“ON EAGLES’ WINGS MINISTRIES”
“When Shall These Things?" Matthew 24: Part
7…July 2008
“After these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the winds should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea.” Rev.7:1-2.
Before we embark upon the main body of our study, I want to show to our readers how important it is to keep words, passages, and themes where they rightly belong, and how even the placing, or misplacing of words can alter the truth of scripture. Let’s look at this classic example that is being overlooked by preachers, teachers and altar workers since the Christian Church as we know it began. We read from Ps.121:1,2. “I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”
So what seems to be the problem? Preachers have either preached on these two verses, or referred to them in their sermons, and we all say “amen.” But alas! There is a great contradiction between verse one and verse two. If taken as written, it seems to suggest that David is looking to the hills for help because that is where he can easily find God. He looks to the hills from whence cometh his help, but with the next breath, he says that his help comes from the Lord, and surely, the hills and the Lord are not the same. They have nothing in common to relate to. In truth, the hills represent idol worship in Israel and David knew this very well. The hills bespeak of the “high places” where Israel went to offer sacrifices and burn incense to Baal and other gods.
We read further, “Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.” 1 Kings 11:7-8. Let’s read some more!
“And Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. For they also built them high place, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.” 1 Kings 14:22-23.
Hezekiah came along as king and sought to reverse the trend. “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.” 11 Kings 18:3-4.
Thus, the scriptures conclude that all evil kings in ancient Israel built the high places devoted to idol worship, and every good king set about to tear them down. But going forward in time to the days of Christ, we can hear the woman saying to Jesus, “Our fathers worshipped in this mountain, and you say that Jerusalem is the place to worship.” So all the way up to the time of Christ people were still going up to the hills (high places) to worship, but Jesus said, “Ye worship, but you know not what.”
What David is actually saying in Ps.121 goes like this! “Will I lift up mine eyes unto the hills (not I will as a statement, but will I as a question) from whence cometh my help? Why should I lift up my eyes unto the hills? From whence cometh my help? Who, or what, is the source of my help? Are the hills able to meet my needs and grant me peace? Listen people! “My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth and he will not suffer my foot to be moved, because he neither slumbers nor sleeps.” We did not drop words from the text; we simply reverse “I WILL” to “WILL I” and the truth is plain to see. Our help comes from the Lord!
Whenever we embark upon any kind of study—in-depth, or casual, of the Book of Revelation, it is prudent for us to begin at the beginning, because in the very first verse, we are given an overview of what the entire book is about. The KJV reads like this: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.” Rev.1,1. Let us look at a few different translations of this verse beginning with J. B. PHILLIPS. “This is a Revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him so that he might show his servants what must very soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who is the witness of all that he saw—the message of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ.” The N.E.B translation: “This is the revelation given by God to Jesus Christ. It was given to him so that he might show his servants what must shortly happen. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who, in telling all that he saw, has borne witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ. The R.S.V. renders this part of the verse, “what must soon take place.”
Here is a question that is open to your personal, individual interpretation with no conflict intended. “If you were living back in A.D. 96 or there about when John wrote that certain events must very soon take place, would you imagine that the events that John saw and wrote about were related to a people living some 2,000 years later?” “What would must shortly come to pass mean to you?” Recently, I was watching a program on television entitled “Mysteries of the Bible” in which several experts from various schools of thought contribute to the program with their analysis of the subject in question. On the subject of the Revelation, the majority thought that whoever wrote it, be it John or someone else, it’s purpose was to add comfort and patience to the Christians who were under Roman persecution. It draws a picture of how God would finally come and crush the evil forces and grant overwhelming victory to his followers. They all thought that the entire Book of Revelation was for first century Christians, who looked for comfort and encouragement while living and dying in fierce persecutions.
