Category: Tribulation

WHEN DOES THE 7 YEARS of “GREAT TRIBULATION”, The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord and the Wrath of The Lamb begin?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

When does the 7 Years of “Great Tribulation”, The “Great and Terrible Day of The Lord” and “The Wrath of the Lamb” begin?

And, When does the “midpoint” (3.5 years) occur?

This can be a great mystery. But, it need not be.  Here is the Tribulation Timeline, in summary:

The opening of Tribulation Seal ONE began sometime between the birth of Jesus and A.D. 95.   Tribulation Seals ONE through FIVE have been broken, progressively, have been overlapping and intensifying up until this day.

(These are known as the “Birth Pains” or the Birth Pains phase of the Tribulation (see Matthew 24:3-18 for Jesus’ complete statement). They began at or around the time of the birth of Jesus, and they include (1), great deceptions also called the great delusion (see 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12), (2), wars and rumors of wars, (3), famines and earthquakes, (4), a great persecution of Christians, (5), the Great Apostasy, falling away from the faith in Christ, which leaves only one event to be completed – The revealing of the man of perdition – before the SIXTH TRIBULATION SEAL is opened, marking the beginning of the 7 years of Great Tribulation, also known as the Great Tribulation, the Great and Terrible Day of The Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb.

How can these things be since so many Protestant evangelical churches teach a dispensational pretribulation view (in other words, the rapture occurs, then all 7 years of the tribulation begins)?

The history behind the traditional dispensational pre-tribulation rapture was proposed and promulgated by John Nelson Darby, (1800–1882) a British theologian and a key figure in the Plymouth Brethren movement, known for founding the Exclusive Brethren and for his role in developing modern dispensationalism and pre-tribulation rapture theology? However, critics of John Nelson Darby often point to his teachings on dispensationalism and his views on the atonement, which some argue are inconsistent with traditional Christian doctrine. Additionally, figures like Charles Spurgeon have criticized Darby’s influence on the church, describing it as leading to isolationism and doctrinal errors within the Plymouth Brethren movement.

A slow, careful and studious reading of the New Testament, looking for clues to the events and testimonies of Jesus and His disciples and apostles leading up to Matthew 24:29-31 will give you a much clearer and more accurate picture. (You can do this on your own, and I am giving a synopsis below).

Please read these scriptures and testimonies by other Apostles, confirming that the Last Days and the breaking of tribulation seals one through five had begun in or around the birth of Jesus through A.D. 95:

Since the birth of Jesus, there have been increasing episodes of

  1. global conquest and political intrigue (tribulation seal ONE),
  2. wars and rumors of war (tribulation seal TWO),
  3. famines, earthquakes, (tribulation seal THREE),
  4. widespread and global deaths (tribulation seal FOUR),
  5. persecution, martyrs, the Antichrist, the Great Apostasy and falling away from the faith (tribulation seal FIVE);

All occurring since the birth of Jesus, continuing, overlapping and intensifying since their inception:

Matthew 24:4-31, (Jesus), describing a panorama of the tribulation and the Last Days. Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them, (see Matthew 24:3-4),

(1). Jesus warned that “In the Last Days, there will be a rise of false Christs and false prophets. (This was an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35. See Matthew 24:4-5). Do you see these things in our day? This a clue pointing to the “Last Days”.

(2). Jesus said, “In the Last Days, there will be famines and earthquakes”. (This has been a regular occurrence since as early as A.D. 35 or earlier. See Matthew 24:7 and the Fourth Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:5-8). Do you see these things happening in our day? If you aren’t ‘denominationally biased’ could this reasonably be a clue to the timing of the “Last Days”?

(3). Jesus said, “In the Last Days, there are wars and rumors of wars. (Wars and rumors of war have been occurring since as early as A.D. 35 or earlier. See Matthew 24:6 and the Second Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:3-4).

(4). Jesus said, “In the Last Days, there will be a persecution and martyrdom of Christians. (This has been an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35. “See Matthew 24:9 and the onset of the Fifth Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:9-11).

(5). Jesus said, “In the Last Days, there will be a falling away from the faith.” (This has been an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35, and has been increasing to this very day. See Matthew 24:10).

These things, false Christs, wars and rumors of war, famines, earthquakes and plagues, persecutions, martyrs, which Jesus calls the ‘Birth Pangs’ of the tribulation (see Matthew 24:8), are nothing new; and from these cited verses, we can plainly see that the first 5 tribulation Seals have been broken, and the effects had begun between the time of the birth of Jesus and A.D 95, and have been overlapping and increasing in their intensity since those early days.

Jesus calls the 1st phase of the tribulation the ‘Birth Pangs’ (Matthew 24:8). Jesus then calls the 2nd phase of the tribulation, the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21), also known as the 6th Tribulation Seal (Revelation 6:12-14), and the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord (Joel 2:31), and the Wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:16).. (Please click these links for verification and understanding).

Do you now see the clues to the timing of the first 5 tribulation seals?

Acts 2:14-17, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be…’ (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). Do you see this clue to the timing of the Last Days?

1 Peter 1:20, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “He, (Jesus), was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). Do you see this clue to the timing of the Last Days here?

1 Peter 4:7, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “The end of all things is at hand.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). A clue!

2 Peter 3:3. (the Apostle Peter), saying, “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). Is this true in our day, also?

If these verses say all these things began occurring in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60, and Peter called those days the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

What would you think, now?

1 Corinthians 10:11, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “Now these things happened to them as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Hebrews 1:2, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Hebrews 9:26, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “But as it is, Jesus has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). Could it be any clearer? The Last days began at the appearance of Jesus!

If these verses say all these things began occurring in the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

What would you think?

2 Timothy 3:1, (Timothy), saying, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

If these verses say all these things began occurring in the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

Would you now think the Last Days began? Want more?

1 John 2:18. (the Apostle John), saying, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Revelation 1:9, (The Apostle John), saying, “I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 95 to A.D. 100).

According to the words and the testimonies of Jesus , His disciples and Apostles, the “LAST DAYS – THE LAST TIMES – THE END OF THE AGES – THE END OF ALL THINGS – THE BIRTH PAINS OF THE TRIBULATION” began with the Birth of Christ Jesus.

With the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal we will see that 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. “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. “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 & Revelation 6:12-16)

Sometime after the rapture of the church, which occurs at the 6th Seal, the Antichrist enters a treaty with Israel. This begins the seven-year tribulation:

Furthermore, it is important to know that the Apostle Paul grappled with a growing apostasy, (tribulation Seal 5), during the early formation of the Church. It is reaching a crescendo now, in the twenty-first century. The only things left to happend before breaking of the Sixth Tribluation Seal and the rapture is the revealing of the “man of lawlessness”, i.e., the Antichrist. He will appear before the rapture, according to the Apostle Paul. (See 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4: “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy, [Which is the falling away from the faith] comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 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.”)       

We are therefore now standing at the precipice of the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal.

Section A.2. With the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal we will see that 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. “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. “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 & Revelation 6:12-16)

Sometime after the rapture of the church, which occurs at the 6th Seal, the Antichrist enters a treaty with Israel. This begins the seven-year tribulation. (see BibleHub.Org).

At the midpoint of the tribulation, which is found at the 6th tribulation trumpet, (1,260 days later), the Antichrist breaks the treaty, desecrates the temple, and begins to persecute the Jews. (see BibleHub.Org).

According to Daniel 9:27, the tribulation begins with the signing of a peace treaty between the Antichrist and Israel, intended to be for one “seven,” that is, a set of seven years. But the “seven” is divided into halves: midway through the seven years, the Antichrist breaks the treaty and sets up in the temple a sacrilegious object (the “abomination that causes desolation”). The phrase “in the middle” indicates that the first half of the tribulation lasts for 3½ years, or at the blowing of the 6th Tribulation Trumpet, (1,260 days, using a “prophetic year” of 360 days). Likewise, the second half of the tribulation lasts another 1,260 days (another 3½ years), for a total of seven years.

At the end of the tribulation (1,260 days after the desecration of the temple), Jesus Christ returns to earth and defeats the forces of the Antichrist.

During the next 30 days (leading up to 1,290 days after the desecration of the temple), Israel is rebuilt, and the earth is restored.

During the next 45 days (leading up to 1,335 days after the desecration of the temple), the Gentile nations are judged for their treatment of Israel.

The dispensation of the millennium begins, and it will last for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:3 5–6,).

(Below here is a more complete description of the Tribulation Timeline. Concern yourself with the first SIX SEALS.)

The ‘tribulation period of birth pangs‘ (Matthew 24:8 & Revelation 6) begins with the breaking of the 1st Tribulation Seal and continues through the 5th Tribulation Seal, during which time we will see the

  • Apostasy,
  • the great persecution of Christians,
  • the revealing of the man of perdition and
  • the signing of a peace treaty between Israel and her enemies.

The 1st Seal of the tribulation was being broken just after the death and resurrection of Christ, and the succeeding seals (Seals 2 – 5) have been broken. Jesus refers to this period, the breaking of the tribulation Seals ONE through FIVE as “the beginning of the birth pangs”, and He points out that “this is not yet the end”.

Section B.2. Then, with the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal, THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD, THE GREAT TRIBULATION, BEGINS. (Matthew 24:29, & Revelation 6:12)

As witnessed by, Matthew 24:29, “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. Verse 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. Verse 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.”

The “7 years of Great Tribulation” (aka Daniel’s 70th week) begins with the breaking of the 6th tribulation seal, and, will reach the mid-point of the tribulation period, (after 3.5 years) with the sounding of the 6th Trumpet of the Great Tribulation.

Then, the Great Tribulation will end with the pouring out of the 7 Bowls of Wrath.

– THE TRIBULATION JUDGMENTS LEAD TO THE END OF THE AGE –

The world has endured, and is enduring, the first 5 tribulation seals. You should, therefore, concern yourself with and be ready for the breaking of the Tribulation 6th Seal and the Great and Terrible day of the Lord!

Here is a Short outline comparing Jesus’ account of the Tribulation period both in the Book of Revelation and in the Book of Matthew:

Revelation Ch. 6 – as corresponding to – Matthew Chapter 24

The 1st Tribulation Seal  –  Global conquest and political intrigue. (This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

The 2nd Tribulation Seal –  Wars and Rumors of War. (This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

The 3rd Tribulation Seal  –  Famine. (This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

The 4th Tribulation Seal  –  Death. (This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

The 5th Tribulation Seal  –  Martyrs, persecution, Anti-Christ, falling away.(This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying and will transition to the Sixth Seal once the Antichrist has been revealed.)

The 6th Tribulation Seal  –  Cosmic disturbances, blood moon, darkened sun. (The Opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal is yet to come. It is The BEGINNING OF the 7 years of “THE GREAT TRIBULATION” period, also known as The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb.)

I will continue through the ‘Bowl Judgments’ in this article, but, for the Christian, The Rapture has occurred at this point and Jesus has taken His Spotless Bride, The Church, to the Throne of God, Her eternal home.

NEW ADDITION:

Finally, the Apostle Paul, gives a defining key to these mysteries in Ephesians 1:9, which reveals the mystery of God’s will regarding His plan and the time for the fullness or the completion of time – bringing all things in the heavens and for the earth together – in Christ. Jesus’ Birth is the defining moment for the Final Days. His birth starts the final countdown where time leaves the Age of Grace and enters the Birth Pains period of the tribulation, which leads to the Great Tribulation period of the final Seven Years.

KEY VERSE linking all the above: Ephesians 1, verses 9-10, “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, (verse 10), regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth”.

RECAP: with captions: (Ephesians 1:9-10), He, (God the Father),

made known to us the mystery of His will (God the Father’s will),

according to His, (God the Father’s),

good pleasure which He, (God the Father),

set forth in Him (Jesus – God the Son),

regarding His, (God the Father’s),

plan of the fullness of the times, —–> (the “Plan of the fullness of the times” is another way of saying THE LAST DAYS or THE END OF THE AGE or THE CONSUMATION OF THE AGE)

to bring all things together in Christ, —–> (is another way of saying that Jesus is bringing the culmination of the Age. “Jesus did not come to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfill it”  and “”These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come),

“things in the heavens and things on the earth.” —–> (This is another way of saying that God has put all things in subjection to Jesus). (This is the Word of God through the Apostle Paul).

God said He would reveal and has revealed the mystery of Daniel’s Prophetic dream and vision, (Daniel 10 – 12), which is about the End of Days, His Plan of Salvation and of Judgment, which was to be kept secret until it would be revealed as “His plan of the fullness of the times” to bring all things together “in Christ” – things in the heavens and on the earth. I.e., Jesus IS THE REVELATION of God’s plan of the fullness of times.

His Birth marks the beginning of the final days – The End of Days – which lead to the End of All Things and the Rebirth or Recreation of all things. And Ephesians 1:9-10 is the “key” that unlocks the mystery!

This is why Jesus said “these are but the beginnings of the birth pains”, when referring to the tribulation in Matthew 24 and specifically in verse 8; and again in The Book of The Revelation chapters 6, 7 and 8.

