Class Notes on Micah 1:1-2:4

Introduction:

• Timeline of Isaiah, since contemporary of Isaiah
  • 1447   The Exodus begins
  • 1400   Conquest of Canaan completed    
  • 1043    Saul becomes king
  • 931    Rehoboam becomes king of Israel and Judah; Jeroboam rebels; sets Up a rival kingdom in the north ...
  • 790    Uzziah becomes co-regent of Judah
  • 767    Uzziah becomes full king of Judah
  • 764    Amos begins to prophesy
  • 755    Hosea begins to prophesy
  • 753    Zechariah becomes king of Israel
  • 739    Uzziah dies; Isaiah begins to prophesy; Jotham becomes king of Judah
  • 736    Micah begins to prophesy
  • 735    Ahaz becomes king of Judah
  • 722    Sargon II becomes king of Assyria Samaria falls; the ten tribes go into captivity
  • 715    Hezekiah becomes king of Judah
  • 701    Judah invaded by the Assyrians
  • 686    Manasseh becomes king of Judah
• Micah prophesied during the reigns of the Judean kings Jotham (750-732 B.C.), Ahaz (732-715 B.C.), and Hezekiah (715-686 B.C.; 1:1). This made him a late eighth-century contemporary of Isaiah, who also ministered in the Southern Kingdom of Judah (cf. Isa. 1:1), and Amos and Hosea, who ministered in the Northern Kingdom of Israel (cf. Amos 1:1; Hos. 1:1). (Constable, 2008)
• Location: Judah, near Philistines
• His hometown and Lachish would have been fortified towns destroyed by the Assyrian invasion
• Theme or messages: Judgment, restoration, and a remnant, to be followed by world prominence during the reign of the Messiah (Constable, 2008)
• Lastly, Moresheth-gath lies directly on the international trade route, as do most of Israel and Judah. Israel was at the crossroads of civilization intentionally to serve as a witness, and failed in their task

Mic 1:1-5 The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah — the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

2 Hear, O peoples, all of you,

listen, O earth and all who are in it,

that the Sovereign Lord may witness against you,

the Lord from his holy temple.

3 Look! The Lord is coming from his dwelling place;

he comes down and treads the high places of the earth.

4 The mountains melt beneath him

and the valleys split apart,

like wax before the fire,

like water rushing down a slope.

5 All this is because of Jacob's transgression,

because of the sins of the house of Israel.

What is Jacob's transgression?

Is it not Samaria?

What is Judah's high place?

Is it not Jerusalem? NIV

• What does verse 2 sound like or what might it remind a Jewish person of?
  • It sounds like a court room or an official government announcement; divine lawsuit
  • It is similar to Moses final words to the people
  • Deut 31:26-32:1 "Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God. There it will remain as a witness against you. 27 For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the Lord while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die! 28 Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officials, so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to testify against them. 29 For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall upon you because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord and provoke him to anger by what your hands have made."

  30 And Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:

  32 Listen, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. NIV

• What is the intent of verses 3 and 4?
  • Transcendent: philosophy in Kant's philosophical system, exceeding the limits of experience and therefore unknowable except hypothetically
  • Immanent: describes God as existing in and extending into all parts of the created universe
  • While God is above all and unknowable in entirety, he is knowable as a person, and he is involved in the lives of His people. He is not the watchmaker, who builds a watch, and then lets it run. On the other hand, he does allow the effects of sin to reign in the world. For the believer, he promises to work for the good of those who love him. Here, his involvement is directly related to the covenant
• Why is God pronouncing judgment?
  • There seems to be a play on words since Jacob was renamed to Israel. Jacob was the named used during Jacob's rebellious days, whereas Israel was his title after he wrestled with God
  • The result is because of Israel's sin, its breaking of the covenant. The early part of Micah's ministry was a time of wealth and prosperity (and forgetting God)
  • Also, both capital's are identified with the sin. Samaria held one of the two specific high places (the sin of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, which is mentioned repeatedly). But, in God's words, Jerusalem might as well be a high place as well

Mic 1:6-7 "Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble,

a place for planting vineyards.

I will pour her stones into the valley

and lay bare her foundations.

7 All her idols will be broken to pieces;

all her temple gifts will be burned with fire;

I will destroy all her images.

Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of prostitutes,

as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used." NIV

• What is the pronouncement for the Northern Kingdom's sin?
  • Samaria would become a heap of rubble. This occurred in 722BC and apparently the foundations are still visible today
  • Likely had not occurred yet, although the tone suggests Assyria had invaded (it could also be worded in a present future tense, see verse 9)
• Why burn the temple gifts?
  • Looters could get the gold that way
• What is verse 7 saying?
  • The worship of idols was Israel prostituting itself
  • The money used for the gold and the idols will be used by the Assyrians for the same thing to their idols
• APPLICATION: This last verse reminds me of 1 Cor 3:11-15.
  • 1 Cor 3:11-15 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. NIV
  • What am I building with my life? The verse describes the judgment of believers. Will my work survive to honor God. Nothing the Israelites (Samaria) did survive the fire because it was not done for good, and it would not be used for good later

Mic 1:8-9 Because of this I will weep and wail;

I will go about barefoot and naked.

I will howl like a jackal

and moan like an owl.

9 For her wound is incurable;

it has come to Judah.

It has reached the very gate of my people,

even to Jerusalem itself. NIV

• What do we see in Micah's preaching?
  • He wasn't just telling others of their sin. It affected him personally
  • He didn't stop others, because we can't stop sin. We can't make people believe in God. But he could weep for his people
• Ultimately, the punishment would reach Jerusalem. In 701BC, Sennacherib would attack the city. He would fail and lose 185000 men, but not before most of the towns of Judah, including Micah's are conquered
• It's possible that verse 9's present tense is only suggested of the present decision of God and not that Israel had been invaded

Mic 1:12-15 Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain,

waiting for relief,

because disaster has come from the Lord,

even to the gate of Jerusalem.

13 You who live in Lachish,

harness the team to the chariot.

