The book of Revelation reveals three major enemies to the church. The first, the dragon, is found in Revelation chapter 12. In rich symbolic language, we see the early morning church producing converts which the dragon sought to devour as soon as they were born. The New Testament, as well as secular history, bears out that paganism was an antagonistic, persecuting power against primitive Christianity. It is at war with Jesus and His angels (meaning messengers or ministers). Many were martyred in this war against the dragon, but Christianity prevailed.

Revelation 20:1-3 reiterates these same events, as this chapter reveals the history of the gospel day from the time of the early morning church right up to its close at the great white throne Judgment Day.

“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.”

The dragon, not the devil himself, is being bound by an angel here. Paganism was a devilish system of false religion designed by Satan to destroy souls. The apostles preached the gospel with the Word and the Spirit (the key and great chain) to the Gentiles who had long been deceived by this dragon power. The light of the gospel penetrated the pagan darkness and multitudes were delivered from their idols to serve the true and living God. We see a practical example of this in Acts 19 where the makers of the idols saw their craft was in danger and were stirred against God’s ministers. Paganism lost its stronghold over the nations to deceive souls when the gospel came around, hence, it was bound or “shut up.” Truth bound the pagan lies. A thousand years simply represents a long period of time.

In Rev. 20:7-9 we learn of events to take place shortly before the return of Jesus Christ to call this world into final judgment. “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison…” (Verse 7).

Many minds now immediately think of a 1000 year future, literal reign on earth. But this prophecy speaks of no such future event, neither here nor anywhere else in the Bible. It is the dragon being loosed out of prison–the same dragon, called Satan, of verse 2. Paganism is loosed after being restrained for so long.

One need not look far to see that this has already happened. Our world is becoming increasingly pagan. Look in the spiritual section of major bookstores. Books on the occult, new age movement, wicca, yoga, meditation, eastern religions (we could list much more), often outnumber Christian books.

Look in any city and see the new age stores and find their annual psychic fairs. Look at the textbooks in public schools. They are not teaching what was taught forty years ago. God has been kicked out of schools and increasingly out of government, while evolution and humanism are being embraced, with an antagonism to anything truly Christian.

Along with the rise of secular humanism and atheistical political powers, we clearly see a revival of fundamental Buddhism, Hinduism, and the Sikh and Muslim religions.

Over the past 100 years the dragon has by slow increments crept back on the scene, bursting forth particularly in the 1970’s and 1980’s, causing a paradigm shift in society as a whole.

The apostle Paul warned in 2 Tim. 3:1 that in the latter days perilous (dangerous) days would come. The peril is in the extreme deceptions rampant in this end time, not to mention the type of people it is producing.

“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” Rev. 20:7-9.

Paganism “shall go out to deceive the nations,” and join itself to Gog and Magog. Here we have the other two major enemies to the church–Gog and Magog. Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 tell us of these literal enemies, who came “up against my people of Israel.” They represent the other two enemies of the church that Satan has used successively to deceive souls after paganism lost its stronghold–Catholicism (the beast of Revelation 13:1) and Protestantism (the beast with horns like a lamb in Rev. 13:11). False Christianity!

In this end time, all three entities have gathered together on the breadth of the earth. This is clearly evidenced in the ecumenical movement. Not only have Catholics and Protestants joined hands, but eastern religions have also found a place in this triad of error, creating a potent blend of unprecedented deception. They’ve all agreed not to judge and everyone can believe whatever they will. As the pagans of old picked the god(s) of their choice, there is now a new type of polytheism under the guise of Christianity–pick the church (or non-church) of your choice; all roads lead to heaven.

Their toleration stops, though, when it comes to the camp of the saints, the beloved city–the church of God. They now compass the true church about with their allied troops to battle together against her. It would seem evident God still has a church in the end of the gospel day, or the devil wouldn’t have one to encompass and fight!

True to other prophecies, God has been and still is gathering His people together back to His one fold, the visible church (Matt. 24:31; Jn. 10:16).

