(The Book of Revelation) Mystery or Illumination - Part 2 — Shane Idleman

Scripture as the Authority Amid End-Times Disagreement

What I'm going to do, though, I don't know how many of you listened to part 1. It's good that you listened to part 1 as well. And this will be kind of the twin to that. But let me just tell you up front in case you didn't hear that.

I'm going to let Scripture speak for itself. Because great men of God, far smarter than me, theologians, doctorate degrees, they are divided. They are divided on the millennial reign. They are divided on the rapture.

Even though we know it's going to happen, they're divided on all these different things. Why? Because the Bible is not crystal clear on how, what, when, why, where in many areas. So we kind of have to fill in the blanks.

So if you gravitate towards Calvary Chapel style, you'll embrace that view. If you graduated from or listened to pastors from Dallas Theological Seminary, you will gravitate towards that view. If you are more of the reformed faith, you're going to gravitate towards that view.

So some people believe we are living in the millennial reign now because of some of the allegories in Revelation. And I'm not against allegory or metaphors or similes, those types of things. For example, sometimes we say, boy, those people are really locking horns on this issue.

Well, are they really locking horns? No, of course not. They are arguing, debating. And so we have things that we talk about. The Bible has things that it talks about that aren't really what the thing is, but it's using this thing to convey a message.

When Jesus said, I am the bread of life, He's not bread. I am living water. Well, He's not water like in the baptismal here. So the Bible does use imagery. It does use analogies and different things. So that's a whole different topic on itself.

You'd have to look at Old Testament imagery. If you listen to Idleman Unplugged, I would encourage you to scroll down in the Facebook feed or YouTube. And myself and Luke talked about different ways to interpret Scripture on looking at the law of first mention.

How was the word used in the Bible when it was first mentioned? And that will give you some type of consistency throughout the Bible to see how that word is used in the context, historically, and according to grammar rules and all these different things.

So what I'm going to do though is I'm just gonna read Scripture. I'm gonna let Scripture speak for itself because there are two groups listening, no doubt. One group has already made up their mind. They've got their eschatology down, their end times theology down.

Here's what they believe. And they just wanna see if I line up with what they believe. And then the other group that I would say majority of people are in, they are confused. They don't know what to believe.

They've heard the mark of the beast. They've heard one world government. They've heard antichrist. They've heard the tribulation. They heard the millennial reign of Christ and pre-trib and post-trib and all these different things.

So I'm just gonna allow Scripture to speak for itself because again, I can't say this is exactly what's going to happen. I don't wanna tell people, hey, before it gets really difficult, you're gonna be raptured out of here, so don't worry about it.

That to me, you could be really hurting people later on down the line. But we do know when God, I believe God pours out His wrath, His judgment, that believers are spared. We are not to experience the wrath of God.

But we will experience the wrath of evil rulers here on the planet Earth. So that's where it's hard to find that line of demarcation. Where is that line from God's judgment and tribulation and different things?

But I do know this, we will know at some point how it all pans out. And during that season of waiting, it can become a little difficult. It can be confusing. So I just like to read what the Scriptures say.

The Rapture and the Resurrection of Believers

So let's look first at the rapture. 1 Thessalonians 4, beginning in verse 13. I'm gonna actually read from the NIV version of the Bible. Paul is talking to the church and he's comforting them. He says, brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind who have no hope.

So these people are grieving, I believe, number one, because people have died and they don't know if did Jesus already return? Are we left here? What's going on? So there was a lot of uncertainty about what was happening.

So Paul said, listen, you have hope. You have hope in Jesus Christ for eternity. These people have no hope, they don't know Christ. So when a person dies, do not grieve because you will see them again.

For we believe that Jesus died and rose again. And so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. Now, this is not soul sleep. Some denominations, I wouldn't say denominations, I would say some cults teach soul sleep.

In other words, when you die, you're just asleep. And we know from Scripture that to be absent in this body is to be present with Christ. And we do know that unbelievers go somewhere awaiting their judgment.

