Philip B. Brown

New Wine for the End Times
By Philip B. Brown

Scriptural evidence, that those who have died, without hearing about Jesus Christ have not gone to Hell. The Millennium as a free-grace alternative to Purgatory.

Instead of going to heaven or hell when you die, Scripture focuses on the resurrection as the means of eternal life.  Justification is a heavenly court-room decision.  There are two justifications.

The first justification happened at the cross.  All men were "justified to life" (Romans 5:18) by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  God reconciled Himself to all of Adam's children.  "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22).

The second justification happens when we, as individuals, are justified by his blood (Romans 5:9).  We become believers by asking God to forgive our sins and we commit our lives to serving Christ.  This second justification begins our individual journey of being reconciled back to the Father.  That journey is called sanctification, which leads to eternal life (Romans 6:22).  But sanctification only comes as we serve the Father (Romans 6:21-22).  We can't sanctify (to be made holy) ourselves.

As we live and work for Christ the Holy Spirit changes us and we overcome all our sinful habits.  Those who live and work for Christ will overcome all their sinful habits and will inherit eternal life.  They are sanctified (made holy) by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:16).  They will reign with Christ at the time of the resurrection, when Christ sets up his earthly kingdom.

Paul prays that we may be completely sanctified (made holy) (1 Thessalonians 5:23) by the time Christ returns.  We need to be completely sanctified (made holy) before we die.  All men were justified to life (Romans 5:18) in the first justification.  This means those who fail to complete their journey of sanctification can be raised in the second resurrection, to live in the nations (Gentiles), with mortal bodies.  It's called a resurrection of judgment (John 5:28-29).  They will continue their journey of sanctification when Christ reigns over the nations.  But those who overcome all their sinful habits will be raised in the first resurrection (John 5:28-29) with eternal life.  They will reign with Christ over the nations (Revelation 2:26) during Christ's millennial reign.  Thus, the millennium is a free-grace alternative to Purgatory.

Go No Further - Unless You Like Doctrine

Some of us enjoy the study of Scripture.  We study the various interpretations of Scripture and their histories.  These are called doctrines.  Others avoid doctrine because it's divisive in the Church.  They would say, Let's just preach the gospel.  But which gospel should we preach?

Catholics view salvation as a journey of sanctification.  In our walk with Christ we overcome all our sinful habits.  Only then can one get into heaven.  Protestants tend to view salvation as more of a one-time decision for Christ.  Our sins are forgiven.  We should overcome our sinful habits.  But failure to do so would not prevent one from going to heaven.

Protestants say that salvation is by grace and through faith alone, that no man (or woman) should boast.  But what is the definition of grace? One's definition of grace is going to be determined by wither or not one views salvation as a journey.  If salvation is a one-time decision, then grace is the forgiveness of sins.  If salvation is a journey, then grace is God's presence or work to change us on the inside so that we no longer sin.

The doctrine of salvation is very important to get right.  We should never simply assume that our church is right and everyone else is wrong.  We don't have to agree on everything.  But we must agree on the Gospel of the Kingdom before we can expect Christ to return.  Christ is not going to return to a divided Church.

The study of doctrine is not for everyone.  If God has not given you a love for the study of Scripture, for the study of doctrine, then pray that God will bring unity in the Church.  Pray that God will bring unity in agreement on the doctrine of salvation.  Then, and only then, can we be united in preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom to all the nations.  The Catholic doctrine of salvation and the Protestant doctrine of salvation cannot both be correct.  Until the correct doctrine of salvation is preached to all the nations, the end will not come.

The Gospel of the Kingdom is in the middle between that of the Catholics and the Protestants.  I believe it to be a much more literal interpretation that focuses on interpreting the New Testament in the context of a literal interpretation of the Old Testament.  But if doctrine is not your calling, then prayerfully just read about what Jesus taught Nicodemus.  It's followed by the doctrine that backs up this gospel.  But you don't have to read the doctrine.  Is this the Gospel which God affirms in your heart? If so, pray that God will unite the Church under this Gospel.  Send a link to this Gospel of the Kingdom to everyone you know.  And repent, for the kingdom of Jesus Christ is coming soon.

If you enjoy the study of doctrine, please first read and really understand the Gospel of the Kingdom.  It's followed by doctrine.  Then, you can read the first of my three books, titled 'Romans Under New Light.' It's focus is to bridge the doctrines of Catholics and Protestants.  It also serves as a good introduction to the New Wine System.  All three books can be read online or purchased at Amazon.

