COVENANT MINDED MINISTRIES

The Abomination of Desolation 

Daniel 9:27 references the Antichrist confirming a covenant with Israel, and in the middle of the tribulation period (3 1/2) years into it, he breaks the covenant by commiting an abomination of desolation against the living God.

And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. (Daniel 11:31)

“And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. (Daniel 12:11)

The Great Apostasy

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, (2nd Thessalonians 2:1)

not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. (2nd Thessalonians 2:2)

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,(2nd Thessalonians 2:3) 

who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2nd Thessalonians 2:4)

The Antichrist sits himself as God in the temple of God at Jerusalem, showing himself that he is God.

The Great Tribulation

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), (Matthew 24:15)

“then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:16)

Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. (Matthew 24:17)

And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. (Matthew 24:18)

But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! (Matthew 24:19)

And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. (Matthew 24:20)

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:21)

And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:22)

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. (Matthew 24:23)

For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24)

See, I have told you beforehand. (Matthew 24:25)

“Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. (Matthew 24:26)

For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (Matthew 24:27)

For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. (Matthew 24:28)

The seven (7) year tribulation period marks the end of this age (world) and the beginning of the Church age (new world), the millennium (Christ's 1,000 year reign).

The Second Coming of Christ Jesus

This event will be marked by monumental cosmic disturbances as Christ appears in the heaven and all the earth will know that He has arrived, in that, every eye will see Him because His coming will be so spectacular that no one can possibly miss it.

His coming brings a judgment of horrible carnage (massive slaughter; corpses, especially of those killed in battle). 

His Second Coming also closes out the 7 year tribulation period and this age (world), and marks the beginning of the Church age (new world), which is called the millennium (Christ's 1,000 year reign).

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Matthew 24:29)

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30)

And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:31)

Christ's Millennium Year Reign

During Christ's millennium year reign, the devil will be bound 1,000 years in the bottomless pit while the saints reign with Christ 1,000 years on the Earth. 

The bottomless pit is presently the place of imprisonment of some demons and the place from which the beast (Antichrist) ascends.

God's sovereign plan for Satan is clear and conclusive.  The devil will be shut up in the abyss for 1,000 years and then will be briefly released to deceive the nations one final time before being cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. 

Satan does not escape the bottomless pit, but instead, is allowed to go forth from the pit to fulfill God's sovereign plan. 

The fact that Satan is shut up in the abyss demonstrates that he is powerlessness against God, in that, if he had a choice, he wouldn't be shut-up at all; but its not his choice, it's his destiny.

The millennium is the Church age, wherein, during this time, at the beginning authority is officially transferred from angels to men. 

A new world order is established with the overcoming saints of the Church age ruling together with Christ in His kingdom, consisting of those who had been beheaded as believers martyred by the beast and also the victorious throng who sing praises to the Lamb.

For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. (Hebrews 2:5)

But one testified in a certain place, saying: “ What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? (Hebrews 2:6)

You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. (Hebrews 2:7)

You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” (Hebrews 2:8)

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. (Revelation 15:1)

And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. (Revelation 15:2)

They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “ Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! 
Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! (Revelation 15:3)

Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.”  (Revelation 15:4)

After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. (Revelation 15:5)

And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. (Revelation 15:6)

Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. (Revelation 15:7)

The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed. Revelation 15:8)

Close of the Millennium Reign

At the conclusion of Christ's 1,000 year reign, Satan will be released by God to deceive the nations of the earth again as he has throughout history. 

As a result of satanic deception , the world's armies will gather for battle against God again as they had done before Christ's Second Coming.

Gog and Magog is a common rabbinical title for the nations in rebellion against the Lord, and the names recall the prophesied invasion of Israel in Ezek 38:1, and as reflected in Revelation 20:8-9.

Gog, from Magog was the leader over the two or three regions or countries located near the Caspain or Black seas.

“Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, (Ezekiel 38:1)

Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison (Revelation 20:7)

and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. (Revelation 20:8)

Close of the Millennium Reign

They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. (Revelation 20:9)

The beloved city is the home of God's chosen people, Jerusalem, which will be the New Jerusalem, also called the city of My God and the holy city.

The renewed earthly Jerusalem will be ready to give way to the everlasting sinless glory of the New Jerusalem.

When the final rebellion is put down by the LORD, the devil will join the beast (Antichrist) and the false prophet in torment forever and ever in the lake of fire and brimstone.

The Great White Throne Judgment

All Christians will experience the first resurrection and thus will not have to endure the great white throne judgment.

The books referred to in Revelation 20:12 is the record of all works done in this life by every individual.

The BOOK referred to in Revelation 20:12 is God's register of those who are saved from His wrath.

So although no one will be judged acceptable based on works, many will be saved by God's grace received by faith in Jesus Christ.

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. (Revelation 20:11)

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. (Revelation 20:12)

The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. (Revelation 20:13)

Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:14)

And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

All Things Made New

The first heaven and earth, including the sea, are burned up in the great white throne judgment as the new heaven and earth issue themselves in.

The incarnated Christ who became flesh and dwelt among us is a fulfillment of the promise in Revelation 7:15 that God will dwell among His redeemed people.

God will wipe away every tear fulfills the promises in Revelation 7:17 and Isaiah 25:8.

No more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain goes far beyond the eariler promise of Revelation 7:16, which promises freedom from hunger, thrist, and scorching heat.

Former things have passed away echoes both Revelation 21:1 and 2nd Corinthians 5:17.

The believer's rebirth through faith in Christ brings newness to that person's life, but it is only in the eternal state that God will make all things new.

It is done echoes the voice from the throne in Revelation 16:17 that proclaims the completion of God's wrath being poured out on Babylon.

Here the completion of the new creation by Him who is the Alpha and the Omega of all things is the focus.

Water of life may be recalling Jesus' references to living water in John 4:14 and John 7:38, in connection with eternal life and life in the Holy Spirit.

This water is further described in Revelation 22:1, and a similar offer of God's grace to him who spiritually thirsts is repeated in Revelation 22:17.

He who overcomes will inherit not only the specific promises to the churches in Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28; 3:5, 12, 21, but all things.

The most wonderful part of this inheritance is that the believer will be a son (a person who is a rightful heir) of God forever.

Sonship is a special honor associated with the Davidic covenant and includes privileged intimacy with God and the authority to rule as reflected in 2nd Samuel 7:14).

The Unbeliever's Fate

The fate (the inevitable events predestined by God) for unbelievers is eternally destructive and terrible.

These are all they whose names are not written in the Book of Life as shown in Revelation 20:15, who are judged according to their works as reflected in Revelation 20:12 and are shown to be worthy of endless death as forewarned in Romans 6:23 and 1st Corinthians 6: 9-11.

Then Death and Hades (Hell) were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death. (Revelation 20:15)

And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal ilfe in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived.  Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, (1st Corinthians 6:9)

nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (1st Corinthians 6:10)

And such were some of you.  But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1st Corinthians 6:11)

Hades or Hell is Real and not a Joke

“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. (Luke 16:19)

But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, (Luke 16:20)

desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (Luke 16:21)

So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. (Luke 16:22)

And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:23)

“Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ (Luke 16:24)

But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. (Luke 16:25)

And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ (Luke 16:26)

“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, (Luke 16:27)

for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ (Luke 16:28)

Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ (Luke 16:29)

And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ (Luke 16:30)

But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’” (Luke 16:31)

The first year of Darius was 539 B.C., the year he was appointed by Cyrus as administrator of Babylon. 

Daniel's captivity took place in 605 B.C., which means that in 539 B.C., he had been in captivity for 67 years, only 3 years from the end of the 70 year captivity.

The destruction of the temple at Jerusalem took place in 586 B.C.  The temple was rebuilt in 515 B.C., exactly seventy (70) years from the date of its destruction.