Making Sense of the End Times

Dr. Lance W. Haverkamp

 i

©2011 Lance W. Haverkamp, licensed under Matthew 10:8b.

That means you are encouraged to make copies and give them away to your friends and neighbors. Work
through a packet with the cult member that comes knocking at your door. Use them in a Bible Study at
your home or congregation.

Bible versions quoted include:

The World English Bible™ a Public Domain translation of the Holy Bible, published by Rainbow Missions,
Inc., Michael Paul Johnson Sr. Editor.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by
Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

This was typeset and produced using Free Open Source Software on Linux. LYX was used for typesetting
and layout. Lance offers his sincere thanks to all who work in Free Open Source Software.
Chapter 1

The Problem

Many wild interpretations have been made to explain the “end of the age” in scripture. This study is an
attempt to understand what Jesus actually said. To examine the prophecies and their fulfillment. And
ultimately, to accurately understand Revelation and the meaning of the “end times.” Like most Christians
alive today in North America, I was taught that the prophecy in Revelation was a depiction of the end of the
physical world at some future date unknown to all but God. While a Bible student I determined to discover
how the early believers could have been so wrong on the date of Christ’s return, now two thousand years
and counting.

I quickly learned where the early Church got the idea of a first-century return:

1. It doesn’t take much of a Bible scholar to realize that the early Church expected Christ to return soon;
after all, over 100 verses of Scripture clearly told the early believers that Christ would return soon.
2. Jesus told his followers “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things
happen.” (Mark 13:20, Luke 21:32, & Matthew 24:34)
3. Jesus told the High-Priest Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin that they would see Him return in the clouds.
(Matthew 26, Mark 14, & Luke 22)

So, either there are some 2,000 year-old Jews running around the hills of Israel, or our Theology has a
problem...this can’t be right, I told myself, there must be another explanation:

Bad translation? No, there are over 100 verses teaching an eminent return, and none whatsoever teach a
distant return, so it can’t be some minor translation error.
The disciples misunderstood? How could they? Christ’s words are quite clear, and if they got something
that clear, that wrong, how can we take any of the disciples’ writings seriously. Questioning the com-
petence of the disciples on such a broad scale challenges the authenticity of the entire New Testament
canon.
2,000 years? Some say that Jesus’ reference to “this generation” means the age of the Church, now 2,000
years and counting. First, the Church had not even been established when Christ said this, but even
if I could get past that; it doesn’t explain how Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin would see Jesus return in
the clouds.
Jesus was wrong? Well, that has been the opinion of many. Even C.S. Lewis believed this, calling Matthew
24:34 the “most embarrassing verse in the Bible.” But this means Christ was imperfect; He didn’t
understand God’s timing and made a mistake, incorrectly relaying a soon fulfillment.

1
CHAPTER 1. THE PROBLEM 2

He lied? If Jesus wasn’t wrong, He lied? Well, I don’t think a lying savior is any more palatable than a
flawed savior. Besides, what would be His motive for lying? If he didn’t want to tell us, He would
have honestly told the disciples you don’t need to know.
Didn’t know everything? Recently some have decided that Christ must have chosen not to know every-
thing while in His human form. Perhaps...but He didn’t say that He didn’t know, He told them it
would be during their lifetimes. This also logically circles-back to an imperfect Christ.

Sorry, none of those explanations are acceptable to any kind of literal interpretation. The deity of Christ. A
truthful, reliable Gospel. These doctrinal beliefs prevent all but the most figurative of Bible students from
accepting these radical interpretations, yet that is exactly what has happened.
Chapter 2

What Jesus actually said & some Biblical

prophecy

Let’s see what the Bible says:

Read: Mark 9:1, Mark 13:30, Matthew 16:28 When did Jesus say he would return?

Read: Matthew 26:57-67, Luke 9:27 Who did Jesus say would still be alive by the time He returned?

Read: Daniel 12 In verses 8-9 God told Danial (around 550 BC) to seal-up this prophecy until when?

Read: Revelation 22:6-20 In verse 10, God told John (around 65 AD) not to seal-up this prophecy, why?

Read: Matthew 10:5-23 In verses 5-6, were the twelve disciples sent to convert the whole world, or just the
Jews?

In verse 7, when did Jesus tell them to preach that the Kingdom of Heaven was?

In verse 23, when the disciples flee, how far away could they get from persecution before Christ’s return?

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:42-45 In verse 44, the bodies of the dead are buried (sown) physically and raised how?

3
CHAPTER 2. BIBLE ACTUALLY SAYS 4

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:50-52 Can flesh and blood inherit the Kingdom of God?

For Confirmation Read: Ecclesiastes 12:7 Where does our dust return to?

Who does our spirit return to for judgment?

Read: Luke 20:34-35 Will we have the same kind of family relationships in God’s Kingdom?