Click here to read the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Unless otherwise marked, all Scripture quotations are taken from the World English Bible (WEB), which is in the public domain.  "World English Bible" is a trademark of Rainbow Missions, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publisher.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.  Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

The "NIV" and "New International Version" trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by the International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.

Scripture quotations marked HCSB®, are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. HCSB® is a federally registered trademark of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked (YLT) are taken from Young’s Literal Translation (1862 / 1898), which is in the public domain.



Three Books

Three Books on the New Wine System

Paul tells us that salvation is a free gift, so that no man can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).  No amount of work can earn one's salvation.  This is true.  However, Jesus tells us the kingdom of heaven is like a pearl of great price (Matthew 13:45-46). The merchant sold everything he had for it.  Was he ripped off? Did he sell everything for what others were getting for free? Or is the kingdom a reward that is much greater than just salvation?

The early church distanced themselves from the Jews.  They didn't interpret New Testament Scripture in the context of Old Testament Jewish Scripture.  Because of this, today we have very distorting presuppositions about Scripture.

The New Wine System solves all this by interpreting the New Testament in the context of the Old Testament, both in a very literal way.

The Gospel of the Kingdom is best understood when one first understands the Gospel of the Resurrection.

We celebrate the Resurrection one day of the year, which is Easter.  Every other day pastors teach that believers die and go to heaven.  But is this the gospel which was preached by the early Church? In the early part of the book of Acts, the resurrection of Jesus is proclaimed six times (Acts 1:22, 2:31, 4:2, 4:33, 17:18, 17:32).  Then later in Acts 23, the hope of our resurrection is proclaimed four times (Acts 23:6, 23:8, 24:15, 24:21).  Scripture does not teach that we die and then go to heaven.  Scripture teaches that Christ alone has ascended into heaven (Acts 1:11, Hebrews 8:1, 1 Peter 3:22).  Since Christ has already been resurrected, Christ is the firstfruits.  We must wait for our turn to be resurrected.

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 ESV But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive . But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

Some will argue that we get spiritual bodies and go to heaven prior to the resurrection.  But a "spiritual body" is only taught in verse 44 of this very same chapter.  Verse 35 says, "But someone will ask, How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?" Then in verses 35 to 44, Paul tells us about the two types of bodies at the time of the resurrection! A spiritual body is simply a body that is born of the Holy Spirit, as alluded to in John 3.  Flesh gives birth to flesh and Spirit gives birth to Spirit.  We must be "born again" into a spiritual body in order to enter the kingdom of heaven (John 3:5-8).  But this happens at the time of the resurrection! The gospel (good news) is all about the resurrection! Paul says that we have no hope of an afterlife without the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:17-19 ESV And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

There is no hope of an afterlife without the resurrection.  There is no hope in an intermediate state.  Our resurrection is patterned after the resurrection of Christ.  There is no hope of rejoicing in heaven until the time of the resurrection. At the resurrection those in Christ will be raised imperishable (verse 52). The sting of death is not removed until then.

1 Corinthians 15:54-55 ESV When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality , then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"

Some will argue that we will be "clothed" with a heavenly body and that "while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:6), and that "we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord" (verse 8).  However, if we do a comparison between 2 Corinthians 5 and our resurrection chapter of 1 Corinthians 15, we can see that Paul is talking about the resurrection in both cases.  See section 2.5 in my book New Wine for the End Times for more information.  Chapter 2 of my book is all about the problems with this argument and with all the other arguments people have used go against Paul's clear teachings about the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15.

The early church preached the resurrection to the Greek culture because the disciples had witnessed the resurrection.  This was very different from the Greek culture, who already believed in a spiritual life after death, but not the resurrection. Because of this unique eyewitness testimony, the disciples preached the gospel of the resurrection all over their known world. The disciples were willing to die for their eyewitness testimony of the resurrection. But today the churches compromise on the gospel of the resurrection and say that both are true.

The resurrection cannot be preached without the fact that the cross comes first.  You can preach dying and going to heaven without the cross.  But you cannot preach the resurrection without the cross.  If we expect to be resurrected into eternal life like Christ, we must take up our crosses and live for Christ.  We must be ready to die a martyr's death for Christ. That's the gospel of the Cross followed by the Resurrection .

