JULY 5

THE MEGA RETURN POLICY 

The world right now is in an interesting time. Heightened awareness of the consequences of sin, without actually acknowledging sin, is probably the best way I can sum it up. We as Christians need to be aware of the times but not get swept away by them. We have the truth. It’s the Truth that sets us free. Taking on a bigger picture perspective of humanity, things are bad, but they’re not really comparably worse. Satan and Sin have ravaged this world for millennia. In the time of the New Testament, a brutal dictatorship ruled the world. They oppressed minorities with the sword and economically exploited the majority of the known world. What was the focus of the Christians?

PREACH THE GOSPEL! INCLUDING THE RETURN OF JESUS. 

There is so much claimed about the end times. We have dubbed our theology on the “End Times” as the “MEGA return Policy”. Our view is based on the Bible. It’s really that simple. the Bible says A LOT about the end times. SO let’s dig into it!

Some Keys as we jump in: 
- if there is an aspect of scriptures which is yet future, the bottom line is that we will know fully and accurately what will actually happen and what it will actually look like when it happens. 
- majority of people expecting Messiah didn’t expect it the way it happened. 
- Date setting is NOT Appropriate (No one knows the day or the hour, not even the SON) 

JESUS HIMSELF spoke of the end times in significant and serious ways. If you listen to many today they would say Jesus Preached Love. Now I'm not saying he didn’t preach Love, but the LOVE he preached was this: REPENT for the KINGDOM is at hand! In case you didn’t know, the fulness of the plans of God for His kingdom happen through the end times.  

Jesus’ Briefings

Matthew 24
Luke 21
21:24 "The Time Of the Gentiles" 
Mark 13

Bonus: Acts 1:9-11 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

- Dispensational Premillennialism -

The Timeline: 

The Time of the Gentiles  
Luke 21:24 "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
Matthew 24:14“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come”

When this time draws to an end:
2 Timothy 3:1-5
3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

2 Peter 3:3-11
Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to mythsJude: 17-1817 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

The Rapture

Enoch
Elijah
Jesus Rev 12:5
Philip acts 8:39 
Paul 2 Corinthians 12:2
The “harpazo” 

Luke 17:30-34 “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”

1 Thessalonians 4:17 
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Matthew 24:36 "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” 

WWABC
1 Corinthians 15:51 
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Matt 24:40-41  Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

When: 

Revelation 7:9 & 13-149 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”
14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The Church is not appointed to God’s wrath
1 Thessalonians 5
9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone

Is the rapture is pre, mid, or post? For us at Mega as part of our return policy is that we are of the view that it’s “Pre” tribulation. However, as we’ve said - when it happens then we will know with much greater certainty exactly when, where, how, what, who and why. 

THE Great Tribulation

Daniel 12:1-3
1 “At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book.
2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 Those who are wise shall shine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
And those who turn many to righteousness
Like the stars forever and ever.

The “Antichirst” or Lawless one. 
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.Revelation 6 & 8-19Take the time to Read the whole thing!

The Marriage Feast of the Lamb

Revelation 19:1-10
6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

This item is KEY for understanding the timing of the Rapture and the purpose of it. it is a common understanding that when Jesus returns He’ll come with his bride, however in Rev 20 there is no mention of the Bride - Bride mentioned in chapter 19, and then chapters 21-22 which is post the millennium, post the great judgment

It’s important to discern the specifics of what Jesus and the scriptures in general are saying. For example in Matthew 24, the disciples talk about Jesus’ return and the end of the age. It is possible both of these could be parts of the same event or that they may be separate but related events, or entirely different events. Again, we will find out when it comes to pass, but whatever the case may be, it is important to recognize that BOTH these concepts are specified and therefore should be paid attention to. 

THE Millennium 

Revelation 20: 1-3
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

Final Battle and Judgement 

Satan’s ultimate loss
Revelation 20:7-10
7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

The Lamb’s book of life
Revelation 20:11-15
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

THE NEW JERUSALEM // HEAVEN

Revelation 21&22

The church, the bride of Jesus Christ is heaven. 
Revelation 21:9-10
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 

Heaven is huge and beautiful. There’s a huge city, and that’s just a part of heaven. 
Revelation 21:15-21
15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick. 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.

There is glory and honor of the nations and it will be brought into heaven. 
Revelation 21:24-26
24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

The healing of the nations. 
Revelation 22:1-2
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Jesus Christ’s final words in the bible. 
12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you[a] this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

The promises to the churches Revelation 1-3

Revelation Promises.

1. Revelation 2:7 To the one who is victorious,I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

2. Revelation 2:11 The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

3. Revelation 2:17 To the one who is victorious,I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

4. Revelation 2:26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[b]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star.

5. Revelation 3:5 The one who is victorious will be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 

6. Revelation 3:12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.  

7. Revelation 3:21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 

Summary:
• Citizenship of paradise • Immortal  • Forgiveness  • Authority over nations  • Irrevocable inclusion  • We will be established and given security clearance  • We are given the right to sit on the throne of the UNIVERSE

Don’t be afraid of the book of revelation. Satan is a deceiver and it is a LIE that he has sown which causes christians to avoid this book. 

Isaiah 2:4
2 In the last days
the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
    as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
    and all nations will stream to it.
3 Many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
    so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
    the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between the nations
    and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
    nor will they train for war anymore.

HOW TO RESPOND

Jesus held Jews accountable for not knowing what turning up on the donkey represented. We will be held accountable not just for every idle word, but if not making sure we have plenty of oil, if not making sure we’re occupying, fully prepared to be a glorious, victorious bride, what we’ve done with everything we’ve been given. We live at a time in history in a generation where we have the greatest access ever, especially as English speakers to the full Bible to two millennia of the documentation of Christian leaders and scholars on the scriptures (commentaries and exposes of God-given revelation and understanding from their studies). To whom much is given much will be expected and if Jesus held the jews accountable for not knowing their time, how much more us when we now have the promise of the father and the Holy Spirit dwelling within. Didn’t WATCH
- wise virgins (gotta have oil) 
- Gotta watch and pray
- lift up head with expectation of redemption
- Occupy until he comes
        - Gather more and more [Hebrews 10]