Jesus didn’t pray His Father to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one!

He concluded: “You will suffer in this world! Be courageous!! I have conquered the world”!!!

Jesus knew they would scatter to their homes. In the first post-resurrection message sent by Mary Magdalene to the disciples, especially Peter, they were instructed to meet Him in Galilee. Mary understood His message was very urgent because Jesus asked her not to cling to Him, but in returning to them to repeat what the two Angels said when the women first saw the empty tomb.

She went quickly to tell Peter and John again that He wished to meet them in Galilee! 

Embedded deeply in Jesus’ teaching was a truth that the Church today has not yet fully grasped …even though the Disciples and Church members today inevitably demonstrate that truth. Only now, as we approach the Endtime manifestation of God’s Kingdom Power, are we seeing why Jesus taught that a “time is coming when anyone who kills believers will think he is offering service to God”. Osama bin Ladin is only one of millions determined to kill infidels unless they reject Christ and worship Allah.

The truth Jesus taught was intended to prepare all of His followers to willingly face death when He is “about to come in glory to reward every believer”. Matt.16:27. He added, “some standing (t)here (in that Endtime context) will not taste death, by any means, until they see the Son of Man having come in kingdom power”. Matt.16:28. In the same context in Mark, He revealed that believers must not be ashamed of Him when they know He is “about to come in glory…or He will be ashamed of them coming in His Father’s glory with the angels to reward every believer”.

“Some (not many or most; but some) standing (t)here will still face death AFTER they see Him having come in Kingdom Power” (for 1260 days)! Mark 8:38; Mark 9:1; Rev.12:10-11. I know of no Bible curriculum that teaches this revelation refers to “some” who must be prepared to face death in the few days after day #1260!! Then Believers will “know” His coming is imminent!!!

 God’s Purpose for Endtime Kingdom Power

We need to understand that God’s Endtime Kingdom Power applies to three groups of people!

The first group sees Believers knowing the “NOW of God’s salvation and power and of Christ’s authority” begins with Satan cast from heaven; banished forever. Rev.12:7-14. Satan will never again accuse the Saints day and night before God; and Believers will withstand him. Rev.12:7-11.

God will send His two Witnesses from heaven to manifest Kingdom Power to fulfill His promise to Israel that Elijah is indeed coming “before the great and terrible day of the Lord…for he will restore everything” regarding God’s promises to Israel. Matt. 17:11. The Church is appointed to share in challenging the Jews to embrace the Messiah. Christ commands us to witness to the world until the End of the Age…until He comes. He will display great authority by empowering all Believers to face death willingly so the Jews will become jealous of our faith in their Messiah.

Two-thirds of Israel will perish in the fires of great tribulation before Christ returns! Zech.13:8-9.

The last chapter in Zechariah describes the Day of the Lord wherein He comes with all the Saints to become King over all the earth!! God’s purpose for the remnant of a second group is separate from that for Believers who come with Him; but “some” must sacrifice their lives to make the remnant of Israel envious when the Saints come with their Messiah!!! Rom.11:10-11; Dan.7:27.

Endtime Saints make up the third group; but all Saints are part of the Body of Christ. The text of Dan.12 speaks of Saints who will be resurrected (including Daniel) and of their relationship to the remnant of Jews remaining after the two thirds are purged and a third are purified and refined during the final Endtime persecution. Dan.12:10-11. Among them are 144,000 Jews of Israel’s 12 tribes who will be “blameless…not having a lie in their mouths”. Rev.14:5. They are among the Body of Christ who manifest God’s Kingdom Power for 1260 days so a third of Israel, who are ready for Messiah on the Day of the Lord, will “beg to stand before Him”. Luke 21:28,31,36. 

God’s purpose for “some” among the third group is that they taste death while the Two Prophets lie dead for about 3½ days. Millions of the tribes descended from Ishmael will also be smitten by the testimony of these Believers…by their willingness to die that Christ may be glorified. Then God will show mercy to all. Rom.11:32. Because of the testimony of Christians to the very end, all men (except those hating God) will be led to glorify Christ “as He comes with all the Saints”. 