Read: Matthew 24:14 What must happen before the end of the age?

Read: Colossians 1:23, Acts 17:6, Colossians 1:5-6 Has the good news been preached to the “whole world?”

When end-times prophecy in the Bible says the “whole world” is that to be understood literally (the entire
plant) or symbolically (the world as the Jews knew it)?

See Appendix A for a list of 101 Scriptures teaching a “soon” fulfillment.

Chapter 3

Revelation Overview

Many authors have written many books to explain the meaning of Revelation:

• Some authors depict a future nuclear holocaust

• Other authors have accused the villain as being Hitler or even the Pope
• A few authors see Revelation as a metaphor of an ongoing battle between good and evil
• There is also a very, very simple—almost obvious interpretation. If you know where to look, all the
“complicated” sections of Revelation are explained elsewhere in the Bible. This makes Revelation
very easy to understand, so let’s look at this interpretation:

Summary Introduction: The first three chapters include a brief introduction followed by seven separate
messages conveyed by the author to seven churches in the Roman province of Asia. The larger themes
of the book: judgment, salvation, the coming of the Messiah, etc. are exposed in these messages,
each of which is told specifically to the respective congregation. Each message examines how that
congregation is doing, and tells it what change, if any, needs to be made. Each is presented with a
choice: to be faithful or not to be faithful, each section ending with: "He who has an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit says to the churches" (Rev. 2:7, etc.).

Main Story: In chapters 4-20 we read a prophecy about a dreadful combination of natural disasters and
war. It is a conflict, both earthly and spiritual, between the forces of good and evil. The “Lamb”
(Christ) saves His people from the tribulation, destroys the wicked, and ushers in an age of peace.
After the age of peace, there is a second, brief time of trouble which results in the permanent banish-
ment of the wicked. This prophecy was fulfilled, as promised—shortly after Revelation was written,
by the horrible events surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD.
Conclusion: The last two chapters tell us the results, both earthly and heavenly, of this dreadful “Day of
the Lord”: A (spiritually) new heaven and earth replace the old, and the people of God live in a city
described as the “new Jerusalem.” This new Jerusalem, however, is not real, Galatians 4 tells us it’s an
analogy for the New Covenant. Finally we learn that the gates of Heaven never close so that, as those
in Christ die, they too can join with God and Christ in Heaven.

5
CHAPTER 3. REVELATION OVERVIEW 6

Simple explanation of the “difficult” section

In Revelation we see two women, the prostitute and the bride. We are told they represent two cities, called
Babylon (which must be symbolic, as the real Babylon had been destroyed centuries earlier) and a New
Jerusalem (as yet undisclosed). These two women are two wives. The bride is obviously a wife (Rev.
21:9), but it is easy to miss that the prostitute is also a wife, a widowed wife (Rev. 18:7). The prostitute,
who is unfaithful Israel, (cf. Deut. 31:16-20, Ezek. 16, 23) became a widow when she had her husband
(Jesus) killed. She denies this, claiming that she is still a queen (Matt. 21:5), that she is still God’s wife (cf.
Hosea 2:2-4). The widowed wife (the prostitute) is judged and destroyed in Revelation 17-18 and then God
marries his new covenant bride in Revelation 19. God told Moses that this would happen to His unfaithful,
old covenant people:

Yahweh [Jehovah, God] said to Moses, “Behold, you shall sleep with your fathers; and this people will
rise up, and play the prostitute after the strange gods of the land, where they go to be among them,
and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them. Then my anger shall be
kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they
shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall come on them; so that they will say in that day,
‘Haven’t these evils come on us because our God is not among us?’ Deuteronomy 31:16-17 (WEB)
emphasis added

There is a parallel story of the two women/cities in Galatians 4:21-31. We are told about two wives, Hagar
and Sarah, who correspond to two cities, physical Jerusalem and heavenly Jerusalem. We are told that
these two women/cities are symbolic of two communities of people, those under the old covenant and
those under the new covenant.

Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham
had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman. However, the son by the handmaid was
born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise. These things
contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to
bondage, which is Hagar. For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that
exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the
mother of us all. For it is written,
“Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear.
Break forth and shout, you that don’t travail.
For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband.”
Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But as then, he who was born according to the
flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. However what does the
Scripture say? “Throw out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the handmaid will not inherit with
the son of the free woman.” So then, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.
Galatians 4:21-31 (WEB) emphasis added

It should be obvious that the “Jerusalem that is above” of Galatians 4:26 corresponds to the “New Jerusalem”
which comes down out of heaven, Revelation 21:2, 10); but how does the mystery Babylon correspond to
Jerusalem? Babylon is called “the great city” in Revelation (Rev. 14:8; 18:21); elsewhere in Revelation we
are told that “the great city” is where Jesus was crucified (Rev. 11:8). Remember your high school math, “If
A= B and B=C then A=C”: If the great city is where Jesus was crucified, and Babylon is the great city, then
the mystery Babylon is the city where Jesus was crucified—Jerusalem!

