Ladislas Farago, an enterprising writer who was himself an intelligence officer during the war, has made an exhaustive personal search for Bormann in South America. He claims to have discovered him. He states that he has satisfied himself, and has evidence to satisfy others, that Bormann, with the help of the Vatican and the Argentine dictator Juan Péron, escaped to Argentina in 1949; that he has been living in Argentina or Chile ever since; and that he is protected there by a powerful Nazi organization. There is no proof he died in Berlin as you stated. Pastor Boyd

Solomon's treasure was combined with Goth treasures when the Knights Templar transferred it to southern France high in the Pyrenees mountains. The Goths,since the early days of the Empire, Rome had continually struggled with the protection of its frontier borders. So, when the Gothic tribes - the Tervingi and Greuthungi - sought refuge from the marauding Huns, the Romans contemplated the options and eventually allowed them to settle on the Balkan frontier, of course, at a cost. The cost was a tribute in Goth treasure that later was mixed with Solomon's treasure when it was transported to France.

Solomon’s Treasure Found by the Nazis
By Pastor Gary Boyd
June 24th 2021

WHAT I am about to tell you comes from the book The Rise of the Fourth Reich by Jim Marrs from the chapter TREASURE TROVE. Hitler’s top SS Commando Otto Skorzeny in March of 1944 entered the area encompassing Montsegar and the village of Rennes-le-Chateau in Southern France close to the Pyrenees Mountains.

Hitler at that time was trying to find anything that would advance his war against the allies; he was desperate to win thus his search for occult artifacts and knowledge became an obsession.

Hitter’s SS Commando Skorzeny was instructed to move troops into Languedoc France to look for the fabled treasure of King Solomon the greatest cache of riches known to man. Gold, silver, and precious gems like diamonds, pearls, emeralds, rubies, etc. were known to be part of it.

There were also ancient scrolls, texts, and tablets upon which was said to exist the world’s most esoteric and occult knowledge handed down from ancient Sumer present day Iraq.

After much searching the Germans found a secret path used as an escape route during the siege of Montesegur. Commando Skorzeny and his SS men scouted along the path and soon found what appeared to be an ancient trail leading into the higher mountains of the Pyrenees. They found a fortified grotto with an entrance not far from the Mountain La Peyre. Near the crest of this mountain was another grotto and in this huge cavern they found Solomon’s treasure of gold and silver and precious gems.

After much glad handing and Nazi salutes and medals awarded, the treasure was carried out of the cavern in the Pyrenees by pack mule, loaded onto trucks to be moved to a rail head. Well-guarded rail cars arrived in Merkers, a small town about 40 miles from Berlin, where it was catalogued by the SS and moved to other secret locations, including Hitler’s hideaway at Berchtesgaden, where a large portion of the treasure was moved into the tunnel system under the mountains, large parts of which are inaccessible today.

According to Nazi Colonel Buechner in charge of the count the treasure consisted of:
Thousands of Gold coins dating back to the early days of the Roman Empire were found.

Twelve stone tablets bearing pre-runic inscriptions that none of the experts were able to read.

Thousands of precious gemstones in all sizes and shapes.

Thousands of silver coins.

Countless religious artifacts, sliver goblets, silver platters, and precious books were found.


How rich was King Solomon in just gold?

A talent of gold in today's value is worth $1,641,000 based on $1,500/ounce. This means that the value of the gold Solomon received yearly equals the sum of $1,092,906,000. And since King Solomon reigned for 40 years. This means his accumulated worth from that collection alone was $43,716,240,000.

All in all it was estimated there was 60 billion worth of booty that was found, but no one knows the actual value for it is believed much of it was stolen way back in the long ago.
By the time the Allies occupied Berlin much of the treasure had been melted down and shipped out of the country. A vast amount of gold and silver, pieces of art and religious artifacts were found in the town of Merkers that the Nazis left, but the most valuable items dropped from public view.

As you can see the Nazis had a lot of loot to buy themselves out of Germany and into South America where they continued on with their Nazi style of rule and killings of those that disagreed. Evita Peron leader of Argentina at the time was given a portion of the Gold by Martin Bormann who had secretly hidden his stash on a Nazi sub.

It was estimated there were at least 30,000 Nazi officials, officers, etc. that escaped through the ratlines into South America and Antarctica where they built a huge military base in a large cavern under the ice that went back underneath the continent for miles.


In the United States, an insidious ideology thought to have been vanquished more than a half century ago is actually flourishing. At the end of World War II, ranking Nazis, along with their young and fanatical protégés, used the loot of Europe to create corporate front companies in many countries, worming their way into corporate America. They brought with them miraculous weapons technology that helped win the space race. But they also brought their Nazi philosophy based on the authoritarian premise that the end justifies the means—including unprovoked wars of aggression and curtailment of individual liberties—which has since gained an iron hold in the "land of the free."

The Present Age of the Big Lie
By Wilfred Hahn
Published on: August 27, 2022
Researched by Pastor Gary Boyd
April 18th 2023

Over the decades and centuries, there have been many lethal encroachments upon Biblical truths and doctrines. Many, if not most, are still with us today. In fact, they are still with us because the lies have been systemized or the subject of long-established dogmas. People seem to believe that the more ancient and longstanding might be a belief or doctrine, the more venerable or truthful it is likely to be. This is absolutely wrong.

It is also believed that the bigger the lie, the less believable it will be. This view is also absolutely wrong. In fact, it is the big lies—the really huge lies—that are the most dangerous and alluring. The lies may be so big that they seem highly improbable. Yet, they are believed. One wonders how these false views and doctrines could even be accepted by both the gullible and scholars alike.

We observe that the most dangerous of lies are the big ones that seemingly are the most unbelievable. These are so big and repeated that they are no longer discernible to the masses.

Why are big lies so successful in attracting belief? And how is it that the most colossal and biggest lies are the most successful of all? Rulers and political strategists have understood this apparent human flaw, to be vulnerable to big lies and propaganda. If you are going to lie, make it a big lie. But how must one bring this about?

Thus was born the strategy of the “Big Lie.” Consider, for example, Adolf Hitler’s perspective, which was heavily influenced by Joseph Goebbels, the propaganda minister to the Nazi regime at that time.

Quoting Goebbels: “The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly. It must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over.” Elsewhere he further elaborates (and we again quote): “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie […].”

The Nazi regime was highly successful in its manipulations of truth. Historian Zachary Jonathan Jacobson describes its uses and successes in Nazi Germany: “Adolf Hitler first defined the Big Lie as a deviant tool wielded by Viennese Jews to discredit the Germans’ deportment in World War I. Yet, in tragically ironic fashion, it was Hitler and his Nazi regime that actually employed the mendacious strategy. In an effort to rewrite history and blame European Jews for Germany’s defeat in World War I, Hitler and his propaganda minister accused them of profiting from the war, consorting with foreign powers, and ‘war shirking’ (avoiding conscription).

“Nazi fascism hinged on creating one streamlined, overarching lie. […] The Nazis built an ideology on a fiction, the notion that Germany’s defeat in World War I could be avenged (and reversed) by purging the German population of those purportedly responsible: the Jews.

“Jews, Hitler contended, were the weak underbelly of the Weimar state that exposed the loyal and true German population to catastrophic collapse. To sell this narrative, Joseph Goebbels insisted ‘all effective propaganda must be limited to a very few points and must harp on these in slogans until the last member of the public understands.'”

The Strategies of the Big Lie

The techniques of The Big Lie that we cite here have obviously been utilized in the political realm. However, they can apply to all “big lies.” We see these principles being implemented virtually everywhere—religion, geopolitics, and the field of economics—whether over the short-term or over centuries.

Just what lies of this scale can be seen today? They are many. We will name some colossal lies that have persisted till recent times … in no particular order:

That Apostle Peter founded the Roman Church … i.e., that he was the first pope.
That the Church of Rome is the infallible representative of Christ (Vicar of Christ) upon earth.
That the Temple Mount belongs to the Arabs … particularly Muslims.
Evolution: That God did not create the world and all its life forms and dwellers, and that evolution is proven through science.
Prosperity Theology … that believers are sure to be blessed physically in the here and now.
Atheism and Humanism
That Jesus Christ did not die on the cross, and that most certainly He was not raised on the third day.
The above-mentioned lies are indeed colossal, as they destroy or hide key fundamental truths. Many more can be added … for example, certain aspects of the “climate change” views.

Brazen Big Lies

Is the technique of the Big Lie surprising? It shouldn’t be. Why? Prophecy indicates a time of great “false witness” at the end of days. The Bible tells us that lies and intrigue will increase. Zechariah 5:3, for example, prophesies that the latter-day world would be characterized by two main conditions—lying (swearing falsely) and theft (stealing and greed). The result is a world rampant with lies and intrigue.

And, indeed, we observe these conditions increasing with greater intensity today.

For example, statistics today are crafted to cover up lies. They are manipulated to conceal facts and truths rather than to reveal. We find falsehoods institutionalized at many levels.

People are adept at “spinning” facts to support whatever deceiving view they wish. The facts are treated as malleable; the truth is subject to change. To this end, the Russians have an infamous saying: “History is like the weather: It constantly changes.” Ergo, past truths and facts change.

Even secular authors and societal observers are identifying our day and age as chronically untruthful. A number of books and essays on this condition have been published in recent times. For example, “Liars in High Places: Who Is to Blame for Misinformation?” (Foreign Affairs, November/December 2021); or, Liars: Falsehoods and Free Speech in an Age of Deception (Cass Sunstein, Oxford University Press).