So there is no sleeping. The soul cannot sleep because the soul of man is eternal, that being the spirit of man, however you wanna define that. So according to the Lord's word, we tell you that those who are still alive, so that would be talking to us now, those who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord.

So let's highlight that. The Lord is coming again. They will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep, those who are dead. So those of us who live now will not proceed, which is go first to be with Jesus or Jesus coming down to take us up.

We will not precede those. We will not go before those. The picture is all people. Revelation, I think I can read this later, where the sea gave up its dead and the land gave up its dead and we see that those who have died and those who are still alive when the Lord comes will be caught up together.

That's where the word rapture comes from. There's a catching up. There's a departing from the earth. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven. So the Lord himself will come down from heaven. He is coming down to heaven.

I'm sorry, from heaven with a loud command with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God. That's why some people when they read Revelation, they think that that trumpet, the call of God, in some of those cases is Jesus coming for his church.

And the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we are still alive and who are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

So we see this in scripture here, the Lord himself coming down from heaven and then others here and those who have died coming up and there's a catching up. There's a being caught up with Jesus Christ.

That's what is clearly taught. Now here's where it gets interesting because when the Bible says the Lord will come back, many people say that that is his second coming. They don't see that Jesus comes back for the rapture of the church and then later he comes again.

They are synonymous. They are together. Many great teachers teach this, good teachers I should say teach that the rapture here we're reading and his second coming are all one event. However, most of us including myself who've been taught over the years that there is a rapture of the church and then after the tribulation, after the millennial reign, then Jesus comes back at his second coming.

But what I want to do then is read scripture in context. So I just read 1 Thessalonians 4 and you can do this tonight. Read 1 Thessalonians 4 and remove the chapter and the verses just let the scripture flow.

Here's what it says. So the dead will be caught up together with those of us who are alive and so we will be with the Lord forever but concerning the times and the seasons brethren, you have no need that I should write you.

In other words, you know you can see the handwriting on the wall which many of us even can see now. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night for when they say peace, peace and safety then sudden destruction comes upon them.

And for me that can only mean when Jesus is coming, what people say is the rapture is actually his second coming because like a thief in the night he comes and people, there is terror, there is great fear and anxiety because like a thief in the night with sudden destruction he comes.

So personally just reading the scripture. That's why it says as labor pains, a pregnant woman has labor pains, they shall not escape but you brethren are not in darkness so that this day should not overtake you as a thief.

Therefore comfort one another and edify each other and in doing so you please God. So if you read all of chapter four and chapter five and first Thessalonians in context, again to me this is just my opinion how I read it.

It appears that when Jesus comes back in chapter four this is not just a nice coming. This is a coming where he is going to be like a thief in the night and sudden destruction will come upon the earth.

So personally where I'm at right now I see the rapture of the church and Jesus' second coming as one event, one fulfillment where I'm at. So you don't have to email me all these things. I've read tons of things.

I've seen all different sides but just reading scripture that's where I'm at right now in my position on eschatology. You ask 20 different people their views you'll probably get 20 different opinions.

And then, so that's what the rapture is. There's a Jesus whether you believe it's a separate from a second coming, whatever you believe, the dead in Christ are going to rise and those who are alive are going to be rise and be caught up with Jesus.

The Millennium and Satan's Release

That is coming, that is certain, that is a non-negotiable that Jesus is coming for his church. And then we have something that's called the millennium. Revelation 20, and he laid hold of the dragon and that serpent of old who is the devil and Satan and bound him for a thousand years and he threw him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over so that he would not deceive the nations any longer.

I wish it ended there but it doesn't. Until the thousand years were completed after these things he must be released again for a short time. Why couldn't this joker just go to the lake of fire and be done with?

Why is he released again? So, here's where it gets interesting. I looked up the eight times that a thousand years is mentioned in the Bible. And every single time it's not a literal thousand years. So again, just my opinion, my own study in this.

I'll give you two examples. Psalm 94, chapter 90 verse four, for a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it passes by or as a watch in the night. And then Ecclesiastes six, chapter six verse six, even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy good things, do not all go to one place.

