The Last Days ...For Parents?

by Steve Jaunay - June 1998

This article is an excerpt from a dissertation being presented towards a Bachelor of Science (Religious Education) through New Covenant International University in Auckland. The topic is "Generational Missiology - Transforming Culture Through Nurturing Fatherhood." This abridged section deals with the aspect of doctrine that affects our day to day living, particularly as parents. We only live once, it is a short life, we spend a very short time having influence over our children, and we waste much time on things of little value for eternity. I pray that anyone (for most of us are parents at some stage), is challenged by the ideas contained here.

Scriptural Basis for the Theme

You have just been told that you have three days to live! Just three days. What would change? What would you do differently? Would your routine be different tomorrow? Why? Is some of what you do a waste of time? Would you input into others' lives more dynamically? Conversely, if you were told at the age of seventy-five that you had another twenty-five years to live, expecting only five, what would change? Our perception of the future affects how we live in the present. For the Christian, our perception of the future - how much time there is left for this world - affects how we live. More specifically, our perception of the future, that is our "end-time" doctrine, radically affects our attitude towards our children. There is the need to have a sound doctrinal basis for believing that there is time for our children's children to live out their lives in service to the King. If we realized the consequences of having a long-term generational vision for our children, and that this vision could be an actuality, rather than cut short by an imminent event, then our day-to-day lifestyle would change. Our plans and priorities that affect our children would change. Yet many of us are living for ourselves, hoping that our personal goals could be fulfilled before Jesus returns - while our children simply pick up the same attitude. The scriptural injunction to parents for the nurturing of children, is a priority that affects every aspect of our lifestyle. A general examination of the scriptures that relate to our duty as parents, reveals that whatever our vocation, we are working for God - and we have an injunction from God towards our children. I would give specific encouragement to see this duty as being applicable cross-culturally, and cross-vocationally. The latter term makes no distinction between an overseas missionary and the local plumber, between the local church preacher and the accountant. A change in thinking however, with regard to "the last days", can intensify this sense of parental duty under God.

There must be, in any discourse, a mutual agreement to adhere to Scripture as a reference point, and to guidelines for interpretation. Without this, anything can and will be thought and practiced. For the purpose of agreeing with God's will, we must choose to accept the Bible as His infallible Word, applicable across cultures and generations, and its interpretation based on certain guidelines. (See Appendix 1 & 2)

Part A :

A Scriptural Injunction to Parents

This section is not intended to be a manual on how to be an effective parent. It is rather an attempt to strengthen or sow, a vision for the future, to seek to identify the reader with the heart of God towards the next generations. We begin by looking at the father of the faithful, Abraham. If we look at why God chose him to be the progenitor of nations, and the spiritual father of the whole Christian church, we see an amazing perception by God, of Abraham's heart. In Genesis 18:19, we read: For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. In order to achieve the mission, God needed someone who would be sure to teach his children - no, command his children, so that they would keep the way of the Lord. Not someone with charisma, personality and leadership skills necessarily, but someone who saw the importance of generational missions, so much so that he would command his children to walk in the ways of the Lord. This forms the basis for the focus of our parental injunction from God. It is not enough in the context of generational missions to be a good parent for today, and for our children. We must see beyond to our children's children's children. It may be a characteristic of Western culture, but we seem to be very focussed on our own personal goals and ambitions. Though many Christians seek to be good parents under God, there has been lacking from our fathers, and the church leadership, a sound teaching, and at times a good example, of generational parenting. Yet this element is contained in the very essence of our worship - our obedience, and our stewardship of the commandments of God. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deut.6:5-7) Another approach to examine our degree of dedication to this generational injunction is to see how much we have really given our lives to our children. The scriptures are clear that the greatest degree of love is shown by laying down our life for others.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) It surely is a challenge to live like this. There are many dedicated people serving God, truly dead to selfish ambition. But there is a great need for us to recognize that the opportunity to practice this is right here in our own homes. Our children are to be sent on a mission too. And their children also. But this will only happen as we truly recognize that children are a gift from the Lord for His purposes. The Bible likens them to arrows - not just to be sent geographically, but sent generationally: Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward. As arrows [are] in the hand of a mighty man; so [are] children of the youth. Happy [is] the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. (Psalms 127:3-5) They are God's reward, God's inheritance, and God's instrument against His enemies. Look at the understanding of this generational concept as found in Psalm 78 : Give ear, O my people, [to] my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide [them] from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know [them, even] the children [which] should be born; [who] should arise and declare [them] to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments. (Psa.78:1-7)

