This is a word of preparation given at a recent Chronos Ministry weekly meeting. When Jesus unfolded the rapture and His second coming to the disciples, He compared an event that was about to happen in their time, the Abomination of Desolation that would bring the destruction of the temple (in 70 AD), to an event that would happen in our time. Specifically the shaking of the heavens.
          “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Luke 21:25-26).
            Notice that Jesus connects this shaking with the other signs of His visible coming and the rapture. Specifically, the final sign of total darkness over the whole earth at the same time. That sign alone would be enough to bring fear. Yet notice Jesus points to the expectation of something that adds to that fear. This fearful expectation is the snare of that Day described in so many of the Day of the Lord passages.
            Fear and the pit and the snare are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth.  And it shall be that he who flees from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit, and he who comes up from the midst of the pit
shall be caught in the snare; for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth are shaken. The earth is violently broken, the earth is split open, the earth is shaken exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall totter like a hut; its transgression shall be heavy upon it, and it will fall, and not rise again. It shall come to pass in that Day that the Lord will punish on high the host of exalted ones, and on the earth the kings of the earth” (Isaiah 24:17-21).
            We know we are coming to the end of the age allotted to mankind in God’s plan of redemption, the end of the 6th great Day when counting from Adam. We know when Jesus was born (within a window of roughly four years) and we know when He started His ministry when He was around 30 years of age. We can see the Day of the Lord, the final 1,000-year Day, approaching (Heb. 10:25).
            We also know that the Bible speaks of trumpet judgments unleashed after the rapture and the seating of the Church as the heavenly court. The second trumpet angel unleashes something like a great mountain burning with fire that is thrown into the seas and the third trumpet angel unleashes a great star falling from heaven burning like a torch.
            Remarkably, NASA described such a scenario of an asteroid named Apophis that could match these judgments. It is set to strike on April 13, 2029. The Bible calls it Wormwood. After warning about the asteroid, NASA quickly removed the references, claiming that they now expect it to avoid the earth. Just as remarkable is that events like this were used to justify the development of the Space War unit of our military shortly thereafter. Is it possible that these references have been removed because it would bring about an expectation of great fear and the hearts of the people failing?
            Which brings us to why are we sharing this. Knowing what God’s Word records, enables us to be warn our families, friends, and others about what is written concerning these last Days so that they can make the crucial decision to know Jesus as their Savior. Believers shall be removed from the earth just before the trumpet judgments unfold.
            Of course, those left behind can accept Jesus after the rapture and become part of the family of the redeemed. But they will miss out on being part of the Church and ruling government. Plus, they will have to endure God’s vengeance against evil that is unleashed during the first 3½ years of the Day of the Lord (the 7th and Last Day when counting from Adam).  
            The bottom line is that the more we know about the truths of God’s end-time plan, the more we can be about the Father’s business and our Lord’s commission to preach the Gospel and continue His ministry by the power of the Spirit. After all, God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

            This is a word of preparation given at a recent Chronos Ministry weekly meeting. The truth that the disciples’ beloved Jesus would have to suffer and die on the cross, only to come again was still unthinkable to them as He taught about the end of this age and the final signs. His teaching is commonly called the Olivet Discourse, which is recorded in Mt. 24-25, Mark 13, and Luke 21. The disciples were still stuck on their earthly idea of a deliverer who would free them from the bondage of their Gentile oppressors—in this case the Romans—rather than the bondage of sin and the wages of death. This was their first introduction to the signs of this age and the fact that Jesus would leave and would return.
            Nor did they fully recognize the one thing they needed to know about the timing of God’s plan of redemption yet, but they quickly came to see it in God’s prophetic timetable of a “week” of thousand-year great Days (2 Pet. 3:8). So did the apostle Paul when he was miraculously called to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, as we see in his letters to the Thessalonians.
           “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
            Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved (2 Thess. 2:1-10, emphasis added).
       Notice that Paul says that he had already taught the Thessalonians these things, so they shouldn’t be shaken by any rumors they hear. He taught them God’s prophetic plan of redemption, what we refer to as the Day Code. In verse 6, Paul reminds them of this. “And now you know what is restraining the plan.”
