A Question of Eagles
Years ago (over 30) I heard the voice of the Lord say “look to me”. I know this was his voice for within a few moments of hearing this word from him a message in tongues with the interpretation came forth from another brother in the service; the first words to the message were “look to me”. I desired to hear the voice of God again.
Following that desire I decided to pray one evening and wait upon the voice of the Lord. After some considerable time in prayer the word of the Lord did not come as I expected, however I felt impressed to read the scriptures. I read from the book of Luke the 17th chapter and was amazed at something that I read. “I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed: the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” What came next is what caught my spirit. “And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, wheresoever the body is thither will the eagles be gathered together.” The question of the disciples is what made me look at this passage in a new light… they asked the Lord “Where?”
This passage is taught universally to be a description of what is commonly referred to as the “Rapture”. Much discussion has been, and still is, given as to when this event takes place, but as I read I was surprised to see the disciples ask “where”. I would like to consider the question of the disciples and use the best scriptural interpretation to come to a biblical conclusion because as I considered this in my prayer I understood the meaning. Not only did I understand the meaning , but I also understood the implication of the meaning.
While this may seem like the beginning of the story, it actually started some 8 or 9 years earlier when I was first starting to study prophecy on my own. I was reading Matthew chapter 24 and a curious statement of Jesus caught my attention. I wanted to find out what he meant when he said, “For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together”. I believe the hand of the Lord was in this “drawing attention to” these passages of scripture. We will look at what they mean later, but first let the relationship of the two be established.
The similarity of the two is obvious to see. In fact with the exception of using the word “thither” in Luke and “there” in Matthew, there is only one word that is different. Luke uses the word body while Matthew uses the word carcass. While the word body can certainly mean a living body it can also mean a dead body. In fact according the way the word is used the adjective “dead” doesn’t have to be used at all for the hearer to understand that it is dead, i.e. “A body was found in the field.” We understand that the body in question is of a dead person. The other word, “carcass”, does not give the option of whether the reference is of a dead or living creature… carcass means dead body.
In as much as the sentence structure is exactly the same in both of the verses and that both verses were spoken by the same person and that the one word that is different is still able to be used as the definition of a “dead creature”, it is almost unthinkable that they would not have the same meaning. So similar are the statements that it would seem that they might be a quotation from a previous source. And so they are.
In Chapter 39 of the book of Job God states, in reference to the eagle, “where the slain are, there is she.” It is obvious that the sentence structure is exactly the same as the statements of Jesus in both Matthew and Luke. Again the difference essentially boils down to one word. In the writing of Job the word “slain” is used where as in Matthew it is “carcass” and in Luke it is “body”. Can these three words be used interchangeably? Not in all cases, for there is a progression in the meaning of the three from most general (body) to most specific (slain). The specific cannot replace the general (in other words we could not simply interchange the word body for the word slain because body could mean a living body, but the word slain requires the subject to be a dead body, as does the word carcass.) The meaning of the phrase in all three cases then must be limited to the most specific of the three words, i.e. “slain”. Using scripture to interpret scripture we must conclude that the eagles will gather where the slain are. Jesus uses this statement in an obviously prophetic setting (the coming of the Lord). In what setting is the statement used in the book of Job?
While the book of Job is considered a book of poetry there are elements of prophecy in it (this is true with the book of Psalms as well.) At the end of the 39th chapter (Job) is read the poetic language bringing a clear prophetic picture to view. Within this writing we find: the fearless horse, the trumpets, the rider of the horse, the scoffer, the slain, and the eagles. All of these are elements in the great day of the Lord. It is a poetic image of the battle of Armageddon. Jesus lifts his answer to the question “Where, Lord?” from the pages of Job to declare where we are going when he comes. The answer is, ARMAGEDDON. Not heaven… Armageddon.
“And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:17-21)
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue ARMAGGEDON. (Revelation 16: 15&16)
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
When God said "Let there be light" he was not starting an undirected arbitrary project... he knew where he was going... his creation was made in his mind before it ever came into existence in the physical world. He always knows what is going to take place because God knows everything from end to the beginning. As humans, we must move through time in order to discover the events of our lives, but God is outside of time and knows all things without regard to past, present, or future. Isaiah reveals this when he prophesies "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My council shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." (Isa 46:10)
God has a plan and all that he does is "... according to the purpose of him (God) who worketh all things after the council of his own will." God confers with himself in all that he does so that he already knows what is going to happen... he never needs time to reveal anything to him because it is all by his own design.