Our ways of thinking and acting need to be brought into line with scripture, perhaps more in the area of generational parenting than any other area. "A preoccupation with the wisdom of man overshadows one's discoveries of the wisdom of God ... never so apparent as it is within the Christian parenting community."1 In the context of ineffective leadership on the mission field, this author states that he was "burdened by the thought of unfinished business - had he done all he could for those he was training - would they operate with better success after he had gone?" Then he was challenged by the same thought with his children: "Had I done all I could to raise my children in the words and ways of the Lord?2 The enemy seeks to undermine the purposes of God through destroying our vision for our children, and robbing our authority over them, and the institutions of the world are working hard on Satan's behalf to do just that: "Parents are not recognized as having equal rights or equality under new UN inspired legislation." 3 The enemy realizes more than many Christians, the power of generational parenting, the power of putting in to practice what Psalm 78 says. Why? The result will be that many people, up to four generations away, will set their hope in God. The result of the neglect of parental duty to any society - and we see it now - is simply a curse from God, and brings a curse to society. "And he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." (Mal.4:6)

Part B :

The Doctrinal Issue of The Last Days

Introduction

This section seeks to expose the relevance and true meaning of the Biblical term - the last days. As mentioned in the introduction, how we view tomorrow affects what we do today. And much of Christendom has been entrenched in a dispensational, and self-centered save-me-from-the-hard-times-to-come doctrine for just over a century. A doctrine that was in fact not embraced by the Reformers such as Calvin, Wesley, Finney, and Booth, nor the New Testament church. Within the time framework of Math. 24:1-34, while the disciples were marveling at the temple, the following events were prophesied: - wars, famine, earthquakes, etc. (vs. 6, 7) - persecution, false prophets, iniquity, (vs.9-12) - this gospel of the kingdom preached in all the world - false prophets and false Christs (vs.11,24) - then shall the end come (vs.14) - the "abomination of desolation" (vs.15) - great tribulation (vs.21) There follows an examination of some terminology and words, which are used liberally today, which form the basis of a worldview which has robbed Christians of the vision God has for their children, and for generations to come. The concepts to be examined are : "Judgement" - In relation to the closing of the Old Covenant with Israel. "This Generation" - in relation to Jesus' words in Matthew 24:34. "Tribulation" - as found in Matthew 24. "Shortly" - a term used throughout scripture, but especially in the book of Revelation. "All the World" - in relation to the commission of spreading the gospel "The Last Days" - a widely used term that is misunderstood "The End of the Age" "Signs in Heaven" "The Abomination of Desolation" - these three in relation to "the last days" and Mat.24

Judgement

The central passage of scripture to look at, is Matthew chapter 24. In context, in chapter 21, Jesus upbraids the Pharisees for being poor husbandmen of God's vineyard, for rejecting the Cornerstone, the Messiah. In chapter 23, they are called fools, hypocrites, blind, serpents, generation of vipers! Jesus pronounces judgement on them: ...ye are the children of them that killed the prophets..That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth.. (v. 31,35,36) Jesus wept over Jerusalem, He longed, grieved and ached for His people to respond but they would not : O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killest the prophets, and stoned them which are sent to you, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not! (Math.23:37) The finality of His judgement is spoken: Behold your house is left unto you desolate.(v38) They themselves pronounced their own judgement. (Mat. 27:25) Then answered all the people, and said, His blood [be] on us, and on our children.

This Generation

In Matthew 24: 3, after Jesus prophesies the destruction of the temple, the disciples ask three questions;

• (i) When shall these things be? (The destruction of the Jerusalem temple - that is, judgement)
• (ii) What shall be the sign of thy coming?
• (iii) And of the end of the world?