Revelation is talking about the exact same subject as Galatians; both books are contrasting the exact same
two “cities” (called physical Jerusalem and heavenly Jerusalem in Galatians, called mystery Babylon and
CHAPTER 3. REVELATION OVERVIEW 7

the New or heavenly Jerusalem in Revelation). They are named after Abraham’s two wives, Hagar and
Sarah, in Galatians. They represent the widowed prostitute and the bride in Revelation. The two women of
Galatians and Revelation represent two communities, those under the old and new covenants. Notice that
while the city of Jerusalem is mentioned in Galatians, it is representing all those under the old covenant not
just the city of Jerusalem—it says so, right there in verse 24.

In Revelation, as in Galatians (4:29), one women persecutes the other (the prostitute persecutes the bride,
Revelation 17:6 cf. Revelation 18:24, Matt. 23:29-37). Similarly in Revelation, as in Galatians, one of the
two women is cast out (the prostitute is destroyed Revelation 18:21) while the other woman receives her
inheritance (the Lord takes the bride as His wife). This explains why the very next subject after Babylon’s
destruction is the wedding of the bride (Revelation 19:1-10; cf. Matthew 21:33-45). God has the beast
dispose of His unfaithful old covenant wife (who irrevocably broke her covenant of marriage with God
and became a widow when she had Jesus killed) and then marries his faithful new covenant bride. Again,
the subject of Revelation is exactly the same as Galatians 4:21-31. Both are talking about two women who
are two wives and two cities; these things represent the two covenants and those who are part of them
(“which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants” Galatians 4:24). The preceding section was inspired by, and based
on, a public posting by Duncan McKenzie; emphasis added

Paul and John are using the exact same illustration, the wives, to teach about the changing of the covenants,
from old to new. Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, uses a more direct explanation. John, in Revelation, uses
the vivid imagery of his vision. But make no mistake—they’re the exact same story, using the exact same
illustration. In Galatians 4:24 Paul tells us exactly what it’s about; the transitioning from the old covenant
to the new covenant. That was pretty easy wasn’t it!

The end of Revelation

The last three chapters of the entire Bible, mirror the very first three Chapters of the entire Bible, Genesis
1-3, in astounding detail. The Genesis side of the story is the earthly paradise lost, while the Revelation
side of the story is heavenly paradise found, as the following comparison shows:

Genesis 1-3 Revelation 20-22

The old creation, and what we lost in Eden
The new creation, and what we receive in Heaven "In
the beginning God created the heavens and the
earth". (Gen. 1:1)
"The darkness He called Night". (Gen. 1:5)
"God made two great lights (sun and moon)".
(Gen. 1:16)
"In the day that you eat of it you will surely die".
(Gen. 2:17)
Satan appears as the deceiver of mankind. (Gen. 3:1)
Shown a garden into which defilement entered.
(Gen. 3:6-7)
Walk of God with people interrupted. (Gen. 3:8-10)
Initial victory of the Serpent. (Gen. 3:13)
God multiplies sorrow and pain. (Gen. 3:16)
"Cursed is the ground for your sake". (Gen. 3:17)
Man’s dominion broken in the fall of the first man,
Adam. (Gen. 3:19)
First paradise closed. (Gen. 3:23)
Access to the tree of life disinherited to Adam.
(Gen. 3:24)
They were driven from God’s presence. (Gen. 3:24)
The new creation, and what we receive in Heaven
"I saw a new heaven and a new earth". (Rev. 21:1)
"There will be no night there". (Rev. 21 :25)
"The city had no need of the sun or of the moon".
(Rev. 21 :23)
"There will be no more death, nor sorrow". (Rev. 21:4)
Satan disappears forever. (Rev. 20:10)
Shown a city into which "there will by no means
enter...anything that defiles". (Rev. 21:27)
Walk of God with people restored. (Rev. 21:3)
Ultimate victory of the Lamb. (Rev. 20:10; 22:3)
"And there will be no more pain". (Rev. 21:4)
"And there will be no more curse". (Rev. 22:3)
Man’s dominion restored in the rule of the New
Man, Christ. (Rev. 22:5)
New paradise opened. (Rev. 21:25)
Access to the tree of life reinstated in Christ.
(Rev. 22:14)
"They will see His face". (Rev. 22:4)
Chapter 4

Some Specific Questions from

Revelation Addressed

The Tribulation
Question: When did the Great Tribulation take place?
Answer: Historical records tell us that in year 63 A.D. the Jewish people revolted against Rome, which gave
way to a hellish seven year period in which millions of Jewish people died, the Temple was destroyed
and the city of Jerusalem demolished. The seven-year period of tribulation spoken of in Daniel can be
traced accurately and exactly to be the seven years beginning in A.D. 63 and ending in A.D. 70. The
Jewish-Roman historian Flavius Josephus, in his volume Wars of the Jews, documents, in detail, this
terrible period of time and points out numerous instances of prophetic fulfillment. Other historians
wrote of this as well. In the Great Tribulation from 63-70 AD both Jewish and Roman historians
recorded seeing angels battling in the clouds above the city. Many other end-of-the-age prophecies
were fulfilled at that time.