And there's other examples, it's not a thousand years but one day to the Lord. So, that's why people don't take this thousand year reign as a literal thousand years. They also know that the devil is not bound by a big chain.

Like you see those big chains that hold a battleship in place on the dock. I mean, he's not bound by a physical chain. So, we do see some of these things here. If you're wanting to know my opinion, what I read into this, to me it looks like the millennial reign, this period here is an actual thousand years.

If you're just asking my opinion, and why do I say that? Because I'm going to read scripture. Then I saw thrones and they sat on them and judgment was given to them. And so people are going to sit on thrones and judge during this period.

So, that's why again, I'm thinking it could be a legitimate thousand year period because he's giving a synopsis of what is happening during this period. And I saw the souls of those who have been beheaded because of their testimony during this time of Jesus and because of the word of God.

And those who had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received the mark. It's interesting, Revelation never talks about the Antichrist. That word is not in Revelation. The Revelation talks about the beast and the false prophet.

These massive deceivers that come into our world and deceive many. That's just a side note, by the way. So, whoever takes the mark of the beast, whoever worships the beast, on their forehead and on their hand, what happens to these people?

It says right here, those who have not worshiped the beast and have taken his mark. So, those who reject the mark of the beast, whatever that mark is, we'll talk about that in a minute. Those who reject that are beheaded and they are killed.

So, again, he's talking about this millennial period. Now, I should clarify, last week, I mentioned that John MacArthur caught a lot of heat because he said that after a person gets the mark of the beast, they can repent later on.

Now, some of you should listen to that sermon again because I did not say that's what I'm saying. I actually said I wouldn't say that, I wouldn't word it that way. I said you have to be careful. We don't wanna offer people that type of false hope.

However, I can see where, because Scripture is not crystal clear on this issue, but it does give hints that once you take that mark, once you deny Jesus in this area, there is a sealing that could take place.

It doesn't say that, but there are hints here and there. I'm gonna read in just a minute. So, my thought is, I don't know if a person can repent and believe after they take the mark. I would lean towards saying no.

Once they make that decision, their conscience has been seared and they have rejected Jesus Christ right then and there and they take this mark of identification with the Antichrist system. So, it's a very serious matter.

So, it says those who did not accept the mark on their forehead or on their hand. Oh, it actually says on their forehead and on their hand. So, this is interesting because some people say it's one or the other.

It could be both and it might not even be a mark on a forehead or a hand. I'll talk about that in a minute. And these people who rejected the Antichrist, they came to life and they reigned with Christ for 1 ,000 years.

So, again, the wording of this, if you actually look up the Greek and it takes a little bit of time and you look at the sentence structure of it, it could mean an actual period of 1 ,000 years. However, if it doesn't, no skin off my back.

Jesus conquers this joker and Jesus prevails in the end. How that all unfolds, I'm gonna let God worry about that. And some of you, I think, you get too caught up in eschatology. You call people false prophets that don't agree with you on the non-essentials.

That's wrong and that's prideful and that's arrogant and it needs to be repented of. It's a rebellious, critical spirit that you have. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1 ,000 years were complete.

So, see, the picture he's painting is an actual 1 ,000 year period in my mind reading the text. So, the rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1 ,000 years were complete. So, there's this 1 ,000 year of millennial reign.

Another reason people would think that there needs to be a millennial reign is because some of the fulfillments of Christ on His throne would come to, in the Old Testament, would come to fulfillment here in the words of John the Revelator.

This is the first resurrection, okay? This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power. So, the first resurrection is those who believe in Jesus Christ.

They are saved, they are sealed by the Holy Spirit. That is the first resurrection. They are brought to life, the newness in Christ. They are sealed. But the second death, the second resurrection is very, very alarming to many people and it should be because the Bible says man is appointed once to death, once, once.

And then after that, the judgment. There's a judgment after that and it's often called the second death. Isn't that interesting? The first death is a physical sensation of life. The body dies physically, the first death.