Jesus answers their questions, then says in verse 34 and 35; Verily I say unto you, this generation ( 'genea')4 shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away. Note also that the Pharisees confirmed their own judgement when at the public "trial" of Jesus, they declared... His blood be upon us and upon our children. (Math.27:25) So it can be clearly seen that there is a severe judgement of God's people, in particular His representatives in Jerusalem that rejected Him. And Jesus gives an indication of the time that this would come by answering the disciples' question: When shall these things be? Verily ...this generation (the people now living) shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled. There is a commonly held belief that all cataclysmic events are happening in the contemporary generation. The rule of defining words consistently and accurately is broken if the meaning of the words "this generation" is stretched considerably to mean 2000 years late. Some other scriptures that indicate a finality of judgement to that generation: 1) Paul, (speaking of the Jews) ..killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us,...forbidding us to speak... for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. (1 Thess.2:15,16) 2) ... because a short (concise, speedy) work will the Lord make upon the earth. (Rom.9:28) 3) ...that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (Heb,6:8) 4) ...of how much sorer punishment (than those that despised Moses' law) shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant an unholy thing... the Lord shall judge His people. (Heb.10:29,30)

Scriptures indicate a severe judgement of the people of God, the Jews in Jerusalem, reflected in the total destruction of the temple, it's system of worship, and a purging of the city, before the generation then living would pass. A study of secular history can confirm this. (See Appendix 4) Other words that could possibly have been used instead of "genea" are, ethos, genos, or aion.5 If He really meant the period of time from when He spoke until 2000 years later, then He would have used the word "aion" as a more accurate way of communicating. 6

Tribulation

Within the time framework of Math.24:1-34 also is the mention of "tribulation". According to the writings of the historian Josephus, a time of terrible tribulation occurred in Jerusalem, in which about 1.1 million Jews died through shocking disease and famine, and war caused blood to literally flow in the streets; in the few years prior to about 70 AD , about 1. 5 million people in Israel were slain. This time of distress could be what Daniel describes in chapter 12, vs.1 ..a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time. The following verse there in Daniel speaks of a resurrection, which may relate to Math. 27:52, And the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints which slept arose.7 According to the little we have of secular historical records, those things prophesied in Mathew 24 listed above could have easily been fulfilled then: * The Bible records worldwide famine in Acts 11:28. * Secular historical records refer to earthquakes in Pompei, AD 63, in Asia, AD 60. * Wars and anarchy throughout the vast Roman and British empires in AD 55-61. * The Bible says that anti-christs are those that deny the Father and the Son (lJoh.2:22). They are deceivers that confess not that Jesus is come in the flesh, and have already entered the world (1 Jn.4:3, 2 Jn.7). * Caligula (37-41 AD), a Roman Emperor who claimed deity and required sacrifices to himself. * Nero (54-68 AD) persecuted Christians, claimed his own deity, erected statues and required worship of himself, and many of his own referred to him as 'the beast'. (A f alse Christ is one who stands in the stead of Him, one who claims deity, to be anointed, and is not.) * Generally, research has revealed that each of the appostles was martyred for the faith, along withmany thousands of others. Do you face the same "tribulation"?

Shortly

The Bible is a whole book. No part can be looked at without considering the whole message of God 's dealing with His people, the gospel of redemption, and His whole plan for mankind, and purpose of the church. The word "shortly" is important because our understanding of this word's use in Revelation affects our attitude to the element of judgement on the apostate nation of Israel, the passing of an old covenant system, and the introduction of a new covenant system. Our thinking and our vision, and consequently our motivation and attitudes to all that we do in the here and now, are affected. The words "shortly" or "quickly" are used throughout Revelation, indicating the time period in which those events described occur. Part of the process of the establishing of the kingdom of God must include the judgement of the powers of darkness and vengeance on the disobedient. It is with this consideration, in view of the judgement on Jerusalem that Jesus warns of, recorded in three of the gospels, that some of Revelations' passages come into focus. A brief look at the examples in Appendix 5 will show to any scholar of integrity that the events of Revelation were imminent to the time of its writing.

