Completed Christianity
A Prophetic Theory
Suppose an angel was sent to your church to bring a message from God. He came as the pastor and elders were meeting at a regular planning meeting. He said that the time had come to end the rule of Satan and man's rebellion and independence from God and to call out a remnant of mankind to be transformed into the bride of Christ. He had come to this church because they had been interceding and crying out to God to bring a spiritual renewal in their own lives with power to call their city to repentance and discipleship to Jesus Christ. God had felt their passion to be vessels of honor; holy, obedient, selfless, prepared for use in meeting the needs around them.
God would answer their prayers, but He was calling them to much more. It would not be easy, God's presence and power would be with them but there would also be hardship, suffering and even death for some of them. There must be no illusions - this is not a fantasy. This would be war against the powers of darkness and their alliances of men. One must count the cost. God was calling only those whose hearts were stirred and could commit their lives to this effort. Those that couldn't, for whatever reason, were not to be ashamed, they could be involved at a supporting level.
The angel told the men to quietly invite other men, from outside their church, with whom they were close and felt they may be of like minds. They were to spend the next thirty days in prayer, fasting and discussions, gathering as often as possible. Wives, and children were to be part of some of the discussions and meetings, and must be in one accord with the decisions made by the husband. At the end of thirty days the decisions were to be made, with the elders asking each one to make a vow of commitment followed by the laying on of hands and anointing with oil.
To help make realistic commitments the angle said he would give a basic outline of the events ahead, but emphasized that the Holy Spirit would illuminate the same plan with much greater detail as we committed to study the Word and pray for revelation of the plan. We must understand that the plan is in the Bible and it is part of our responsibility to extract it, much of it hidden or unknown until this time of the end. Understanding of the plan would come through wisdom not through divine utterance. In fact, the world and the false church, who has rejected God's wisdom, will desperately look for 'prophets' like those of old, giving 'supernatural' prophetic guidance - and they will find them - false prophets.
The days ahead will be like the days of Noah, just as Messiah Jesus foretold. As a sign to indicate the start of these days, sometime in September, Noah's ark will be discovered and revealed to an astonished world. This Rosh Hashanah, 1994, the Feast of Trumpets, announcing the beginning of the Jewish Civil year, will also mark the beginning of the seven year 'Shemittah' or Sabbatical cycle. This seven year period will be the first half of two distinctly contrasting seven year periods, specifically designed, from creation, to 'harvest' the earth. The full dimension of this 14 year period, and the purposes and effect they will have, has been purposely hidden until they were about to begin.
Like the latter rain which completes the growth cycle of a field of grain, so too, the 'fruit' of mankind must be matured before harvest. That is the purpose and goal of the end-days. That is the context within which all end-day events must be placed. Personal safety or gain during these days should not be a motivation for men and women of faith. But only to do the will of your God, your reasonable service.
Know this, that God has provided for all your needs, that He has sovereign control over all the events that will happen. Fear not! A leaf will not flutter right when it should have fluttered left. All power is in His loving hands and He cares for every one of those He has called. Trust Him with all you possess, body, soul and spirit, and commit yourself to His service. Be strong and courageous. Bring order and discipline into your midst. Consider yourselves an army in mortal combat. Each one must find his place and function within the anointing I will provide for that task. You will do great exploits and contain the very power of God, but do not rejoice in these thing, but only that you are able sons of the living God. Your victory is assured. You are not alone, your service is not for your generation alone, but serves to perfect those saints that have labored before you. By the wisdom of Messiah you will confound the wisdom of this world.
But man shall have his day - the Day of Man, the first seven year period. God will sent the rain of prosperity to test the hearts, to ripen the intent, of man. This rain will fall on the just and on the unjust - it will be a day of accomplishment. Tremendous wealth, scientific and technological breakthroughs. In the abundance the fruit will mature, the division of mankind will become distinct.
Passion for God! How many love like this? Far below the commotion, in quietness of soul, spirit to spirit, many do. Our hearts know these yearnings will be met, these cries satisfied. Messiah has proposed marriage, we have accepted. We must yield to him. Surrender all to him, and trust him to transform us into a Body comfortable in the world of the living God, secure in the secret place of the Most High. He must have a bride prepared. A suitable mate, not a child. He has sent instructions for preparations on ahead. However, he is a man with great responsibility. Marriage is not his only concern. He must also prepare his kingdom, according to the wishes of his father. There are those who would deny him his rightful inheritance, his earned reward. Evil men and devils conspire against him. He looks for our participation in his preparations. He anticipates the beauty of our response. Soon together, none can stop us, none can stand before his might. We have his promise and provision, soon to join in his delight.
