The Mystery of God, the Final Episode

By Paul Winkler

In this eye-opening commentary, Paul Winkler unlocks the Scriptures to reveal the mystery of God and how it was fulfilled, just as Jesus promised, within one generation of Christs time on earth. Winkler condenses intensely technical studies from around the world and across time to present an easy-to-read, verse-by-verse discussion of the entire book of Revelation. His masterful inclusion of Scriptures, from both the Old and New Testaments, will leave readers feeling confidentinstead of confusedand able to apply kingdom promises to their lives today. His work supports the preterist (prophecy already fulfilled) viewpoint. If one gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shameThe one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him (Proverbs 18:13, 17 ESV).

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512725452

Paul Winkler

Paul Winkler (BA, MDiv, Army Chaplains School, DMin) is an ordained minister with American Baptist Churches USA. His parents were almost obsessed with biblical prophecy and took him to tent revivals and prophecy seminars. His searching led him not to modern, “the end is near” doctrines, but to ancient truths he has outlined in this book.

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Copyright © 2016 Paul Winkler.

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This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-2546-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-2547-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-2545-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015960951

WestBow Press rev. date: 1/26/2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Prologue

Note on the Previous Episodes

The Timing of the Kingdom of God

Consider the Church Creeds

Meanwhile, in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries

Introduction

Examining Two Prominemt Dispensationalists

Dating the Writing of Revelation

Dating the Fulfillment of Revelation

The Exposition of Revelation

Revelation, Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Important Introduction to Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Introduction to Chapters 13--17

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Examing the Questions of So-Called Fundamentalists Regarding Preterism

Appendix 1 --- Summary and Comments on the Wars of the Jews

Appendix 2 --- Old Testament Prophecies and their Fulfillments

Glossary

Websites for Preterist Information

Bibliography

In all cases except where noted, biblical quotations are from the New King James Version ® (NKJV), Copyright 1983 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ESV quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV® Text Edition: 2011.

KJV quotations are from The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments, Translated out of the original tongues: and with the former translations diligently compared and revised, by his Majesty's special command; Cambridge: The Syndics of the Cambridge University Press.

NRSV scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

TLB quotations are from The Living Bible, copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation.

Main text citations are in bold type. In NKJV quotations in this text, as in the Thomas Nelson NKJV Bible, italic type indicates words that the original texts do not contain but which English requires for clarity (NKJV, viii). Words in [brackets] are alternate meanings. The author has noted each time he used a biblical translation/version other than NKJV.

The author has taken the liberty of capitalizing all pronouns and definite articles referring to God and Jesus, including in scriptural quotations. Also, he has utilized very occasional use of italics to call special attention to certain names or phrases.

Occasionally, the abbreviation s.v. is used, meaning, look under or look in.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book has been years in the making. My search began with my own disillusionment concerning the Bible teachers who were writing on the subject of end times prophecy (eschatology). As many of you likely were, I was raised in the viewpoint of the pre-tribulation, pre-millennial rapture of the church. This was the only viewpoint I even knew until I attended seminary. There I was exposed to various viewpoints. The opinions from my childhood and youth continued to cling to me. However, the more I read in the traditional conservative interpretations, the more disillusioned I became. It appeared to me that The Bible was not actually saying what these writers stated. Their logic seemed faulty, to say the least. I began to ask questions, which provoked me to look for some other interpretation. Proverbs 18:17 became a favorite of mine: One side of a story sounds good until you have heard the other side (author's paraphrase). As I began to formulate new opinions, viewpoints from authors other than those I had known as a youth came into my studies. As the years have come and gone, a new perspective has formed in my mind (I believe in my spirit as well). If this book that follows herewith can be of assistance to any of you, then may Jesus Christ be glorified.