In this last message as editor, I urge you to recognize why we may be called on to demonstrate our faith so those who refuse the Gospel have no justification in seeking to escape God’s wrath by calling us hypocrites. There will be no hypocrites during the time of God’s Endtime Kingdom Power…the appointed (kairos) time for judgment to begin with God’s household. I Pet.4:13-17.

Believers will “Know the End is Near”!  Matt.24:33.

I wish to emphasize that leading prophecy preachers can produce no evidence that we will escape the great tribulation on the premise that “Christ may come any moment of any day”. Because of this belief we are led to think only Revelation 2 & 3 applies to us while the Church remains on earth. It is assumed that everything from Rev.4 to Rev.20 will be fulfilled after the Rapture. That would short-change the hope of endtime Saints who face death as Christ predicted in Matt.16:28.

The only way for them to be part of the Lamb’s Wedding is for all the dead in Christ to be raised by Jesus and “caught up to meet Him when He comes to be glorified in the Saints and be admired by ALL who believe” at the Synagogue in the Sky. 2 Thess.1:10; 2 Thess.2:1. God’s Kingdom Power enables Believers to overcome Satan for 1260 days. Plus about 3½ days until the Lastday.

In June, 1993, I realized for the first time that “no one will enter the Temple in heaven”, not even to praise God and the Lamb, “until the last (7^th) Plague empties in the air”. Rev.15:8; Rev.7:9-11. The reason is that the souls of the martyrs remain under the Altar “until the last one is killed who must be killed”.

In June, 1995, it took me 3 days to find out why Jesus stated that, when “the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of His Father with the angels to reward every believer…some (of these last martyrs) will not taste death, by any means, until after seeing Him coming in Kingdom Power”. Matt.16:27-28; Mark 8:38; Mark 9:1; Rev.12:10-11.

Willingness to die for Christ to manifest God’s Kingdom Power during the Endtime of 1260 days will no longer be a difficult matter to accept! Many consider those who die “in the Lord” during the great tribulation are not members of the Body of Christ or Bride of the Lamb!! We must not arbitrarily terminate God’s plan for the Church seven years prior to the End of the Age!!!    

I have found the purpose in Dan.12:10-11; Rev.12:10-11 and Rom.11:10-11 where Believers are the channel of God’s blessing to His former people, Israel, by causing them to become jealous of us as we suffer together during the manifestation of God’s Kingdom Power thru His 2 Prophets from heaven for 3½ years…until the Lastday when the “remnant will tremble; but will glorify God”. Dan.12:1-11; Rev.12:9-17; Rev.11:3-12. The Witnesses come during the great tribulation to oppose Antichrist…as part of the Five Catalysts that launch the Endtime of God’s Kingdom Power and to “restore all things” at the second coming. Mark 9:1; Rev.12:7-11; Matt.17:11.

Revelation places the rebuilding of the 3^rd Temple prior to the “NOW of God’s salvation and kingdom power and the authority of Christ” thru the Two Candlesticks and Two Olive Trees. Rev.12:10-14; Rev.11:4-7. [They fulfill their task during the events from Rev.12:6 to Rev.13:18].

The gap of 2000 years between Rev.12:5 and 12:6 will include rebuilding of the Jewish Temple before Antichrist can be revealed or the two Prophets manifest God’s Kingdom Power! The 2^nd temple under Zerubbabel and Joshua followed the 70 years after destruction of the first temple. Zechariah identifies them as two Olive Trees. Revelation identifies the 2 Witnesses as the two Olive Trees for the 3^rd Temple. They prevent destruction of that Temple. One candlestick and two Olive Trees represented the 2^nd temple. The 2 Witnesses represent both O.T. and N.T. Saints as 2 Candlesticks; not just one. Zech.4:11; Rev.11:4.  

