Making it Make Sense

Prophecy concerning the endtimes can be overwhelming. All of the various "schools of thought" and interpretations of difficult passages can leave one confused.

There are multiple passages throughout the Bible dealing with the immediate events surrounding Christ's second coming. For this post I would like to focus on those with the goal of harmonizing them, hopefully making it a bit easier to understand. 

I will begin with the opening of the sixth seal ( Revelation 6:12-17). Part of the confusion surrounding the events of the last days comes from a wrong understanding of how the seals, trumpets, and bowls of wrath fit together. Do they occur consecutively or concurrently? 

John is given a vision of events that will transpire over the final seven year period of this age and on into the eternal state. This is what is recorded in the book of Revelation. Throughout this book you find that the same events are portrayed again in several places describing different aspects of these events. This applies to the seals, trumpets and bowls. These events are happening together not consecutively. To prove this we will look at the terminating point of each of these. 

12. I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood;

13. and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. 

14. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

15. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 

16. and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;

17. for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

Revelation 6:12-17 NASB 

What we have just read confirms the words of Jesus concerning His return. He describes the cosmic signs immediately preceding His second coming like this.

25. "There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,

26. men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

27. "Then they will see the SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory.

28. "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Luke 21:25-28 NASB 

29. "But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE  STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 

30. "And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory.

31. "And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

Matthew 24:29-31 NASB 

 Jesus is referencing Isaiah 13:9-11, as well as Joel 2:10-11, 30-32, 3:14-17. These passages all speak of the same heavenly signs proceeding the second coming. The Sun going dark, the moon becoming a dark blood red, the stars refusing to shine. 

As we read in Revelation at the opening of the sixth seal the sky will be rolled back like a scroll and men will hide in fear at Christ's return. Again, this is also shown in Isaiah 2:12-22, a passage describing a "day of reckoning" that the LORD will have against  the proud and lofty. A day when He arises to make the earth tremble. This is the same "day of the Lord" Peter writes of, a day when the heavens will pass away, the elements melt with fervent heat, and the earth will be laid bare (2 Peter 3:10-12). As Jesus a stated in Luke, men will faint from fear as these things begin to occur. While it is true that Christ returns to gather His elect, it is also true that He comes in judgement as well, a fact that many perhaps overlook.

We find an interlude in Revelation chapter seven where the sealing of the 144,000 is described (Rev 7:1-8) and a vast multitude of martyrs from every nation are seen, martyrs who have come out of the great tribulation (Rev 7:9-17). The opening of the seventh seal occurs in Revelation 8:1.

When this seal is opened there is silence in heaven for a half an hour. A lot of teachers believe that the opening of the seventh seal sets the seven trumpets into action. I disagree however. If we have the return of Christ in the sixth seal how can there now be seven trumpets releasing tribulation period events that transpire over the course of many months at the very least, and more than likely several years? 

The silence in heaven is more likely caused by the awesomeness of Christ's return in victory when the world systems have been overthrown, Satan has been bound, and now Christ assumes possession of the kingdoms of this world. This in fact is the announcement proclaimed when the seventh trumpet sounds.

Instead of the trumpets following the seals, John now sees the events of the last days from another perspective. It is the same final seven years of history described with additional details. 

Instead of looking at all seven trumpets,  I would like to go to the period leading up to and when the seventh trumpet is blown.

John sees an angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, with a rainbow on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire. This is similar to descriptions of the glorified Christ, like on the mount of transfiguration (Matt 27:2), in Ezekiel's vision (Ezekiel 1:26-28), and in His appearance to John in Revelation 1:12-15.

It can be debated whether or not who John sees here is an angel or Christ coming in a cloud, but I want to focus on what this angel says about the seventh trumpet.

5. Then the angel who I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven,

6. and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, WHO CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE THINGS IN IT, AND THE EARTH AND THE THING IN IT, AND THE SEA AND THE THINGS IN IT, that there will be delay no longer,

7. but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.

Revelation 10:5-7 NASB 

Compare this passage with Daniel 12:6-7 where Daniel witnesses an event much the same as the one John saw in the passage above.