I thank my wife, Enid, for patience and encouragement. Secondly, thanks to our children, Liz Yarbrough and Jon Winkler, for reading my manuscripts and offering suggestions. Thanks also go to Dr. Charles Anderson, retired professor of Ottawa University in Kansas, for his scrutinizing of the book and his encouragement. Thanks to Dr. James Munro of American Baptist Churches; Dr. Robert A. Fisher; and Dr. John Bray, author of many books, especially Matthew 24 Fulfilled; for reading, analyzing and offering their valuable suggestions; and to Ed E. Stevens of the International Preterist Association for welcoming me into his home to talk. I especially thank my editor, E. L. Yarbrough, for patiently scrutinizing every word and sentence in this book, analyzing and correcting where necessary. Thanks also to the helpful staff at WestBow Press. They have immeasurably helped with certain editing guidelines and suggestions to keep me honest and legal.

PROLOGUE

WHAT?! Another book on end-times prophecy? When is enough...enough? We've had radio and TV preachers and evangelists talking almost continually about end times, the Rapture, the mark of the beast, etc. It was my privilege several years ago to speak at a Baptist convention workshop on the book of Revelation. During the discussion time, one minister asked, "So what difference does all this make in the lives of a person?" The answer is that one-third of scripture is prophecy, and we don't throw out sections that we do not think apply to our personal lives. Prophecy is there for a reason. Sometimes I wonder about the repeated genealogies, or the lists of identical gifts to the Old Testament tabernacle by each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Why couldn't it simply say, Each tribe gave the following? instead of enumerating the gifts of each tribe one by one? Well, anyway, perhaps I ask too many questions that are illegal to ask.

Another answer to the minister's question on What difference does it make, is our focus. Those who believe in a coming tribulation, mark of the beast, and rapture, look for and focus on those events. Those who believe, as I do, that those events are past look for and focus on the Kingdom of God coming into hearts and changing lives today. The Kingdom of God either is at hand now, or it isn't. We must choose where we focus.

Will anyone read this book? Maybe...maybe not...perhaps a few. However, who knows what God may use to His glory in the life of just one person. And, who knows what difference that one person may make in the lives of many or few? So, for whatever the reason, right or wrong, I submit this book for God to use. May Jesus Christ be praised! Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days (Eccles. 11:1). I guess that means it will all come out in the wash someday.

The divisions in the church of The Lord Jesus Christ are appalling. These have gone on for centuries and seem to be getting worse. The subject of biblical prophecy, in particular the so-called end times scenario, makes those divisions all the more apparent. If I sound angry, forgive me, for I am a little bit angry. The preachers who sell millions upon millions of books (not to mention, movies) appear to me as false prophets, or worse, wolves in sheep's clothing. Of course, here I am, without an agent, or an elaborate corporation, even without a web site, yet would probably do cartwheels if my book sold even a few hundred copies. Some who learn of my biblical interpretations will possibly scratch their heads and say, Poor misguided soul! What a shame!

Sometimes I wish the book of Revelation had never been written. The popular preachers who supposedly interpret it create so much heat and so little light. So why not create some heat of my own, and with it, shed a little more light? A very close friend of mine accused me of being so stuck on being academically and biblically right that I cannot simply worship God. Maybe! Maybe not! All I know is that a huge segment of the so-called evangelical church is caught up in proving its interpretation of Bible verses on end times writings. Their audiences respond with amen, preach it, etc. Thus far, these so-called evangelicals have been 100% wrong about what Daniel, the Gospel writers, Paul, and John meant in their end times writings. If the God-inspired writers of biblical end times passages are wrong, then how can we trust any of their writings? By the way, I am not new in that assessment. Several well-known agnostics have said this in recent history. The following preface to this book is necessary to understand this commentary on end times prophecy and the book of Revelation.

THE MYSTERY OF GOD, THE FINAL EPISODE

NOTE ON THE PREVIOUS EPISODES

The Bible is divided into two parts, old and new, two covenants, old and new, even though it is politically incorrect to call one, old and the other, new. It is the story of two kingdoms, one natural and one spiritual. It is the story of two kinds of people, one natural and one spiritual. It is the message of the Bible, the story of two cities, old Jerusalem and New Jerusalem. When one understands this, it becomes the key to understanding the message of Holy scripture, and in particular the prophecies that seem so difficult for the natural man to receive.

