Christian Truth Today | Pastor Dave HoneyClearing Up The Confusion

New Book Release! “Revelation, For Such A Time As This” Friday, 12-16-2011 at Holy Family Christian Books, 2990 Churn Creek Road, Redding, Book Signing and live music from

4:00-7:00 pm

Revelation, Fo Such A Time As This: Introduction

I believe the Book of Revelation to be the most incredible book ever written! We find ourselves in the company of the sole surviving disciple “whom Jesus loved”. After a failed attempt to, according to tradition, boil John alive, the Emperor Domitian, a crazed madman who has now launched a second wave of persecution against Christians for refusing to acknowledge him as a god, has banished John to the island of Patmos. Now, a prisoner on this God-forsaken rock off the coast of Asia Minor, John is treated to the most incredible season of his distinguished career as a humble servant of his Lord and King, Jesus Christ! John is given the Revelation of Jesus Christ! He is not simply handed a manuscript and told to distribute it to the entire known world. No! John is taken on a journey so incredible that he can scarcely put it into words! He is shown some things so horrific that he is not allowed to write them down! He is not only given the growth and condition of the entire church age to write down in the form of seven letters to the churches of Asia Minor, but he is taken into heaven to witness first hand, God’s plan for the future of the entire human race as it unfolds in brilliant, dazzling works of art that only God Himself could create and put into motion! He is dazzled by imagery so wonderful, so awesome, that mere words cannot describe in full glorious detail all that his eyes will see, but his mind will not begin to comprehend!

We are so privileged, so incredibly blessed to be loved so deeply, so completely, so unconditionally by a God, by the God who created each of us in His glorious image! Who breathed life into our very nostrils and placed eternity in our hearts! Not only does God tell us the rest of the story, but it comes with a blessing as well! Yes! A blessing!

Revelation 1:3

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

Certainly we are blessed whenever we read the Word of God, but Revelation comes with its own very special blessing! I personally believe the blessing I received was clear understanding of this wonderful Book! I suppose that some may disagree with my understanding, and that’s okay, it makes for lively discussion!

There are many opinions as to the meaning of this prophetic writing, but I will briefly explain the four most popular views. Many articles can be easily found online that go into much greater detail then I will in this introduction of the Book of Revelation.

1. The Preterits’ Interpretation of Revelation

The term preterism comes from the Latin praeter, which denotes that something is “past” or “beyond.” The Preterist believes that most of the prophecies in the Book of Revelation have already come to pass. They are somewhat split in their interpretation however. Some believe that the prophecies were fulfilled shortly after John first penned them on the island of Patmos. Still others hold that the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD marked the fulfillment of most of the prophecies found in Revelation. The timing is close in either case.

2. Historicist Interpretation of Revelation

The Historicist’s interpretation of Revelation believes that Revelation prophecy events that transpire over the entire course of the church age. Although the Historicist view from our vantage point would still see some prophecies as future events which will continue to be fulfilled until the end of the age.

3. Spiritual Interpretation of Revelation

The Spiritual interpretation does not look for specific fulfillment of prophecy, but that the Book of Revelation is a series of spiritual teachings that occur and reoccur in history. A major theme of this interpretation is that spiritual warfare is always being waged in the believer’s life.

4. Futurist Interpretation of Revelation

The Futurists believe that the Book of Revelation is prophesying future events to all but those who are living in the tribulation period immediately preceding the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It is from this perspective of Revelation that I will teach. I believe that the church age will culminate at the Rapture of the Church, bringing about the Resurrection of all believers in Jesus Christ. It is then that the world will enter into Tribulation for a period of seven years at which point Jesus Christ will return to establish His Millennial Kingdom. There is disagreement within this interpretation in regards to when Jesus will bring about the rapture of His church. Some believe, as I do that He will rapture His church just prior to the seven year tribulation. Others believe that the rapture will occur halfway through Tribulation, and still others say the rapture will occur at the end of tribulation, just prior to His Second Coming. Also, there are those who deny that the rapture will occur at all.