6. And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be until the end of these wonders?"

7. I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. 

God mystery, His plan of bringing in the Gentiles, and then the remnant of Israel will be complete at seventh trumpet. The same time that the deliverer will come to Zion and remove ungodliness from Jacob (Romans 12:25-27, Isaiah 59:20). Christ will return to a repentant nation (Israel) who will mourn for and receive the Messiah they once rejected (see Zechariah 12:10-13:1).

We see in Daniel's prophecy the tribulation will last three and one half years. The scriptures interchange the term time, times, and half a time with 42 months, and 1,260 days to refer to this three and one half year period of time. This is also shown in several passages in Revelation as well. 

Jesus warns that Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until their time is fulfilled (Luke 21:24). This is confirmed in Revelation 11:1-2,  where it states that the Gentiles or nations will trample the holy city for 42 months.  Again in Revelation 13:1-7 we read of the "beast" who is granted authority over the earth for 42 months. This is the antichrist who will make war against the saints during this time.

At this same time period God will send two witnesses who will prophecy for 1,260 days. At the end of these days the "beast" will overcome them and kill them. Three and one half days later they rise from the dead and ascend up to heaven. This is followed by a severe earthquake (Rev 11:3-14). 

This is the point where the seventh angel sounds his trumpet. This 42 month, 1,260 day, time, times, and half a time period amounting to three and one half years is at its end. Now the seventh trumpet sounds..

15. Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever."

16. And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God,

17. "We give You thanks, O Lord God the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.

18. "And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth."

19. And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.

Revelation 11:15-19

The seventh trumpet announces the return of Christ to reign upon the earth. It announces  the time of God's wrath is come as we have seen in the sixth seal ( Rev 6:16). It is also the call to gather the elect. Jesus states in Matthew 24:31 that His angels will be sent with the sound of a great trumpet to gather the elect from the four winds, and from one end of the sky to the other.

This was no new concept to Jesus's listeners. It had been prophesied centuries before Jesus uttered these words. There are numerous prophecies concerning Israel and the last days found in the Old Testament. 

12. In that day the LORD will start His threshing from the flowing stream of the Euphrates to the brook of Egypt, and you will be gathered up one by one, O sons of Israel. 

13. It will come about also in that day that a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were perishing in the land of Assyria and who were scattered in the land of Egypt will come and worship the LORD in the holy mountain at Jerusalem. 

Isaiah 27:12-13 NASB 

 Then the LORD will appear over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning; and the Lord God will blow the trumpet, and will march in the storm winds of the south. 

Zachariah 9:14 NASB 

These verses are found within the greater context of the tribulation and God's deliverance of His people. The chapter in Isaiah begins with a prophecy that foretells of the day of the Lord, when he comes to destroy the beast and his armies who have assembled at Armageddon (Isaiah 27:1). This day is also the day that the great trumpet will be blown. In Zachariah we find themes relating to The return of Christ and His deliverance of His chosen people throughout the book. This particular verse specifically mentions the trumpet being blown as Jesus returns.

There are those who will look at these verses and the words of Jesus in Matthew 24 and claim that the elect He is speaking of are the Jews. The point they are trying to make is that the Church has already been raptured prior to the tribulation, so Christ cannot be speaking of Christians being gathered at this time. But look at what the apostle Paul says here,

51. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,

52. in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52.

These are Christians, many who are Gentiles, who are pictured here. This passage is often used as a proof text by pre -tribulational advocates. But we must ask ourselves if the last trumpet is blown some seven years before Christ returns, how can there be seven more trumpets to follow?

16. For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

17. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NASB 

There is only one last trumpet, and that is the seventh trumpet. This signals Christ's post- tribulational return to gather His elect, both Jew and Gentile, and to execute His wrath against those who oppose Him.

There are two other events that occur at the second coming of Jesus that we will look at as well. When Christ returns there will be a great earthquake, and a hailstorm.

At the opening of the sixth seal we read of the mountains and islands being moved from their places, and  men calling on the rocks to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb (Rev 6:14, 16). When the seventh trumpet is blown there is an earthquake and great hailstorm (Rev 11:19). 

There are several Old Testament passages that refer to an endtimes earthquake that occurs on the day of the LORD. Ezekiel 38 is a chapter describing a last days invasion of Israel by a vast army led by an individual called Gog. This individual is the endtimes anrichrist who leads a ten nation coalition against Israel. The following passage describes the overthrow of Gog and his troops like this.