Eyewitness & Historical accounts:

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Where did they expect to meet Jesus?

Read: Matthew 24.

Question: When did all the prophetic miracles of Revelation and Matthew 24 happen, and are they recorded?
Answer: Many of the miracles and predictions made in Matthew 24 and Revelation have been recorded by
a Jewish-Roman historian named Josephus in his account War of the Jews during 70 AD. Below are
just a few examples, translated long ago into an older style of English:

“Now, there was then a great number of false prophets suborned by the tyrants to impose upon the
people, who denounced this to them, that they should wait for deliverance from God: and this was in order

8
CHAPTER 4. SPECIFIC QUESTIONS 9

to keep them from deserting, and that they might be buoyed up above fear and care by such hopes.” (Wars
of the Jews 6.5.2)
“Thus were the miserable people persuaded by these deceivers, and such as belied God himself; while
they did not attend, nor give credit, to the signs that were so evident and did so plainly foretell their
future desolation; but, like men infatuated, without either eyes to see, or minds to consider, did not regard
the denunciations that God made to them. Thus there was a star resembling a sword, which stood over
the city, and a comet, that continued a whole year. Thus also, before the Jews’ rebellion, and before those
commotions which preceded the war, when the people were come in great crowds to the feast of unleavened
bread, on the eighth day of the month Xanthicus [Nisan], and at the ninth hour of the night, so great a
light shone round the altar and the holy house, that it appeared to be bright day time; which light lasted
for half an hour. This light seemed to be a good sign to the unskillful, but was so interpreted by the sacred
scribes, as to portend those events that followed immediately upon it.” (Wars of the Jews 6.5.3)
“So these publicly declared, that this signal foreshowed the desolation that was coming upon them.
Besides these, a few days after that feast, on the twenty-first day of the month Artemisius, a certain
prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared; I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable,
were it not related by those that saw it, and were not the events that followed it of so considerable a
nature as to deserve such signals; for, before sunsetting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor
were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities. Moreover at that feast which we
call Pentecost, as the priests were going by night into the inner Temple, as their custom was, to perform
their sacred ministrations, they said that, in the first place, they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise,
and after that they heard a sound as of a great multitude, saying, “Let us remove hence.” (Wars of the
Jews 6.5.3)

Question: Did anyone else beside Josephus record these miracles?

Answer: Yes, Eusebius, Tacitus and Josippon all recorded some of these events.

In his book Historia Ecclesiastica, Book 3, Chapter 8, Eusebius wrote:

1. “Thus were the miserable people won over at this time by the impostors and false prophets; but they did not heed
nor give credit to the visions and signs that foretold the approaching desolation. On the contrary, as if struck
by lightning, and as if possessing neither eyes nor understanding, they slighted the proclamations of God.”
2. “At one time a star, in form like a sword, stood over the city [Jerusalem], and a comet, which lasted for a whole
year; and again before the revolt and before the disturbances that led to the war, when the people were gathered
for the feast of unleavened bread, on the eighth of the month Xanthicus, at the ninth hour of the night, so great
a light shone about the altar and the temple that it seemed to be bright day; and this continued for half an hour.
This seemed to the unskillful a good sign, but was interpreted by the sacred scribes as portending those events
which very soon took place.”
3. “And at the same feast a cow, led by the high priest to be sacrificed, brought forth a lamb in the midst of the
temple.”
4. “And the eastern gate of the inner temple, which was of bronze and very massive, and which at evening was
closed with difficulty by twenty men, and rested upon iron-bound beams, and had bars sunk deep in the ground,
was seen at the sixth hour of the night to open of itself.”
5. “And not many days after the feast, on the twenty-first of the month Artemisium, a certain marvelous vision
was seen which passes belief. The prodigy might seem fabulous were it not related by those who saw it, and were
not the calamities which followed deserving of such signs. For before the setting of the sun chariots and armed
troops were seen throughout the whole region in mid-air, wheeling through the clouds and encircling the cities.”
6. “And at the feast which is called Pentecost, when the priests entered the temple at night, as was their custom,
to perform the services, they said that at first they perceived a movement and a noise, and afterward a voice as
of a great multitude, saying, ‘Let us go hence.”
CHAPTER 4. SPECIFIC QUESTIONS 10