That is Christianity as too few perceive it, but as it will become! Our task is to not sit passively by. We must sense Messiah's responsibilities as our own and passionately prepare to work with him. The Day of the Lord is at hand. Confirmation will come quickly. The King must prepare his kingdom, but the bride must prepare herself. Slowly and orderly we must begin. The Spirit will guide, as we allow. Like life, Christianity is progressive. Life is not complete until maturity, so too Christianity is not complete until marriage.
The table above lists five major areas of 'completion' that Christianity must undergo. They are separated for ease of understanding, but in actual fact they are all interrelated and dependent upon each other.
This is a 'conformity based' prophetic scenario (all events contribute to the goal - conforming to Christ). A 'road map' of the transformation of Christianity from childhood to adulthood. From mere men to the very image of Messiah. As John stated it from his perspective 2000 years ago:
or as Paul states it:
It is foolish to work at explaining why that cannot happen in any tangible or literal way. Through prayer, intercession, and study each point will become clearer as we have faith to embrace it. These truths will beget more truths until the whole Spirit led process is complete. Each area is covered in greater detail in the remaining article. Like a great stage play, the first completion listed is the 'set' in which the other completions will be played out. Some of them represent reformation, some are extensions to current Christian doctrine and understanding. Not all aspects are new to this article. What is new, to this author's best knowledge, is the completeness and harmonization of the big picture, with critical background and connecting events. And most importantly, an understanding of the affect that these events will have on the world and the Body of Messiah in it's maturation and final preparation for it's role of representing God on earth and into eternity.
I challenge all who are passionate for God, all who hunger and thirst to see the consummation of God's proposal, to consider each completion carefully. They were not carelessly gathered. Many may honestly challenge these conclusions, and that's healthy. But challenges based on Christian culture, tradition, misinformation or sentiment must yield before the clear Word of God. We must also ask what are the alternatives? Are we happy and satisfied with the current state of Christianity and it's role in the world? Will just a gradual improvement do, will a font-end alignment of a fundamentally sound vehicle be sufficient for this final journey? Or are we ready to admit that a mere tune-up just will not do. Like Israel, are we ready to leave the 'special' provision in the wilderness, are we ready to give up the manna, as good as it is, for the produce of the promised land?
Does Christianity really need to be completed? These three brothers say No!
From within Christianity the response will run the entire gamut. A look at three idealized groups of Christian 'bothers' might help reveal ones own position and the need for change.
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
(Psa 84:2 )
Three views of the goal...
Some brothers will say, "Christianity, as manifested in these human vessels, will end in defeat - rescued by an all powerful and loving God whose ultimate purpose on earth was to reveal our utter dependence on him. Mankind has experienced failure after failure, no lasting victory is possible over sin, self, disease, the the gods of this world, etc.. We try to be obedient, as best we can, but victory in this life is only imputed. Actual victory will only be found in the heavenly Kingdom." These are our pessimistic brothers that have resigned themselves to few if any improvement between here and eternity. This error, as Jesus told the Sadducees, is because "you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God."
Then we have our optimistic brothers. They say, "Beneath the obvious defeats man has experienced, we see, especially over the last 2000 years, the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Like leaven which leavens a loaf of bread, we see the leaven of love unstoppable in its influence on man and his organizations. The seed of the Kingdom has already been planted, no additional, or radical intervention is necessary. Just a little more time. Things are basically improving - love will conquer all." This error is like the rich young ruler's error. He recognized the kingdom, but rejected the path to apprehend it (as being too sacrificial).
Than we have our harvester brothers. They say, "we are concentrating on the tasks at hand. The larger Kingdom issues have much less relevance than the lost and hurting souls all around us. We know enough of the plan to know that we must share the gospel to all the world, to call everyone to repentance and new life in Christ. God will take care of the rest. The 'great commission' is our highest mandate and we have been given sufficient resources to fulfill it. Nothing should interfere. We will not rest until Jesus comes again. All else is secondary to this task." These brother's efforts are very commendable, and the harvest of souls is an important part of this last great effort. But those that feel it is the highest priority are, like Martha, "distracted by all the preparations that had to be made", not coming to rest at the master's feet. Only in rest will we find, beyond our labors, that portion, that relationship, we cannot labor for.
These are three simplistic but real Christian positions. All may be held by sincere, loving and caring Christians. Each one going about his life pleasing God as he sees best and convinced he is taking the right path. But all three would probably see one thing in common; there is no need for radical change, no radical completion of Christianity. However, that is the premise of this article, which clearly stated is that:
By faith, will Christianity do better?...