All the world

In the light of what we have studied about the time-frame of Mathew 24, it is now interesting to look at this phrase; this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Math.24:14) (Agabus) ...signified by the spirit that there should be a great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar (Acts 11:28) ..These that have turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6) (the goddess Diana) ... whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. (Acts 19:27) Paul speaks of the Roman Christians... your faith is spoken of throughout all the world. (Rom.1:8) (the preaching of the gospel) ... went into all the earth, and their words unto the end of the world Rom.10:18 [This verse was the fulfillment of Jesus' words in Math.24:14.]8

Also worth mentioning is the concept of the phenomena of the existence of true Christian gospel roots in every main culture on earth9. Through looking at historical records, and the study of the various religious cultures of the world we find that even the most remote, isolated pagan cultures have had sown into them from the beginning the seeds of the gospel of Christ. God's message of eternal salvation through the sacrificial death and outpoured blood of the Lamb had been sown into "all the world".

The Last Days

The prophet Joel prophesied the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost: And it shall come to pass afterward , that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy ... (Joel 2:28) This verse can we know with certainty refers to that day because Peter tells us so: But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, l will pour out my spirit on all flesh ... ( Acts 2:16,17) This is quite a simple connection, yet so often I hear these verses used to relate to a contemporary local revival. When Jesus was glorified, the Spirit was released to all who believe from that time on. Receiving the Holy Spirit is not dependent on time or space, but on the believing heart of man toward God. The Spirit is a "down-payment" of an already purchased possession. ..after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1: 14)

The End of the Age

God's purpose has always been to have a people to represent Him, who would be a blessing to all nations, as contained in the Abrahamic covenant. Abraham's descendents, the nation of Israel were to be that people, to keep His laws and demonstrate to the nations the glory and power of God. "..all the prophets from Samuel ... have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindred of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning every one of you from his iniquities." (Peter speaking) (Acts3:24-26) But His own people had continually rejected Him ; "..this is the stone which was set at naught by you builders.." (Acts4:11) Then Saul, God's dynamic servant, was brought into the scene, for a specific purpose ...to bear my name before the Gentiles.." (Acts9:15) Later, others saw God's purpose unfolding; ...then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. (Acts11:18) The gospel message was taken to a bringing in of the another people as there was a disannulling of the Old Covenant and New. It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. (Acts13:46) For on the one hand there is a disannulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness. (Heb.7:18) And so God's purposes from the beginning are brought into being in the form of a New Covenant, as prophesied by Jeremiah ; Behold the days come, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel ... I will put my law in their inward parts... and they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, saith the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more. (Jer.31:31-33) He taketh away the first that He may establish the second. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. (Heb.10:9) This was truly the beginning of a new era, in which the heavenly veil that separated all men from God was torn; Having therefore brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh, and having an high priest over the house of God, Let us draw near with a full assurance of faith. (Heb.10:19-22) This is why Joel prophecies, and why Peter refers to that time as "the last days". They were the last days of an old era, and of an old covenant. But they were the threshold of a new era, a new age, a new covenant. Perhaps this is why Jesus said: "..The kingdom of God is at hand (near, close).." (Math.4:17) The cross was a pivotal time in the history of man, and of Israel "..Jesus once in the end of the world (aion = age) sanctified Himself.." (Heb.9:26) It was the time of the judgement of Israel, the closing of the Old Covenant, the end of the Judaistic religion, and the beginning of the New Covenant. The final part of this change was the judgement of Israel by the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. Just prior to the final overthrow of Jerusalem, the army of Cestius withdrew their war efforts.10 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thess.5:3)

Perhaps this is why Jesus said :".... let them which be in Judea flee to 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 ... woe to them with child ... pray that your flight be not in winter. (Math.24:16-20)