You were the beginning of sin

to the Daughter of Zion,

for the transgressions of Israel

were found in you.

14 Therefore you will give parting gifts

to Moresheth Gath.

The town of Aczib will prove deceptive

to the kings of Israel.

15 I will bring a conqueror against you

who live in Mareshah.

He who is the glory of Israel

will come to Adullam. NIV

• There is a lot of wordplay in this section. It would had made more sense if you spoke biblical Hebrew. The author specifically chooses names of cities
• Maroth sounds like the word for bitterness. How does the bitter play in this verse?
  • The would wait for relief, but it won't come. It is natural to become bitter, even at God. Forty-six towns in Judah would be defeated before Sennacherib would besiege Jerusalem in 701BC
• Lachish is known for horses, and sounds like the Hebrew word for team (rekesh) of horses. Why is Lachish singled out?
  • Apparently, idol worship which had become a part of Judah, had started in Lachish. Maybe because she was a border town with the Philistines. Maybe because of the trade of horses with Egypt -- whatever the reason, it started in Lachish
• Judah will parting gifts to Moresheth Gath, as they leave they kingdom. Moresheth means inheritance. Much like bridal presents, the dowry, with which the Father sends the daughter away, so the inheritance is given to the conqueror
• Achzib, meaning winter brook would fail (would not provide the resource in time of need). Also, it would become deceitful (heb, akzab)
• Mareshar, which means possession or inheritance, will be taken possession of
• The name of Adullam suggested the memory of that cave, the refuge of the Patriarch David, the first of their line of kings, in extreme isolation and peril of his life. There, the refuge now of the remaining glory of Israel, its wealth, its trust, its boast-the foe should come. And so there only remained one common dirge for all. (from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Mic 2:1-4 Woe to those who plan iniquity,

to those who plot evil on their beds!

At morning's light they carry it out

because it is in their power to do it.

2 They covet fields and seize them,

and houses, and take them.

They defraud a man of his home,

a fellowman of his inheritance.

3 Therefore, the Lord says:

"I am planning disaster against this people,

from which you cannot save yourselves.

You will no longer walk proudly,

for it will be a time of calamity.

4 In that day men will ridicule you;

they will taunt you with this mournful song:

'We are utterly ruined;

my people's possession is divided up.

He takes it from me!

He assigns our fields to traitors.'" NIV

• In verses 1 and 2, what is the sin of Judah?
  • Evil schemes
  • Abuse of power
  • Covetousness (wanting what others have)
  • Theft
  • Ruining another's name for your own ambition
• How can these things be seen in a Christian's life
  • Evil schemes: Gossip and getting back at another who has hurt you
  • Abuse of power: Using position to thwart someone or for some gain
  • Covetousness (wanting what others have): Same thing
  • Theft: Hopefully not directly, but downloading software that you haven't bought or music or whatever
  • Ruining another's name for your own ambition: Gossip
• What is the most terrifying aspect of verses 3 and 4?
  • The decision has already been made and there is no going back
• What is the punishment?
  • Calamity
  • Utter ruin; total loss
  • Become a taunt or joke. God gave Israel's possession to foreigners who neither knew God or cared about God
• APPLICATION: The sins of Israel are still the things which bother God today and hurt our witness of Him in the crossroad where God has placed each of us

Mic 2:6-11 "Do not prophesy," their prophets say.

"Do not prophesy about these things;

disgrace will not overtake us."

7 Should it be said, O house of Jacob:

"Is the Spirit of the Lord angry?

Does he do such things?"

"Do not my words do good

to him whose ways are upright?

8 Lately my people have risen up

like an enemy.

You strip off the rich robe

from those who pass by without a care,

like men returning from battle.

9 You drive the women of my people

from their pleasant homes.

You take away my blessing

from their children forever.

10 Get up, go away!

For this is not your resting place,

because it is defiled,

it is ruined, beyond all remedy.

11 If a liar and deceiver comes and says,

'I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,'

he would be just the prophet for this people! NIV

• What are the people saying to Micah?
  • Don’t prophesy hard things
  • God would never do such a thing
  • Tell us good things that encourage us and we want to hear
• What does God say?
  • I will do good to the upright
  • My people not only sin but run to their sin
  • This is no longer a land of promise, a land of rest to this people
• APPLICATION: What are we more likely to do, run to sin or run to God? Too often it is the latter. Too often we don't want to hear a hard message. We've decided in the God we want to believe in and will not listen to what the word of God might really say. We need to repent and go back to the source, not what we want to hear

Events of the 2nd Half of the Tribulation (Part One)

Seventh Trumpet Judgment, Third Woe

Rev 11:14-15 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon. // 15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: // "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, // and he will reign for ever and ever." NIV [1]

Rev 11:19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm. NIV [1]

• The seventh seal contained the seven trumpets
• Here the seventh trumpet (and third woe) contains the seven bowl judgments
• The bowl judgments are described in Rev 15-16. The description picks up where 11:19 leaves off
• The scene shifts to activities occurring during the middle of the tribulation period, and not necessarily associated with any particular judgment

Rev 15 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues — last, because with them God's wrath is completed. 2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:

"Great and marvelous are your deeds, // Lord God Almighty. // Just and true are your ways, // King of the ages. // 4 Who will not fear you, O Lord, // and bring glory to your name? // For you alone are holy. // All nations will come // and worship before you, // for your righteous acts have been revealed."