No matter what our understanding of this incredible book may be, there is one single truth that we must not disagree on!

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

May God richly bless you as we journey together through this amazing book of God’s most wonderful prophecy of all….The rest of His incredible story!

A man may say that the success of his life can be measured by the wealth he has accumulated, or the position he has achieved. He may say to the world; I have prospered from you because I have great ambition and a fire in my belly! But, if a man lacks wisdom he will be without direction. Without direction he will be without hope, the much sought after compass point of life. It may be that all that he has will soon be lost because there is no direction, nor hope in his life.

Ironically, when a man has lost everything he has deemed important in his life, he may see a clearer path of direction because of a new found hope in his life! The Bible teaches that abundant life is not found in the riches of this world, but rather the relationships we have in life, beginning with the greatest relationship of all, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ:

Matthew 16:26

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

At the Good News Rescue Mission, this story is told over and over again. There is great hope when we walk through valleys if we understand that there is always a mountain at the end of the valley which leads to the mountain top!

TEMPLES! TEMPLES! TEMPLES!

Since the time of Moses, God has instructed man regarding the construction of His temples. Now, let’s take a jet tour from temples past to temples future!

I. THE TABERNACLE

A temple is a place where God is worshiped. It is a place where God will dwell and be with His people and it is a place where God will meet with man! We shall see later how the temple of today provides a unique meeting place for us and God!

It was around 1444 B.C. when Moses received detailed instructions for a portable temple called the Tabernacle, (Exodus 25:1-40:38). Tabernacle refers to a tent and this temple was much like that. It was designed so that it could be quickly dismantled should the glory of the LORD leave the temple thereby signaling the time for the children of Israel to continue on their journey.

Exodus 40:34-38
40 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 36 Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

The Tabernacle was the first of eight temples, according to the Word of God.

II. SOLOMON’S TEMPLE

The temples of the Bible are not all physical temples. As we shall see, there is a great emphasis regarding spiritual temples by Christians. But the physical Jewish temples play a great role in the unfolding plan of God and His relationship with man. Although the tabernacle was noted here in this article as the first of eight temples found in the Bible, the first actual physical temple constructed in Jerusalem was Solomon’s Temple.

In 2 Samuel chapter seven the word of the LORD came to the prophet Nathan instructing him to tell King David of this first temple. It had been on David’s heart to build the LORD a house to dwell in.

2 Samuel 7:1-7
1 Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.” 3 Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.” 4 But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, 5 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? 6 For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7 Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?”

Although it was David’s desire to build the temple for the LORD, God would not allow him to, but rather the task would fall to his son and successor, Solomon. 480 years after the Exodus and the 4th year of Solomon’s reign, Solomon began to build the temple on the summit of Mt. Moriah in 966 B.C.

1 Kings 6:1
And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.

Solomon’s Temple stood for some 380 years and was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 586 B.C. at which time the Jews were taken into Babylonian captivity.

Jeremiah 32:26-28
26Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 27 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? 28 Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it.

Solomon’s Temple was the second of eight temples, according to the Word of God. However, this was the first temple according to temple history.

III. ZERUBBABEL’S TEMPLE

The Jewish people returned to Jerusalem after seventy years of Babylonian captivity. Zerubbabel envisioned and constructed Zerubbabel’s Temple in 516 B.C.

Ezra 3:8
Now in the second month of the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began work and appointed the Levites from twenty years old and above to oversee the work of the house of the LORD.

Zerubbabel’s Temple functioned for some 347 years until Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the temple in June of 168 B.C. The following prophetic reference by the prophet Daniel speaks of this horrible act which is a foreshadow of the coming Antichrist and his abomination of the tribulation temple.

Daniel 11:29-31
29 “At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter. 30 For ships from Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. “So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.

Zerubbabel’s Temple was the third of eight temples, according to the Word of God. However, this was the second temple according to temple history.

