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Understanding ProphecyUnderstanding ProphecyLesson 01Lesson 01--0202

Worldviews WithinWorldviews WithinChristianity.Christianity.

Worldviews WithinChristianity

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TextualTextualConsiderationsConsiderations

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AlexandrianAlexandrian vsvs Byzantine TextsByzantine Texts [126; 127]

It is significant to our understanding ofprophecy, as we will see later in the course,that the basis for most modern translationsof the Bible, owe their Greek text toAlexandrian originated texts, specifically twocodexes, Siniaticus and Vaticanus.

It is also significant that these two Greektexts differ significantly with the majorityof the Greek texts in existence in referenceto clear revelation of the deity of JesusChrist.

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AlexandrianAlexandrian vsvs Byzantine TextsByzantine Texts [126; 127]

From the Alexandrian text we get the moderntranslations American Standard, RevisedStandard, NIV, NASB, and others.

However, the vast majority of the texts inexistence are of the Antioch school, calledthe Byzantine text.

The King James Version and The New KingJames Version are of the Byzantine texttype.

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Translation TechniquesTranslation Techniques [126; 127]

The translation techniques differ significantlyfrom the King James and New King James,when compared to the modern translations.

The King James and New King Jamestranslations are word-for-wordtranslations, while the modern translationsare generally though-for-thoughttranslations.

In the modern translations, the translatorcan take liberties to express what hethinks the meaning is.

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ExamplesExamples [126; 127]

Consider the following examples:In 1 Timothy 3:16 the word “God” is changed to“He” in the modern versions.

This removes the clearest teaching that JesusChrist is “God” Himself.

This is how the King James version translatesthe Byzantine text:

1TIM 3:16 And without controversy great isthe mystery of godliness: God was manifestin the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen ofangels, preached unto the Gentiles, believedon in the world, received up into glory. (KJV)

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ExamplesExamples [126; 127]

The Byzantine Text (Textus Receptus ofKJV):

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ExamplesExamples [126; 127]

Now compare this to how the NewInternational version translates theAlexandrian text:

1TIM 3:16 Beyond all question, themystery of godliness is great: Heappeared in a body, was vindicated bythe Spirit, was seen by angels, waspreached among the nations, wasbelieved on in the world, was taken upin glory. (NIV)

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ExamplesExamples [126; 127]

The Alexandrian Text of modern versions:

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ExamplesExamples [126;127]

The “Theos” (God) of the Byzantine is changedto “os” (who; he) of the Alexandrian, thusremoving the power of the clear expression ofthe verse that God appeared in human form.It is clear that Jesus is God in human form whenwe read the King James “God was manifested inthe flesh.”That Jesus appeared in bodily form has nomeaning when rendered “he (who) appeared in abody.”

That I appear in a body does not make meGod.

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ExamplesExamples [126; 127]

Notice that the power has been removedfrom the modern translations whencompared with the King James version inthe following examples:

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ExamplesExamples [126; 127]

For who was Christ sacrificed?1CO 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven,that ye may be a new lump, as ye areunleavened. For even Christ our passover issacrificed for us: KJV1CO 5:7 Get rid of the old yeast that you maybe a new batch without yeast - as you reallyare. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has beensacrificed. NIV1CO 5:7 Clean out the old leaven so that youmay be a new lump, just as you are in factunleavened. For Christ our Passover alsohas been sacrificed. NASB

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ExamplesExamples [126; 127]

On whom or what must we believe?

JOH 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He thatbelieveth on me hath everlasting life. KJV

JOH 6:47 I tell you the truth, he who believeshas everlasting life. NIV

JOH 6:47 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he whobelieves has eternal life. NASB

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ExamplesExamples [126; 127]

The importance of Christs blood in ourredemption is removed.

COL 1:14 In whom we have redemptionthrough his blood, even the forgiveness ofsins: KJV

COL 1:14 in whom we have redemption, theforgiveness of sins. NIV

COL 1:14 in whom we have redemption, theforgiveness of sins. NASB

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ExamplesExamples [126; 127]

The reference to eternal life in the KJV leaves nodoubt as to life after death.

1TI 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves agood foundation against the time to come, thatthey may lay hold on eternal life. KJV1TI 6:19 In this way they will lay up treasure forthemselves as a firm foundation for the comingage, so that they may take hold of the life that istruly life. NIV1TI 6:19 storing up for themselves the treasureof a good foundation for the future, to that theymay take hold of that which is life indeed. NASB

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Examples [126; 127]

The KJV and the Byzantine text in Luke 2:33makes the clear distinction that Joseph is notJesus’ father.