Be Sure. Be Ready. Be Secure.

Your Brother and Friend

Mike Young

Receive Him and Declare Him as Lord Today
Become a Child of God Today

“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and surrender my heart and my life to you.  I will trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior the rest of my days.” 

The 7th Tribulation Seal – (click to continue) – The announcement of the 7 Trumpet Judgments.

(Ancillary reading:  The Great Concurrence and Convergence of Events).

COULD THIS BE THE BEGINNING OF THE END?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

… You won’t see this in the Mainstream Media

Matthew 24:3 says,  “As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Verse 4, “And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.

Verse 5, “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

Verse 6, “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

Verse 7, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.

Verse 8, “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

Verse 9, “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.”

So, when will these things happen?

I. Many will come IN MY NAME:

This can be someone literally saying ‘I am the Christ’, but it is proving to be those who consider themselves as an emissary of Christ – such as ‘ordained pastors’ – who speak for Christ, but are blindly following ‘new age’ or errant doctrines; or, as we are clearly seeing, now, in our day, ‘institutional deception’, where entire denominations fall away from the clear teachings of Jesus and lead millions astray. (Also see“Shipwrecked”).

So, how can we know ‘which of the false Christs‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

II. WARS and rumors of war:

There have been thousands upon thousands of wars and conflicts since the time of Christ. Most notable for their scope and breadth are the

    • Religious Crusades (1095 – 1291, Muslims vs Latin Church, almost 2 million dead),
    • WWI (1914 – 1918, 17 million dead), and
    • WW2 (1939 – 1945, over 70 million dead).

Current wars and conflicts 2018: Interactive global conflict tracker.

historical_activity_200years.jpg

So, how can we know ‘which wars and rumors of wars‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

III. EARTHQUAKES & VOLCANOES:

Earthquakes are nothing new. In fact, they are so numerous that I can only give you a web link by period of time and let you view what has been recorded. But, Jesus did warn they would come.

Lists of earthquakes by period. (use the links below).

HISTORY_of_earthquakes_1900-.svg.png

 

Seismic Event List Index

Volcanoes are nothing new, either, but it would seem that seismic events (volcanoes) are on the rise.

historical_activity_600years.jpg

Figure 1. Graph lines showing the number of volcanoes reported to have been active each year since 1400 and 1800 C.E.

At first glance the nearly exponential increase through recent centuries suggests that the planet may soon be overwhelmed by volcanic activity, but this increase tracks the striking growth of global population that has spread potential observers of eruptions over much of the Earth and the technological advances that have facilitated reporting of those eruptions. Global Volcanism Program, 2013. Volcanoes of the World, Smithsonian Institution. January 2020.

So, how can we know ‘which EARTHQUAKES‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

IV. FAMINES:

Famines have taken hundreds of millions of lives since the time of Christ, so this is nothing new, either.

Famine-victims-and-world-population-sinc

So, how can we know ‘which FAMINES‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

V. PERSECUTION:

Jesus tells us there will be a worldwide persecution of Christians. A look at history shows us that In the first few centuries, Christianity grew quickly. By A.D. 325, an estimated 7 million people were Christians, with as many as 2 million killed for their faith in Jesus.

However, according to a Christian think-tank. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC) says 900,000 Christians have been ‘martyred’ in the last decade, equating to 90,000 a year and one every six minutes.

This may be the most dangerous time in history to be Christian

At least 327 million Christians face persecution, according to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), which released its biannual report on Religious Freedom in the World in November 2018. That is 7 percent of the world’s 2.3 billion Christians, estimated by Pew Research Center in 2015.

245 million Christians in the top 50 countries on Open Doors USA’s 2019 World Watch List experience high levels of persecution (i.e.: torture, rape, sex-slavery, for conversion to Christianity, murder and genocide), an increase of 14 percent from 2018. Sixty percent of those enduring persecution are children; women and girls are most violated. Release International, a UK-based human rights watchdog in operation for the past 50 years who partner with U.S.-based “Voice of the Martyrs” said they expect global anti-Christian persecution is set to rise ‘sharply’ in 2019. – (Read the report here)

So, how can we know ‘which period of Christian Persecution‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

So, where does all of this lead?

1. You will know when ‘The End of the Age’ is near, not when one or two of these events occur, but when ALL of ‘these things’ occur and converge concurrently, as Jesus said they would; then these things are the harbinger of ‘those things’ which have come to pass. (Also, see “The Tribulation of Those Days’).

2. The phrase “the beginning of birth pangs” is a statement made by Jesus in or around the year AD 30 and is a translation of the Greek archē _ ōdin . The meaning of the phrase, translated in the KJV as “the beginning of sorrows” is a direct reference to preliminary birth pangs that ultimately lead to the full scale contractions and travail, which leads to the actual birth.

Recognizing the Old Testament reference that Jesus was hearkening to is an essential, but often overlooked key to determining the timing of the prophecy. Jesus was pointing his disciples to two key passages from the prophet Isaiah.

The first passage is Isaiah 26, a portion of Scripture found in the middle of what is sometimes referred to as “Isaiah’s little apocalypse”. There, the Lord speaks through Isaiah, specifically contrasting the expectations of the Jewish people regarding deliverance, redemption and physical resurrection with the reality of the pain, suffering and travail that they had corporately experienced. In verses 16-18, the complaint of Israel is raised that despite having endured the great suffering of labor, the expected “birth” of deliverance, redemption and resurrection had not arrived.

This makes clear that the Last Days and the opening of the tribulation Seals began in our around A.D. 30.  Other references which confirm this date are.

as spoken by Jesus and the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy.

(You can also see a teaching by Pastor and Teacher, John Piper on the timing of the End Times. But, 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.)

3. You must ask yourself, “why would Jesus warn His disciples (and subsequent disciples or anyone who would eventually read His Words in the Bible) about these coming events if they would not experience these events? Said another way, if we would have been Raptured before the tribulation, why warn us?  Why warn His disciples and followers about something they would not experience?” The anwer is, “HE WOULD NOT HAVE WARNED US UNLESS WE WOULD ENDURE THE FIRST 5 TRIBULATION SEALS, AND WOULD  NEED TO BE PREPARED!”

NOTE: The first five tribulation seals have been opened progressively since around A.D. 30. These seals overlap (occur concurrently and converge), and are increasing in intensity, which will lead to the future 6th Tribulation Seal, which is the begining of the Day of God’s Wrath, cosmic disturbances, blood moon, darkened sun, the Rapture, the multitude of people out of the tribulation before the throne of God, the Sealing of the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel.

4. How can we tell WHICH ‘wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes’ were the result of the breaking of the first Seal of the tribulation, because there have been thousands of them since Jesus said these words.

5. I say again, Jesus, the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy, plus direct, clear and obvious scriptural references in  Hebrews 1:2, Hebrews 9:26, Acts 2:14-17, 2 Timothy 3:1, 1 Peter 1:20, 1 Peter 4:7, 2 Peter 3:3. 1 John 2:18, and Revelation 1:9.confirm that these events began in or around the year A.D. 30. 

6. Was Jesus wanting to ‘scare’ listeners into believing by warning them ahead of time? (I think not. Trickery just doesn’t fit Jesus Character, and He tells us “do not be frightened” by these things.)

7. Jesus tells His disciples (and subsequent disciples or anyone who would eventually read His Word in the bible), in Matthew 24:6 that “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. Verse 7. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. Verse 8. “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”

And a few verses later, Matthew 24:13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”

If we will have been “Raptured” and out of harms way when these things begin, then why would He be telling us these things?

Why is Jesus telling us that we should not be frightened by the WARS, Rumors OF WARS, NATIONS RISING AGAINST NATIONS, FAMINES, EARTHQUAKES, and that we must ENDURE TO THE END TO BE SAVED if we would not be affected?

Again I ask if we will have been “Raptured” and out of harms way when these things begin, then why would He be telling us these things?

5. When you compare Jesus’ Words in the book of Matthew with John the Revelator’s account of the ‘End of Days’ in Revelation, why do you get the very real sense that something about pre-tribulation evangelical or reformed doctrines of the end times don’t line up with or doesn’t fit with what you read IN THE BIBLE.

Look at it this way:   When Hurricane Irma hit the U.S. it was a category 5 storm;  As Irma progressed up the peninsula of Florida, it became a category 4 storm;  then as it entered Alabama it became a category 3 storm;  and finally as it entered Georgia, Irma became a tropical storm; and later as it entered Tennessee, it became a rain event.

To those in the various states which hurricane Irma entered, it would have appeared to them that Irma might have been 5 different storms, occurring consecutively; first a Category 5 storm, then, a Category 4 storm, then, a Category 3 hurricane, then, a Tropical storm, and, finally, a rain event.  But if viewed “From Above” it was ONE CONTINUOUS STORM, progressively unfolding to its conclusion

Next: “How We Should Prepare and Respond in These Last Days”.

Your Brother and Friend

Mike Young

Go to these links. Study. Learn.

WHEN WILL THE TRIBULATION BEGIN – OR HAS IT ALREADY BEGUN?

THE END OF THE AGE – a short, and to-the-point, series about the Last Days.

CONCURRENCE OF EVENTS POINTING TO THE END OF THE AGE – a short and to-the-point-series of concurrent and converging events in these days.

WHAT ARE THE “SEVENTY WEEKS AND THE MESSIAH”?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

SEVENTY WEEKS AND THE MESSIAH

So, what is the big deal about the “70 Weeks of Daniel”? Isn’t it just more hard-to-understand-to-unintelligible prophetic scriptures? Let’s take a look and see what’s up:

Daniel 9:24, “Seventy weeks,

(70 weeks of years = 70 x 7 = 490 years)

have been decreed for your people and your holy city,

(the Jewish people and Jerusalem),

to finish the wrongdoing,

(a divine intervention to halt the rebellion and disobedience of the Jewish people),

to make an end of sin,

(The end of sin is a theme echoed in the New Testament, particularly in passages like Hebrews 9:26, which speaks of Christ appearing to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself),

to make atonement for guilt

(Atonement involves reconciliation between God and humanity, achieved through a sacrificial offering),

to bring in everlasting righteousness, (

the establishment of a new order characterized by perpetual righteousness),

to seal up vision and prophecy,

(the fulfillment and completion of prophetic revelations),

and to anoint the Most Holy Place,

(the anointing of Jesus as the ultimate High Priest and the establishment of a new covenant).

Verse 25. So you are to know and understand that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks,

(in other words, 7 x 7 weeks = 49 years plus 62×7 weeks = 434 years = a total of 483 years – this period is the exact number of years from the proclamation of the decree or the command by King Arteries of Persia in 444 B.C. to rebuild Jerusalem until Jesus’ crucifixion. To Wit: Converting the 360-day year used by the ancient Jews, 483 years become 476 years on our solar calendar. Adjusting for the switch from B.C. to A.D., 476 years after 444 B.C. places us at A.D. 33, which would coincide with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1–9). The prophecy in Daniel 9 specifies that, after the completion of the 483 years, “the Anointed One will be cut off” (verse 26). This was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified.);

it will be built again, with streets and moat, even in times of distress. Verse 26. Then after the sixty-two weeks,

(This phrase, “after the sixty-two weeks”, refers to a prophetic timeline given earlier in Daniel 9:24-25, where seventy weeks are decreed for the people of Israel. The “sixty-two weeks”, or 434 years, follow an initial period of seven weeks, making a total of sixty-nine weeks or 483 years. These 69 weeks are understood as symbolic of years, with each week representing seven years. This period is significant in biblical prophecy, marking the time from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the coming of the Messiah. I.e., there are 70 weeks mentioned in Daniel 9, and at this point we have exhausted 69 of the 70 weeks – which obviously leaves one week on the eschatological clock or 7 years),

the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing,

(this is a reference to Jesus’ crucifixion and death),

and the people of the prince who is to come,

(This part of the prophecy is commonly associated with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple in 70 A.D. by the Romans. The “people of the prince who is to come” are understood to be the Roman forces under General Titus, who was responsible for the siege of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. during the First Jewish-Roman War. This campaign resulted in the destruction of the city and the Second Temple, marking a significant turning point in Jewish history. The “prince”, however, is interpreted as a future ruler or antichrist figure, suggesting a dual fulfillment of prophecy),

will destroy the city and the sanctuary,

(The First Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 B.C. by the Babylonians and is considered a precursor or a foreshadowing of the destruction of the Second Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D, by the Romans. Both events are commemorated on the Jewish fast day of Tisha B’Av). And its end will come with a flood, (a ‘flood’ is a type of judgment in the Bible. The Great Flood of Noah occurred around twenty-four fifty-eight B.C. which was judgment on the entire earth for its continual sin. This ‘flood’ as mentioned in Daniel 11 is, first, a flood of people, of invading armies (see Daniel 11) the next reference is by Jesus referencing a ‘flood’ as found in Matthew 24:36-41,); even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined (this is a reference to Jesus remark in Matthew 24:6-8, “And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains (of the tribulation periods).