The pretribulation rapture only makes sense if one believes in going to heaven before the time of the resurrection. But those who endure to the end of the great tribulation will be saved (Matthew 10:22, 24:13, Mark 13:13). Only those who take of their crosses and follow Christ can be his disciples (Luke 14: 26, 17, 33).  Does that mean all others will go to hell? No, they can be raised in the second resurrection with mortal bodies, not spiritual bodies.  The resurrection is the focus of the New Wine System.



Book Cover

Romans Under New Light
Bridging the Doctrines of Catholics and Protestants.
    (Read the book online)

...that they may be one even as we are one... John 17:21-23

On the night before the crucifixion, Jesus prayed that we, the Church, would be one even as he and the heavenly Father are one. This was probably true during the time of the first church.  But it's certainly not true today.  Does the Father answer the prayers of Jesus? Will Jesus return to find his Church split between the Eastern Orthodox, the Roman Catholics, and the Protestants? Or can we expect a Great Awakening in the Church which will fundamentally unite the Church?

Can we expect to agree on every doctrinal issue before Christ returns? Perhaps not.  But if we can agree on the doctrine of salvation then we will be fundamentally united.  If we can agree on the doctrine of salvation then other issues will work themselves out.

Did Luther go perhaps a bit too far when he established the Protestant doctrine of salvation? Have we drifted even further than Luther would have intended? Could it be that the truth hides in the middle, between the Catholic and the Protestant doctrines?

The application of Old Testament Jewish eschatology to the New Testament Church solves seven major problems of Scripture, which have divided the Protestant Church over the centuries.  The New Wine System literally interprets Scripture along the same lines as the Jewish eschatology system of that day.  And it reveals a truth that hides in the middle between the Catholic and the Protest doctrines of salvation.  We can explore that truth by reading Romans under a new light, or in other words, with a more Jewish and Old Testament set of presuppositions.

You may make copies of the PDF eBook edition of this book and send it to anyone so long as no changes are made.  The PDF eBook is freely downloadable.  (See the links under the book cover to the left.)

The Third and Final Great Awakening will come as Catholics and Protestants are Re-United in Agreement on the Doctrine of Salvation.

Book Cover

Table of Contents
(Read the book online)

Introduction

First Chapter

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Philip Brown     Click to email me.

The Third and Final Great Awakening will come as Catholics and Protestants are Re-United in Agreement on the Doctrine of Salvation.

Protestants view the following verse as being saved first, and then doing works because we are saved.  Salvation is often viewed as being a past-tense event.  And yet many verses speak of salvation as a journey and not a past-tense event.  Catholics view salvation as a journey.

Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Because Catholics view salvation as a journey, they recognize that works are a fundamental part of the process of being saved. When reading this verse, Protestants would put emphasis on salvation being "not your own doing" and "not a result of works." That's because salvation is thought of as a past-tense event.  Catholics, in viewing salvation being a journey, might put more emphasis on the fact that "we are his workmanship, created, for good works." Works becomes an integral part of the process of being saved.

A lot rides on the whether or not salvation is a journey.  This verse (above) frames salvation as being in the past-tense for the believer in saying, "by grace you have been saved." But this verse (below) makes it clear that salvation is a journey.  Some will argue that Paul is speaking of two types of salvation.  But that would allow the reader to discount the Scriptural truth about our need to work out our own salvation.

Philippians 2:12-13 ESV Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Salvation is best understood as being a journey in which we have an assurance that "he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).  With this assurance, Paul can characterize salvation as completed even through it's not yet completed.  It's like in the Old Testament.  In Isaiah 53:5 we read about the Christ being crushed for our iniquities in the past tense.  Yet it would not actually happen for another nine hundred years.

If salvation is a journey, then how is this reconciled with Ephesians 2:8-10 as quoted earlier? The answer is that both faith and grace are also part of that journey.  Grace is not simply God forgiving of sins.  Grace is the active presence or work of the Holy Spirit in us, especially as we do the work of the Father.

Grace is God's presence or work.  Paul said, "For by grace [God's work] you have been saved through continual] faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of [your] works, that no one would boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10).  We are not saved by works.  We are saved by God's work.

This understanding of grace, and that grace is part of our journey of salvation, will help both the Catholics and the Protestants understand the true gospel of the kingdom.  The gospel of the resurrection, and the doctrine of salvation includes works.  As we do God's works, the Holy Spirit works in us to change us.  Thus, we overcome all our sinful habits.