19: "In My zeal and in My blazing wrath I declare that on that day there will surely be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 

20. "The fish of the sea, the birds of the field, all the creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence; the mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse and every wall will fall to the ground.

21. "I will call for a sword against him on all My mountains," declares the Lord God. "Every man's sword will be against his brother.

22. "With pestilence and with blood I will enter into judgement with him; and I will rain on him and his troops, and on many peoples who are with him, a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone. 

23. "I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel 38:19-23 NASB 

And likewise we read in Zachariah 14:1-10 of the LORD coming to fight against all of the nations who have gathered against Jerusalem. When He stands upon the Mount of Olives it will be split in its middle. This passage also tells us that it will be a unique day with no light, just like we have seen in the sixth seal. All of the landscape will be changed due to the severe earthquake, on the day that the LORD is king over the whole earth. 

There are also seven bowls of God's wrath which are poured out upon the earth. Just like the seals and trumpets, they describe events during the final days leading up to the return of Christ. I would like to look at the last two bowls to show that the seals, trumpets and bowls all terminate at the second coming of Jesus.

The sixth bowl is poured out on the Euphrates, causing it to dry up and allow the kings of the east to cross over. They are gathered together to a place called Armageddon (Rev 16:13-16). It must be noted that the "thief-like" coming of Jesus has not happened yet, but is about to (see Rev 16:15). This again strongly refutes the idea of a pre-trib rapture. 

17. Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, "It is done."

18. And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. 

19. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath.

20. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

21. And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, because its plague was extremely severe.

Revelation 26:17-21.

The angel in Revelation 10:7 announced that when the seventh trumpet was about to sound the mystery of God was finished. When the seventh bowl was poured out a voice proclaimed, "It is done." The seventh trumpet and seventh bowl are the same event. We see the same devastating earthquake, and the same destructive hailstorm that both tell of, along with the other Old Testament passages that we have examined. And just like the events of the sixth seal the mountains and island are moved out of their places (Rev 6:14). This is when Christ returns.

Prophecy is not easy. It takes work to study it out, and ultimately we must have open minds and willing hearts to recieve what the Holy Spirit desires to teach us. Years ago I chose to take off my "denominational glasses", let go of my preconceived ideas, and allow the Holy Spirit to teach me.

The Bible tells of these events over and over throughout its pages. As it does with all of the doctrines it contains. A long time ago in Sunday School someone once said that the Bible interprets itself. That was some fifty years ago, and I have never forgotten it. 

I would encourage all of my readers to get into the word. Don't take my word for it, but prove it for yourselves. Someday these events will be upon us, or if not us our children. It is vital to our very souls that we are living ready and in expectation for what is to come (Luke 21:34-36).

Salvation is Tranformation

There is a salvation that many profess, but in reality is no salvation at all. Tragically the emphasis is often placed on the forgiveness of sin, which is a key part of our salvation, to the neglect of sanctification, the process by which we are changed from sinners to saints.

At risk of sounding redundant I will put it this way. So many teach and claim a salvation from the guilt and penalty of sin, while ignoring the issue of on-going sin in one's life. I want to be clear here, as Christians we all face moments of weakness and temptations, and yes, we do sin on occasion. We can thank God that there is grace for these occasions. 

1 John 1:9 is written to believers encouraging them to confess their sin instead of concealing it, and offering them the assurance that God will forgive them if they do so. But this should be the exception not the rule.

Can there be justification without sanctification? Justification simply means to be in right standing with God. When we turn from our sin and surrender our lives to Jesus in an act of faith we are forgiven and are now considered to be right with God. That is a basic explanation of justification, just to keep it simple.

But what doctor would treat your symptoms, give you something to make you comfortable, but ignore the tumor that is killing you?

Let's look at sanctification. The word means to be set apart from the world, for God's use. It is a consecration and a purification of heart and life. Sanctification and holiness are similar words and are often used interchangeably. It goes beyond a mere declaration by God that we are "sanctified" or holiness is credited to our account. Holiness or sanctification is a lifestyle. It involves our conduct (1 Peter 1:15). It is God removing the sin out of our lives and bringing us into conformity with His will. It is impossible to claim justification while rejecting sanctification. The two are vital parts of salvation, and one cannot be saved without both of these elements working. 