In John 3:3, Nicodemus could not readily comprehend this. Jesus told him that one must be born again in order to see the kingdom of God. The Jews, especially the Jews, had a difficult time understanding the kingdom that Christ announced. They looked so much upon the outside, while God looks on the inside. Their kingdom was so observable, while God's kingdom comes not with observation (Luke 17:20). They wanted so much to be first, but Jesus talked about being last. They wanted to be royalty, but Jesus talked about being servants. They wanted to be the only ones in the world who were special, but ...God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him (Acts 10:34--35).

Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel' (Mark 1:14--15).

Jesus sent the twelve disciples to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick (Matt. 10:7--8, Luke 10:9).

There are at least one hundred twenty references to the kingdom in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. One would have to be from dullsville not to get the message that the kingdom is important to God and should be important to us. As a matter of fact, it is of utmost importance. Jesus came preaching the gospel (good news) of the kingdom, healing the sick, and casting out demons. The twelve disciples and the seventy went out preaching the gospel (good news) of the kingdom of God, healing the sick, and casting out demons. After Jesus' resurrection, He spoke to His apostles, of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).

The apostles still did not understand, and wondered if Jesus would restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). Jesus told them that was none of their business. Their business was to be witnesses to Him everywhere. The disciples throughout the book of Acts continued to preach the kingdom of God (e.g., Paul in Acts 28:23). The message of the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ continues to be mentioned in Romans, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, and Revelation.

The Jews then were (and now are) so convinced that the kingdom of God was synonymous with Israel as a nation (or ethnic group), that they could not understand, and refused to accept, what they perceived as a new doctrine. They became furious at Jesus when He proclaimed a kingdom that was spiritual. When He punctuated His teaching with infallible proofs and dramatic miracles, they were all the more incensed until, on behalf of all the world's sinners, they crucified Him. To their surprise, He defied death and rose from the dead, being seen by many witnesses. Some of the Jews were dismayed. The disciples of Jesus were ecstatic.

These Jews had so rejected Jesus Christ (the Stone which the builders rejected, Matt. 21:42), that they were outraged by His words, Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it (Matt. 21:43). Given to what nation? If not Israel, then who was to be God's chosen nation? What nation has God chosen to receive His kingdom?

It is precisely in answering that question where so many Jews and Christians continue to fail. This is understandable. The Hebrew people are the Old Covenant nation, from whom Christianity was birthed. They were the chosen nation. Chosen for what? To be favored by God over all other nations? Only in the sense that they were given first chance to be a light to the Gentiles. They were the ones to whom were entrusted the oracles of God, The Law and the Prophets (Rom. 9:4--5). The Jews continue to call themselves the chosen nation. Often, Christians also call Israel, God's chosen nation. The question is whether Israel, as a geographic nation or an ethnic people, ever was God's chosen people to be honored above all other nations. Many Old Testament references seem to indicate that God did indeed have a covenant with national Israel that defined its borders, its territorial inheritance and covenantal blessings. This is debatable.

Genesis 17:7--8 says the covenant with Abraham is everlasting, and the land of Canaan an everlasting possession. However, the condition of the covenant in verses 9--10 was to keep His covenant. In order for the covenant to be fulfilled, Abraham and his descendants would have to keep the covenant's requirements. In Genesis 48:4, Jacob told Joseph about the covenant that God had made with him, saying God would, ". . . give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession. David spoke of the covenant as an everlasting covenant (2 Sam. 23:5; 1 Chron. 16:17). However, there are two sides to this coin. Heads, you win; tails, you lose. Deuteronomy 28:45--46 pronounces curses upon Israel if she disobeys the laws of the covenant: Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. And they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder, and on your descendants forever. Note the word, forever at the end. Isaiah laments in Isaiah 24:5 that Israel had broken the everlasting covenant. If the covenant was everlasting, how could it be broken? The answer is: COVENANTS ARE COVENANTS! I.e., covenants are conditional. Covenants are agreements between two parties. They are contingent upon the terms of the covenant. Israel repeatedly broke the terms of the covenant. One cannot get past the words of Jesus in Matthew 21:43, Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit" (NIV).

The New Testament, in Hebrews 8:7--13, says it like this: "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: 'Behold, the days are coming, says The Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah---not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says The Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says The Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, 'Know The Lord,' for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.' In that He says, 'A new covenant,' He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Please note: He has made the first obsolete!"

