Revelation and Revelation and Human RealityHuman Reality

Session 57Session 57A-level AmphitheaterA-level Amphitheater

LLUMCLLUMCMarch 5, 2011, 10:30-11:30 AMMarch 5, 2011, 10:30-11:30 AM

Clarifying RetrospectiveClarifying Retrospective

Clarification of Clarification of timelinetimeline

conceptsconcepts

plotplot

TimelineTimeline

BEFOREBEFORE AFTERAFTER

‘1000 YEARS’

Second ComingSecond Coming

Rev 1:7 Look! He is coming with the Rev 1:7 Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. wail. So it is to be. Amen.

Rev 22:20 He who testifies to these Rev 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Second Coming Second Coming – Then What?– Then What?

John 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father John 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God… was going back to God…

John 17:13 But now I am coming to you, John 17:13 But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.complete in themselves.

““Where I Am”Where I Am”

NJB NJB John 14:2-3 In my Father's house there John 14:2-3 In my Father's house there are many places to live in; otherwise I are many places to live in; otherwise I would have told you. I am going now to would have told you. I am going now to prepare a place for you, and after I have prepare a place for you, and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you to myself, so that you return to take you to myself, so that you may be with me where I am. may be with me where I am.

““Where I Am”Where I Am”

John 17:24 Father, I desire that those John 17:24 Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the loved me before the foundation of the world.world.

““And So And So We Will Be with the Lord”We Will Be with the Lord” 1 Thess 4:15-17 For this we declare to you by the 1 Thess 4:15-17 For this we declare to you by the

word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. will be with the Lord forever.

““God Will Be with Them”God Will Be with Them”

Revelation 21:3-4 And I heard a loud Revelation 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes.”eyes.”

““With Me” vs. “With With Me” vs. “With Them”Them”

When Jesus says that “they will be with When Jesus says that “they will be with meme,” the spatial referent is heaven. ,” the spatial referent is heaven.

When Revelation says that “God will be When Revelation says that “God will be with with themthem,” the spatial referent is the ,” the spatial referent is the earth [New Earth]. earth [New Earth].

TimelineTimeline

BEFOREBEFORE SECOND SECOND

COMINGCOMING

AFTERAFTER NEW NEW

EARTHEARTH

‘1000 YEARS’

‘‘Great Ordeal’Great Ordeal’ Rev 7:13-15 Then one of the elders addressed Rev 7:13-15 Then one of the elders addressed

me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” I said to him, where have they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of to me, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Lamb. For this reason they are before the For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.” the throne will shelter them.”

‘‘Great Ordeal’ - OTGreat Ordeal’ - OT

Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael, the Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. in the book.

TimelineTimeline

BEFOREBEFORE SECOND SECOND

COMINGCOMING GREAT GREAT

ORDEALORDEAL

AFTERAFTER NEW NEW

EARTHEARTH

‘1000 YEARS’

SealingSealing Rev 7:2 -3 I saw another angel Rev 7:2 -3 I saw another angel

ascending from the rising of the sun, ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God, and he having the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to angels who had been given power to damage earth and sea, saying, “Do not damage earth and sea, saying, “Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees, damage the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have marked the servants of until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads.”our God with a seal on their foreheads.”

TimelineTimeline

BEFOREBEFORE SECOND SECOND

COMINGCOMING GREAT GREAT

ORDEALORDEAL SEALINGSEALING

AFTERAFTER NEW NEW

EARTHEARTH

‘1000 YEARS’

HarmagedonHarmagedon Rev 16:13, 14, 16 Rev 16:13, 14, 16 And I saw three foul spirits And I saw three foul spirits

like frogs coming from the mouth of the dragon, like frogs coming from the mouth of the dragon, from the mouth of the beast, and from the from the mouth of the beast, and from the mouth of the false prophet. These are demonic mouth of the false prophet. These are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. battle on the great day of God the Almighty. And they assembled them at the place that And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Harmagedonin Hebrew is called Harmagedon. .