Signs in Heaven

There is a correlation between the signs in heaven mentioned in Matthew 24, and those found in Revelation11, and the Old Testament prophets. The fact that these signs occurred prior to the destruction of Jerusalem, within the time period of "this generation" (Mat.24:34), can be seen in the following passages of scripture. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven .... they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven... and (his angels) shall gather His elect from the f our winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (vs.29-31) Peter confirms to us that these signs happened then: And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath, blood and fire and vapor of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come. (Acts 2:19,20) The following passages also point to this event : * Howl ye for the day of the Lord is at hand, it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty ... the stars shall not give their light, the sun shall be darkened.... the moon shall not cause her light to shine." 12 (Is.13:6-10) * ... the sun became black... the moon became as blood... the stars of heaven fell ... the great day of his wrath is come." (Rev.6:12-17) * "Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; prepare war ... let the heathen be wakened ... put ye in the sickle for the harvest is ripe ... multitudesin the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The Lord shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem. (Joel 3:9-16) * ... the end is come upon my people of Israel...I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day. (Amos3:2,9)

The context of this is unarguably what is referred to as the "last days" on that day of Pentecost. They pronounced their own coming judgement ("His blood be upon us!), and it was to be in that generation. In three of the gospels, it is recorded that Jesus specifically warns His people, (Mathew24, Mark14, Luke21), Peter reiterates it in his address on the day of Pentecost, and John sees it again in Revelation.13

The Abomination of Desolation

This term's importance is reflected in the fact that it was mentioned by Jesus, as recorded again in three parallel Gospel passages. For instance, Mathew 24, verse 15,16 : When ye shall therefore see the abomination of desolation14, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place ...then let him who is in Judea flee... If Jesus refers to "the abomination of desolation" within the timeframe of that generation, then Daniel's prophecies are easier to understand.15 The writings of Josephus also refer to this spiritually cataclysmic time16 The significance of this event here described, and the profound effect on the Jews who attended the temple in those days can not be over-estimated. It can be seen why the events that Jesus describes in Mathew 24 are so important, and why those believing Jews at the time needed to pay particular attention to the warning signs. If the Bible's themes and events are to support one another, we have another picture of the first-fruits of the Israelites, those "which are alive and remain"; all this at the time of the judgement of Israel as a nation, and the end of God's recognition of the use of Judaistic law.

Conclusion

The inclusion of this brief examination of the scriptures around this theme is based on the conviction that the essence of what we believe affects our day to day living. In particular, there is a profound difference in attitudes toward children when doctrines relating to the near future are capable of such diversity. It is my conviction that commonly held beliefs that relate to contemporary times have diversified so much as to be erring considerably from the truth, as contained plainly in scripture. This is particularly important for children because they are the ones to whom is passed the baton of righteousness and truth .. or error. They are the ones who must continue to build upon the foundation that their fathers laid. There is no other way ordained of God that the Word of truth is to be passed on - from person to person. We have the written Word, but we have the Word spoken too. Who shall tell how great God is? Fathers shall tell their children ... ...showing the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength, and the wonderful works that He has done. (Ps.78:4)

Appendix 1

To clarify the author's worldview, and the perspective of Scriptures, the following is included as "articles of faith".

* God is Creator of heaven and earth, things visible and invisible, the Sustainer and ruler over all creation, including man. * He is the source of all wisdom and knowledge * He is one God, eternally existent as three persons, the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. * The Bible is the inspired Word of God, infallible and authoritative. * Man was created in the image of God, but through disobedience, or sin, has lost his original glory and relationship with God. * He is utterly powerless to restore himself to his original state. * Only through the belief and acceptance of the finished work of Christ at the cross, can man be redeemed from his corrupt state. * The outward act of water baptism, as a sign of inner conviction of sin, and acceptance of the above, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, constitute what the Bible calls being "born again", to facilitate entry into the kingdom and family of God. * The Holy Spirit is given to those who ask, to lead the individual into a closer relationship with God, through a process of regeneration of the soul, and to empower the individual for the work that God gives. * The Church is the Body of Christ, the family of God, and comprises all those who through faith accept the work of Christ, and the consequential regeneration of the Holy Spirit, and seek to fulfill the mandates of God as expressed in the Word of God.

Appendix 2

Guiding Principles for the Interpretation of Scripture

1. Principle of DEFINITION: The definition of words does not change, the plain meaning of words is employed consistently.

2. Principle of USAGE: The Bible must be regarded as written to the Jew first, Jesus used words that were in common usage, and the New Testament was written in a common Greek language.

3. Principle of CONTEXT: No passage can be understood correctly without consideration of the words that come before and after it.