But then there's the judgment and the soul or the spirit, whatever you wanna call that aspect that lives on in eternity, that person is judged and that becomes the second death. And that, because death is separation from God.

So, the first death is the body is separated. The second death is the spirit is separated from God, the second death. And let me reassure you that that death is far greater than the first death. We should actually not fear the first death.

Nobody should fear death. Granted, I'm not looking forward to it. I don't wanna know how it happens. I've got things to do. God has called me here for a season. But ultimately, and then fear comes in our mind sometimes and we don't wanna, people say, do you wanna burn to death or do you wanna drown?

I don't wanna do either. I just wanna go to sleep and I want God to take me. But there's a hope and our hope isn't here. Our hope is in Jesus Christ because we will not experience the second death, which is judgment.

So, he says, blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over you, but you'll be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for 1 ,000 years.

So, this is, I believe, when we are reigning with Christ and it's a literal 1 ,000 years because of the context of this, in my opinion. I know people like Sam Storm, a person I highly respect, would probably disagree with me on this and others.

And that says, when the 1 ,000 years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison. Now, there's a lot of speculation. He is bound, which means his influence is bound, but then there's a time, a short time, where he's released again.

And I personally don't know the exact purpose of that. So, that is the millennium. That's the millennial reign of Christ. So, when people say, are you premillennial or postmillennial, or I don't know if midmillennial is probably not a belief.

Mid-tribulation is and different things. But premillennial, a person believes that Jesus is coming back before the millennial reign. Second, postmillennial believes differently in that. And you can Google it, study it.

Daniel's Seventy Weeks and the Antichrist Question

There's a lot of information out there. Take me many, many months to fully unpack this topic. And then we talk about, we want to talk about the Antichrist. The Antichrist. He is mentioned in Revelation.

I'm sorry, he's not mentioned in Revelation. Just the beast is, what I said earlier. And I like what Sam Storm said. Sam Storm, I'm open, but I'm not entirely convinced. So, that's where I'm at in this journey of eschatology.

Over 20 years, why I haven't really taught on it in a firm way, because it's kind of fluid. It's, I don't know, I don't want to say, thus saith the Lord, on things that are not really clear. But I'm open.

I'm open to the current understanding, but I'm not yet entirely convinced. Let me read to you, Daniel 9 24. 70 weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgressions, to put an end to sin, and to make atonement for the iniquity, to bring everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place.

Now, most agree that this is talking about Jesus and him coming, and that fulfillment. And then verse 25. Know and understand this from the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and 62 weeks.

It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress. Most would agree this is referring, especially if I could put up a big calendar here of the exact time when the decree went out and Cyrus is involved and there's a decree and Daniel wrote about it.

And then you have Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra going first, then Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem. Ezra the temple, Nehemiah the wall. And you see this fulfillment is happening. It's actually amazing to look at the dates.

Then after the 62 weeks, the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Many would say this is a crucifixion on the cross if you look at the dates of this prophecy. Now, here's where it gets interesting.

Then the people of the Prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. Then the end will come like a flood. And until the end, there will be war. Desolations have been decreed. And then verse 27, and he will confirm a covenant with many for one week.

So, some people, I don't know how the word he becomes the antichrist because it doesn't really say that. Now, you can say the Prince who is to come is this. Some people say it was Titus who conquered Jerusalem in 70 AD.

But for me, just reading this, especially when it goes on to say, he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. That's why some people believe that this is referring to Jesus Christ putting an end to sacrifice and offering by his ultimate sacrifice on the cross.

And on the wing of the temple will come the abomination that causes desolation until the decree, destruction is poured out upon him. So, many would see that the wrath of God is being poured out on Jesus Christ.

Now, again, like I said earlier, I'm gonna read it to you. I'm open, but I'm not entirely convinced. I'm open that this passage could be talking about an antichrist, a leader that will make a covenant with Israel and break that covenant.

Personally, I've read Revelation many times. I've read it all in one day. I've studied both sides. I can't make that connection unequivocally without a shadow of a doubt. This is what's going to happen.

