THE SCARLET THREAD Gen. 38 KJV, Circa 1727 BC.

Henry V. Mc Nulty Author, Founder of Eternal Kingdom Seminary Palm Desert, CA

Henry V. Mc Nulty Author, Founder of Eternal Kingdom Seminary Palm Desert, CA

                                                     JUDAH IN CHARGE OF SCEPTER

The scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a lawgiver from beneath his feet until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Genesis 49: 10 KJV. 1649 BC.
Since the overall theme of this article is about Jesus , in order to not miss too much,
we will start with Abraham as the beginning and end at the second coming of Jesus.
Depending on how you accept the history and scriptures we will either be opening a treasure chest of glory or a can of worms.

                           QUALIFYING TO WRITE ABOUT HISTORY AND SCRIPTURE.

The authority to write these articles and books comes from God  through the Bible. Please be assured  there is a group of revered and highly qualified persons who review our articles and books before they are published. I would like to add that since some of the scriptures are given to us in parables and allegory we do receive varied opinions.  Specifically, there are two basic interpretation methods.  The first is that you must take Old Testament prophecies literally.
The second way is that prophecies must be considered in their context.  Using the second (contextual) means, It is my opinion, that Shiloh refers to Jesus as it is capitalized, it is a sanctuary, and the house of the Lord.

                                 THE SCEPTER IS TO BE GIVEN TO JESUS.

So Judah and/or his progeny have the assignment to deliver the ruler’s staff to whom it belongs.  This will be when Shiloh comes. (Chapter 49: 10  LB.
(Living Bible) translates the subject scripture “until Shiloh comes, whom all people shall obey”.
In any event in circa 1689 BC.,  Jacob is informing us that Jesus is going to receive the scepter of honor as King of The Eternal Kingdom when he comes.

                                  THE SCEPTER’S ROUTE OF TRAVEL

We will follow the circuitous route of the scepter as it starts out on its journey.
Judah marries a Canaanite named Shua.  They have three sons.  The first two died.
The third son would not marry his brother’s wife thus disobeying the law.
Tamar was the wife of one of the sons who had died.  They didn’t have any children.
Tamara knew Judah was returning home from sheep shearing.  Tamara changed her widow’s clothes to that of a prostitute, put on a veil and waited for Judah to come by.
Judah saw her and propositioned her.  He didn’t know it was Tamara his daughter in law.
Judah told Tamara he would send her a young goat if she would sleep with him.
Tamara said yes if he would guarantee to give her the kid.
As surety Jacob left her his walking staff and identifying seal. The next day Judah had a friend take a kid to the prostitute and retrieve his staff and seal. The friend returned and said he could not find the prostitute. Jacob decided to forget the staff and seal and leave the kid for her to claim.

                     THE SCEPTER PASSES FROM JACOB TO THE TWINS

About three months later word reached Judah that his daughter in law Tamara was pregnant.  Judah gave orders to burn her.  But Tamara displayed the seal and walking staff and said whoever these belong to is the father of my child.  When time for delivery came Tamara had twin sons.  As they were being born the midwife tied a scarlet thread on the wrist of the child that appeared first. But he drew back his hand and the other baby was born first. The first born
baby was called Perez.  The one with the scarlet thread was born next.  His name was Zerah.

                                      RESOLVING UNCERTAINTIES

Before continuing It is important to state that when we come across some history or scripture that is not abundantly clear we must stop and make certain of the meaning before we proceed.

                                        WHO IS THE LAWGIVER?

According to Genesis Chapter 49: 10 KJV. we are told about a lawgiver. How can this be since the original lawgiver was God through Moses with the ten commandments?  According to the Letter to the Hebrews the law is over since it was fulfilled at the cross.

                                       WE ARE TO GET A NEW HEART

Ezekiel 36:26 + KJV. prophesizes  that “a new heart will I give you and take away the stony heart.  You shall keep my judgments”.  Genesis 38 + KJV. again reminds us “the scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a lawgiver from beneath his feet until Shiloh comes.  Who are these lawgivers beneath the feet of Shiloh?  It becomes clear when we turn to Revelation and read how the apostle John addresses the believers of the early church in chapter 1:6 KJV. as “and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be the glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen”. So the believers (church) are Kings and Priests in the Eternal Kingdom and
are lawgivers at the feet of Jesus.  Not only that but they have the Holy Spirit to guide and direct them.