All of these events clearly mark the soon coming of our mighty Saviour. Rev. 20:3 states that when paganism is loosed, it will be but for “a little season.” Very little time is now left before the return of Jesus Christ.“When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” 

Sis. S. Mutch

It will not happen in secret. “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.

It effects the resurrection of the dead, and then the ascension of the living saints. “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep [the dead]. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:15-17.

The unrighteous dead are raised at the same time. “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” Jn. 5:28-29.

The wicked will be judged on the same day. “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints and to be admired in all them that believe…in that day.” 2 Thess. 1:7-10.

Jesus compared His second coming with the circumstances surrounding the stories of Noah and Lot (Luke 17:26-30). The judgment came upon the earth in the same day that Noah entered the ark, and upon Sodom the same day that Lot departed.

The end of the world occurs at the same time. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up…the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat…” 2 Pet. 3:10, 12.

It is amazing, in the light of the plain teachings of the Word of God, that a false apocalyptic worldview has so wholly taken hold of the religious world. The dangers of the modern rapturist view are apparent for the following reasons:

It gives a false hope to sinners that they will have a “second chance” to be saved. Nothing could be more apparently set forth by the doctrine than this principle. The teaching of a secret rapture and subsequent tribulation, millennium, etc., is perfectly detrimental to the urgency of the gospel message, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

Anyone who holds to the teaching of a secret rapture and tries to evangelize is familiar with the obvious problem it presents to his message. If sinners are made to believe they will have a second chance, why give up their wickedness now? “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Eccl. 8:11. Those who preach rapturism further the hardness and impenitence of sinners.

It encourages a lack of zeal and evangelism. The editor of a holiness paper recently blamed their loss of the spiritual revival and zeal on their acceptance of such end-time falsities as the rapture, millennium, etc. His observation is not without a good deal of merit. A worldview that incorporates a second-chance theory is not conducive to the urgency needed for evangelism. Many religious groups are becoming closed-in, with little or no motivation to reach out and win the lost.

It fosters a belief that is not scriptural. This being so, it eclipses the truth regarding the end times, and is in open contradiction of the Word of God. It is used as a prop to support other theological errors, such as a great tribulation, millennium, etc. Thus, it keeps souls from understanding the true meaning of the scriptures and their responsibility thereto.
In the light of the soon coming of Christ, and the awful responsibility we have to warn sinners, we beseech every one to search the scriptures and know the truth. There will be no second chance. Let everyone prepare now, as “that day” is certainly upon us. 

Bro. Daniel Eichelberger

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost…” I Cor. 6:19.
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? …for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” I Cor. 3:16-17.
There would be no need or sense in the reconstruction of the old temple seeing that a far better and living temple stands today.

God dwells no more in temples made with hands.

“Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands…” Acts 7:48.
“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands…” Acts 17:24.
God has forever forsaken all literal temples, having fulfilled His true desire to dwell within the hearts of His people in this New Testament dispensation. Seeing that God has a temple which shall stand forever, why would He resort back to the cold, lifeless house that was left destroyed and Godless nearly two thousand years ago?

The scriptures refer to the church as the “true tabernacle” or temple.

Speaking of Christ, Paul says that He is, “A minister of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” Heb. 8:2.
What tabernacle did the Lord pitch and not man? “…upon this rock I will build my church…” Matt. 16:18. Since God has already built for Himself a temple, it is ludicrous to think that He desires, or that the scriptures predict that the old one will be rebuilt, seeing that it is abolished.

Jesus Christ is the New Testament high priest.

“…consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus…” Heb. 3:1.
“…Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.” Heb. 7:17.
The fact that Jesus is the New Testament High Priest completely voids all hope of the reinstitution of a literal temple’s activities. For the temple to be rebuilt and brought back into a functioning manner, Christ must lose his High priesthood, for Christ could not possibly be a high priest under the law since he was not of the lineage of Levi. “For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things.” Heb. 8:4. Since Christ cannot possibly lose His high priesthood, because he dieth no more, then the literal temple could never be reactivated if anyone could ever build a similar one.

