1. Unraveling the End A Biblical Synthesis of Competing Views

2. Begin the Unraveling Process

3. The Great End-time Fiasco vs. Divine Perfection

4. The ESSENCE of the Great End-time Fiasco Part 1 – Things that were supposed to happen didn’t happen... as NT expectations proved false. as NT expectations proved false. Part 2 – So the Church invented “delay theory”—in direct contradiction of Scripture.

5. Divine Perfection Proposition #1 The God of the Bible is the God of order and design. Everything He created He did so with a plan, purpose, timeframe, and timely precision.The God of the Bible is the God of order and design. Everything He created He did so with a plan, purpose, timeframe, and timely precision. The stamp or fingerprint of divinity.The stamp or fingerprint of divinity.

6. Divine Perfection Proposition #2 The same God of perfection in all his physical creation is the God of perfection in his plan of redemption.The same God of perfection in all his physical creation is the God of perfection in his plan of redemption. Likewise, He created it with order and design, and a plan, purpose, and a fixed and specified timeframe.Likewise, He created it with order and design, and a plan, purpose, and a fixed and specified timeframe.

7. Divine Perfection Proposition #2 Progressively completed it with timely and mathematical precision.Progressively completed it with timely and mathematical precision. “when the time had fully come... to redeem those under the law” (Gal. 4:4)“when the time had fully come... to redeem those under the law” (Gal. 4:4) “at just the right time” (Rom. 5:6)“at just the right time” (Rom. 5:6) “who gave himself as a ransom for all men – the testimony given in its proper time” (1 Tim. 2:6).“who gave himself as a ransom for all men – the testimony given in its proper time” (1 Tim. 2:6).

8. Divine Perfection Proposition #2 How we humans can know Who the one true God is: Isaiah. 44:6-8 Also see Also see Isaiah 41:21-24; 42:8-9; 45:20-22; 46:9-11; 48:3-6

9. Divine Perfection Proposition #2 The God of the Bible foretold—many times and in many ways—what was going to happen in the future.The God of the Bible foretold—many times and in many ways—what was going to happen in the future. And it all happened.And it all happened. No other god, faith, religion, or ideology in the world can claim this.No other god, faith, religion, or ideology in the world can claim this. Nor has anything to compare with the validating evidence of fulfilled prophecy.Nor has anything to compare with the validating evidence of fulfilled prophecy.

10. Divine Perfection Proposition #2 Everything else the God of the Bible promised and prophesied via his prophets regarding his plan of redemptionEverything else the God of the Bible promised and prophesied via his prophets regarding his plan of redemption (e.g., saving us human beings from sin and restoring our fellowship with Him)(e.g., saving us human beings from sin and restoring our fellowship with Him) Also happened “at just the right time... in its proper time.”Also happened “at just the right time... in its proper time.”

11. Divine Perfection & The Appointed Time of the End “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:3)

12. The Historical Setting and Defining Characteristic of the Time of the End (Daniel 12)

13. The Historical Setting and Defining Characteristic of the Time of the End Who were “the holy people”?Who were “the holy people”? What was their power?What was their power? What did Jesus say would happen?What did Jesus say would happen? When did He say this would happen?When did He say this would happen? When did it happen?When did it happen?

14. Divine Perfection Proposition #3 One and only End the Bible consistently proclaims.One and only End the Bible consistently proclaims. Covenantal, not cosmic.Covenantal, not cosmic. Timely, and not delayed.Timely, and not delayed. Framing context for the time and nature of eschatological fulfillment.Framing context for the time and nature of eschatological fulfillment. Everything else was to happen “at just the right time”—at this time.Everything else was to happen “at just the right time”—at this time.

15. Three Big Objections 1)”The End of the World?” 1) ”The End of the World?” 2) God only promising never again to destroy the world by water? 3) The “New Heaven and a New Earth?”

16. Objection #1 “The End of the World?” #1 reason so many have been hamstrung in their understanding of end-time prophecy.

17. Objection #1 “The End of the World?” What does the book of Revelation say?What does the book of Revelation say?Nothing! What does the Bible say?What does the Bible say?Nothing! The historic creeds?The historic creeds?Nothing!

18. Objection #1 “The End of the World?” The world ending “as we know it?”The world ending “as we know it?”Nothing! Jesus say?Jesus say?Nothing! An “end of time” or “end of human history”?An “end of time” or “end of human history”?Nothing!

19. Objection #1 “The End of the World?” One clarification...One clarification... The original King James Version of the Bible mistranslates the Greek word aion.The original King James Version of the Bible mistranslates the Greek word aion. as “world” rather than “age.”as “world” rather than “age.” In the phrase “the end of the world (age)” in Matthew 12:32; 13:22, 39, 40, 49; 24:3; 28:20, for instance.In the phrase “the end of the world (age)” in Matthew 12:32; 13:22, 39, 40, 49; 24:3; 28:20, for instance.