Verse 27. And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week,

(Note that this is to occur AFTER “wars and rumors of war” – after the “Birth Pains” of the tribulation that “he”, the antichrist, will confirm of make a peace treaty with “the many” is Israel, her allies and others involved in the Mideast conflict with Israel),

but in the middle of the week,

(which will be after 3 ½ years, at the blowing of the sixth tribulation trumpet – see Revelation 9:13-21),

he,

(the antichrist),

will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come,

(The “abomination that causes desolation” is a term used to describe a sacrilegious act that defiles the temple, making it desolate. This phrase is rooted in historical events, such as the desecration by Antiochus IV, who set up an altar to Zeus in the Jewish temple. Jesus references this prophecy in Matthew 24:15, indicating its future fulfillment. The “wing of the temple” suggests a specific part of the temple complex, possibly an elevated or prominent area, where this abomination will occur. This event is seen as a pivotal moment in eschatological timelines, marking a period of intensification of the great tribulation),

the one who makes desolate, until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, gushes forth on the one who makes desolate.”

“So what” you may ask. Why does it matter “when” the tribulation starts or “when” Christians are to be raptured into the heavens?

  • It matters 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.
  • It matters because being ready requires believing and doing what He has instructed us to do in preparation for His return.
  • It matters 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.’
  • It matters 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.
  • It matters 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.
  • It matters because, as Christians, our faith, our convictions and our behavior are speaking louder than our words.
  • Jesus will either say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the rest of My Father”, or He will ask you, “Why do you call me Lord, when you do not do what I have commanded you? Depart from me, you who work lawlessness. I never knew you”.

We, as Christians, have been and are being taught that we have little to do more than wait. Just sitting by, waiting for Jesus’ return and our rapture off the earth and into our promised heavenly home. Just waiting and behaving as nicely as we are able, going to church, tithing and performing some ‘good works’ as defined by or as offered through our church. But, be warned. And if you think that this is all you have to do, then take notice: you are being misled. Jesus said none of this. What He did say to His disciples – including you – is:

  1. Repent of that thinking – for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.
  2. Follow me and I will make you fishers of people.
  3. Go and make disciples, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to do all that I have commanded you.
  4. Be ready and stay reading for His return, doing all He has commanded you, or you will be left behind.
  5. As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is deserving of his support. 11 And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. As you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city.
  6. “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the rest of My Father”.

Let’s pray for one another that we will be found faithful.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Additional Reading:

 

WHEN DOES THE 7 YEARS BEGIN?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

WHEN DOES THE 7 YEARS BEGIN?

When does the “Great & Terrible Day of The Lord” and the 7 years of the Great Tribulation begin?

And, When does the “midpoint” (3.5 years) occur?

This can be a great mystery. But, it need not be.  Here is the Tribulation Timeline, in summary:

The opening of Tribulation Seal ONE began sometime between the birth of Jesus and A.D. 95 as testified to by Jesus, His Apostles and disciples.

Seals ONE through FOUR have been broken, progressively, up until this day and seal FIVE is being progressively opened (These are known as the Birth Pains of the Tribulation, which began at or around the time of the birth of Jesus, They inclued the Great Apostasy, falling away from the faith in Christ, a great persecution of Christians, the final signing of a peace treaty between Israel and her enemies), which leaves only one event to be completed – The revealing of the man of perdition – before the SIXTH TRIBULATION SEAL is opened, marking the beginning of the 7 years of Great Tribulation, also known as the Great Tribulation, the Great and Terrible Day of The Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb.

Please read these scriptures and testimonies by Jesus, His Apostles and disciples, confirming that the Last Days and the breaking of tribulation seals one through five had begun in or around the birth of Jesus through A.D. 95 found in:

Look for and make note of ‘clues’ in the following verses:

Matthew 24:4-31, (Jesus), describing a panorama of the tribulation and the Last Days. Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them, (see Matthew 24:3-4),

(1). Jesus warned that “In the Last Days, there will be a rise of false Christs and false prophets. (This was an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35. See Matthew 24:4-5). Do you see these things in our day? Is this a clue pointing to the “Last Days”?

(2). Jesus said, “In the Last Days, there will be famines and earthquakes”. (This has been a regular occurrence since as early as A.D. 35 or earlier. See Matthew 24:7 and the Fourth Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:5-8). Do you see these things happening in our day? If you aren’t ‘denominationally biased’ could this reasonably be a clue to the timing of the “Last Days”?

(3). Jesus said, “In the Last Days, there are wars and rumors of wars. (Wars and rumors of war have been occurring since as early as A.D. 35 or earlier. See Matthew 24:6 and the Second Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:3-4).

(4). Jesus said, “In the Last Days, there will be a persecution and martyrdom of Christians. (This has been an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35. “See Matthew 24:9 and the onset of the Fifth Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:9-11).

(5). Jesus said, “In the Last Days, there will be a falling away from the faith.” (This has been an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35, and has been increasing to this very day. See Matthew 24:10).

These things, false Christs, wars and rumors of war, famines, earthquakes and plagues, persecutions, martyrs, which Jesus calls the ‘Birth Pangs’ of the tribulation (see Matthew 24:8), are nothing new; and from these cited verses, we can plainly see that the first 5 tribulation Seals have been broken, and the effects had begun between the time of the birth of Jesus and A.D 95, and have been overlapping and increasing in their intensity since those early days.

Jesus calls the 1st phase of the tribulation the ‘Birth Pangs’ (Matthew 24:8). Jesus then calls the 2nd phase of the tribulation, the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21), also known as the 6th Tribulation Seal (Revelation 6:12-14), and the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord (Joel 2:31), and the Wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:16).. (Please click these links for verification and understanding).

Do you now see the clues to the timing of the first 5 tribulation seals?

Acts 2:14-17, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be…’ (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). Do you see this clue to the timing of the Last Days?

1 Peter 1:20, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “He, (Jesus), was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). Do you see this clue to the timing of the Last Days here?

1 Peter 4:7, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “The end of all things is at hand.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). A clue!

2 Peter 3:3. (the Apostle Peter), saying, “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). Is this true in our day, also?

If these verses say all these things began occurring in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60, and Peter called those days the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

What would you think, now?

1 Corinthians 10:11, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “Now these things happened to them as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Hebrews 1:2, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Hebrews 9:26, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “But as it is, Jesus has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). Could it be any clearer? The Last days began at the appearance of Jesus!

If these verses say all these things began occurring in the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

What would you think?

2 Timothy 3:1, (Timothy), saying, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

If these verses say all these things began occurring in the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

Would you now think the Last Days began? Want more?

1 John 2:18. (the Apostle John), saying, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Revelation 1:9, (The Apostle John), saying, “I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 95 to A.D. 100).

According to the words and the testimonies of Jesus , His disciples and Apostles, the “LAST DAYS – THE LAST TIMES – THE END OF THE AGES – THE END OF ALL THINGS – THE BIRTH PAINS OF THE TRIBULATION” began with the Birth of Christ Jesus.

With the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal we will see that 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. “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. “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 & Revelation 6:12-16)

Sometime after the rapture of the church, which occurs at the 6th Seal, the Antichrist enters a treaty with Israel. This begins the seven-year tribulation:

Daniel 9:25, So you are to know and understand that from the issuance of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until [the coming of] the Messiah (the Anointed One), the Prince, there will be seven weeks [of years] and sixty-two weeks [of years]; it will be built again, with [a city] plaza and moat, even in times of trouble. Verse 26. Then after the sixty-two weeks [of years] the Anointed One will be cut off [and denied His Messianic kingdom] and have nothing [and no one to defend Him], and the people of the [other] prince who is to come [The “prince” is often interpreted as a future ruler or antichrist figure, suggesting a dual fulfillment of prophecy] will destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end will come with a flood [of military people]; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. Verse 27. And he will enter into a binding and irrevocable covenant with the many [enemies of Israel] for one week (seven years), but in the middle of the week he will stop the sacrifice and grain offering [for the remaining three and one-half years – culminating at the seventh tribulation trumpet]; and on the wing of abominations [i.e., a specific part of the Temple] will come one who makes desolate [i.e., the antichrist], even until the complete destruction [a sacrilegious act that defiles the temple, making it desolate – conveys the idea of being laid waste, astonished, or appalled. It describes both the outward ruin of places and the inward stupefaction of people confronted with divine judgment or overwhelming calamity]., one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who causes the horror [or the one who makes desolate which is the antichrist and his forces].”

At the midpoint of the tribulation (1,260 days later – a the seveth tribulation trumpet), the Antichrist breaks the treaty, desecrates the temple, and begins to persecute the Jews.

At the end of the tribulation (1,260 days after the desecration of the temple), Jesus Christ returns to earth and defeats the forces of the Antichrist. (See Revelation 19:11-21 through Revelation 20:1-3 – and notice that Jesus and His armies appear in the skies, and Jesus does not put foot on the earth, but an angel descends to earth to bind and throw satan into the abyss.)

During the next 30 days (leading up to 1,290 days after the desecration of the temple), Israel is rebuilt, and the earth is restored.

During the next 45 days (leading up to 1,335 days after the desecration of the temple), the Gentile nations are judged for their treatment of Israel.

Then the millennium begins, and it will last for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:3, 5–6).

Here is a more complete description of the Tribulation Timeline. Concern yourself with the first SIX SEALS.):

– THE TRIBULATION JUDGMENTS LEAD TO THE END OF THE AGE –

(Concern yourself with the first 6 Seals):

Revelation Ch. 6 – as corresponding to – Matthew Chapter 24

the 1st Tribulation Seal  –  Global conquest and political intrigue

the 2nd Tribulation Seal –  Wars and Rumors of War

the 3rd Tribulation Seal  –  Famine

the 4th Tribulation Seal  –  Death

the 5th Tribulation Seal  –  Martyrs, persecution,Anti-Christ, falling away

During the ‘tribulation period of “birth pangs” (see Matthew 24:8 & Revelation 6) begins with the breaking of the 1st Tribulation Seal and continues through the 5th Tribulation Seal, during which time we will see the

  • Apostasy,
  • The great persecution of Christians,
  • The revealing of the man of perdition and
  • The signing of a peace treaty between Israel and her enemies.

The 1st Seal of the tribulation was being broken just after the death and resurrection of Christ and the succeeding seals (Seals 2 – 5) have been broken at various periods of time since AD 1 and that we have now entered the time of the breaking 5th Tribulation Seal. Jesus refers to this period, the breaking of the tribulation Seals ONE through FIVE as “the beginning of the birth pangs”, and He points out that “this is not yet the end”.

Then, with the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal , THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD, THE GREAT TRIBULATION, BEGINS. (Matthew 24:29, & Revelation 6:12)

“THE GREAT TRIBULATION”

the 6th Tribulation Seal  –  Cosmic disturbances, blood moon, darkened sun

(During the Sixth Tribulation Seal)

  • Sealing of the 144,000
  • The Rapture
  • Multitude from the tribulation before the Throne of God

As witnessed by, Matthew 24:29 “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. Verse 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. Verse 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.”

The “7 years of Great Tribulation” (aka Daniels 70th week) begins with the breaking of the 6th tribulation seal, will reach the mid-point of the tribulation period, (after three and one half years) with the sounding of the 6th Trumpet of the Great Tribulation.

Then, the Great Tribulation will end with the pouring out of the 7 Bowls of Wrath.

I will continue through the ‘Bowl Judgments’ in this article, but, for the Christian, The Rapture has occurred at this point and Jesus has taken His Spotless Bride, The Church, to the Throne of God, Her eternal home.

Be Sure. Be ready. Be secure.

Eternally In His Grip – Your Brother and Friend

Mike Young.

NEW ADDITIONAL “CLUE”: 

Finally, the Apostle Paul, gives a defining key to these mysteries in Ephesians 1:9, which reveals the mystery of God’s will regarding His plan and the time for the fullness or the completion of time – bringing all things in the heavens and for the earth together – in Christ. Jesus’ Birth is the defining moment for the Final Days. His birth starts the final countdown where time leaves the Age of Grace and enters the Birth Pains period of the tribulation, which leads to the Great Tribulation period of the final Seven Years.

KEY VERSE linking all the above: Ephesians 1, verses 9-10, “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, (verse 10), regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth”.

RECAP: with captions: (Ephesians 1:9-10), He, (God the Father),

made known to us the mystery of His will (God the Father’s will),

according to His, (God the Father’s),

good pleasure which He, (God the Father),

set forth in Him (Jesus – God the Son),

regarding His, (God the Father’s),

plan of the fullness of the times, —–> (the “Plan of the fullness of the times” is another way of saying THE LAST DAYS or THE END OF THE AGE or THE CONSUMATION OF THE AGE)

to bring all things together in Christ, —–> (is another way of saying that Jesus is bringing the culmination of the Age. “Jesus did not come to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfill it”  and “”These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come),

“things in the heavens and things on the earth.” —–> (This is another way of saying that God has put all things in subjection to Jesus). (This is the Word of God through the Apostle Paul).