There can never be a reinstitution of animal sacrifices, for Christ is our sacrifice.

“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God…” Heb.10:12.
“Who needeth not daily, as those high priests to offer up sacrifice…for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” Heb. 7:27.
All of the old sacrifices that were offered in the court before the old temple were but representations of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. “All the lambs which had been hitherto offered had been furnished by men: this (Christ) was provided by God, as the only sufficient and available sacrifice for the sin of the world.” –Adam Clarke.
It is wholly impossible that God would inspire the writers of the holy scriptures to speak of the rebuilding of the temple seeing that this would void the offering of the body of Christ.

The scriptures declare that new Jerusalem is the church.

“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem…” Heb. 12:22.
“But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Gal. 4:26.
Here again we see that the focus, by God, is taken off of the literal and is placed upon the spiritual. If God thus continually brings these things before us, how is it that false prophets are doing the opposite? This is a witness that they are indeed false prophets and children of Satan.

Seeing that the scriptures are plain concerning the Old and New Testament temples, let us not be deceived by modern teachers whose practice it is to literalize what God intended to be representations of better things to come. We encourage our readers not to be deceived by any who teach contrary to the plainness of the gospel of God. We cannot interpret the scriptures contrary to what is revealed. If God has revealed that all liars shall be lost then nothing out of the scriptures may be used to say that a liar will escape punishment if he continues to be deceitful. But false prophets are doing just this, they are endeavoring to use the Bible to teach things unbiblical.
But what good would it do to rebuild the temple in this time? Employing the good reason of our minds let us all answer this question. We could find no salvation in the temple, no ark of the covenant, no healing, no glory, no God. It would be useless save for a history lesson and a tourist attraction. Thank God for His truth and thank God to be in and a part of this better temple, that “shall never be destroyed.” Dan. 2:44.

THE SEED OF ABRAHAM

In the seed of Abraham
are all earth’s nations promised life,
Not through those in Israel’s land
but through our seed, the blessed Christ.

Not to “seeds” as unto many
was the promise shining bright
No one nation need we envy,
for the seed was Jesus Christ.

Nay, the Jew can never glory
in the law that he hath shunned
For this law was added surely
till the lowly seed should come.

Now the dark denominations
Israel to be saved expect,
Nay ye blinded generation,
no man’s person God respects.

We’re translated into Jesus,
by His blood our souls are freed.
Now to us belongs the promise
and in Him we are the seed.

By Jason Hargrave

Answer:
Any person, thing, doctrine, system of religion, polity, etc., which is opposed to Christ, and to the spirit and spread of His gospel, is antichrist. We need not look for this imaginary being in any of the above exclusively.
Even Protestantism may have its antichrist as well as Popery. Every man who opposes the spirit of the gospel, and every teacher and writer who endeavors to lower the gospel standard to the spirit and taste of the world, is a genuine antichrist, no matter where or among whom he is found. The heresies which sprang up in the days of St. John were the antichrist of that time. As there has been a succession of oppositions to Christianity in its spirit and spread through every age since its promulgation in the world, so there has been a succession of antichrists. We may bring this matter much lower–every enemy of Christ, every one who opposes His reign in the world, in others, or in himself, is an antichrist, and consequently every wicked man is an antichrist. But the name has been generally applied to whatever person or thing systematically opposes Christ and His religion.”

- Adam Clarke

Millennialists look for a literal 1000 year reign on earth when actual wolves and lambs will dwell together. Extending our vision beyond the two popular texts quoted above, to take in the whole sphere of scriptures, we will find the true meaning of what these particular verses are trying to convey. In considering the whole realm of biblical teaching on this matter, and not narrowly singling out certain passages as many do, we will find a wonderful truth not generally understood.

If we read through the teachings of Christ, we will find that though He used earthly examples and terminology–such as being born, sowing, harvest, a kingdom, a sheepfold, etc.–He used them to show things that were spiritual. Such usage was obviously not to be taken in a literal sense.