In the latter referenced book, the author goes so far as to say that Americans are living in “an age of deception.” It is evident that in recent years, not only have lies become more prevalent in the public domain, but also the greater the flagrant lies, the less the shame in promoting them.

Thoughts to Ponder

The Bible expressly says: “God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that he would change his mind” (Numbers 23:19). God cannot lie. It would be impossible. Thus, He is Truth.

God hates lies. Why? They are the foundational tactic of Satan, the enemy. Many references in the Bible underline God’s hatred of lies.

Yet, why were lies allowed in God’s creation? The short answer: Because truth must exist. Think about it. Were there no such thing as the concept of “truth,” then there would not be any lies.

However, God allowed lies to exist as part of the strategic landscape of the epic cosmological battle that would, in the end, validate His sovereignty and might. Therefore, it is no surprise that Satan would tactically use lies in his war to defy God. It is the only method the Creator has allowed: “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1).

In the battles against lies and falsehoods, it should be noted that there are no limitations or holds on brutal techniques. The enemy will do anything and everything to keep falsehoods hidden.

Satan is the father of all lies. Said Jesus Christ: “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!” (John 8:44-45).

If indeed it is the case that people will choose to deny Truth because it expressly is TRUTH, it follows then that people will also be acceptant casualties of the Big Lie.

In response to the actions of Hananiah, the prophet Jeremiah said: “The LORD has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies” (Jeremiah 28:15).

For more on lies go to my substack to read "A Handful of Companies Control Global Propaganda"
https://garyboyd2244.substack.com/p/a-handful-of-companies-control-global

The Rise & Fall of the Antichrist
by Dr. David R. Reagan
Published on: September 7, 2014
Researched by Pastor Gary Boyd
April 13th 2023

The Bible teaches that in the end times, right before the return of Jesus, the greatest political leader in the history of Mankind will emerge from Europe. After taking over that area by diplomatic cunning and deceit, he will launch a military campaign that will result in his acquiring “authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation” (Revelation 13:7). His empire will be the most extensive in all of history, encompassing the entire world, and his rule will be the most demonic the world has ever experienced.

He will begin his rise to power as a dynamic, charismatic, insightful, visionary leader who will astound the world with the cleverness of his solutions to world problems. He will appear to be the savior of the world. But as he consolidates his power, his true nature will be revealed. He will emerge as a Satan possessed and empowered person who hates God and is determined to annihilate both Christianity and Judaism. For this reason, he is identified in scripture as the Antichrist (1 John 2:18), for he will stand against God and His anointed one, Jesus Christ.

His Origin

Where will this sinister person come from? Some have speculated that he will come out of Syria since one of his prophetic types in history — Antiochus Epiphanes (215 – 164 BC) — was a Syrian tyrant. But Antiochus was actually of Greek heritage. Could he therefore be a Greek? It is not likely.

It is much more likely that he will rise out of the heartland of the old Roman Empire and that he will be of Italian descent. This conclusion is based upon a statement in Daniel 9:26. In that passage the Antichrist is referred to as “the prince who is to come,” and he is identified as being from the people who “will destroy the city and the sanctuary.”

We know from history that both Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple were destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. Therefore, according to Daniel, the Antichrist must be of Roman heritage.




Will he be a Jew? Many assume he will be because Jesus said, “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another shall come in his own name, you will receive him” (John 5:43). Based on this statement, people ask, “How could the Jews possibly receive a Gentile as their Messiah?”

But the Bible does not teach that the Jews will receive the Antichrist as their Messiah. It teaches they will accept him as a great political leader and diplomat and that they will put their trust in him as the guarantor of peace in the Middle East.

But the moment he reveals himself as the Antichrist by desecrating the Jew’s rebuilt Temple and blaspheming God, the Jewish people will revolt. They will reject him as Messiah, and he will respond in fury by attempting to annihilate them.

The Antichrist does not have to be a Jew. And, in fact, the Bible makes it clear that he will be a Gentile. In Revelation 13:1 he is portrayed as a “beast coming up out of the sea.” The sea is used consistently throughout the prophetic scriptures as a symbol of the Gentile nations (Daniel 7:3; Luke 21:25; and Revelation 17:1).

By contrast, the Antichrist’s right hand man, the False Prophet, who will serve as his religious leader, will be a Jew. This is revealed in Revelation 13:11 where it says that John saw “another beast coming up out of the earth [literally, the land].” Just as the sea is used symbolically in prophecy to refer to the Gentile nations, the land (or earth) is used to refer to Israel. This does not mean the False Prophet will be an Orthodox Jew. It only means that he will be of Jewish heritage. Religiously, he will be an apostate Jew who will head up the One World Religion of the Antichrist.

There is one other issue concerning the origin of the Antichrist that we need to consider. Many argue that he will be a person resurrected from the dead — most likely Nero or Judas Iscariot. This assumption is based on a statement in Revelation 13:1-3 where John describes the Antichrist as a beast with seven heads. He then makes the observation that one of his heads appeared “as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed.” He comments that “the whole earth was amazed” by this and therefore “followed after the beast” (Revelation 13:3).

The problem with this interpretation is that “the fatal wound” referred to in the passage has nothing to do with the person of the Antichrist. The seven heads represent seven Gentile empires — namely, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and the final empire of the Antichrist. The head with the fatal wound that has been healed is the Roman Empire. We know this from the book of Daniel where it is prophesied that the Roman Empire will be the last of the Gentile empires until the end times when the empire of the Antichrist will emerge from a reunited Europe — that is, from a revival of the old Roman Empire (Daniel 2:31-45 and 7:1-8, 24-28). Go to Gary's Substack to read rest of article: https://garyboyd2244.substack.com/p/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-antichrist

Why Palestinians Cannot Resume Peace Talks with Israel
by Bassam Tawil • April 11, 2023 at 5:00 am
Researched by Pastor Gary Boyd
April 11th 2023

Once a Palestinian leader makes such a serious (and false) allegation against Jews [such as "violent storming of the al-Aqsa Mosque"], he is telling the Arabs and Muslims that the Jews... should therefore be fought against, not welcomed as peace partners.

If you tell your people (again, falsely) that the Israelis are perpetrating "war crimes," "desecrating mosques" and "stealing land," what will the Palestinians think of you when they see you sitting with an Israeli? They will denounce you as a "traitor" and call for your death.

By describing the Jews as "colonizers," [Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad] Shtayyeh is seeking to send a message that the Jews have no religious or historical connection to their homeland, Israel.

In the eyes of Shtayyeh and many Palestinians, all Jews living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea are "colonizers" and "settlers." These Palestinians see no difference between a Jew living in a Jewish community in the West Bank and a Jew living in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. For them, all Jews are foreigners who have no connection whatsoever to Israel and Jewish holy sites and no right ever to live there. Period.

Palestinian leaders such as Shtayyeh are straightforwardly saying that they see Israel as one big illegal settlement that must be eradicated... [and not] as a place for anyone other than Muslims.

[C]ontrary to the false claim made by Shtayyeh and other Palestinian leaders, the Jews who visit the holy site have never set foot inside the al-Aqsa Mosque.

One of those who have failed to call out the Palestinians for their antisemitism and lies is US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

"Palestinians and Israelis alike are experiencing growing insecurity, growing fear in their homes, in their communities, in their places of worship," Blinken argued.

If the Palestinians are "experiencing growing insecurity," it is because they are enabling terrorists to operate freely against Israel within their own communities. If the Palestinians want to live in their homes in security and without fear, they could stop terrorists from planning and executing terror attacks against Israel. If the Palestinians want to feel safe in their worship places, they could stop attacking and harassing Jews....

The Israeli army does not send its soldiers to Palestinian cities for fun. The only reason Israeli troops enter Palestinian cities and towns is to arrest terrorists or foil terror attacks that are being planned.

The Israeli security forces are actually forced to launch these counterterrorism operations because the Palestinian Authority and its president, Mahmoud Abbas, are not fulfilling their obligations under the terms of their agreements with Israel to prevent and combat terrorism.

Instead, Abbas and the Palestinian leadership continue to glorify terrorists and to reward them and their families financially through the infamous "Pay-for-Slay" program. These are payments for killing Jews – like Murder, Inc.

In a place such as the West Bank that has lived off handouts from Europe, the US, Qatar and Iran, and where the Palestinian Authority never bothered to build any kind of industrial or self-sustaining economic base, paying people to murder Jews has, in a poor region, become a booming jobs program.

Every day, every Jew in Israel literally walks around with a bounty on his or her head. If you are a Jew in Israel, every day is "hunting season."