Even in my infant of days, and without undergoing any meaningful teaching on the subject, I thought that Revelation featured a contrast and conflict between two women; one, the sun-clothed woman, and the other, the great whore that sits upon many waters—waters bespeaks of people. Like in the case of Matthew 24 where Jesus said “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled” we find countless numbers of experts and scholars who are determined to make us be the generation of which Jesus spoke, so is the case with Revelation. We read of the seven letters that Jesus sent to the seven churches that literally existed when John wrote. Somehow, the experts had another brilliant idea! They said to themselves, “Let us divide TIME from when John wrote to our day, into seven church periods. The first period is based upon the letter to the Church in Ephesus, (the loveless Church) the second is to the Church in Smyrna, (the persecuted Church) the third is to the Church in Pergamos, (the over-tolerant Church) the fourth is to the Church in Thyatira, (the compromising Church) the fifth is to the Church in Sardis, (the sleeping Church) the sixth is to the Church in Philadelphia, (the Church with opportunity) and the seventh is to the Church in Laodicea, (the complacent Church.) and we are told that we are living in the “Laodicean Church Age.”
I do not know how time is broken down and shared among the seven churches or in this case, church ages. In other words, I do not know at this point in time, how many years are allotted to each Church so as to bring us to the Laodicean Age. Perhaps it is based upon the fact that there seems to be much complacency among God’s people today which would align itself with the conditions John cataloged in his letter to the Church in Laodicea. The problem I have with all of this, is that no scripture is offered as reason for us to establish seven distinct church ages from Jesus’ letters to churches that existed when the letters were sent. Secondly, if we look at complacency among God’s people here in America and possibly Canada, we cannot say this holds true among God’s people worldwide. There could be a great evangelical push in South America, and the Far East could be burning with the fires of revival, with countless souls coming to Christ. So where do we fit complacency in the big picture? Over and over, and over, we see how man tries to cut and carve biblical truths to fit into what he has skillfully drawn up in his chart like a superb architect creating a blueprint for the next shopping mall that will be built across town. I am willing to give just about any concept a fair hearing, but no matter how plausible an issue seems to be, when the scriptures do not confirm it, we need to take it with two pinches of salt.
Our scripture found in Rev.7: outlines the sealing of the 144,000, 12,000 from each tribe of Israel, and over the years the event has become a great item for discussion especially among Jehovah Witnesses. But they are not alone in their interpretation of the entire lesson going down to verse 8. Instead of trying to determine who these people are, we will deal with the “timing of the sealing, and the place of the sealing.” The scripture is quite clear in telling us where this sealing took place. Verse two is very specific in saying in plain English: “And I saw another angel ascend (as it were, out of the earth) from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea.” It is safe to conclude that this scene was not in heaven, but right here on the earth.
However, when we read on, we can fall into the same belief and assumption like multitudes of others in believing that all of these scenes were on display in heaven. “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” Verses 9,10. Right about here we raise our voices in unison to sing with all religious vigor, “When the role is called up yonder”
But as “heavenly” as all of this seems to be, it actually is a scene set right here upon the earth out of which an angel (messenger) ascended with a restraining message for the angel who was ready to hurt the earth. One of the angels probed to ascertain John’s knowledge of what he was looking at. “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation (not the great tribulation) and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Rev.7:13-14.
For many, many, years I saw all of this as a great unveiling of events in heaven around the throne of God and of the Lamb. After all, we see great multitudes, we see God’s throne set and the Lamb brought into the picture. Surely, this had to be high up in the third, or fourth, or fifth, or seventh heaven. In terms of years, it was only recently that I began to look at the scripture more closely and noticed that the scene was set on earth. Listen to the clinching part of this lesson that tells it all! “Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” Verse 15.
The big question is simply this! Are these events yet to happen? Or did John see them happen? The same question can be asked about the “Heavenly Jerusalem”. John saw it coming down to earth and declared that God shall dwell among us, yet down through the many centuries of church history, people are still waiting for the New Jerusalem to descend to earth. Up to this day of great enlightenment, multitudes still cannot see the city as a people, in spite of the fact that Jesus said that we are a city set on a hill that cannot be hid. In spite of the fact that Paul in Hebrews said that we are come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the church of the first born written in heaven. In fact, after John describes the city and all of its varied dimensions, he concluded that the city was according to the measure of a man. Rev.21:17.