No one would say that when Christ told Peter to feed His lambs He was telling him to go feed actual lambs. Everyone would agree that the wolves in sheep’s clothing were referring to men. Christ’s teachings on these things are too easy to understand to be misunderstood. But when we come to our two head texts, today many literalize them, as though the Old Testament did not use symbolic language, even as Christ did. God, through the prophets of old, used symbols to foretell future events and to describe the corrupted state of sinful man. Let us rehearse a few symbols used in the Bible to describe mankind through the use of earthly creatures.

Wolves – Matt. 7:15, Acts 20:29.
Lambs – John 21:15.
A fox – Luke13:32.
Sheep – Psalm 100:3, Jn.10:14.
Goats – Matt. 25:32.
Snakes – Matt. 23:33, Luke 3:7.
Dogs – Isa. 56:10-11, Psalm 22:16.
Bulls – Psa. 22:12.
Wild beasts, creeping things and birds–Acts 10:12.

Our reader will see through the reading of these verses and others, that neither the Old nor New Testament texts are strangers to symbolic language in their teachings. Even in our day, men may call other men certain animals that well fit the actions of their person. Christ Himself is also painted in a word picture as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah,” thus making clear to us His might and the fearful threat He is to all evil. It was said of the demon possessed man in Gadara that he was fierce and that no man could tame him–terms that fit his beast-like behavior (Matt. 8:28, Mark 5:4). Seeing all these things, the scriptures give us no reason to begin to apply literal meanings to passages where the context and New Testament teachings disprove the ridiculous thoughts that have become so unnecessarily famous.

In Christ we become a new creature. Our inward heart is created completely new, insomuch that those who would in the past have naturally been enemies, now dwell together in peace. This is the true miracle of the wolf and the lamb. Salvation so changes one’s heart and nature, that now two completely different and contrary people can be made one in love divine.

Imitation Christianity has strayed so tremendously far from true, biblical salvation and spirituality that such things cannot possibly happen. Thus the only interpretation that remains is fleshly. This twenty-first century religion tends toward the pleasing of fallen humanity and well suits it in its Star Wars-type fables.

If we would but read Isaiah chapter eleven, we would so plainly see that it is speaking about the first advent of Jesus Christ. “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him…” The verses continue to speak about Christ and then abruptly say, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb…” The sacrifice of Christ breaks down “the middle wall of partition” between the wolf and the lamb, the Jew and the Gentile, the black and the white, etc.

Remember Peter’s vision on the housetop? The Lord showed him all manner of animals together in the sheet. This depicts what Isaiah chapters 11 and 65 are referring to. All that were in the sheet were abiding together in peace, though naturally they were contrary to each other. Peter later makes it plain that God revealed to him through that very vision that no man should be called common or unclean. All of the creatures in Peter’s vision represented mankind, the gathering of the children of God from every nation. Nowadays if someone would have a vision similar to Peter’s, they would be more likely to literalize it, write a book about it, endeavor to use the Bible to confirm their delusion, and then sell it for a few million.

But to make our subject even more abundantly clear, the scriptures say in both Isaiah chapters 11 and 65 that, “they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain.” What is this holy mountain? The scriptures also make this so unmistakably clear that we cannot be confused over the matter. The holy mountain, the new Jerusalem, is none other than the church of the living God, or the host of the blood-washed saints called out of all sin and into Christ. “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn…” Hebrews 12:22-23.

Rev. 21:10 also uses the language of the Hebrew writer when speaking of the bride of Christ: “And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem…” The holy mountain, the city of the living God, and the new Jerusalem were a present reality in apostolic times, according to their own words. Many sincere people have perhaps never viewed this issue in such a light as this. The fault lies in the apostate spiritual surroundings in which the whole world is enwrapped. May God grant that all the Bible’s glorious truth be opened up to many souls in these last times.