John was given a rod to “measure the temple and altar and (count) the worshipers; but not to measure the courtyard outside the temple because it is given to the nations and they will trample the holy city 42 months”. The Sanhedrin has yet to determine the location. One site considered is north of the Islamic Dome of the Rock. Ancient accounts of the Temple indicate its centerline passed through the center of the Eastern Gate. That is just north of the Muslim Dome of the Rock…and allows room for the 3^rd Temple. It has been verified that there was at least 6 meters clearance from the nearest points of the Dome of the Rock and the inner-court wall. John predicts the outer court and holy city will be controlled by the Gentiles for 42 months. Rev.11:1-2.   Mel

ORDER OF EVENTS ON THE LASTDAY…THE DAY OF GOD’S WRATH

With My Personal Translations Included

“Men’s hearts fail from fear”. Luke 21:26

“Behold I am coming as a thief: blessed is he who keeps wearing his garments lest, being naked, men see his shame. And the armies gathered to a place in the Hebrew called Armagedon. The 7^th angel poured out his bowl (plague) upon the air and a great voice came out of the Temple, from the Throne, and decreed: ‘It is Done’! [Signals the Lamb to open 6^th Seal on the Day of Wrath.]  

“On one of the days after the great tribulation…when He opened the 6^th Seal, a great earthquake occurred, the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, the whole moon became as blood and the stars of heaven fell to earth as a fig tree casts its unripe figs being shaken by a strong wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll being rolled up; and every mountain and island moved out of their places. Those hiding (from invading armies) in the caves and mountains will say to the rocks and the mountains: `fall on us; hide us from the face of the One sitting on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb because the great day of their wrath has come and who can stand’’?

II. 144,000 Jews sealed. The Lamb rescues them and reaps the earth - Rev.7:1-8; Rev.14:1-20.

“Four angels were standing at the 4 corners of the earth, holding back the 4 winds, so they would not blow on the earth or the sea or on any tree…until the 144,000 were sealed. Another angel came up from the direction of the sun-rise having a seal of the living God. He cried with a loud voice to the four angels, with power to harm the earth and the sea, saying, ‘do not harm the earth nor the sea nor the trees until we seal the servants of our God on their foreheads’…12,000 out of each of the twelve tribes of Israel” sealed by the angel. The Lamb rescues them from Mt. Zion.

(Manasseh replaces Dan because of his sin in building a false temple of worship in northern Israel. But Dan will be restored during the Millennial division of the land. Ezek.48:1).   

“The 144,000 will sing a new song before the throne in heaven which only they can learn. They are purchased from earth being undefiled with women; for they are celibates; without a lie in their mouths; unblemished. Purchased from among men as Firstfruits unto God and the Lamb, they will follow the Lamb wherever He goes”. In the same hour the Martyrs sing the song of Moses before God, the 144,000 will sing their song of the Lamb. Rev.14:3; Rev.15:3.

While the Lamb rescued the 144,000 from Mt. Zion, Angels flashed messages across the sky: “One angel has an eternal message for those living on earth in every nation, tribe, tongue and people, saying in a loud voice, `fear God; give Him glory because the Hour of His judgment has come; and worship the One having made the heaven and earth and sea and fountains of water’.

A second angel followed saying, `Babylon the great has fallen, fallen for making all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her fornication’. A third angel followed them, saying in a loud voice, `If any man worships the beast and his image and receives the mark on his forehead or in his hand, he shall drink of the wine of God’s anger when it is mixed undiluted in the cup of His wrath. He will be tormented by fire and sulfur forever before holy angels and before the Lamb’”.

The Last Martyr had been killed and God was about to avenge their blood and fulfill Rev.6:9-11.

To indicate this fact, John suddenly inserts a 2^nd of 7 blessings found in the Book of Revelation:

“Here is the endurance of the Saints who keep God’s commands and the faith of Jesus. And John heard a voice from heaven saying, `write: blessed are the dead who have died in the Lord; from now on; yea, says the Spirit, for they shall rest from labor and their works follow with them’”.   

On His way to heaven with the 144,000 Firstfruit unto God and the Lamb, the Son of Man stops on a white cloud to reap the earth and 3 angels sent from heaven reap the “grapes of wrath” to the Winepress. One angel tells the Son of Man the hour to reap the earth has come. The Angel of Fire instructs the third angel to reap the armies gathered to Armagedon over an area of 180 miles and cast them symbolically into the Winepress of God’s “great anger”.  Rev.14:19.