I will attempt to show this from scripture. Several New Testament passages speak of this process, and I will quote them.

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB 

The term salvation means rescue or deliverance. Again, we need the sin that has separated us from God, and placed us under His wrath to be forgiven. We must be in right relationship with Him. But are we in a right relationship with God if we are still persisting in our old lifestyle of sin, the sin that was forgiven? To refer back to the medical analogy I used above, the root of sin must be removed.

This verse speaks of "salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth." This is God, through the Holy Spirit cleansing the heart of the sinner who has given Him his or her life. In his second epistle to the Thessalonians Paul makes a distinction between those who reject the truth and are destined for destruction (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12), and those who believe the truth, and allow it to shape their lives. 

Titus speaks of this same thing and calls it the "washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit" and ties it in with Justification (Titus 3:4-7). 

In 1Peter we see this concept explained again. He is writing to scattered Jewish believers who were chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: may grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

1 Peter 1:2 NASB 

Again we read of the purifying work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, bringing such a one into obedience to Christ. Once we were disobedient, separated from God, but through His Spirit working in us, we are brought into a relationship of loving obedience. The thing that estranged us from God (Sin, our selfish rebellion) is not only forgiven, but removed from our lives as well. Compare this to 1 John 1:7.

But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

As we walk in obedience Christ's blood covers us. As we grow in our Christian walk we discover things in our lives that we must turn from. Our sanctification is a growing process that lasts a lifetime. A true believer will confess revealed sin and move forward in their walk with Christ. This is the opposite of someone who claims that sin doesn't matter if you have accepted Christ. But scripture refutes that claim.

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.

Hebrews 10:26

An individual who is looking for an escape from judgement that allows him or her to live in sinful pleasure is not experiencing the salvation that is described in the Bible. They are deceived. Their heart is not cleansed, their selfishness remains, excluding them from fellowship with God.

Paul, in Romans 6 makes an incredible argument refuting the idea that a Christian can remain in sin. He states, "How shall we who died to sin still live in it?"  In baptism we identify with Christ's death and resurrection. We are dead to sin, crucified with Christ and raised with Him to a new life of righteousness.  We have a choice to make. We, as believers, must chose to obey Christ. We are slaves of whom or what we choose to serve. Will we be slaves of sin, or righteousness? We have been set free from sin through Jesus Christ, so why would we become enslaved to it again?

As Paul presents his argument he ties it in with sanctification.

I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. 

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 

Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death

But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Most of us are familiar with this last verse but look at how this flows, especially as we consider the context of this entire passage. When we surrender our lives to Christ we are freed from enslavement to sin. The grip it has on us is broken and we are now free to live in righteousness. 

When we unite ourselves with Jesus He, through the continuous working of the Holy Spirit, sanctifies us, cleansing us from sin. The final outcome is eternal life, the opposite outcome of a life devoted to sin. 

This is what salvation is. It is a cleansing of not only the guilt of sin, but also of the heart. It is a lifelong transformation that affects our actions.

Psalm 15:1-5  declares that an individual must walk in integrity and live a righteous lifestyle if he is to dwell with God. Similarly if we are to stand in the presence of God we must have clean hands (actions) and pure hearts ( the origin of our actions) these are the ones who will be blessed by the LORD (Psalm 24:3-6). Only the pure in heart will see the Lord (Matt 5:8). 

As followers of Christ we are exhorted to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13). Many Christians are puzzled by this statement. Salvation is a free gift right? But this is our salvation. The very next verse tells us that God is working in us to do His will. This is what the New Covenant does for us. It is the writing of the law upon our hearts and in our minds. The Holy Spirit is at work in our lives bringing us into obedience (Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 36:25-27). To work out our salvation is to cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He leads us into righteousness. We are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) created for good works ( Ephesians 2:10). A life transformed is the proof of our right standing with God.

 

     

Kept From the Hour of Testing

'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.'

Revelation 3:10

In my previous post I alluded to this verse and stated that this was not a pre-tribulational promise of rapture, but a promise to those who were faithful. I would like to take a deeper look at this, to further explain what I meant.

