The First Half of the Tribulation The fourth Chapter of the Book of Revelation begins with two often-quoted Greek words: Meta tauta These words mean “after these things.” The authors join company with a good number of conservative Bible scholars who see these words as marking a major division in the last book of the […]
A Symbolic Overview of All of Israel’s History The book of Revelation, Chapter 12:1-17, presents a great vision of the nation of Israel portrayed as a woman. The vantage point is that of eternity. In his sermon series on Revelation, Ray Stedman offers the following commentary on this passage. 82 There is no mystery to […]
Believers during the Tribulation We come now to the third section of this book, and to things that are yet future. After considering the history of Israel, the Chosen People, and of the Church, we can not help wondering who the true believers of the Tribulation period will be. According to the book of Revelation, […]
Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement) – 1987 In 1987 the Palestinians began an intifada (uprising) against the control of Israel. Hamas was born from this unrest, and was an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. It is not closely aligned with the Iran-Syria-Hezbollah movement because the Muslim Brotherhood began in Egypt where the […]
The Balfour Agreement and the British Mandate Meanwhile, the plight of European Jews continued to grow. The more they were persecuted, the stronger the concept of Zionism grew. In 1917, just before the end of World War I, the government of Great Britain became gradually committed to the idea of establishing a Jewish home in […]
The Crusaders Capture Jerusalem In the last 1300 years, with only one exception, the Temple Mount has been in the hands of Muslims. On July 15, 1099 Jerusalem was taken from the Muslims by the Crusaders from Europe. The Crusaders slaughtered the inhabitants of Jerusalem in an unjustified carnage. The Dome of the Rock was […]
Historical Developments: Israel Scattered, The Church Age, and The Rise of Islam This chapter serves as an annex to Section Two. It traces the major movements of Israel and the Church during the past two thousand years. It also includes highlights of the rise of Islam as it affects Israel and the Church. It is […]
The Centrality of Israel and Jewish People during the Tribulation A great body of converted people from all the nations is mentioned several times in the book of Revelation–after the rapture of the Church. Usually they are called the “Saints.” They are believers in Christ–Jews and Gentiles alike, but they are not referred to as […]
The Lawless One Not Revealed until Hindering Force Removed In 2 Thessalonians we are told that the “man of sin (or lawlessness)” will not be revealed until “he who now restrains” is taken out of the way. Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, […]
The Rapture of the Church The Next Major Biblical Event in History 13Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with […]