The Court is about to sit in judgment for God’s Verdict of “wrath”…after the 2 Witnesses ascend to heaven and the 144,000 join the Martyrs in singing the two songs of Moses and the Lamb!

III. Son of Man, “Presented to the Ancient of Days”, about to be Crowned King! Dan.7:14.

After reaping the earth from the white cloud, the Son of Man comes with the 144Kon the clouds to the Ancient of Days in heaven as the Lamb worthy to be crowned King of kings. As “the lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David,” He had already proved Himself worthy to break the Seals and open the Book held by the One seated on the Throne. Rev.5:1-14. However, before He breaks the 7^th Seal, the Martyrs and 144,000 “present the Son of Man to the Ancient of Days sitting on a throne ablaze with fire over a river/sea mixed with fire”. Dan.7:9-13; Rev.15:2-5.

This introductory scene occurs after the 7 last Plagues “complete (exhaust) God’s anger”! Our English translations substitute a “tradition of men” by claiming they “complete God’s wrath”!! The Martyrs enter the Temple to learn that “God’s wrath has come” after the 7^th Plague empties in the air and they present the Son of Man to God seated on the Throne of Fire. Rev.15:8. Then they enter the Temple; the Lamb opens Seal 7 to display contents of the Scroll; the Angel of Fire renders the final Verdict of God’s Judgment and the 7^th Angel sounds the 7^th (Last) Trumpet!!!

IV. One Truth Stands Out:  God is Holy and Just with Judgments that climax with His Wrath. 

A. Acclaimed During the 4^th and 5^th Plagues - Rev.16:7-11

“I heard the Altar say `Yes, O Lord God the Almighty; True and righteous in Thy judgments’”!

“Men blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues!! They did not repent to give Him glory; but blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores and did not repent of their deeds”!!! [They gather to make war against God and the Lamb. Rev.17:14].

B. Acknowledged before the Temple Drama Begins - Rev.15:4

“Who will not fear, O Lord, and will glorify Thy name? Thou only art Holy. All the nations will come and worship before Thee; for Thy ordinances were manifested by the 7 last plagues”.

C. Fulfilled as Christ Destroys the Wicked - Rev.16:18-21; Rev.19:11-21.

“I saw heaven opened and behold, a white horse and One sitting on it being called True; and in                      Righteousness He Judges and makes war...and treads the winepress of the wine of the anger of the wrath of God Almighty”.  [In the Hour of Trial God dispenses His anger-filled-Cup of Wrath as the contents of the 7^th Plague implode globally and Christ destroys the armies locally]. 

V. Three-Act Drama in the Temple Anticipates Christ’s Coronation and God’s Hour of Wrath!    

Temple opens at Rev.15:5. Its Drama occurs from Rev.7:9 to 8:5; Rev.11:15-19.

In broad strokes, Rev.16:12-17 occurs; Then Rev.6:12-17; Then Rev.11:12-17.

In Daniel’s vision the Court sits and the Books are opened. They present the Son of Man to God as He sits on a Throne ablaze with fire. Christ’s coronation seems to occur prior to judgment by the Court. Dan.7:14-22. But in Revelation no one can enter the Temple for the Coronation of the 7^th Trumpet until the Temple opens and the Court’s Scroll opens in the 7^th Seal! The explosive contents of the Last Plague are held in abeyance in the Court of Seal 7 and Coronation of Christ during the Three-Act Temple Drama!! The repetition of the phrase, “after these things, John saw and behold”, anticipates the Drama as of Rev.15:5 which begins retroactively as of Rev.7:9!!!

“The seven last plagues had finished God’s anger” when the Martyrs come out from under the altar and the 144,000 appear before God to sing the songs of Moses and of the Lamb! The seven angels had exited the Temple a “short time” before the last martyr was killed!! The plagues show the wicked “refusing to repent and constantly blaspheming God”!!! Rev.6:11; Rev.16:7-11.      