In studying prophecy it is essential to keep in mind that what we are reading, or studying, is not a history of events moving through time, but rather the declaration of events from the perspective of eternity. That which has not happened in time is just as real as that which has, and the prophetic word is giving insight to the reality of the future. Therefore, it is important for us to approach our interpretation of prophecies not from our historical thinking, but from God's declarative thinking... that is to say we need to look first of all to the end of God's plan so that we may know where events are going to conclude.
God sent Gabriel to Daniel to give the prophet the determined plan of God for the time of Daniel up to the beginning of the thousand year reign of Christ. The 70 determined weeks began with a command to restore and build Jerusalem and the end of the same 70 weeks of years was that the Most Holy would be anointed. My purpose in this writing is to establish that in order to correctly understand the end time prophecies we need to start at the end and work backwards.
Often, for example, the four horsemen of Revelation chapter 6 are interpreted as various things. Some say that the white horse represents Jesus Christ others say that it represents the anti-Christ. Which is it? Or, is it something entirely different? These interpretations will end up being very arbitrary, or worse biased, because the interpretation is approached from the wrong end... the beginning. We must start at the end and realize that the outcome of all these things is the anointing of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem as King of Kings.
To illustrate this consider the first (white) horse and the fourth (pale) horse. Which of the two are easier to identify? Obviously, the pale horse is easier ... it is very clear that it represents a time of much suffering and death. This is stated within the prophecy itself. This horse is revealed at the opening of the fourth seal. What about the fifth seal? We see the souls of the dead speaking out for justice (a logical consequence of the fourth seal). And the sixth seal reveals mankind fearfully watching the Day of the Lord approach. This seal is accompanied by the heavenly signs in the sun, moon, and stars. These celestial events are very identifiable and without question are associated with the return of Jesus Christ and his subsequent anointing as King.
I write these things to illustrate the very important fact that the closer the events in a prophecy are to the anointing of the King (the end) the more clearly they can be interpreted ... and consequently more correctly.
God has a plan and all that he does is "... according to the purpose of him (God) who worketh all things after the council of his own will." God confers with himself in all that he does so that he already knows what is going to happen... he never needs time to reveal anything to him because it is all by his own design.
In studying prophecy it is essential to keep in mind that what we are reading, or studying, is not a history of events moving through time, but rather the declaration of events from the perspective of eternity. That which has not happened in time is just as real as that which has, and the prophetic word is giving insight to the reality of the future. Therefore, it is important for us to approach our interpretation of prophecies not from our historical thinking, but from God's declarative thinking... that is to say we need to look first of all to the end of God's plan so that we may know where events are going to conclude.
God sent Gabriel to Daniel to give the prophet the determined plan of God for the time of Daniel up to the beginning of the thousand year reign of Christ. The 70 determined weeks began with a command to restore and build Jerusalem and the end of the same 70 weeks of years was that the Most Holy would be anointed. My purpose in this writing is to establish that in order to correctly understand the end time prophecies we need to start at the end and work backwards.
Often, for example, the four horsemen of Revelation chapter 6 are interpreted as various things. Some say that the white horse represents Jesus Christ others say that it represents the anti-Christ. Which is it? Or, is it something entirely different? These interpretations will end up being very arbitrary, or worse biased, because the interpretation is approached from the wrong end... the beginning. We must start at the end and realize that the outcome of all these things is the anointing of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem as King of Kings.
To illustrate this consider the first (white) horse and the fourth (pale) horse. Which of the two are easier to identify? Obviously, the pale horse is easier ... it is very clear that it represents a time of much suffering and death. This is stated within the prophecy itself. This horse is revealed at the opening of the fourth seal. What about the fifth seal? We see the souls of the dead speaking out for justice (a logical consequence of the fourth seal). And the sixth seal reveals mankind fearfully watching the Day of the Lord approach. This seal is accompanied by the heavenly signs in the sun, moon, and stars. These celestial events are very identifiable and without question are associated with the return of Jesus Christ and his subsequent anointing as King.