In the world of Palestinian leaders, a terrorist is entitled to murder or wound Jews, but when the Jews manage to foil the attack or kill the terrorist, the Jews should be condemned for perpetrating "crimes" and "violating international law."
What is more bizarre is that Blinken, who did not utter a word to refute the lies coming out of Abbas's mouth, instead chose to praise the Palestinian leader: "I also appreciate, Mr. President, your consistent and resolute stance against terrorism."
For the Biden Administration, a Palestinian leader who glorifies terrorists as "heroes and martyrs" and pays their families monthly salaries deserves praise for his "stance against terrorism." If this US position was not so dangerous, it would be a sad joke.
If the Biden administration wants to understand why Palestinian leaders cannot resume any "peace process" with Israel, Blinken and the State Department would be advised to listen to the anti-Israel statements and lies of Abbas and Shtayyeh. These lies include charges that Israel is committing "war crimes," "extra-judicial killings," "ethnic cleansing," and "apartheid."
As long as Palestinian leaders continue to incite violence against Israel and Jews, these leaders will never return to any negotiating table with Israel.
Naïve Americans and gullible Europeans keep giving these leaders every incentive to continue their program of "Murder, Inc." by rewarding them with "free" money for terrorism -- with no strings attached. Under those terms, who wouldn't continue killing Jews -- or anyone? It is a gold mine.
Finally, these leaders might simply find it more comfortable to perpetuate the drama of the "cause" rather than the anonymous, less-than-heroic tedium of running a state. Unless, of course, that state could entail driving out the Jews.
As the Biden Administration continues to state its commitment to a "two-state negotiated solution" between the Palestinians and Israel, Palestinian leaders are pursuing their campaign to vilify Israel and demonize Jews. This campaign, which is manifest mostly in the rhetoric of the leaders and the Palestinian media, mosques and schools, has made it impossible – not to mention personally dangerous – for any Palestinian leader to seek a negotiated and peaceful settlement with Israel.
A Palestinian leader who repeatedly condemns a visit by Jews to the Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest site in Jerusalem, as a "violent storming of the al-Aqsa Mosque" can never agree to be seen sitting at the same negotiating table with Jews. Once a Palestinian leader makes such a serious (and false) allegation against Jews, he is telling the Arabs and Muslims that the Jews are violating the sanctity of Islamic holy sites and should therefore be fought against, not welcomed as peace partners. If the Palestinians see this leader sitting with Jews, they will attack him for being associated with those who "defile" Islamic holy sites.

These leaders have radicalized their people against Israel -- and Jews -- to a point where it has become unsafe even to be seen in the presence of Israelis. If you tell your people (again, falsely) that the Israelis are perpetrating "war crimes," "desecrating mosques" and "stealing land," what will the Palestinians think of you when they see you sitting with an Israeli? They will denounce you as a "traitor" and call for your death. Finish Article on:

https://garyboyd2244.substack.com/p/why-palestinians-cannot-resume-peace

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
by Jack Kelley
Published on: January 28, 2015
Researched by Pastor Gary Boyd
April 9th 2023

For believers, the resurrection from the dead is perhaps the greatest promise the Bible offers. The idea of eternal life in a state of perpetual bliss goes well beyond amazing for those who read the Scriptures literally.



Most of what we know about the resurrection comes from the New Testament. But from reading about it there we can tell it isn’t exclusively a New Testament idea. As an example, the Sadducees knew about a resurrection, even though they didn’t believe in one (Matt. 22:23).



That’s because first clear mention of a resurrection appears in the Old Testament book of Job.



“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27).



Job knew he was a sinner who would die. But he also knew that God would send a redeemer to pay the price for his sins, enabling him to live again, not as some undefined spiritual entity, but as a physical being, a new version of himself. And with his own eyes he would see his redeemer standing on Earth.



Isaiah also spoke of a bodily resurrection in which he would participate.



“Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will give birth to the dead”(Isaiah 26:19).



Daniel was the first to reveal that there would actually be two types of resurrections, one for believers and one for everyone else.



“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:1-2)



From our understanding of Matt. 24:21 we know the angel was telling Daniel this would happen after the great tribulation, but he did not tell him the two resurrections would be separated by 1,000 years. We learn that from Revelation 20:4-5. Daniel also disclosed that the resurrection of unbelievers would be a far different experience from the one believers will enjoy.



In John 5:28 Jesus confirmed this, saying:



“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.”



These verses gave birth to the notion of a first and second resurrection, which has been misunderstood by many. There are more than two resurrection events, but there are only two types of resurrections, one type for believers (commonly called the first resurrection) and the other type for unbelievers (commonly called the second resurrection).



People who haven’t been taught this correctly sometimes have trouble understanding that the first resurrection began with Jesus and the holy people who came out of their tombs at the same time (Matt. 27:52-53), continues with the resurrection/rapture of the Church (1 Thess. 4:16-17), and concludes at the time of the Second Coming when Old Testament believers (Daniel 12:2) and Tribulation martyrs will be raised up (Rev. 20:4). The second resurrection, the one for unbelievers, will take place at the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20:5).



Of course, the Bible’s early references to a resurrection only tell us it was known to the Jewish people. To the Gentiles this was a brand new idea that needed further explanation. Because of that, most of the detail we have about the resurrection comes from Paul who devoted a chapter to answering questions about it. So let’s go there and review what he had to say about it.



1 Corinthians 15



Paul began by reminding his readers how important the Lord’s resurrection is to believers. In fact it’s so important that our salvation depends on believing in it.



“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4).



And in Romans 10:9 he said if we confess with our mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead we will be saved. This verse made it official. Belief in the Lord’s resurrection is a requirement for salvation.



In 1 Cor. 15:17 he said if Christ is not raised then our faith is futile and we are still in our sins. That’s because when He went to the cross, Jesus took all our sins upon himself and paid for them there. His resurrection is our proof that all our sins are forgiven because if any of them remained on Him, He could not have been raised to sit at the right hand of the Father. He would still be in the grave and we would still be accountable for our unpaid sins.



Having established the necessity of believing in the Lord’s resurrection, Paul turned to ours. He said since we’re all descended from Adam we’ve all inherited a sin nature that makes us subject to death. But just as death comes to us through Adam, so also the resurrection of the dead comes to us through Christ (1 Cor. 15:20-22). Therefore His resurrection is not only proof that our sins have been forgiven, it’s also proof that we who believe will be resurrected to eternal life.



A few verses later. Paul posed a hypothetical question about the kind of body resurrected believers will have. Answering his own question, Paul likened the death and resurrection of a believer to the planting and growth of a seed. The seed we put into the ground does not bear any likeness to the plant that will grow from it. God gives it a body as He has determined and to each kind of seed he gives its own body (1 Cor. 15:35-38). An apple seed becomes an apple tree. A kernel of wheat becomes a stalk of wheat. Each specie has its own kind of body.



“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body” (1 Cor. 15:42-44).



These verses tell us that like the seed and the plant from which it grows are different, so the earthly body and the resurrection body are different. Notice Paul didn’t say, “If there is a physical body there is also a spiritual body” because that would imply that the resurrection body is not tangible, but is an intangible spirit.



Paul was speaking about believers here. In saying there is a natural body he was referring to a body designed for Earth. Therefore, a spiritual body is a body designed for Heaven.



But in the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), Jesus said all the parties in the afterlife could see each other even though a wide chasm separated them. Lazarus, a believer, was comforted there. But the rich man, an unbeliever, felt agony, experienced thirst, and asked if Lazarus could dip a finger in water and cool his tongue.



This meant both had to have a tangible body, but their natural bodies had been buried in the ground. They must have received these bodies after they died. Whether they were their resurrection bodies or whether they were “transitional” in nature remains a mystery, but the passage does show that the dead receive some kind of physical body to replace the earthly one they’ve discarded, whether they die as believers or not.



When Jesus came out of the tomb he had a physical body, but with supernatural abilities. Mary could cling to Him (John 20:17), the disciples could see Him and watch Him eat (Luke 24:36-43). Yet He had suddenly appeared to them within the walls of a locked room (John 20:19). When He ascended to heaven they watched Him go up into the clouds. Later when John saw Him at the Throne of God, He looked to John just like He did after His resurrection (Rev. 5:6). His resurrection body was tangible and physical, yet it had supernatural abilities and was suitable for heaven.



“Speaking of our resurrection bodies, John said, “ Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).



No one in their natural state can inherit the kingdom of God, we all have to be transformed. Just as we’ve all born the likeness of Adam, we will all bear the likeness of Christ (1 Cor. 15:49-50). So, if you want an idea of what your resurrection body will be like, read what the Bible says about His.



For Church Age believers who have died, this transformation will take place at the resurrection of the Church. But suddenly, without any kind of introduction or explanation, Paul revealed there will also be a transformation of living believers, and it will take place at the same time as the resurrection.



“Listen,” he said, “I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed” (1 Cor. 15:51-52).



By saying “I tell you a mystery” Paul indicated he was revealing a secret to them, something that had never been clearly taught before. In connection with the resurrection of Church Age believers who have died, living believers will be instantaneously transformed from mortal to immortal without passing through death, and together with our resurrected brothers and sisters in the Lord we will rise to meet Him in the air for our journey to His Father’s house.



This combination of resurrection and rapture will take the Church off the earth forever, ending the Age of Grace and clearing the way for the remaining seven years of the Age of Law to be concluded. These seven years will see the final fulfillment of Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27), followed by the return of the Lord to Earth and the final event in the first resurrection, the resurrection of Old Testament believers (Daniel 12:1-2) and Tribulation martyrs (Rev. 20:4).



1,000 years later, the unbelieving dead from all time will be raised to face their final judgment (Rev. 20:11-15).



What About Them?



Some have asked about people who die during the Millennium. This will include those who survive the end times judgments and go into the Millennium in their natural bodies, as well as their descendants who will be born during that final 1,000 years. Matt. 25:34 tells us all of the former will be believers, and its safe to assume some of the latter will be as well.



With the exception of one obscure phrase, the Bible does not mention the destiny of these people. That exception is Rev. 20:15 which says, “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” John said this in the context of the resurrection at the end of the Millennium.



If only unbelievers will be brought to judgment at this time, then their names will obviously not appear in the book of life. As we’ve seen, all Church age believers will be resurrected/raptured before Daniel’s 70th Week begins. Old Testament believers, whose names are written in the book of life, will be resurrected at the second coming, along with tribulation martyrs (Daniel 12:1, Rev. 20:4).



That seems to cover every believer from the Creation to the Second Coming. If that’s the case and there aren’t any unbelievers in the book of life, why did John feel it was necessary to mention the book at all? Perhaps it’s a hint that believers who die during the Millennium will also be part of the second resurrection. Only time will tell.



