitable place of conflict between the nations. The

vale of Kishon and the region of Megiddo are known in

history as "The battlefield between nations":

3. It is my humble opinion that Joel 3:9-14 has a double

application:

a. It predicts a feverish preparation by the nations

for the final conflict.

b. And also the time when Satan will seek to

exterminate the people of God.

c. When we consider Rev. 16:12-16 in the light of

Joel 3:9-14 we cannot come to any other

conclusion.

4. Let us keep in mind these prophetic facts:

a. Our Lord's prophecy of the closing events prior to

His second coming - Matt. 24:6, 7; Luke 21:25, 26

b. Joel's forecast of what the nations would do in

the last days - Joel 3:9-14.

c. Let us interpret these forecasts in the light of

the feverish preparation of the nations for war

today.

5. From the reading of our text, five facts seem to stand

out:

a. The battle of Armageddon takes place under the

sixth plague. That is after probation closes.

b. It must be a physical battle because the earth and

all that is on the earth will be affected by it.

c. That is the devastation the angel of Revelation 7

must have reference to - Rev. 7:1

d. Satan is the instigator of this conflagration -

Rev. 12:12; 1 Pet. 4:8

e. All nations will be involved in this battle - Joel

3:9-14

C. A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIBLE ARMAGEDDON

1. If Armageddon is a spiritual battle and not a physical

battle:

a. Why does Satan stir up the nations to prepare for

war? - Joel 3:9-14; Matt. 24:6, 7

b. Why are the angels called upon to hold the winds

of strife until the work of the gospel has been

finished? - Rev. 7:1; Matt. 24:14

c. Why does the Lord say that "nation shall rise

against nation" - Matt. 24:6, 7

d. Why does Satan lead the nations to the valley of

Jehoshaphat? - Joel 3:12

2. We realize, however, that the details of the battle of

Armageddon are not given in Bible prophecy:

a. The prophets interpreted the battle in the light

of the knowledge they had of methods of warfare of

their own day.

b. Methods have changed but the objectives of Satan

have not changed; he still seeks to destroy the

nations - Isa. 14:12-17

c. It is true, also, that God's people are, in the

end, the real target of Satan, and he will use the

nations to destroy them - Dan. 12:1; Rev. 12:12-17

d. The views of the Pioneers are correct, even if

they did not know the details of the final

conflict.

THE MILLENNIUM

A. THE BIBLE MILLENNIUM

1. The word "Millennium" is not found in the Bible:

2. It is of theological origin and signifies a period of

one thousand years: Rev. 20:2, 4, 5, 7

B. THE BIBLE MILLENNIUM AND THE EVENTS CONNECTED WITH IT

1. The opening events of the one thousand years as spoken

of in Bible prophecy:

a. Satan will be bound and cast into the bottomless

pit.

b. His imprisonment will last one thousand years;

spoken of in Isaiah as "many days" - Isa. 24:22

2. The victorious saints will be occupied with sitting in

judgment over Satan, his angels, and the wicked:

a. Daniel saw this scene - Dan. 7:22

b. John confirmed this vision as seen by Daniel -

Rev. 20:4

c. Paul, too, foretold of this work by the redeemed -

1 Cor. 6:1-6

3. The Millennium, or the binding of Satan, begins with

the second coming of Jesus Christ:

a. Satan is bound by a chain of events that are

connected with the second coming of Christ.

b. When Christ comes, the dead in Christ are raised -

1 Thess. 4:13-17; 1 Cor. 15:22, 23; John 5:28, 29

c. All the saints are removed from the earth to the

third heaven. Compare John 14:1-3 with 1 Thess.

4:13-17

d. The living wicked will be slain by the breath of

the Son of God at His appearing. Compare 2 Thess.

1:7, 8 with Rev. 19:15

4. These events bind Satan; he has no one to tempt or to

torment or to use against God:

a. He is bound by a chain of events which he cannot

break.

b. He is confined to this earth.