IV. HEROD’S TEMPLE

In 19 B.C., King Herod the Great began an extensive restoration project to restore Zerubbabel’s Temple. Herod’s Temple was a magnificent work and won Herod much favor with the Jewish people. However, Herod’s Temple would not last long. The Temple Herod build was the shortest lived thus far. Could it be that the political reasons behind Herod’s desire to restore the temple to the Jewish people lacked God’s blessing? It seems that there may be times even in our own lives when we set out to do God’s will only for personal gain or selfish ambition.

Jesus referred to the destruction of this temple in Matthew 24:2.

Matthew 24:2
1Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

In 70 A.D. Jesus’ prophecy came to pass. The armies of Titus converged on Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple. Although Titus did not wish to bring down the temple, the Roman soldiers tossed torches into the temple causing a great fire that burned so hot that all of the gold melted and ran into the joints of the giant blocks of the temple. In an effort to retrieve the gold, the Roman soldiers pulled all of the blocks down, thus fulfilling the prophecy; “not one stone shall be left here upon another…” Matthew 24:2b.

Herod’s Temple was the fourth of eight temples, according to the Word of God. However, this was the third temple according to temple history.

V. PRESENT (HUMAN) TEMPLE                                                                

There has not been a physical temple in Jerusalem to this day. However, as the Jewish people, who have been dispersed throughout the world, have incredibly re-gathered to their land, the land which became a sovereign nation in 1948, there is a strong desire and need to rebuild their temple! So what is stopping them? Namely the Dome of the Rock, a Muslim Mosque built sometime after 600 A.D. The mosque was built on what was believed to be the exact location of the previous temples. The location would be the summit of Mt. Moriah where the Arc of the Covenant would be placed in the Holy of Holies. However, a Jewish archeologist by the name of Dr. Asher Kaufman published an amazing finding in an article in Biblical Archeology Review, dated March/April 1983 (suggested reading). He claims that the exact location of where the Holy of Holies would have been is actually some 70 meters to the north of the Dome of the Rock, under a small structure called the Dome of the Tablets. An interesting name, as the Arc of the Covenant contained the Tablets of Moses! This being the case, the temple could in fact be built and stand next to the existing mosque. Interesting to note, the mosque would then be located in the outer court known as the Court of Gentiles! We shall read in Revelation 11:2 that John was instructed not to measure this area as it represents God’s rejection of the unbelieving gentiles!

These are fascinating times we are living in! Will the temple be built in our time? Well, I believe that the rapture will occur in our generation! Thus the temple will be built shortly after that incredible event under the shadow of the Antichrist! It seems that everything is in readiness! There have been many preparations by the Jewish people to build their temple. There has even begun training of those who would serve in temple sacrifice and worship! So what are they waiting for? Probably the same thing all of us find ourselves waiting for…..God’s timing!

So, if Herod’s Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. and it is presumed that a temple will be built sometime in the near future, what of the past 2000 plus years? You may recall that a temple is where God resides and we experience a relationship with Him. Incredibly, in this age of grace, or the church age, God has not gone without His Holy Temple!

1 Corinthians 3:16-17
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Have you ever wondered what actually took place at the precise moment you asked Jesus into your heart? It seems that when we were led to the Lord, or when we have the privilege to lead someone to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we are taught that we must repent of our sins and ask Jesus to come into our hearts. According to scriptures, Jesus ascended up into heaven with the promise that the Father would send His Holy Spirit to be with them and all believers, convicting and teaching them how to live Godly lives!

Luke 24:49-53
49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”  50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

Acts 2:1-4
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

So, when one asks Jesus to enter one’s heart, it is the Holy Spirit of God who actually enters our body, the new Temple of God!

1 Corinthians 6:19
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

2 Corinthians 6:16
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

What an amazing truth this is! The Spirit of God dwelling in us as He did in the Holy of Holies! If you ever had doubts that God could love you, how do you feel about it now? God, the creator of heaven and earth, the creator of the universe desires a personal relationship with you, but not only that! He desires to dwell within your heart! You are the Temple of God!!