What we know for certain is that the Bible says everyone who has lived will live again, and there are only two types of resurrection, one for believers and one for unbelievers. The only variable in all this is the type of resurrection we will participate in. Jesus said we will either rise to live, or rise to be condemned, and it will all come down to what we believe about Him.



“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:16-18).

Who Is the Antichrist?
You will be told exactly who he is in this article.

By Dr. Tom Horn

Researched by Pastor Gary Boyd

April 7th 2023


The vast majority of evangelical Christians living today believe that we are in what the Bible calls the last days or end times. That is, they recognize that the signs we were told would usher in this period are all occurring right now. Central to the topic of the end times and the beginning of the Apocalypse is the emergence of a political leader who is to rule the world during this horrific period. He is commonly known as the Antichrist.

Speculation about who this man might be is ongoing with the passage of time and events. Many evangelical Christians presently believe the one who will plunge the world into the bloody events of the Apocalypse, which will end in the last battle prophesied in the book of Revelation, the battle of Armageddon is closer than most comprehend.

Antichrist’s Identity Revealed in Scripture

Many of the commentators, writers, and end-times experts who are interested in this topic fail to look for answers about the identity of this coming evil ruler in the one place that can be trusted above all else: the Holy Writ. I am about to make a solemn declaration here, one that may come as a surprise to many people: The name of the Antichrist, his present whereabouts, and the timing of his emergence onto the world stage are clearly given in the plain text of Scripture. That is correct. Commentators, and Bible scholars, and end-times experts have failed to see that the identity of the Antichrist and his present abode are provided for any who have eyes to see and ears to hear. The information is hidden in plain sight in the book of Revelation and elsewhere. When we go to the Word and accept what the Spirit has to say on this subject, there is no more need for loose speculation and the opinions.

Quite a lot of information is given in the Bible that allows us to paint a full picture of the coming Antichrist and the activities he and his accomplices will be involved in. The book of Daniel provides many parallel prophecies that back up and validate those given in the book of Revelation. Much other information regarding the Apocalypse is written in the Gospels, as well as in some of the Epistles. By piecing together all the various pieces if the jigsaw, we can assemble a clear picture of this man and of the events that will take place during his reign. I will deal with just some of these issues in this essay.

Sticking to the Truth

But first things first. I shall not be engaging in mere speculation here. I will be going to the Scriptures and allowing them to interpret themselves so that the Word of truth may be magnified, and so that we do not stray from that narrow path. To illustrate the necessity for sticking with these simple truths, I would like to quote a lesson from the Master himself in a passage in Matthew 16:

[Jesus] asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of man, am?” And they said, “Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

He saith unto them, “But who say ye that I am?”

And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

And Jesus answered and said unto him, “Blessed are thou Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven…”

…From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again, the third day.

Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, “Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.”

But he turned and said unto Peter: “Get thee behind me Satan, for thou art and offense unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men” (Matthew 16:14-17, 21-23).

This passage contains some very important lessons that we must grasp before we continue. Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was. Peter gave the correct answer, and Jesus praised him, telling him that it was by way of revelation from God himself that Peter had received this knowledge. Jesus then began to explain that He must fulfil prophecy by going to Jerusalem, suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, and dying before being raised from the dead.

At this, Peter lost the run of himself, and more or less said, “No way is this going to happen while I am around to protect you.” Then Jesus looked Peter square in the eyes and said, “Get thee behind me Satan. Thou art an offense unto me; for thou savorest not the things that are of God, but those that are of men” (v. 23).

Whew! What a turnaround! One minute, Peter was the cock of the walk because Jesus had praised him for his spiritual insight and had given him the keys to the kingdom (verses 18,19). Next thing, He hit him right between the eyes with, “Satan is working through you; you are more interested in man’s opinions than the Word of God,” or words to that effect. So Peter went from hero to zero within a couple of minutes.

The lesson here is this: The way of truth is a very narrow path. Jesus was the Word made flesh. He spoke the Word of truth because he was truth. So when He began to explain to His disciples what had to come to pass in order that man’s redemption could be attained, He was speaking God’s truth. And the truth is a narrow path. But when Peter reacted as he did, he was using his five senses and going directly against the revealed Word of truth. Thus, he was in error.

As soon as we start to stray from the simple teaching of Scripture and begin to put forth our own opinions, we make the same mistake Peter made. Thus, the Lord’s rebuke to us might be the same as it was to his disciple: “Get you behind me Satan.” He can say that because when we stray off the narrow path of truth, the half-truths or speculation we perpetrate—if we are to take Jesus at face value—are satanic in nature. When we exit the path of truth, we are in error.

I say this because in this essay, I will be sticking to the plain teaching of Scripture. And although I am fully aware that the prophecies of the book of Revelation can be difficult to understand, some of them are quite simple when all the dots are joined in a reasoned fashion. I believe the Scriptures that point to the identity of the Antichrist and what his name is are relatively easy to decode when laid out in a logical sequence. That is what I shall attempt to do here.

Biblical References to Antichrist

Scripture provides various names for the person we call the Antichrist. In fact, the word “antichrist” only appears in the Bible twice, and these instances are found in John’s first epistle:

“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists, by which we know that it is the last time. … Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:18, 22).

It is interesting to note that neither of these mentions of the word “antichrist” has the definite article “the” before them. Yet we talk of “the Antichrist” as if there are many usages of this word throughout the Bible, thus giving this name a certain kudos.

The epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians provides us with three other names given to this Antichrist: “Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he, as God, sitteth in the Temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. …And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 8).

Here the Antichrist is called the “man of sin,” the “son of perdition,” and “that wicked (or lawless one).” In the book of Daniel, he is referred to as “a little horn” (Daniel 7:8).

Now here is the rub: We talk of “the antichrist” even though “antichrist” is used only twice in the Bible in 1 John. These other terms are seldom used except in dissertations or books on this coming world leader. Yet in the book of Revelation, this same man is given a different name, and is called many times in nine separate chapters by that same title. Yet commentators seldom refer to him by the name the Spirit puts on him. Also, it is in this name that the person of the Antichrist is identified and his proper name is given. The present whereabouts of this character is also provided within the name appointed him in the book of Revelation.

Jesus’ Interesting Activity

Before I present this name, I want to lay some enigmatic verses before you that are very pertinent to this study and to understanding who this Antichrist is. First, we examine a passage in 1 Peter that concerns something Christ Jesus did after His resurrection from the dead and before His ascension into heaven. Jesus says: “By whom also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison, Who at one time were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing…” (2 Peter 3:19, 20).

This verse is sadly overlooked. It tells us that Jesus, in His supernatural risen body, went to the “spirits” in prison and “preached” to them! It also tells us that it was these same spirits that were disobedient in the days while Noah was building the ark. That is, they were active in the years preceding the Flood of Noah.

The Greek word for “preached” here is kerusso, which means “heralded.” That is, Jesus heralded or announced His triumph over these spirits that were disobedient in the years before the Flood.

2 Peter 2:4,5 is linked and provides another couple of parts of the puzzle: “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto the judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah, the eighth person…bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.”

Here we are told that the angels who sinned are cast down to a place called Tartarus, which is the Greek word in the text given for “hell.” This passage states that these angels are “reserved unto the judgment.” Many times the Day of the Lord—or the time called Tribulation—is referred to as “the day of judgment.” This also connects these angels with the time of the Flood.

These angels are the spirits to whom Jesus went and announced His triumph, for angels are spirit beings. (“But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand…Are they not all ministering spirits…” [Hebrews 1:13,14]). Their sin is the same as the disobedience mentioned in 1 Peter. And the “Tartarus” and “chains of darkness” referred to here are the same as the prison mentioned earlier. --- Go to the end of the article here on this link - https://garyboyd2244.substack.com/p/who-is-the-antichrist

Does God Have Control Over the Weather?
Researched by Pastor Gary Boyd
April 1st 2023

God, being the Creator of everything (Genesis 1:1), has full control over nature and the weather (Job 26; Jeremiah 10:13; Exodus 9:29; Psalm 135:6-7; ). God gives His orders and arranges for the course and sequence of natural events (Colossians 1:16-17). He controls the rain (1 Kings 17:1; Psalm 77:16-19), the wind (Mark 4:35-41), the clouds (Job 37:11-12, 16), and the lightning (Psalm 18:14).

The prince of the power of the air
When man sinned, Satan was permitted to demonstrate his evil rule in our planet as “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) and the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). The result was the weather disasters (hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, extreme temperatures…etc.) that afflict the earth and people (Romans 5:12).

God does not afflict humans with natural disasters (James 1:13). Humans have brought this state of affairs upon themselves by their disobedience (Genesis 1:27, 31; 3:15–19; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Romans 6:23). Therefore, man is the responsible one for what happens in the world.

Satan’s control over nature is restricted by God
The story of Job is an illustration to that (Job 1:16; 18-19). God overruled Satan’s natural disasters on Job for good purposes. And Job, though tested severely, came out more than a conqueror and was blessed greatly (Romans 8:37).

Thus, even the calamities and suffering of this life that are caused by weather elements propel the believers forward. For “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). God uses these trials to allow the human character to grow spiritually towards perfection (1 Peter 4:12, 13).

And even during the natural calamities, the believer is under God’s loving care. For God promised him protection, help and grace (Psalm 91). Dangers will not overcome the one whose confidence is in God (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

Satan will be defeated at the end
Satan cannot claim full control of the elements of earth and the weather for he is a fallen angel that was defeated by God (2 Thessalonians 2:6-11). He is sentenced to eternal damnation (Revelation 20:10). And at the end, God will restore all nature to its original perfect condition (Genesis 1:31). For He promised, “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5).