God said He would reveal and has revealed the mystery of Daniel’s Prophetic dream and vision, (Daniel 10 – 12), which is about the End of Days, His Plan of Salvation and of Judgment, which was to be kept secret until it would be revealed as “His plan of the fullness of the times” to bring all things together “in Christ” – things in the heavens and on the earth. I.e., Jesus IS THE REVELATION of God’s plan of the fullness of times.

His Birth marks the beginning of the final days – The End of Days – which lead to the End of All Things and the Rebirth or Recreation of all things. And Ephesians 1:9-10 is the “key” that unlocks the mystery!

This is why Jesus said “these are but the beginnings of the birth pains”, when referring to the tribulation in Matthew 24 and specifically in verse 8; and spoken about again in The Book of The Revelation chapters 6, 7 and 8.

So now you see what is coming and is in fact now upon us. So, if you have never prayed and given your life to God through faith in Jesus, now would be a good time:  “Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and surrender my heart and my life to you.  I will trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior the rest of my days.” 

The 7th Tribulation Seal – (click to continue) – The announcement of the 7 Trumpet Judgments.

(Ancillary reading:  The Great Concurrence and Convergence of Events)

IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE RAPTURE

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

Just Before the Rapture…

Do you ever wonder what will happen on earth in the years and months just before the Rapture?

If you don’t wonder then it is probably due to one of two reasons: (1) You don’t care. (2) You believe what you’ve been hearing about the ‘pre-tribulation rapture’ taking place before the first Tribulation Seal is broken.

Well, if you fit into either or both these 2 reasons, then news on both counts.

On the first count, Jesus says you take care and be ready (Matthew 24:42 ff) or you will be left behind.

And, on the second count, the First Seal, according to the testimonies of Jesus and the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy,  are found in :

These accounts were given by Jesus, the Apostles Paul, Timothy and Peter as early around A.D. 30 or as late as A.D. 95

That being so, you can reliably assume that we are now approaching the Sixth Tribulation Seal and we had better be ready, because there will be no second chances!

Jesus says, in Matthew 24:9–13, that a day is coming when “They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

“At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”

Now, pay close attention to what Jesus, Himself, says in Revelation chapters one, two and three about enduring and overcoming. Jesus is speaking to the seven Churches in these chapters – and remember – the time of tribulation has begun (in or around A.D. 1 to A.D. 95) and the Church is still on the earth at that time, receiving instruction from Jesus. And a clear, plain face-value reading of Matthew chapter 24 will tell you that the Church will remain on earth until the breaking of the Sixth Seal of the Tribulation (please, read it).

– The Revelation of Jesus Christ – Things which must soon take place -Words of the prophecy

This letter of the Revelation begins with these words, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE Second TEMPLE – Occurred in 70 A.D.

THE REVELATION WARNING OF THE COMING TRIBULATION – Occurred in 96 A.D.

Be aware that John was writing of FUTURE events because the Temple had already been destroyed the first time, 26 years before John wrote the book of The Revelation.

So, we must ask the one most important question, “Why is Jesus warning the churches and His followers of something that is coming, in the Book of Revelation, if they would not endure it?”

The correct understanding of the timing of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture and the beginning of “Daniel’s 70th Week” (the seven years of Tribulation) is that these events begin with the Breaking of the Sixth Tribulation Seal.

Until then, “The ones who have an ear, let them hear”.

Jesus tells the Churches (the followers of Christ), that until the breaking of the Sixth Tribulation Seal, they must OVERCOME.

Revelation 2:7 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’

To him who overcomes: Jesus made this promise to him who overcomes – but what does this “Overcomer” overcome? We usually think of overcoming in dramatic terms of overcoming sin and in spiritual warfare, but here Jesus is speaking of overcoming coldness of heart and lack of love marked by leaving their first love of Jesus.

I will give to eat from the tree of life: The promise for these “Overcomers” was a return to Eden, a restoration to God’s Presence, and eternal life. This was meant, first in the eternal sense of making it to heaven, which was no small promise to a people threatened with the removal of Jesus’ presence.

It is also meant in the sense of seeing the effects of the curse cancelled in our own lives though Jesus’ redeeming act of love.

Revelation 2:11 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’

He who overcomes: This was a promise for “Overcomers”. This promise is for those who overcome the threat of persecution, and the presence of persecution.

We might say that we overcome by our close association with Jesus, but, it is that very association that brings both persecution and salvation. Jesus is the ultimate “Overcomer”, as He says, In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Shall not be hurt by the second death: Those who overcome by the power and presence of Jesus within them, will never be hurt by the second death. The second death is hell, the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14 and 21:8). Though Satan will threaten and attack your life, Jesus promises His “Overcomers” that death is conquered for them.

Revelation 2:17 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’

To him who overcomes: The one who overcomes this spirit of accommodation to false teaching and living will receive hidden manna. This is God’s perfect provision, the true bread from heaven (John 6:35).

And I will give him a white stone: In the ancient world, the use of a white stone had many associations. A white stone could be a ticket to a banquet, a sign of friendship, evidence of having been counted, or as a sign of acquittal in a court of law. Jesus may have any one of these meanings in mind, but at the very least we know that it has the assurance of blessing.

Revelation 2:26 ‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;

He who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end: Even when there is the immoral and idolatrous influence of a Jezebel, Christians can overcome and keep Jesus’ works until the end. We must not become overly discouraged at immorality and idolatry around us, even among Christians. God’s work will still go on through His “Overcomers”.

To him I will give power over the nations: Jesus promised that His people will reign with Him. Here, there is a special promise to those who overcome the threat of immorality and idolatry. To them, Jesus offered a share in His own kingdom.

“The word for ‘rule’ (Greek = ‘poimanei’) literally means ‘to shepherd.’

Their rule will not be simply that of executing judgment, but also that of administering mercy and direction.”

I will give him the morning star: Jesus offered them a reward greater than the kingdom. He offered them the reward of Himself, because He is the Morning Star (Revelation 22:16).

Revelation 3:5 ‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments: Jesus identified the “Overcomers” with those few names who have not defiled their garments (Revelation 3:4). These “Overcomers” would wear white garments, received from Jesus.

Jesus explained the absolute necessity of this being clothed by God with His garments of purity and righteousness in His parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:11-14).

Real righteousness is receiving God’s covering instead of trying to cover ourselves. Adam and Eve tried to cover their own sin (Genesis 3:7) but God provided them with a covering that came from sacrifice (Genesis 3:21).

And I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life: By this, the “Overcomers” were assured of their heavenly citizenship. In the ancient world, death or a criminal conviction could blot out the name of an ancient citizen from the city’s book of the living, which was the city register.

But I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels: This was an amazing promise. It simply makes sense that we should be willing to confess the name of Jesus, but it is amazing that He would not be ashamed to confess us!

Revelation 3:12 ‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.”

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar: “Overcomers” were told that they would be as a pillar in the temple of My God. Pillars were pictures of strength, stability, and dignified beauty.

He shall go out no more: The “Overcomer” would have a place of permanence and stability with God, in contrast to an uncertain place in this world.

I will write on him the name of My God… I will write on him My new name: The “Overcomer” also received many names – of God, the New Jerusalem, and the new name of Jesus. These names are marks of identification because they show who we belong to. They are marks of intimacy, because they show we are privileged to know Him in ways others are not.

Revelation 3:21 ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

To him who overcomes: Jesus’ promise to the “Overcomer”, even at Laodicea, showed that we don’t have to be Christians who are compromising and lukewarm. If we are, we can change and become one of Jesus’ overcomers.

I will grant to sit with Me on My throne: Those who overcome the battle against indifference, compromise, and self-reliance, receive a special reward. They enjoy a place with the enthroned Jesus (as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne).

Revelation 21:5 “And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Verse 6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.

Verse 7 “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

Verse 8 “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Jesus is telling His Followers that they must “Endure to the end” and “Overcome”. We are nearing that time.

Peter validates, in Acts 2:14-21 that “the beginning of birth pangs”, that is the breaking of the tribulation Seals One began as early as A.D. 1 and the successive breaking of seals two through five have been ongoing to this day.  (Also see Matthew 24:8 for the Birth Pains Seals).

Then, with the coming day of the Breaking of the Sixth seal we will see…

  • Jesus return in the sky and gather His elect from the four corners of the earth
  • God will seal the 144,000 from the Tribes of Israel
  • The Church Raptured and all Believers will be standing at the Throne of God, clothed in the white robes.
  • God’s succeeding Judgments poured out on earth
  • Jesus and His armies defeat Satan.

Prepare Ourselves for battle. We must Endure and Overcome! We have been warned to  BE READY!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

THE PURPOSES OF tribulation AND OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

the day of the lord.jpg

THE PURPOSE, THE LENGTH AND THE OUTCOME OF THE TRIBULATION can be found in the book of  Daniel 12:1 “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise.

 

And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time;

(For Cross reference) also see the Words of Jesus, Matthew 24:21, “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.”

Also see Joel 2:2, “A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come.”

Also see Jeremiah 30:7, “How awful that day will be! None will be like it! It is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved out of it.

Also see Revelation 16:18, “And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake the likes of which had not occurred since men were upon the earth, so mighty was the great quake.”

Also see Isaiah 13:9-13, “Behold, the Day of the LORD is coming, cruel, with fury and burning anger—to make the earth a desolation and to destroy the sinners within it. / For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless. …

Also see Zephaniah 1:15-18, “That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, / a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers. I will bring such distress on mankind that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung.”

Also see Ezekiel 5:9, “Because of all your abominations, I will do to you what I have never done before and will never do again.”

and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.

(For Cross reference) also see the Words of Jesus in Revelation 3:5, “The one who overcomes will be clothed the same way, in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”

Daniel 12 Verse 2. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life,

(For Cross reference) see 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “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.Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

Also see 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Also see Revelation 7:14, “Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Also see Revelation 7:14, “Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Also see Revelation 3:5, “Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His angels.

(Daniel 12:2 cont’d.) but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.

(For Cross reference) also see Revelation 20:15, “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Also see John 5:28-29, “Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice / and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.“

Also see Matthew 25:46, “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Also see Revelation 20:12-15, “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. …

Daniel 12 Verse 3. And those who have insight will shine like the glow of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Verse 4. But as for you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal up the book until the end of time; many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.”

Verse 5. Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the stream and the other on that bank of the stream. Verse 6. And someone said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?”

Daniel 12 Verse 7. And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time (one year), times (two years), and half a time (one-half a year); and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.

(For Cross reference) see Revelation 12:14, “But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for a time, times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent.”

Also see Revelation 11:2-3, “But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months (3.5 years). And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Also see Revelation 13:5, “The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months (3.5 years).”

Daniel 12 Verse 8. But as for me, I heard but did not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?”  Verse 9. And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words will be kept secret and sealed up until the end time.

Daniel 12 Verse 10. Many will be purged, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but  those who have insight will understand.

(For Cross reference) see 1 Peter 1:6-7, “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Also see Revelation 22:11, “Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.”

Also see Matthew 13:41-43, “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”

Also see Zechariah 13:9, “This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”

Daniel 12 Verse 11. And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Verse 12. Blessed is the one who is patient and attains to the 1,335 days! Verse 13. But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

RECAP:

  1. Daniel 12:1, And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people,
  2. everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Verse 2. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Verse
  3. Verse 3.. And those who have insight will shine like the glow of the expanse of heaven,
  4. and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Verse 4. But as for you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal up the book until the end of time; many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.”Verse 5. Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the stream and the other on that bank of the stream. Verse 6. And someone said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream,
  5. “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” Verse 7. And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that
    1. it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. Verse 8. But as for me, I heard but did not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?”  Verse 9. And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words will be kept secret and sealed up until the end time.
  6. Verse 10. Many will be purged, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but  those who have insight will understand.
  7. Verse 11. And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Verse 12.
    1. Blessed is the one who is patient and attains to the 1,335 days! Verse 13. But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

I. Revelation 1:1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Jesus, shows His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.

(This Book of The Revelation was written in 96 AD, 26 years after the destruction of the 2nd Temple. The destruction of the 1st and 2nd Temples occurred and are a foreshadowing of what is yet to come.)

The things you read in the book of The Revelation have not yet been completed. Although the first five seals of the tribulation “birth pains” (see Matthew 24:8) were opened around A.D. 1 to A.D. 95, as witnessed by The Apostles Paul and Peter, the fifth Seal has been broken and is now playing out with the apostasy of the Church (the falling away from the faith), the persecution of the Church, we are awaiting the revealing of the “Man of Lawlessness”, (see 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) which will be followed by cataclysmic astronomical disturbances, and the sign of the Son of Man appearing in the sky, when 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. And at that time, He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect, His chosen ones, from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other, and the rapture will have occured.

Then comes The Great and Terrible day of the Lord, The Wrath of the Lamb, which will commence with the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal.)

Revelation 1:1-3, He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant, John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, and to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Tribulation Judgments lead to the End of the Age

Here is a comparison of Jesus’ words about the End of The Age and His return, found both in Matthew chapter 24 and Reverlation chapters 6, 7, and 8. For now, please concern yourself with the first 6 Tribulation Seals:

Events found in Revelation Chaper 6 – Events found in Matthew Chapter 24.