So, there you have it. If Israel, as a territorial nation and national people, were the covenantal people of God, they are no longer that people. The old covenant is over. It's kaput! It's done! It is finished! The question remains, however, whether national Israel was ever in God's mind as the people of the covenant. Not only the book of Hebrews, but also the book of Galatians (not to mention, Romans) make this abundantly clear. Galatians 3:16, says, Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, 'And to seeds,' as of many, but as of one, 'And to your Seed,' who is Christ. Then Galatians 3:29 says, "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

If the Jews, or Israel, were not the chosen people, then who were, or who are? The answer is: the children of Abraham, people of faith --- whether Jew or Greek, barbarian or Scythian, bond or free --- are children of Abraham! The kingdom of God never was, never is, and never shall be physical. It always was and is spiritual. God's covenant with Abraham was that in him all nations will be blessed (Gen. 17:4--5). That covenant was with Abraham and his Seed. The covenant with Abraham and his Seed (Christ) was an everlasting covenant. That covenant never has and never will be rescinded. It has absolutely nothing to do with physical Israel, except that anyone from Israel who comes to God in faith will be saved through Jesus Christ.

It was Paul's prayer that all of his own Jewish countrymen would be saved. We, too, dearly want all the Jews to be saved. We also want all the Arabs, Russians, Chinese, British, Brazilians, Mexicans, etc., to be saved. We must show no partiality, exactly like God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34). All of true Israel --- whether from physical Israel, or Greece, or pagan countries; whether slaves or free; all who call on The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ --- will be saved. We love the Jew as much as we love the Gentile. Contrariwise, or should we say, similarly, we love the Gentile as much as we love the Jew.

Over and over Bible teachers and students love to quote Romans 11:26, And so all Israel will be saved. Notice that it states, And so... The word, "so literally means, in this manner. So the passage should read, And in this manner all Israel will be saved. What manner? Same manner as anyone else (vs. 27) by having his or her sins taken away by The Deliverer (vs. 26). Peter said the same to the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15:11: But we believe that through the grace of The Lord Jesus Christ we [the Jews] shall be saved in the same manner as they [the Gentiles]. Think about it. If it truly means, all Israel, would this be only all Israel alive when The Deliverer" returns? Then, it would not be all Israel. "All Israel" would have to mean "all Israel," not just Israel at a particular point in history. This would necessarily mean that all the scoundrels in Israel's history would also be saved...King Saul, King Jeroboam, King Ahab, King Manasseh, Judas Iscariot...you name them. If one is saved simply by virtue of being a physical descendant of Abraham, would this also include the Ashkenazim Jews, those converted en masse in Bavaria by a decree of the king of Bavaria? See John Bray's book, Matthew 24 Fulfilled. This inclusion would violate God's statement, For there is no respect of persons with God (Rom. 2:11, KJV), would it not? Or consider Romans 2:28--29, For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God (KJV). Or consider Galatians 3:28--29, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. This will be enlarged upon in the chapter entitled, Examining the Questions of So-Called 'Fundamentalists' Regarding Preterism."

Does not Psalm 122:6 instruct us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May they prosper who love you'? Absolutely! Let us pray for it like Jesus prayed for it. The only peace of Jerusalem for which Jesus prayed was for the new Jerusalem: "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me (John 17:21). The same prayer, seemed to be in the mind of Paul as he pleaded with Christians to be of one mind and one spirit and live in peace (2 Cor. 13:11). As far as the second half of Psalm 122:6, prospering," Jesus said the way to prosper was to give away (Luke 6:38). Also, prosperity is far from being simply financial. True prosperity is spiritual, emotional, relational, etc. For any who insist that we are supposed to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, exclusively, please consider the following reference: Jeremiah 29:7, And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to The Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace. Here is scripture challenging Jews to pray for the peace of Babylon. So we ought also to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, Babylon, London, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Sydney, your home town, etc.

Some Bible preachers declare that Romans, chapters 9 through 11 are God's words concerning Israel. I agree that these three chapters do indeed talk about Israel. They must be taken, however, in context with all that Paul says about being a Jew in the rest of the book of Romans, and in his other letters...in