This will require an act of great faith worthy of the faithful hall of fame found in Hebrews 11. How we love our Bible stories about faith. By faith Abel..., by faith Enoch..., by faith Noah..., by faith Abraham..., by faith Isaac..., by faith Jacob..., by faith Joseph..., by faith Rahab..., etc., etc.. The story, and the book, is not finished yet. The Book certainly will record this final act of faith as well. It will take great faith to believe and prepare ourselves for what God is about to do. About to do, not just in the world around us, but in us. This will take eyes, ears, hands and hearts of faith. That is the purpose of Biblical prophecy - to generate faith and intelligent, active participation. In hindsight, we so quickly chastise Israel for it's reluctance and resistance in obeying God's call for obedient participation. Will Christianity do better? Christianity too, will be asked to journey to a place unknown, to a victory many will argue does not exist. After 2000 years, with a personal knowledge of Messiah, with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit do we really expect a test of our faith less rigorous than that given a body of former slaves in journey to their promised land? In the days ahead, failing our test of faith, will be no less serious than that faithless generation that perished in the wilderness. Christianity must soon realize that the essence of faith is not some 'mental assent' but rather risk-taking action in response to an invisible commander. We have not gone this way before.
The Struggle within...
This goal will be the first line of battle, and it will be fought within the ranks. It must be settled between us. Few generations have been called upon to demonstrate what they believe as this one will. Serious division within our own ranks is inevitable. It is a time to reevaluate all doctrine to determine it's soundness through the eyes of a pure and faithful heart. Paul states the goal as "attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" Eph 4:13b. Thinking that impossible, other than in a very nebulous 'spiritual' sense, Christianity generally ignores the issue, or constructs elaborate doctrinal walls, lest we should even think conforming to the perfect role model of Jesus Christ were possible. It may not be apparent how it can happen. When we ask God how we are revealing our need, that is good and acceptable. But to conclude, in our own strength that it is not possible, as the 10 spies that explored Canaan and drew negative, faithless sensory conclusions, we discredit the power of God. The eyes of faith see God, not the impossibilities. Like a bubble, fantasy Christianity is about to burst, and the realities of being a 'son of God' are going to come crashing into our comfortable lives.
Just Make-Believe...
Lets create a 'real' scenario that might help burst the fantasy bubble. Suppose a highly respected and credible 'prophet' asked for the world's Christianities undivided attention on Jan 1, 1995. He asked that all Christian TV and radio media, TV, radio, speak to all of Christianity into a large auditorium and said:
I am about to start a ten year program to end the age. To do that, it will be necessary to raise up a group of people who will perfectly represent me and my purposes in these last days. This group will be required to go through a rigorous period of Biblical study and personal training and discipline. The model for all students will be the life of Jesus Christ, including the lifestyle He lived as a Jew. To be accepted for service, you will have put away all sin, living a perfect life, and you will be knowledgeable of, and thoroughly prepared to, carry out God's purposes in you with complete obedience. Your ministry also, will model the ministry of Jesus Christ. You will do greater works than He, but you will also be rejected and suffer just as He was. Some of you will lose your life, but I have great rewards for all who will be faithful to the end.
Now, all who
walk I will and empowered with another 'baptism' of power
So, for those that conclude that it is possible, it may be apparent that we need a new 'road map'. And for that we need God to give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation Then ask yourself if the truths set forth in this article may describe a plausible scenario for reaching our final destination. For that is a question we must all ask - what exactly is the portrait of final Christianity?
A matter of life and death...
This article attempts to describe this 'new' Christianity. The 'completions' described herein are the doctrinal and conceptual changes required for just such a people. The stakes are very high. In Israel's life, our God expected commitments weighted by rewards of life or death.
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death ... Deu 30:19
We may not like the responsibilities that lie before us, but that isn't our choice to make. For those that sense we need it, on to completion. For those that don't, I challenge you to create an honest, realistic alternative scenario, and share it. Not a verse here and a verse there but a complete final scenario. Clearify God's hand in history, explain Christianity's present condition, lay out a road-map for the years ahead. Harmonize prophetically oneness, maturity, the last graet harvest and falling away, the regathering of Israel, the judgement of evil, the greater works, tribulation, the salvation of all Israel, the Kingdom, the millenium, etc.. I frankly have not seen such a thing. The senerio put forth in this artical can accompany all of these and more in a portrait of beauty that defies human imagination or creation. These words do not create this scenario. They are nothing in themselves. Completed Christianity is simply an attempt to describe a reality, a drama, a conclusion designed in the mind of God from the beginning of creation. The final props are now being set into place. Those spiritually discerning can sense the anticipation in the air. Something is about to begin.
The 'Week' Of Man's History - 7000 Years
2000 Years
God Speakes Through Individuals By Conscience
2000 Years
God Speakes Through Israel By Law
2000 Years
God Speakes
Through The Church By Grace
1000 Years
Messiah rules
In Person
(Millenium)
Why the term 'Completed Christianity'...