5 After this I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened. 6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed. NIV

• What evidence is there that this is a continuation of Revelation 11?
  • The trumpet judgments proceed out of the temple
• When the trumpet is first blown, the twenty-four elders sing a song describing God's judgment and wrath against sin. Here the martyred saints of the tribulation, sing two songs
  • The song of Moses
  • The song of the Lamb
  • Fruchtenbaum argues that the first song is Ex 15:1-18 or Deut 32:1-43, songs of deliverance and that the second song is here, vs 3b-4. In my opinion, it is not clear. But the songs do provide a bookend for the events described in the preceding chapters, and an introduction to the last judgments
• This is probably the verses where people mistakenly conclude we will be sitting on clouds with harps singing forever

First Bowl Judgment

Rev 16:1-2 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go, pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth." // 2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. NIV [1]

• How is the first judgment described?
• It attacks a person with an painful and ugly sore. Satan attacked Job's possession and family, then he attacked Job's body. This is painful, it attacks people physically. But is also ugly, so it attacks people's vanity
• It only attacks unbelievers

Second Bowl Judgment

Rev 16:3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died. NIV [1]

• Previously, what had happened to the sea? One-third of the sea was affected. Now, the entire salt water sea is destroyed, killing all the marine life

Third Bowl Judgment

Rev 16:4-7 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: // "You are just in these judgments, // you who are and who were, the Holy One, // because you have so judged; // 6 for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, // and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve."

7 And I heard the altar respond: // "Yes, Lord God Almighty, // true and just are your judgments." NIV [1]

• Now the remaining two-thirds of sweet water is destroyed. In all probability, this does not affect stored water, but it must cause a lot of fear since only stored water (a finite amount) would remain
• What is the reasoning for this judgment?
  • Because the world has shed the blood of saints and prophets, they are given blood to drink as they deserve
  • I imagine that those who think vampires are cool will be having second thoughts
• Not sure the significance of the altar responding to the angel in charge of the waters. Also not sure if that is a different angel than the third angel. What I do believe is that the judgment against those who have killed God's people is a long awaited judgment

Fourth Bowl Judgment

Rev 16:8-9 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him. NIV [1]

• What had previously happened to the sun?
  • Somehow one-third of the light had been restricted
• Now the heat of the sun either increase, or the heat is trapped, or the ozone layer is destroyed, or massive solar bursts occur, but people experience severe sun burn
• What is the response of the world at this point?
• They curse the name of God
• They refuse to repent (possibly they don't see the connection between their sin and the resulting judgments)
• They refuse to glorify God

Fifth Bowl Judgment

Rev 16:10-11 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. NIV [1]

• This is the fourth blackout. This one is pretty severe and is more akin to what happened to the Egyptians
• And how does the world respond? They continue to refuse to repent

Background to the last Two Judgments

Matt 12:22-28 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"

24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."

25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. NIV [1]

• Jesus performs a messianic miracle
• The people seek confirmation from there leaders
• The rulers reject Jesus as Messiah and decide his power is from Satan

Matt 12:38-45 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you."

39 He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.

43 "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation." NIV [1]

• The Pharisees ask for a sign … have they not been looking?
• Jesus now only performs miracles for his disciples benefit or demands faith on the part of the hearer
• What term appears over and over? [this] generation
• John the Baptist began the house cleaning, but this generation, because of its decision is worse off
• The nation would only receive the sign of the prophet Jonah. Three times. Lazarus, Jesus, and the two witnesses

John 11:43-46 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. NIV [1]

• Some believe
• But some go to tell the Pharisees. Upon hearing the Pharisees decide that Jesus must die

Matt 23:33-39 "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.

37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" NIV [1]

• This is a long discussion and goes back to Matt 12, the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah by the leadership. The nation committed an unpardonable sin (the only possible unpardonable sin) and was judged in 70AD. There is now a condition upon Jesus' return, and that is the nation must accept the messiah-ship of Jesus Christ
• Consequently, the destruction of the nation will prevent the return of Jesus Christ. This is Satan's final plan

APPLICATION:

We have a peek into the future. A future we will not have to endure because of the promise of the rapture. Which is not to say we can not suffer persecution in the days prior. But because we have a glimpse of the end, it should encourage us to live our lives for God, in repentance, in a manner that would glorify him, in a manner that causes others to see the difference. Israel failed to be a witness during its day. It became so much like the world around it, that no one could see the difference. Even if our friends don't respond to the gospel, will they see enough of a difference that they respond before their hearts are hardened. You may or may not see many come to Christ, but will your legacy endure after you? Will anyone come to Christ during the tribulation because of you witness?

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.

Class Notes on Isaiah 55

Isaiah 55:1-2 (NIV) “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. [1]

• We practice good hermeneutics when we consider a passage in context. Isa 53 told us what? That a suffering servant would take away the guilt of our sin. Isa 54 told us what? That Israel's marriage would be restored and would be a new, perpetual covenant, principally expressed in the millennial kingdom
• Given the context of Isa 53-54, forgiveness, Jews restored, where might we be heading now?
  • It is a call to "all" who are thirsty
• What does it mean to be thirsty?
  • Not satisfied by the world
  • Not satisfied by what you are spending money on
  • Doesn't meet the real need our our soul
• What are the requirements of the call? You have to come, but otherwise none. Rich or poor
• Can you think of statements which Jesus made that are similar?
• John 4:13-14 (NIV) Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." [1]
• John 7:37-39 (NIV) On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. [1]
• Rev 22:17 (NIV) The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. [1]
• So, what is the water?
• It is the Holy Spirit which is given to all who believe Christ (all who COME!)
• It is also a guarantee of eternal life

Isaiah 55:3-5 (NIV) Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. 4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples. 5 Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.” [1]

• So who is God calling out to?
  • I think it is all people. Everyone, Jew and Gentile can participate in the promise to David
• Who is the 'him' of verse 4 and 'you' in verse 5?
• It sounds like Jesus
• It also sounds like a millennial timeframe, since Jesus is not leader and commander of the peoples until the millennial reign
• But it also sounds like now, since every nation is hearing the message of Christ's redemption, in increasing measure. Fewer and fewer people groups have heard the gospel

Isaiah 55:6-9 (NIV) Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. [1]