The 1st Tribulation Seal   – Global conquest and political intrigue.

The 2nd Tribulation Seal – Wars and Rumors of War.

The 3rd Tribulation Seal  – Famines, earthquakes, pestilence.

The 4th Tribulation Seal  – Death.

The 5th Tribulation Seal  – Martyrdom, persecution, revealing of the                                                                           Antichrist, the great apostasy

II. Wars, famine, earthquakes, pestilence, death, martyrs, persecutions. I hear so many people ask, “If God is a loving God, how can He allow so much suffering in the world? Why do such bad things happen to good people?” And, we have heard all the answers, some even denying that it is God Who allows such bad things to happen..

There seems to be three main categories of thought about why God allows bad things to happen.

1. Satan’s domain is this fallen world, at least, for now. Satan is called the “prince of the power of the air” in Ephesians 2:2. He is the “ruler of this world” in John 12:31. These titles and many more signify Satan’s capabilities. It is Satan who brings trouble and suffering, even on the innocent.

2. This fallen world brings both good and evil. God has told us in Matthew5:44 that. “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Such is the natural fallen world.

3. God allows Tribulation as a means of executing His Righteous Judgment on evil and as a means to prepare us by to live in His Eternal Kingdom.

“Many will be purged, cleansed, and refined, and those who have insight will shine like the glow of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever”

1 Peter 1:4-7, also tells us that “to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. You who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 

Psalms 34:17, The righteous cry, and the LORD hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.

Verse 18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Verse 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

Verse 20 He keeps all his bones,
Not one of them is broken.

Verse 21 Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

Verse 22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

God says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” We will suffer, but, God delivers us out of our afflictions.

How is this so? Why must we suffer only to be delivered? Psalms 34 verse 22 says “The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.”

This is not a simple act of deliverance from trouble. It is a Devine Deliverance, the Redemption of your soul.

It is a Divine Deliverance,

The Redemption of your Soul!

III. Daniel 12 tells us God’s purpose for suffering is so that “Many will be purged, purified and refined” Daniel 12:10 We are being prepared, as His Bride, to enter His Kingdom.

IV. Acts 14:22 tells us that “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

V. And, 1 Peter 1 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Verse 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Verse 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Verse 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

Verse 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

We must Endure to the End

Overcome Tribulation and Suffering

To enter His Eternal Presence.

VI. Finally, the Apostle Paul reminds us, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans8:18

I suspect, if we are at all alike, that we want to escape troubles, trials and tribulation, whenever possible. But, God’s Word says he will use these trials to “purge, purify and refine” us, for our preparation to live in His Eternal Kingdom. Daniel 12:10

Just know that Tribulation is coming, and is already upon us. It has been foretold.

  • For now is our great Journey to Perfection.
  • We must Get Ready,
  • Be Ready,
  • Stay Ready,
  • Overcome and
  • Endure to the End
  • And Be Saved.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Next: When Does The 7 Years of The Great Tribulation, Also Known as “The Great And Terrible Day of The Lord / The Wrath of the Lamb” Begin?

The 5th Tribulation Seal

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

The 5th Tribulation Seal

~

The Apostasy, Martyrs, The Peace Treaty, The Antichrist

BE ALERT:  Are we witnessing the completion of the events of the 5th Tribulation Seal?

Revelation 6:9 tells us, “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;

Verse 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 on the earth?”

Verse 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.”

I was having a conversation with a Christian friend and during our talk, he made these four points:

1.  “I believe the return of Jesus is near”.

2.  “I am looking forward to the rapture”.

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3.  “I believe the tribulation will begin as soon as the rapture happens”.

4.  “The antichrist will appear after the rapture and give the Mark of the Beast”.

When I asked him to elaborate by telling me where he gets his information, he said, “From the Bible”.

So, I pressed him a little, and asked “where in the Bible”.  And, he answers with “The Book of Revelation and elsewhere”.

I decided to go to the ‘full court press’ and asked, “Yes, but, exactly where?  And why do you believe what you have said?”

A bit exasperated, he responded with, “This is what I have always heard.  It’s what my pastor says.  Read it for yourself”.

I have had this same conversation with scores of well-meaning Christians, and it always ends the same way, “Someone else told me” but they cannot find it in scriptures OR they find a reference and ‘interpolate’.

Well, I have read it for myself – over and over for the last 10 years – I have studied eschatological matters and re-studied them, and used “good Bible study techniques and methods”, and here is what I found (for the ‘umpteenth time’):

Now, finally, well-known and respected men and women like Pastor and teacher John Piper and missionary Corrie Ten Boom have come to this realization.  Bible teacher and author and Biblical pioneer, Marvin Rosenthal, founder of Zion’s Hope Ministries, authored “The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church” revealing and promoting sound Biblical evidence overlooked by the bias of religious denominationalism.

I.  WHEN  DID”THE LAST DAYS” BEGIN? Look for and make note of ‘clues’ in the following verses:

Matthew 24:4-31, (Jesus), describing a panorama of the tribulation and the Last Days. Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them, (see Matthew 24:3-4),

(1). Jesus warned that “In the Last Days, there will be a rise of false Christs and false prophets. (This was an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35. See Matthew 24:4-5). Do you see these things in our day? Is this a clue pointing to the “Last Days”?

(2). Jesus said, “In the Last Days, there will be famines and earthquakes”. (This has been a regular occurrence since as early as A.D. 35 or earlier. See Matthew 24:7 and the 4th Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:5-8). Do you see these things happening in our day? If you aren’t ‘denominationally biased’ could this reasonably be a clue to the timing of the “Last Days”?

(3). Jesus said, “In the Last Days, there are wars and rumors of wars. (Wars and rumors of war have been occurring since as early as A.D. 35 or earlier. See Matthew 24:6 and the 2nd Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:3-4).

(4). Jesus said, “In the Last Days, there will be a persecution and martyrdom of Christians. (This has been an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35. “See Matthew 24:9 and the onset of the 5th tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:9-11).

(5). Jesus said, “In the Last Days, there will be a falling away from the faith.” (This has been an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35, and has been increasing to this very day. See Matthew 24:10).

These things, false Christs, wars and rumors of war, famines, earthquakes and plagues, persecutions, martyrs, which Jesus calls the ‘Birth Pangs’ of the tribulation (see Matthew 24:8), are nothing new; and from these cited verses, we can plainly see that the first 5 tribulation Seals have been broken, and the effects had begun between the time of the birth of Jesus and A.D 95, and have been overlapping and increasing in their intensity since those early days.

Jesus calls the 1st phase of the tribulation the ‘Birth Pangs’ (Matthew 24:8). Jesus then calls the 2nd phase of the tribulation, the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21), also known as the 6th Tribulation Seal (Revelation 6:12-14), and the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord (Joel 2:31), and the Wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:16).. (Please click these links for verification and understanding).

Do you now see the clues to the timing of the first 5 tribulation seals?

Acts 2:14-17, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be…’ (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). Do you see this clue to the timing of the Last Days?

1 Peter 1:20, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “He, (Jesus), was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). Do you see this clue to the timing of the Last Days here?

1 Peter 4:7, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “The end of all things is at hand.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). A clue!

2 Peter 3:3. (the Apostle Peter), saying, “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). Is this true in our day, also?

If these verses say all these things began occurring in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60, and Peter called those days the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

What would you think, now?

1 Corinthians 10:11, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “Now these things happened to them as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Hebrews 1:2, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Hebrews 9:26, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “But as it is, Jesus has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). Could it be any clearer? The Last days began at the appearance of Jesus!

If these verses say all these things began occurring in the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

What would you think?

2 Timothy 3:1, (Timothy), saying, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

If these verses say all these things began occurring in the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

Would you now think the Last Days began? Want more?

1 John 2:18. (the Apostle John), saying, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Revelation 1:9, (The Apostle John), saying, “I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 95 to A.D. 100).

According to the words and the testimonies of Jesus , His disciples and Apostles, the “LAST DAYS – THE LAST TIMES – THE END OF THE AGES – THE END OF ALL THINGS – THE BIRTH PAINS OF THE TRIBULATION” began with the Birth of Christ Jesus.

(The following in these parentheses is very detailed, technical and written language and context specific. But this is very important for a correct and complete understanding of these eschatological matters. It is probably best suited for the devoted follower of Jesus and the serious Bible student. And I am available via this website for discussion or to answer honest and serious questions.

I have been told by several ‘self- proclaimed bible experts’ that these things were only the times of persecution and not the tribulations of the Judgment Seals. Let me be Biblically clear: the use of the word ‘tribulation’ appears just 19 times in the English Standard Version of the Bible.

Sixteen of those instances are in the New Testament, and each instance, tribulation is translated from the Greek word ‘thlipsis’, whether referring to a time before or after the Sixth Tribulation Seal and the rapture.

Then in Matthew 13:21 we see, “yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation (thlipsis) or persecution (diogmos) arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.” Each word is distinct in its meaning and in its context – tribulation versus persecution.

Additionally, Jesus makes a distinction between the Birth Pains (odin) of the tribulation (thlipsis) leading up to the Great (megas) Tribulation (thlipsis) in Matthew 24:21, when He says,

“For then (tote) there will be (eimi = future tense) great (megas) tribulation (thlipsis), such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.”

And again, in Matthew 24:29-31, Jesus makes a distinction between the Birth Pains phase of the tribulation (Seals 1 through 5), and the Great Tribulation (Seals 6 and 7, and the Trumpet and Bowl Judgments) when He says,

“Immediately (eutheōs) after (meta) the tribulation (thlipsis) of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Finally, these same experts will say that Matthew 24:29-31 is neither the rapture nor is it the second coming of Jesus. But the scripture says,

“Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory…and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.“

We can also see in the corresponding scriptures in Revelation 6 and 7, “After these things (see Revelation 6:1 through Revelation 7:9)

I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying,

“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying,

“Amen, blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

In recapitulation, Jesus appears in the sky, the angels gather the elect and immediately, a number too great to be counted is standing before the Throne of God, giving praise! Don’t be misled. This is THE RAPTURE!!)

II.  WHEN IS JESUS COMING BACK?

2 Thessalonians 2:1 tells us, “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him (i.e., “raptured”) we ask you, brothers,

Verse 2.  “not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

Verse 3.  “Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, until the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed (i.e., the antichrist), the son of destruction,

Verse 4.  “who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

Verse 5.  “Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things?

Verse 6.  “And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.

Verse 7.  “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only He who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.

Verse 8.  “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.”

III.  WHAT’S NEXT?

Every event and all the prophecies regarding Jesus’ 2nd Coming and the coming Great and Terrible Day of the Lord have been fulfilled up through the 5th tribulation seal – except for the revealing of the antichrist and the rapture of the saints, (which occurs at the 6th Tribulation Seal).

The Opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal which marks the BEGINNING OF the 7 years of “THE GREAT, (megas), TRIBULATION, (thlipsis) ”, (Matthew 24:21,  “THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD“).

The 6th Tribulation Seal –  Cosmic disturbances, blood moon, darkened sun

Revelation 7:13,“Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” verse 14.  “I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

IV.  WHAT AM I TO BE DOING?

1 Peter 4:7“The end of all things is near; therefore,

(1). Be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

(2). verse 8.  “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

(3). verse 9.  “Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

(4). verse 10.  “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

(5). verse 11. “Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God;

(6). whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

(7). verse 10.  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

(8) verse 11.  “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Verse 12. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

(9). verse 13. “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

(10). verse 14.  “Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, verse 15. “and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; verse 16.  “in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. verse 17. “And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

(12). verse 18.“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

(13). Matthew 10:7, And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

(14).  verse 8. “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.

(15). verse 19.“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,

(16). baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

(17) verse 20.  “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

I have tried my best to make this simple and clear yet thorough:  we are at the end of the age and at the precipice.  Denominational bias and clutter have clouded these matters.  But, now they are plain, and now several well known and credible Bible scholars, Bible teachers and pastors are shaking off the heavy cloak of denominationalism and coming to this revealed Truth.

I want to give special credit to Marvin Rosenthal who pioneered the uncovering of this Bible truth through his tireless and groundbreaking teaching on this matter and his book, “The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church“.  Also, to his son, David Rosenthal and the entire staff – THANK YOU.  An untold number have benefited and been saved by your hard, selfless and God-centered work.

May God protect, preserve and bless us all.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Also, Here are 5 excellent videos on the Pre-Wrath Rapture.  Just click on this text.

PS:

Luke 21:25“There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, verse 26, people fainting from fear and the expectation of the things that are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Verse 27. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

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

IS THIS THE END OF THE AGE?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Is This The

… You won’t see this in the Mainstream Media

(Please Note: I have been student of Biblical eschatology for over 20 years and a serious student of Biblical eschatology for the last ten years.

There was a time that I simply accepted the traditional dispensational teaching on the tribulation, and the rapture. But honestly, after each conference or sermon series I attened on this matter, I came away more confused than before, although the teacher or pastor would usually offer the disclaimer that it was normal to not understand all of it.