The term 'Completed Christianity' (CC) is used because it quickly and easily conveys certain accurate concepts. However, in one sense, it may not be the ideal term to use because of the word Christianity. Most will immediately relate it to modern Christianity. The flavor of which gathers to many city corners across America and the world. It was from many of these churches, over the last generation, that the foundations of CC were laid by dedicated servants of the Lord . But CC is quite a radical departure from modern Christianity. On the other hand, the word Christian is very appropriate. The model for it can be found in church history. That short period from which the church got the name 'Christian', was in many ways more complete in understanding and character. The name 'Christian' was first used in Antioch, outside of Jerusalem, perhaps the most influential city of the early church. A city where the Jewish faith was warmly received by God fearing Gentiles, and from which Paul was sent to the Gentiles. The church at Antioch was the first 'mixed' church, of Jew and Gentile. In that sense Christian is a good word because it could be seen as a blending of two peoples, the head people and the heart people, for a perfect revelation of God (see Completion #2 for a greater explanation). The lifestyles lived by the original Apostles, fully Jewish, fully Christian, were the first and only true model of CC in Christianity's history. Of course, those leaders were Jewish, leading Jewish lives, and maintaining Jewish customs, so the term 'Completed Judaism' would be accurate but not as appropriate since it might confuse the unique role the natural seed of Abraham have, and will yet play, in this whole scenario. Whatever the term, the heart of CC would be from today's Christianity, but the lifestyle would model that of Biblical Judaism. As long as the Apostles and elders exerted authority from Jerusalem the church maintained a Biblically accurate perspective. But after their deaths a 'veil of arrogance' slowly blinded the predominately gentile church motivating them to purge itself of all Jewish influence and appearances. Like a group of very young boys impishly 'wishing' all the girls would be gone from the world, not realizing the beauty and delights they would be missing ten years later. But God has protected our delights notwithstanding our early gentile fathers. We are ready for them now. The Reformation in the 15th Century 'reformed' Christianity, and in much the same way, CC includes reformation. But since we have the clarity of these last days, when other factors will introduce many 'new' (newly revealed to us) things, the term 'completed' is accurate because it includes the aspect of growth as well as reformation. There was a beginning and there is an end. There was a birth and there will be a Bride. God has made a way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Lesser 'Day-Of-The-Lord
The Joseph Pattern - Genesis 41
(chart)
7 Years
7 Years Daniel's 70th Week (The Tribulation)
Time Of Prosperity Storing Up
Time Of Drought & Famine Provisions from Storehouse Egyptian Covanent
REQUIRED COMPLETIONS
1. Completed in Time: The Joseph Pattern
2. Completed in Oneness: The Greater Israel
3. Completed in Perfection: Completed Redemption
4. Completed in Obedience: The Covenant of Response
5. Completed in Ministry: The Greater Works
1. Completed in Time:
The Joseph Pattern
The world plans for the Olympic Games many years in advance. One can imagine the importance of setting a date for the events of those hectic 2 weeks. It would be virtually impossible to plan or think clearly about all the various activities without first establishing the time frame in which they must occur. So it is with the end day events. They cannot be understood realistically apart from the time frame in which they occur. This section will not only reveal that time frame, but also the character of that time. And with that accomplished, like a space craft sent to a distant planet, we will begin to see 'close-up' a far more intricate, beautiful, yet terrifying picture than has ever been possible.
The Day of the Lord...
The Day of the Lord (DOTL) is the major prophetic theme of the Bible. It is referred to with other terms as well; 'that day', 'those days', 'the last days', 'at that time', the 'day of judgment', etc. The DOTL is often called the millennium, a period of 1000 years, beginning with the visible, bodily return of Jesus Christ to Earth, during which He and his saints rule the Earth, culminating with the new heavens and new earth. It is called a 'day' because it is the seventh 'day' of mankind's history of 7000 years, 6000 representing the six working days of the week, leaving the DOTL to be the seventh day, the millennial day of rest.
The Lesser Day of the Lord...
Although the DOTL may officially be the 1000 year Millennium, in many places the Bible refers to pre-Millennium events as being part of the DOTL. That's easy to understand when one considers that many Prophets were looking 2500 years into the future. To see some events that happen 10 years before the Millennium as part of the DOTL is a very minor point. But we are much closer to the period in question, so it is helpful for our discussion to make a distinction between the two periods. I will use the term 'lesser DOTL' to indicate those few years just before the 1000 year DOTL begins. Most of the prophetic events recorded in the Bible occur during this period of time. There are literally hundreds of predicted events, many interrelated, many happening simultaneously during the lesser DOTL. But as an eternal testimony to the sovereign power of God, those hundreds of events, many involving God's enemies, will all be fully completed, in perfect timing, during this lesser DOTL. It's little wonder then, that there should be such interest, study and debate about this short period of time. For the 2000 years of Christianity, teachers and scholars and lovers of the Bible have attempted to describe the lesser DOTL in great detail. Many events have been scrutinized and documented very accurately, but a viable framework into which they can all be fit has alluded discovery. The task is so complex that most students and teachers of prophecy succumb to a very simplistic framework with just a few towering events included in it. This lack of completeness gives rise to more and more attempts and more and more theories offered as solutions. But every honest attempt, given forth from a pure heart, is honorable, and probably serves God's purposes towards a final solution. Many others have resigned us to never finding any coherent, realistic prophetic scenario. Many go so far as to say it can't be done, and was never meant to be done. They say we should just remain obedient, and God will direct our steps and actions when the time comes. They are wrong for many reasons. First, being obedience is not our only command. As Christians we are called to be a people of faith, a people passionately reaching for things we cannot see. A soldier could be absolutely obedient to every command and yet faithless in his passion for victory. There is a second danger for our friends that think 'obedience when the time comes' will work. God is not likely to trumpet commands from heaven. That leaves them dependant on the voice of some man, group, or movement. This is as it should be, and will be, but how will someone know which man to listen too. Some events will be so radical, dangerous, and unexpected that 'natural' thinking will not perceive that God could be speaking it. No, we are called to be prepared, and God has been faithful to give us what we need to do that, if we will.