• The invitation, from the earlier verses, is repeated. What is added?
  • "… while he may be found …" suggesting that there is a time when it is too late
    • Older one becomes, the more harden becomes the heart
    • When you are dead it is too late
    • At some point in the tribulation, the taking of the mark, it is too late
  • The need for repentance
  • God promises mercy and a free pardon
• In context, when God says that his thoughts are not our thoughts, what is he referring to?
  • While the statement has applicability in almost all domains, here it is probably referring to man's evil thoughts, and (also) man's evil ways (verse 6)
  • We need mercy and pardon, because thoughts and ways are so sinful, and fall so far short of the standard that God requires -- no one can meet God's standard
• Not only is God's standard different, what else is different from the way people think in verses 6 and 7?
  • God's pardon is different
    • People find it difficult to pardon, they want revenge
    • People can forgive one or two offences, but then draw the line
    • People can forgive a hurt toward one or two people, but when it affects many, sometimes they can't forgive
    • People weight the gravity of the offense. It is easy to pardon a slight offence
  • God's pardon is not earned but freely given, as is his mercy
• APPLICATION: I always thought of this verse in terms of God's knowledge being greater than mine, which is true, but in context God is saying that a sinner's thoughts and ways are so far short of God's standard. And how God pardons people is way beyond my way of thinking

Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV) As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. [1]

• Again, in context, what would the seed, rain, and snow represent?
  • Generally, the word of God -- specifically the gospel message of salvation
  • This is very similar to Jesus' parable of the seed
    • In the parable though, not all the seed produces fruit
    • But, does the seed that does not produce still "accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it?" Yes
• A person does not have to believe the message for the word to be effective
• If you don't know what to say to a person, knowing a few verses is a very effective method of evangelism
  • We don't want to shove the gospel down someone's face but memorizing a few key verses can be very helpful
  • John 14:6 (NIV) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [1]
  • John 5:39-40 (NIV) You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. [1]
  • John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. [1]
• APPLICATION: When you don't know how to answer someone, be honest, and use a verse. Example: well, I don't know about that, but I do know that God says ...

Isaiah 55:12-13 (NIV) You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.” [1]

• What is verses 12 and 13 trying to depict?
  • Great joy
  • Even creation itself will break forth in song
  • In contrast is Rom 8:19-21 (NIV) The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. [1]
• In the millennial age, the effect of sin will be reversed
  • In Genesis, God curses the earth so that it produce thorns and weeds. In the millennial age, the opposite occurs
  • Part of the reason we have swine flu, is not that God does not care, but that it is the consequence of our rebellion against God. Over time, the lifetime of people shorten, although in recent years, it has increased some. But disease, famine, and pestilence continue to kill people. And they will until the creation is restored
• APPLICATION: Jesus' redemption, spoken of in chapter 53, not only restores Israel, but redeems people and frees creation from the effects of sin

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.

Events in the Middle of the Tribulation (Part Two)

Rev 13:1-4 And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. 4 Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?" NIV

• Who is the beast? He is the Antichrist, the leader of the new one world government
  • The next thing is to gain worldwide religious control. There are three obstacles: Ecclesiastical Babylon, the two witnesses (already discussed the killing of the two witness in chapter 11), and the Jews (already discussed the attack on the Jews in Chapter 12)
• What has happened to the beast? He has a fatal wound but comes back to life which completes the deception (a counterfeit multiplicity of names, a counterfeit virgin birth, a counterfeit god-man, and a counterfeit death and resurrection (Fruchtenbaum, 2003))
• And now, he also gains the worship of the whole world (vs 3-4)

Rev 13:5-8 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast — all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. NIV

• This completes the description of his control of the whole world and the worship of Satan by the entire world. This is every maniacal world leader's goal, and Satan is allowed to achieve it

Rev 13:9-10 9 He who has an ear, let him hear. // 10 If anyone is to go into captivity, // into captivity he will go. // If anyone is to be killed with the sword, // with the sword he will be killed. // This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints. NIV

• This is a warning to the world and a comfort to the saints about justice. Whatever happens to them, will be returned upon their persecutors

Rev 13:11-18 Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 14 Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

18 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666. NIV

• Where does the second beast come from? The earth, therefore he is human
• His voice betrays his true nature? He speaks like the dragon and is an agent of Satan
• This is the false prophet. What is his mission?
  • He operates as a counterfeit Holy Spirit, calling the world the Antichrist and the dragon
  • He can perform miracles and gives life to an image of the Antichrist
• And while he cannot indwell each person individually, he forces every person to receive a mark (for the Christian, everyone is sealed with the HS)
• What is this mark?
  • It is the name of the beast
  • It is the number of his name
  • It is the number of the beast
  • It is a man's number
  • It is 666
• We can't be sure. There are a number of theories. One is that each of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet is assigned a number, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 200, 300, 400. If we use the Hebrew version, and the numbers add up to 666, then that should identify the Antichrist

Mid Tribulation Announcements:

Rev 14:6-20 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth — to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."

8 A second angel followed and said, "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries."

9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, 10 he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name." 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on."

"Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."

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. NIV

• Three last warnings to those who will receive the mark
  • God is the one to worship
  • The apostate religion is dead
  • A warning against receiving the mark
  • The final judgment is coming
• Additionally,
  • The breaking of the seven year covenant, Dan 9:27
  • The abomination that cause desolation
    • Dan 12:11
    • Matt 24:15-16
    • 2 Thess 2:3-4
• Next week: The second half of the tribulation
• APPLICATION: How do we apply this?
  • Who do we worship really? Is it a thing, a person, a feeling, …
  • Why do we worship, really? Is it our parent's thing or the way we grew up, or …
  • How can we change the focus of our worship?

Class Notes on Isaiah 54:1-10

Comments that follow from Fruchtenbaum's book (2003), "The Footsteps of the Messiah."