But I became absolutely certain that John Nelson Darby (the  originator of the idea of a rapture) did not have it all right. It was his mistake and it is anyone’s mistake to start at the end of a matter and try to study it by working to its conclusion. You have to start “at the beginning” or “in the beginning” and draw the conclusions given by scriptures “at the end” and it this case, “at the of time”.

The evolution of the tradtional teachings on the tribulation and the rapture has solved nothing, and has, at best, just created division. The traditional views,

The rapture is associated with the tribulation period. The timing of the rapture in relation to the tribulation is one of the most controversial issues in the church today. Some of the primary views are

A more recent view, the “Pre-Wrath Tribulation and Rapture” was a presented by a man named Robert Van Kampen, an American businessman, who served as a member of various organizational boards in the business world and Christian ministry. (1938-1999). Then in 1990 Marvin Rosenthal, a pastor, writer, and Biblical lecturer  developed  this viewpoint in his book, The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church. Rosenthal was not the originator of this new viewpoint. Rather, he was the one who popularized it with his book.

  • Pre-wrath rapture (Sixth Tribulation Seal Rapture).

The previous viewpoints just do not and cannot make sense because they do not square with the plain and simple words of Jesus, His disciple’s and the Apostle’s tesimonies regarding the End of Days or the Last Days which are plainly found in the scriptures. They are a patchwork of partially realted or unrelated scriptures and events – an unsolvable ‘religious eschatological rubic’s cube’ or sorts.

It is my prayer and hope to dispel the mystery surrounding these matters and bring you the simple truth. It will require, however, careful reading, study and a thorough comparison with scriptures, on your part. (If you say “I have always heard differently” or “have been taught otherwise” so I will. not listen, then please stop here.

But please know that this is important.

It is important because most people are simply standing by staring skyward, waiting for an event that has already begun, but having done little-to-nothing in preparation, and scriptures admonish us to get ready, to be ready and to stay ready for what is upon us.

It matters 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.

It matters because being ready requires believing and doing what He has instructed us to do in preparation for His
return.

It matters 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.’

It matters 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

It matters 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.

It matters because, as Christians, our faith, our convictions and our behaviors are speaking louder than our words

If there is any chance that you might sense that all is not as they have been saying or that you want to know “the rest of the story”, then please pray and read on.)

Matthew 24:3 says,  “As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Verse 4, “And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.

Verse 5, “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

Verse 6, “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

Verse 7, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.

Verse 8, “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

Verse 9, “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.”

So, when will these things happen?

I. Many will come IN MY NAME:

This can be someone literally saying ‘I am the Christ’, but it is proving to be those who consider themselves as an emissary of Christ – such as ‘ordained pastors’ – who speak for Christ, but are blindly following ‘new age’ or errant doctrines; or, as we are clearly seeing, now, in our day, ‘institutional deception’, where entire denominations fall away from the clear teachings of Jesus and lead millions astray. (Also see “Shipwrecked”).

So, how can we know ‘which of the false Christs‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

II. WARS and rumors of war:

There have been thousands upon thousands of wars and conflicts since the time of Christ. Most notable for their scope and breadth are the

  • Religious Crusades (1095 – 1291, Muslims vs Latin Church, almost 2 million dead),
  • WWI (1914 – 1918, 17 million dead), and
  • WW2 (1939 – 1945, over 70 million dead).

Current wars and conflicts 2018: Interactive global conflict tracker.

historical_activity_200years.jpg

So, how can we know ‘which wars and rumors of wars‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

III. EARTHQUAKES & VOLCANOES:

Earthquakes are nothing new. In fact, they are so numerous that I can only give you a web link by period of time and let you view what has been recorded. But, Jesus did warn they would come.

Lists of earthquakes by period. (use the links below).

HISTORY_of_earthquakes_1900-.svg.png

Seismic Event List Index

Volcanoes are nothing new, either, but it would seem that seismic events (volcanoes) are on the rise.

historical_activity_600years.jpg

Figure 1. Graph lines showing the number of volcanoes reported to have been active each year since 1400 and 1800 C.E.

At first glance the nearly exponential increase through recent centuries suggests that the planet may soon be overwhelmed by volcanic activity, but this increase tracks the striking growth of global population that has spread potential observers of eruptions over much of the Earth and the technological advances that have facilitated reporting of those eruptions. Global Volcanism Program, 2013. Volcanoes of the World, Smithsonian Institution. January 2020.

So, how can we know ‘which EARTHQUAKES‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

IV. FAMINES:

Famines have taken hundreds of millions of lives since the time of Christ, so this is nothing new, either.

Famine-victims-and-world-population-sinc

So, how can we know ‘which FAMINES‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

V. PERSECUTION:

Jesus tells us there will be a worldwide persecution of Christians. A look at history shows us that In the first few centuries, Christianity grew quickly. By A.D. 325, an estimated 7 million people were Christians, with as many as 2 million killed for their faith in Jesus.

However, according to a Christian think-tank. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC) says 900,000 Christians have been ‘martyred’ in the last decade, equating to 90,000 a year and one every six minutes.

This may be the most dangerous time in history to be Christian

At least 327 million Christians face persecution, according to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), which released its biannual report on Religious Freedom in the World in November 2018. That is 7 percent of the world’s 2.3 billion Christians, estimated by Pew Research Center in 2015.

245 million Christians in the top 50 countries on Open Doors USA’s 2019World Watch List experience high levels of persecution (i.e.: torture, rape, sex-slavery, for conversion to Christianity, murder and genocide), an increase of 14 percent from 2018. Sixty percent of those enduring persecution are children; women and girls are most violated. Release International, a UK-based human rights watchdog in operation for the past 50 years who partner with U.S.-based “Voice of the Martyrs” said they expect global anti-Christian persecution is set to rise ‘sharply’ in 2019. – (Read the report here)

So, how can we know ‘whichperiod of Christian Persecution‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

So, where does all of this lead?

1. You will know when ‘The End of the Age’ is near, not when one or two of these events occur, but when ALL of ‘these things’ occur and converge concurrently, as Jesus said they would; then these things are the harbinger of ‘those things’ which have come to pass. (Also, see “The Tribulation of Those Days’).

2. The phrase “the beginning of birth pangs” is a statement made by Jesus in or around the year AD 30 and is a translation of the Greek archē _ ōdin . The meaning of the phrase, translated in the KJV as “the beginning of sorrows” is a direct reference to preliminary birth pangs that ultimately lead to the full scale contractions and travail, which leads to the actual birth.

Recognizing the Old Testament reference that Jesus was hearkening to is an essential, but often overlooked key to determining the timing of the prophecy. Jesus was pointing his disciples to two key passages from the prophet Isaiah.

The first passage is Isaiah 26, a portion of Scripture found in the middle of what is sometimes referred to as “Isaiah’s little apocalypse”. There, the Lord speaks through Isaiah, specifically contrasting the expectations of the Jewish people regarding deliverance, redemption and physical resurrection with the reality of the pain, suffering and travail that they had corporately experienced. In verses 16-18, the complaint of Israel is raised that despite having endured the great suffering of labor, the expected “birth” of deliverance, redemption and resurrection had not arrived.

This makes clear that the Last Days and the opening of the tribulation Seals began in our around A.D. 30.  Other references which confirm this date are

Matthew 24:4-31, (Jesus), describing a panorama of the tribulation and the Last Days. Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them, (see Matthew 24:3-4),

(1). “In the Last Days, there will be a rise of false Christs and false prophets. (This was an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35. See Matthew 24:4-5).

(2). In the Last Days, there will be famines and earthquakes. (This has been a regular occurrence since as early as A.D. 35 or earlier. See Matthew 24:7 and the 4th Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:5-8).

(3). In the Last Days, there are wars and rumors of wars. (Wars and rumors of war have been occurring since as early as A.D. 35 or earlier. See Matthew 24:6 and the 2nd Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:3-4).

(4). In the Last Days, there will be a persecution and martyrdom of Christians. (This has been an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35. See Matthew 24:9 and the 5th tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:9-11).

(5). In the Last Days, there will be a falling away from the faith. (This has been an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35, and has been increasing to this very day. See Matthew 24:10).

These things, false Christs, wars and rumors of war, famines, earthquakes and plagues, persecutions, martyrs, which Jesus calls the ‘Birth Pangs’ of the tribulation, are nothing new; and from these cited verses, we can plainly see that the first 5 tribulation Seals have been broken, and the effects had begun between the time of the birth of Jesus and A.D 95, and have been overlapping and increasing in their intensity since those early days.

Jesus calls the 1st phase of the tribulation the ‘Birth Pangs’ (Matthew 24:8). Jesus then calls the 2nd phase of the tribulation, the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21), also known as the 6th Tribulation Seal (Revelation 6:12-14), and the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord (Joel 2:31), and the Wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:16).. (Please click these links for verification and understanding).

Now, what would you think?

Acts 2:14-17, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be…’ (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

1 Peter 1:20, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “He, (Jesus), was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

 1 Peter 4:7, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “The end of all things is at hand.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

 2 Peter 3:3. (the Apostle Peter), saying, “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

If these verses say all these things began occurring in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60, and Peter called those days the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

What would you think?

1 Corinthians 10:11, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “Now these things happened to them as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Hebrews 1:2, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Hebrews 9:26, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “But as it is, Jesus has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

If these verses say all these things began occurring in the LAST TIMES, THE DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

What would you think?

 2 Timothy 3:1, (Timothy), saying, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

If these verses say all these things began occurring in the LAST TIMES, THE DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

What would you think?

 1 John 2:18. (the Apostle John), saying, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

 Revelation 1:9, (The Apostle John), saying, “I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 95 to A.D. 100).

as spoken by Jesus and the Apostles Paul, Peter, John and Timothy the disicple of Jesus.

(You can also see a teaching by Pastor and Teacher, John Piper on the timing of the End Times. But, 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.)

3. You must ask yourself, “why would Jesus warn His disciples (and subsequent disciples or anyone who would eventually read His Words in the Bible) about these coming events if they would not experience these events? Said another way, if we would have been Raptured before the tribulation, why warn us?  Why warn His disciples and followers about something they would not experience?” The anwer is, “HE WOULD NOT HAVE WARNED US UNLESS WE WOULD ENDURE THE FIRST 5 TRIBULATION SEALS, AND WOULD  NEED TO BE PREPARED!”

NOTE: The first five tribulation seals have been opened progressively since around the time of the birth of Jesus through around A.D. 95. These seals overlap (occur concurrently and converge), and are increasing in intensity, which will lead to the future 6th Tribulation Seal, which is the begining of the Day of God’s Wrath, cosmic disturbances, blood moon, darkened sun, the Rapture, the multitude of people out of the tribulation before the throne of God, the Sealing of the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel.

4. How can we tell WHICH ‘wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes’ were the result of the breaking of the first Seal of the tribulation, because there have been thousands of them since Jesus said these words.

5. I say again, Jesus, the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy, plus direct, clear and obvious scriptural references in  Hebrews 1:2, Hebrews 9:26, Acts 2:14-17, 2 Timothy 3:1, 1 Peter 1:20, 1 Peter 4:7, 2 Peter 3:3 confirm that these events began in or around the year A.D. 30.

6. Was Jesus wanting to ‘scare’ listeners into believing by warning them ahead of time? (I think not. Trickery just doesn’t fit Jesus Character, and He tells us “do not be frightened” by these things.)

7. Jesus tells His disciples (and subsequent disciples or anyone who would eventually read His Word in the bible), in Matthew 24:6 that

“You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. Verse 7. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. Verse 8. “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”

And a few verses later, Matthew 24:13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”

If we will have been “Raptured” and out of harms way when these things begin, then why would He be telling us these things?

Why is Jesus telling us that we should not be frightened by the WARS, Rumors OF WARS, NATIONS RISING AGAINST NATIONS, FAMINES, EARTHQUAKES, and that we must ENDURE TO THE END TO BE SAVED if we would not be affected?

Again I ask if we will have been “Raptured” and out of harms way when these things begin, then why would He be telling us these things?

5. When you compare Jesus’ Words in the book of Matthew with John the Revelator’s account of the ‘End of Days’ in Revelation, why do you get the very real sense that something about pre-tribulation evangelical or reformed doctrines of the end times don’t line up with or doesn’t fit with what you read IN THE BIBLE.

Look at it this way:   When Hurricane Irma hit the U.S. it was a category 5 storm;  As Irma progressed up the peninsula of Florida, it became a category 4 storm;  then as it entered Alabama it became a category 3 storm;  and finally as it entered Georgia, Irma became a tropical storm; and later as it entered Tennessee, it became a rain event.

To those in the various states which hurricane Irma entered, it would have appeared to them that Irma might have been 5 different storms, occurring consecutively; first a Category 5 storm, then, a Category 4 storm, then, a Category 3 hurricane, then, a Tropical storm, and, finally, a rain event.  But if viewed “From Above” it was ONE CONTINUOUS STORM, progressively unfolding to its conclusion

Next: “How We Should Prepare and Respond in These Last Days”.

Your Brother and Friend

Mike Young

Go to these links. Study. Learn.

