The Reformed Olive Press

The Rapture is Going Up a Mount Zion What is the Rapture? Definitely, not the Left Behind Movies. I assure you that is imposing our American Sci-fi mentality into the text. To be in the "air" was to be on top of a mountain. See Exodus 19 and 24. Compare it to 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18. In the New Covenant believers, have a Moses-like access to God. Let scripture interpret scripture. 1 Thessalonians 4 is fulfilled in Revelation 14 for the living and Revelation 15 for the dead respectively. Exodus 19:13.... when the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up..... to the mountain Exodus 19:20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai , to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. Exodus 24:1-2 then he said to Moses, " Come up to the Lord , you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and 70 of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. Moses alone shall come near to the Lord, but the other...

  Titus Vespasian-The Antichrist of the First Century Who is the antichrist? There are many bizarre, unfalsifiable theories. For me, I like to look at the past before considering any future fulfillment. I believe it was fulfilled by Titus Vespasian in the 1st century. Daniel 7 covers both Revelation 12 and 13 in a general overview format. When reading these passages, we have to be careful not to be so strict with the sequence of events. Otherwise, we will miss out on very important details. In my chart, I have combined both elements of Daniel 7 and Revelation 17 to see how I came to this understanding. Below, I will discuss some of the most common objections (solutions as well) that a person would run into if they choose my perspective. Daniel 7:12 can be harmonized with the initial defeat of Rome in Revelation 13-when Cestius Gallus lost to the Jews. The restrainer, who I believe is King Agrippa 2 (1 Samuel 9:17 ESV) was removed from the city.   This resulted in Nero ...

                                     Seeing the Father through Jesus Like so many other passages, we tend to mistake Jesus as God. The image is a representation of the original not the exact  thing itself. I am a representation or  extension of my parents. I am not my mother or father. We need to be careful not to isolate passages. John 20:17 English Standard Version 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to MY GOD AND YOUR GOD. John 14:5-7 English Standard Version 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known ME, you would have known MY FATHER also. From now on you do KNOW H...

        Malachi 3:1 and and John 2:18-22 Parallel  There are many ways to interpret Malachi 3:1. In one way, I believe there is a parallel between Malachi 3:1 and John 2: 18-22. Both passages focus on Jesus being the Temple. This makes sense of the father and son's unity together-in will and purpose.B elow I will share my interpretation. Malachi 3:1 English Standard Version Behold, I (God the Father) send my messenger (John the Baptist), and he will prepare the way before me (by baptism). And the Lord (God the Father) whom you seek will suddenly come to HIS TEMPLE (the body of Jesus Christ, by his Spirit, at the Jordan River); and the messenger of the covenant (Jesus) in whom you delight, behold, he (Jesus) is coming, says the LORD of hosts (God the Father). Malachi 3:1. John 2:18-22 English Standard Version 18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy THIS TEMPLE and in three days I will raise i...

                                   Jesus is not " I am who I say I am." There is a misconception that because Jesus said "I am" that makes him God like Yahweh in Exodus 3 (egō eimi ho ōn). Below I will demonstrate how that isn't correct. Jesus said, egō eimi (“I am”) in John 8:58, the man who had been born blind identified himself by saying exactly what Jesus said; egō eimi (“I am” John 9:9).  Also, Paul and Asahel does the same as well. John 9:8-9 English Standard Version 8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” Acts 26:29 English Standard Version29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am —except for these chains.”  2 Sa...