• In the bible, Israel is presented as the wife of Jehovah, and the church is presented as the bride of the Messiah
• Deuteronomy, which on appearance seems to be a repeat of the previous books (Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers), and even means "second law" has a very important role
  • It resembles an ancient suzerein-vassal treaty and an ancient marriage contract
  • The book is the marriage contract between Israel and God, where Israel is the wife of Jehovah
  • Key verse: Deut 6:10-15
• But Israel commits adultery
  • Jeremiah 3:20
  • Jeremiah 31:32
  • Hosea 2:2-5
• Separation results
  • Isa 50:1 This is what the Lord says: // "Where is your mother's certificate of divorce // with which I sent her away? // Or to which of my creditors // did I sell you? // Because of your sins you were sold; // because of your transgressions your mother was sent away. NIV
  • If a husband wished to divorce his wife, he had to write out a decree, also known as a bill of divorcement. When the husband gave the bill to his wife, the divorce would then be final
  • Does Israel have the certificate of divorce? No, because God had not given it to her
  • Because of Israel's sin, what did happen? Israel was sent away (actually separated from blessings). Israel was sold because of her sins
• Divorce now follows
  • Israel is 'sent away' for about 100 years (blessings withheld as stipulated in Deuteronomy), but she still does return to God, her husband. So God now issues the bill of divorcement
  • Jer 3:6-10 During the reign of King Josiah, the Lord said to me, "Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there. 7 I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. 8 I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. 9 Because Israel's immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. 10 In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense," declares the Lord. NIV
  • Fruchtenbaum argues that the Book of Hosea was God's bill of divorcement of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Book of Jeremiah the bill of divorcement of the Southern Kingdom of Judah
• Punishment
  • The original marriage contract required punishment for Israel's unfaithfulness
  • Ezek 16:38-42 I will sentence you to the punishment of women who commit adultery and who shed blood; I will bring upon you the blood vengeance of my wrath and jealous anger. 39 Then I will hand you over to your lovers, and they will tear down your mounds and destroy your lofty shrines. They will strip you of your clothes and take your fine jewelry and leave you naked and bare. 40 They will bring a mob against you, who will stone you and hack you to pieces with their swords. 41 They will burn down your houses and inflict punishment on you in the sight of many women. I will put a stop to your prostitution, and you will no longer pay your lovers. 42 Then my wrath against you will subside and my jealous anger will turn away from you; I will be calm and no longer angry. NIV
• Remarriage with restored blessings
• God promises a new marriage contract which is unlike the previous contract
• Jer 31:31-33 "The time is coming," declares the Lord, // "when I will make a new covenant // with the house of Israel // and with the house of Judah. // 32 It will not be like the covenant // I made with their forefathers // when I took them by the hand // to lead them out of Egypt, // because they broke my covenant, // though I was a husband to them," // declares the Lord. // 33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel // after that time," declares the Lord. // "I will put my law in their minds // and write it on their hearts. // I will be their God, // and they will be my people. NIV

Isa 54:1-3 "Sing, O barren woman, // you who never bore a child; // burst into song, shout for joy, // you who were never in labor; // because more are the children of the desolate woman // than of her who has a husband," // says the Lord. // 2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, // stretch your tent curtains wide, // do not hold back; // lengthen your cords, // strengthen your stakes. // 3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; // your descendants will dispossess nations // and settle in their desolate cities. NIV

• Some want to call the woman Israel, and some Jerusalem. I don't think it matters, and the nation Israel would be appropriate in both cases. What directly precedes this section and how is that significant?
  • The suffering servant dies for the sin of his people
  • The timeframe would be after Jesus' death. Most believe this refers to the millennial kingdom
• Why does it say that the woman never bore a child?
  • Spiritually, she was barren. To have even one child would be a success. But Israel failed, and despite a faithful remnant, the nation did not adhere to the requirements of the marriage contract
• Who is the desolate woman?
  • Israel had Jehovah as her husband. The contrast would seem to be the Gentiles. The Gentiles produced spiritually
• But now, the barren women is going to produce children. In ancient days in Israel, it was the woman's responsibility to set up the tent (Fruchtenbaum, 2003). Now she is told to make the tent bigger
• APPLICATION: While Israel failed in the task God gave them, because of grace, she will be restored in her relationship with God. In the new covenant, she will be fruitful

Isa 54:4-8 "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. // Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. // You will forget the shame of your youth // and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. // 5 For your Maker is your husband — // the Lord Almighty is his name — // the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; // he is called the God of all the earth. // 6 The Lord will call you back // as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit — // a wife who married young, // only to be rejected," says your God. // 7 "For a brief moment I abandoned you, // but with deep compassion I will bring you back. // 8 In a surge of anger // I hid my face from you for a moment, // but with everlasting kindness // I will have compassion on you," // says the Lord your Redeemer. NIV

• What might be the shame of Israel's youth? Don't know, but possibly her slavery in Egypt
• What would be her widowhood? Well, God never died, but when she was separate from the land of promise it may have seemed as if God was no longer a part of her life. Again, the scripture does not say, but most commentators believe it refers to the Babylonian exile
• She is not really a widow, only an apparent widow -- who is her husband?
  • Her maker
  • The Lord Almighty
  • The Holy One
  • The Redeemer
  • The God of all the earth
• Why does God call her back?
  • Because of God's deep compassion
  • Because of God's grace, His unmerited favor expressed to Israel
• God's anger is contrasted to his kindness. What is the difference?
  • The anger lasts a moment, but his kindness is everlasting
  • Heb 11:4-12 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: // “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, // and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, // 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, // and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” // 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. // 12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. NIV
• APPLICATION: For the Christian, God disciplines us, but it is for our good. His kindness is everlasting. As we go through struggles, we must remember that He always loves us, and he has never forgotten us, no matter how bleak the situation looks

Isa 54:9-10 "To me this is like the days of Noah, // when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. // So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, // never to rebuke you again. // 10 Though the mountains be shaken // and the hills be removed, // yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken // nor my covenant of peace be removed," // says the Lord, who has compassion on you. NIV

• What is the connection to Noah?
  • A perpetual covenant
  • A change, that can never go back
• APPLICATION: While the focus is on Israel in the millennial kingdom, we (gentile believers) also share in the promise. We have a future and a hope that will never change. Our goal should be to live in a manner worthy of the unmerited favor that has been shown to us as well. When we live like the world, we mock God's kindness

Events in the Middle of the Tribulation (Part One)

NOTE: The events in the middle of the tribulation are difficult to place and may not be chronological. We are sitting at the seventh trumpet, third woe. The trumpet judgment contains all the bowl judgments, just as the sixth scroll contained the seven trumpet judgments

Rev 10: 1-11 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down."