                                   JACOB’S BLESSINGS TO HIS SON

In Genesis 49: KJV., circa 1649 BC, before he dies, Jacob gathered all of his sons together to prophesize and bless them.  While Reuben was the first born, Jacob specifically stated that he would not have preeminence and went on to say to Judah “your father’s sons shall bow down before you and the scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a lawgiver from beneath his feet until Shiloh come”.  So Jacob died and was buried in Canaan.

                                   THE NAME CHANGE AT PENIEL

There is a short detour in the journey of the scepter which is described in Genesis  32: 28 KJV., circa 1739 BC.  Jacob was leaving Harran with his family and all his possessions.
He had reached the Jordan River and changed his one group into two smaller groups and crossed over the Jordan at the Brook Jabbok.
After escorting everything across the Jordan Jacob rested the night on the east side .
There Jacob wrestled with God’s divine messenger Gen.32, FF. (Ferrar Fenton) until daybreak.  The messenger found that he couldn’t win and asked Jacob to let him go. Jacob said “not until you bless me”.  The messenger asked Jacob for his name.  The response was “Jacob”.  The messenger said ”Not any more. your name is now Israel, one who has power with God”.  Jacob, consequently, named the place “ Peniel” that is “God’s Face” “for I have seen divinities face
to face and preserved my life. Genesis continues and describes how Jacob wrestles with the “divine messenger of God”. Jacob accepts his name change to Israel and memorializes the acceptance by building an altar to the God of Israel.
Have you ever wrestled, or are you now wrestling with God?  Will you accept your name change to Israel and build a (spiritual) altar to memorialize God’s face to face encounter and that you are one that has power with God? Jacob’s favorite son was Joseph as he was the son of Jacob’s old age.

                          ISAAC  DIES AND IS BURIED AT MAMBRE

Genesis 36: LB tells us about Isaac’s death and that Esau and Jacob buried him.  Isaac was one hundred eighty years old.   Genesis 36 also lists the descendants of Esau  (AKA Edom).  Listed as a grand child was Zerah.  Since we are concerned with the route of the scepter we must note that the name Perez is not listed. Jacob’s son was Joseph the son of his old age.
After Jacob’s name change to Israel at Peniel (AKA Peneul), Jacob moved the whole family into Palestine.  On his way he met his brother Esau, whom he had previously alienated, and now lived in Edom.

                                   THE COAT OF MANY COLORS.

Genesis 37: LB  Tells us that Joseph was the son of Jacob’s old age and was favored by Jacob.  One day Jacob gave Joseph a coat of many colors. Hisbrothers resented the favoritism their father expressed to Joseph. The brothers threw Joseph into a dry well, took his coat of many colors, covered it with goat’s blood and sold Joseph to some traders going to Egypt.
They showed Jacob the bloody coat and told him some wild animal must have taken Joseph.  The rest of the story is well known about Joseph rising to power in Egypt.
We have already followed the staff from Jacob to Judah.  Then to the twins Zerah and Perez.  Next we take a quantum leap to Matthew 1: I + LB.
Therein  is listed the genealogy of Jesus from Abraham and King David.
Appended to the genealogy is the comment in Matthew 1-17 “ There are fourteen generations from Abraham to King David and fourteen generations from King David’s time to the exile: and fourteen generations from the exile to Christ.” We must note that Perez, one of the twins, is not listed in the genealogy provided in Matthew chapter one.  However, Zerah is listed.  Accordingly, we must assume that  since Zerah was the only one available to make delivery of the scepter to King Jesus was  Zerah, Judah’s progeny.

As  prophesied in Genesis 49: 10, KJV:

The scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a lawgiver from beneath his feet until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

                            THE SEPTER SHALL REMAIN WITH JUDAH
UNTIL SHILOH COMES.

1 Cor: 15: 22 KJV. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order.  Christ the first fruits; afterward those that are Christ’s at his coming.  24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God the Father; when he has put down all rule and all authority and power.  For he must reign as King in the Eternal Kingdom till he hath put all enemies under his feet. So if Jesus is going to reign as King in the Eternal Kingdom then he is to receive his scepter.

                                    MEANING OF THE NAME CHANGE

But what does the name change from Jacob to Israel mean? It means one who prevails through God and it became the surname of Jacob’s family and descendants.  I Peter 2: 10 KJV.  It became the name of the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom which split from the Southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin. In the New Testament Israel, as prophesied, was the faithful remnant
of the Old Testament, Romans 9: 23 KJV.  The house of Jacob was the flesh and the house of Israel is the spiritual.  Both share the name of Israel.
So those who believe and obey today are in the house of Israel  which is the same lineage from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It’s like changing your surname when you get married.  Your name is now Israel.