This verse is similar to a verse found in John's gospel. The context is the period of time right after the Passover meal, just before Jesus went to Gethsemane, where He was betrayed by Judas.

Jesus has washed the disciples feet, and given them some final words of consolation and encouragement. He was about to face the cross, and ultimately leave this earth, returning to His Father. He assures the disciples that they will not be alone, but He will send them the Holy Spirit. They are also warned that persecution is to be expected. Jesus did not want them to caught by surprise when it arrived, and He does not want us to be either.

John 17 records Jesus' prayer for His disciples, and for all who would come to believe in Him as well. There is one part of this prayer that can shed some light on the verse quoted above.

"I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one."

John 17:15

The word "keep" in this passage as well as the passage pertaining to the philadelphian Church is the same word meaning to guard or to watch over, to preserve. We often think of this word as to prevent something from happening. For example in this verse, to prevent believers from experiencing Satan's attacks. But we know this cannot be true, as Christians throughout the ages have experienced Satan's attacks in various forms. The Bible tells us that we will (1Peter 5:8-9, James 4:7). Jesus is praying that the Father would watch over and preserve us through the attacks of Satan, and many can attest to the faithfulness of God when trials and testing come.

Likewise, dispensationalism teaches that the Church will be raptured before the great tribulation. They see a promise of escape in the promise to keep faithful believers from the hour of testing to come upon the whole earth.  But as I previously stated, the word "keep" means to watch over, to guard, to preserve. To be consistent with the previous passage, we must conclude that Jesus will watch over and preserve us through tribulation, yes, even the great tribulation as well. 

It is interesting to note that in His prayer He did not ask that the disciples be removed from the earth. Why? Because they had a mission to reach the lost, to disciple all of the nations. If they would have been quickly "raptured" out when Jesus ascended how would any of us have heard and believed the good news of salvation? So why should we be raptured out early? Are we better than they were? No, we, just like them, have the same call and mission to bring the gospel to the lost. We must finish what they began. They were promised persecution and we share that same promise, and just like the first disciples, we too have the promise of God's faithfulness to watch over, guard, and preserve us, as we faithfully carry out the task He has given us.

We might face suffering, and even death because of who we serve, but He is faithful to bring us safely home.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:19-20 NASB 

Perseverance of the Saints

7. It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.

8. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

9. If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

10. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and faith of the saints. 

Revelation 13:7-10 NASB 

"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Revelation 12:11 NASB 

The context of these passages (Rev 12:1-13:18) describe the 42 month period known as the "great tribulation." Chapter 12 tells of Satan being cast down to earth, and in a great rage he pursues the Jews to destroy them. We are also informed that he makes war with those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus (Rev13:17). In other words Christians.

Chapter 13 describes how Satan seeks to  accomplish this. It is through a figure referred to as the beast, also known as the Antichrist. This individual is given authority by Satan for this purpose. Contrary to popular teaching, followers of Jesus will be on the earth, and will face this persecution. This is abundantly shown in scripture. Many are "secure" in the belief that we won't be here to experience this, but instead of resting in a false comfort, we need to reconcile with reality and prepare ourselves for what is to come. 

When these dark days come upon the earth Christians will need endurance. In the above verses we read of perseverance in the midst of persecution. The temptation to cave in, to renounce our faith will be overwhelming. Yet to give up for the sake of some momentary safety will cost us in the end.

11. "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."

12. Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Revelation 14:11-12 NASB 

Again we see the necessity of perseverance or endurance, and faith. The faith mentioned here goes beyond mental assent to Biblical facts. This faith is better defined as loyalty. To take the mark is to give allegiance to the beast, and ultimately to the dragon or Satan who is the power behind the beast. To be faithful even unto death is the way to overcome Satan.

9. When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;

10. and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long O Lord, holy and true, will you refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?"

11. And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.

Revelation 6:9-11 NASB 

Here we read of martyrs who were put to death because of their faithfulness to the word of God, and the testimony that they maintained, even under the most severe conditions. The word martyr means witness. To die for your faith in Christ is the ultimate testimony to the world. It is sealed in blood.