The Present (Human) Temple is the fifth of eight temples, according to the Word of God.

VI. TRIBULATION TEMPLE

We now find ourselves back in our current text, Revelation 11:1-2.

Revelation 11:1-2
1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.

In Revelation, chapter 11:1-2 John is given a measuring rod made from a reed-like stalk. Its length was six royal cubits (20.6 inches instead of the 18 inch cubit) or approximately ten feet. He is directed to measure select areas of the future temple which will be built by permission of the Antichrist during the seven year tribulation period.

We have spent some time in conversation regarding the Jewish people’s desire to rebuild their temple and re-institute a system where the atonement of sin is accomplished through animal sacrifice. As a people, Israel has rejected the idea that the advent of Jesus Christ was the coming of their long waited Messiah.

On May 14-15, 1948, Israel declared independence as a sovereign nation! Many believe, including me, that this event marked the fulfillment of prophecy and that there was now nothing to stand in the way of the Rapture of the Church! This event will clear the way for the rise of the Antichrist and the seven years of tribulation. It will be under the authority and permission of this Son of Perdition that the temple can and will be rebuilt! However, this temple, the tribulation temple will be the shortest lived of all temples! Depending on the timing of the project, this temple will not exceed 7 years as a functioning sacrificial system. Thankfully, the times to follow will no longer look to animal sacrifice as a means to the atonement of sin! In fact, from the demise of the tribulation temple, the world will see no other atonement for sin then Jesus Christ!

Daniel 9:27
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.”

Matthew 24:15
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand)

Daniel is referring to a peace treaty offered by a powerful new world leader, Antichrist, guaranteeing Israel seven years of peace and the freedom to rebuild their temple and once again  resume their system of animal sacrifice for the atonement of sin. However, after only three and one half years he will renege on his treaty and defile the temple just as was foreshadowed by Antiochus Epiphanes, the Syrian king who defiled the Holy of Holies in Zerubbabel’s Temple in 168 B.C.

The prophetic passage of Matthew 24 also refers to the Antichrist’s act of defiling the Holy of Holies of the Tribulation Temple. Scripture does not speak of the destruction of the Tribulation Temple, however, the prophecy of Jesus’ second coming found in Zechariah 14:4 allude to seismic events which will create topographical and geological changes which may or may not destroy the Tribulation Temple.

Zechariah 14:4
And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east.
And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley;
Half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south.

Regardless of whether the temple is or isn’t destroyed, when Christ returns to establish His Millennial Kingdom, He will bring about a new temple, Ezekiel’s Millennial Temple!

The Tribulation Temple is the sixth of eight temples, according to the Word of God.

VII. EZEKIEL’S (MILLENNIAL) TEMPLE

The study of prophecy (eschatology) is thrilling to say the least! We are given so much information regarding our future. Over one third of scripture is prophetic, albeit much of the prophetic writings have already come to pass; there remain several events which will profoundly affect our lives!

One incredible event that we as Christians look forward to is the second coming of Jesus Christ!  As Christians, I believe that the rapture will occur at least seven years prior to the second coming of Christ. This is particularly exciting to me as we will be so blessed to participate in this wonderful event!

Revelation 19:11-16
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

The armies is heaven include all believers in heaven. May I suggest to you that this will be the greatest day of horseback riding in all of history!

When Jesus returns, He has already prepared plans for a most incredible temple, Ezekiel’s Millennial Temple!

Ezekiel 40:1-5
In the twenty-fifth year of our captivity, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was captured, on the very same day the hand of the LORD was upon me; and He took me there. 2 In the visions of God He took me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain; on it toward the south was something like the structure of a city. 3 He took me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze. He had a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand, and he stood in the gateway. 4 And the man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears, and fix your mind on everything I show you; for you were brought here so that I might show them to you. Declare to the house of Israel everything you see.” 5 Now there was a wall all around the outside of the temple. In the man’s hand was a measuring rod six cubits long, each being a cubit and a handbreadth; and he measured the width of the wall structure, one rod; and the height, one rod.