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Understanding the Synagogue of Satan

 

 

 

 


Henry V. Mc Nulty

Author, Founder of Eternal Kingdom Seminary
P.O. Box 4691, Palm Desert, CA, 92261

John the apostle received a vision of things where were to occur. Then an angel appeared and explained its meaning. John then wrote a letter to the seven churches in Asia to explain the coming events.
The apostles knew Jesus, lived with him and listened as he told them of the coming kingdom to which believers would have eternal life. Those who believed would be priests of God the Father.
The letter that john was writing would be sent to the churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyratira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
There is no doubt that the apostles were knowledgeable in the gospel as they went throughout Asia and established churches and doctrine. These facts are well established in the New Testament. John tells us Rev. 2:9 KJV and Rev. 3:9 continues where the same message is repeated.
We know what the apostles were preaching, as we have the Apostles Creed, a portion we will copy for reference as follows:

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born
of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius, Pilate was crucified and buried. On the third
day He rose again. He ascended into heave. He is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come to judge the living and the dead.

So we know what the apostles were preaching. But what about those who said they were Jews. John said they were not but were the synagogue of Satan. Since they didn’t agree with the apostles what were they being taught? Fortunately we can copy the Masoretic text for reference and will copy Daniel 9:26-27. And after those sixty-two weeks, the anointed one will disappear and vanish. The leader who is to come will destroy the city and sanctuary, but its end will come through a flood. Desolation is decreed until the end of the war.
The Masoretic Text is available from the Jewish Publication Society of America, Philadelphia.

For comparison we will copy Daniel 9:26-27 KJV:

And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the
people of the prince shall come 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. 27 And he
shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall
cause the sacrifice and oblation toc ease and for the overspreading of abominations he
shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured
upon the desolate.

Now if we just back up to Daniel 9:24 KJV you will notice there are six items of the vision that are to be fulfilled. They are specified in verse 24 as follows:

    1. Finish transgression.
    2. Make an end of sins.
    3. Make reconciliation for iniquity.
    4. Bring in everlasting righteousness.
    5. Seal up the vision (complete) and prophecy.
    6. Anoint the most Holy.

All these events were completed within the seventieth week (verse 27). Specifically they could not have been completed without Calvary as described in verse 27.
However, if the reader will notice that verse 26 of the Masoretic Text states that the “anointed one” (Jesus) will disappear and vanish. If Jesus disappears and vanishes then verse 27 cannot be fulfilled. In other words there has now been a time space of over two thousand years between Daniel 9: 26-27. Now this shouldn’t surprise the death burial and resurrection of Christ as specified above.
But, there are “Christians” of the Futuristic and Dispensational persuasion who maintain that there is a time gap between verses 26 and 27 to re-appear a brief time before the second coming. S far the time gap has exceeded two thousand years. Accordingly, the six items listed above could not have been fulfilled as Jesus wasn’t available. Accordingly there was no salvation available.
This creates a dilemma for the Dispensationalists and Futurists who are steadfast in supporting the non scriptural two thousand year gap with the postponement and/or the two thousand year disappearance of Christ, with no hint of salvation.

Feel free to comment the author/editor below!

WHY JESUS WAS BAPTIZED

WHY JESUS WAS BAPTIZED

By Tyrone Munsami, Worship Minister
Durban, South Africa

John The Baptizer was at the Jordan River baptizing for repentance. Jesus asked John the Baptizer to baptize him.  John was reluctant to baptize Jesus as he was sinless, perfect, and had no sins to wash away.  Jesus was insistent, as he was to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness. Accordingly, John the Baptizer, baptized Jesus to fulfill all righteousness. (Matt 3:15 KJV).

John the Baptizer informed the apostle in John 1:33 KJV:  That upon whom thou shall see the Spirit descending and remaining, the same is he which baptized with the Holy Ghost.  And I saw and bore record that this is the Son Of God!  At the baptism of Jesus, God’s righteousness
was infused into Jesus by the Holy Spirit.

When you believe and are baptized for remission of sins the righteousness of God flows through Jesus into the believer. You are now sinless and can stand righteous before God.

John 14:20 KJV:  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

What a gift you receive when you believe and obey in baptism.  Don’t let Satan or any of his angles take this away from you.

In Luke 10: 1 + KJV Jesus selected seventy disciples and sent them out to tell the gospel.        When they returned to Jesus they related the miracles they had experienced in the name of Jesus and that the spirits were subject to  them. But Jesus told them not to rejoice that the spirits were subject to them, but to rejoice that your names were written in heaven. That is the real miracle.