4. Principle of HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: The understanding of history and events surrounding a passage of Scripture is vital to a correct interpretation of the passage.

5. Principle of LOGIC: One of the most firmly established principles of law in England and America applies equally strictly to the Scriptures. "A law means exactly what it says, and is to be interpreted exactly as it reads" (R.A.Torrey) The Scriptures above all else make logical sense.

6. Principle of PRECEDENT: If a principle or doctrine or word usage has been established, it cannot be violated by inventing another meaning at a later time.

7. Principle of UNITY: No part of a document can be interpreted without reference to the significance of the whole. The Bible has one message and does not contradict itself.

8. Principle of INFERENCE: Inference is a fact reasonably implied from another fact. It is a logical consequence, a process of reasoning. Jesus used this principle in proving the resurrection from the dead to the Sadducees (Mt.22:31-32).

(Credit to Ralph Cullen's "Foundation, Kingdom and Church Life Studies",1990 / Life Foundations 1998)

Appendix 3

Hebrew And Greek Words Used in the Study

Hebrew/Greek words used in the study of the scriptures, their meanings and dictionary trace, Strongs Concordance numbers, and pronunciation

genea [1074] gen-eh-ah' : from (a presumed der. of) 1085; a generation: by impl. an age (the period or the persons) : -age, generation, nation, time. occurs 37 times, all meaning a single generation, never a time period as such, e.g.: "the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations." (Mat.1:17) "O faithless generation.." (Mark 9:19) "David served his own generation.." (Acts13:36) genos [1085] -born, country, diversity, generation, kind (-red), nation, offspring, stock ethnos [1484] (used 24 times),about two-thirds translated 'Gentiles', the rest translated 'nations' literally meaning ; a race, by implication - pagan.

aion : [165] ahee-ohn' age, a period of time, course, eternal, (for) ever, (n-) ever, (beginning of the, while the) world (began, world without end)

tachus :[5036] takh-oos' shortly, of uncert. affinity; fleet i.e. (fig.) prompt or ready, swift a list of occurrences of the word "shortly", seven Greek words coded in Strong's concordance #5030 to 5036 incl. are used rendering the following words in English:

All have their root in 5036 found for example in James 1:19 let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak.

[5031] tachinos : curt, impending [5032] tachion : (more-) swiftly, rapidly [5033] tachista : most quickly, i.e. as soon as possible [5034] tachos : a brief space of time, in haste [5035] tachu : without delay, soon, or (by surprise) suddenly, readily

Examples of the word usage And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Rom.16:20 I will come to you shortly if the Lord will I Cor.4:19 (to Peter in prison) Arise up quickly! Acts 2:7 (to Paul Jesus said) Make haste and get thee out of Jerusalem quickly Acts 22:18 Then in Rev.l:l, by way of introduction: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass... ..then eight times during this book, this word or derivative is used, ...quickly ...I will come unto thee quickly. 2:5 ...I will come unto thee quickly. 2:16 ...Behold I come quickly. 3:11 ...the third woe cometh quickly. 11:14 ...things which must shortly be done. 22:6 ...Behold I come quickly.. 22:7 ...behold I come quickly.. 22:12 ...Surely I come quickly.. 22:20

Appendix 4

The Writings of Josephus

By the details prior to this text the time period can be ascertained to be about 65-67 AD, leading up to the siege of Jerusalem.

A: Descriptions of the wars affecting the Jerusalem and Judea (ref.p.16) ... insomuch that in one hour's time above twenty thousand Jews were killed, and all Caesarea was emptied of its Jewish inhabitants." (Chapter 18,part 1) ...it was then common to see cities filled with dead bodies, still lying unburied, and those of old men, mixed with infants, all dead, and scattered about together,- women also lay amongst them, without any covering for their nakedness: you might then see the whole province full of inexpressible calamities... (part 2) ...In Scythopolis, the people came to distrust certain Jews who had aligned themselves with them (the Romans) for their own safety, and so sent them out to a certain grove... ...and when they had done as they were commanded, without suspecting anything, the people of Scythopolis lay still for two days to tempt them to be secure, but on the third night ... cut all their throats, some as they lay unguarded, some as they were sleeping. The number slain was above thirteen thousand. " (part 3) ... those of Askelon slew two thousand five hundred, .. of Ptolemais two thousand ... those of Tyre also put a great number to death ... of Hippos and Gadara did the like.." (part 5)