The Certainty of the Lord’s Return – The Biblical Evidence

by Dr. David R. Reagan

Published on: August 7, 2014

Researched by Pastor Gary Boyd

March 28th 2023



Most people tend to think that Revelation 20 is the only passage in the Bible that speaks of a future reign of the Lord. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The purpose of this article is to provide an outline summary of the key passages in both the Old and New Testaments that speak of the Lord’s future reign.



A. Jesus is returning to reign on earth because the Old Testament prophets say so.



1) The Psalms



a) Psalm 2:6-9 — David says the Messiah will reign over “the very ends of the earth” from Mount Zion in Jerusalem.b) Psalm 22:27-31 — David again affirms that the Messiah will be given dominion over “the ends of the earth” at the time when He “rules over the nations.”



c) Psalm 47 — The sons of Korah rejoice over the day when the Lord will be “a great King over all the earth,” and they state that this will take place when the Lord subdues the “nations under our feet.”



d) Psalm 67 — An unidentified psalmist speaks prophetically of the time when the nations of the world will “be glad and sing for joy.” This will be when the Lord comes to “judge the peoples with uprightness.” At that time the Lord will “guide the nations on the earth” so that “all the ends of the earth may fear Him.”



e) Psalm 89:19-29 — The psalmist, Ethan, speaks of the Davidic Covenant and proclaims that it will be fulfilled when God makes His “first-born the highest of the kings of the earth.”



f) Psalm 110 — David says a time will come when God will make the enemies of the Messiah a footstool under His feet. This will occur when the Messiah stretches forth His “strong scepter from Zion.” At that time He will “rule in the midst of His enemies,” for . . . “He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath, He will judge among the nations.”



g) Psalm 132:13-18 — An unnamed psalmist speaks of God’s fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant. He says this will occur at a time when “the horn of David” springs forth to reign from Zion. He says “His crown will shine,” and He will make Zion His “resting place forever” for He will dwell there.



2) Isaiaha) Isaiah 2:1-4 — Isaiah says that “in the last days” the Messiah will reign from Mount Zion in Jerusalem and the entire world will experience peace.



b) Isaiah 9:6-7 — The Messiah will rule from the throne of David, giving the world a government of peace, justice, and righteousness. (Note: The throne of David is not in Heaven. It is located in Jerusalem — see Psalm 122. Jesus is not now on the throne of David. He sits at the right hand of His Father on His Father’s throne — see Revelation 3:21.)c) Isaiah 11:3b-9 — The Messiah will bring “righteousness and fairness” to the earth when He returns to “slay the wicked.” At that time, the curse will be lifted and the plant and animal kingdoms will be restored to their original perfection.



d) Isaiah 24:21-23 — When the Messiah returns, He will punish Satan and his demonic hordes in the heavens and then will punish “the kings of the earth, on earth.” He will then “reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem” for the purpose of manifesting His glory.



3) Jeremiaha) Jeremiah 23:5 — “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.’” (Note: The term, “Branch,” is a Messianic title.)b) Jeremiah 33:6-18 — A day will come when the Lord will regather the dispersed of both Judah and Israel and will save a great remnant. At that time the Lord “will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.”



4) Ezekiela) Ezekiel 20:33-44 — The Lord says a day will come when He will regather the Jews to their land and will “enter into judgment” with them. He says that at that time “I shall be king over you.” He then adds that “the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land.”b) Ezekiel 37:24-28 — The Lord says that He will dwell in the midst of Israel after a remnant of the Jews is regathered to the land and saved, and He promises that “David My servant shall be their prince forever.”



c) Ezekiel 39:21-29 — The Lord says that following the battle of Armageddon (verses 17-20), “I will set My glory among the nations; and all the nations will see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them.”



d) Ezekiel 43:7 — While being given a tour of the future Millennial Temple, Ezekiel is told by the Lord: “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet; where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever.”



5) DanielDaniel 7:13-14,18,27 — Daniel says he was given a vision in which he saw the Messiah (“Son of Man”) given dominion over all the earth by God the Father (“the Ancient of Days”). And then he adds in verses 18 and 27 that the kingdom is shared “with the saints of the Highest One,” and they are allowed to exercise sovereignty with Him over “all the kingdoms under the whole heaven.”



6) HoseaHosea 3:4-5 — The Jews will be set aside “for many days,” but a time will come “in the last days” when they “will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king.”



7) JoelJoel 3:14-17,21 — Joel says that following the battle of Armageddon (verses 14-16), the Lord will dwell “in Zion, My holy mountain.” He repeats this in verse 21. And in verse 17 He identifies Zion as the city of Jerusalem.



8) MicahMicah 4:1-7 —Micah repeats in greater detail the prophecy contained in Isaiah 2. Like Isaiah, he says the Lord will make Jerusalem the capital of the world. The world will be flooded with peace and prosperity. All believing Jews will be regathered to Israel, and “the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion.”



9) ZephaniahZephaniah 3:14-20 — This entire book is devoted to a description of the day the Lord will return to the earth in vengeance. The prophet says that at the end of that day, when the Lord’s enemies have been destroyed, the Jewish remnant will shout in triumphant joy because “the King of Israel, the Lord,” will be in their midst.



10) HaggaiHaggai 2:20-23 — The Lord says that a day will come when He will “overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations.” Then, using Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, as a type of the Messiah, the prophet adds: “‘On that day,’ declares the Lord of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, my servant,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord of hosts.” The reference to the signet ring means the Father will grant His Son ruling authority.



11) Zechariaha) Zechariah 2:10-13 — The Lord says that when He comes, He will “dwell in the midst” of the Jews, possessing Judah as “His portion in the holy land” and again choosing Jerusalem.b) Zechariah 6:12-13 — When the Messiah (“the Branch”) returns, He will build a temple and “rule on His throne,” and the offices of priest and king will be combined in Him. Thus, “He will be a priest on His throne.”



c) Zechariah 8:2-3 — The Lord promises that when He returns to Zion, He will “dwell in the midst of Jerusalem,” and Jerusalem will be called “the city of Truth.”



d) Zechariah 9:10 — The Messiah will bring peace to the nations and “His dominion will be from sea to sea.”



e) Zechariah 14:1-9 — The Messiah will return to the Mount of Olives. The Mount will split in half when His foot touches it, and the Jewish remnant left alive in Jerusalem will flee the city and hide in the cleavage of the Mount. Verse 9 says that on that day, “the Lord will become king over all the earth.”

B. Jesus is returning to reign over the earth because the New Testament prophets say so.1) Peter



Acts 3:21 — In his sermon on the portico of Solomon, Peter says Jesus must remain in Heaven “until the period of the restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.” The period of restoration spoken of here will occur during the Millennium when the curse is partially lifted and nature is restored (Romans 8:18-23).



2) Paula) 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 — Paul says that when Jesus returns “dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel,” He will also come for the purpose of being glorified before His saints. The return of Jesus to be glorified before His saints and all the nations of the world is one of the persistent themes of Old Testament prophecy (Isaiah 24:23, Isaiah 52:10,13, Isaiah 61:3, and Psalm 46:10).



b) 2 Timothy 2:12 — Paul says “if we endure, we shall also reign with Him.”



3) Johna) Revelation 12:5 — John sees a vision in which a sun clothed woman (Israel) gives birth to a male child (Jesus) “who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.”b) Revelation 19:15-16 — In his description of Jesus returning to earth, John says He bears the title, “King of kings and Lord of lords,” and John says He will “rule the nations with a rod of iron.”



c) Revelation 20:4,6 — John says that after the return of Jesus to the earth, He will reign with His saints (“those to whom judgment has been given”) for a thousand years.



C. Jesus is returning to earth to reign because the Heavenly Host say so.1) Gabriel



Luke 1:26-38 — When the archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary, he told her that she would bear a son named Jesus who would be called “the Son of the Most High.” He then added three promises that are yet to be fulfilled: “the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.”



2) The Four Living Creatures and the 24 EldersRevelation 5:9-10 — When John is raptured to Heaven and finds himself standing before the throne of God (Revelation 4), he hears “the four living creatures” (special angelic creatures called seraphim in Isaiah 6) and “the twenty-four elders” (probably representative of the redeemed) singing a song of praise to Jesus. In this song they say that Jesus is a Worthy Lamb who has made His redeemed a kingdom, “and they will reign upon the earth.”



3) The Angels of GodRevelation 11:15 — Voices from Heaven make a proleptic proclamation in the midst of the Tribulation: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” (Note: A proleptic statement is one that speaks of a future event as if it has already occurred. This is a common form of expression in prophecy because all future events are settled in the mind of God as if they had already happened in history.)



4) The Tribulation MartyrsRevelation 15:3-4 — At the end of the Tribulation, right before the final pouring out of God’s wrath in the form of the bowl judgments, all the Tribulation martyrs who are in Heaven join together in singing “the song of Moses . . . and the song of the Lamb.” In that song, they declare the Lamb (Jesus) to be the “King of the nations,” and they proclaim that “all the nations will come and worship before Thee.”



D. Jesus is returning to reign on the earth because Jesus said so.1) Matthew 19:28 — Jesus said that during “the regeneration” (the same time as “the period of restoration” referred to by Peter in Acts 3:21), He will “sit on His glorious throne,” and the Apostles will join Him in judging the twelve tribes of Israel.2) Matthew 25:31 — Jesus said that when He returns in glory, “the Son of Man . . . will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him” for judgment. The throne of Jesus is the throne of David which has always been located in only one place — in Jerusalem (see Isaiah 9:6-7 and Psalm 122).