5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets."

8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."

9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey." 10 I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings." NIV

• Who has been announcing the trumpet judgment? Angels
• Who is this story about? A mighty angel -- possibly the seventh angel
• Why do we know this is a long judgment (notwithstanding the fact that it also probably refers to the bowl judgments)? Verse 7 says, "in the days" -- so we know it occurs over a period of time
• We are not told everything, at least not what the seven thunders said
• Why does the scroll taste sweet then bitter?
  • Sweet -- people love to go to prophecy conferences or to buy books pertaining to the end times
  • Bitter -- we need to realize there is great and terrible pain coming unless a person comes to Christ for salvation. There is escape from the tribulation through the rapture. But there is no escape for believer or unbeliever once the days begin
• APPLICATION: Do we recognize the bitterness of the prophecies of Revelation? Or are they so unreal and far away as to not impact our hearts? We need to feel the pain, and the bitterness of the days to recognize our need to communicate truth with urgency

NOTE: Fruchtenbaum (2003) argues that at this point, the Antichrist enters into a war with the 10 Kings, killing three (Dan 11:40-45). The Antichrist is also killed during battle and comes back to life three days later.

NOTE: We have already discussed the ministry of the two witnesses which begins during the tribulation, and their death, resurrection, and disappearance into heaven which occurs during this time.

NOTE: We are going to skip ahead to other events in the middle and then pick up with the seventh trumpet, which is sounded in Revelation 11.

NOTE: The focus now shifts to Satan's persecution of the Jews.

Rev 12:1-6 A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. 4 His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. 6 The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days. NIV

• The metaphor of the sun, moon, and twelve stars should sound familiar, where have we seen this in scripture?
  • It is a reference to Jacob (Israel), Rachel, and the twelve sons (tribes) of Israel (Joseph's dream)
  • Normally, the stars would refer to angels, when used symbolically, but the addition of the other aspects of the picture, makes it clear that it is Israel
• The picture is set back in time, repeatedly back in time. What is happening in the birth?
  • It is referring to the birth of the Messiah in Israel (many years ago)
• The story of the dragon goes back even farther, and explains where the enemy of the Jews comes. Satan is the dragon, and the one-third stars (angels) follow him
• Satan is trying to destroy the baby, which he tried through Herod and others
• The child is Jesus, and is in Heaven now
• The woman, who gave birth is Israel, and she flees to the desert for three and half years. Many believe this is Petra and that the Jewish people will find protection there. At this point, symbolically, Satan has broken the peace treaty with Israel. It probably occurs during the War of the Antichrist against the World

Rev 12:7-9 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down — that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. NIV

• At the same time that war is happening on earth, what is happening in heaven? There is a battle and Satan is thrown out of heaven. Satan is now confined entirely to earth. This is not a good thing for those on earth
• We learn some characteristics of Satan in this passage, what are they?
• Ancient serpent -- reference to Adam and Eve
• He leads the world astray. He is the main force for deception in the world. He is very effective, but not all powerful

Rev 12:10-12Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

"Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, // and the authority of his Christ. // For the accuser of our brothers, // who accuses them before our God day and night, // has been hurled down. // 11 They overcame him // by the blood of the Lamb // and by the word of their testimony; // they did not love their lives so much // as to shrink from death. // 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens // and you who dwell in them! // But woe to the earth and the sea, // because the devil has gone down to you! // He is filled with fury, // because he knows that his time is short." NIV

• Satan is particularly angry at this point, why?
  • Maybe he finally recognizes the futility of his rebellion
  • He knows his time is short
• We learn another characteristic of Satan in his description, what is it?
• Accuser of believers

Rev 12:13-17 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring — those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. NIV

• In scripture, when used symbolically (not literally), a flood usually refers to an army. An army, probably the Antichrist's pursues the Jewish people into the desert. Somehow, the army is swallowed up by the earth and fails. Satan then pursues her offspring, Jewish and non-Jewish believers around the world
• APPLICATION: 1) Prophecy can be fun and exciting to look at, especially knowing that we will be raptured, but it should leave us with a bitter taste, because many who do not know Christ will suffer greatly during the time. 2) Satan is still the great deceiver who leads believer and unbeliever astray. His philosophies sound good on the surface, but they oppose God and his claim over our life. He is also a roaring lion, a liar from the beginning of times, and at times, an angel of light. If we do not build on a good foundation, when the storms of life hit us, our house will quickly fall

Class Notes on Isa 44:28-45:13

715	Ahaz dies and Hezekiah begins his reign
701	Sennacherib of Assyria defeats Egypt at Eltekah and departs from Jerusalem; Merodach-baladan of Babylon sends messengers to visit Hezekiah
697	Manasseh of Judah begins his co-regency
689	Sennacherib of Assyria defeats Babylon
686	Hezekiah dies
681	Sennacherib of Assyria dies and Esarhaddon begins to reign
671	Esarhaddon imports foreigners into Israel and defeats Egypt
612	Nineveh falls to Babylon
609	Nabopolassar of Babylon defeats Assyria and Assyria falls
605	Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeats Egypt at Carchemish; first deportation of Judahites to Babylon
597	Second deportation of Judahites to Babylon
586	Jerusalem falls to Nebuchadnezzar
559	Cyrus II of Persia begins to reign
539	Cyrus overthrows Babylon
538	Cyrus issues his decree allowing Jews to return to Palestine

Isaiah is probably writing at the latter end of Hezekiah's reign or the early years of Mannasseh