WHEN WILL THE TRIBULATION BEGIN – OR HAS IT ALREADY BEGUN?

THE END OF THE AGE – a short, and to-the-point, series about the Last Days.

CONCURRENCE OF EVENTS POINTING TO THE END OF THE AGE – a short and to-the-point-series of concurrent and converging events in these days.

THE RAPTURE REVEALED

THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST IS NOW AMONG US – Where is he?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST IS PRESENT AMONG US

 “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now it is already in the world.”  (1 John 4:2-3).

 (Part 1)

 The Antichrist – Who is he?

No one knows who the Antichrist will be, but we do know that when he is revealed, he will not be a frightening figure.  In fact, he will be just the opposite until he has gained power.

There is a reference in Daniel 11:21 comparing Antiochus Epiphanes to a type of antichrist, who is one of the most brutal rulers known in history, easily eclipsing the horrors of Adolph Hitler and his Third Reich.

But, the horrors of Antiochus Epiphanes will pale in comparison to the brutality and horror of the coming Antichrist.

Traits of the Antichrist Described in the Bible

  • Intelligent: Revelation 13:18; Daniel 7:8.
  • Charismatic Speaker: Daniel 7:8 Revelation 13:5.
  • Crafty Politician: Daniel 9:27; Revelation 17:12, 13, 17.
  • Distinct Physical Appearance: Daniel 7:20.
  • Military Genius: Revelation 4; 17:14; 19:19.
  • Economic Genius: Daniel 11:38.
  • Blasphemer: Revelation 13:6.
  • Utterly Lawless: 2 Thessalonians 2:8.
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  • Selfish, Ambitious Egomaniac: Daniel 11:36, 37; 2 Thessalonians 2:4.
  • Greedy Materialist: Daniel 11:38.
  • Controlling:  Daniel 7:25.
  • Proud and Self-exalting Above God and Everything: Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians. 2:4.

What is the purpose of the Antichrist?

His purpose is to deceive.  The Antichrist is a person prophesied by the Bible to oppose Christ and substitute himself in Christ’s place before the Second Coming.

ANOTHER BEAST  –  The False Prophet

Revelation 13:11 says, “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.

  • He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.
  • And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.
  • He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.
  • And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life.
  • And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
  • And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,

and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.

“Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”  Revelation 13:11-18.

He will doom anyone who receives his “mark” and worships him to suffer God’s Wrath.  “So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.”  Revelation 16:2

Those which he deceived, those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image, are thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.  Revelation 19:20

WHAT IS THE MARK OF THE BEAST?

No one knows what ‘the mark’ will actually look like.  There is speculation that it could be an image (icon) or a microchip or a tattooed type of barcode used in place of money or credit cards for tracking, commerce and trade.  But, from scriptures we do know…

  • And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, ?
  • and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.
  • Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.  Revelation 13:11-18

WHEN WILL THIS BEAST GIVE HIS MARK?

The most popular idea is that the Antichrist will “cause all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, verse 17. And he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.”  from, Revelation 13:16-17 sometime before the rapture of the Church.

HOWEVER, the Bible tells us that the Antichrist will be revealed before the rapture of the church.

2 Thessalonians2:3 tells us, “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, verse 4. 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” ), which is sometime during the 5th Tribulation Seal period, or just at the beginning of the 6th Tribulation Seal.

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And according to the Bible, the Antichrist gives his ‘Mark’ after the Seal Judgments, after the Rapture, and just after the 6th Tribulation Trumpet Judgment or during the 7th Trumpet Judgment, which is the Mid-Point of the Great Tribulation, which is after three and one half years of the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation period.

Revelation 13:16-17 tells us when the Antichrist  “causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, Verse 17. And he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.”  

As I have proposed on numerous occasions, the Tribulation Seal Judgments 1 through 4 (wars and rumors of war, famines, plagues, earthquakes, spread of new diseases) began in or around AD 1.  (click this link for “When Does Daniel’s 70th Week, also known as, the 7 Years of Great Tribulation, begin).

We have seen the 5th Tribulation Seal being opened in our lifetime, the great apostasy or falling away from the faith, false messiahs, great deceptions, a.k.a. the ‘deluding influence’ and alienation from one another, and it is become more pronounced as time passes.

The Apostle Paul informs us, in 2 Thessalonians 2

Verse 2. “you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

  1. Verse 3.  “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and
  2. the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, Verse 4. 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.”

What this means to you and to me is that some of us will have the opportunity to suffer awhile before God takes us away in the Rapture.  How do we know this?  The Bible says so:

1 Peter1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

  • verse 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
  • verse 5.  Who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
  • verse 6.  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Revelation 6:9 tells us that, “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; verse 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 on the earth?”
  • Verse 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.

The ‘times of distress’, also referred to “the birth pains” phase of the tribulation, encompass Tribulation Seals 1 through 5, (see Matthew 24:3-8).

But the Great Tribulation also known as The Wrath of God, The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, and the Wrath of the Lamb, begins with the breaking or opening of the 6th Seal of the Tribulation.

NOTE: The final 7 years of Daniel’s 70 Weeks, also known as the 7 Years of the Great Tribulation will begin with the Breaking of the Sixth Tribulation Seal. It will reach the mid-point (3 1/2 years) at the blowing of the 7th Trumpet Judgment and will conclude with the pouring out of the 7th Bowl Judgment. (Please see “Did Jesus Really Say This” and “When Do the Seven Years of Great Tribulation Begin?” for confirmation of these facts).

Be comforted by this, that God has not appointed us to His Wrath but to obtain His salvation!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST IS NOW PRESENT AMONG US – What is Next? (Part 2).

(Please bookmark this page or subscribe for coming episodes).

OF THINGS TO COME

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

OF THINGS TO COME

Let me begin by saying that it is my firm conviction that scriptures are inerrant (without any error), and I will add, “in the original manuscripts”, particularly since there are over 450 known versions of the Bible in the English language alone. And the matter of inerrancy can be further complicated as the Bible has been translated into over 700 languages.

Versions vs Translations.

When it comes to a Version of the Bible, translators will focus on conveying the meaning of the text instead of strictly mirroring the exact wording or syntax. Versions such as the New International Version (NIV) or the New Living Translation (NLT) can be easier to read and understand, especially for those without historical-linguistic expertise. This approach presents Scripture in a more contemporary style, though at times the original phrase structures are smoothed out to ensure greater readability.

However, this approach leaves open the possibility of the translator omitting certain words or phrases found in the original manuscripts, or adding a meaning to fit a particular denominational view, a political view, a social or economic view or a personal worldview. This can lead to errors in the original author’s intent and context of scriptures.

Paraphrased or expanded translated Versions take a looser approach to wording, aiming for clarity and devotionally oriented reading. Examples include The Message (MSG) and The Living Bible (TLB), which give fresh expressions but are not usually recommended as primary study Bibles. Some translators feel that they can, however, be helpful alongside more literal versions for additional nuances of meaning.

Translations emerge from a desire to make Scripture accessible in various languages and cultures. The ancient Hebrew and Aramaic texts of the Old Testament and the Koine Greek texts of the New Testament are the ultimate sources. Over centuries, scholars have pieced together the earliest manuscripts, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls (date range from about 3rd century BC to 1st century AD), the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures dated around the 3rd-2nd century BC), and numerous Greek New Testament manuscripts (including Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus, etc.) – to accurately transmit Scripture’s words.

Each translator or Translation committee must consider two primary goals: (1). Faithfulness to the original text and (2), readability in the receptor language. This tension has produced different philosophies of translation, each influencing how closely a modern Bible version adheres to precise wording or broader meaning.

So, please forgive me for being surprised to astounded that so much of the plain word of God has been and is being either misread, misinterpreted, misused or distorted and then taught as the truth of scriptures and formulated into a doctrine when it is clearly and obviously does not conform the earliest manuscripts or is sometimes deliberately taught as a way to achieve an agenda that is not Gospel centered.

I seriously and openly welcome you to challenge what I am presenting so we can discuss these matters if you will do so in a civil, responsible and reasonable way. I.e., no hostilities.

I have studied and written extensively on eschatological matters (relating to End Times and the End of This Age) using the Book of Matthew and the Book of Revelation as my primary sources and other relevant chapters and verses of the Bible for context, corroboration, collaboration and evidence of facts.

Furthermore, I am using, alternatively, the New American Standard Version of the Bible, the English Standard Version because of their close proximity to the original wording and intent of the authors of the Bible, and occasionally the King James and the Amplified versions to corroborate context. I will also use the BlueLetterBible.com, BibleHub.com and Biblegateway.com for translations to and from the Greek (New Testament) and Hebrew (Old Testament) languages, and for verb usage (tense), and for Strong’s Bible concordance definitions, context, historicity and for social, political and cultural nuances of wording and phraseology.

In this essay, I am corroborating my previous Bible and eschatological studies from the books Matthew and Revelation (used as my focus books), with the Book of Mark.

Here is my Thesis: The Bible, i.e., the Scriptures, have consistently foretold, (prophesied), the coming of a Messiah, both from the Hebrew Bible or the Torah and from the Christian Bible. The Messiah, or “Mashiach” meaning “Anointed One” is seen throughout many Old Testament passages, culminating in the New Testament with the person of Jesus, identified as the Christ – The Savior of the World. The arrival of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, set in motion what the Bible calls the ‘Last Days’ or the ‘End of The Age’. The study of this subject is known as Christian ‘eschatology’. It can be most clearly seen, in the New Testament, in the book of Matthew, Mark, Revelation with certain details and context given in other New Testament books such as 1 Thessalonians, 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.

  1. “The End of The Age” or the “Last Days” began in or around the time of the birth of Jesus through around A.D. 99. These prophesied and prophetic events are first described in the breaking of Tribulation Seals One through Five. (See Matthew 24:1-14, Mark 13:1-13, and Revelation 6:1-11.)
  2. The breaking or opening of these first Five Seals, known as the Birth Pains (phase) of the Tribulation, have been overlapping and intensifying to the present day, preparing us for the breaking of the two final Seals, the Judgement Seals (Six and Seven – see Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27, and Revelation 6:12-17, Revelation 7:1-17, Revelation 8:1.), followed by the sounding of the Seven Judgement Trumpets and finally, followed by the pouring out of the Seven Judgment Bowls of Wrath and the Wrath of the Lamb.
  3. The breaking of the Sixth Tribulation Judgment Seal, which is yet a future event, will usher in The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, also known as the Great Tribulation and initiates the final Seven years of the Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb.

Mark 13:1, “As Jesus was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look! What wonderful stones and [footnote b]what wonderful buildings!” verse 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”

verse 3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew were questioning Him privately, verse 4 “Tell us, when will these things come about,

(This verb “Tell” is in the Aorist Tense which is characterized by its emphasis on punctiliar action; that is, the concept of the verb is considered without regard for past, present, or future time. [It could also be said that this is how God sees time]. There is no direct or clear English equivalent for this tense, though it is generally rendered as a simple past tense in most translations. The events described by the aorist tense are classified into a number of categories by grammarians. The most common of these include a view of the action as having begun from a certain point (“inceptive aorist”), or having ended at a certain point (“cumulative aorist”), or merely existing at a certain point (“punctiliar aorist”). A continuous and continuing action. The categorization of other cases can be found in Greek reference grammars. The English reader need not concern himself with most of these finer points concerning the aorist tense, since in most cases they cannot be rendered accurately in English translation, being fine points of Greek exegesis only. The common practice of rendering an aorist by a simple English past tense should suffice in most cases.

This is important, because to the reader it may seem that these disciples, Peter, James, John and Andrew are asking Jesus a question about the FUTURE, and that Jesus’ response seems to be in the FUTURE TENSE, but Jesus’ answers in the AORIST TENSE, i.e., something has already occurred at a certain point in the past (“inceptive aorist”), or having ended at a certain point, (“cumulative aorist”) and is existing at a certain point (“punctiliar aorist”).

NOTE: The Bible uses this type of description of time (from God’s view of time) when it  says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” or ““I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

verse 4 continued, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?”

Once again this sounds as if it is a question about a future event, but these words, “what will be the sign” are actually a verb spoken and written in the PRESENT TENSE, which represents a simple statement of fact or reality viewed as occurring in actual time. In most cases this corresponds directly with the English present tense. Some phrases which might be rendered as past tense in English will often occur in the present tense in Greek. These are termed “historical presents,” and such occurrences dramatize the event described as if the reader were there watching the event occur. Some English translations render such historical presents in the English past tense, while others permit the tense to remain in the present.

Again, this is important because we are hearing of an event or of events which are simultaneously past, present and future. There are evidentiary statements and testimonies of the disciples and of Jesus, regarding these Last Days events, were initially spoken in or around A.D. 1 through around A.D. 99, and were consistently referred to as LAST DAYS – THE LAST TIMES – THE END OF THE AGES – THE END OF ALL THINGS – THE BIRTH PAINS OF THE TRIBULATION”. These first Five Tribulation Seals had begun to be opened in or around A.D. 1 through A.D. 99, have continued to occur, overlap and intensify to this very day. In other words, the tribulation has already begun. We are in the tribulation period known as The Birth Pains and that period will both culminate, merge with and initiate the breaking of the Sixth Tribulation Judgment Seal, marking the beginning of the Day of The Great Tribulation, also known as the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb, initiating the rapture of the Elect of God off the earth and into the presence of God before His Throne.

verse 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. verse 6 Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and they will mislead many.

verse 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. verse 8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;

there will be earthquakes in various places;

there will also be famines.