Ezekiel has been so privileged in his life as a prophet! He has witnessed a dazzling display of heavenly activity as he was treated to a vision of God on His throne in Ezekiel, chapter one! He has seen the restoration of Israel in a vision of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel, chapter 37. He watched as God supernaturally intervened as a coalition of nations teamed together to destroy Israel. He witnessed God destroy five sixths of those attacking forces, as he recorded the prophecy of Gog and Magog , found in Ezekiel, chapters 38 & 39. And now he is taken high atop a mountain and given an incredible tour of the temple Jesus Himself will construct upon His second coming! This temple will last for a thousand years, ultimately to give way to the greatest Temple of them all!

Ezekiel’s Millennial Temple is the seventh of eight temples, according to the Word of God.

VIII. THE ETERNAL TEMPLE

There is a temple mentioned in Revelation 11:19;

Revelation 11:19
Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

Although this temple was not directly mentioned in the line-up of eight temples, I believe this refers to God and His throne in heaven. During the period of time known as the Age of Grace, or the Church Age, all believers are the temples where the Holy Spirit dwells. Now the church, all believers, is in heaven in the very Presence of God. The ark of the Old Testament was merely a shadow of the ark that is in heaven, which is revealed here in Revelation 11:19. The point here is that every earthly temple, including the human heart of belief, has been a mere foreshadowing of an ever-present temple, which is and was and forever will be!

Revelation 21:22-27
22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

What an incredible promise! A promise of our Future and Hope, our Inheritance and our Salvation! We will live eternally in the Glory of the New Jerusalem and in the very Presence of the Glory of the LORD!

The Eternal Temple, His Presence, is the eighth of eight Temples, according to the Word of God!

© All Rights Reserved. Property of David E. Honey, Christian Truth Today Ministries Christiantruthtoday.org | Pastor Dave Honey.

Concluding thoughts from my book, “Revelation, For Such A Time As This” regarding the Seven Churches of Asia Minor.

Although these seven letters were written directly to the churches of John’s day, they speak to the entire church age, also called the “Age of Grace.” By way of these seven letters, Jesus defines for us the challenges and triumphs the church will go through in two thousand plus years of church history. In every case, He directs His church to stay on track, to keep doing what is right, and correct, through repentance, those things that are destructive to the Body of Christ! But, there is a deeper, more personal application of these letters. I believe that the letters define what every believer will face in their lifetimes. As believers, Jesus comes along side of each of us to “captain” our lives! He fully understands that each of us will face challenges and temptations along the way. His heart for us is that we hold tightly to what we know is right, and when we fall, repent and move forward! It will take time for Jesus to bring about a perfect world in a new heaven. We can know by His promises that He intends to accomplish this. John 14:1-4. We must do all that we can to persevere till the end! I also believe that Jesus is speaking to all unbelievers through these letters. Offering Himself as a sacrifice, holy and true, for their salvation. It is our responsibility as believers to walk out the “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:18-19) as each of us have been called to do! Jesus has entrusted believers with an incredible stewardship, the care of His children, both lost and found!

Steve Hafen, KVIP’s Saturday Morning Magazine host will be talking with me this coming Saturday about the upcoming Bible Prophecy Conference at Redding Christian Fellowship on Sunday & Monday evenings, October 16 & 17, as well as my new book, Revelation, For Such A Time As This. Listen to the interview 10/1/11 on KVIP FM 98.1, or listen on-line at KVIP.org at 11:00 am.

KVIP Christian Radio is located in Redding California.

My new book, Revelation, For Such A Time As This, is a verse by verse commentary on the book of Revelation. The following Forward was written by my very good friend and mentor, Pastor Royal Blue.

We live in such important days.  People everywhere are asking, “What does the future hold?”