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SACRIFICIAL PERIOD

SACRIFICIAL PERIOD

 

 

 

 

Henry V. Mc Nulty
Author, Founder of Eternal Kingdom Seminary
P.O. Box 4691, Palm Desert, CA, 92261

 

Daniel’s fifth vision is one of his prophecies that have confused bible scholars with its complexity. Not really, unless you are mining the scriptures to support a preconceived theory. So let’s proceed to analyze a portion of Daniel’s fifth vision by reviewing the scripture. Daniel 8:13-14 NIV:

 V13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint that    spoke. How long shall the vision be concerning the daily sacrifice, the transgression of  desolation, to give both the sanctuary and host to be trodden underfoot? V14 And then he said unto me, unto two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful place.

           Most bible scholars agree that the 2300 days is 2300 years. (Ezekiel 4:6, Numbers 14: 34, each day a year). So to identify the 2300 year time period, we must first find the beginning or the end of the 2300 years, then apply the 2300 years to find the alternate beginning or end. One of the saints give us three clues when he states that the vision concerns the:

  1. Daily sacrifice
  2. The transgression of desolation (abomination of desolation)
  3. The sanctuary and host to be trampled and the sanctuary cleansed.

Matt. 27: 51 KJV Tells us that when Jesus was crucified, the “veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom: and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent. Without the veil, the temple could not be used for the daily sacrifice. The sanctuary was cleansed by the blood of Jesus. So the blood of Jesus cleansed the temple and ended the daily sacrifice. Approximately 45 days later was Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came with power. The new temple was now available. 1st Corinthians 6:19 KJV

Know you not that your body is the temple of God and the Holy Spirit resides therein?

           We now know that the temple was cleansed at the cross. The crucifixion was the Abomination of Desolation. So let’s use 33 AD as the termination date of the 2300 years. Bishop Ussher was the Prelate of the Irish Church during the seventeenth century. He spent many years attaching dates to the bible. His accuracy is human and subject to dispute, but it will work HERE to establish that 2300 years was the time span from the first altar and sacrifice to the cleansing and final sacrifice; 2300 years before the cross places us at Genesis 8:20 KJV:

And Noah took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

 Now let’s refer to our concordances and see where the word “altar” is used. That would be in Genesis 8: 20, which describes Noah’s sacrifice of burnt offerings. That form of sacrifice lasted for 2300 years before the cleansing of the temple, which is the ultimate and final sacrifice.

Now let’s turn to Hebrews 7: 27 LB:

He never needs the daily blood of animal sacrifices as other priests did to cover over their own sins and the sins of the people; for he finished all sacrifices, once and for all, when he sacrificed himself on the cross.

Since there are to be no more sacrifices why, as people say, do we have to build another physical temple? 1 Corinthians 15:50:

Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

Accordingly, the promise is spiritual, not physical.

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THE TWO WITNESSES

THE TWO WITNESSES

Henry V. Mc Nulty
Author, Founder of Eternal Kingdom Seminary
P.O. Box 4691, Palm Desert, CA, 92261

Now there is another group that Jesus puts in action. Namely, the two witnesses. They are described in Revelation 11:3+ RSV:

And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy an ‘E’ thousand two hundred threescore days clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

 

The two witnesses are compared to the two olive trees in Zachariah 4:1-14, which seems to associate them with Moses and Elijah, who were anointed in the Old Testament. Only kings and priests were anointed. In the New Testament, Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit, who was sent by God to fulfill all righteousness. Believers were infused with this righteousness through Jesus when they believed and obeyed through baptism. Thus the saints received priestly anointment and were qualified to be the witnesses. In Revelation 1:6 KJV, John is addressing his letter to the saints in Asia and calls them “kings and priests unto God and his Father.” John 14:20 RSV:

In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

Some theologians teach that the Two Witnesses are two individuals. This doesn’t fit the description in the scriptures. If there were only two individuals to do the work, they both would by now be in excess of two ‘E’ thousand years old. The two witnesses are not two individuals. They are a corporate group comprised of saints explaining the Old and New testaments. As the saints leave this earth to go to heaven, new saints will be added to the eternal Kingdom and available for service to proclaim the gospel of the Two Witnesses. Revelation 11: 3 KJV tells us that the Two Witnesses would witness for 1260 days clothed in sackcloth. It doesn’t say they would stop witnessing at the end of that period. The 1260 days is the same period of time from the baptism of Jesus to the cross. Sackcloth is usually worn to commemorate death or the end of an era. The law was established in the Old Testament. The prophets foretold of the coming of the Messiah and the ending of the law. Sackcloth worn during that period confirmed the end of the Mosaic Law. The New Testament witnessed the Messiah had indeed come to earth to fulfill the gospel and establish his eternal Kingdom. The Old and New Testaments are the Two Witnesses. The example of the two olive trees fits into the story of the Two Witnesses. The cultivated tree is the Old Testament and the law. The wild olive tree Is grafted into the original olive tree bringing the gentiles and making the New Testament. Both provide oil for the lamp. The prophecy of Zachariah 4:2-3 LB:

I see a golden lampstand holding seven lamps, and at the top there is a reservoir for the olive oil that feeds the lamps, flowing into them through seven tubes, 3 And I see two olive trees carved upon the lampstand one on each side of the reservoir.

Psalms 119:105: Thy word, Old and New Testaments, is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

WHY I DON’T PREACH ABOUT THE RAPTURE

WHY I DON’T PREACH ABOUT THE RAPTURE

 

 

 

 

Steve McCall
Preaching Minister
Palm Desert, CA

Several years ago, when I was preaching in Kingman, Arizona, an older gentleman began visiting our services. He was a kind and friendly man who always had Bible questions or comments after the sermon. From his demeanor and the depth of his conversations, I could tell he had spent much time in the word of God. After about six months of him attending our services on a regular basis, he approached me at the backdoor of the auditorium, and he said, “I have never heard you preach on the rapture.” He was correct, he had never heard me preach on the rapture, and neither has anyone else. So, let me answer the question, “Why don’t you preach the rapture?”

The simplest answer is because the Bible does not teach the rapture as man understands it. Most who believe in the rapture believe that Jesus is going to just take His faithful followers who are still living when He returns and leave the unfaithful to continue living on this earth. Matthew 24:40, 41 seems to support this theory, 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Standing alone, this passage might lead one to believe that life goes on, less the faithful. The teaching elsewhere in the Bible makes it clear that life will not go on as usual.

Even earlier, just before this passage, Jesus compares His Second Coming to the Great Flood. The first comparison to the Second Coming and the flood is: it will be a surprise to mankind. Peter describes Noah as “a preacher of righteousness”(II Peter 2:5). So, we can safely assume that Noah was warning people about God’s impending judgment. They obviously failed to listen. People are warned today about the Second Coming of Jesus, yet continue in their evil ways, just like in the times of Noah. The second comparison, and one usually overlooked, is the fact that flood destroyed everything not in the ark. When Jesus comes back to claim His own, the world will once again be destroyed, this time by fire. Look at the inspired words of Peter in II Peter 3:1010 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Again, we see the element of surprise, as a thief does not announce his intentions. We see that all on the earth will be destroyed, not merely left behind.

There is no indication HERE that there will be any noticeable time lapse between the final trumpet sound and the destruction of the world. Paul illustrates just how quickly the Second Coming and the destruction of evil will be in his first letter to the Thessalonians. He first describes the calling of the faithful. First the dead then those who are still alive in I Thessalonians 4:16, 1716 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Then he goes on to describe what happens to those who are left, I Thessalonians 5:3-3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. Notice the destruction comes suddenly. There will be no time for wondering where the person beside you might have gone. Paul makes it abundantly clear that there will be no escape from the destruction.

In Revelation 14:14-20, John describes the harvest of earth as he witnessed it in his vision while in exile on Patmos. As John describes this scene, there again is no indication of time lapse between the gathering of the faithful and unfaithful. Notice the text. 14 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one “like a son of man” with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. 17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia. The literary style used in other places in Revelation usually indicates if there is a time period by using terms of time such as days or years. We also need to remember that Revelation was written using terms that only the audience for which it was intended could fully understand and not his captors. John used literary devices used in Hebrew literature such as numbers, symbols and colors that had specific meaning to the Hebrews. When we attempt to interpret these numbers, symbols, and colors in a literal sense, we miss the original meaning of the text and misunderstand what it really says.

The rapture, as taught by those who believe in it, also calls for a third return of Jesus. He came once into the world, born of Mary, to bear the sins of the world and take them to the cross. He will appear a second time to take the saints to their heavenly home. There is no mention in the scriptures of Jesus returning after that. The Hebrew writer states it plainly in Hebrews 9:2828 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. There is no indication that Jesus is going to return more than one more time in order to receive those who might repent after seeing the faithful  taken to heaven.