In the old covenant sacrificial system the blood of the sacrifice was poured out at the base of the altar (Leviticus 4:7). These martyrs placed their very lives upon the altar of sacrifice, and their souls were poured out in death. This is the picture we see described here.

In Revelation 7:9-17 John beheld a great multitude of people from every nationality standing before the throne and the Lamb. They also were wearing white robes and carrying palm branches. When asked who they were, and where the had come from, John had no answer. 

14. I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15. "For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and  night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. 

16. "They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat.

17. "for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes."

Revelation 7:14-17 NASB

Earlier we saw the souls of the martyrs under the altar. Now we see the full number of martyrs standing before Jesus, apparently now in their glorified bodies. They no longer cry out for God to avenge them. Now they cry out in worship, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." (Rev 7:10). Their conflict is over and they are safely in the presence of Jesus, their robes have been washed in His blood, they maintained their testimony, and they did not cling to their lives when faced with death. 

To be sure, there will be those who are alive and remain at Christ's second coming (1 Thess 4:17), but primarily, to come out of the great tribulation will be through death. 

This is how we overcome Satan with his wrath against those who follow Jesus. It will be essential that we resolve now to be steadfast in the face of persecution. The scriptures are filled with warnings against deception, lawlessness, and persecution in the last days. These things will cause many to fall away from the faith. A great apostasy from the faith is foretold as a warning to us. We must be strong, we must steadfast, we must persevere. 

2. And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. 

3. And they sang the song of Moses, the bond servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God the Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!

4. "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For you alone are holy; for ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU, FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED. "

Revelation 15:2-4 NASB

Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgement was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:4

To be victorious demands endurance. I do not mean that we pick ourselves up by the boot straps and exert all of our self effort, because we really are insufficient in and of ourselves. We read of a Church with little power, but who kept the word of Jesus and did not deny Him. They were given an open door, and kept from the hour of testing that is to come. This is not a pre-tribulational promise of rapure, but God's promise to those who are faithful. We read Jesus' words that He will be with us always, even to the end of the age (see Rev 3:7-12, Matt 28:20 John 17:15). We are called to overcome numerous times throughout scripture. Endurance is vital if we are to come out of this world victorious over everything that Satan throws at us, especially in Earth's final days. 

  

Endurance Until the End

3. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows even greater;

4. therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

5. This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

6. For after all it is only just for God to repay with afflictions those who afflict you,

7. and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in Flaming fire,

8. dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

9. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 

10. when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.

11. To this end we also pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power,

12. so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 NASB 

In Acts 17 we read that the apostle Paul went to Thessalonica where He planted a church. All this took place within the space of a couple of weeks as a mob formed as a result, creating such a disturbance that Paul was forced to leave.

Paul was concerned for these new Christians and sent Timothy to encourage them. On Timothy's return Paul found that these believers were not only remaining faithful, but we're thriving in the face of persecution.  We often speak of individuals as "baby Christians" and yes, a new convert is technically just that. But compare what you read of the Thesalonian Church with the fact that we so often consider others, or even ourselves "baby Christians" months, even years after a profession of faith. I have always been amazed reading through First Thessalonians as it describes these new disciples growing and prospering. They only had two weeks with Paul, then persecution came. And they became an example for others to follow (1 Thessalonians 1:6-10).

While Paul was with them he prepared them for persecution (1 Thessalonians 2:11-14). He also instructed them concerning the endtimes (2 Thessalonians 2:3-5). All this in two weeks!

This Church understood that persecution was a normal consequence once a life was committed to following Jesus. They expected it, and remained faithful in spite of it. Nowhere do we read that they were looking for an escape, a sudden mysterious rapture out of it. In fact the opposite is true. In the passage above they were told, and we as well, that relief finally comes at Christ's second coming.

This coming is visible, not secret, everyone will be aware, they will see, they will know. Jesus returning in flaming fire, with His angels, dealing out retribution is not a secret rapture. No, it is His return to gather His elect, and punish the wicked. This is when our relief comes according to scripture. 

Paul commended this Church for their faithfulness thru affliction. It is the same for us. Just like the Christians of old, we also need to faithfully endure hardship as well.

