Unveiling Jesus Christ

Unveiling Jesus Christ

by John Cassinat

Rev 11 [§169] Rev 11:1: John Measures Them That Worship in the Temple

This podcast explains the symbolism and imagery used by the John the Revelator in Revelation 11:1, which states that John was given a reed to measure the people that worship in the temple of God. The context of this vision is the Great Tribulation just before the Second Coming. The temple refers to the Third Temple and the people to be measured represent Jewish people, although some Bible scholars spiritualize this imagery and say that it represents the Christian church or individual followers of Christ. The Jews who qualify to be measured are the honorable people of the earth and are therefore worthy of at least terrestrial glory as of the time of their measurement. Measured Jews will be able to stand with Christ at the Second Coming on the Mount of Olives, where they will be converted. They will rebuild the temple making it the Fourth Temple in Jerusalem where the purified sons of Levi can again make offerings unto the Lord in righteousness and the Jews will be blessed ultimately with celestial glory as members of the Church of the Firstborn. Mosaic type sacrifices will occur on a limited basis after the Second Coming to bring about a restitution of all things from the beginning. The image of measuring the Jews worthy of worshiping in the temple has a close correlation to the parable of the wheat and the tares. The wheat represents the measured Jews worthy of at least terrestrial glory to be found in the Holy Place of the temple, while the tares represent telestial-worthy people, including wicked gentile nations, that remain unmeasured in the Court of the Gentiles as recorded in Revelation 11:2.

Rev 11 [§168] Rev 11:1: John Measures the Third Temple and Its Altar

This podcast explains the symbolism and imagery used by the John the Revelator in Revelation 11:1, which states: "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar." The angel is Jesus Christ, although this view is not universally accepted among all Bible scholars. This vision is similar to the visions in Ezekiel 40 and Zechariah 2. Both prophets prophesied concerning the construction of the 2nd temple of Zerubbabel, as a foreshadow and type for the construction of the Third Temple in Jerusalem that still lies in the future. The reed in Revelation 11:1 refers to a long-stemmed plant that grows in marshlands in the Mediterranean region. A reed typically symbolizes weakness or feebleness, but since it is also referred to as a rod , the image portrays strength, power, and law. John is directed to measure the Third Temple that will be built prior to the start of the Great Tribulation. The altar in this temple refers to the altar of incense located in the Holy Place, rather than the brazen altar of sacrifice located in the courtyard of the temple. The act of measuring symbolizes acceptance and ownership by God, which includes his protection of that which is measured. This protection will come in the form of the Two Witnesses who will minister among the Jews and in Jerusalem during the last 3 ½ years of the Great Tribulation before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

[§166] The Third Period of 1 Week of 7 Years [Armageddon]

This podcast explains the meaning of, and events that will occur during, the final 70th week of seven years in Daniel's Seventy Weeks Prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27. This one week of seven years corresponds to the physical battle of Armageddon described by John the Revelator in Revelation 9:13-21. John described this last week of seven years before the Second Coming as the Second Woe. During this last week of seven years in Daniel 9:27, Christ will confirm the covenant with many, meaning that many exaltation-worthy people then living will have their calling and election made sure. This means they will have a guarantee of eternal life and they will not be overcome by the spiritual darkness and trials during the battle of Armageddon. At the midpoint of Armageddon (3 1/2 years), which coincides in time with the gathering of saints at Adam-ondi-Ahman, Christ will cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease. This means that sometime prior to the midpoint of Armageddon, the Jews will rebuild, at least in part, the Third Temple in Jerusalem where the unpurified sons of Levi will offer sacrifices in the Third Temple patterned after the Law of Moses. These rituals will be suspended, however, by the gentile armies that will lay siege to the Holy City. They will make Jerusalem desolate during the final abomination of desolation, but at the consummation of these events at the Second Coming desolations shall be poured out on the gentile desolators. The sons of Levi will then be purified like gold and silver, and they will offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness after the Second Coming in a Fourth Temple to be built in Jerusalem.