So now we see that the Day of the Lord is really two distinct periods, with the primary focus of this article, and most prophetic study, being the lesser DOTL. But that does little to help us understand the period and the hundreds of events that are part of it. To understand this period, God must show us more detail.
During the Feast of Tabernacles, 1993, this 'mother lode' of prophetic treasure may have been discovered. It is the detailed time framework for the general period called the lesser DOTL. The structure and character of this prophetic period is surprisingly beautiful and appropriate, accommodating all the events and conclusions assigned to this period. It is a period of 14 years, two, 7 year periods, symmetrically beautiful in form and function.. The period will begin, signaling Christianity that her day has come. By the time the period ends some 14 years later, a transformation
the church In fact, the pattern of 7 + 7 depicts a perfectly perfect plan, and indeed it is.
The lesser DOTL pattern as described below, was discovered during the Feast of Tabernacles, 1993, for the first time, which may have great significance. Exactly when this period begins is not clear yet. God is quite able to make it very clear, with confirmation, but
The Revelation Connection
(chart)
Genesis Chapter 41 (as depicted by the second dream)
The Book of Revelation
The Revelation: Typologically - A revelation of Jesus Christ (Joseph) which God (Pharaoh) gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. ... and God will do it soon. Gen 41:32b The Revelation: The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. Rev 1:1 (The 1st Verse of the book)
The Symbol: Seven heads on a single stalk The Symbol : I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man...,"Rev 1:12 (Menorah & Jesus the single stalk) (1st verse of body)
Central Figure -Authority: I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt (World). Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you. Gen 41:40, 41.
Central Figure -Authority: from Jesus Christ, ... the ruler of the kings of the earth. Rev 1:5
Central Figure -Dress: Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.Gen 41:42 Central Figure - Dress: ...dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.Rev 1:13
Genesis 41 - The Joseph Pattern...
The overall backdrop against which the 'lesser' DOTL will unfold is a time-frame that appears to be clearly given, hidden in the story of Joseph, beginning in Gen. 41. Here, Joseph interprets two dreams of Pharaoh which will have major ramifications to Egypt and surrounding areas. The dreams announce an imminent divine intervention into the affairs of men. By dramatically affecting the weather, God will first send seven years of increased bounty, than followed by seven years of devastating famine. Pharaoh wisely believes Joseph, who as a beautiful type of Messiah, is elevated to second in command, and assigned to manage the emergency project. The time of plenty is a time of critical preparation and 'storing up' of vital resources. At the end of seven years the famine begins, and many of the reasons for this event becomes clear. Through it, Joseph 'saves' the Egyptian people and his family living in Canaan, also bringing a reunion with father and brothers. An extremely important aspect of this 'salvation' is the 'sellout' of the Egyptians as the famine continues. This sheds unprecedented light on a little known and little understood segment of God's Kingdom.
This section of scripture just radiates with official kingdom business. Not Egyptian, but Kingdom of God business. There are few sections in the Bible that are so typologically laden with the presence, power, and portent of God. This whole story of Joseph is literally a gold mine of prophetic treasures, as further study will show.
14 Years - A Quick Chronology...
The two dreams indicate that this story has a dual fulfillment. It is the second dream, the one depicting the seven heads of wheat on a single stalk (note the single stalk - significantly different from the first dream), that relates to us today - to the lesser DOTL. The first seven years will produce a very superficial but spectacular prosperity and success of man's endeavors. Willfully unmindful that this is the hand of God, the world will be unprepared for the next and last seven years. A very quick scenario may proceed as follows, starting with the seven years of plenty.