Jesus Himself refutes the idea of the rapture as taught by men in Matthew 13. Jesus tells the parable of the weeds in Matthew 13:24-3024 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. 

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”  The parable seems straightforward and plain, however, later, the disciples ask Jesus to explain the parable to them. Jesus does in Matthew 13:37-4337 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. We see no one being left behind in this passage. The wicked are destroyed and the righteous are brought into the kingdom of God!

There have many volumes published on the idea of the rapture. They all come under great scrutiny by teachers of truth and their flaws are glaring when put side by side with the truth of God. I have always stated that one can teach anything from the Bible when they try to teach from one or two verses and fail to reveal the context. It is easy to see where the idea of the rapture might originate in scripture by merely looking at one passage (Matthew 24:40, 41). Even at that, there is so much that has to be inferred that it stretches the imagination. Going from “one will be taken and one will be left” to the idea that life goes on and Jesus is going to set up an earthly kingdom for a literal thousand years is a leap that denies so many other scriptures. Jesus doesn’t need to set up an earthly kingdom as He is already the King of kings!

So, back to the original statement “Why I don’t preach about the rapture,” simply because it is a man-made teaching and not from God.

Feel free to comment the author/editor below!

UNDERSTANDING REVELATION 20

UNDERSTANDING REVELATION 20

The binding of Satan is the preface to the vision the apostle John saw at the beginning of Revelation 20.  Let’s review the verses and relate them where applicable to the millennium kingdom.

First of all, Jesus was sending the saints out to preach the gospel of the Kingdom to the world (Matthew 28:16+ RSV), and subsequently, the two witnesses would follow (Revelation 11:1+ RSV).  Jesus tells the disciples (Matthew 24:14 KJV):

And the gospel of the kingdom must be preached to all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

How is Jesus going to arrange this when Satan is out there opposing the saints?  This is where the binding of Satan is required, and we are told by John in his vision in Revelation 20:1-3 RSV:

And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain. V2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, V3 and threw him into the bottomless pit (Abyss) and shut It and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more: till the thousand years were ended.  After that, he must be loosed for a little while.

Please note that Satan was only partially bound, as he was bound to keep him from interfering with the preaching of the gospel.  This was confirmed by 1 Peter 5:8 KJV:

Be sober, be vigilant; because your advisory the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.

John’s vision was of heaven.  Satan was partially bound for a thousand years.  After that, he must be loosed for a little while.  Revelation 20:4-6 RSV continues:

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom judgment was committed.  Also, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. V5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.  V6 Blessed and holy is he who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years.

The souls that John saw were in heaven.  They had mortally died and then spiritually gone on to heaven and were reigning with Christ a thousand years.  These are the souls who had experienced the first resurrection.  The physical death has no power over them, having already died.

In chapter 20, the word thousand is used six times.  Because of its frequent use, the literalist maintains it is used that often to impress the reader that it means a literal thousand years.  That is not necessarily the purpose.  It could well be to draw the reader’s attention to another literal use, which we will further explain.

Revelation 21:25 is telling us about heaven and states there is no time there.  It is a physical surety that a day must have an evening and a morning (Genesis 1:3+; Daniel 8:14).  In heaven, you have no night.  If no night, then no day, then no means of a calendar.  So to assist our literal expositor, I am going to suggest that person might indicate a heavenly period of time by using the term “H thousand” years to express that a heavenly period of time is intended. This would indicate an unknown infinite amount of time.  Likewise, an “E thousand” would indicate an earthly amount of time, which would be a typical calendar designation.

John’s vision of the binding of Satan with a chain and key was allegoric.  How else could you allegorically bind Satan?  One thing Satan uses is sin.  How could we take Satan’s weapon of sin from him?  The good news, it has already been done.  When we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and are baptized for the remission of sins, we are declared righteous, and our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus.  Satan can’t convict us in front of God.  Jesus is right there and tells God this is one of my righteous saints.  In God’s eyes, because of Jesus, we are righteous.  Satan cannot convict us.

Another milestone that was created was the date Satan was bound.  That would be AD 33 when Jesus was crucified.  Also, on that date, the tribulation started.  The binding of Satan is the preface to chapter 20 of Revelation (Ibid, Deceived).  Satan will be bound until Christ returns.