LUK 2:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelledat those things which were spoken of him. KJV

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ExamplesExamples [126; 127]

Now notice that the NIV and the Alexandrian textinfers that Joseph is Jesus’ father (a denial ofthe virgin birth).

LUK 2:33 The child's father and mothermarveled at what was said about him. NIV

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ExamplesExamples [126; 127]

The NIV and other modern versions givethe impression that Joseph is Jesus’biological father, and is so rendered by theAlexandrian Text, while the Byzantine Textleaves no doubt that Joseph is not Jesus’real father.

Remember also that the vast majority ofthe surviving texts are of the Byzantinetext type.

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ExamplesExamples [126; 127]

The translation that we use does affectprophecy in a significant way as we shallsee when we study the Rapture in lesson 7.

This is why I read the King James Version.

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Preterism

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PreterismPreterism

There are a number of worldviews withinChristianity.We have already visited a fewA worldview is thought of as the way youview the world you live in.Your worldview in Christianity is the wayyou view Christianity in general, the wayyou interpret the Bible, and prophecy inparticular.

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Preterism [39; 43; 96; 108]

Preterism is a belief that Revelation waswritten as early as 68 AD, or as late as 96 AD,and that all of Revelation was probablyfulfilled as early as the time of the destructionof Jerusalem in 70 AD.

• The “beast” of Revelation would probablyrefer to the Emperor Nero, or possibly theEmperor Domitian a little later.• The “wrath” found in Revelation wouldsymbolically represent the severepersecution of Christians during the reignsof Nero and Domitian.

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Preterism• The preterist is one that believes that thebook of Revelation speaks of past events, butnot necessarily of exact fulfillment. [39; 43; 96; 108]

• At least one preterist sees the Rapture as aconspiracy, by world planners, to neutralizeChristians. [96]

• These people almost seem to believe that itis more urgent to save the Republic than tosave souls.• To the preterist, it seems, the country, theworld, and the Kingdom of Christ areultimately the same things.

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Preterism• The preterist believes that almost all prophecywas fulfilled at the time of the destruction ofthe Temple, thus ending the Jewish sacrificialsystem – replaced by the once-for-all bloodsacrifice of Jesus Christ. [108]

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Preterism [108]

• In the view of the preterist, God has cast Israelaside, and the Church (the new Israel) has replacedthe rejected Israel, inheriting all the promises ofGod.

This preterist view that the Church has replacedIsrael is known as “replacement theology.”

• The preterist believes that under God’s newprogram the world is getting better and better, asmore people are evangelized and commit to followChrist.

Eventually Christ will return to claim His alreadyestablished Kingdom.

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Preterism [108]

• To the preterist, Revelation thereforedeals with the destruction of Israel and theestablishment of the Church as the NewCovenant Temple.

This is why many well known ministriesconcentrate their efforts towardChristianizing our secular institutions,rather than on the message of theimminent return of Jesus Christ. [1]

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Preterism• Since Augustine’s City of God, theCatholic Church sees itself as possessingthe Kingdom authority.

Therefore, to be outside the Church isthought of as being outside the Kingdomof God.

• When the Church exchanged the rule ofChrist with the rule of man (the Pope)religious atrocities followed. [108]

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PreterismInterestingly, atheistic evolution andsecular humanism support the false viewthat man is evolving upwards toward aperfect society.

Preterist theologians have bought theidea of the Kingdom being established inlike manner by human effort. [108]

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The Futurist

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The FuturistFuturism interprets Revelation in a literalsense, indicating a future fulfillment of thewrath of God during a seven-yeartribulation period, after which Jesus Christwill return and set up His MillennialKingdom (premillennialism). [43]

According to Steve Gregg, “the bestknown version of futurism today is thatof dispensational theology.” [43]

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The Futurist

According to a dispensationalist, Pettingill:

The dispensational tests served to showman’s utter helplessness, in order to bring

him to faith, that he might be saved bygrace through faith plus nothing. [105]

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The Futurist - DispensationalismDispensationalism supports progressiverevelation, “the continually unfolding revelationof God given by various means throughout thesuccessive ages.” [105]

• The dispensationalist keeps the distinctionbetween Israel and the Church, and basesthis distinction on a system of hermeneuticscalled literal, or plain interpretation. [105]

• Dispensationalists believe the basicpurpose of God is in glorifying Himselfthrough Salvation rather than just Salvation.[105]

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The Futurist - Dispensationalism

Dispensationalists are futurists. [43]

According to Charles C. Ryrie: “outlines ofthe dispensationalist approach” and“certain features of the dispensationalsystem are found in the teaching of theearly Church.” [105]

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The Futurist - DispensationalismGod’s consistent pattern has been one of“progressive revelation” throughout the OldTestament leading up to and through the NewTestament.