VI. The Coronation of Christ as King of Kings. Dan.7:13-14; Rev.11:11-18; Zech.14:5-11.

The Two Witnesses’ ascent to heaven and the Presentation of the Son of Man to God must occur before Christ is crowned as King and authorized to take the Kingdom on the earth! Dan.7:13-14; Rev.11:12-17. These Two Prophets must appear as witnesses in the Court of Seal 7 before the King descends to “gather the elect upon the 4 winds from earth to the sky and He sends the angels to gather” all the Saints to Himself at the synagogue in the sky!! Daniel and Revelation (and Zechariah and Jesus) testify to this order of Lastday events!!!

The Holman Standard Christian Bible:

“I saw One like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before Him. He was given authority to rule and glory and a kingdom; so that those of every kingdom, nation and language should serve Him. His everlasting dominion   will not pass away; and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed”. Dan.7:13-14. 

“After the 3½ days, the breath of life from God entered the two prophets and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on them who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, `come up here’. They went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched. At that moment a violent earthquake took place, a tenth of the city fell, and 7000 people were killed in the earthquake. The survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe has passed. Take note: the third woe is coming quickly! The seventh angel blew his trumpet and there were loud voices in (the temple of) heaven saying:

`The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our

Lord and His Messiah, and He will reign forever and ever’!

“The 24 elders, who were seated before God on their thrones, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: `We thank You, Lord God, the Almighty, who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign! The nations were wrathful, but Your wrath has come!! The (appointed) time has come for the dead to be judged, and to give the reward to Your servants the prophets, to the saints, and to those who fear Your name, both small and great, and the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth’” !!! Rev.11:11-18; Dan.7:13-14.

“Then the Lord my God will come and all the holy ones with Him (saints; I Thess.3:13). On that day there will be no light; the sunlight and moonlight will diminish. It will be a day known only to Yahweh, without day or night, but there will be light at evening. On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea, in summer and winter alike. On that day Yahweh will be king over all the earth…Yahweh alone and His name alone. Jerusalem will dwell in security. People will live there, and never again will there be a curse of destruction”! Zech.14:5-9,11.

VII. Rejoicing in Heaven precedes the 2^nd sounding of the 7^th Trumpet.

The Last Trumpet sounds for Christ’s Coronation. Rev.11:15-19. The “trumpet of God” sounds again for the dead in Christ to arise as He descends with their souls at the voice of the archangel. I Thess.4:13-17. At the same instant Jesus gathers the Saints from earth to the sky.  At the 3^rd sound of the “great trumpet, Jesus sends the angels to gather the Saints to the synagogue in the sky; for at the 7^th Trumpet the appointed time to judge (resurrect) and reward the saints, both small and great, has come”. Rev.11:18; 2 Thess.2:1; Mark 13:27; Matt.24:31.

The emphasis of Revelation focuses on Saints who “overcome the Beast to the end and refuse to accept his mark or the number of his name”! Rev.15:2. Martyrs ask: “How much more delay, O Lord, before You judge and avenge our blood”? The delay ends whenever the last martyr dies, “the 7^th Trumpet is about to sound that God’s wrath has come and the Mystery was finished”!! Rev.10:6-7. All endtime prophecy is “finished”, including the 7 last plagues, before the Martyrs and 144K stand in the presence of God and the Lamb and praise them for their great salvation!

"With the 7^th Plague suspended in air, no more time or delay remains! The “First Resurrection” occurs in the same Hour as the 7^th Trumpet, the Last Trump for all believers to be changed in a moment; in the twinkling of an eye!! “Blessed are those who share in the First Resurrection”!!!

Rev.20:6. After being Editor of Senior Experience for five years, my final plea is that we unite under the simple truth of Jesus that on the last day “He will raise up every believer, gather the elect from earth to the sky after the tribulation and send the angels to gather them out of the 4 winds from all ends of the sky unto the Synagogue unto Jesus” (epi-sunagog-epi).  Mel Miller