These are the dates the literalists don’t want to talk about.  Why not?   Because the binding of Satan, the beginning of the millennium, and the tribulation, are to them, each a thousand years. They all started in 33 AD.  But if you added a literal thousand to 33 AD, you would be at 1033 AD.  But Mr. Literalist says, “that can’t be.” Why not! Because the time is heavenly and can’t be equated to earthly time, and you want to use it literally.  Also, Mr. Literalist, you are telling me when Christ returns, he is going to commence his millennial kingdom.  This, I am told, will be for a thousand years in Jerusalem.  Jesus will be king and will reign with his Saints.  But wait, don’t forget you are to build a new temple.  This is going to be an interesting time, as the binding of Satan, the beginning of the millennium, and the tribulation all started in 33 AD at the crucifixion of Christ and run concurrently until Christ returns.  This will probably be “H” 100 when their quota is fulfilled.

By the way, it would help if there was supporting scripture for all these machinations.  John’s vision takes place in heaven with Jesus and his saints.  The premillennials have Jesus reigning in the alleged millennial kingdom in Jerusalem at the same time.

THE GREAT TRIBULATION

There are different opinions of the great tribulation.  Probably the most popular one is described by Dr. Merrill Younger of Dallas Theological Seminary.  I quote in part from his bible dictionary, page 1117, published by Moody Press.  “There is a period of unparalleled suffering which, according to premillennial eschatology, will precede the establishment of the future kingdom of Israel.”

Dr. Unger is partly right.  However, the apostle Mark tells us in Mark 9:1 RSV:

Jesus said unto them, “Truly, I say unto you, there are some standing HERE who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”

In Matthew 24:15 KJV, Jesus confirms that the starting of the kingdom is now, and is the same time as the abomination of desolation, as stated by Daniel.  Dr. Unger’s statement that these things spoken by Jesus and Daniel will precede the future establishment of the Kingdom of Israel is not supported by scripture.  The kingdom is spiritual.  It started at Pentecost and will continue until the end (Matthew 28:20 KJV).  There is nothing in these scriptures that supports a future physical Israel.  Nor does the name antichrist appear in the scriptures.

We have now established that the tribulation started at the cross.  The kingdom started at Pentecost, and it is a spiritual kingdom.  Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50).  The Millennium is a physical period, opposed to the kingdom being spiritual (Ibid, Millennium) and also started at the cross.  (This writer uses the “cross-time period” and considers that it includes the time period from the anointing of Jesus to Pentecost.)  So the tribulation started at the cross and will continue to the end, which is the final judgment.  Let’s consider the interim time period.  Revelation 7:9-13 KJV tells us about a great multitude of saints in white robes.  A condensed scriptural version will suffice to give us the information that we require as follows:

“Who are those clothed in white robes, and from whence have they come? “  I said to him, “Sir, you know,” and he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

To summarize, we can safely say that according to the scriptures quoted, the tribulation started at the cross.  It will last to almost final judgment.  The spiritual kingdom of God also started at the cross (Pentecost) and is eternal.  The millennium started at the cross and will end at the final judgment.  Additional saints are continually being added to the kingdom.  When they physically die, they are in their white robes in heaven.

 

WHEN A THOUSAND YEARS IS NOT A THOUSAND YEARS

WHEN A THOUSAND YEARS IS NOT A THOUSAND YEARS


Henry V. Mc Nulty
Author, Founder of Eternal Kingdom Seminary
P.O. Box 4691, Palm Desert, CA, 92261

Henry McNulty spent his early years living in the way of the business world and he is spending the remaining balance “about my Father’s business”.  Accordingly, the last forty odd years have been spent on historic and biblical study into how and why the bible has been modified and misinterpreted in order to deviate from its original message.  McNulty is a native of Southern California and still resides there.

Revelation twenty is a treasure chest of eschatological information. Premillennial theology demands that reference to time, specifically a thousand years, must be taken literally. For reference, we will quote an article in “Got Questions. Org” dated 8/27/2020 as follows:

The millennial kingdom is the title given to the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ on the earth. Some seek to interpret the 1,000 in an allegorical manner. They understand the 1,000 years as merely a figurative way of saying “a long period of time,” not a physical reign of Jesus Christ on the earth. However, six times in Revelation 20:2-7, the millennial kingdom is specifically said to be 1,000 years in length. If God wished to communicate a “long period of time”, He could have done so without explicity and repeatedly mentioning an exact time frame.

Now, returning to the thousand years, as we on earth understand it, there is no time in heaven. How do we know? The Bible tells us there is no night there. (Revelation 21:25/22:5). Jesus is the eternal light. Conversely, we know that on earth there is a morning and evening each twenty four hour day. In Genesis 1:5 we are told the evening and the morning were the first day. This was repeated for the remaining balance of days in the week. Daniel 8:14 RSV tells us that there are, two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings in the prophecy, to make up the twenty three hundred days. Any student will agree there is no measurable time in heaven. However on earth, the sun maintains a twenty four hour rhythm, so we have a morning and evening for every day. For means of clarity let’s use H thousand for infinite heavenly time. Then we can use E thousand for an earthly indication of time.