The first seven years of plenty is a time for the harvest of the world. Multitudes are in the valley of decision, and before it's all over, the 'division' of mankind Jesus claimed he came to affect, will be complete. The 'spring' rains came to Israel to mature the wheat harvest, and so the rains of prosperity will come to ripen both evil and righteousness to maturity. Then the 'fire' of God will test the hearts, and reap the 'fruit' of mankind. In the midst of the prosperity, the world will call for celebration, rejoicing in the accent of man, exalting in the 'new age' of mankind. From out of Christianity and Judaism God will call a remnant, leaving 'religion' without God and powerless to defend itself from the cancerous evil. It will finally succumb and actually lead the world in new and unthinkable wickedness. The true church will begin it's finest hour as radical internal changes occur (CC), giving rise to the manifestation of new vision, power and vitality. The last great harvest of souls will be reaped from the worlds 'undecideds' as the polarization of good and evil becomes inescapable. The love of many 'old converts' will grow cold in the self indulgent atmosphere of that day, and unfortunately, when later the 'new converts' are severely 'tested', many will fall away. In the meantime, God will call wise 'stewards' who lead God's people to fill the storehouses of God. (What they are remains a mystery) In Israel a false peace and prosperity will allow the rebuilding of the Temple and the resumption of Temple ceremony. Spiritual and prophetic deceptions will reach deafening proportions sweeping away many who do not have a pure heart and a love of the truth, at all cost. Seven years will quickly pass and the fate of billions of people will have been sealed. The night will quickly descend on mankind, but the church will shine brighter than ever before. The world will sense its fate and be furious. They will turn to the Antichrist for salvation. Seven years of tribulation and all the events associated with it will begin. God's wise stewards will provide 'meat' in due season from 'the storehouses' of provisions and God will 'buy' the Earth and those willing to enter into a 'covenant' with God. There is much to do. We, in the Body of Messiah, will not be passive onlookers, but rather the literal manifestation and final representation of God to earth. We will be the 'troublers' of earth, an unmerciful irritation to the reprobate soul. Relief from which they will make every effort to obtain.
Time - The Key To Revelation...
Genesis 41, by providing the all important time-frame is probably the official key to the opening of the book of Revelation It not only reveals the time-frame, but is typologically linked to Revelation in a most remarkable way. In fact, Gen. 41, typologically, could also be called the Revelation of Jesus (see chart). Joseph is a type of Jesus and Pharaoh is a type of God the Father, therefore, the story in Gen. 41 is a prophetic type, foreshadowing the vision of the book of Revelation. This means it reveals critical information, without which the book of Revelation can not be properly understood. This typological connection is unique, found nowhere else in the Bible. If all this is true, we may have the last essential 'key' (time frame) to understanding the book of Revelation.
Could the 14 year clock for this final scenario already be counting down? There are two strong indications that it is. First, on Sept. 14, 1993, just 1 day before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, a peace accord was signed between Israel and the PLO. Most of the worlds leaders gathered in Washington DC for this unexpected and unprecedented spectacle. In God's prophetic language, there could hardly be a more arousing 'trumpet' call on this, the first day of the year and the Lord's Feast of Trumpets. Second, the very fact that this Joseph DOTL pattern was reveled during the same Feast of Tabernacles hardly seems a coincidence. It's revelation very likely indicates it's initiation. How might God confirm such a plan? One thing is certain. This scenario must involve at least some portion of the church in active, knowledgeable participation. It can not happen solely on the part of God or solely in the recesses of someone's imagination. Noah built an ark, our task certainly can not be any less tangible or sophisticated. God must reveal the details. How, remains to be seen. Other than divine confirmation through many individuals (which would still need verifiable confirmation), several tangible indicators would likely include an unexpected, marked increase in world economic prosperity, and near ideal weather during the worlds growing seasons, producing record harvests. There are many more details to fill in, the greatest of which is, what exactly do we 'store up' and how? Are these primarily spiritual commodities that we are dealing with, or are they, as would seem most likely, literally tangible assets, probably primarily agricultural. This kind of talk will be hard for the 'allegorical' Christian types to stomach, but we may be dealing with literal stomachs to fill. The Kingdom of God is coming to earth, one shouldn't think that is only spiritual.
Now it may take just one major confirming event, and the clock will begin ticking. Once the drama begins, scene after scene will sequence onto center stage without interuptions (in actuallity there will be many stages running simultaneously). Nothing will stop it. Think of the sobering and transforming effect it will have on true Christianity. Just the effect God intended.
The Starting Gun...