• This means that God continues to unfoldand reveal His truths.• He does not reveal His truths all at once,but precept on precept, line upon line. [9; 105]

• The various dispensations, orstewardships, are successive andprogressive manifestations of God’spurpose. [105]

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The Futurist - Dispensationalism• Had they looked back on what God hadbeen saying in this manner, the Jewswould have recognized their Messiah inJesus.• Dispensational theology, including thepre-tribulation rapture, depends on whatthe Bible literally says whether or not thedoctrine was fully developed by the earlyChurch.

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The Futurist - Dispensationalism• In contrast, the message of the preteristis one of force fitting the prophecy of theOlivet Discourse (Matthew 24) and thebook of Revelation into the generation ofthe disciples of Jesus, and no further.

Dispensationalism is the natural result oftaking God at His literal word.The Futurist – Dispensational method isthe approach we subscribe to in this study.

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The SpiritualApproach

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The Spiritual ApproachAlthough the Alexandrian school andOrigen first introduced the allegoricalmethod, it was amillennialist Augustine’sinfluence, in spite of some dispensationalleanings, that caused the Church toabandon the literal method. [108]

This abandonment gives credence to theliteral futurist approach being favored bythe early Christians prior to Origen andAugustine.

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The Spiritual ApproachThe spiritual approach does not requireliteral interpretation, but that the meaningis taken in a spiritual sense, edifyingbelievers in any age.

• A common approach is to mix spiritualwith preterist views. [43]

• Today, however, we see that it wasIsrael itself that came to life and returnedto the land, becoming a nation onceagain in 1948. [117]

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The Spiritual Approach

In spite of the obvious modern day literalfulfillment of prophecy regarding Israel’sreturn to their land, preterists, as well asChristian world leaders, refuse toacknowledge that current events of theMiddle East are related to such prophecy, orhave any significance as end-time events(see: Ezekiel 36:8-10, 24, 25, 33-36).[117]

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The Spiritual Approach [105]

When Israel was scattered, liberaltheologians saw only the abandonment ofIsrael by God.

Therefore, many took a spiritual preteristposition that the Church had replacedIsrael, and the Old Testament propheciesof the nation of Israel had spiritualfulfillment in the Christian Gospel andChurch.

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The Spiritual Approach [105]

The more prophecy that is fulfilled, themore the literal futuristic truth of the Bibleis revealed.

In spite of this, liberal theologianscontinue to believe both prophecy andmiracles impossible.

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The Spiritual Approach [105]

Before Israel’s literal return to their land,their excuse was that they did not witnessthe fulfillment of prophecy as we have inthis era.

The liberal theologians today have noexcuse other than the hardness andunbelief of their own hearts.

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The Historicist

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The HistoricistAn additional view is that the book ofRevelation unfolds all of Church history.

• The entire Church age is thus revealed bysymbolism.

Therefore, for example, the seven sealsbecome “the barbarian invasions thatsacked the Western Roman Empire.”

The “beast” would represent thePapacy of Rome. [43]

• The historicist is likely to be anamillennialist. [43]

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The Importanceof Imminency

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The Importance of ImminencyFor an event to be imminent means that itcan happen at anytime, not necessarilythat it will happen soon. [107]

I believe we are intended to continue toexpect Christ’s return at any moment.

Two thousand years is imminent inGod's eternity.

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The Importance of ImminencyThe belief in the imminent return of JesusChrist was mostly abandoned after 300 AD,which caused the fervor of the first 300years to abate.

Postmillennialism replaced the doctrineof the imminent return of Jesus Christ,which had caused the Christians tocontinue expectantly looking for thereturn of Jesus. [5; 70]

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The Importance of Imminency [70; 107]

It would take another one thousand fourhundred years to return to the doctrine of"imminent return" which would exciteevangelistic fervor once more.

Whenever a Church has a strongemphasis on the "Second Coming," astrong missionary evangelistic fervor ispresent.

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The Importance of ImminencyThe doctrine of imminency, as pertains to theRapture of the Church, is that there are noprophecies awaiting fulfillment prior to thatevent. [108]

TIT 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope,and the glorious appearing of the greatGod and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

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NaturalInterpretation

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Natural InterpretationIt is my belief that a literal, or plain interpretivemethod is the most natural.

• I believe that God says exactly what Hemeans and has communicated His meaningsto the writers of Scripture, and to theprophets.

• I also believe that a consistent literalinterpretive method will lead one naturally todispensational theology, premillennial inregards to the second advent of Christ, andto the pre-tribulation Rapture.