But what happens if we believe in Jesus Christ as Savior, but don't really have faith that he can change us so that we no longer sin? Believers who die while still sinning will not go to hell.  But they will be resurrected in the second resurrection instead of the first resurrection.  They will have a mortal body instead of an eternal life spiritual body.

1 John 3:5-6 ESV You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him .

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will
enter the kingdom of heaven
, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

Matthew 25:11-13 ESV Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.



Book Cover

New Wine for the End Times     (Read the book online)

Seven major problems are solved by literally applying Old Testament Jewish eschatology to the New Testament Church.  The New Wine System is a very literal interpretation of Scripture.  (more)

1. Calvinism vs. Arminianism (election vs. free-will).  Solving this major Church divider without the use of paradoxes, or two sides of the same coin.  (more)

2. Salvation is a free gift.  But inheriting the Kingdom requires lots of work.  Solving the friction between grace and holiness verses.  ( more)

3. Does salvation require fruits of the Spirit? Solving the friction between Lordship Salvation and Free Grace Theology.  (more)

4. The millennium as a free-grace alternative to purgatory.  Solving the differences in salvation verses between Catholicism and Protestantism.  ( more)

5. Would a loving God have a merciful plan for our loved ones who have died having never heard or understood about Jesus Christ? (more)

6. Jewish eschatology provides Scriptural evidence that children who die young do not go to hell.  (more)

7. Amillennialism vs. Premillennialism.  Scriptural evidence for the purpose of Christ's Messianic reign.  The millennium is the climax of God's plan for all generations.  ( more)

The application of Old Testament Jewish eschatology to the New Testament Church solves these seven major problems of Scripture, which have divided the Church over the centuries.  Most of the New Testament was written by Jews.  The New Wine System literally interprets Scripture along the same lines as the Jewish eschatology system of that day.  The Jewish New Testament authors applied Old Testament prophecies about Israel to the New Testament Church.  If we do the same, then these seven major problems of Scripture are solved.  In addition, many verses of other topics that have been hard to understand start fitting the system and become easily understood.

 

Christian Perfection by Grace and Works
Booklet by Philip B. Brown

(Included as Part Seven in New Wine for the End Times)

"What drew me to this book was how big it thought. I've been somewhat dissatisfied with each of the systems of Bible understanding I've encountered (Reformed, Arminian, Church of Christ and what I've seen of Catholic), but was okay with the one I stuck with because it seemed the best at the time.  I was willing to apply patches to the system to keep it working.  The patches involved stretching verses to make everything fit into the framework of the old system.  This book establishes a new system.  You can't pick out one part of the book to understand without reading much of the rest of the book.  While reading this book, I kept on thinking "Oh yeah... that verse! I've wondered about that.  That makes sense." I was glad someone was taking all those verses seriously." ( From a review on Amazon by James Banks )

Book Cover

Table of Contents
(Read the book online)

Introduction

First Chapter

View  or  
Download the PDF eBook

Available from Amazon   ($22.00)

Kindle Edition   ($9.99)

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If you find this book to be of interest, please send an email with a link to this website to all your Christian family and friends.  You could even include one to your pastor.

Thanks,www.newwine.org
Philip Brown     Click to email me.

The Gospel of the Kingdom: Reconciliation,
Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification

"Through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life" (Rom. 5:18). "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive" (1 Cor. 15:22).

"We were reconciled to God through the death of his Son" (Romans 5:10).  Jesus said, "I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." (John 12:32).  Paul said Jesus Christ is the, "Savior of all people, especially of those who believe" (1 Tim. 4:10).  See 1 Cor. 15:22, 1 John 2:2, Rom. 11:32, 1 Tim. 2:3-6, 1 John 2:2, Heb. 2:9, John 6:33, Titus 2:11, 2 Cor. 5:14-15, and Rom. 5:18-19. Reconciliation has nothing to do with what we might do, say, or believe .  We were all reconciled.  But those who reject Christ lose their reconciliation to God.

Reconciliation is not justification. New believers are justified and receive the Holy Spirit. Justification is the start of sanctification, when we are credited with righteousness.  Later, after completing our journey of sanctification, making good on that credit, we will be glorified with immortal bodies at the resurrection. But we must complete that journey.

Jesus said, "I am the [road], the truth, and the life. No one [journeys] to the Father, except through me" (John 14:6).  Salvation includes a journey of faith.  Paul said, "May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely.  May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 5:23).