I write these things to illustrate the very important fact that the closer the events in a prophecy are to the anointing of the King (the end) the more clearly they can be interpreted ... and consequently more correctly.
Endtime Thoughts: Tribulation and the 70th Week
The time is come, and in some ways already past, to look seriously at Bible Prophecy even if it comes at the expense of some of our long held beliefs. So much teaching on the coming of the Lord has bred complacency rather than preparedness. This must change lest that day overtake us as a thief.
While the subject of prophecy is a vast and controversial arena, it should not be shunned simply because it is a large undertaking. It is my intent to begin a regular series of "notes" that look at important aspects of the subject, which often have been overlooked at the expense of a correct prophetic viewpoint. In this late hour we cannot afford to miss the prophetic mark by much... if at all.
While the point of this post may be a relatively small matter, it is a most important truth that carries a large implication with it. The subject of this post is the great tribulation and its relationship to the seventieth week of Daniel. Quite often the tribulation and Daniel's seventieth week are taught to be one and the same... this is simply not true. Let us examine.
The great tribulation begins somewhere near the middle of Daniel's seventieth week at the abomination of desolation and lasts for about 3 and 1/2 years. Jesus said, "when ye therefore see the abomination of desolation... then shall be great tribulation." (Matt 24:15 & 21) He then adds a curious statement that those days (of tribulation) must be shortened in order for any flesh to be saved. It seems as if this shortening rolls back the tribulation so that it ends before the seventieth week is complete. It is clear that the tribulation is finished before the seventieth week is finished because Gabriel gives Daniel very specific purposes for the seventy weeks to accomplish (Daniel 9:24).
The final purpose of this period of time was declared to be the anointing of the most Holy. This is the installation of the king... King Jesus. Simply, Jesus must return before he is anointed. The signs of the coming of Jesus are declared to be the darkening of the sun and the moon, the disappearance of the stars, and the shaking of heaven. Verse 29 of the 24th chapter of Matthew tells us that these signs happen immediately after the tribulation. The tribulation is over at that point and Jesus has not yet returned nor has he been anointed. The purpose of the seventy weeks of Daniel has not been fulfilled and it is not yet over.
The end of the shortened tribulation period gives room for another event that must take place. It is vital for us to see what this is. I leave you with these thoughts... can you see what happens during that space of time that is provided by the shortened tribulation? Notice: Isaiah26: 19-21, Daniel 12:11 and 12
While the subject of prophecy is a vast and controversial arena, it should not be shunned simply because it is a large undertaking. It is my intent to begin a regular series of "notes" that look at important aspects of the subject, which often have been overlooked at the expense of a correct prophetic viewpoint. In this late hour we cannot afford to miss the prophetic mark by much... if at all.
While the point of this post may be a relatively small matter, it is a most important truth that carries a large implication with it. The subject of this post is the great tribulation and its relationship to the seventieth week of Daniel. Quite often the tribulation and Daniel's seventieth week are taught to be one and the same... this is simply not true. Let us examine.
The great tribulation begins somewhere near the middle of Daniel's seventieth week at the abomination of desolation and lasts for about 3 and 1/2 years. Jesus said, "when ye therefore see the abomination of desolation... then shall be great tribulation." (Matt 24:15 & 21) He then adds a curious statement that those days (of tribulation) must be shortened in order for any flesh to be saved. It seems as if this shortening rolls back the tribulation so that it ends before the seventieth week is complete. It is clear that the tribulation is finished before the seventieth week is finished because Gabriel gives Daniel very specific purposes for the seventy weeks to accomplish (Daniel 9:24).
The final purpose of this period of time was declared to be the anointing of the most Holy. This is the installation of the king... King Jesus. Simply, Jesus must return before he is anointed. The signs of the coming of Jesus are declared to be the darkening of the sun and the moon, the disappearance of the stars, and the shaking of heaven. Verse 29 of the 24th chapter of Matthew tells us that these signs happen immediately after the tribulation. The tribulation is over at that point and Jesus has not yet returned nor has he been anointed. The purpose of the seventy weeks of Daniel has not been fulfilled and it is not yet over.
The end of the shortened tribulation period gives room for another event that must take place. It is vital for us to see what this is. I leave you with these thoughts... can you see what happens during that space of time that is provided by the shortened tribulation? Notice: Isaiah26: 19-21, Daniel 12:11 and 12
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