What difference does it make in placing things in heaven against placing them on earth? Here is the number one effect, and it is very negative! Things set in heaven, or things said to happen after Jesus comes again leave God’s people in a waiting mode, waiting for the day to come, while we sing, “By and by, when the morning comes, When all the saints of God are gathered home---We will understand it better by and by.” On the other hand, if we believe in the reality of what has already been done, we can sing: “Something happened when he saved me, and it happened in my heart.” “O this is like heaven to me, yes, this is like heaven to me. I’ve crossed over Jordan to Canaan’s fair land, and this is like heaven to me.” One suggests that we must wait in limbo until he appears in the eastern sky, while the other puts our feet in present realities. Since the saints shall judge the world and judgment begins at the house of the Lord, it should not be surprising that God has set his throne in our midst, and just as he promised in his Word, the whole earth shall be filled with his glory for he alone is God, and there is none else. Another earthly scene is captured for us in Revelation 5!
This scene is of one that sitteth upon the throne with a book written and sealed with seven seals. John wept when, seemingly, there was no one who could open the seals, until one, a Lamb that had been slain came and took the book and prevailed to open it. At that point worship began that involved the four beasts and the four and twenty elders with golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of the saints, and they sung a new song. Now, watch the lyrics of this new song! “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign upon the earth.” Rev.5:1-10.
All throughout the Book of Revelation we see God coming into a living arrangement with man. He comes to live with us on earth, and he appears nowhere at all to take man back to heaven beyond the blue somewhere. In fact very early in New Testament narrative, before the apostles turned Jerusalem upside down, and long before Saul got knocked to his senses on the road to Damascus, Jesus had already promised that both he and the Father would come and make their dwelling place with us, or IN us. See John 14:23.
Later on, Paul came on the scene and reinforced this same concept by writing in 11 Cor.6:16: “As God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Speaking of Zion, who we are, the Psalmist wrote: “For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation (dwelling place) This is my rest forever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.” Ps.132:13-14. My former presiding bishop in the City of Baltimore once said in a Sunday morning sermon: “The church is endeavoring to go to heaven, and God is endeavoring to bring heaven down to the church.”
Indeed, the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, but it will be only through a people who are tuned to the Spirit’s movements and desires. I was raised listening to a radio broadcast called “The Voice Of Prophecy” under the auspices of the Worldwide Church of God, Pasadena, California, owned and directed by Hubert W. Armstrong. Years later, when I lived in San Diego, the son, Garner Ted Armstrong took his camera team with microphone and hit the streets. He asked individuals if they were saved, and if they should die tonight would they be going to heaven. One by one each person he stopped and questioned said he or she was saved, and they were sure that if they died today, they would be going to heaven. In every single case, Garner asked for a verse of scripture that underscored the fact that any of these believing people would actually go to heaven upon dying. Not one could produce a single verse of scripture! Why? Because there is none!
Are you alarmed at this notion? Well settle back and believe me that neither Jesus or his disciples, or any of the apostles taught that upon death, we go directly to a place called heaven. At the graveside we were told that president Nixon is now in heaven! The same goes for president Reagan, movie stars and drug runners. Everybody seems to be in heaven right after dying, but where are the scriptures to back up that belief? No Sir! No Ma’am! Upon dying the spirit returns to God who gave it while the body goes back to the earth! But returning to God does not mean going to a place called heaven. Paul said to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. But where is the Lord? He is in us and in him we live and move and have our being. He filleth all in all! To believe that we must go to a place called heaven is to miss the reality of spiritual truths outlined in scripture.