          The religious scholars have come up with various ideas as to who is responsible for this restraining, including the archangel Michael, the Holy Spirit, and the Church’s commission to preach the Gospel to the whole earth. These various ideas come, for the most part, because the Church has ignored the Day Code specifically recorded in the New Testament with the intention that we, too, would be able to understand the times and the seasons in God’s plan.
            Paul even went so far as to give us a reminder. It all has to unfold according to God’s timetable and the corresponding signs that were given by the Old Testament prophets, just as Jesus taught in the Olivet Discourse. Paul then reminds them that the Antichrist, the head of the mystery of lawlessness, will come first. He must be revealed (vs. 3). Joel 2 and Daniel 8:12 tell us how he rises up, how he invades Israel with a coalition of Middle Eastern armies, and eventually enters the newly rebuilt temple. He even goes into the Holy of Holies in defiance of God the Father.
         Every prophesied event shall unfold according to God’s timetable. In case you’re wondering, we shall witness the Antichrist’s invasion and defiant transgression of desolation. The final sign of total darkness over the whole earth shall halt the invasion temporarily. Then the whole world shall see Christ coming in the clouds as the 7th and final great Day dawns with the rapture.
            The amount of Day Code references throughout the Bible should alert us to the fact that God expects us to see that Day approaching (Heb. 10:25). He doesn’t want us shaken. He wants us to be ready, earnestly expecting Christ’s return to gather us together and take us to Heaven as His joint-heirs and ruling heavenly court.   

        This is a word of preparation given at a recent Chronos Ministry weekly meeting. The prophet Daniel was given several visions of the time of the end, of God’s appointed times. One in particular reveals our heavenly calling. “I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened” (Dan. 7:9-10).
        This is the last Day, the Day of the Lord, which dawns with the rapture at Christ’s second coming. The fiery stream is the chariots of fire driven by the angelic escorts that gather the elect. Each believer has his or her own chariot, driven by the angel assigned to them in this life.
            We see in Acts 8 how an angel spoke to Philip to go south to Gaza. Philip just “happens” to encounter an Egyptian eunuch of the Queen of Egypt who just so “happens” to be reading from the scroll of Isaiah. Philip asks the man how it is going and the man admits that he is having a hard time understanding the text. So naturally, or should we say supernaturally, Philip jumps on board the chariot and explains the text by the revelation of the Spirit. Instantly the man believes in Jesus and asks to be baptized in the nearby water. Philip obliges and then is supernaturally carried way (what is called being translated).
            Psalm 103:20 explains this unique ministry of the angels. “Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.” This is a vital key in our own time especially as this age draws to a close. The Word is always here, both in the Scriptures and in the revelation of the Spirit of truth within us. Yet Psalm 91:11 also affirms, “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” That phrase, all your ways, means the angels minister for us, to us, and with us. In fact, there can be a plurality of angels over us whose divine purpose is to do God’s will.
            But the angels cannot do anything until we give voice to God’s Word so that they can act on it on our behalf. We don’t command them. Nor do we worship them. We simply speak God’s Word revealed to us so they can do His will on our behalf.  No wonder Isaiah 59:21 says, “as for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.”
            As we see the Day of the Lord approaching,  it should energize us to share the light of God’s gospel with those around us. Instead of being weighed down by the lawlessness, deceptions, frustrations, and hatred rampant around us, we should bring uplifting joy, peace, comfort, hope, victory and God’s love. After all, isn’t that part of the fruit of the Spirit within us? Doing so can open the door to share the source of our joy and peace, which is Jesus the Savior of the world.
            This is why the baptism in the Spirit with the speaking in tongues is so vital in this age. Tongues is simply speaking a language you haven’t learned, doing so by yielding your mouth to the Holy Spirit to speak God’s specific word for each situation. The angels are God’s tangible intermediaries in our earthly lives, especially in these critical last Days. We need to be aware of this angelic support and know the Word so we can speak it out on earth as it is in heaven.
            [By the way, if you think tongues has passed away once the Church was established, then tell me exactly when it was complete. What event marks that date? Aren’t we still supposed to be making disciples?  Isn’t the Church supposed to be bringing His light to this darkened world until we are taken?