Grace is God's presence or work.  Paul said, "For by grace [God's work] you have been saved through [continual] faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of [your] works, that no one would boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10).  We are not saved by works.  We are saved by God's work.

Sanctification is a free gift by grace (God's work) alone since the Holy Spirit changes us on the inside.  But without our works there is no sanctification and thus no eternal life.  Paul said, "But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life" (Rom. 6:22).  So without works as a servant, there is no fruit of sanctification and thus no eternal life.  Therefore, we must complete our journey of sanctification before we can inherit the kingdom and receive eternal life.

We are saved by faith and through grace.  But faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 2:26).  Our belief and faith are not one-time events.  By faith and belief we are sanctified as we do the works of the Father.  "He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6). "Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).

John 3:16, 18 For God so loved the world , that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  ...  He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn't believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

Belief and faith are a journey.  Those who willfully refuse Christ's journey are judged already, which means they've lost their reconciliation.  Those who complete their journey to overcome sin will be given eternal life.  Those who fall short in this age will be able to continue their journey after the resurrection in the age to come.  But you can lose your reconciliation if you willfully turn away from God and keep on sinning.

Hebrews 10:26-27 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries.

Because Christ is the second Adam, all men were "justified to life." Even nonbelievers who remain reconciled are Christ's sheep and still hear his voice.  Christ's lost sheep still hear his voice and remain reconciled with God, even if they die. There are two types of bodies at the resurrection: glorified bodies and mortal bodies.  If you die before completing your journey, Christ will simply raise you up with a mortal body.  But you will still be under judgment. You can complete your journey in the age to come.  But those who reject Christ no longer hear his voice.  They have lost their reconciliation and will not be resurrected.

John 5:25 Most certainly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God's voice; and those who hear will live.

John 5:28-29 Don't marvel at this, for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear his voice, and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.



Book Cover

Daniel and Revelation
From the Islamic Antichrist Perspective
    (Read the book online)

Part One of this book gives an overview of events that should happen during the course
of the end times.  This view of eschatology is a literal furture-fulfillment interpretation.  But it doesn't fit most of the more dispensational future-fulfillment views of eschatology.  Scriptural reasons for these views will be covered in detail.

The first departure from the traditional is that there are two antichrists.  The world ruler is the first beast and the false prophet of Revelation is the second beast.  From Daniel, we know that the beast is a ruler who does not acknowledge God.  The false prophet, I believe, will be one of the ten kings of the earth and will rule the Islamic middle-east.  He will be considered the Mahdi by Muslims.  The one-world religion will be Islam.

The second departure from the traditional is that Ezekiel 38 and 39 are two different events occurring at different times.  Ezekiel 38, I believe happens perhaps six months before the seven-year covenant.  This is also the sixth seal of Revelation. Ezekiel 39, I believe, is Armageddon.

The third departure from the traditional is that the New Jerusalem will appear at the time of Ezekiel 38, which is prior to the seven-year covenant.  This is when Christ appears.  But the resurrection and rapture are not until after seven-year covenant.  Today, the Church is not ready for the rapture.  And it's not the antichrist who makes this covenant.  Christ makes this covenant of Daniel 9:27, with the Church, to give us seven more years to overcome sin.

Part Two of this book is a complete commentary on Daniel from the Islamic Antichrist
Perspective.  The reader will find this commentary to be significantly different from other commentaries on Daniel.  Some commentaries are futurist oriented while others are preterist oriented. Both of these traditional views of Daniel understand the legs of iron to be Rome.  This book takes the Islamic antichrist perspective. From this perspective, the legs of iron is the Islamic Caliphate.  You will find an abundance of Scriptural evidence for this view.

Since Revelation is interpreted in the context of Daniel and other Old Testament books, the Islamic antichrist perspective also has a dramatic impact on the interpretation of Revelation.  I never really understood Revelation clearly until I learned to see Daniel from this perspective.  Thus, this commentary on Daniel is important background information for part three of this book, which is a complete commentary on Revelation.

Part Three of this book is a complete commentary on Revelation from the Islamic Antichrist Perspective.  Revelation has more Old Testament allusions than any other New Testament book.  Most scholars know about these references to the Old Testament.  But every traditional interpretation of Revelation chooses to ignore this Old Testament context.  Revelation is packed full of symbols.  And most of the symbols can be found in the Old Testament.  I believe that no interpretation of Revelation is valid without bringing the meaning of these Old Testament symbols into Revelation.  We should not just guess at what a symbol might mean.  Let's let Scripture interpret Scripture.