Isa 44:28-45:4 ... who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd // and will accomplish all that I please; // he will say of Jerusalem, "Let it be rebuilt," // and of the temple, "Let its foundations be laid." ' // 45:1 "This is what the Lord says to his anointed, // to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of // to subdue nations before him // and to strip kings of their armor, // to open doors before him // so that gates will not be shut: // 2 I will go before you // and will level the mountains; // I will break down gates of bronze // and cut through bars of iron. // 3 I will give you the treasures of darkness, // riches stored in secret places, // so that you may know that I am the Lord, // the God of Israel, who summons you by name. // 4 For the sake of Jacob my servant, // of Israel my chosen, // I summon you by name // and bestow on you a title of honor, // though you do not acknowledge me. NIV

• What empire is in power now? Assyria
• What empire does Cyrus overthrow? Babylon
• What empire is Cyrus a part of that returns Israel to the land? Medes/Persians
• Is Cyrus born yet? No
• Assuming Isaiah wrote this in 700BC …
  • Assyria falls to Babylon in 609BC (91 years later)
  • Jerusalem falls to Babylon in 586BC (124 years later)
  • Babylon falls to Cyrus in 539BC (161 years later)
• Why is God so specific? Normally, prophecy, while having some specific attributes, does not name names?
  • Possibly, God is making a point about his sovereignty to the Jewish people. This is the first time that everything will be destroyed with the appearance that God's plan is completely over
• What does God call Cyrus?
  • His anointed, his shepherd
  • Terms reserved for Israel's kings (shepherd and anointed), or prophets
  • Technically, the term is Mashiah (Heb.)
• At this point, the line of David (Kings) will be over (still 100 years in the future). Here, a Gentile takes the place as Shepherd over God's people. Was Cyrus a believer?
  • Doubtful. Verse 4 suggests that the answer is no
  • Therefore, God uses unbelievers to accomplish His will
• Verse 3 gives one of the three reasons Gods uses Cyrus, what is it?
  • That Cyrus might know that the God of Israel is God over all (paraphrased)
• APPLICATION: I don't understand how God can tell the future of free will creatures. Although we create simulations all the time of events that even include random events (chaos). And so God can obviously create, in his mind, the most massive simulation ever seen (infinite), to predict events …. Or, as others argue, he is outside of space and time, but that means all my actions have already been determined, and so do I really have free will …? Either way, God in his infinite wisdom, knows the future, and is working for my good. Faith is believing that he is working for the good of those who love him (know him as their savior)

Isa 45:5-7 I am the Lord, and there is no other; // apart from me there is no God. // I will strengthen you, // though you have not acknowledged me, // 6 so that from the rising of the sun // to the place of its setting // men may know there is none besides me. // I am the Lord, and there is no other. // 7 I form the light and create darkness, // I bring prosperity and create disaster; // I, the Lord, do all these things. NIV

• God gives a second reason for choosing Cyrus, what is it?
  • That men may know that there is no other God besides me
• What do you think is the average man's understanding of the many religions of the world?
  • People believe (wrongly!) that there are many ways to God
  • People believe that religions are essentially equal or equivalent (that may be true for all but one)
• What do you say to a person who questions our statement, that Jesus is the only way to God?
  • The statement hinges on a person's opinion of Christ
  • He cannot be a "good teacher" because he said too many things that would be wrong if he was not God. If not God, he cannot claim to forgive sins -- what right does he have to forgive sins? If your child is killed by a murderer, what right does Jesus have to forgive him? Yet Jesus claimed that right. Jesus made many claims:
    • Jn 11:25 I am the resurrection and the life
    • Jn 4:13-14 I am the living water
    • Jn 9:5 I am the light of the world
    • Jn 6:25, 51 I am the bread of life. I am the living bread that came down from heaven
    • Jn 10:7-9 I am the gate
    • Jn 10:11 I am the good Shepherd
    • Jn 10:36 I am God's son
    • Jn 8:56-59 Before Abraham was, I am
    • Jn 14:6-7 I am the way, the truth, and the life
    • Jn 8:23,24 I am from above
    • Jn 15:1 I am the vine
• Verse 7 is a tough verse to understand. What is it saying?
  • God brings prosperity and God creates disaster
  • I think a better understanding is that God controls it. Much of pain of life is because God gave us free will. He can intervene at times, but what would we learn of our decisions if he constantly fixed things? And what would learn of sin, if he constantly protected us. But he can, when needed, intervene and change the course of events. The real question is, how often does he do it?
  • Rom 8:28 says that God works for the good of those who love him -- rather than changing events, God works to bring good to us out of the event
  • That doesn't change the meaning of verse 7. In Job, God takes direct responsibility for Job's circumstances even though Satan clearly accomplishes the actions
    • Job 2:3 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason." NIV
    • Note that God takes responsibility "… though you (Satan) incited me (God) against him (Job) to ruin him (Job) without any reason …" -- not God says that it is God against Job
• APPLICATION: Whether God causes or allows an event, he is aware of the event and he holds himself responsible for the event (vs 7 "I, the Lord, do all these things"). Also, Romans tells us that he is working to bring good out of the event into our lives

Isa 45:9-13 "Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, // to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground. // Does the clay say to the potter, // 'What are you making?' // Does your work say, // 'He has no hands'? // 10 Woe to him who says to his father, // 'What have you begotten?' // or to his mother, // 'What have you brought to birth?' // 11 "This is what the Lord says — // the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: // Concerning things to come, // do you question me about my children, // or give me orders about the work of my hands? // 12 It is I who made the earth // and created mankind upon it. // My own hands stretched out the heavens; // I marshaled their starry hosts. // 13 I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: // I will make all his ways straight. // He will rebuild my city // and set my exiles free, // but not for a price or reward, // says the Lord Almighty." NIV

• These verses suggest another type of sovereignty. Paul uses it as an example of how God could act. How would you describe this?
  • God can do whatever he wants, and who am I to argue
• In fact, why does Cyrus do God's bidding?
  • Not for price or reward
  • Because God said
• Ultimately, we are very foolish to argue with God about why things are the way they are
  • Paul uses this same argument …
  • Rom 9:19-24 One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" 20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'" 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? // 22 What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath — prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24 even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? NIV
    • Paul argues that we have no right to argue with God
    • Paul uses the phrase "what if" twice suggesting that God could do this, and he might not, but if he did, we have no right to argue
  • Romans uses the free will argument more than it uses this deterministic argument
  • Rom 11:17-21 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. NIV
• APPLICATION: We do have free will. But God can do whatever he wants. God does intervene at times, but at other times, for the believer, God works for the good of those who love him. We must believe in his goodness
  • Rom 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. NIV
  • Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. NIV

Events of the First Half of the Tribulation (Part Four): Trumpets Five and Six

Prelude to the Woe Judgments, Trumpets Five through Seven

Rev 8:13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!" NIV

• An eagle warns the inhabitants of the earth of coming woes. The threefold repetition of woes represent both their divine origin and the fact that three trumpets remain

The Fifth Trumpet, First Woe

Rev 9:1-12 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. 3 And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.