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Let’s Make itSimple

Let’s Make it Simple

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Let’s Make it SimpleThese worldviews can be summarized into twoworldviews contained in the following parable.Matt 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for insuch an hour as ye think not the Son of mancometh.45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant,whom his lord hath made ruler over hishousehold, to give them meat in due season?46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lordwhen he cometh shall find so doing.

(Continued)

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Let’s Make it Simple47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make himruler over all his goods.48 But and if that evil servant shall say in hisheart, My lord delayeth his coming;49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants,and to eat and drink with the drunken;50 The lord of that servant shall come in a daywhen he looketh not for him, and in an hourthat he is not aware of,51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint himhis portion with the hypocrites: there shall beweeping and gnashing of teeth.

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Let’s Make it Simple [150]

The parable speaks of two servants tasked withproviding food to their master’s householdwhile he was away.One servant was faithful and wise, whileanother was described as evil.This parable was given in the heart of aprophetic chapter, so it must have a prophetictheme.The “meat in due season” refers to teaching theentire Word of God, including prophecy.

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Let’s Make it Simple [150]

It is the responsibility of Bible teachers andpastors to teach the whole Word of Godincluding prophecy.Some pastors believe that the Lord can come atanytime, and so teach their flock to live inexpectancy of that event.

They are excited about the prospect.

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Let’s Make it Simple [150]

Other pastors do not see the urgency, “the Lordhas delayed His coming.”They say in effect, “The Lord’s coming is stillfar in the future so I’ll just teach what the flockcan use for their daily lives; no need to be analarmist; better to make them feel good aboutthemselves.”

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Let’s Make it Simple [150]

Do you understand the times so that you caninform your brothers?The children of Issachar had understanding toknow the times so that they could tell Israelwhat they should do:1 Chron 12:31 And of the half tribe of Manasseheighteen thousand, which were expressed byname, to come and make David king.32 And of the children of Issachar, which weremen that had understanding of the times, toknow what Israel ought to do….

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Let’s Make it Simple [150]

Can you say the same of yourselves?Are you living your life with the hope andexpectancy of the imminent return of our Lord?John Wesley wrote:I know that many have been mistaken about theyear of His return, but should we be unwise onaccount of the presumptuous claims of suchpeople? Just because they say ‘today,’ shouldwe say ‘never,’ and ‘peace, peace’ when weshould be full of expectation?

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Let’s Make it Simple [150]

We need to live in expectancy every day.Gerard Kramer asked:Is this hope really alive in us? We shouldactually wake up every morning with thethought, ‘Maybe it will be today!’ and before wego to sleep, ‘Maybe it will be tonight!’ Do wethink during today that the Lord could suddenlycall us to meet Him in the air?...Or does this allsound a bit exaggerated, even a little strange?The daily expectation of the Lord Jesus shouldbe the normal thing for every Christian.

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Let’s Make it Simple [150]

Martin Luther cut to the heart of the matter:If you are not filled with a burning desire forthis day, you can never pray the Lord’sPrayer [Thy kingdom come]…. If you believeit, you would of a necessity long for it withall your heart; if you do not have thislonging, you are not a Christian, nor can youglory in your faith.

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Let’s Make it Simple [150]

The phrase “meat in due season” also pointsto “the signs of the times, and to the fact thatwe should correctly interpret them so we cantell the people what they must do.If you can read the signs, then you knowwhat meat you must provide to yourlisteners.

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Let’s Make it SimpleShould you not then study prophecy?Peter said the following about the propheticWord:2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word ofprophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye takeheed, as unto a light that shineth in a darkplace, until the day dawn, and the day star arisein your hearts:Peter speaks of the “more sure word ofprophecy” that we are to “heed.”

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Let’s Make it SimpleAgain Peter said:2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shallcome in the last days scoffers, walking aftertheir own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is thepromise of his coming? for since the fathers fellasleep, all things continue as they were fromthe beginning of the creation. 5 For this theywillingly are ignorant….Peter is saying that these men are dumb onpurpose – They are false teachers or “evilservants.”

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Let’s Make it SimpleThis then is the condition of the church ofJesus Christ in these end-times.

There are “faithful and wise servants” andthere are “evil servants.”

Do you know the signs of His coming?Are you watching and longing with greatexpectancy and hope to see your Savior face toface?

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End of Understanding ProphecyEnd of Understanding Prophecy --Lesson 01Lesson 01

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Closing PrayerClosing Prayer

Creation Revelation

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Robert & Mary Tozier

WWW.CREATIONREVELATION.ORG

Rtozier@creationrevelation.org

Tel/Fax 808-672-7229

92-222 Hoalii Place, Kapolei, HI 96707.