THERE are times of ‘birth pains’ & tribulation AND THEN THERE WILL BE GREAT
There are many differing views, much debate, disagreements, and apparent contradictions regarding the doctrines of the Last Days, the Rapture and the tribulation.
So, what does the Bible actually say about this End of Days?
More specifically, what did Jesus tell His disciples and the rest of the listening and believing world what about what is coming? What we can expect to happen? What are we to do in order to ‘get ready’ and ‘stay ready’ until He returns to claim His Church?
There are those who will tell you that the seven years of tribulation are coming with the breaking of the first of seven seals, and that the rapture is imminent. There is a distinction here that is often overlooked. So, let me repeat: Some are saying that the 7 years of the tribulation will begin with the breaking of the 1st tribulation seal – followed by the breaking of seals 2 through 7, then the blowing of the 7 tribulation trumpets, and ending with the pouring out of the 7 tribulation bowls.
However, there is clear and staggering evidence that the Last Days began in our around A.D. 1 through A.D. 95 and that tribulation seals 1 through 5 have been progressively opened, are overlapping and intensifying to this day. And that we are on the precipice of the opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal which signals the beginning of the period known as the Great Tribulation or the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb – which will continue with the breaking of tribulation seal 7, then the blowing of the 7 tribulation trumpets, and ending with the pouring out of the 7 tribulation bowls.
Scriptures clearly tell us that
- The last days and, also known as ‘the beginning of sorrows’ or the ‘tribulation’ (small ‘t’) are here now; but that
- The Great Tribulation is yet to come; and that
- The rapture will not occur unless the apostasy comes first, and that
- The man of lawlessness is revealed, that is the son of destruction,(the antichrist), who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
THESE ARE THE SCRIPTURES THAT SAY SO
“Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.”
(This was spoken around A.D. 30 – around 2,000 years ago, and there has been ongoing and intensifying persecution of Christians to this day. Compare this to the 5th tribulation seal as found in Revelation 6:9-11 and referenced by Jesus in Matthew 24:9-12.)
“For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.”
(This seven-year period of Great tribulation has not yet occurred, but with a careful study, one can see that the tribulations as referenced by the words, “for then there will be a great tribulation” are the tribulation seals 1 through 5 (see Revelation 6:1-11), which are also referenced by Jesus in Matthew 24:9-12, which have been occurring and are continuing to occur. But Seals 6 and 7 are the beginning of The Great Tribulation, a.k.a., The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb, which begin with the 6th Tribulation Seal and will conclude with the 7th Bowl Judgment.)
“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.”
(This is speaking of the tribulation that will come after the tribulation events that have already occurred and continue to occur, as being described by Jesus in Matthew 24:1-28, (i.e., tribulation seals 1 through 5). These “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” have not occurred yet, but with a careful study, one can see that the tribulations spoken of in Seals 1 through 5 have occurred and are continuing to occur, but Seals 6 and 7 have not occurred.)
“For those days will be such a time of tribulation as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will again.”
(In order to get the chronology right, please read Mark 13:1-27. There will be tribulations and then will come “such a time of tribulation as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will again.” I.e., there will be tribulations then there will be a Great Tribulation, a.k.a. The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb, which begin with the 6th Tribulation Seal and will conclude with the 7th Bowl Judgment.)
“But in those days, after that tribulation (referring to the events that have already occurred), THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT.”
(In order to get the chronology right, please read Mark 13:1-27. There will be tribulations and then will come “be such a time of tribulation as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will again.” I.e., there will be tribulations then there will be a Great Tribulation, a.k.a. The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb, which begin with the 6th Tribulation Seal and will conclude with the 7th Bowl Judgment.)
“These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
“I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”
“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
“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.”
THESE ARE THE ONES WHO SAY SO
The Last Days and the opening of the tribulation Seals began in our around A.D. 30 according to the words spoken by Jesus, the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy :
- Acts 2:14-17,
- 1 Corinthians 10:11,
- 2 Timothy 3:1,
- Hebrews 1:2,
- Hebrews 9:26,
- 1 Peter 1:20,
- 1 Peter 4:7,
- 2 Peter 3:3.