Tacitus, one of the most important historians of Roman Antiquity, also recorded some prophetic fulfillment
events in his book Historiae, Book Five:

“Prodigies had occurred, which this nation, prone to superstition, but hating all religious rites, did
not deem it lawful to expiate by offering and sacrifice. There had been seen hosts [angels] joining battle
in the skies, the fiery gleam of arms, the temple illuminated by a sudden radiance from the clouds. The
doors of the inner shrine were suddenly thrown open, and a voice of more than mortal tone was heard to
cry that the Gods were departing. At the same instant there was a mighty stir as of departure. Some few
put a fearful meaning on these events, but in most there was a firm persuasion, that in the ancient records
of their priests was contained a prediction of how at this very time the East was to grow powerful, and
rulers, coming from Judaea, were to acquire universal empire. These mysterious prophecies had pointed
to Vespasian and Titus, but the common people, with the usual blindness of ambition, had interpreted
these mighty destinies of themselves, and could not be brought even by disasters to believe the truth. I
have heard that the total number of the besieged, of every age and both sexes, amounted to six hundred
thousand.”

Sefer Yosippon (A Medieval History of Ancient Israel) written by Josippon or Joseph ben Gorion, translated
from the Hebrew by Steven B. Bowman. Excerpts from Chapter 87 “Burning of the Temple”:

For one year before Vespasian came, a single great star shining like unsheathed swords was seen over
the Temple. And in those days when the sign was seen it was the holiday of Passover and during that
entire night the Temple was lit up and illuminated like the light of day, and thus it was all seven days of
the Passover. All the sages of Jerusalem knew that it was a malevolent sign, but the rest of the ignorant
people said that it was a benevolent sign.
. . . Now it happened after this that there was seen from above over the Holy of Holies for the whole
night the outline of a man’s face, the like of whose beauty had never been seen in all the land, and his
appearance was quite awesome.
Moreover, in those days were seen chariots of fire and horsemen, a great force flying across the sky
near to the ground coming against Jerusalem and all the land of Judah, all of them horses of fire and riders
of fire. When the holiday of Shavu’oth came in those days, during the night the priests heard within the
Temple something like the sound of men going and the sound of men marching in a multitude going into
the Temple, and a terrible and mighty voice was heard speaking: “Let’s go and leave this House.”

144,000

Read: Revelation 7 In verse 14, where did the 144,000 come out of?

There has long been an argument within Christianity about whether some are chosen by God (also known
as Election or Fore-Ordination), or whether all people have free-will to accept or reject God’s free gift of
Salvation. This is frequently referred to as the battle between Calvinism and Arminianism. Taking what
we’ve learned about the end of the age, a fresh look at the 144,000 should, once and for all, answer this
dilemma:

As we read, the 144,000 were elected (chosen), by God, to be raptured out of the seven year tribulation from
63-70 AD. Election and rapture has already been completed. “Election” was an eschatological (end-of-the-
age) concept, it dealt only with who was pulled-out of the tribulation. Election was never a soteriological
(salvation) concept. Election did not save the 144,000; they, like everyone else, were saved, by grace, through
their faith in Jesus Christ. Prophecy from Isiah pointed to this hundreds of years earlier and was repeated
CHAPTER 4. SPECIFIC QUESTIONS 11

in Paul’s letter to the Romans: “And concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out, Though the people of Israel are
as numerous as the sand of the seashore, only a remnant will be saved.” (Romans 9:27, referencing Isaiah 10:22)
This completely resolves the question of predestination or freewill—and clarifies why we see both concepts
in the Bible. They don’t contradict each other, election was never about salvation.

The Millennium

Read: Revelation 20

Question: When is/was the 1,000 years?