In the light of all that we have shown here, it is plain to see that the dwelling together of the wolf and the lamb is referring to the time when Christ would bring full salvation to mankind and break down the long standing divisions between them. These things are fulfilled in the gathering together of all of the blood-washed who come from varied backgrounds and upbringings, races and countries–a gathering of souls who once differed so drastically that they could not abide together in peace except they be made nigh by the blood of Christ. There is a great, humanly impossible miracle in the unity of the once rapping city boy, the cow-milking country folk, and the once head-banging rocker.

The display of God’s power and love does not lie in some future coexistence of literal wolves and lambs, but in a present, peaceful coexistence of thinking and feeling people who have been made new creatures in Christ through salvation.

By Jason Hargrave

We are thankful for the faithfulness of Bro. D.S. Warner and our pioneer brethren to “cry aloud and spare not.” They lifted up a great trumpet sound. This was the sixth trumpet and signs and wonders followed the message. These pioneers are no longer among us to do this mighty work, and since the early 1900’s we have seen a “toning down” of the message of the church of God, a drift to worldliness and man-rule, a decline in deep spirituality, a spiritual deadness and insensitivity, a loss of evangelistic zeal, and an increasing dependence on the intellectual understanding of the doctrine, even dependence on heritage and tradition to give credibility as being the true church of God.

We want to say here that God chose Bro. Warner and others of his time to be reformers. He gave them the gospel, in purity, as He did to the church in apostolic times. We appreciate the same truth–Justification, entire sanctification (with a cleansing), divine physical healing, unity of God’s people in one body, separation from the world and Babylon, no outward worldly adornment, no double marriage, the ordinances, holy living, eternal judgment, heaven and the lake of fire.

Let us be plain–the sounding forth of this seventh trumpet is not changing the message or doctrine of the church of God. It is sounding forth with Holy Ghost power the same message of the apostolic time and the same message preached with so much power and conviction in the beginning of this “evening time.” It is necessary that it be thus, for we know there has been a great falling away, a great “silence” and that the love of many is cold. It must needs be that there is a stirring message from heaven for our time, the closing moments of this world, and the seventh trumpet message is the message.

God no longer tolerates the dark conditions that have been so common around and among us and is calling for a Holy Ghost enlivening and awakening; a time of sounding forth His judgment now, in this present time.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” Rom. 1:18.

He is calling on us to be the church of God in the apostolic sense, not in name only, but in reality and power. The sounding forth of the seventh trumpet will accomplish this.

Let the scriptures settle the matter. God is not coming for a defeated, divided, powerless, spiritually ragged church. He is coming for a glorious church, “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but . . . holy and without blemish.” See Eph. 5:26-27. “When the Lord shall build up Zion [His church], he shall appear in his glory.” Psa. 102:16. If you are associating with a limp, spotted group as described above, it is time to flee the ruins. When we, individually and collectively, return to Pentecost to find and obtain there the power source of the church of God, we will begin to be what God has made it our responsibility to be and ready ourselves for His soon-coming.

We hear some say that we cannot expect God to work in this evil and dark day as He did formerly. To such we say that although this is a dark day of the sinner and apostate, it is a bright and powerful day for those who walk with and fellowship God in this evening time light and truth. Truly, “He is just the same today.”

There are individuals that insist that the seventh trumpet and the last trump (which will sound at the coming of Christ) are identical. This cannot be. There is nothing whatsoever in the scriptures to unite these two trumpets. Yes, we do believe in the sounding of the last trump, but we most emphatically deny that the last trump is all the same and one with the seventh trumpet spoken of in Revelation, which completes the series in the last book of the New Testament.

Let us reason together, the last trump signals the immediate end of the earth, when time shall be no more. “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” I Thess. 4:15-17. At this time even the elements shall melt and time shall be no more. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” II Pet. 3:10.

Contrast Revelation 11:15-19 where the seventh trumpet is prophesied.

15. “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

16. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God.

17. Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

18. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

19. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament; and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”

Notice after the seventh trumpet sounds, there are (vs 19) lightnings, voices, thunderings, an earthquake and great hail. If the seventh trumpet is the last trump of I Thess. 4:16 and the earth is already melted (II Pet. 3:10), along with the elements, where are we to see this lightning, hear the thunder, feel this great earthquake, or experience this great hail? We recognize that there will surely be no need of these phenomenon in heaven or the lake of fire. We recognize also that the book of Revelation is a book of symbols and that these symbols just mentioned represent the impartation and reception of divine truth in this preliminary judgment time, before the final judgment. This is the time of the spiritually dead (vs 18) that they should be judged. Saints are receiving rich rewards in their spiritual faithfulness and many “nations” are angry (vs 18) because their true spiritual condition is exposed. The temple (church) of God is again revealed (vs 19) with glory. The “ark of the testament” is His spiritual law, life, food and presence revealed in her.

Perhaps the spiritual symbols of Revelation 11:19 will need explanation. Again, when the temple of God (church of God) was opened in heaven (or simply, revealed), there were voices. These are the voices spoken of in Isa. 58:1, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” We also see the symbol “lightning.” This simply means the revelation of spiritual light. Psalm 97:4 says, “His lightnings enlightened the world.” Next the symbol of thunderings. This is simply the sounding forth or prophesying of prophecies. Revelation 6:1 says, “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.” Also, we see the symbol of the earthquake. This simply means spiritual shaking (Heb. 12:25-28) or awakening, as at Pentecost. Also we have the symbol of hail. We know that water is often used in the scriptures to signify the Word of God. Here we have it in solid form (the solid Word of God) descending from heaven. In Isa. 28:17 we read, “Hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies.”

It is lies, deceit and Babylonian drift that the light, thunderings and hail are uncovering and revealing in this seventh trumpet blast. We are very thankful for the present gathering of God’s people, the sounding forth of His divine message of truth in this time, and the glorious power of God being manifest in the midst of His body.

Let us be faithful to sound aloud the trumpet in the spirit of God until every sinful, slothful, apostate, dead Babylonian spirit stands revealed and trembling in the awful, wonderful trumpet blast of judgment of God’s eternal Word, which gathers, perfects and purifies His glorious bride for His soon-coming. Hear the sound of the trumpet!

By Daniel Layne

The command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem here referred to was given to Ezra by Artaxerxes, king of Persia, 457 B.C. Ezra 7:1-28.

A careful study of Ezra and Nehemiah will show that not less than four decrees were given to build the house, walls, etc., of Jerusalem. But the one here referred to by Daniel was to restore Jerusalem. This commission given to Ezra was to reorganize the children of Israel at Jerusalem, restore their judges and magistrates as at the first, and beautify the house of the Lord. It evidently is the one referred to. In Daniel’s vision the week of years is used. This was in common use among the Jews in Daniel’s time. The seventy weeks equal four hundred and ninety years. Measuring 490 years from 457 B.C., when the command was given, they extend to A.D. 33. In other words, just 490 years lie between 457 B.C. and A.D. 33. However the work of restoring all things did not begin until the middle of the year 457, which runs the 490 years to the fall of A.D. 33, or about the middle of that year. The seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks, which were to reach to Messiah the Prince, equal 69 weeks or 483 years. Reckoning 483 years from 457 B.C. would bring us to A.D. 26. But the real work of restoring Jerusalem did not commence till the middle of the year 457 (Ezra 7:8), which would bring the 483 years or 69 weeks to the middle or latter part of A.D. 26, when Christ was baptized and anointed. It might be well right here to observe that the common account called Anno Domini began when Christ was four years old. The 483 years–69 weeks–were to reach to Messiah the Prince. The question arises, When did Jesus become Messiah the Prince? Messiah (Hebrew), Christ (Greek) means anointed. The anointed one.

How was Jesus anointed?

“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power.” Acts 10:38.

When did this anointing take place?

“Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son.” Luke 3:21, 22.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor.” Luke 4:18.

Here is where Jesus became the anointed one, Messiah the Prince, and began His earthly ministry. This is what is meant in Daniel’s vision by the words, “to anoint the most Holy.” The sixty-nine weeks–483 years–extended to this time. There yet remains one week or seven years, to fulfill the 70 weeks or 490 years. That week extends from the baptism and anointing of Christ in A.D. 26 to about the middle or fall of A.D. 33.

