Rethinking the End

 

A Thesis by James R. Wylder, Sr.

 

 

Preface

 

The establishment of the Modern State of Israel, and the first Arab-Israel war that followed, herald the era of the Sixth Trumpet described in the Revelation of John of Patmos.  We remain so as of this writing, and the age will continue until the completion of the great tribulation.  The great tribulation is not God’s wrath, rather Satan’s evil upon mankind.  After the tribulation of those days, those referred to as “left behind” will see the Day of the Lord, an era of judgments, wrath and castings; the millennial Kingdom follows thereafter.

 

This author believes in the infallible plenary Word of God handed down through the ages.  We can debate what constitute that Word; but the points on eschatology found arguing this thesis can be gleaned from its narrowest bind, the 66 books of the Holy Bible.  Other third temple period scriptures and first century Christian writings support and add clarity.

 

He who obeys a command will meet no harm, and the mind of a wise man will know the time and way. [Ecclesiastes 8:5, RSV]

 

We are at an uncomfortable and challenging time in history and spirituality.  We have been bombarded with a plethora of eschatological scenarios in the past few decades; yet in all cases, the evidence given never fit the conclusions offered.  More often than not, issues are taken wholly out of context.  But that should not prevent our seeking truth; the truth for the Word and truth from history.  We were told a most remarkable charge, given long ago but applicable today:

 

“Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.” [Daniel 12:9, RSV]

 

While orthodoxy is affirmed, and Biblical based Christian theology remains sagaciously prudent, neither being challenged herein, at the end of the age, eschatological issues are being opened up to keener understanding.  The final timeline of history is becoming known and being written.

 

Whatever one comes to believe, this work included, a charge was given to us long ago.  It is one this author lives by.  It is a principle that rebukes the many unsubstantiated bible helps found in the prolific works so widely distributed today. 

 

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so. [Acts 17:11, RSV]

 

Many so call systematic works have followed the same folly, that is, they claim comparing scriptures with scriptures, or use planes sense when plane sense makes sense, but more often than not, they do not.  They have most things correct, yet have fostered many grave misunderstandings.

 

Nearing the end of the second millennia of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it became apparent to many we are approaching the end of the age of grace.  Messianic circles call this “the approach of Elijah.”  Many scenarios had been suggested as to the sequence of eschatological events.  All of these either failed from the viewpoint of history or lacked precise scriptural evidence that fit conclusions offered.  This work offers a fresh look at the consummation sequence with keen evidence supporting the claim.  This is not a work on theology, although theology has much basis herein.  It is a work on biblical studies; our received text in primus, and early Christian writings supporting.  A proper calendar history of mankind found within scriptures will set a foundation.  A previously undisclosed historical fact will confirm a breath of Revelation had come to pass in the first half of the twentieth century.  With the understanding of Jewish idioms used by the prophet Daniel, Hebrew and Greek syntax, and the Word of God read in fundamental context, a validation the thesis will be found.

 

On the inspired Word of God: my position must be clearly stated, hopefully not misunderstood.  There is no doubt that our received text of Scriptures, the Bible, is the infallible and inspired Word of God.  But honest study of ancient manualscripts and the history of canonization do not suggest this to be a limitation.  The term pseudepigrapha does not mean false as some have suggested; rather it mans something written by one but ascribed to another; it is a second temple period motif.  The later half of the Book of Daniel is one such example.  There exist a plethora of Old Testament pseudepigrapha and other writings that do not diminish orthodoxy in any way.  Many of these writings have been redacted by early Christians, adding clarity and specification to prophecy.  The Apocrypha does not mean false as many uninformed and dishonest commentators suggest; rather it means hidden.  In other words, those writings and thoughts were hidden to all but the learner of Scriptures, those who have studied the Word in depth with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  They were reserved for those who would for themselves compare scriptures with scriptures, and allowed to be guided by the Holy Spirit.