Answer: There are several opinions about the 1,000 years. And honestly, so little about it in the Bible that
many believe that the references are merely an expression meaning ’complete’ or ’in-totality’. This
view has a strong Biblical precedence. Throughout the middle-east, certain numbers have a cultural
or religious meaning, which is usually more important than their numeric meaning. The number ten
and any multiple of ten, like 100 or 1,000 means all, infinite, complete or everything. When we read in
Psalms 50:10 that the cattle on 1,000 hills belong to God, do we really believe the cattle on hill number
1,001 belong to someone else? Of course not! It’s a symbolic representation for “everything.”
Actually it’s a common expression, not just in Israel, but throughout the middle-east. Consider the
Tale of 1,001 Arabian Nights: Queen Scheherazade has been sentenced to death. She tells the king a
tale, and then just begins to tell the king a second tale, but does not end it. The king is thus forced
to postpone her execution in order to hear the conclusion. The next night, as soon as she finishes the
tale, she begins (and only begins) a new one, and the king, eager to hear the conclusion, postpones
her execution again and again. Does the title 1,001 Arabian Nights really mean 2 years, 9 months,
and some odd days? Of course not! It’s an expression that means the exact same thing as the English
expression “forever and a day.”
Just like the cattle on 1,000 hills is a symbolic representation for “everything”; the 1,000 years in Rev-
elation 20 is a symbolic representation for the “complete” or “total” binding of Satan at the beginning
of the New Covenant. That binding of Satan during the relatively short (40 years or so) transition pe-
riod from the Old Covenant era to the New Covenant era, kept Satan from stopping the spread of the
Gospel. Satan was then released to stir-up trouble, the result of which was the apocalypse; that is, the
destruction of Jerusalem, the curse, Satan himself, and everything else we read as being destroyed at
the end of Revelation. Paradise, that is the perfection we are promised, awaits the faithful in Heaven.
Chapter 5

Conclusion

Could Revelation possibly be just like it seems? Old prophecy—which was fulfilled in the history books,
and some analogies that are explained elsewhere in the Bible? Why not? Revelation only seems complicated
if you approach it with preconceived, non-Biblical ideas about the end of the world. Why is this, seemingly
obvious, historical (Preterist) interpretation so unheard of? Several reasons:

1. We, as sinful people, tend to be too lazy to think for ourselves. It’s easier to read someone else’s
commentary on the end-times than it is to think about what we’re reading in scripture. That means
whoever did the best job of pushing their interpretation gets the most attention, and therefore the
most followers. American Fundamentalism, starting just before the 20th Century, blasted premillinial
futurism around most of western Christianity. With the use of inexpensive, modern printing presses,
later radio and eventually television, their message became virtually ubiquitous.
2. Theologians throughout history have disliked Preterism for a couple of reasons as well. It’s always
been a minority interpretation—that alone is enough to keep some away. Others have complained
that Preterism leaves the end of the Bible hanging, without a real ending, but the ending is quite clear.
Believers go to an always-open heaven, what more of an ending do you need? Clergy face firing
for adopting such ideas; with most all established denominations blindly accepting futurism, church
leadership can easily be thrown-out for heresy. This is the same problem the protestant reformers
faced when challenging the teachings of the Roman Catholic church in the 1,600’s.
3. Another big problem is that hardly anyone reads history with an eye for spiritual discernment. We
make the same mistake that the Jews did at the time of Christ. They were looking for a physical,
warrior king and materialistic kingdom. They missed, or worse completely rejected, the spiritual
kingdom Christ established. People today are missing the spiritual kingdom for exactly the same
reason: They are looking for a physical paradise and fleshly or prosperity rewards. The kingdom is
here now, we just need to open our eyes and realize it. The perfection or paradise we read about in
the Bible is waiting for us in Heaven.

12
CHAPTER 5. CONCLUSION 13

Most Jews rejected Christ’s “first coming:”
The Jews believed their Messiah would be a warrior
King who would deliver them from their oppressors
(Assyria, Babylon, Rome, Hitler, as appropriate;
depending on the time and place).
The Messiah would rebuild (physically) the temple,
and all the Jews expected a kingdom where they
would be rulers; of course His own body was the
Temple that was rebuilt in 3 days. Even two of the
disciples expected a physical kingdom, James and
John asked to sit at Jesus’ right and left hand side in
His Kingdom when He came into His glory.
The people of Jerusalem also thought He would
deliver them, they shouted praises to God for the
mighty works they saw Jesus do; calling "Hosanna,
save us" when he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey
(Matthew 21:9). They wanted a conquering king, but
when He allowed Himself to be arrested, tried and
crucified, the people stopped believing that He was
the promised one.
Most Christians reject Christ’s “second coming:”
Most Christians are no different. Most reject the
Spiritual Kingdom that Christ Himself taught
throughout His ministry.
Many insist on waiting for a future physical, earthy
return, followed by a physical resurrection of the
dead; even though the Bible clearly teaches that
resurrection bodies are spiritual not physical; and
that Christ’s return was expected in the clouds, not
on the ground.
Most expect the destruction of a future rebuilt
Temple; completely ignoring the fact that the Temple
was destroyed in AD70, in complete agreement with
Christ’s time-line of during the lifetime of most of
His followers–“this generation”.
Most expect a physical New Jerusalem; despite this
being explained, elsewhere in Scripture, as being
symbolic of the New Covenant.

What does it mean if Revelation really isn’t complicated?