II. WHAT WAS TO TAKE PLACE IN THE MIDST OF THIS LAST WEEK OR SEVEN YEARS?

“And after threescore and two weeks, shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself.” Dan. 9:26.

“And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abomination he shall make it desolate.” Ver. 27.

WHAT HAS THIS REFERENCE TO?

It has reference to the death of Christ. It will be seen in Ver. 25 that the sixty-nine weeks, which were to extend to Messiah the Prince,  the “anointing of the most Holy,” were divided off as follows: “Seven weeks, and three-score and two weeks.” The first seven weeks or 49 years extended from 457 B.C. to 408 B.C. This, no doubt, was the time that it took to complete the walls, streets, etc., of the city which Daniel says were finished “in troublous times.” From 408 B.C., when the first seven weeks ended, to the anointing of the most Holy was just threescore and two weeks. After this, or in the midst of the last week of the seventy, Messiah was cut off. Just three and one-half years after Jesus was anointed and entered His ministry He was cut off–crucified for the sins of the whole world, in the midst of the last week.

III. WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY CHRIST’S DEATH?

1. “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people.”

The Jews ceased to be God’s chosen and special people. Christ’s blood was shed for the sins of the world. He broke down the middle wall between Jew and Gentile and made them both one in Him, in which “there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free.” Col. 3: 11.

2. “And upon thy holy city.”

The moment Christ died, Jerusalem lost its sacredness. No longer did God regard it the holy city. The hour had now come when no longer at Jerusalem would they worship the Father, but in every place the true worshipers would worship God in spirit and in truth. John 4:20-24.

3. “To finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins.”

Christ by His death accomplished all this. He “put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Yea He “hath washed us from our sins in his own precious blood,” and “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

4. “And to make reconciliation for iniquity.”

Hear the fulfillment: “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” Rom. 5:6-11.

“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.” Col. 1:20-22.

5. “And to bring in everlasting righteousness.”

This signifies a complete deliverance from sin, and a supply of grace to serve God in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life. Yea, the grace of God which appeared unto all men teaches us to “live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.” Titus 2:11, 12.

6. “He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.”

The sacrifices and the oblations of the law were but types of Christ and His great redemption. Sacrifice generally signifies slaughter. Oblation–offering or present. So Christ offered His body and presented it to God for a sacrifice to atone for the sins of the whole world. He was given as a sacrifice and oblation. His offering was perfect, and brought eternal redemption to the world. Hence, when He expired on the cross, the sacrifice and oblation of the law ceased to be accepted of God. They were but types and now were all fulfilled.

7. “And for the overspreading of abominations,he shall make it desolate.”

This refers to the “worldly sanctuary.” Christ in His personal ministry began building the temple or new covenant sanctuary–the church of God. Just before He expired on the cross, He cried, “It is finished.” His death completed the house of God, “which is the church of the living God,” “in which ye are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” The instant the new covenant sanctuary was thus completed, “the vail of the temple [in Jerusalem] was rent in twain from top to bottom.” Mat. 27:51.

God moved out of that earthly building, nevermore to dwell in temples made with hands. Their great house at Jerusalem was left desolate. Matt. 23:37, 38.

The Jews would not be gathered under His wings, but filled up the cup of their iniquities by crucifying the Messiah. Their wickedness and abominations had reached to the full, and God forsook their house forever and left it desolate.

IV. THREE AND ONE-HALF YEARS OF THIS LAST WEEK CAME AFTER THE DEATH OF MESSIAH, SINCE HE WAS CUT OFF IN THE MIDST OF THE WEEK. WHAT WAS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED

DURING THIS LAST WEEK?

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week. Ver. 27. This last week began with Christ’s ministry. The covenant is the new covenant in Christ Jesus. “Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:17.

The three and one-half years of Christ’s ministry were spent in delivering the principles of the new covenant. The same was dedicated with His blood, and came into force at His death. It is also a fact that the first three and one-half years after Christ’s death was a marked epoch in the spread of the gospel among all nations. Thus the covenant was confirmed with many.