             Paul reminds us in 1 Cor. 13:8-10 that once that which is perfect has come prophesies, tongues and knowledge will vanish. When does that which is perfect come? At the last Day when the Antichrist is defeated, all Christ’s enemies have been put underfoot, and evil has been avenged and contained in the Lake of Fire. Clearly that Perfect Day hasn’t come yet, so these gifts and abilities in the Spirit are still in operation.

      This is a word of preparation given at a recent Chronos Ministry weekly meeting. “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into” (1 Pet. 1:10).
            Note that our calling as the Church is a time-specific offer. Our relationship is always by faith, believing even though we have not seen Him directly. When Jesus returns, Scripture tells us that the whole world will see Him come and see us gathered to Him and taken to Heaven. People can still be saved after the rapture, becoming part of the family of the redeemed, the family of God. But they will not be part of the Church, for that is always by faith, believing without having seen Him.
            Could it be that one reason for the timing and effort being made to disclose all that the government has collected concerning the UFOs, extraterrestrials, portals and such is part of the deception of this age? The government will have to offer their spin on what actually happened when the whole world witnesses the rapture.
            Notice, too, that the angels desire to look into this plan of God. The angelic council was originally put in place to rule over the created earth. But when Lucifer (Satan) rebelled along with some of the angels, mankind was created and given the delegated authority over the earth. When Satan caused Adam and Eve to question God’s word to them, whereby they disobeyed God and ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they forfeited their authority to the Evil One.
            This is why another man, the last Adam, Jesus Christ the Son of God and the Son of Man, had to come to restore the situation on earth. In doing so, the angels marveled at God’s perfect love and perfect justice. They, too, would no longer have to question God’s position, wisdom, or plan of redemption.
            Incidentally, Hebrews 1 and 2 describe the rest of the plan, particularly in regard to the angels. “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,  has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;  who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they [the angels]” (Heb. 1:1-4).
            Verse 14 adds that the angels are now ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation—that is, the Church, the Body of Christ, both now and after the rapture. Heb. 2:5 confirms, “For He [God the Father] has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels.” Instead, we know that all things shall be put under Christ’s feet and He and His joint-heirs shall reign over the earth from above until every enemy is put underfoot at the final judgment (1 Cor. 15:25).  
            Since we are “in Christ,” 1 Peter 1: 13-16 (emphasis added) reminds us of what our response as His disciples should be. Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” This is the attitude and mindset of a disciple, the seeker mentality, as we see the Day approaching (Heb. 10:25).

        This is a word of preparation given at a recent Chronos Ministry weekly meeting. Several times when Jesus taught His disciples about His second coming He told them  to “watch therefore.” We know that no word or phrase in Scripture is by chance. So there has to be something to see in this warning. Was there something they had to do to make sure they received the promises of eternal life in Him, other than accepting Him by faith as the Anointed Son of God and Savior? Could they blow it somehow, messing up their relationship with Christ, and lose this promise?
        No, because that would mean returning to the Old Covenant based on our works. That idea violates God’s Word as given in Rom. 23:23-25 (emphasis added). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
            We certainly recognize that no believer is perfect on this side of Heaven. Thankfully, our blessed hope includes being perfected and fully conformed to Christ’s image when we are gathered to Him at the rapture, at the dawn of the last Day. Rom. 8:29 affirms that this perfection is our destiny because we are in Christ. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Yet we also know that we are to grow in our knowledge and application of God’s truths in our daily lives  so we can be true lights in this darkened world (2 Pet. 1; 2 Pet. 3:18).
           This is why Paul wrote in Rom. 12:1-2 to “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” This observable change in our lifestyle from darkness to light comes about as we walk in God’s ways, testifying to His power and the leading of the Holy Spirit within us.
           This walk of faith and transformation is why God rewards a seeker (Heb. 11:6). Sadly, many of our churches in these last Days have become seeker-friendly in the wrong way, focusing on what will draw in converts rather than equipping them with the essential truths needed by a disciple of Christ.         Given the grace that abounds to us as believers, why would God put what seem like stipulations concerning the last Day, such as watch and be eagerly awaiting our Lord’s return?