This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

2 Thessalonians 1:6

I fear we, at least here in the west, have bought into an easy Christianity that promises escape at the expense of teaching endurance. Generations have been spoon fed "Left Behind" theology. What will happen to them when things turn out different than that which was expected?

Not Destined to Wrath

1. Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.

2. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

3. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 

4. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief;

5. for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;

6. so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

7. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 

8. But since we are of the day, let us be sober,  having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

9. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-9

This passage is often used as a proof text by those promoting a pre-tribulational rapture of the Church. The emphasis is on the sudden, unexpected thief-like taking up of those who are "of the day" verses those who are "of the night" who are left behind to face the tribulation.  The passage then closes with the assurance that the Church is not appointed to wrath. This verse then, is taken to mean that the rapture must by necessity occur first, to remove believers from the earth before God pours out His wrath upon a sinful world.

It is possible to encounter a biblical text and read our preconceived ideas into it. That is the danger of searching for a "proof text." If however we come to scripture with an open mind, desiring to know and understand truth,  God will graciously give us understanding. 

The idea of a pre-trib rapture cannot be proven by concrete passages of scripture. The verses simply do not exist. Multiple verses, like those above, are often quoted as proof, but again, the belief has to be read into the verse. If taken at face value, these verses often state the opposite. 

Paul begins this section by reminding his readers that they do not need additional information concerning the times and seasons related to the endtimes events. They have a solid understanding. I once heard a Sunday School teacher tell the class that we shouldn't bother studying the end times as there are more important Biblical topics to study. He used these verses to make that claim. To the contrary, we find in the Bible numerous passages that foretell of these events, giving us a remarkable timeline with signs to watch for. God does not want us to be caught unaware as these events unfold.

The day of the Lord will indeed come like a thief, suddenly and unexpected. People will be caught unaware. There will be some form of a false peace that will lull many into complacency. Paul warns that destruction will come upon them suddenly. But a believer should not be caught by surprise. Paul goes on to differentiate between those who belong to Christ, and those who belong to this world. 

So since we are sons of light and not darkness we must be alert and sober minded. We must be in the word, and not only reading it, but obeying it, letting it transform our lives. And praying as we watch, so that we may escape what is coming upon the earth, and to  stand before Jesus at His return (Luke 31:36). We have all that we need in Jesus, and by His grace we need not slip back into darkness.

If we fail to watch, if we get bogged down with the cares and pursuits of this life, we will find ourselves in the same condition as those who will be caught by surprise by Christ's return.

34. "Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come upon you suddenly like a trap;

35. for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of the earth.

36. "But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Luke 21:34-36 NASB

This is not speaking about escape in the sense of a pre-tribulational rapture, but of strength to endure to end (see Matt 24:13).

Paul exhorts us to put on a breastplate of faith and love, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. This is a similar concept to the spiritual armour found in Ephesians 6:13-18. 

Jesus states thst the love of most will grow cold as the day of the Lord approaches (Matthew 24:12). He also asks a question thst we should take seriously. Will He find faith on the earth when He returns (Luke 18:8)? It should be noted that this question follows His teaching on persistent prayer.

As we walk in faith and love we must look  past any trial and hardship that comes our way and look to the day that our salvation is final. Peter tells us that we are protected by God's power through faith, for a salvation that will be revealed in the last time ( 1 Peter 1:3-15). 

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:13

Back to what Paul wrote in his epistle to the Thessslonian Church. It all flows to the verse where he states that we are not destined or appointed to wrath, but to salvation. 

The pre-trib position maintains that God will not "beat up His bride",  therefore the Church must be removed so it will not go through His wrath. There are several errors in this position.

First, the persecution and hardship that will occur during the tribulation are not God's wrath being poured out. Persecution is a natural result of following Christ, and numerous passages of scripture affirm this fact. Nowhere do we read that this is God pouring out His wrath on those who are faithful to Him. In fact Jesus tells us to rejoice and be glad when we are persecuted because we are following in the steps of the great men of God who have gone before us (Matthew 5:11-12).

We read in Revelation 12:7-17 of a war in heaven, where Satan is cast down to the earth. This event triggers the final three and one half years known as the great tribulation. We will know that this has occurred when the Antichrist is revealed in the temple at what is referred to as "the abomination that causes desolation."