There are some theologians who insist that, the thousand years in Revelation chapter twenty, means a long amount of unknown time. Others opine you must take it literally. Their problem is that no one seems to provide ample proof. Perhaps both sides of the controversy should revisit their grade school physics class for a better understanding. This is not an opinion to be debated, but actual physical facts.

While you have your Bibles open, and are pondering chapter twenty, let’s consider what some Bibles tell us.   The Revised Standard Version (RSV) and New International Version (NIV) preface chapter twenty with “The Binding of Satan”. Indeed that is true. Satan is partially bound for a H thousand years. Please note that I said a H thousand years. This is a heavenly infinite amount of time. Also I said partially bound. Let me explain what I mean by being partially bound.

Revelation 20:1-3 tells us Satan is bound so he can deceive the nations no more. It doesn’t say he is totally bound. In fact, in 1st Peter 5:8 KJV tells us; “Be sober be vigilant ; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

But what is he bound from? Satan is bound so he can’t keep the saints from teaching the gospel as described in Matthew 28:19+. Some call this the great commission. This same binding would also allow the two witnesses to fulfill their mission. The two witnesses are discussed in an additional article anon.

In Luke 10:1+ KJV, Jesus appoints seventy disciples and sends them out to preach the gospel. When they return, they tell Jesus even the devils are subject unto us through your name. Jesus responds rejoice not, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

We are still in Revelation twenty and discussing a thousand years. Some theologians are telling us that millennium is Latin for a thousand. Accordingly, we can use the term millennium instead of a thousand. Therefore, millennium can mean either a literal thousand and/or a thousand years. Somehow the appendage “years” became optional. But why the confusion when millennium isn’t even in the Bible. Why not let God’s word stand as written as a thousand years.

Let’s proceed with the partial binding of Satan. If we review Revelation 20:1-3, we can visualize the description of the angel coming from heaven with a key and chain to bind Satan. This is obviously a word picture to symbolize the binding of Satan and not a literal means. I will suggest another way we could figuratively bind Satan. We all know that Satan’s best weapon is sin. If we could take away Satan’s weapon of sin he would be bound. But how could we do that? Good news! It has already been done. It was at the cross when Jesus died for those who believed and obeyed. The blood of Jesus made the believers sinless.

The binding of Satan was done at the cross in circa 33 AD, and the premillennials say you must take the thousand years literally. Then the time of the premillennial calendar ran out in 1033AD. But I am reminded that we are discussing an H thousand years, which is infinite. And so it is.

Using scripture, previously specified such as Luke 1:32-33, to establish that Christ is going to return to earth and will establish himself as king (scripture reference?) in Jerusalem is nonsense. The same scriptures used to support those facts refute them. I.E., Jesus will spiritually occupy the throne of God and David in heaven forever. Jerusalem is not mentioned. Christ doesn’t need to return to earth to establish his heavenly kingdom. Referring to Isaiah 66:1 LB as follows should remove any doubt:

Heaven is my throne and the earth my footstool; what temple can you build for me as good as that?

Blessings

What is Eternal Kingdom Seminary

   Author, Henry V. Mc Nulty

Dear reader this is the first article of a series to be released on the internet by the Eternal Kingdom Seminary.

Many of our associates have expressed the desire to have their articles published. Accordingly we have initiated a process whereby unsolicited articles of our associates, and others, will be  reviewed by their peers, edited by our staff, then released to our web site for publication.

All articles will have the author(s) identified by name and picture. Unless, for security or personal reasons, a nom de plume will be substituted. In any event readers will be able to challenge or correct the specific author(s) via E mail. The Eternal Kingdom Seminary is undenominational. All articles must be scripturally or historically supported.

We anticipate we will have a new article on our web site bi monthly. We also anticipate there will be comments which we solicit for our edification. This article and succeeding ones are intended to render a brief, complete, accurate and scripturally supporting message. Most of all we trust that the reader will be educated and not indoctrinated as he ponders the information.

Blessings


NOTICE:  Eternal Kingdom Seminary (EKS) welcomes submissions from interested ministers, preachers, evangelists and others who are new inspired authors to submit an article for publishing on our web site. You will be working with our editorial staff who will fashion your article into the industry standard for publication. Interested?

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