[§167] Daniel’s Vision of the Great Tribulation [Daniel 12]

This podcast explains the vision in Daniel chapter 12, where Daniel saw two angels on either side of the Tigris river and the premortal Christ, clothed in white linen, standing above the water in the middle of the river. The two angels may be the premortal spirits who were foreordained to be the Two Witnesses who will minister in Jerusalem during the Great Tribulation, which is the last 3½ years before the Second Coming. The vision in Daniel 12 is focused on the oppression and trials of the Jewish people through the time of the Great Tribulation. The two angels appear to have a direct interest and role in the events of that future day. After multiple descriptions of the Jewish oppressions up to the time of the Second Coming, one of the two angels asks the Savior, "how long shall be to the end of these wonders?" (Dan 12:6) The answer in Daniel 12:7 states that the oppressions shall continue until "a time, times, and an half," which refers to the 3½ years of the Great Tribulation, including the 3 ½ days of the final Abomination of Desolation at the Second Coming. The vision in Daniel 12 also reveals that the tribulations continue on the Jews as a form of godly chastisement to promote hope and faith in Jesus Christ and to cause them to repent as the Lord's covenant people. Daniel learns in Daniel 12:10 that after the tribulations, the Jews will be purified and made white. A similar promise is found in Revelation 7:14, where John saw a great multitude that came out of the Great Tribulation with their robes washed and they were made white in the blood of the Lamb. The Jews will ultimately become a blessed people, while the gentile nations and wicked people will do wickedly and shall meet with utter ruin.

[§165] Timeline for the Great Apostasy [Daniel 12]

This podcast initially answers the question of whether the prophecies in the book of Daniel are closed and sealed up as we approach the time of the end before the Second Coming. Daniel 12:10 states that the wise shall understand, and the scriptures tell us that we now live in the time when the Spirit of the Lord is poured out on all flesh and the knowledge of all things concerning this earth and its creation will continue to increase until the Second Coming when all things will be made known. The Book of Revelation is also meant to be understood and obeyed for "the time is at hand." (Rev 1:3) The timing of the Great Apostasy is among the mysteries made known in the last days. The Great Apostasy is generally defined as a universal loss of truth and falling away from the true church of Jesus Christ on a worldwide basis. However, within this broad category different groups of people were in an apostate condition at different times. This podcast looks at the apostasy among the Jewish people as one group, among the ancient Christians on the eastern hemisphere as another group, among the Nephites on the western hemisphere as a third group, and the Lost Ten Tribes as a fourth group. Daniel prophesied in Daniel 12:11-12 that the Jews would suffer apostasy and oppression that would be like a flood for 1290 years commencing in 70 AD, and the survivors would then be blessed after 1335 years. These dates coincide with the rise of spiritual darkness like a flood that crested during a very low point in human history as millions of people died from the Black Death at the start of the Renaissance in Italy during the late 1300's. The Jews that survived were blessed by religious and other societal reforms in the early 1400's. John the Revelator also talks about the timing of the Great Apostasy which he measures as the loss of the true church of Jesus Christ and priesthood authority from the earth for a period of 1260 years between 570 and 1830 AD. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was restored and formally organized in 1830. At the time the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored in its original form from the ancient church of Jesus Christ and there were again legal administers of the priesthood on earth. Working backwards for 1260 years from the time of the restoration, we can calculate that the final loss of priesthood authority must have occurred when the Lost Ten Tribes were translated in 570 AD.

[§164] The “Flood” During the Gap in Daniel 11

This podcast discusses the period of apostasy predicted in the Seventy Weeks Prophecy found in Daniel 9:26. This period of apostasy occurs during the gap of time between 69th and 70th weeks identified by Daniel in Daniel 9:24-27. The 69th week ended with the death and atonement of Jesus Christ in about 34 AD, and the 70th week will end with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The 2000-year gap between weeks 69 and 70 is the period of apostasy among the Jews. This apostasy is the particular focus of Daniel's prophecy in the Seventy Weeks Prophecy. In addition to the apostasy among the Jews, the ancient church of Jesus Christ also fell into apostasy no later than the end of the first century AD. That apostasy continued until the restoration of Christ's true church as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830. This podcast discusses all these aspects of the Great Apostasy that engulfed the world as a flood during the 2000-year gap as described in Daniel 9:26.

[§163] Three Prophetic Events During the Gap

This podcast discusses the Seventy Weeks Prophecy found in Daniel 9:24-27. This prophecy chronologically predicts the first and Second Coming of Christ through a vision that is based on seventy weeks of seven years (490 years). The prophecy is broken down into one time period of seven weeks of seven years (49 years), and a second time period of 62 weeks of seven years (434 years). The first and second time periods add up to 69 weeks of seven years ((483 years total)) that end with the death and atonment of Jesus Christ in approximately 34 AD. The third third time period of one week of seven years is the 70th week in the Seventy Weeks Prophecy. The end of the 70th week marks the time when the Savior will come again at his Second Coming. With almost 2000 years of historical hindsight, we know that Christ's second Coming did not occur seven years after his crucifixion. The gap between the 69th and 70th weeks is approaching 2000 years since the death of Jesus Christ. This podcast is devoted to explaining this 2000-year gap in the Seventy Weeks Prophecy. Daniel does not predict the actual time for the gap in the Seventy Weeks Prophecy. However, he identifies three events that must occur in Daniel 9:26. The three events include the Abomonation of Desolation carried out by the Roman Empire upon the Jews and the temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD. Following this event, Daniel predicted a flood of darkness and apostasy. FInally, Daniel predicted that between the start of the "flood" and the end of the 70th week of seven years the Jews would be subject to continuing desolations on account of their apostate condition and disbelief in the Messiah. These three events are the main focus of this podcast.