20. Objection #1 “The End of the World?” The biblical truth about the proverbial “end of the world”The biblical truth about the proverbial “end of the world” Is contained within the biblical phrase “world without end, Amen.”Is contained within the biblical phrase “world without end, Amen.” The Bible says that the world had a beginning, but is without end...The Bible says that the world had a beginning, but is without end... “from the beginning of the world.... throughout all ages, world without end.“from the beginning of the world.... throughout all ages, world without end. A-men. (Ephesians 3:9, 21, KJV)

21. Objection #1 “The End of the World?” Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end, Amen.

22. Objection #1 “The End of the World?” Eph. 3:21 Literally “... into all generations of the age of ages.” “world without end, Amen.”

23. Objection #1 “The End of the World?” “Generations come and generations go, but the earth endures [remains] forever” (Eccl. 1:4).“Generations come and generations go, but the earth endures [remains] forever” (Eccl. 1:4). “the earth he established forever” (Psa. 78:69).“the earth he established forever” (Psa. 78:69). The earth, the world, and its foundations “can never be moved, ever (Psa.104:5; see also Psa. 93:1; 96:10; 119:90).The earth, the world, and its foundations “can never be moved, ever (Psa.104:5; see also Psa. 93:1; 96:10; 119:90). Both moon and sun are eternally established as faithful witnesses in the sky (Psa. 89:36-37).Both moon and sun are eternally established as faithful witnesses in the sky (Psa. 89:36-37). As are the highest heavens (Psa. 148:4, 6).As are the highest heavens (Psa. 148:4, 6). “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psa. 19:1).“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psa. 19:1).

24. Objection #2 God only promising never again destroy the world by water? Promise 1: “Never again will I [God] curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. As long as the earth endures [remains], seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (Gen. 8:21b-22)

25. Objection #2 God only promising never again destroy the world by water? Promise 2: “Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Gen. 9:11b)

26. Objection #2 God only promising never again destroy the world by water? Promise 1: “Never again will I [God] curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. As long as the earth endures [remains], seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (Gen. 8:21b-22)

27. Objection #2 God only promising never again destroy the world by water? “Generations come and generations go, but the earth endures [remains] forever” (Eccl. 1:4).

28. Objection #2 God only promising never again destroy the world by water? “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above. Join with all nature in manifold witness, To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness… “Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth and it endures [forever]” (Psa. 119:90).

29. Objection #2 God only promising never again destroy the world by water? “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands” (Deut. 7:9). Equals 40,000 years.Equals 40,000 years. 3,400 years have transpired.3,400 years have transpired. Leaves 36,600 years to go.Leaves 36,600 years to go.

30. Objection #2 God only promising never again destroy the world by water? “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son... For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world... ” (John 3:16a, 17a).

31. Objection #3 The “New Heaven and a New Earth?” “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matt. 24:35; Luke 21:33)

32. Objection #3 The “New Heaven and a New Earth?” Three different entities in the Bible termed “heaven and earth.” 1.Planet Earth and the cosmos creation (Gen 1:1; also Acts 4:24; 14:15-17). 2.The Old Covenant creation (Deut. 32:1; Isa. 1:2-3; 51:13, 15-16). “I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth” (Gen. 13:16).“I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth” (Gen. 13:16). “Look at the heavens and count the stars... so shall your offspring be” (Gen. 15:5; also 22:17; Dan. 12:3).“Look at the heavens and count the stars... so shall your offspring be” (Gen. 15:5; also 22:17; Dan. 12:3).

33. Isaiah 51:13a, 15-16 (KJV) “And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth...” (Isa. 51:13a KJV). But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The Lord of Hosts is his name. And I have put my words in thy mouth; I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and may say unto Zion, ‘Thou art my people.’”

34. Objection #3 The “New Heaven and a New Earth?” “And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it.” (Jer. 18:9 KJV; see also 1:10; Eccl. 3:2).

35. Objection #3 The “New Heaven and a New Earth?” Josephus The Antiquities of the Jews Describes how the Jews of Jesus’ time looked upon their temple as “a Heaven and earth.”Describes how the Jews of Jesus’ time looked upon their temple as “a Heaven and earth.” The outer tabernacle “an imitation of the system of the world” and “sea and land, on which men live.”The outer tabernacle “an imitation of the system of the world” and “sea and land, on which men live.” The Most Holy Place “a Heaven peculiar to God.”The Most Holy Place “a Heaven peculiar to God.” The veil that separated the two “was very ornamental, and embroidered with all sorts of flowers which the earth produces.”The veil that separated the two “was very ornamental, and embroidered with all sorts of flowers which the earth produces.” Book 3, chapter 6, paragraph 4, lines 122-126; also see Book 1, chapter 7, paragraph 7, lines 180-182.

36. Objection #3 The “New Heaven and a New Earth?” 3. The old world empire of Babylon (Isa. 13:13, 1, also 19-22).

37. Objection #3 The “New Heaven and a New Earth?” In Summary Two of these Three “heavens and earth” entities proclaimed in the Bible have already ended. Two of these Three “heavens and earth” entities proclaimed in the Bible have already ended. The other, as we’ve seen from ScriptureThe other, as we’ve seen from Scripture never ends. Question: Which “heaven and earth” was Jesus talking about in Matthew 5:17-18?Question: Which “heaven and earth” was Jesus talking about in Matthew 5:17-18?