3) Acts 1:3-6 — Luke says that Jesus spent 40 days teaching His disciples about the kingdom of God. Then, as He was ready to ascend into Heaven, one of the disciples asked, “Lord is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” The question indicates that Jesus taught a time would come when the kingdom would be restored to Israel. Jesus’ response to the question indicated the same thing. He did not rebuke the question. Rather, He simply said it was not for them to know the times and seasons when the kingdom would be restored to Israel.



4) Revelation 2:26-27 — Jesus says that He has a special reward for any “overcomer” who keeps His deeds until the end: “To him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron.”



5) Revelation 3:21 — Jesus makes it clear that the overcomers will reign jointly with Him: “He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Again, the throne of Jesus is the throne of David (Luke 1:32 and Revelation 3:7). The throne of David is in Jerusalem, not in Heaven (Psalm 122). Jesus currently shares His Father’s throne. He is not sitting on His own throne and will not do so until He returns to this earth. Then He will allow the redeemed to share His throne with Him.

The Arabs in Prophecy – Fated for Hope or Despair?
by Dr. David R. Reagan
Published on: February 16, 2012
Researched by Pastor Gary Boyd
March 21st 2023

The Arab peoples often seem to be ignored in prophecy. This is so because the prophetic Scriptures focus on the Jewish people since they are the Chosen People of God. But this does not mean the Arabs are ignored.

Jewish Primacy
God chose the Jews to give the world the Scriptures, and it was through the Jews that He provided the Messiah.

The Jews also serve as God’s prophetic time clock, for He points to future events in their history as the key to the timing of other important events. (For example, Jesus said that He would return at a time when Jerusalem is back in the hands of the Jews — see Luke 21:24.)

The Jews continue to serve today as a chosen witness of God’s grace. This is manifested in their very existence, for what other god would have tolerated for so long a people so stubborn and rebellious?

The Bible says that the Jewish people will continue to serve as the Chosen People in the future, for when Jesus returns, a remnant of the Jews who have put their faith in Him will be established as the prime nation of the world (Isaiah 60-62). During the Lord’s millennial reign, the Jewish nation will be a channel of blessings to the whole world (Zechariah 8:23).

Does this mean that God has no blessings for the multitudinous Arab peoples? Not at all. God has given them great blessings in the past, and He has great blessings reserved for them in the future.

Arab Identity
But before we look at those blessings, let’s consider first the identity of the Arab peoples. Who are they?

A popular misconception is that Arab identity is determined by religion — that if you are a Muslim, then you are an Arab. That is not true.

One of the most populous Muslim nations in the world is Indonesia, an island nation in Southeast Asia. Indonesians are not Arabs. They are Malays. Likewise, the nation of Iran is composed of Muslims, but they are not Arabs. They are Persians.

There are also Christian Arabs scattered all across the Middle East. In Israel, the city of Bethlehem is a Christian Arab town.

Arab identity is not determined by religion. Most Arabs are Muslims, but not all; and all Muslims are certainly not Arabs.

Arab identity is determined by ethnic heritage. And the amazing thing is that all Arabs — like all Jews — are descended from the family of Abraham! That means the Arab-Israeli conflict is a family dispute — the longest running and most intense family squabble in history.

Arab Origins
It all began when Abraham decided to help God. That’s a nice way of saying that he decided to run ahead of God. I’m referring, of course, to his impatience with God’s promise that he would be given an heir.

As he and Sarah continued to advance in years without a child, they decided to help out God by having Abraham conceive a child through Hagar, his wife’s Egyptian handmaid. The child born of that union was named Ishmael. God made it clear that Ishmael would not be the child of promise through whom all the world would be blessed (Genesis 17:20-21), but God did make some great promises to Ishmael’s mother.

God promised that He would make Ishmael fruitful and would multiply his descendants exceedingly, making of him a “great nation” (Genesis 17:20). He also gave Ishmael’s descendants the land to the east of Canaan (Genesis 16:12).

God has been faithful to these promises. Today there are 21 Arab nations with a combined population of 175 million people. The Arabs occupy a total area of 5.3 million square miles of oil rich land.

By contrast, there is only one Jewish state with a population of 4 million people who are squeezed into only 8,000 square miles of space. That’s a population ratio of 43 to 1 and a land ratio of 662 to 1. The Arabs have truly been blessed.

Arab Tribes
Ishmael took an Egyptian wife (Genesis 21:21) and became the father of 12 tribes which are listed in Genesis 25:12-16. These tribes were to become the nucleus of the Arab peoples, a people with a mixture of Semitic and Egyptian blood.

Other Arab tribes trace their origin to the six sons of Abraham who were born to him by his second wife, Keturah. They are listed in Genesis 25:1-4. Finally, some Arab tribes were to emerge from the descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob who sired the 12 tribes of Israel.

All the Arab tribes have been characterized historically by their impulsive and violent nature. They have been involved in endless wars among themselves and against both Jews and Christians.

It is interesting to note that their volatile nature is a fulfillment of prophecy. God told Hagar that her son, Ishmael, would be “a wild donkey of a man” and that “his hand will be against everyone” (Genesis 16:12).

Arab Prophecies
Let’s look now at what the Bible prophesies about the Arab peoples. First, it says they will claim the land of Israel which God gave to their brothers, the Jews. The prophet Ezekiel says this claim will be made in the end times (Ezekiel 35:5,10; 36:2,5).

This prophecy has been fulfilled in this century. For 2,000 years the Jews were dispersed from the land which God gave them, and during that long period of time there was never an Arab state in the area that the world called Palestine. The Arabs who lived in the land considered themselves Syrians. They had no consciousness as Palestinians, and no effort was ever made to create a Palestinian state.

When the Jews began returning in this century, the Arabs gleefully sold them the land at inflated prices because it was considered worthless. It was World War I that changed the Arab viewpoint. The war resulted in the land of Palestine being transferred from the Turks to the British, and the British immediately proclaimed it to be a homeland for the Jews. Suddenly, the Arabs were confronted with the prospect of a Jewish state, and they began to dig in their heels, claiming the land as their own.

The British gave in to Arab pressure, and in 1922 they gave two-thirds of Palestine to the Arabs, creating the state of Jordan. This was land that they had promised to the Jews. But this action did not satisfy the Arab appetite. They wanted all the land God had given to the Jews, and they still covet it to this day, just as prophesied.

Arab Judgments
The Bible further prophesies that God will pour out judgment upon the Arab nations in the end times for their hostility toward the Jews and their attempt to claim the Jewish homeland as their own.

Consider Joel 3:19, for example. This passage has a clear end time context, and in that context it says, “Egypt will become a waste, and Edom will become a desolate wilderness, because of the violence done to the sons of Judah, in whose land they have shed innocent blood.”

Keep in mind that Edom is often used as a symbolic term for all the Arab peoples, just as Israel is used as a term for all the Jewish tribes. Ezekiel says that “all Edom” will be dealt with in the end times because of its hatred against the Jews, and the result will be desolation (Ezekiel 35:10-11,15). The book of Obadiah prophesies a similar fate for Edom in “the day of the Lord” (Obadiah 15-18).

Arab Promises
But the future for the Arabs is not all bleak. They must suffer for their sins just as the Jewish people will suffer during the Tribulation. And, like the Jews, a remnant of the Arabs will emerge from their suffering with their hearts turned to the one and only true God (Jeremiah 12:14-17).

The most remarkable prophecy concerning the future salvation of an Arab remnant is contained in Isaiah 19:16-25. Isaiah says that when the Lord strikes Egypt and Assyria, they will turn to Him and He will have compassion on them and “heal them.” Isaiah then presents an incredible picture of Egypt, Assyria and Israel living together in peace, worshiping the same God!

Another remarkable prophecy concerns the Arabs who will be living in the land of Israel after the Lord returns. This prophecy relates to the fact that the territory of Israel will be greatly expanded when Jesus returns, incorporating many of the Arab nations that exist today. (The considerably expanded borders of Israel during the Millennium are detailed in Ezekiel 47:15-20.) Amazingly, Ezekiel says that the Arabs living in Israel at that time will be “allotted an inheritance” of the land together with the tribes of Israel! (See Ezekiel 47:21-23 and Isaiah 14:1-2.)

An Impartial God
There is no partiality with God (Romans 2:11). He chose the Jews, not to be a repository of His blessings, but to be a vehicle through whom He would bless all the nations of the world, including the Arabs. But the fundamental requirement to receive God’s blessings — for both Jew and Arab, as well as all people — is to accept God’s gift of love in Jesus by receiving Him as Messiah.

When I consider God’s grace toward the Arab peoples, I am reminded of what Paul wrote when he considered God’s grace toward his Jewish brethren: “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Romans 11:33).

Keep in mind that the amazing grace which God is displaying toward the Arabs and the Jews is available to you. The message of God’s dealings with the physical descendents of Abraham is that there is no sin so great and dark that it can separate you from the love of God which He has expressed in Jesus.

The key to experiencing that grace is repentance. As Paul put it in his sermon in Athens: “God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent” (Acts 17:30).

The Meaning of Heaven – An ethereal spirit world or a tangible new earth?
by Dr. David R. Reagan
Published on: April 16, 2012
Researched by Pastor Gary Boyd
March 14th 2023

For many years I had little desire to go to Heaven. My only interest in Heaven was prompted by a desire to avoid Hell. I just couldn’t get excited about being a disembodied spirit residing in an ethereal world, floating around on a cloud playing a harp.

My interest in Heaven developed slowly over a long period of time. It became a passion, not as a result of my study of prophecy, but because of my growing relationship with the Lord. The more I came to know Him, the more I desired to be with Him.