Those of us who are somewhat advanced in present day truths do understand that the gates of the city, the walls of the city, the street of the city seeming to be transparent gold, and the measurement of the city, have nothing to do with gold, building blocks, and huge pearls harvested from oysters in the China Seas. To think on these objects in the natural, is to think like unregenerate men who can never comprehend spiritual truths. Why did God create a garden in the first place? Why did he create animals, forests filled with huge trees, plumage overladen with flowers, streams and oceans teaming with a wide variety of fish? And last of all, why did he bring man on the scene as lord and master of all the works of his hand? Because it has always been the mind of God and his ultimate intention to express himself out of the invisible into the visible. We understand love when it is expressed more in deed, than in word. At the end of every telephone call these days, we say “I love you!” To me it carries no weight and is just a “catch phrase” until it is conveyed in something tangible—God so loved the world that he gave of his best. He emptied himself in a single body and gave himself as a gift of love!
Revelation seven tells of the sealing of the 144,000 and the sealing process has come up for discussion many times among many groups of varied beliefs. Like many others subjects relegated to “time” the arguments differ as to “when” certain events are to take place, or did take place. Many years ago in the 70s when I served as pastor in Norfolk, Virginia, a friend from the adjacent city of Portsmouth came over to one of my services. He took me aside and counseled me to begin meeting in silence. He said I should just meet, sit in silence and do nothing, for God is getting ready to seal his people. Now, I must confess to you that I have difficulties dealing with issues that have no scriptural foundation. I have heard some dynamic speakers say, “Well, this is not in the scriptures, but take my word for it,” and in so doing, I have seen young, beautiful lives run a wreck. My problem is not so much that something isn’t written in scripture: rather my problem surfaces when there are scriptures that contradict a given subject or belief, because if every one of us begin to introduce concepts with no biblical foundation, in a short time we will total chaos on our hands.
So is the sealing of this great number of people something reserved for the future? Again, like the throne, the city, the Lamb, John saw it as it happened and many will now accept that John saw the city, the Lamb,s wife dressed as a woman on her wedding day right here on the earth, including God himself dwelling among us. Paul chimed in with a good thought on the subject of being sealed. “In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest (down payment—part of the purchase price) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Eph.1:13-14.
This means that when we receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we are sealed, stamped, tagged, selected and set aside as God’s property, in which state we will live until the day when the purchased possession is fully redeemed. It is like going to a huge warehouse where huge amount of goods are tagged and stored, waiting to be shipped overseas. Each section has tagged merchandise destined for a specific destination. I remember going to a sorting office in N.W. London when I worked for the post office and it was the rush period just before Christmas. One section had huge sacks under a large sign marked Istanbul, another for Greece, another for Rome, another for Paris and so on. We who have received that Holy Spirit of promise are tagged, labeled, and set aside for a specific destination in Christ Jesus our Lord. Moreover, the Spirit of promise is God’s guarantee—his covenant with us—a binding agreement into which he placed himself that he will indeed complete the transaction and fully redeem the purchased possession. His down payment or token money ties him into this binding contract with us, guaranteeing that he will honor his agreement made with an oath to himself. What a glorious thought! I’ll take it one step further and say that even if some of us pass on to the other side by physical death, God’s deal still holds! It cannot be voided by death! Thank you Jesus! In truth, Jesus makes a mockery of death, asking death, where is thy sting? Grave, where is thy victory? You loose and I win because I have destroyed him that had the power of death! I now hold the keys of both death and hell!
Again, Paul wrote: “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.” 2 Tim.2:19. Did John refer to some other sealing? I believe that God brought John into focus to witness these things, because he will not leave himself without a witness. Sometimes we tend to go overboard by making an issue so mystical that it causes some folks to tingle with excitement. Like in the case of Paul, in Mars Hill, there were some who delighted in hearing something new. “For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.” Acts 17:21. We don’t want to take a truth from scripture, repackage it with the mystique so as to create a new conversation. One of the beautiful truths about God is that he keeps moving forward with his plans irrespective of doubters and those who don’t understand. I do not know if there is going to be some sort of sealing in the future outside of what we just read in the scriptures shown in this study. But having received of the Spirit of promise, we can rest assured that we have been numbered for his divine purpose, and he who began that work will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. I am always aware and thankful for those of you who write and call from time to time. I do appreciate your continued love that you have expressed over the many years in this family. Your support has been well received! Thanks and God bless!
Royce O. Kennedy