TimelineTimeline

BEFOREBEFORE SECOND SECOND

COMINGCOMING GREAT GREAT

ORDEALORDEAL SEALINGSEALING HARMA-HARMA-

GEDONGEDON

AFTERAFTER NEW NEW

EARTHEARTH

‘1000 YEARS’

End of Surrogate PowersEnd of Surrogate Powers

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was Revelation 19:20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed in its presence the who had performed in its presence the signs by which he deceived those who signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. fire that burns with sulfur.

TimelineTimeline

BEFOREBEFORE SECOND SECOND

COMINGCOMING GREAT GREAT

ORDEALORDEAL SEALINGSEALING HARMA-HARMA-

GEDONGEDON END - 1END - 1

AFTERAFTER NEW NEW

EARTHEARTH

‘1000 YEARS’

End of SatanEnd of Satan

NRS NRS Revelation 20:10 And the devil who Revelation 20:10 And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Rev 20:10 NRS)ever. (Rev 20:10 NRS)

TimelineTimeline

BEFOREBEFORE SECOND SECOND

COMINGCOMING GREAT GREAT

ORDEALORDEAL SEALINGSEALING HARMA-HARMA-

GEDONGEDON END - 1END - 1

AFTERAFTER NEW NEW

EARTHEARTH END - 2END - 2

‘1000 YEARS’

Final MessageFinal Message

NRS NRS Revelation 14:6-7 Then I saw another Revelation 14:6-7 Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth-- to every nation and tribe and the earth-- to every nation and tribe and language and people. He said in a loud language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, for voice, “Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” the sea and the springs of water.”

TimelineTimeline

BEFOREBEFORE SECOND SECOND

COMINGCOMING GREAT GREAT

ORDEALORDEAL SEALINGSEALING HARMA-HARMA-

GEDONGEDON END – 1END – 1 FINAL FINAL

MESSAGEMESSAGE

AFTERAFTER NEW NEW

EARTHEARTH END - 2END - 2

‘1000 YEARS’

Final OpportunityFinal Opportunity

NIV NIV Revelation 22:11 “Let him who does Revelation 22:11 “Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.”let him who is holy continue to be holy.”

TimelineTimeline

BEFOREBEFORE FINAL FINAL

MESSAGEMESSAGE FINAL FINAL

OPPOR-OPPOR-TUNITYTUNITY

SECOND SECOND COMINGCOMING

END – 1 END – 1

AFTERAFTER NEW NEW

EARTHEARTH END - 2END - 2

‘1000 YEARS’

Timeline of JudgmentTimeline of Judgment(courtesy Ralph Thompson)

BEFOREBEFORE Pre-adventPre-advent ‘‘Decision Decision

judgment’judgment’

AFTERAFTER Post-Post-

millennialmillennial ‘‘Distributive Distributive

judgmentjudgment’ ’ (not (not retributive)retributive)‘1000 YEARS’

BETWEEN‘Explanatory

judgment’

Clarifying Clarifying the Concept of Judgmentthe Concept of Judgment

The human decision and the divine decision The human decision and the divine decision correlate; there is never a divine decision correlate; there is never a divine decision only. only.

The divine action is subject to review. The divine action is subject to review. Till the very last moment, the human action Till the very last moment, the human action

in judgment looms larger than the divine in judgment looms larger than the divine action.action.

Clarifying Clarifying the Concept of Judgmentthe Concept of Judgment

““The judgment being never juridical but The judgment being never juridical but revelatory, it is not the expression of the revelatory, it is not the expression of the servile terror of men, but of their servile terror of men, but of their comprehension of the divine reality.”comprehension of the divine reality.”

““The judgment at this moment is then: to The judgment at this moment is then: to be what one has actually wished to be, but be what one has actually wished to be, but seeing in the light of God what it was.”seeing in the light of God what it was.”

Ellul, Ellul, ApocalypseApocalypse, 172, 176., 172, 176.