"For this reason, rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time"....So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 12:12, 17

The persecution that believers will face during the great tribulation can be attributed to Satan's wrath. God is not "beating up His bride."

The second point that I will make concerns the bowls of God's wrath that are poured out during this time period. Revelation 16:1-21 make it clear that the intended recipients of God's wrath are those who have taken the mark, and worshipped the image of the beast (Rev 16:2), those who have persecuted the saints (Rev 16:5-6), and ultimately those who are hardened in their sin (Rev 16:8-11). It is the kingdom of the beast that will face the wrath of God. 

This is a event reminiscent of the plagues in Egypt. At that time God made a distinction between the children of Israel and Egypt. It will be the same again. God does not pour out His wrath on His children. He is fully capable of preserving His own while judging those who have filled up the measure of their sinful acts.

And thirdly, the ultimate day of wrath occurs at Christ's return. Revelation 14:14-20 describes the final harvest of the earth, with verses 19-20 describing the wicked being thrown into the great wine press of God's wrath.  Compare this passage with Isaiah 63:1-6 where we read of the day of God's day of redemption as well as His year of redemption. At the return of Jesus we read that men, regardless of wealth, strength, and honor, will hide themselves in caves and among the rocks. Why? They are hiding from the wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:12-17). 

There is a distinction between light and darkness,  night and day, those who are alert and sober, and those who will be caught unaware. We, as those who follow Jesus, are not destined to experience God's wrath, but to receive salvation at Christ's return in glory. This is not about escaping tribulation, but patient endurance in the face of tribulation.

The Narrow Way

"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction,  and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it."

Matthew 7:13-14 NASB 

The gospels record several "hard" statements that Jesus makes concerning the cost of following Him. This is one of them. 

In this passage Jesus contrasts the way to spiritual destruction and the way leading to spiritual life. I fear that many professed Christians today do not grasp what Jesus is actually saying in these few verses.

Growing up I considered that those who "accepted" Jesus had passed through the narrow gate, and were on the narrow path. Everyone else was traveling the broad road to destruction.  This interpretation is probably pretty common, but it really misses the point that Jesus is trying to make.

When one looks into the original Greek that our New Testament was translated from we can get a good idea of what this passage really means.

The wide gate and broad road are exactly that. The gate is wide, easily accommodating everyone who wants to enter. The way is broad and spacious, allowing for easy travel. There is room for everybody, and Jesus states that many are traveling this way.

The narrow way however, is more narrow than we might think. It is a tight squeeze to enter, and the way is compressed and difficult to travel.

The Amplified version puts it like this.

Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.

But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.

And in a similar passage we read of great conflict just to enter. 

"Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able."

Luke 13:24

The word "strive" speaks of strenuous effort to achieve victory in the athletic games. It is where we get our word "agonize." 

Jesus warns us that we must earnestly strive to enter, and that many who attempt will not be able. If we look at the immediate context of this verse we see that it is in response to a question that the disciples ask concerning how many people will actually be saved. According to the following verses we can gather that mere "familiarity" with Jesus is insufficient. It's not the many who succeed, but the few. This should cause us to pause and think.

Jesus is telling us that a mere profession, outward appearance, religious rituals and traditions are insufficient in and of themselves. True salvation demands an inner change of heart.  It involves repentance (Luke 13:3) and total surrender of our lives (Luke 24:27-33). The way to life is a way of holiness of life and conduct (Titus 2:11-14). Obedience is essential. I am not talking legalism here. Many individuals confuse a works based salvation with an obedience that flows from a cleansed heart. Jesus, again speaking of the many, states that not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter the kingdom. Only those who obediently do the Father's will may enter (Matthew 7:21-23).

The way is constricted. It is often difficult, filled with trials and temptations. Persecution naturally arises when our faith is real and evident to a lost world. Jesus assures us of that (John 15:20).  He tells us that even family will betray us, and hatred on account of His name can be expected. The one who endures all of this to the end is the one who will be saved (Matthew 10:21-22). When persecution comes do we confess Jesus before men, or deny Him (Matthew 10:32-33)? 

Are we beginning to see the picture? Yes, salvation is a free gift, graciously offered to all, but at the same time it requires our response, and will cost us everything to make it to the end. If our road is too easy, what road are we on?