7 The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. 8 Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. 10 They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. 11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.

12 The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come. NIV

• This is our third blackout
• Who or what is the star?
  • One again, a star used symbolically represents an angel
  • It would seem symbolic, since how could a star be given a key, but it is possible to see a literal meaning (with star as another meteor), up through verse 2

• But this woe is more than a physical threat, why?
  • The woe is locusts, who only harm people (who don't have the seal of God on their foreheads)
  • The locusts do not kill buy only torture people
  • The locusts have strange physical characteristics. The locusts are likely demons, fallen angels. If true, then sin has changed their physical characteristics
  • The locusts have a demon as their king, the angel of the Abyss, Abbadon (Hebrew) and Apollyon (Greek)
    • Abaddon means destruction or destroyer
    • Apollyon means destroyer and is a play on the word Apollo. Apollo is the god of the empire under his temple, and the locust was his creature

• This judgment has a time limit of five months
  • People will seek death, suicide, but will be thwarted in their attempts. It is a time of great despair

• The Abyss is a temporary place of confinement for fallen angels or demons. Final place is the lake of fire. This is where the demons did not want to go when Jesus rebuked them out of the two demoniacs
  • Luke 8:30-31 Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" // "Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. NIV

The Sixth Trumpet, Second Woe

Rev 9:13-21 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.

17 The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. 18 A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19 The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.

20 The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood — idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts. NIV

• What is similar about the second woe as compared to the first and what is different?
  • It is angel led but four angels versus one angel
  • The first is to torment, the second is to kill

• Are the two hundred million, humans or demon
  • Led by angels
  • Come from Babylon (Iraq), not from China
  • The description does not match humans (although it is potentially equipment)
  • There is no mention of the kings of the earth
  • Conclusion: probably demonic

• Joel describes a similar invasion
  • Joel 2:1-11 Blow the trumpet in Zion; // sound the alarm on my holy hill. // Let all who live in the land tremble, // for the day of the Lord is coming. // It is close at hand — 2 a day of darkness and gloom, // a day of clouds and blackness. // Like dawn spreading across the mountains // a large and mighty army comes, // such as never was of old // nor ever will be in ages to come. // 3 Before them fire devours, // behind them a flame blazes. // Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, // behind them, a desert waste — nothing escapes them. // 4 They have the appearance of horses; // they gallop along like cavalry. // 5 With a noise like that of chariots // they leap over the mountaintops, // like a crackling fire consuming stubble, // like a mighty army drawn up for battle. // 6 At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; // every face turns pale. 7 They charge like warriors; // they scale walls like soldiers. // They all march in line, // not swerving from their course. // 8 They do not jostle each other; // each marches straight ahead. // They plunge through defenses // without breaking ranks. 9 They rush upon the city; // they run along the wall. // They climb into the houses; // like thieves they enter through the windows. // 10 Before them the earth shakes, // the sky trembles, // the sun and moon are darkened, // and the stars no longer shine. // 11 The Lord thunders // at the head of his army; // his forces are beyond number, // and mighty are those who obey his command. // The day of the Lord is great; // it is dreadful. // Who can endure it? NIV

• APPLICATION:
  • Many Christians are frightened of witnessing. Part of the reason is that we disassociate how we live our life with the act of witnessing. Our primary witness should be our life. Our life should lead people to ask the question of what is different? If we look like the world, what good is it to verbally witness our faith since the result does not appear any different to the unbeliever?

Events of the First Half of the Tribulation (Part Three): Trumpets One thru Four

Prelude to the Trumpet Judgments

Rev 8:1-6 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.

3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them. NIV

• When incense is used symbolically in scripture, what does it represent?
  • The prayers of the saints

• What do you think is the point of verses 3 through 5?
  • The prayers are about to be answered with the trumpet judgments

• One of God's first commands to mankind was to take care of the earth. We have failed that in two ways. On one extreme, we have polluted it and on the other extreme, people worship the earth above God. The first three judgments are against the earth. The earth is not above God

The First Trumpet

Rev 8:7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. NIV

• The judgment is that one-third of the physical dry earth is burned up

The Second Trumpet

Rev 8:8-9 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. NIV

• This judgment is that one-third of the salt water is ruined. One-third of the creatures die, and one-third of the ships are destroyed
• It could be the result of a meteorite, or possibly an undersea volcano of huge proportions
• While there may be physical reasons for the event, the turning to blood is clearly a supernatural event

The Third Trumpet

Rev 8:10-11 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11 the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter. NIV

• This judgment concerns drinking water. One-third of the drinking water, rivers and springs, are turned bitter. Many people die from this bitter water (water that is supposed to refresh, but instead kills)
• The cause is either a meteor, named wormwood, or an angel named Wormwood. It is difficult to see how this might be interpreted symbolically (possibly the impact on spring water). When star is used symbolically, it usually refers to an angel

The Fourth Trumpet

Rev 8:12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night. NIV

• There are a number of ways to view this verse, the most reasonable approach is to assume that one-third of the light source night and day is gone. The easiest approach is the darkening of the skies such that one-third of outside light can not make it to the earth. Another possibility is some serious meteorite explosion above the earth atmosphere which encircles the earth, and directly blocks light, potentially so thick in some areas that one-third of the light is blocked as it circles the earth