          For one thing, to encourage us to know for sure that we are saved. For another thing, we don’t want to run and hide like Adam and Eve did when God scrolls back the heavenly realm and the whole world sees Jesus return to gather us at the rapture. We can rest assured that Jesus knows those who are His (2 Tim. 2:19), such that we can rejoice with joy unspeakable rather than mourn that moment of glory.
            Another reason is given in 1 Jn. 4:17. “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” When we understand our Lord’s loving sacrifice of dying for us even while we were yet sinners (Rom. 5:8), we can rest assured in the hope of our calling (Eph. 1:18). That is, to be seated as the heavenly court with Him as joint-heirs. Our heart need not condemn us for the Holy Spirit is within us to guide us into all truths (1 Jn. 3:20-21).
           In a sense, this message is why God raised up Chronos Ministries with a message of comfort, hope, and victory, such that the people’s consciousness should come alive, especially now concerning the baptism of the Spirit with tongues.
            “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him” (1 Jn. 2:27-29).           
           Notice it doesn’t say we act righteous in every moment, which is impossible. Instead, we practice the righteousness we have in Christ in the same way we are being transformed by His Word and renewing our minds to the reality of being “in Christ.”

     This is a word of preparation given at a recent Chronos Ministry weekly gathering. The last book in our Bible, the Revelation of Jesus Christ, was specifically given by God to show us the things that must take place in the last Days. The first seven chapters give us an overview of this age and Jesus’ second coming at the rapture from a unique perspective. We are shown several scenes of God’s throne room wherein we are told who is present at that time in the overview. This is significant because it enables us to identify the timing of each scene in the unfolding revelation of the last Days in God’s prophetic great week of the plan of redemption. 
      John sees God the Father sitting on the throne with a scroll in His right hand. An angel cries out, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” (v.3). John is moved to tears because no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. One of the Old Testament elders consoles him. “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals” (v. 5).
       Sure enough, John looks and sees a Lamb as though it had been slain standing before the throne. The Lamb of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, then takes the scroll out of the right hand of God. What we are seeing is the resurrected Lord at His ascension, presenting Himself to the Father as the ultimate sacrifice for all mankind. In effect, He is presenting His blood on the altar in the heavenly Holy of Holies. No wonder the four living creatures (angels) and Old Testament elders fall down in worship and sing a new song!
      Why the new song? Because Jesus has overcome death to receive the scroll of inheritance over the whole earth that is summarized in Psalm 2. For He was slain in order to redeem us to God by His blood. The redeemed would come from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. All those who accept this sacrifice on their behalf by faith during these last Days are called His Church, His Bride, and His Body.
      Remarkably, Rom. 8:17 tells us that every person who has accepted Jesus as their Savior are joint-heirs with Him. At the appointed time, the Last Day in God’s prophetic great week, we shall be likewise resurrected and seated at the right hand of the Father with our Lord as the heavenly court ruling over the earth for the last 1,000-year Day. This, too, is shown to us in the Revelation overview in chapter 7.
    Hebrews 12:22-24 describes the glorious result of our faith confession in Christ. “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”
      In case you’re wondering, as His Body, we are the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in Heaven. Notice, too, that Jesus’ blood sacrifice under the New Covenant speaks better things than that of Abel (the Old Covenant). The blood speaks better things because it brought us salvation, forgiveness of our sins, justification, reconciliation with God, redemption from the curse of this fallen world, and right-standing with God through grace, having Jesus’ righteousness accounted to us!
            End-Time Lesson: Admittedly, it’s not always easy dealing with the lawlessness, rampant deceptions, and frustrations of this world that are part of this age allotted to man. This is why we need to remember that the Blood of Jesus speaks better things! Our salvation includes the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, bringing us revelation knowledge and wisdom for any situation we face. This is why being baptized with the Spirit and speaking in tongues is so important. Our salvation also includes healing, deliverance, and angelic protection so beautifully described in Psalm 91.
            Here’s the key. The blood speaks, but are we speaking the same thing over ourselves? In His model prayer recorded in Mt. 6, Jesus taught us to pray God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. How does that happen? As God’s delegated authorities on earth, we speak it on the earth as it is written in God’s Word. By faith, we believe and receive all of God’s precious promises. What are you speaking?