B : Blood overflowing in the streets (referring to p17, footnote) ..these soldiers rushed violently into that part of the city which was called Delta, where the Jewish people lived together, ... no mercy was shown to the infants, and no regard had to the aged, but they went on in the slaughter of persons of every age, till all the place was overflowed with blood, and fifty thousand of them lay dead upon heaps.. (part 8) ..Cestius sent part of his army before him to Joppa,... the soldiers fell upon them, and slew them all, with their families, ... the number of the slain was eight thousand four hundred. (part 10) "..some few (seditious and robbers), concealed themselves in places hard to come at, among the mountains, while the rest, above two thousand in number, were slain. (part 11)

C : A resurrection (ref.p17, footnote 5) ...a few days after that feast, on the first day of the month Artemisius, a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared; I suppose the account of it would seem a fable, were it not related by those who saw it, and were not the events that followed it of so considerable nature as to deserve such signals; for before sunsetting, chariots and troops of soldiers were seen in their armor running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities. Moreover at that feast which we call Pentecost, as the priests were going by night into the temple, as their custom was, to perform their sacred ministrations, they said that in the first place they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise, and after that they heard a sound as of a great multitude, saying "let us remove hence". (Bk.6,Ch.5,part3)

D : War efforts withdrawn (p22, footnote 8) ...he (Cestius) came into the upper city ... and pitched against the royal palace; and had he but at this very time attempted to get within the walls by force ...the war would have been put to an end at once... ...the wicked part of the city gave ground, thither did they come, and to admit Cestius as their benefactor who, had he but continued the siege a little longer, had certainly taken the city, but it was I suppose, owing to the aversion God had already ...that he was hindered from putting an end to the war that very day ...so he recalled his soldiers ...and retired from the city without any reason in the world. (Bk.2,Chapt.19,part 4,6,7)

E : The abomination of desolation (p25, footnote 14) Titus gave orders ...to dig up the foundations of the tower, for he had been informed on that very day ...the sacrifice called "The Daily Sacrifice" had failed ...and the people were grievously troubled at it. (Bk.6,Chapt.2,part1) the Romans, on the flight of the seditious into the city, and upon the burning of the holy house itself, and of all the buildings round about it, brought their ensigns into the temple, and set them over against the eastern gate, and there they did offer sacrifices to them. [The footnote here declares that the entire religion of the Roman camp consisted in worshipping the ensigns, and in preferring the ensigns before all gods] (Bk.6,Chapt.6,part1)

F : Signs in heaven (from appendix 6) Now there was then a great number of false prophets suborned by the tyrants to impose upon the temple, who denounced this to them, that they should wait for deliverance from God ... thus were the miserable people persuaded by these deceivers ...they did not attend, nor give credit to the signs that were so evident and did so plainly foretell their future desolation; but like men infatuated, without either eyes to see, or minds to consider, did not regard the denunciations that God made to them. Thus there was a star resembling a sword, which stood over the city, and a comet that continued a whole year, when the people were come in great crowds to the feast of unleavened bread, at about the ninth hour of the night, so great a light shone about the altar and the holy house that it appeared to be bright day time ... a few days after the feast, a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared ... before sunsetting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities. (Bk.6,Chapt.5,part2,3)

From: "The Works of Josephus", tranl. by W. Whiston, 5th. printing published by Hendrickson Publishers, Ma.,USA, 1985 Appendix 5

Signs in Heaven

The purpose of this appendix is to explain the meanings and implications of the signs, and to specifically show the correlation between main occurrences of the signs in the Old Testament prophets, in the gospels, (spec. Matthew 24), and in the book of Revelation. The reader is encouraged to read the scripture references, which are too numerous here to be included. In Rev.5, only Jesus is found to be worthy to open the book and loose the seven seals. The following is a summary of those seven seals, and their related parallel passages.