• It means no more crazy explanations that make no sense in the light of scripture

– Like “soon” means 2,000 year

– or, Christ was wrong

• It means God did what He said He was going to do

– Returning exactly when, and how he said he would

• It means we don’t have to worry about the Tribulation, or being “left behind”

– It all happened a long time ago, just as Christ taught

• It means God is waiting for us, in Heaven, when we die

• It means you can easily show others that Revelation isn’t complicated
Appendix A

One-Hundred and One Verses

Confirming A “Soon” Return

If you want more scriptural evidence that Jesus was coming soon, here are over 100 Scripture references
which state, or imply, that Jesus is coming soon:

1. "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." (Matt. 3:2)

2. "Who warned you to flee from the wrath about to come?" (Matt. 3:7)
3. "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees." (Matt. 3:10)
4. "His winnowing fork is in His hand." (Matt. 3:12)
5. "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. 4:17)
6. "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. 10:7)
7. "You shall not finish going through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man comes." (Matt. 10:23)
8. "...the age about to come." (Matt. 12:32)
9. "The Son of Man is about to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense
every man according to his deeds." (Matt. 16:27)
10. "There are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the Son of
Man coming in His kingdom." (Matt. 16:28; cf. Mk. 9:1; Luke 9:27)
11. "’When the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?’ ’...He will bring
those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers, who will
pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.’ ’...Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be
taken away from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it.’ ...When the chief priests
and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them." (Matt.
21:40-41,43,45)
12. "This generation will not pass away until all these things take place." (Matt. 24:34)
13. "Jesus said, “I am. You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with
the clouds of the sky.” " (Matt. 26:64; Mk. 14:62; Luke 22:69)
14. "The kingdom of God is at hand." (Mk. 1:15)

14
APPENDIX A. ONE-HUNDRED AND ONE VERSES CONFIRMING A “SOON” RETURN 15

15. "What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give
the vineyard to others. ...They [the chief priests, scribes and elders] understood that He spoke the
parable against them." (Mk. 12:9,12)
16. "This generation will not pass away until all these things take place." (Mk. 13:30)
17. "Who warned you to flee from the wrath about to come?" (Luke 3:7)
18. "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees." (Luke 3:9)
19. "His winnowing fork is in His hand..." (Luke 3:17)
20. "The kingdom of God has come near to you." (Luke 10:9)

21. "The kingdom of God has come near." (Luke 10:11)

22. "What, therefore, will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy these vine-
growers and will give the vineyard to others." ...The scribes and the chief priests...understood that He
spoke this parable against them." (Luke 20:15-16,19)
23. "These are days of vengeance, in order that all things which are written may be fulfilled." (Luke 21:22)
24. "This generation will not pass away until all things take place." (Luke 21:32)
25. "Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For
behold, the days are coming when they will say, ’Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never
bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ’Fall on us,’
and to the hills, ’Cover us.’" (Luke 23:28-30; Compare Revelation 6:14-17)
26. "We were hoping that He was the One who is about to redeem Israel." (Luke 24:21)
27. "I will come to you. ...In that Day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.’
...’Lord, what then has happened that You are about to disclose Yourself to us, and not to the world?’"
(John 14:18,20,22)
28. "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?" (John 21:22)
29. "This is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: ’And it shall be in the last days...’" (Acts 2:16-17)
30. "He has fixed a day in which He is about to judge the world in righteousness..." (Acts 17:31)
31. "There is about to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." (Acts 24:15)
32. "As he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment about to come..." (Acts 24:25)
33. "Not for [Abraham’s] sake only was it written, that [faith] was reckoned to him [as righteousness],
but for our sake also, to whom it is about to be reckoned." (Rom. 4:23-24)
34. "If you are living according to the flesh, you are about to die." (Rom. 8:13)
35. "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that
is about to be revealed to us." (Rom. 8:18)
36. "It is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we
believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand." (Rom. 13:11-12)

37. "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." (Rom. 16:20)
38. "The time has been shortened." (I Cor. 7:29)
39. "The form of this world is passing away." (I Cor. 7:31)
APPENDIX A. ONE-HUNDRED AND ONE VERSES CONFIRMING A “SOON” RETURN 16