        The trumpet angel turns to John with a clear message: “These words are faithful and true,” and affirms that they are meant to tell us what must take place shortly [in our time], particularly concerning Christ’s second coming (Rev. 22:6-7). No wonder John is overcome with praise and worship. He is seeing all these things at the start of the last Days. The time “is at hand” (v. 10), unlike in Daniel’s time when the prophet saw the last Day in a vision as well, but was told to seal up the vision for it “refers to many days in the future” (Dan. 8:26).
      End-Time Lesson: Jesus likewise affirms to John that He is coming quickly. In this last time the people need to decide one way or another, for shortly it will be too late. Once again, it is the choice of the tree of life or the knowledge of evil.
         Jesus reminds John that He is “the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star” (v. 16). The first title refers to the Lord’s Jewish ancestry. The second title refers to the high priest’s prophecy concerning Jesus’ birth as the incarnate God, the Son of Man, the Dayspring (Luke 1:78; 2 Pet. 1:19). He brought salvation to all mankind. Ironically, in Him all earthly titles lose their significance, for He alone is the Anointed Savior of all (Gal. 3:28).
            As His Bride, our avid response to this revelation shouldn’t be confusion or even fear. No, our call to our Beloved should be: “Come! Amen [so be it!]. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen!” This is the timely message we need to be sharing with others. They need to see the comfort, hope, and victory that is ours in Christ Jesus.
            To have this strong sense of comfort, hope, and victory, the Church needs to remember the one thing that Peter told us we need to know about the end-times: how God counts prophetic time. We need to understand God’s appointed times and corresponding seasons in God’s prophetic great Week. Without this timely revelation, we see darkly. We’re left with an ambiguous “soon” that has been going on now for some time.
            Which brings us to the warning included in this last chapter. It is not the warning that is so prominently preached, that we cannot know the time or the hour. No, the true warning is to not add or subtract from this God-given revelation. Doing so has serious ramifications.
            The warning is meant for nonbelievers and the forces of evil, those who say it is all a myth, a grand farce of mankind’s religions. For believers, however, our salvation in Christ is sure. It is not dependent upon our works, but upon God’s grace and Christ’s finished work on the cross.
            The incomplete and obstacle-strewn views of God’s end-time highway that we inherited came because we saw through a mirror darkly. The image wasn’t clear yet because the time to see was not fully at hand. God, in His mercy, understands our unfortunate errors. He knows they were not deliberate, nor meant to bring confusion, even though that was the result.
            Yet now the time is truly at hand. We are the generation that shall see our Lord’s coming at the rapture. Therefore, we need to lay aside our man-made interpretations, the traditions of men, being humble enough to let them go. We need to search the scriptures once again with an open-mind without our own agenda, and see clearly what shall truly take place shortly—as Jesus revealed in this final book.
            “But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the Book until the time of the end. [Then] many shall run to and fro and search anxiously [through the Book], and knowledge [of God’s purposes as revealed by His prophets] shall be increased and become great” (Dan. 12:4, Amplified Version).
            Recognizing this true end-time highway will encourage us to speak the truth boldly. When we add our voice on earth as in Heaven, we can expect a timely move of God, one that brings a revival like no other. I will bring in a miraculous catch of fish into the boat—the Ark of salvation that is Jesus Christ.

         The prophetic puzzle piece John reveals in Rev. 22:4-5 affirms that what happens at the end of the ages is Eternity Future. Proverbs 4:18 calls it the Perfect Day. You may have heard it called the unknown day and hour, based on Jesus’ teaching of the signs of this age and of His coming in Mt. 24:34-36. Sadly, it is one of the most misinterpreted and widely circulated stumbling blocks in God’s end-time highway. The misinterpretation arose because of the addition of chapter and verse numbers, as well as the chapter headers and subheads by the modern translators.
       The context of Jesus’ crucial teaching is recognizing the appointed times and corresponding seasons in God’s prophetic plan of redemption. Jesus specifically tells His disciples then—and now—that  we should look for these signs at the appointed time. That’s the lesson of the fig tree.