But what might that confirming event be? It would have to be so powerful as to remove doubt from all but those willfully unbelieving and ignorant (which will be most of the world). For instance, consider this verse:
For years we have heard reports of sightings of Noah's Ark on Mt. Ararat. Could the banner on the mountains that all the nations will see, as mentioned above, possibly be Noah's Ark? It's interesting to note that the probable time of discovery would be in September after the summer sun has melted the snow and ice. September is also the time of the Jewish New Year with New Years Day and the blowing of trumpets on the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah). If that isn't enough confirmation, the banner itself, Noah's Ark, is directly associated with the pattern Jesus said would represent the time of his second coming and also directly corresponds to the pattern of the Gen. 41 story (storing up for a time of judgment). How could any one sensitive to the things of God deny a sign of this magnitude. But if and when it were to happen, the world, with their 'Biblical experts' will quickly scurry to find other creative explanations. It is my belief that the flood of information and entertainment that we see today, and especially the 'information superhighway's' planed for the near future is a direct attempt to distract, befuddle and confuse the worlds masses. When evidential truth as powerful as that described above confronts the world, there will be little hope of credible refutation to an honest inquiry. The only device left to the enemies of God will be to bury the crystal clear truth under 456 channels of puff, illusion, noise, beautiful nothings and everything your heart could lust after. The world will reject the truth and deceive itself, and finally, God will harden their hearts beyond remedy.
Recognizing the voice of God when he speaks is going to be critical. Understanding the language of prophecy will be a matter of life and death.
This is a matter for much intercessory prayer and repentance for venturing so far from the prescribed path. As Daniel expressed it on behalf of Israel, so should we intercede on behalf of Christianity:
The Typology of the Joseph Pattern
"... in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord and confessed: ...we have sinned... Dan 9
But why hasn't the church seen the full dimension (7 + 7 years) of this lesser DOTL before? God's prophetic language is very subtle. It is, by design, incomplete in detail, requiring both knowledge of the 'plan' as well as the 'planner'. The key to knowing the plan will be found in the law of God, and the key to knowing God is a pure heart. Repentance is called for on both counts. The last 7 years are generally accepted (though probably not understood), but many may find it hard to accept the first 7 year period of prosperity. We know God intentionally hides some information, reveling it only at the proper time. This was true at Messiahs first coming. The Jewish experts had failed to correctly interpret the complete portrait of Messiah and his two comings. Among their glaring omissions was the coming of the 'suffering' Messiah. Because of this, most knowledgeable religious 'experts' of that day, trusting in their prophetic knowledge, rejected their own Messiah, while those with pure hearts, loving truth rather than knowledge, accepted him. For this reason God will never reveal the entire picture. Salvation will never come by knowledge alone. Prophetic fulfillment will always include some 'post incidental' revelation (that is revelation of some event, as or immediately after, it is fulfilled, as was the case at Pentecost) as well as the much studied 'pre-incidental' prophetic knowledge. The right combination of prophetic knowledge and humble truth seeking will allow us to move with God as he unfolds his wonderful plan.
The Jewish nation rejected the suffering Messiah, but as the apostles taught 'post incidentally' (after his coming), they clearly saw that event in scripture. So too, with the 7 + 7 year lesser DOTL. It's in there, clear once seen, but not so clear, before it's time. Is there scriptural confirmation of such a scenario as the one described above? Let's look at some of the scriptures that characterize that period.
Scriptural confirmation...
Jesus used patternistic prophetic technique when he reveled two patterns relating to his two advents. His first coming, he said, would model the pattern of Jonah...
He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign (pattern) of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Mat 12:39
He also declared that his second coming would model, in its fundamental character, the pattern of Noah...
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Mat 24:37-39
The Noah pattern depicts a time of faithful preparation followed by a time of unexpected catastrophe. The ark was a 'storehouse' of provision, created in a time of great merrymaking (prosperity), for sustenance during the unexpected (for the merrymakers) time of testing and judgment. This is a sobering warning we are receiving from Jesus. For those who do not see the need for prophetic study, this would be a scripture they should meditate upon. The judgment could have just as easily come upon Noah and his family had it not been for his faithful preparation in the time of apparent normalcy. The divine judgment (rain) came upon the just and the unjust alike, it was the knowledge of how to counteract it's effects that saved Noah. The judgment was universal, salvation was only by prophetic foreknowledge and actions. If Jesus' word's are true, there will come a time when prophesy is going to cease to be a theological debate and become the basis for national and international emergency survival planning (for those that believe). For Noah and his family, it was a matter of life or death. Why should it be different for the faithful today?
We know from the Noahic 'rainbow' covenant, that God will never again destroy the entire population of earth by water. However, we also know from various prophetic verses that, in at least one case, a third of mankind will be killed, and perhaps more. There is a selective 'harvest' of the earth. The much debated parable of the wheat and tares (weeds) reveals that the tares are selected and destroyed before the wheat is harvested. This 'harvest' is greatly clarified in the Joseph pattern with some very surprising conclusions. Acting like a key of truth, this portion of scripture will completely redefine traditional concepts of the kingdom 'opening' the door the sobering realities of the coming Kingdom. This truth begins to unfold during the last seven years, the time of famine. The scripture begins in Gen. 47:13. Using grain stored up during the times of plenty, Joseph, acting like a wise steward giving 'meat' in due season, opens the storehouses for business. People come from all over Egypt and the surrounding regions to buy grain. As the Bible relates the drama it is hard not to see the spiritual application to our personal lives. First money is used to buy grain until it has been used up. The famine continues, so livestock is taken in as payment for food. Soon the livestock had been used, but the famine continued. Next, the last of the peoples possessions, land was used to buy food. And yet the famine continued. With nothing left, the people offered themselves as payment for food. Joseph executes the actual 'buyout' of an entire nation, one desperate soul at a time. What a remarkable story, and with such potent spiritual lessons. One can easily see the parallel in ones spiritual walk with the Lord. This is a striking picture of the our personal 'sellout' to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He is a benevolent King, but King none the less. And with one voice, Christianity would testify that selling out to this King was the best thing we have ever done. That is the foundation of Christianity, but now comes the twist.
