Luke 21:8
Christian, Be Not Deceived!
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE TEACHING OF A LITERAL, PALESTINIAN "ARMAGEDDON" VIOLATES THE BIBLE PRINCIPLE THAT THINGS WHICH APPLY LITERALLY AFTER THE MILLENNIUM APPLY SPIRITUALLY BEFORE THE MILLENNIUM.
Previous chapters demonstrate the principle that things which apply literally after the millennium apply spiritually before the millennium. The following prophetic descriptions concerning Armageddon further illustrate the operation of this principle:
| SPIRITUAL BEFORE THE MILLENNIUM. | LITERAL AFTER THE MILLENNIUM. |
|---|---|
| The spiritual Jerusalem, the church Rev. 11: 1, 2; G.C. 266; Rev. 14 20; Joel 2: 32, etc. | The literal New Jerusalem. Rev. 21: 22. |
| Spiritual Israel is now coming out of spiritual Babylon, and is spiritually gathering within the spiritual Jerusalem. Rev. 18: 4; Ephes. 2 20-22; Rev. 11: 1, 2; Isa. 11: 11, 12, E.W. 74, 75. | The saints will be literally within the literal New Jerusalem. |
| The spiritual enemies of spiritual Israel spiritually "gather," of "unite." The Greek word for "gather" in Rev. 16:14, and "gathered" in Rev. 16:16; 19:19, etc., is "Sunago" derived from "sun." Dr. Strong gives "union" as the first definition of "sun." Mrs. E. G. White very often employs the word "united" in describing the spiritual armies engaged in the coming conflict. See Vols. 5T. 449, 524; G.C. 582, 590, 604; T.M. 39, etc. In G.C. 623 we are given the Lord's interpretation of Rev. 16: 14. When quoting this verse God's servant uses the word "unite"- referring to a spiritual gathering-instead of the word "gather," which is in the text. See also G.C. 561. 562, 656; T.M. 465, etc. For further study see my other publications. | The enemies of the saints literally ""gather" around the literal New Jerusalem. Rev. 20:8, 9. |
| Before the millennium, Satan deceives the people of spiritual Babylon concerning the spiritual "mark"—the false Sabbath, the mark of spiritual the Babylon's power. See Rev. 12:9; 13:13, 14. "He deceived them that had received the mark of the beast." Rev. 19:20. | After the millennium, Satan deceives the wicked to believe that they have been resurrected by his power, and that by his power they will take holy city. "Satan shall . . . go out to deceive the nations." Rev. 20:8, 9. After the millennium, Satan's deception concerns literal things. |
| To further his deception concerning the spiritual mark Satan works "miracles." The "miracles" which "the spirits of devils" perform in conjunction with the dragon, beast, and false prophet (Rev. 16:14) are not connected with military matters. These miracles, signs, or wonders, referred to in Scripture, demonstrate the spiritual power possessed by the persons who perform them—whether on God's side, or on Satan's. The original word is employed in the Scripture at least 77 times, but not once is it used in a national or international sense. See Luke 23:8; John 2:11, 23; 3:2; 4:54; 6:2, 14, 26; 7:31; 9:16; 10:41; 11:47; 12:18, 37; Acts 4:16, 22; 6:8; 8:6; 15:12; Rev. 13:13, 14; 16:14; 19:20, etc. In the final conflict, in order to obtain from worldly rulers and people support for the enforcement of Sunday laws, the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet will work "miracles." Through the deceptive powers of spiritualism the world will be led to "war" against God's law. For further study see my other publications. | To further his deception concerning the taking of the literal Jerusalem, "Satan works wonders to support his claim." G.C. 663. |
| Before the millennium, Satan wages a spiritual "war" against spiritual Israel. Rev. 12:17. He does this through the enforcement of Sunday laws. G.C. 592, etc. The word "battle" mentioned in Rev. 16:14; 20:8. and the word "war" of Rev. 12:7, 17; 13:7; 19:19 come from the same Greek word, "polemos." The same conflict is referred to—the controversy between Christ and Satan. "The battle [Greek, "polemos"] of that great day of God Almighty" refers to the slaughter of those who have made spiritual "war" upon spiritual Israel. | After the millennium, Satan will wage a literal "war," or "battle," against the literal New Jerusalem. "Satan shall . . . gather them together to battle." "All immediately begin to prepare for battle. Skilful artisans construct implements of war. Military leaders, famed for their success, marshal the throngs of warlike men into companies and divisions. . . . With military precision, the serried ranks advance . . . to the city of God." G.C. 664. |
| When describing the destruction of the enemies of spiritual Israel at the second advent, the Revelator quotes from Ezekiel's prophecy (compare Rev. 19:17-20 with Ezek. 39:17-20), which pictures Gog's army attacking Israel and being utterly destroyed by God. | When describing the destruction of the enemies of the saints at the end of the millennium, the Revelator quotes from Ezekiel's prophecy (compare Rev. 20:8, 9 with Ezek. 38; 39), which pictures Gog's army attacking Israel and being utterly destroyed by God. |