V. WE HAVE SEEN THAT AT THE DEATH OF CHRIST, GOD MOVED OUT OF THE JEWISH SANCTUARY AT JERUSALEM AND LEFT IT DESOLATE. HOW LONG WAS IT TO REMAIN DESOLATE?

“He shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon

the desolate.” Ver. 27.

VI. WHAT IS MEANT BY THE CONSUMMATION, AND THE THING DETERMINED TO BE POURED UPON THE DESOLATE?

“And the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.” Ver. 26.

VII. WHAT DID JESUS SAY WITH REFERENCE TO THIS PROPHECY?

“And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.” “For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.” “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” Luke 21:5, 6, 20;

Luke 21:22, 24.

VIII. WHEN AND HOW WAS THIS FULFILLED?

Titus with his Roman legions came to Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and destroyed the city and the sanctuary, or temple. Thus “that determined was poured upon the desolate” sanctuary. The overspreading abominations of the Jewish people were thus avenged. “These be the days of vengeance,” “and wrath upon this people.” When the Romans destroyed the sanctuary, they also took away the daily sacrifice. The Roman legions who marched to Jerusalem, destroyed the city and sanctuary, and took away the sacrifice, which ceased to be accepted of God when Jesus expired upon the cross. The Romans also brought their ensigns and set them upon the ground of the temple where once God dwelt. They even worshiped their ensigns, swore by them, and offered sacrifice to them in the very place where sacrifice had been offered unto God. These ensigns were the banners of the army which did make desolate the temple and city.

Hence, this was “an abomination of desolation.”

IX. WHAT DOES JESUS SAY OF THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION THAT DANIEL PROPHESIED

WOULD COME?

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day: for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”

Matt. 24:15-22.

From the above we see clearly that Daniel’s vision reached a fulfillment at the destruction of Jerusalem. In fact, in Luke’s account he says: “When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.” Luke 21:20.

X. WHAT IS THE REAL ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION?

It is the substitution of heathen worship for the worship of God. Thus when Antiochus defiled the temple, laid it waste, and substituted heathen worship in Jerusalem for the worship of God, when he took away the daily sacrifice of burnt offering to God, and offered swine’s flesh upon the altar in idol worship, he “set up the abomination of desolation.” Jesus foresaw that the Roman armies would do just what the little horn of Daniel had done: Set up heathen worship and sacrifice in the holy place, where God alone had been worshiped. So they did this very thing when Titus destroyed the city. Just so has popery and modern sectism set up heathen worship instead of worshiping God alone. The multitudes of sect Babylon are “mad on their idols.” This is an abomination of desolation.

XI. WHAT FURTHER DOES DANIEL SPEAK CONCERNING THIS?

In Dan. 11 several powers are brought into view. These extend right up to the coming of Michael.

“And at that time shall Michael

stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”     Dan. 12:1.

This refers to the coming of Christ during the reign of Imperial Rome. Following this “there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time.” This refers to the siege and final destruction of Jerusalem, for says Jesus, in speaking of that awful time, “There shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

Matt. 24:21.

“ For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled…For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations.” Luke 21:22-24.

This awful calamity which befell the Jews was prophesied in Deut. 28:50-57. “A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favor to the young: and he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee. And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the Lord thy God bath given thee. And thou shalt eat the fruit of thins own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee: so that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave: so that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates. The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter, and toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in thy gates.”

Here is prophesied a time when a foreign power would come to Jerusalem, laying siege to the city, overthrowing and destroying the same, casting down the sanctuary or temple, taking away the daily sacrifice, and placing the abomination of desolation on that once hallowed spot. This all took place when Titus with the Roman legions, came to the “pleasant land” laying it waste, and destroyed their city and sanctuary, in which awful siege and destruction Josephus tells us about 1,100, 000 Jews perished.

Thus we give a brief history of the worldly sanctuary.

H.M. Riggle