If one looks at the typology of this story a completely hidden, but obviously intended, picture emerges. The typology is very clear in Gen. 47. Pharaoh is a type of God, Joseph is a type of Jesus the Messiah and Egypt is a type of the Kingdom of God in this World. Over in Gen. 47, during the famine we see two other groups of people. We see
There is a passing reference to the priests in v. 22 which hardly seems noteworthy until this whole picture is analyzed taking them into consideration. The curious question is - why did Joseph allow this group of pagan priests exemption from the buyout of Egypt? If any group needed the judgment of God it was likely these pagan priests. But this story was not intended primarily for those priests, but rather for us today, some 3000 years later,
One 'jaw-droping' surprise to this 'wiser than Solomon' scenario, is the benevolent 'hostile buyout' of Earth. God will repurchase the Earth which was given to, and lost by, Adam, for the subjects of his kingdom. And before the lesser DOTL is over, all living humanity (the wheat) will 'voluntarily' enter into contractual servitude to God, precisely the way Israel did. Under Moses, and again under Joshua, Israel pledged obedience, under penalty of death, which they are still under today. The 'kingdom', twice bought, once by blood, once by bread. By blood, the rulers, by bread, the subjects - forever. So shall end the dispensation of faith and the lesser DOTL. The greater DOTL will dawn. What an awesome God we serve! We will indeed cast our crowns before him when we stand in his presence.
Luke 12:42 The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?
Luke 12:43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.
The Joseph pattern compliments, and enhances the Noah pattern. There are many other prophetic scriptures that are best interpreted by the Joseph model as well.
The 10 virgins depict this process of storing up during plenty for the 'midnight hour'....
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming (delayed), and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' "'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Mat 25:1
There are many scriptures describing the dark night of the DOTL such as:
As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
John 9:4
Isaiah 24 describes the devastation of the Earth. There is no better model or pattern against which this can be held:
See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants--it will be the same for priest as for people, for master as for servant, for mistress as for maid, for seller as for buyer, for borrower as for lender, for debtor as for creditor. The earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered. The LORD has spoken this word. The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the exalted of the earth languish. The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth's inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left. The new wine dries up and the vine withers; all the merrymakers groan. The gaiety of the tambourines is stilled, the noise of the revelers has stopped, the joyful harp is silent. No longer do they drink wine with a song; the beer is bitter to its drinkers. The ruined city lies desolate; the entrance to every house is barred. In the streets they cry out for wine; all joy turns to gloom, all gaiety is banished from the earth. The city is left in ruins, its gate is battered to pieces. So will it be on the earth and among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten, or as when gleanings are left after the grape harvest. They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they acclaim the Lord's majesty. Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea. From the ends of the earth we hear singing: "Glory to the Righteous One." ...
The events that actually transpire during these years will be so surprising that most prophetic scenarios taught today will actually contribute to a flood of prophetic deception rather than faithful perceptions and behavior. Well meaning Christians, those that are earnestly expecting the Lord's near return, are actually contributing to a doctrine of deception which may harm themselves and will potentially be a stumbling stone to unbelievers and an excuse to mock the prophetic message. There is an unexpected delay to the Lord's return (the seven years of plenty). But God will bring a clarity and comprehension of these events and those that love the truth will participate in the most awesome events of earth's history.
2. Completed in Office:
This may seem like an insignificanr point, but as we shall see, the role and personality of the Holy Spirit is vastly different from God the Father. The lessor DOTL period is the transition back to direct involvement by the Father. It will be a terrifiying time for those not prepared for it. That does not include only the 'wicked' either. Christianity also must be prepared for
3. Completed in Perfection:
4. Completed in Obedience:
5. Completed in Ministry:
A Biblical type is a pattern, person, or symbol which reveals or illuminates a certain aspect or view of some future object or person. For example, we may see a pattern in a wax seal made by a signet ring. From that impression we could learn certain things about the ring that made it. Other aspects we could not know by the pattern, such as the type of stone or the color of the ring. The object the type reveals is much more complex than the type, but the type may reveal aspects of the object that you would never see without studying the type.