The New Earth
The reason my study of prophecy did not play the key role in developing my interest in Heaven is because the Bible is strangely silent about the subject. The Bible tells us in great detail what the Millennium will be like, but it gives us almost no detailed information about the eternal state.

What it does tell us often comes as a great surprise to most Christians because the scriptures about Heaven have been so terribly spiritualized. For example, the Bible plainly says the Redeemed will spend eternity on a new earth.

Isaiah was the first to speak of this truth when he spoke of “the new heavens and the new earth” which will endure forever before the Lord (Isaiah 66:22). This truth is repeated in the book of Revelation where the apostle John says he was shown a new earth, “for the first heaven and the first earth passed away” (Revelation 21:1).

John goes on to describe the New Jerusalem descending to the new earth, “coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:2). And then he states that God Himself will come to live on the new earth:

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them.” — Revelation 21:3

This truth had already been revealed to the Old Testament prophets. While being taken on a prophetic tour of the millennial Temple, Ezekiel was told by his guide (the Lord Jesus in a pre-incarnate appearance): “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever” (Ezekiel 43:7).

The Redeemed are going to dwell forever in new bodies on a new earth in a New Jerusalem in the presence of Almighty God and His Son, Jesus. Heaven will come to earth!

The New Jerusalem
The most detailed information which the Scriptures give about Heaven pertains to our eternal abode — the New Jerusalem. Twenty verses in Chapter 21 of Revelation are devoted to a description of it.

The information contained in Revelation 21 is not the first reference in the Bible to the New Jerusalem. It is mentioned in Hebrews 11:10 as a city “whose architect and builder is God.” Jesus made a reference to it that is recorded in John 14:1-4. He called it His “Father’s house,” and He said He would prepare a place in it for His Church.

Jesus is currently expanding, embellishing, and beautifying this house which God the Father designed and built. Jesus is preparing it for His bride, just as in Old Testament times a bridegroom would add a room onto his father’s house to accommodate himself and his bride.

The city is described in Revelation as beautifully decorated, like “a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). Later, John actually refers to the city as the bride of the Lamb (Revelation 21:9), because the city contains the bride of Christ, His Church.

I believe this implies that at the end of the Millennium all the Redeemed will be taken off the earth and placed in the New Jerusalem which will most likely be suspended in the heavens. From that vantage point we will watch as God burns up this earth and reshapes it like a hot ball of wax into a new earth, a perfected earth like the one which God created in the beginning. Then, we will be lowered down to that new earth inside the New Jerusalem.

The city will be spectacular in both size and appearance. It will be in the form of a cube that is 1,500 miles in every direction! And it will reflect “the glory of God” (Revelation 21:11,16).

The Size of the City
The incredible size means the city would stretch from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and from the Atlantic coast of America to Colorado. It would also extend 1,500 miles into the atmosphere.

This tremendous extension of the city vertically into the air is a clue that the new earth may be considerably larger than the current earth. Otherwise, the city would not be proportional to its surroundings.

Would such a city be able to adequately accommodate all the Redeemed? That’s a good question. The best answer I have ever run across is the one provided by Dr. Henry Morris in his book The Revelation Record.

Dr. Morris postulates the total number of Redeemed might be as many as 20 billion. He further guesses that approximately 75 percent of the New Jerusalem might be devoted to streets, parks and public buildings. Can 20 billion people be squeezed into only 25 percent of the space of this city?

The answer is yes! In fact, it can be done easily. Each person would have a cubical block with about 75 acres of surface on each face. We are talking about an immense city!

This assumes, of course, that our new glorified bodies will be immune to the current law of gravity, as are the bodies of angels. This is a safe assumption, for Philippians 3:2 says that our glorified bodies will be like the body of Jesus after His resurrection, and His body was not subject to gravity, as evidenced by His ascension into Heaven.

This is the reason the city will be so tall. We will be able to utilize and enjoy all levels of it. There will be vertical streets as well as horizontal ones.

The Beauty of the City
And what streets they will be! The Bible says they will be “pure gold, like transparent glass” (Revelation 21:21). In fact, the whole city will be made of pure gold with the appearance of clear glass (Revelation 21:18).

The city will sit on a foundation made of 12 layers of precious stones (Revelation 21:19-20). Each layer will feature the name of one of the 12 apostles (Revelation 21:14). The city will be surrounded by a jasper wall over 200 feet high (Revelation 21:17). There will be 12 gates, three on each side, and each one will be named for one of the tribes of Israel (Revelation 21: 12).

And yes, the gates will be “pearly gates,” each one consisting of one huge pearl (Revelation 21:21).

Best of all, God the Father and Jesus will both reside in the city with us (Revelation 21:22). The Shekinah glory of God will illuminate the city constantly, and thus there will be no night nor will there ever be any need for any type of artificial light or the light of the sun (Revelation 22:5).

The throne of God and His Son will be in the city, and “a river of the water of life, clear as crystal” will flow down the middle of the city’s main street with the tree of life growing on both sides of the river, yielding 12 kinds of fruit — a different fruit each month (Revelation 22:1-2).

That’s it. God’s Word only gives us a glimpse of Heaven. But what a tantalizing glimpse it is! It’s a glimpse of perfect peace and joy and beauty.

The Activities of Heaven
What will we do for eternity? Again, the Word is strangely silent. All it says is that we “shall serve Him” (Revelation 22:3).

I have fantasized a lot about our Heavenly activities. I can imagine us spending a great deal of our time in worship, singing the psalms of King David, with him directing us. I think it is likely that our talents will be magnified, and we will be able to sing or paint or write with a majesty and scope we never imagined possible — and all to the glory of God!

Surely we will spend considerable time in the study of God’s Word. Think of studying the gospel of John with the apostle John as the teacher! I thrill to the thought of Jesus teaching the Old Testament, even as He did to His disciples following His resurrection (Luke 24:44-45). The Word of God is infinite in its depth, and I believe we will continue learning from it forever.

As we study the Word, I believe we will grow in spiritual maturity in the likeness of Jesus. And since God is infinite, no matter how much we grow in His likeness, there will just be that much more growing ahead of us. In this regard, I suspect that our spiritual growth will pick up where it left off in this life.

Sometimes, I really get far out in my thinking about Heaven. For example, I can imagine the Lord giving us the opportunity to see “instant video replays” of great events in Bible history. I hope so. I would like to see the dividing of the Red Sea, the destruction of Jericho, and the resurrection of Lazarus.

And what about tours of the universe? Surely we will be able to travel through space in our glorified bodies and see the miracles of God’s creation up close. Imagine visiting all the planets in our galaxy as well as touring thousands of other galaxies!

But what does it mean in Revelation 22:3 where it says we will serve God as His “bond-servants”? I’m not sure. I suppose it means we will be given productive work to do. What that work will be I can’t say for sure. But there is a hint in Revelation 22:5 where it says we will reign with the Lord “forever and ever.”

To reign implies, of necessity, that we must reign over someone. Who will that be? Again, there is an intriguing clue. Revelation 21:24-27 refers to “nations” that will live on the new earth outside the New Jerusalem. Revelation 22:2 indicates that the people composing these nations will be in fleshly bodies, for it says that the leaves of the tree of life will be used for “the healing of the nations.”

Who are these “nations”? This is one of the greatest mysteries of Bible prophecy. There are as many different guesses as there are commentaries on the book of Revelation.

Could they be the Redeemed who accept Jesus during the Millennium? Nothing is said about the ultimate destiny of those who are saved during the Millennium. No promises are made to them of glorified bodies.

I don’t know the answer. It is one of those areas where we look into a dimly lit mirror and will not understand fully until we stand “face to face” with the Lord (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Heavenly Fellowship
This brings me to the greatest blessing of Heaven. Revelation 22:4 says we shall see the face of God!

The Word says in Exodus 33:20 that no man has ever seen the face of God. But we will be given that privilege when we fellowship with Him in Heaven.

And that is really what Heaven is all about. We will experience an intimacy with the Lord that transcends anything possible in this life. We were created for fellowship with God (John 4:23), and that purpose will reach its zenith in the eternal state as we live in God’s presence.

That is why Paul wrote, “to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). He went on to explain that to continue living in the flesh meant the opportunity for fruitful labor in the Lord’s kingdom. But he still had a desire to depart this life, for that departure would open the door for sweet, intimate, personal fellowship with the Lord (Philippians 1:22-23).

What about you? Are you clinging to this world, or do you yearn for Heaven?

The more you come to know the Lord, the more you will love Him. And the more you love Him, the more You will desire to be with Him.

That’s only natural. We always desire to be with those whom we love.

Longing for Heaven
I love my wife dearly. We have been married for more than thirty years. I have to travel a lot. I call her every night I’m on the road to tell her that I love her. I send her mushy love cards. And when I have to be gone for an extended period, I send her gifts like bouquets of flowers.

I love to talk with my wife by phone. I love to send her love notes. I love to surprise her with gifts. But none of these are substitutes for being with her! When you love someone you want to be with them.

In like manner, I love to fellowship with the Lord in worship, in Bible study, and in prayer. But these spiritual activities are no substitute for actually being with the Lord.

Because I love Him, I want to be with Him. Personal, intimate fellowship with the Lord — that is the essence of Heaven. May it become a reality very soon!

Revelation 20:14
New International Version
"Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death." Only God has the power to destroy the soul....... Pastor Boyd

You are right - The second death wil come at the White Throne Judgement. It means just that. You are burnt up in the lake of fire and gone forever to be remembered no more. Pastor Boyd

What Happens When You Die?
by Dr. David R. Reagan
Published on: November 7, 2013
Researched by Pastor Gary Boyd
March 3rd 2023

If several years ago you had asked me what happens when you die, I would have given you a pathetic answer. I would have told you that when you die your soul goes to sleep until the Lord returns. At the return of the Lord, your soul is resurrected and judged, and you are either consigned to Hell or allowed to enter Heaven.