- 1 John 2:18.
- Revelation 1:9.
WHAT ARE GOD’S PURPOSES OF THE TRIBULATION?
Daniel 9, verse 24 says the PURPOSE is:
1) “to finish transgression,” (that is, to end man’s rebellion toward God)
2) “to put an end to sin,” (that is, to bring an end to sin)
3) “to atone for wickedness,” (that is, to make amends or reparation for wickedness)
4) “to bring in everlasting righteousness,” (that is, the quality of being morally right or justifiable)
5) “to seal up vision and prophecy,” and (that is, to confirm these prophetic visions)
6) “to anoint the most holy.” (that is, to anoint, or to confer divine or holy office upon; in this case the Holy One, Jesus.)
Notice that the results of this six-fold purpose concerns the total eradication of sin and the establishing of righteousness.
The prophecy of the 70 weeks summarizes what happens before Jesus sets up His millennial kingdom.
*Of special note is the third in the list of results: “to atone for wickedness.” Jesus accomplished the atonement for sin by His death on the cross (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17).
Secondly, it is important to know the four-fold PLANNED OUTCOME of the tribulation found in Daniel 12:10, (Which is the purpose of the Tribulation Seals ONE through FIVE):
“Many will be purged,
cleansed, and
refined,
those who have insight will understand.”
(SPECIAL NOTE: Tribulation Seal SIX through the SEVENTH Tribulation Bowl, also known as the GREAT Tribulation or the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, are judgments directed specifically at the non-believing world.)
WHY DO THESE THINGS MATTER?
- They matter because many Christians are sitting idly waiting for an event that has already begun, and they are not DOING what He told them to do and therefore are in grave danger.
- They matter because some of our family, friends and neighbors are completely unaware or just don’t believe that Christ will return and God’s final judgments will sentence them to outer darkness.
- They matter because as Christians, our faith, our convictions and our behavior are speaking louder than our words.
- They matter because being ready for His Return is proof of True Christianity, and only a True Believer in Christ will be guaranteed to join Christ at the sound of His Great Trumpet call and escape the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.
- They matter because being ready requires believing and doing what He has instructed us to do in preparation for His return.
- They matter because He has warned that “Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’”
WHO ELSE IS SEEING AND SAYING THESE THINGS?
- Corrie Ten Boom speaks out about a prevailing tribulation and rapture view.
- Pastor John Piper. You can also see a teaching by Pastor and Teacher, John Piper on the timing of the End Times.
- David Rosenthal and Zion’s Hope. One of the first, most accurate, and persistent advocates of the Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church can be found at Zion’s Hope, with videos on this site.)
- Pastor Jack Hibbs, senior pastor of Cavalry Chapel of Chino Hills, California is an advocate saying we are NOW in the Last Days and the End of Days period known as the Great Tribulation, the Great and Terrible Day of the LORD or the Wrath of the Lamb.
- Pastor Hibbs is informing and warning about the current Marxist-style Globalist movement, which is being led by the U.N., the U.N.’s Agenda 2030, UNESCO and their sustainable development goals, and the World Economic Forum. (Please also see “The One World Government – How It Is Fitting Together”.)
I offer this article to say that these things matter in our preparation and readiness for Jesus’ return. They should alert us to get ready and stay ready.
What these things don’t change or affect is the steady guarantee of our salvation in Christ. My concern, which I believe should be all our concern, is that when the time comes we all will hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant”, and not the fateful words, “Why do you call me Lord when you do not what I say?”
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
PS: It is written – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). There is no way anyone can earn their salvation through works. But what we continually practice in our lives, reveals the true intentions of our heart. Please, get ready and stay ready for His return by serving God and obeying the Words of Jesus. Let’s pray for one another to be strengthened.
PSS: There are five major views of eschatology.
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