Surely, the best place to go for the answers to that question is the Book of Revelation.

Pastor David Honey has done an excellent job in giving us great insight into Revelation on a verse by verse study in his book:   “REVELATION – For Such A Time As This.”

Pastor Honey’s method of presenting insights in the book of Revelation makes this study easy to understand.

Pastor Honey has had a very unique ministry for many years, as he has worked with people who have been rescued and encouraged by his spirit inspired ministry.

Not only as a Chaplain of a large jail ministry, but also by his loving leadership in a number of areas at the Good News Rescue Mission in Redding, California.  In addition, Pastor Honey serves as Assistant Pastor at a church in Anderson, California.

He has spoken in a multitude of churches, and at many special community group gatherings.

I have known Pastor Honey for over 25 years.  I have known him to be a man who loves the Lord, and loves people.

His desire for you as you read this book is that you might come to trust Jesus as your Savior.

If you are a Christian he would want you to be drawn closer to Jesus, and choose daily to redeem the time left, for God’s glory, while we are still on earth, before Jesus comes to rapture the believers.

Soon to be released through Amazon.com

I love God’s Word, and I love to teach His Word whenever I can! There are times that the Holy Spirit takes me to places in the Word of God that are just awesome! Recently I was preparing a sermon to preach at my church, Anderson Community Church.

My very good friend of twenty some years, Pastor Les, began Anderson Community Church in a friends home several years ago. I have been privileged to come along side Pastor Les to co-pastor this amazing little church!

As I was looking through a particular passage of scripture to teach, God just caught me by surprise with a perspective on this passage that I had never seen before! There are probably some out there that have understood this perspective all along, so this won’t be anything new. But for me, it is new and so relevant to this current season of God’s plan!

I believe that the “End Times” began with the ushering in of the “Church Age”, some two thousand years ago! Every generation, from the beginning of the church age until today has watched for the signs of Jesus return. According to Bible Prophecy, many events were to take place before Jesus would return, yet every generation believed that Jesus would return in their lifetime. I believe that is by God’s design that we would always be ready! Today, with the benefit of retrospect and knowledge of fulfilled Bible Prophecy, I am convinced that we are living in the “Last Days” of the church age! I believe that Christians today sense this and now are called to witness their belief like never before! The passage I will discuss is found in Matthew 25:1-13. The Parable of the Ten Virgins.

In this passage, Jesus paints an incredible picture of a time immediately preceding the rapture of the Christian Church. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, the Apostle Paul comforts those in the Church of Thessalonica who are deeply concerned about those who have died before the coming of the Lord. He teaches them of a future event where Jesus calls all Christians to meet Him in the air and into Heaven! He first calls those who are asleep (died) then, those who are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. We know this event to be the rapture of the church!

Matthew 25:1-4

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,  4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

The ten virgins we know are the bridesmaids and Jesus is the Bridegroom. In keeping with the time, Jesus is describing a time preceding the bridal procession. If the wedding that was held at night, the bridesmaid would have lamps, more likely torches, to light their path as they followed the Bridegroom to His house. Oil was used as fuel for the lamp and in this case, is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. They carried the oil in small vessels, believed to represent the believers body. It is interesting to note the symbolism Jesus uses in this passage. Bridesmaids preparing to meet the Bridegroom, Jesus, and some having the Holy Spirit indwelling them. Having the Holy Spirit in our hearts would most certainly light our path in life! Would it not?

Matthew 25:5

 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

Here is where God really got my attention! I had always understood this parable at face value. I now felt that God wanted me to see it from another perspective, and to teach it from another perspective! You see Brothers and Sisters, time is short! Very short indeed! As believers we cannot afford the luxurious self indulgence of sleep! Of course, when our bodies grow tired, we sleep. What of our spiritual bodies or vessels? When we slumber and sleep, others may be perishing right before our eyes! One of those BIG little words that are sewn throughout the Bible shows up right here in verse 5……All! They All slumbered and slept the Lord says! Something tells me that our Lord deals with our sleepy hearts in other scriptures. In Matthew 26:36-46 for example, Jesus confronts His sleeping disciples three times! He warns them not to sleep, but to watch and pray, lest they enter into temptation! The truth is, when believers are asleep at the wheel, others may perish!