40. "Now these things ...were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." (I
Cor. 10:11)
41. "We shall not all fall sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the
last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be
changed." (I Cor. 15:51-52)
42. "Maranatha!" [The Lord comes!] (I Cor. 16:22)
43. "...not only in this age, but also in the one about to come." (Ephesians 1:21)
44. "The Lord is near." (Phil. 4:5)
45. "The gospel ...was proclaimed in all creation under heaven." (Col. 1:23; Compare Matt. 24:14; Rom.
10:18; 16:26; Col. 1:5-6; II Tim. 4:17; Revelation 14:6-7; cf. I Clement 5,7)
46. "...things which are a shadow of what is about to come." (Col. 2:16-17)
47. "...we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord... We who are alive and remain shall
be caught up together with them in the clouds... ...You, brethren, are not in darkness, that the Day
should overtake you like a thief." (I Thessalonians 4:15,17; 5:4)
48. "May your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ." (I Thessalonians 5:23)
49. "It is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are
afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels
in flaming fire." (II Thessalonians 1:6-7)
50. "Godliness ...holds promise for the present life and that which is about to come." (I Tim. 4:8)
51. "I charge you ...that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our
Lord Jesus Christ." (I Tim. 6:14)
52. "...storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for that which is about to come, so that
they may take hold of that which is life indeed." (I Tim. 6:19)
53. "In the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self... ...Avoid these men. For
of these are those who enter into households and captivate weak women... ...These also oppose the
truth... ...But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all..." (II Tim.
3:1-2,5-6,8-9)
54. "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is about to judge the living
and the dead..." (II Tim. 4:1)
55. "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in
these last days has spoken to us in His Son." (Heb. 1:1-2)
56. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who are about to
inherit salvation?" (Heb. 1:14)
57. "He did not subject to angels the world about to come." (Heb. 2:5)
58. "...and have tasted ...the powers of the age about to come." (Heb. 6:5)

59. "For ground that drinks the rain which often falls upon it and brings forth vegetation useful to those
for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is
worthless and near a curse, and it’s end is for burning." (Heb. 6:7-8)
60. "When He said, ’A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete
and growing old is ready to disappear." (Heb. 8:13)
APPENDIX A. ONE-HUNDRED AND ONE VERSES CONFIRMING A “SOON” RETURN 17

61. "The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way of the [heavenly] Holy Places has not yet been re-
vealed, while the outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time. Accord-
ingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience,
since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until
a time of reformation." (Heb. 9:8-10; Compare Gal. 4:19; Ephesians 2:21-22; 3:17; 4:13)
62. "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things about to come..." (Heb. 9:11)
63. "Now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin." (Heb. 9:26)
64. "For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things about to come..." (Heb. 10:1)
65. "...as you see the Day drawing near." (Heb. 10:25)
66. "...the fury of a fire which is about to consume the adversaries." (Heb. 10:27)
67. "For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay." (Heb. 10:37)
68. "For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the one that is about to come." (Heb. 13:14)
69. "Speak and so act, as those who are about to be judged by the law of liberty." (James 2:12)
70. "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. ...It is in the last
days that you have stored up your treasure!" (James 5:1,3)
71. "Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord." (James 5:7)
72. "You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." (James. 5:8)
73. "...salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (I Peter 1:6)
74. "He ...has appeared in these last times for the sake of you." (I Peter 1:20)
75. "They shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." (I Peter 4:5)
76. "The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of
prayer." (I Peter 4:7)
77. "For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God." (I Peter 4:17)
78. "...as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is
about to be revealed." (I Peter 5:1)
79. "We have the prophetic word ...which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark
place, until the Day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts." (II Peter 1:19)
80. "Their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." (II Peter 2:3)
81. "In the last days mockers will come. ...For this they willingly are ignorant of..." (I Peter 3:3,5)
82. "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and
the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since
all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct
and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God." (II Peter 3:10-12)
83. "The darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining." (I John 2:8)
84. "The world is passing away, and its desires." (I John 2:17)
85. "It is the last hour." (I John 2:18)
86. "Even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour." (I John 2:18;
Compare Matt. 24:23-34)
APPENDIX A. ONE-HUNDRED AND ONE VERSES CONFIRMING A “SOON” RETURN 18

87. "This is that of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the
world." (I John 4:3; Compare II Thessalonians 2:7)
88. "For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this
condemnation. ...About these also Enoch ...prophesied, saying, ’Behold, the Lord came with many
thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly...’" (Jude
1:4,14-15)
89. "But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, ’In the last time there shall be mockers, following
after their own ungodly lusts.’ These are the ones who cause divisions..." (Jude 1:17-19)
90. "...to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place." (Rev. 1:1)
91. "The time is near." (Rev. 1:3)
92. "Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come." (Rev. 2:25)
93. "I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is about to come upon the whole world." (Rev.
3:10)
94. "I am coming quickly." (Rev. 3:11)
95. "And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is about to rule all the nations with a rod of iron."
(Rev. 12:5)
96. "And in her [the Great City Babylon] was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who
have been slain on the earth." (Rev. 18:24; Compare Matt. 23:35-36; Luke 11:50-51)
97. "...to show to His bond-servants the things which must shortly take place." (Rev. 22:6)
98. "Behold, I am coming quickly." (Rev. 22:7)
99. "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near." (Rev. 22:10; Compare
Dan. 8:26)
100. "Behold, I am coming quickly." (Rev. 22:12)
101. "Yes, I am coming quickly." (Rev. 22:20)