38. Objection #3 The “New Heaven and a New Earth?” “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the least stroke of a pen [a jot or a tittle], will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matt. 5:17-18)

39. Ten Scriptural Confirmations #1 – 1 Cor. 7:29, 31 “Time is short”.... “The world in its present form is passing away.”

40. Ten Scriptural Confirmations #2 – Heb. 8:13 “By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he [God] has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.”

41. Ten Scriptural Confirmations #3 – Heb. 9:8-10 “The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings— external regulations applying until the time of the new order.”

42. Ten Scriptural Confirmations #4 – Heb. 12:26-28; Hag. 2:6; Isa. 13:13; 13:1 “At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”

43. Ten Scriptural Confirmations #5 – Matt. 21:43-45, 40 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to another people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed. When the chief priests and he Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.” “When the owner of the vineyard comes....”

44. Ten Scriptural Confirmations #6 – Luke 21:20-22, 32 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment [vengeance] in fulfillment of all that has been written.” “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.”

45. Ten Scriptural Confirmations #7 – Deut. 32 – The Song of Moses #8 – Rev. 21 – A new heaven and a new earth #9 – 2 Pet. 3:10-13 – “the day of the Lord”

46. Ten Scriptural Confirmations #10 – Rev. 18 “A Tale of Two Cities” Who is this Babylon? Did not and does not exist today. A sign and a symbol of what? Let “Scripture interpret Scripture.”Let “Scripture interpret Scripture.” Prove by four simple syllogisms.Prove by four simple syllogisms.

47. Syllogism #1 Major premise #1: Three times this Babylon is called “O great city” (Rev. 18:10, 16, 19). Twice it is called “great city” (Rev. 18, 21).Major premise #1: Three times this Babylon is called “O great city” (Rev. 18:10, 16, 19). Twice it is called “great city” (Rev. 18, 21). Minor premise #1: “The great city” is “where also their Lord was crucified”Minor premise #1: “The great city” is “where also their Lord was crucified” (Rev. 11:8). Conclusion: Jerusalem is Revelation’s Babylon.Conclusion: Jerusalem is Revelation’s Babylon.

48. Syllogism #2 Major premise #2: Babylon was guilty of “the blood of the prophets” (Rev. 18:24; 17:6).Major premise #2: Babylon was guilty of “the blood of the prophets” (Rev. 18:24; 17:6). Minor premise #2: According to Jesus and Paul, only Jerusalem killed the prophets (Matt. 23:34- 37; Luke 13:33; 11:47-51; 1 Thess. 2:15-16).Minor premise #2: According to Jesus and Paul, only Jerusalem killed the prophets (Matt. 23:34- 37; Luke 13:33; 11:47-51; 1 Thess. 2:15-16). Conclusion: Jerusalem is Revelation’s Babylon.Conclusion: Jerusalem is Revelation’s Babylon.

49. Syllogism #3 Major premise #3: John’s people are commanded to “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues” (Rev. 18:4).Major premise #3: John’s people are commanded to “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues” (Rev. 18:4). Minor premise #3: The only city Jesus ever commanded his followers to flee from is Jerusalem—when they saw two specific signs (Matt. 24:15-16; Luke 21:20-21).Minor premise #3: The only city Jesus ever commanded his followers to flee from is Jerusalem—when they saw two specific signs (Matt. 24:15-16; Luke 21:20-21). Conclusion: Jerusalem is Revelation’s Babylon.Conclusion: Jerusalem is Revelation’s Babylon.

50. Syllogism #4 Major premise #4: This Babylon would be destroyed (Rev. 18:2, 8, 10, 11, 17, 19-23).Major premise #4: This Babylon would be destroyed (Rev. 18:2, 8, 10, 11, 17, 19-23). Minor premise #4: The only city Jesus said would be destroyed was Jerusalem—it would be “left to you desolate” (Matt. 23:38).... with “not one stone... left on another” (Matt. 24:2).Minor premise #4: The only city Jesus said would be destroyed was Jerusalem—it would be “left to you desolate” (Matt. 23:38).... with “not one stone... left on another” (Matt. 24:2). Conclusion: Jerusalem is Revelation’s Babylon.Conclusion: Jerusalem is Revelation’s Babylon.

52. “... if Revelation was written before A.D. 70, then a case could be made that it describes chiefly those events leading up to Jerusalem’s fall.” [in A.D. 70] R.C. Sproul, The Last Days According to Jesus, 132.

53. Ten Scriptural Confirmations #11 – a bonus verse Matt. 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

55. Next Week God’s divinely determined timeline —OT & NT— for the appointed “time of the end”

56. Unraveling the End A Biblical Synthesis of Competing Views