My conception of Heaven was that of a spirit world where the saved spend eternity as disembodied spirits, floating around on clouds, playing harps.

A Mistaken View
Needless to say, I couldn’t get very excited about all that. I sure didn’t like the idea of being unconscious in the grave for eons of time. Nor could I develop any enthusiasm for the prospect of being a disembodied spirit with no particular identity or personality. And the idea of playing a harp for all eternity was downright scandalous, for I had been taught that instrumental music in worship was an abomination!

You can imagine, therefore, the sense of shock I felt when I started studying Bible prophecy and discovered that all these ideas of mine about life after death were foreign to God’s Word. But my shock quickly gave way to exhilaration when I discovered what the Lord really has in store for me.

The Biblical View
I learned from God’s Word that when those of us who are Christians die, our spirits never lose their consciousness (Phils. 1:23). Instead, our fully conscious spirits are immediately ushered into the presence of Jesus by His holy angels (2 Cor. 5:8).

Our spirits remain in the Lord’s presence until He appears for His Church. At that time, He brings our spirits with Him, resurrects our bodies, reunites our spirits with our bodies, and then glorifies our bodies, perfecting them and rendering them eternal (1 Thess 4:13-18).

We return with Him to Heaven in our glorified bodies where we are judged for our works to determine our degrees of rewards (2 Cor. 5:10). When this judgment is completed, we participate in a glorious wedding feast to celebrate the union of Jesus and His Bride, the Church (Rev. 19:7-9).

Witnesses of Glory
At the conclusion of the feast, we burst from the heavens with Jesus, returning with Him to the earth in glory (Rev. 19:14). We witness His victory at Armageddon, we shout “Hallelujah!” as He is crowned King of kings and Lord of lords, and we revel in His glory as He begins to reign over all the earth from Mt. Zion in Jerusalem (Zech. 14:1-9; Rev. 19:17-21).

For a thousand years we participate in that reign, assisting Him with the instruction, administration, and enforcement of His perfect laws (Rev. 20:1-6). We see the earth regenerated and nature reconciled (Isa. 11:6-9). We see holiness abound and the earth flooded with peace, righteousness and justice (Micah 4:1-7).

At the end of the Millennium we witness the release of Satan to deceive the nations. We see the truly despicable nature of the heart of Man as millions rally to Satan in his attempt to overthrow the throne of Jesus. But we will shout “Hallelujah!” again when we witness God’s supernatural destruction of Satan’s armies and see Satan himself cast into Hell where he will be tormented forever (Rev. 20:7-10).

We will next witness the Great White Throne Judgment when the unrighteous are resurrected to stand before God. We will see perfect holiness and justice in action as God pronounces His terrible judgment upon this congregation of the damned who have rejected His gift of love and mercy in Jesus Christ (Rev. 20:11-13).

Jesus will be fully vindicated as every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. Then the unrighteous will receive their just reward as they are cast into Hell (Rev. 20:14-15).

Witnesses of a New Creation
We will then witness the most spectacular fireworks display in all of history. We will be taken to the New Jerusalem, the eternal mansion prepared by Jesus for His Bride, and from there we will watch as God renovates this earth with fire, burning away all the filth and pollution left by Satan’s last battle (2 Peter 3:12-13).

Just as the angels rejoiced when God created the universe, we will rejoice as we watch God superheat this earth and reshape it like a hot ball of wax into the New Earth, the eternal earth, the paradise where we will live forever in the presence of God (Rev. 21:1).

What a glorious moment it will be when we are lowered to the New Earth inside the fabulous New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2). God will come down from Heaven to dwell with us (Rev. 21:3). He will proclaim: “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:5) We will see God face to face (Rev. 22:4). He will wipe away all our tears (Rev. 21:4). Death will be no more (Rev. 21:4). We will be given new names (Rev. 2:17), and we will exist as individual personalities encased in perfect bodies (Phils. 3:21). And we will grow eternally in knowledge and love of our infinite Creator, honoring Him with our talents and gifts.

Now, I can get excited about that!

The Word vs. Tradition
Isn’t it amazing how far we can drift away from the Word of God when we stop reading His Word and start mouthing the traditions of men?

As I kept making one discovery after another in God’s Prophetic Word that ran contrary to what I had been taught, I began to wonder about the origin of the doctrines I had learned. It didn’t take me long to discover that the source was Greek philosophy.

The first attempt to mix the concepts of Greek philosophy with the teachings of God’s Word came very early in the history of the Church. The attempt was called Gnosticism. The Gnostic heresy arose among the first Gentile converts because they tried to Hellenize the Scriptures; that is, they tried to make the Scriptures conform to the basic tenets of Greek philosophy.

The Greeks believed that the material universe, including the human body, was evil. This negative view of the creation was diametrically opposed to Hebrew thought, as revealed in the Bible. To the Hebrew mind, the world was created good (Genesis 1:31). And even though the goodness of the creation was corrupted by the sin of Man (Isaiah 24:5-6), the creation still reflects to some degree the glory of God (Psalms 19:1). Most important, the creation will someday be redeemed by God (Romans 8:18-23).

The Gnostic Heresy
When the first Gentiles were converted to the Gospel, their Greek-mind set immediately collided with some of the fundamental teachings of Christianity. For example, they wondered, “How could Jesus have come in the flesh if He was God? God is holy. How can He who is holy be encased in a body which is evil?”

In short, because they viewed the material universe as evil, they could not accept the Bible’s teaching that God became incarnate in the flesh. Their response was to develop the Gnostic heresy that Jesus was a spirit being or phantom who never took on the flesh and therefore never experienced physical death.

This heresy is denounced strongly in Scripture. In 1 John 4:1-2 we are told to test those who seek our spiritual fellowship by asking them to confess “that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.”

The Augustinian Corruption
About 400 A.D. a remarkable theologian by the name of St. Augustine attempted to Hellenize what the Scriptures taught about end time events and life after death. Augustine was very successful in his attempt. His views were adopted by the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. and have remained Catholic dogma to this day.

The influence of Greek philosophy would not allow Augustine to accept what the Bible taught about life after death.

For example, the Bible says the saints will spend eternity in glorified bodies on a New Earth (Revelation 21:1-7). Such a concept was anathema to the Greek mind of Augustine. If the material world is evil, then he reasoned that the material world must cease to exist when the Lord returns. Augustine solved the problem by spiritualizing what the Bible said. He did this by arguing that the “new earth” of Revelation 21 is just symbolic language for Heaven.

Augustine’s views are held by most professing Christians today, both Catholic and Protestant. That means that most of Christianity today teaches Greek philosophy rather than the Word of God when it comes to the realm of end time prophecy and life after death.

The Intermediate State
Some of the greatest confusion about life after death relates to the intermediate state between death and eternity. Some people advocate a concept called “soul sleep.” They argue that both the saved and unsaved are unconscious after death until the return of Jesus.

But the Bible makes it crystal clear that our spirit does not lose its consciousness at death. The only thing that “falls asleep” is our body — in a symbolic sense. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that he would prefer to be “absent from the body and at home with the Lord.” In Philippians 1:21 he observes, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” He then adds in verse 23 that his desire is “to depart and be with Christ.” Paul certainly did not expect to be in a coma after he died!

If then our spirits retain their consciousness after death, where do they go? The Bible teaches that prior to the resurrection of Jesus, the spirits of the dead went to a place called Hades (“Sheol” in the Old Testament). The spirits existed there consciously in one of two compartments, either Paradise or Torments. This concept is pictured graphically in Jesus’ story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31).

The Bible indicates that after the death of Jesus on the Cross, He descended into Hades and declared to all the spirits there His triumph over Satan (1 Peter 3:18-19; 4:6). The Bible also indicates that after His resurrection, when He ascended into Heaven, Jesus took Paradise with Him, transferring the spirits of dead saints from Hades to Heaven (Ephesians 4:8-9 and 2 Corinthians 12:1-4). The spirits of dead saints are thereafter pictured as being in Heaven before the throne of God (See Revelation 6:9 and 7:9).

The spirits of the righteous dead could not go directly to Heaven before the Cross because their sins were not forgiven. Instead, their sins were merely covered by their faith. The forgiveness of their sins had to await the shedding of the blood of Christ (Leviticus 17:11; Romans 5:8-9; Hebrews 9:22).

Events at Death
So, what happens when you die? If you are a child of God, your spirit is immediately ushered into the bosom of Jesus by His holy angels. Your spirit remains in Heaven, in the presence of God, until the time of the Rapture. When Jesus comes for His Church, He brings your spirit with Him, resurrects and glorifies your body, making it eternal in nature (1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4). You reign with Christ for a thousand years and then live eternally with Him on the new earth (Revelation 20-22).

If you are not a child of God, then your spirit goes to Hades at your death. This is a place of torments where your spirit is held until the resurrection of the unrighteous which takes place at the end of the millennial reign of Jesus. At that resurrection you are taken before the Great White Throne of God where you are judged by your works and then condemned to the “second death,” which is the “lake of fire” or Hell (Revelation 20:11-15).

Preparing for Eternity
One thing is certain: “Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that ‘Jesus is Lord!'” (Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11). Your eternal destiny will be determined by when you make this confession.

If it is made before you die, then you will spend eternity with God. If not, then you will make the confession at the Great White Throne judgment before you are cast into Hell. To spend eternity with God, your confession of Jesus as Lord must be made now.

“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved”
— Romans 10:9