Matthew 25:6-10

6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’  7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.  8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’  9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’  10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

Here I am reminded of our friend Noah. He and his family built a large ship or ark at the command of God. When it was completed and all of the passengers were safely aboard, the door was shut! Not by any human hand, but the Hand of God shut the door of the ark, preventing entrance by anyone not invited to come aboard! In this case, the door leading into the marriage feast of the Lamb was shut and locked! Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:21-23;

Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to Me,’Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

I believe that those four words are the scariest of all! “I never knew you!” They speak loudly of our need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ! No matter what we do in life, how good we are, there just isn’t any substitute for God’s Son!

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Our passage of scripture concludes with these sobering words!

Matthew 25:11-13

11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying,’Lord, Lord, open to us!’  12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 

13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

There! He said it again! Watch! Watch! Watch! We do not know when the Lord is coming for His bride! We must live like He is returning today!! Witness to our neighbors everywhere! Show them where to get “oil”…Oil to fill their vessels and light their path!! Oil! The ticket to the feast! Oil! The first fruit of salvation! Irrevocable oil!! Show them! Talk to them before it is too late for them and they perish! God desires that none should perish!  We must not fall asleep Christians!

Matthew 24:14

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 
 Matthew 28:19-20

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

From this perspective, it becomes very clear that we are to take care of business friends! Time is short and God has given us an awesome responsibility! Don’t sleep!  Witness the Gospel to whoever will listen, whenever you can!

I would love to hear from you and hear your thoughts on this, or other passages of scriptures! You can either leave a comment in the comment section below, or e-mail me at pastordavehoney@yahoo.com.

Blessings!!

Somewhere between Good Friday and Easter morning is a place of quite anticipation. While we have moved past the remembrance of Jesus’ horrible crucifixion, there is a feeling that lingers delicately in the air, or is it lurking in the depths of our hearts? Is it the familiar sense that something was about to happen? Or is it simply the lazy Saturday morning blues that comes between events? Good Friday events were filled with worship and fellowship, pot lucks and wonderful conversation! But what of Saturday, is it that strange anticipation of some impossible event? What event? After all, Jesus resurrected from the dead some two thousand years ago! Is it there because of a hole in our faith? Was it something that someone said? Someone who we believed knows the truth? We lean in and listen, hanging on every word… “There it is! Did you catch what he said? Did you understand it?” A shred of doubt enters our heart. A word that entertains our intellect, yet tests our faith. Did we not truly understand the word we’ve been taught from our youth? Did we miss something? And now we sit and wonder…If what was said is true…am I not truly saved? We struggle in the depths of our soul! Did I not believe correctly? This is the question that is swimming around and around in our minds!

Several years ago I attended a conference that was hosted by the team of an archeologist that had passed away some years earlier. This team maintained a museum dedicated to this man’s life’s work. In his career he had claimed to have discovered many of the more sought after biblical archeological prizes. Finds that were wholly unsubstantiated, yet intriguing to read about! Claiming credit for discovering such great finds as, Noah’s Ark, the actual location of the doomed city of Sodom, the exact location of Mt. Sinai, and The Ark of the Covenant, also called The Ark of Testimony, The Ark of God, The Ark of the Lord and The Ark of God’s Strength. He claimed to have lost all evidence of this incredible find but described the chamber as housing many of the Temple artifacts, including The Ark of God. At this juncture of the seminar, the speaker began to talk about the many pagan rituals Christians take part in, mostly out of ignorance of God’s Word! I can clearly remember the stress I began to feel as he talked on. As some began to leave the seminar, I was spellbound by what this man was teaching. I began to feel sick in my soul, and angry at what was being said, yet at the same time, wondering if possibly I had missed something! I can remember just how I felt as he continued to repeat the words; “I was stunned!” as he would talk about how he, along with most Christians were deceived into worshiping pagan idols, and therefore were not Christians at all! He claimed that if we were to have anything at all to do with the celebrations of either Easter or Christmas, we were in fact, worshiping  pagan gods and goddesses!