            The word translated as generation in verse 34 can have several meanings, including referring to a wide time period and an appointed time, such as the 2,000 years of the Church Age of the New Covenant. In short, Jesus is affirming that what He is telling His inner circle of disciples applies to the last Days (Heb. 1:1-4). God’s plan will surely come to pass and nothing will stop it!
            Jesus then accentuates this point by explaining that “heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (v. 35). We’ve already seen in the Revelation that heaven and earth pass away at the end of the 7th Day, after the final harvest that separates the goats from the sheep (the wheat and the tares) at the final great white throne judgment. This is when God makes all things new again.
          Unfortunately, the translators decided to insert a new paragraph, complete with a new subhead. Yet the very next verse begins with a “But,” which is a conjunction. Conjunctions are connecting words. It signals that what follows is meant to go along with the previous passage describing the passing away of heaven and earth. Removing this portion of Jesus’ “text” from the context has left us with a major “con.”
            In fact, verses 35-37 (emphasis added) are meant to be read together in order to get the full truth. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” The so-called unknown day and hour is what follows the last Day—that is, eternity future. The Bible refers to it as perpetuity.
            The whole context of Jesus’ teaching is to make sure His disciples understand the appointed time of the end, just as in the days of Noah. Noah knew the timing of the Flood. First he had the general time, and then as the appointed time grew near, God told him it would come in 7 days. Or to put it another way—in one week. Coincidence? I think not.
            End-Time Lesson: What follows the end of the ages is a time like no other, which is why we cannot possibly know what it will be like. Only God the Creator knows what He has in mind. For example, John records that there is no night there (Rev. 22:5). That phrasing connects us to other similar prophetic puzzle pieces. “It shall come to pass in that day that there will be no light; the lights will diminish. It shall be one day which is known to the Lord—neither day nor night. But at evening time it shall happen that it will be light” (Zech. 14:6-7). The lights diminish because John tells us that the Lord God is the light.           
            “The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; but the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory. Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended” (Is. 60:19-20, emphasis added).
            In the Greek, Zechariah’s wording literally says, it shall become one continuous Day. This Perfect Day is what Paul was referring to in 1 Cor. 13:8-10, “when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.” The gifts of the Spirit will pass away as well because we will no longer see in part. We shall see Him face to face!
            Needless to say, this unique Day is known only to the Father because only the omniscient, all-knowing Creator knows what He has in store. This is why 2 Pet. 3:12 calls it the Day of God Almighty. No human brain can possibly fathom that concept, let alone the magnificence and glory of that time!

      The next scene John records  in Rev. 22 highlights our eternal state. It sounds very much like what the original Garden of Eden must have looked like.  He sees a pure river. It’s crystal clear. It runs with the water of life, the source of which is the throne of God and of the Lamb. It is lined with a pathway on either side, a sort of heavenly park.
         It contains the tree of life which bears 12 fruits. It, too, bears the mark of God’s righteous government. The Greek word for healing here refers to restorative or renewing powers that bring continuous and vibrant life. A sort of fountain of youth, if you will.
           John also reports that there is no more curse—that is, no decay, sickness, nor death that are the wages/consequences of sin. With evil contained in perdition, including Satan, no curse can ever contaminate the new earth and heavens.
          Unique to this new earth is that the throne of God and of the Lamb is literally in its midst. So is the seated Court that rules forever, serving God and our Lord always. Our position is such that His name is on our foreheads, as promised in the letters to the Church.
            End-Time Lesson: Think about that for a moment. There is no more sin; only eternal righteousness. There can never be another Fall because of the Perfect Man (Jesus the Head) and His Perfected Wife (the Church, His Body) are one. We are seated at the right hand of the Father, the position of all authority in both heaven and the earth.
            Our testimony and righteous justice maintain the rule of peace. The heavenly angels and other spiritual beings who did not fall and remained loyal to the Creator have seen the awful consequences of rebellion. There will never be a need to doubt the love and goodness of the Father again. This is our destiny and purpose!
            John records, “They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: they need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever” (Rev. 22:4-5).
           Why is John so careful to record these details? Hopefully by now you know the answer. We are meant to use these same “markers” and “colors” to match these details to other prophetic puzzle pieces in God’s “prophetic box”—His Word. They give us a clue as to what comes next. Stay tuned!