[§162] The Second Period of 62 Weeks of 434 Years

This podcast interprets and explains the second time-period of the Seventy Weeks Prophecy found in Daniel 9:24-27. The second period is equal to 62 weeks of seven years or 434 years. When these 434 years are added to the first week of seven years (49 year), this equates to a total of 483 years as the predicted time until the crucifixion of Jesus Christ after the decree of Artaxerxes. in 444 BC. The 62 weeks of seven years (434 years) covers the period of time known as the Intertestamental Period when there were no prophets among the Jewish people. The period generally extends from the time of Malachi as the last prophet in the Old Testament until John the Baptist as the first prophet in the New Testament. During this long period, the second of four abominations of desolation occurred when Antiochus (IV) Epiphanes desecrated the temple in Jerusalem and slaughtered many Jews. This caused a rebellion among the Jews known as the Maccabean Revolt, that began in 167 BC. Daniel prophecied of this event in Daniel 11:21-32. After three years of warfare, the Maccabees captured Jerusalem and rededicated the temple in a celebration known as the Feast of Lights (Hanukkah) in 165 BC. After further conflicts and warfare, the Jews threw off the yoke of the Greek Empire and the Jews remained a free nation until 63 BC. These events foreshadow the final abomination of desolation at the Second Coming when the Jews shall suffer during the period of the Great Tribulation but ultimately prevail when Christ appears on the mount of Olives at his Second Coming. The rededication of the temple in Jerusalem will follow Christ's Second Coming and the Jews will enjoy both physical and spiritual freedom forever.

[§161] The First Period of 7 Weeks of 49 Years

This podcast explains the circumstances of when and how Daniel received the Seventy Weeks Prophecy in Babylon while still in captivity after almost 70 years. Before the captivity of the Jews began, Jeremiah predicted that the exile would last 70 years. As the end of the 70-year captivity drew near, Daniel was praying about when he could expect the return of the Jews because he felt as though captivity should have ended already. In response to his prayer on that subject, Daniel received the Seventy Weeks Prophecy that has its basis in the 70-year captivity of the Jews in Babylon but is a prophecy on a much grander scale of 70x7 years or 490 years until the end of the spiritual captivity of the Jews at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The first seven weeks of seven Sabbatical years in the Seventy Weeks Prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27) is equal to 49 years, which began in 444 BC. At that time, the Persian king Artaxerxes issued a decree that authorized Nehemiah to rebuild the city and walls of Jerusalem. This work was completed approximately 49 years later. The rebuilding project lasted 49 years because of the poor condition of the people and because the work occurred in troublous times due to opposition by groups such as the Samaritans. After the first week of seven years, Daniel predicted that another 62 weeks of seven years (434 years) would elapse until the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, making in all 483 years from the decree of Artaxerxes. Based on Daniel's precise reckoning of time until the Savior's first advent, the Jews looked forward to the time of his coming with great hope in a Messiah that would free them from all their political oppressors.

[§159] The Second Coming Prophecies of Zechariah

This podcast reviews and explains the second coming prophesies of the prophet Zechariah from the Old Testament. Zechariah was the eleventh of twelve minor prophets in the Old Testament, and his book is the most Messianic book in the Old Testament by volume. Zechariah's prophecies include detailed references to the battle of Armageddon and the final Abomination of Desolation against the Jews during the last 3½ days before Christ sets foot on the mount of Olives at his Second Coming. He describes the great earthquake that will occur at the moment of his coming when Olivette will cleave in wo creating a great chasm or valley in the midst thereof. The beleaguered Jews in Jerusalem will flee into the chasm seeking refuge from the advancing armies of Gentiles. Zechariah also describes the moment in time when the Jews shall see the wounds of Christ's crucifixion in his hands, feet and side and will then recognize him as the Messiah. The Lord's wrath will then turn on the wicked Gentiles gathered against the Jews and Jerusalem, and he will destroy them by the brightness of his coming that will cause their flesh to melt as they stand still upon their feet.

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