5. The earth, during the thousand years, will be in a

desolate condition:

a. The prophet Jeremiah gives us a vivid description

of the condition of the earth during the thousand

year period. Compare Jer. 4:23-25 with chapter

25:31-38

b. The heavenly constellation will not function

during the thousand years - Amos 8:9; Ezek. 32:7

C. CLOSING EVENTS OF THE MILLENNIUM

1. Christ will come from heaven:

a. To make His home on the new earth - Rev. 21:3

b. The New Jerusalem will come down from heaven and

in it the saints of the most High - Rev. 21:10

2. The second resurrection, or the resurrection of the

wicked, takes place:

a. The Bible speaks of two resurrections -

(1) The resurrection of the righteous or just

takes place at the second coming of Christ -

John 5:28, 29; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; 1 Cor.

15:22, 23

(2) The wicked will not live again until the

thousand years are ended - Rev. 20:5

b. It is this event that frees Satan for a short time

and he re-engages in his work of deception as

before - Rev. 20:8

c. But this deception will climax his work because

both he and the deceived will meet their final

doom; they will be destroyed by fire which will

fall down from heaven - Rev. 20:9, 10

3. It is significant:

a. That Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed with fire

that came down from heaven - Gen. 19:24, 25

b. The same fate will end the reign of sin for ever

and ever - 2 Pet. 2:4-6

4. The earth, purified by fire, will be made new and will

become the home of the redeemed for ever and ever: 2

Pet. 3:9-11; Isa. 34:8-10. Compare, also, Isa. 65:17-

19 with chapter 66:22, 23; Rev. 22:1-9

Will you be there?

THE KINGDOM OF GLORY

MATTHEW 25:30

A. WE HAVE LEARNED IN OUR FORMER STUDY THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD

IS A DUAL KINGDOM

1. At the present it is the kingdom of grace:

a. It is the reign of grace - Rom. 5:21 "as sin hath

reigned unto death, even so might grace reign

through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus

Christ our Lord."

b. Christ makes the heart the seat of His kingdom -

Col. 1:27; 1 Cor. 15:25

c. The life of the believer is under the control of

Christ the King - Gal. 2:20; Col. 3:16, 17

2. The kingdom of glory follows the reign of grace:

a. The very purpose of grace is to prepare the

subjects of God's kingdom for the kingdom of

glory; there can be no hope for glory without the

effectual preparation of the subjects of the

kingdom - 1 John 3:1-3; Rev. 19:7, 8, 27

b. The kingdom of grace, when it has finished its

work, will usher in the kingdom of glory - 2 Cor.

3:17, 18

B. THE KINGDOM OF GLORY

1. It consists of:

a. A King - Ps. 2:6; 24:7-10; Rev. 19:16

b. Subjects of the kingdom - Isa. 52:3; Matt. 5:5;

Ps. 37:11; Dan. 7:22

c. Territory - the whole earth will be the territory

where Christ, our King, will reign - Rev. 11:15;

Heb. 12:28

2. Adam and Even reigned on this earth for a short time:

a. He had been crowned - Ps. 8:4-9; Gen. 1:26-28

b. He lost his kingdom through transgression - Gen.

3:1-23

c. They sold out to Lucifer - Luke 4:5, 6; Isa. 52:3

d. That is how Satan got control of this world - John

12:31; 14:30; 16:11; Luke 4:6

3. Christ regained the first dominion:

a. His victory was foretold - Mi. 4:8; Luke 19:10

b. He brought it back to be repossessed by the

redeemed - Gen. 13:14, 15; 17:8; Acts 7:5; Heb.

11:8-13

c. It is the earth in its renewed state - Isa. 65:17-

20; 2 Pet. 3:13

C. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE KINGDOM OF GLORY

1. Its capitol: The New Jerusalem.

a. Heb. 11:8-11; Rev. 21:2; Gal. 4:26

b. Dimensions of the capitol. It is four square -

375 miles on each side; covers an estimated

90,000,000 acres of land.

c. It has twelve foundations and twelve gates.