Easter has always had its non-religious side. In fact, Easter was originally a pagan festival. It was co-opted by Christian missionaries starting in the second century A.D. The ancient Saxons celebrated the return of spring with an uproarious festival commemorating their goddess of offspring and of springtime, Eastre.

The date of December 25th probably originated with the ancient “birthday” of the son-god, Mithra, a pagan deity whose religious influence became widespread in the Roman Empire during the first few centuries A.D. Mithra was related to the Semitic sun-god, Shamash, and his worship spread throughout Asia to Europe where he was called Deus Sol Invictus Mithras.

I could not believe what he was saying, yet I felt challenged in my belief! Leaving that seminar left me struggling in my mind and soul. How could I be guilty of worshiping pagan gods and goddesses that I had never even heard of? I knew that I had great faith in God! I hungered for the things of God, and I believed that I worshiped no other! It was Jesus that died and was resurrected from death that I might have eternal life with Him! How could I have worshiped any other?  I was, as they say, wrestling with the devil! Well, to my great relief, God came to my rescue! He led me to a passage of scripture and confirmed in me that I had, and should…no, must only worship Him! He revealed truth to me in the book of Romans;

Romans 14:1-5 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.

This begs the question; what was the truth in which I was fully convinced of? As a child, I was not a Christian. However, every year my family enjoyed celebrating Easter, Easter eggs and all! And as a small child I also included the Easter bunny as part of the fun. But as I looked back and recalled what I knew and believed of the Easter holiday, well, just this; Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead! That’s exactly what I have always believed about Easter! The same was also true for Christmas. All of my unsaved childhood, I believed that Christmas was the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ! Santa Claus was only the clown who showed up at the birthday party for Jesus! No pagan gods or goddesses, just Jesus! Born, died and was resurrected from the dead! That is what I am fully convinced of in my own mind!

As you enjoy the Easter holiday with your family, recall what you believe, and possibly have always believed. If you have always known that Jesus was crucified, buried in a tomb, and on the third day was resurrected from the dead, then you know whose life you are celebrating! But do you fully understand why Jesus Christ died on a cross? Do you understand the amazing significance of His resurrection? If not, then I encourage you to consider this; Jesus died on the cross in our place. We have all been born under the curse of sin which separates us from God. Only God could pay the price sin demands, death! By His resurrection we can be free from sin and death! Jesus paid the price that we may have eternal life with Him! Consider the following scriptures…

John 3:16

 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

 

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

 

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Romans 5:8

 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

Romans 10:9-10

9 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 

Acts 16:31

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.

I pray you and your families have a wonderful Easter celebration! Should you have questions regarding this post, please feel free to e-mail me at pastordavehoney@yahoo.com . I would be delighted to hear from you and answer any questions you may have.

Blessings!

God speaks to me through pain as well as pleasure. He speaks out loudly, in a rather quite voice! In my pain He teaches me of His immeasurable love! In pleasure He delights with me, just as He delights in me! While I do not always understand His ways, He knows mine! To know God’s love in my pain, is to say that I have discovered the very heart of God. I can feel the presence of His heart, although I do not deserve such a blessing as this!

His only Son cries out from the cross…”Father, why have you forsaken Me?” Yet, in His pain, He teaches me of His immeasurable love! Although the Son cries out in His pain, He delights in His work! His pain is for me. He speaks of His work…”It is finished!” He has died, and yet He lives! He is alive and yet I am dieing, only to discover that by His death, He teaches me of His immeasurable love! And so I live. In death I find deliverance from my pain, but in the end, through Him I discover life eternal!