| When describing the destruction of the enemies of spiritual Israel at the second advent, the Revelator says that Christ “treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of God." Rev. 19:15. This statement refers back to the prophecy concerning the destruction of Edom and Bozrah. See Isa. 34:1-10; 63:1-6. The Edomites were the enemies of ancient Israel. As shown in a previous chapter, the meanings of the names "Edom" and "Bozrah" are of special significance in relation to the treading of the winepress of God's wrath in the battle of Armageddon. | When describing the destruction of the enemies of the saints inside the New Jerusalem at the end of the millennium, the Revelator says "And the winepress was trodden without the city." Rev. 14:20. |
| When describing the destruction of those who reject the Third Angel's Message delivered by spiritual Israel, the Revelator quotes from the prophecy of Isa. 34:6-10, which concerns the burning of the land of Idumea. See Rev. 14:9-11; 18:9, 18; 19:3, and notice the same words employed as in Isa. 34:9, 10. | When describing the destruction of the enemies of the saints in the New Jerusalem at the end of the millennium, the Revelator quotes from the same prophecy relating to the burning of the land of Idumea, and employs the same words. Rev. 20:10; 21:8. |
Thus, the same principle that things applying literally after the millennium have a spiritual application before the millennium is seen to operate in the prophetic descriptions concerning Armageddon. As nothing in the Revelator's post-millennial descriptions pertaining to Jerusalem, Israel and her enemies has a literal application before the millennium, the teaching of a pre-millennial literal gathering of nations to Palestine is out of harmony with the teaching of the Scriptures.
The belief of a literal, military gathering to Palestine for a literal "war" before the millennium violates the principle of interpretation which shows that the "war," or "battle," against the literal city of God after the millennium has its spiritual counterpart before the millennium in the gathering of spiritual forces against God's spiritual city, the church. The Revelator's descriptions link together the events concerning spiritual Israel (the spiritual Jerusalem) before the millennium and those concerning the saints in the New Jerusalem after the millennium. The 1,000 years between the events associated with the spiritual Jerusalem at the time of the second advent and those associated with the literal Jerusalem at the third advent are not symbolic years—not 360,000 years, reckoned by the day for a year principle employed in prophetic symbolism—because the spiritual dispensation ends at the second advent.
Notice other examples showing that the spiritual application precedes the literal—with the millennium dividing the two:—
| SPIRITUAL BEFORE THE MILLENNIUM. | LITERAL AFTER THE MILLENNIUM. |
|---|---|
| At Christ's second advent, all nations then living are spiritually gathered before His judgment throne. Matt. 25:31, 32. | After the millennium, all the unrighteous of all ages literally gather before Christ's throne of judgment. Rev. 20:11-15; G.C. 664-671. |
| Before the millennium, there is a spiritual gathering of the tares. Matt. 13:30, 40; 7T. 84; 5T. 384, etc. | After the millennium, the tares literally gather around the holy city, and are then literally burned. Rev. 20: 8-15. |
| Before the millennium, the spiritual enemies of spiritual Israel are to have a spiritual resurrection. See Rev. 17:8, 11. The significance of the number eight, referred to in Rev. 17:11, is shown in my "Christ Conquers," pp. 123-139. The number eight the is used in the Bible as a symbol for resurrection to life and power. When restored to life and power, the enemies of spiritual Israel make spiritual "war" upon her. The seventh head of the beast of Rev. 17 represents a combination of all the enemies of spiritual Israel. | After the millennium, the enemies of the saints outside the New Jerusalem will be literally resurrected. When restored to life and power, the enemies of the saints will make literal "war" upon the New Jerusalem. In its larger fulfilment after millennium, the 7th head, which is "the eighth" (Rev. 17:11), is a combination of all the resurrected enemies of the saints who have lived throughout human history. |
| Spiritual Babylon is to be spiritually burned with fire before the millennium. See Rev. 17:16; Rev. 18:8, 9, 18; 19:3. Literal Babylon was burned with literal fire. Jer. 50:32; 51:25, 58. | After the millennium, the enemies of the saints will be literally burned with fire. Rev. 20:9-15. |
Confusion prevailing throughout the religious world to-day concerning last-day prophecies is caused by a failure to understand the prophecies pertaining to "Israel." The Third Angel's Message gives the spiritual meaning of "Israel" and those things pertaining to her, thus showing the spiritual application before the millennium and the literal application after the millennium. What the "Babylonian" theologians expect to literally transpire on earth during the millennium is now being spiritually fulfilled: the literal fulfilment on earth of the prophecies pertaining to Israel takes place after the millennium.
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