This view of Revelation is also from the Islamic antichrist perspective.  The legs of iron in Daniel 2 were argued to be the Islamic Caliphate instead of the Roman Empire.  This view of Revelation picks up on that idea.  There are several riddles in Revelation. Of the
seven heads, five have fallen, one is, and one is to come.  The beast once was, now is not, but will come again.  The answers to these riddles begin to make a lot of sense when the Islamic Caliphate is recognized as being the seventh head.  You will find that this interpretation of Revelation brings clarity to every riddle and symbol.

Book Cover

Table of Contents
(Read the book online)

Introduction

View  or  
Download the PDF eBook

Available from Amazon   ($22.00)

Kindle Edition   ($9.99)

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If you find this book to be of interest, please send an email with a link to this website to all your Christian family and friends.  You could even include one to your pastor.

Thanks,www.newwine.org
Philip Brown     Click to email me.

The Gospel of the Kingdom cannot be properly understood outside the context of the End Times.

Salvation is all about the resurrection on the Day of the Lord.  The resurrection occurs in the context of the end times.  If the end times is not properly understood, then salvation is not properly understood.

The study of the end times is called eschatology.  Most pastors will not touch eschatology with a ten-foot poll.  However, the Jewish culture at the time of Christ was very much centered on Jewish eschatology.  They hated Roman rule over their lives and believed that the Messiah would come to overthrow the Roman kingdom.  The term "kingdom of heaven" or "kingdom of God" is a reference to the eternal kingdom that will begin here on the earth when the Messiah comes.  This can be seen in Daniel 2, 7, 8, 9, and 12.  We must interpret the words of Jesus in the context of their eschatology centric culture.  With the words of Jesus taken out of the context of Old Testament eschatology, the gospel of the kingdom is misunderstood.  Church is not ready for the rapture.

Daniel 9:24 ESV "Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness , to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.

Many say this was accomplished at the cross.  But this is a requirement for "your people" and "your holy city." It's not something that Christ would do on the cross.  Vision and prophecy were not sealed up at the cross.  The book of Revelation required vision and prophecy.  Daniel had been praying for the forgiveness of Israel's sins and for the desolation of Jerusalem to come to an end.  Seventy weeks of non-desolation were decreed for God's people to stop sinning.  Gentile believers must also stop sinning because we were grafted into Israel.

After being scattered to Babylon for sin, God's people were given a specific amount of time to stop sinning before the Messiah would come.  This was not a "no man knows the day or hour" type of thinking.  John the Baptist preached, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:3).  John was saying that the Messiah was about to arrive, and that the time allotted to Israel to stop sinning was just about to end.

The seventy weeks of years were explicitly split into two groups.  There were sixty-two weeks and seven weeks.  I believe the sixty-two weeks were over when Christ was born.  Then there was one week until the death of Herod.  After that, Israel had seven weeks to stop sinning.

But Israel failed to even recognize their Messiah.  They continued to sin.  The seven weeks were moved into the future for a second coming.  At this point, the timing of the Messiah's return became unknown.  But we are told to watch the signs and be ready for Christ to return.  Being ready, in that context would mean that we must put an end to sin before the return of Christ.  That's the purpose of the seventy weeks.

Gentile believers are grafted into Israel.  We share in Israel's destiny to rule the nations when the Messiah sets up his kingdom (Revelation 2:26).  But the Church today is no more ready for the Messiah to come than Israel was when Christ came the first time.  This time, the Holy Spirit was given to change us on the inside as we do the works of the Father.  But most in the Church deny that the Holy Spirit can change us so that we no longer sin.  We have a form of godliness but we deny the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome all our sinful habits.

We are told to watch the signs.  This is like the watchman in the night.  To watch for the enemy to come is to be ready.  The enemy is sin.  As we watch the signs, we get ready by overcoming all our sinful habits.

1 John 3:5-6 ESV You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him .

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

Matthew 25:11-13 ESV Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

It's the wicked servant who will not know the day or the hour.  The wise servant will know.  When Christ returns, he will confirm a "covenant with many" for one more week so that the Bride will make herself ready.  We watch for the coming of the great tribulation.