The Book of Revelation is a very comprehensive message to Christians regarding the events surrounding the return of the Lord Jesus Christ (Second Coming). Notably, the book of Revelation includes seven repeating views of the church age (a.k.a., the millennium), the Great Tribulation and the Last Day. Please consider following this video series by subscribing to the Rock of Offence You Tube channel. There are two thumbnails below to You Tube videos. Also, please refer to this link to view a written study on this material.

Historically, a return from Babylonian captivity and a regathering from the scattering began to occur in 536 B.C..  However, this return and regathering is a beautiful Biblical portrait of salvation now and in eternity.  A Christian’s salvation includes the salvation of the spirit that occurs now on earth, but also a final salvation of the soul that occurs when Jesus Christ returns to usher in an eternity in the New Jerusalem in the New Heavens and the New Earth.  Please click on the video below or refer to additional information on the associated page. 

After the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem, the desolate land of Jerusalem and Judah enjoyed her Sabbaths.  The literal meaning of the word ‘enjoyed’ is ‘to be pleased with’.  While the land was populated, the sabbaths were never kept.  The Sabbaths that were ordained of God altogether point to the fulfillment of salvation.  That is, the sabbath rest points to the fact that God (the Lord Jesus Christ) has done all the work of salvation and those who enter into the sabbath day have ceased from their works and given Christ’s work of faith to be saved and sanctified.  Additionally, the new earth which replaces the present earth when Jesus Christ returns is the ultimate fulfillment of the promised land keeping its sabbath rest.  Please consider the video below or click this link to find additional information.

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During the Babylonian captivity of Judah, Jerusalem was destroyed in that its walls were broken down and the houses (including the temple of God) was burned with fire.  The destruction of Jerusalem is also described in the Olivet Discourse of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, pointing to the ruin of the Christian church during the Great Tribulation.  The Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem has important symbolic truth for the church as it enters into the period of time known as the Great Tribulation.  In shot, the church is symbolically destroyed to due to not faithfully proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, being overrun with worldliness and no longer having any unity.  Please click on the video below for more information or study further at this link.

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During the Babylonian captivity of Judah, a siege of Jerusalem occurred for 18 months beginning in 588 B.C. and ending in 586 B.C,  During the siege, the resultant famine became so bad that people resorted to cannibalism to survive.  However, the famine and resultant cannibalism have important spiritual meaning for the Christian church today since the Babylonian Captivity was a type of the final Great Tribulation (which occurs just prior to the return of Jesus Christ).  Famine is a symbol for not hearing the Word of God (Bible) which ultimately results of the ‘cannibalism’ of hating one another due to not loving one’s neighbor.  The destruction of Jerusalem is also described in the Olivet Discourse of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, pointing to the ruin of the Christian church during the Great Tribulation.  Please click on the video below for more information or click this link for more information.

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What is the Great Tribulation like?  In addition to captivity and scattering during the Babylonian Captivity (which is a type of the Great Tribulation), we find that killing of some of the people of Judah also occurred. In Ezekiel 14:12-23, we find a prophecy regarding the desolation of the land of Judah by the four sore judgments of famine, evil beasts, sword and pestilence. This prophecy warns that even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in the land, God would still cut-off man and beast due to the wickedness of the people (Eze 14:14, 16, 18, 20). These four sore judgments have a symbolic meaning that is applicable in the Great Tribulation, which is typified by the Babylonian Captivity. Please view the video below or consider the study that that is contained on this link.

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The scattering of the people of Judah during the Babylonian Captivity serves as an important portrait of what will happen to God’s people during the Great Tribulation.  Prior to salvation, God’s elect are considered as scattered sheep that will be regathered by Jesus Christ once they are saved in the spirit (born again / given a new spirit).  However, God’s people can be scattered during the church age due to persecution that occurs within the church.  This scattering is highly pronounced during the Great Tribulation, when there is a great scattering of God’s people as they are persecuted and search for truth in the end-time false Christian church, called Babylon (Rev 17-18).  Please consider viewing the below video or click here to learn more about the symbolic meaning of scattering in the Bible.  We all await that final day when there will be a final regathering of God’s people to be with Jesus Christ in the new heavens and the new earth.

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The Babylonian Captivity was that time of persecution, captivity and scattering that happened to Judah.  This time period is also a type of the Great Tribulation that occurs just prior to the return of Christ.  The causes of the Babylonian Captivity are already evident in the churches today.  Therefore, it is important to study and understand what the Babylonian Captivity is and why it occurred.  Please consider viewing this video below.  Also, there is a compilation of Bible verses that list the causes of the Babylonian captivity on this website.

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When the Babylonian Captivity of Judah is carefully compared to the Olivet Discourse of Mat 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, we can find that the Babylonian Captivity is referred to as a type of the Great Tribulation.  The significance of this is immense.  Since the Babylonian Captivity is a type of the impending Great Tribulation soon to occur, this suggests the urgency of carefully studying the Old Testament prophets diligently.  About 25% of the Old Testament addresses (in one form or another) the Babylonian Captivity or the aftermath of this captivity.  Please consider the You Tube video below or visit the Babylonian Captivity section of this website.  As we know the impending Great Tribulation will usher in the glorious day of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ!!

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It is very important is to carefully consider the Babylonian Captivity of the Old Testament.  Many that are interested in prophecy (pre-millennialists) believe that the Babylonian Captivity is just an historical event.  They believe that it applies to Old Testament Israel only and that it does not directly impact the church today.  However, when this topic is examined from a Biblical viewpoint that recognizes that the millennium (1000 years) of Rev 20 is a symbol for the church age, then the Babylonian Captivity can also be seen as a type of the end-time Great Tribulation.  Just as the Babylonian Captivity affected Israel / Judah of the Old Testament, so too will a Babylonian Captivity affect the church during the Great Tribulation (see Luke 21:24, Rev 17-18).  Realizing this unlocks tremendous spiritual truth of the Old Testament prophets that is directly applicable to the church of the Great Tribulation.   Please consider following this video series on You Tube.  Please click on the link below to view Part 1 of the video series:

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Webpage for: Babylon Captivity study