 

Some of these writings, such as 4 Ezra and the Martyrdom and Ascension of Isaiah, which includes the Testament of Hezekiah, and the last chapter of the Didache (the teaching of the twelve Apostles) provide clarity and understanding to the prophetic Word we know from the Bible itself.  They enhance our understanding, they do not contradict anything clearly know from the plane sense of the Word.  I feel and think it is blasphemous for man to put limitations on the Word of God; such as the canons by councils of men, edicts of Emperors, especially those directly influenced by a pagan empire.  Fortunately, we can look further east and south, such as Ethiopia, and find a wider canon held dearly by believers in our Lord.  We can explore their texts, and see how much richer our western set of the received texts unfold.  Bringing back that knowledge to the western world, and Church, and the affirmations and clarity given to us from the Dead Sea Scrolls, allow that was once sealed to be understood.  It is more light of the Word He wishes us to understand.  We can let the Holy Spirit guide us, and not be lazy in our search for the truth with respect to the sequence of eschatological events.

 

With the aforementioned establishment of the modern State of Israel, we entered the age of the Sixth Trumpet.  Three of four angelic messages have been given to that nation in order that they may finish their transgressions; one angelic message remains.  For the next prophetic event yet to unfold will be the killing of one third of mankind by the fire, the smoke and the brimstone.  This I will call the great conflagration.  It is likely that the rapture of the Church will occur about the same time; either immediately before, during or shortly thereafter. 

 

Beyond the certainty that those who remain unto the coming of the Lord will be caught up in the air with Him, and the fact we have been living in an age of the Laodicean Church since the later portion of the 19^th century, nothing else can be said regarding the Church with respect to the consummation of the age.  Other than the ultimate victory of Christ over evil, the focus of the prophetic word of the consummation, its sequence, is all about the whole House of Israel.

 

While a pre-tribulation rapture of Saints is affirmed, there is no seven year tribulation suggested by prolific authors of the day; yet there will be a time, times and half of time precisely described by the prophet Daniel that will befall the non-churched left behind.  Following the great conflagration, there will be a period of Israel’s great apostasy which God will send two witnesses to redress; it will be the time of birth pangs before the tribulation of those days spoken of by our Messiah in His Olivet Discourse. Little can be found in Scriptures of the events within the great tribulation epoch.  Yet the Prophets of Israel has given us much detail on the Day of the Lord.  The salient point made will be that the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord are not concurrent events; rather the later follows the former.  The millennial kingdom follows the Day of the Lord epoch.

 

This work has it roots, and is a continuation, of a work authored by reverend Norman B. Harrison in the early years of the Second World War.  Its title was: The End, Rethinking the Revelation.  His description of the consummation took account of the events of the Revelation up to the fourth trumpet.  He begins with humanism as that rider on a white horse going forth conquering, not killing—evidenced by the rider with a bow but no arrow.  It was the rise of humanism in the later half of the 19^th century that gave rise to the other riders of the apocalypse, including the famines and plagues that followed.  His work was a response to liberal modernity, countering fundamentalism and dispensationalism.  He updated the work in the early 1950s to the sounding of the sixth trumpet, where Mohammedanism becomes a clear and present danger to the modern State and the sons of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  The new material presented herein supports dispensationalism, but counters many errors professed among their ranks. Clarity to the sequence of events is given.  This work takes us beyond the sounding of the Sixth Trumpet, and continues unto the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom. 

 

            This is a work for the open minded—the critical thinker.  One not so entrenched to that which was taught in the many liberal or conservative seminaries, shuls, synagogues, or pulpits in the past century who stubbornly believe they have the only accurate interpretation or truth.  It is about eschatological events, not theology, nor orthodoxy.; nor does it diminish the later two in any way. So why is it important?

 

We, who have an understanding of New Testament prophecy and can contextually synthesize that with the Old Testament Prophet, have an obligation to set the record straight to all sons of Abraham.  We can define that record, an accurate time sequence of end time events.  It will be their response to that record that will seal their fate for all eternity.  This will be final evangelism at its best; reaffirming that eschatology is principally about the whole House of Israel, not the Church.