2. It will become the center of the universe:

a. Throne of God will be moved from the third heaven

to this earth - Rev. 21:1-6; Luke 1:32, 33

b. The tree of life will be in the New Jerusalem -

Rev. 22:1-6

3. Inhabitants of the kingdom of glory:

a. All who are born again - John 3:1-9

b. The pure in heart - Matt. 5:8

c. They that keep the commandments of God - Rev.

22:14; Matt. 5:17-19

4. Will we know each other in the kingdom of glory:

a. Negatively - not as we have known each other in

our present state - sin, sorrow, wickedness, and

pain; not as we know each other in a state of

imperfection, for the former things have passed

away.

b. Positively - we shall know one another in our

redeemed state - no sin, sickness, sorrow, nor

death. All will be love and eternal

harmony.

OUR ETERNAL HOME

2 PETER 3:13

A. "NEVERTHELESS WE, ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE, LOOK FOR NEW

HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, WHEREIN DWELLETH RIGHTEOUSNESS."

1. The promise of a new heaven and a new earth is

indicative:

a. That this earth was created to be the eternal home

of the children of men - Ps. 115:16

b. God made it, not in vain, but to be inhabited -

Isa. 45:18

c. Our first parents were fully informed about God's

plan with this earth - Gen. 1:26-31; 2:8-14

2. But our opening text reveals, further, that the

Creator's original design had been prevented by:

a. Man's disobedience or transgression - Gen. 3:23,

24

b. Man became a vagabond, a pilgrim, and a stranger

upon the earth, which was intended to be his

eternal home - Heb. 11:13-16

c. Jacob, as well as the Psalmist, speak of their

pilgrimage - Gen. 47:9; Ps. 119:54

d. The earth has become a battlefield between good

and evil; a vale of tears; a graveyard filled with

the bones of dead men.

B. OUR ETERNAL HOME: "A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH"

1. This has been the hope of all God's pilgrims ever since

our first parents lost their home because of sin:

a. Must have been the consolation of Adam and Eve

when they lost their Edenic home.

b. The God-fearing Patriarchs understood this promise

and lived accordingly - Heb. 11:7-16

c. Many of those, who looked forward to this eternal

home, refused deliverance that they might obtain a

better home - Heb. 11:40; 12:28

2. This glorious promise of our eternal home is indicative

of:

a. That God's original plan will be carried out in

due time - Acts 15:18; Hab. 2:4

b. A new heaven and a new earth will become a reality

- Isa. 65:17-25

3. That the earth, defiled by sin, having been under the

curse since sin began: Gen. 3:17, 18; Isa. 24:5, 6

a. Will be purified by fire.

b. Will be made new - Isa. 34:8-10; 2 Pet. 3:10

c. Presently it is growing old like a garment - Heb.

1:9-12

C. NATURE OF OUR ETERNAL HOME

1. The new earth will be:

a. Free from sin.

b. Will be free from the curse that rested upon it

ever since sentence was passed upon Adam and Eve -

Rev. 22:3

c. Again, like the Garden of Eden - Isa. 35:1-10;

51:3

d. The great seas will be no more - Rev. 21:1

e. The garden, which was removed from the earth, will

be brought back again to this earth after the

earth has been purified - Rev. 2:7; 22:1-3

f. The beauty of the eternal home is beyond our

comprehension and beyond description - 1 Cor. 2:9,

10

2. Inhabitants of the new earth:

a. They, too, will be new - John 3:1-6; 2 Cor. 5:17

b. Meekness will be the nature of their being - Matt.

5:5; Ps. 37:11

c. Immortality will make them suitable for their

eternal home - Rev. 21:1-4; Isa. 35:3-10

d. Eternal joy will fill their mouths with laughter -

Ps. 126:2; Isa. 51:11

e. They will see the King in His beauty - Rev. 21:1-

3; Isa. 33:17; Matt. 5:8

3. How the knowledge of the eternal home affects our

lives:

a. Think of the saints in past ages - Heb. 11:13-16

b. Does it make us homesick for heaven and the

glories we shall behold there?

c. Has it made us willing to set out hope and

affections on things above? Col. 3:2

d. Has it made an impression upon our moral life? 2

Pet. 3:13, 14