I just think there's too many loose ends. There's too many what ifs. There's too much speculation to know and wonder how did this he, this prince who is to come, he will confirm a covenant. How did this he become the antichrist when actually the context, the context of that whole passage is talking about Jesus?

So, that's where I'm at right now. Going forward in 10 years, you can ask me again, and we will probably know more. But I do see the nation of Israel when it was rebuilt. I see the focus there. I see that many of the blessings given to Abram in the nation of Israel have been fulfilled by the church.

I do see that, but I do see also running parallel. Just to me, there appears to be a plan for Israel and a plan for the church. I'm not, I don't embrace covenant theology. I don't embrace replacement theology where the church has replaced Israel completely.

I'm open on both issues, but I think there's a plan for Israel based on the, look at this little speck of land over there and all the turmoil about it. It was rebuilt in the 1948 war and different things.

And Jerusalem is now, the embassy has been moved and the attacks against Israel. And you see a lot of reports out there that they're wanting to build another temple. And that's where I have another problem with the millennial reign as well.

Why would God want a temple and sacrifices? And people say, well, it's just a memorial. And no, that's not a good memorial. That's a blasphemous memorial. So is Ezekiel talking about something different?

That's why I'm saying there's so much speculation out there, but I do see that there could be a plan for Israel. And I do see that God is still concerned about that area of property, in my opinion. And how he said, David, I will bless it.

I will bless you down through all generations. All nations will be blessed because of you. So I can't make that separation, even though I do see some of the promises. The Gentiles have been grafted in, so to speak, and we receive many of the blessings of Israel in that covenant relationship.

So that's why many people see it running two different ways, the church and Israel. And we will know in the end how that all plays out. You can also see how they could be the epicenter of what is taking place here in the future with a one world government.

And the reason I lean towards a lot of what is taught with one world government and the one world leader and the mark is because that's where it looks like everything is going. We are, with this coronavirus, it has completely gotten out of control politically, and they're using it as a weapon.

You can see how they could bring fear into the lives of millions, if not billions of people, people crying out for a one world system, a one world leader, and then you have to have allegiance to that leader, and you can't buy or sell or do anything without your allegiance to that leader.

The Beast, the Mark, and False Signs

We're seeing that unfold in China right now, so I can definitely see how we are moving in that direction. So with that said, the mark of the beast, well, that comes from Revelation 13. Revelation 13, you can begin reading in verse 11.

Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, and it spoke like a dragon. Don't try to guess what this is. I've seen many people have different views on this. All we know is that John saw this image, and it exercises all the authority of the first beast and in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast.

So here we see a hierarchy, a trinity, if you will, of the antichrist spirit of the false prophet, the beast, that you have, they're working in unison here, two different people. And they even have fire come down from heaven.

They perform great signs. So this is interesting. I don't know how that is going to happen. That's gonna be a miraculous working of evil. And by the signs, they're allowed to work in the presence of the beast.

It deceives those who dwell on the earth. So this is why we have to be careful. Signs and wonders and these amazing things aren't necessarily an indication that God is in it. False prophets can do false things.

We don't really see that to the magnitude that Moses saw it or that we read about here, but it can and it will happen. Jesus said, many will come to me in that day and say, we did all these things in your name, casting out demons and doing great things.

And he says, depart from me, I don't know you, those who practice lawlessness. So picking up, the beast deceives those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

So we see this false system. There will be something, an image that is worshiped. And if somebody tries to tell you exactly what it is, be careful because we do not know. It's fun to speculate, but we do not know.

And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. They would kill those who don't worship him.

Also causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, slave and free to be marked on the right hand or the forehead so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark. That is the name of the beast or the number of its name.

So that's where the mark of the beast comes from. There's a clear warning that there's going to be some type of system that you have to have a mark on you. There's something that indicates you, that gives an indication what side are you on.

And that's why personally I think this November election and political issues are so important. This is why many don't want to talk about it. This is why the other party doesn't like me talking about it because it upsets things and it ignites things.