Seven Seals

Seven Trumpets

i) judgement

ii) judgement of Jerusalem & removal of Israelite believers i) 9:13 to 10:11 ii) 11:1-14 7) kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of God & Christ nations angry, God's wrath total triumph and victory of Christ 11:15-19

Appendix 6

The Abomination of Desolation

Consider these two passages ; But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: Mark 13:14 (pp. Math. 24:15)

>From the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away to the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand, two hundred and ninety days. (Dan.12: 11)

(The reader is encouraged to view Appendix 4, part E, referring to this event.)

Jesus foretells a time, within the passing away of that generation, when the "abomination of desolation" will stand in the holy place. So we can retract back time-wise 1290 days. [The Hebrew sacred calendar after the exile was made up of 12 months per year, each month 29 and one half days, a lunar month, beginning with the month Nisan (March-April) . Every three years, there would be an intercalary month.] So 1290 days was 42 months (three and a half years - often referred to as "time, times, and half a time) , a specific time to watch for coming judgement, counting from when the daily sacrifice ceases, to the "abomination of desolation" standing in the holy place. The understanding of this must begin with the basis of Jesus' words in the gospels giving us a clear time-frame for the phenomena of : 1. The destruction of the temple 2.The signs of His coming (the ceasing of the daily sacrifice, & the abomination of desolation) 3.The end of that age (era and old covenant)

So we have a time-line where basically at the beginning we have these events:

daily sacrifice taken away "midst of the week" (Dan.9:27) sacrifice to cease

The time period in between is three and one half years: (Dan.12:11 = 1290 days)

Rev.11:2,Lu-21:24; holy city trodden underfoot 42 months Rev.11:3 ..two witnesses prophecy 1260 days Rev.12:14 woman nourished for a time, times, half a time Dan. l2:7 till the end of these wonders, time, times, and half a time

And at the end of that period: abomination of desolation (Anybody want to disagree with Jesus?) The destruction of the temple, and Jerusalem, the end of the Old Covenant AD70

Other information relating to this is: (Daniel 9:24-27)

from the commandment to restore, to Messiah 7 and 62 weeks Messiah is cut off, after 62 weeks he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week

1 "Christian Parenting in the Information Age" by Dennis and Dawn Wilson, Trichord Pub.,1996, p42.

2 "Kingdom Partnerships for Synergy Missions", ed. William D. Taylor, World Evangelistic Fellowship Missions Commission, 1994, p116

3 "Assault on Childhood", Alan Gourley, Veritas Pub., 1986, p10

4 see Appendix 3

5 See Appendix 3

6 The word genea is to be distinguished from aion, as not denoting a period of unlimited duration [Vine's Exposotory Dictionary,p42]

7 (Consider the writings of the historian Josephus in Appendix 4, particularly part C)

8 The word for "world" in these phrases is not the same word used in Mathew 24:3 when the disciples asked Jesus about the end of the "world". The correct rendering here for "world" is age, (Gk.: aion) meaning a span of time.

9 "Eternity in their Hearts" Don Richardson, Regal Books, 1981

10 There is an exact description of this in the writings of Josephus, Appendix 4, part D

11 See Appendix 5 for more details

12 This passage's context is the destruction of Babylon, which speaks also of the destruction of the worldly idolatrous religious order that is also a subject in Revelations; here we can symbolize, for at the time of the writing of Revelations, Babylon didn't exist in the physical world and is personified as a harlot, committing fornication. (Rev. 14: 8,17: 5)

13 Remembering that the book of Revelation is primarily a book of prophecy and warning of judgement to Israel, to His servants, of things which must shortly come to pass. "The revelation of Jesus Christ... to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass...Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand (near).,, (1:1-3)

14 The term "abomination of desolation" literally means, "the thing which causes such loathing and disgust in God as to bring instant and swift desolation or waste" abomination- bdelugma, from bdeo (to stink), specifically referring to idolatry. desolation - eremosis, to lay waste, make desolate, from ereemos, a desert.

15 The time-f rame of the phenomena of "the abomination of desolation", and the ceasing or the taking away of the "daily sacrifice" are addressed in detail in Appendix 6 16 See Appendix 4, p3 1

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