And leaders are going to play a huge role in the direction of our nation. If you see the wrong person in office in November, you can kiss your Christian liberties goodbye. I think that things like this could be magnified and multiplied much sooner if the wrong people are in positions of leadership.

So no one could buy or sell. This calls for wisdom. Let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast for its number is that number of a man. And that number is 666. Isn't it interesting?

God's numbers of completion and perfection, 777. This takes on 666. And as I talked about last week, you want to listen to that message. If you look at the Hebrew numerical value of the letters for Nero, Caesar, Caesar, Nero, it comes out to 666.

Was John writing this letter to warn the early church about Caesar, Nero? And I explained that last week. I'm not convinced of that, but that is one idea out there. But my thoughts on this are a few and I want to share them with you.

It's a symbol of who you will follow. It may not be a mark, a mark, an actual mark, marked by, the Bible talks about being marked by God. You are a child of God. You are marked with his spirit. So Christians will have the spirit of God.

Others will not. There will be a mark. So it could be physical. It could be something on forehead or on your hand, or the big thing right now is vaccines and having a chip. There could be a chip implanted.

Now, let me just encourage you a little bit. Nobody's gonna sneak something into you. Like, I got this vaccine. Oh no, I took the mark of the beast. No, it's gonna be clear. It's gonna be so clear that people will lose their life over it.

So you will have to make a decision, those who are here, depending on your rapture eschatology. See where this gets interesting. So you're gonna have to make a decision. Accept the false system, the godless system, and be identified with them, and then you can buy and sell and different things, or be marked by God and be cast off from this world system.

And Kanye West is in the news again. I don't know if you can be surprised by that, but he said that COVID -19 vaccine is a mark of the beast, and Hank Hanegraaff responded. You can read that article. I think if you just Google Kanye West, says COVID -19 vaccine is a mark of the beast.

Hank Hanegraaff responds. Actually, Hank Hanegraaff, a while ago, probably over a decade ago, came out, and he said he embraced the all-millennial view that revelation was fulfilled when Titus conquered the city of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

Very interesting. He caught a lot of flack for that, and I'm not sure why, because people should have different views on this, but it really ruffles people's feathers if you don't gravitate towards their view, trust me.

So the forehead and the hands, here's what's interesting about the forehead and the hands. What I talked about, look at Old Testament imagery. Old Testament imagery. When they would talk about writing things on their forehead or things on their hands, it was always a symbol of their belief and their behavior.

They would not take some charcoal from a fire, and when God said, write something on your hand or write something on your forehead, it was always in relation to their behavior and to their action. So this mark might be more in aligned with how we behave and how we act, who we identify with.

Now, I do find it interesting, the Federal Reserve is working on digital currency as we speak. They want to replace the dollar. So you can see a lot of this is coming to be fulfilled. That's why I don't put an early date on the book of Revelation.

I don't think it was necessarily pertaining to AD 70, even though there are some interesting connections. I see a lot of this being fulfilled now. So they want to get rid of the dollar and move to digital currency based on something called blockchain technology.

Blockchain technology. Now, I'm not an expert on explaining this, but let me try. If you take a Google document and you share it, I just did this today for this sermon, actually. Sent it to the office here to have it be printed.

I didn't give them something and exchange something or lose something. We actually gave a document that we can now all share and now all access at the same time. So it's different than printed money going from one person to the next.

It's a shared resource. And you can all look at it at the same time. Now, there's some pros and cons to this. I'm, I don't like it because the Bible seems to speak ill of it. So, but they are gonna present it as this wonderful thing and it might have benefits.

I don't think it won't have benefits, but you should be strategic on how you plan ahead, having cash on hand, a little gold or silver, or you wanna be strategic. And there was something out there on Facebook that Dave Ramsey said, here's why we don't wanna go cashless.

This is what a cashless society will do. But you have to fact check these. He actually put on Twitter. He said, this is not me. I did not say that. And that article has some good points on what cashless society means.