These things are only the beginning of birth pains.

verse 9 “But [e]be on your guard; for they will hand you over to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. verse 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. verse 11 And when they ]arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you at that time; for you are not the ones speaking, but it is the Holy Spirit. verse 12 And brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.

verse 13 And you will be hated by everyone because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

verse 14 “Now when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be—let the reader understand—then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. verse 15  Whoever is on the [l]housetop must not go down, nor go in to get anything out of his house. verse 16 And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. verse 17 But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! verse 18 Moreover, pray that it will not happen in winter.

verse 19 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.  verse 20 And if the Lord had not shortened those days, no [n]life would have been saved; but for the sake of the [footnote “o”] elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

This marks the end of the Tribulation of The Birth Pains and the beginning of the Great Tribulation, the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.

verse 21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Look, there He is’; do not believe it; verse 22 for false christs and false prophets will arise, and will provide signs and wonders, in order to mislead, if possible, the elect. verse 23 But beware; I have told you everything in advance.

The Return of Christ

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

The word “after” in verse 24 is a preposition referring to “those days” that came before they days now being mentioned. The word “that” is a demonstrative pronoun referring to which entity, which in this case is “the tribulation periods that preceded this mention”. And the word “tribulation” is the Greek word, “thlipsis” which is the word that is always used for tribulation, whether Tribulation Seals one through five, or six through seven, or the Tribulation Trumpets or the Tribulation Bowl Judgments and is distinctively different from and separate from “persecutions” or “stresses”.

27 And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His [q]elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven.

We can also see in the corresponding scriptures in Revelation 6 and 7, “After these things (see Revelation 6:1 through Revelation 7:9), “I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen, blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

In recapitulation, Jesus appears in the sky, the angels gather the elect and immediately, a number too great to be counted is standing before the Throne of God, giving praise! Don’t be misled. This is THE RAPTURE!!)

So, what can we learn and apply from what we know, and what can we gain?

  1. We can know that the Tribulation period of the first five Tribulation Seals began at or around the time of the Birth of Christ and that they have been overlapping and increasing in their intensity to this day.
  2. Most in the Church today are still waiting for events that have already begun and are not prepared for what is upon them. Jesus warned against this:
    1. 28 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door. verse 30 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. verse 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. verse 32 But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
    2. verse 33 “Watch out, stay alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is. verse 34 It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert. verse 35 Therefore, stay alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—verse 36 so that he does not come suddenly and find you asleep. verse 37 What I say to you I say to all: ‘Stay alert!’”
    3. We also see in Matthew 24:48-51, “verse 48 But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ verse 49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and he eats and drinks with those habitually drunk; verse 50 then the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know, 51 and he will cut him in two and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
  3. We must be doing those things Jesus modeled, taught and commanded in preparation of the End of the Age and for His Return – nothing more and nothing less or one will hear the words, “Why do you call me Lord and have not done what I have told you? I do not know you. Depart from me you workers of lawlessness!”

So, what will you do with what you have now read and heard? Will you continue to simply accept the word of another, or will you study it until you know for yourself? (And by the way, I realize that a lot of what I have presented is complicated and can be confusing. Some might say, ‘unnecessarily so’. But, like the old saying goes, ‘is anything that is easy or cheap really worth much?’ But, for those who are interested, I do have these very eschatological matters presented and discussed in several easier-to-understand versions. Sort of in an order of stepping stones, from simple to not-so-simple. But, I believe that each presentation leads to the same Biblically sound conclusion and will enable the disciple of Jesus, the fully devoted follower, to be informed and prepared for these Last Days. (Please see “God’s Plan Of Perfection – A Timeline from the Beginning to The End”, and “Is This The End of The Age?”, or “Did Jesus and His Apostles Really Say This?”).

While it would be easier and a lot less trouble to just say “I believe in Jesus, I go to church, I am active in various religious activities”, and to say you are saved, it is no easy thing to be saved and to really believe Him and follow Him. And although it is always God who does His Works through us, (it is never anything of or by ourselves), really following Jesus requires faith, obedience and action. We know that we walk by faith and not by sight, but it is not blind faith, but informed faith. We are informed by The Holy Spirit and Scriptures on how we are to believe, to think and to act. Scriptures tell us that He is the Lamp unto our feet. And though we may not know each step, we can know that when His Voice and circumstances line up with the revealed Word of God, we must move on it!

So, I encourage you to study to be approved by the Word of God. And I appeal to you to contact me with comments, questions or to discuss these matter further.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

 

A Timeline from the Beginning to the End – Knowledge is Power

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

God’s Plan of Perfection through Tribulation – An Illustrated Timeline

GOD’S PLAN & PURPOSE

I heard an evangelist once say and ask, “Jesus is coming back soon. Are you excited?”, to which the congregation exploded in cheers and applause. Then this evangelist became quiet and in a low and serious voice he said, “Too many Christians are doing little more than staring skyward waiting for the Lord to return, but He has told us we are to be busy with His works. So, it is time we stopped looking at the sky and get busy with the Father’s business!”

It is true, in my observations, that far too many Christians are doing little more than waiting around for certain events to occur, which have already begun. The Lord Jesus warned against this in no uncertain terms: “Why do you call me Lord, when you have not done the things I commanded you?”

Let’s clear the confusion and bring God’s bigger picture into sharp focus.

God’s PLAN began in the beginning of time. It came into sharper focus with the birth of Jesus. It has continued to unfold since that day, and we are included in His Plan, and It will conclude exactly as He has PURPOSED.

God’s PLAN is a Plan of Perfection. Throughout all of earth’s history, God has been at work perfecting His creation. There is no event in the history of this world that has not been under God’s control and within His Perfect Plan. He is preparing His Church, those who have surrender themselves to follow and obey Jesus, to spend eternity with Him and with one another in perfect harmony in a new and perfect heaven and earth.

The PURPOSE of God’s plan is found in Daniel 9:24, is to

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.).

We are included in God’s PURPOSE. His method is found in Daniel 12 is that

1) Many will be cleansed,

2) Many will be purified,

3) They will be made spotless and,

4) They will be refined.

Here are some of the major Biblical events through which God has been working to accomplish His Plan and His Purpose in and through our lives. (I have selected the major events only, in order to simplify this matter. Here, you can see God’s Hand moving in the affairs of humankind, leading to the End of the Age – Prepare yourself accordingly:

Before time had begun.

1st. The creation of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1–31).

God created all things with a plan, which includes me and you! (He never needs a re-do).

Before 4,000 B.C.

2nd.  The first humans (Genesis 1:26–31; 2:8–25).

God created them, male and female, with a plan, in Their image with a ‘flaw’, i.e., from Strong’s Bible Hebrew language Concordance – ‘a phantom, an illusion, a vain image, of dubious character’, but with potential; which includes me and you!

Before 4,000 B.C.

3rd.  The fall of man (Genesis 3:1–24) – Adam and Eve disobeyed. The ‘flaw in their character and image from creation’, which is ‘sin’, had its effect, which continues to this day, but it will have an end.

Around 3400 B.C.

4th. The Abrahamic Covenant, Genesis 12:1 and Genesis 15 – The Abrahamic Covenant is an unconditional covenant. God binding Himself to Abraham and his descendants.

Before 2,500 B.C.

5th. The great flood (Genesis 6:9–9:17) – God was sorry He made them. He was grieved. But it was His plan all along. (God is omniscient and omnipresent).

Before 2,100 B.C.

6th. The tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1–9) – The ‘flaw of sin’ reemerges as pride and rebellion toward God. Instead of destroying them, this time God scattered them.

2,091 B.C.

7th. The call of Abraham (Genesis 12:1–5) – God prepares the world for Jesus with Isaac through Abraham.

1,446 B.C.

8th. The exodus (Exodus 12:31–42; 14:1–31) – God foreshadows the work of Jesus through the Exodus from captivity and as The Sacrifice for all time.

966 B.C.

9th. The building of the first Temple (1 Kings 6) – The significance of the coming Messiah, the Christ, Jesus.

5 B.C.

10th. The birth of Jesus (Matt 1:18–2:23; Luke 2:1–10) – The arrival of Perfection on earth. Jesus, God in the Flesh, is born and the New Covenant – for you and me – is established. Now the ‘called’ can see and be made into the very image of God.

The tribulation begins, and The Eternal Plan enters its final stages.

5 B.C. through 95 B.C.      

When a Tribulation Seal is broken, an event or a series of events occur and will last for certain periods of time.  Most events will continue until the “Consummation of the Age”.

In the case of the tribulation, once a SEAL tribulation event begins, it will continue for decades.  Then, as a second or third event occurs, They will overlap and continue to occur simultaneously, until the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal, which marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation, also known as the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb. (The Seals will be followed by the Trumpet and Bowl judgments).

We see that the first 5 Seals have been opened are overlapping and are in progress.  This began around AD 1.  Here is the progression of the breaking of Tribulation Seals until the current time:

Revelation Ch. 6 – as corresponding to – Matthew Chapter 24

the 1st Tribulation Seal  –  Global conquest and political intrigue. (This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

the 2nd Tribulation Seal –  Wars and Rumors of War. (This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

the 3rd Tribulation Seal  –  Famine. (This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

the 4th Tribulation Seal  –  Death. (This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

the 5th Tribulation Seal  –  Martyrs, persecution, Anti-Christ, falling away. (This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

The 6th Tribulation Seal  –  Cosmic disturbances, blood moon, darkened sun. The breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal is yet to come. It will be The BEGINNING OF the 7 years of “THE GREAT TRIBULATION” period, also known as The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb. It will include

                  • The Sealing of the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel.
                  • The Rapture.
                  • The Multitude from the tribulation at the Throne of God.

(Click here for a concise and short commentary on Seal 1 through Seal 5)

NOTE: The breaking of the 6th Tribulation Scroll Seal will be the start of the seven years of the GREAT TRIBULATION, also known as The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, or The Wrath of the Lamb and as Daniel’s Seventieth Week.

THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING THE EXACT DAY NOR THE HOUR this will occur, but we know the season, and we are told that we must be ready according to scriptures or perish!

27 A.D.

11th. The temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13) – Jesus is tested and shows those who will follow Him – which includes you and me – how to resist the devil and overcome trial, temptations and tribulation.

27 A.D.

12th. The calling of the disciples (Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11) – God is building His invasion force of earth, and the preparation for eternity has begun – which includes you and me!

27 A.D.

13th. The Sermon on the Mount, (Matthew 5:1–7:29; Luke 6:29–40) – Jesus gives the picture of salvation and teaches about the process of sanctification and how we – that is, you and me – are to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven through many tests, trials, temptations and much tribulation.

A.D. 35 or earlier

 

Jesus, describing a panorama of the tribulation and the Last Days, Matthew 24:4-31.

 Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them, (see Matthew 24:3-4),

“In the Last Days, there will be a rise of false Christs and false prophets”. (This was an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35. See Matthew 24:4-5).

Jesus was describing 4th Tribulation Seal: “In the Last Days, there will be famines and earthquakes”. (This has been a regular occurrence since as early as A.D. 35 or earlier. See Matthew 24:7 and the 4th Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:5-8).

Jesus was describing 2nd Tribulation Seal: “In the Last Days, there are wars and rumors of wars”. (Wars and rumors of war have been occurring since as early as A.D. 35 or earlier. See Matthew 24:6 and the 2nd Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:3-4).

Jesus was describing 5th Tribulation Seal: “In the Last Days, there will be a persecution and martyrdom of Christians”. (This has been an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35. See Matthew 24:9 and the 5th tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:9-11).

Jesus was describing 5th Tribulation Seal: In the Last Days, there will be a falling away from the faith. (This has been an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35, and has been increasing to this very day. See Matthew 24:10).

These things, false Christs, wars and rumors of war, famines, earthquakes and plagues, persecutions, martyrs, which Jesus calls the ‘Birth Pangs’ of the tribulation, are nothing new; and from these cited verses, we can plainly see that the first 5 tribulation Seals have been broken, and the effects had begun between the time of the birth of Jesus and A.D 95, and have been overlapping and increasing in their intensity since those early days.

Jesus calls the 1st phase of the tribulation the ‘Birth Pangs’ (Matthew 24:8). Jesus then calls the 2nd phase of the tribulation, the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21), also known as the 6th Tribulation Seal (Revelation 6:12-14), and the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord (Joel 2:31), and the Wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:16).. (Please click these links for verification and understanding).

30 A.D.

14th. Jesus’s crucifixion (Matthew 27:32–56; Mark 15:21–41; Luke 23:26–49; John 19:16–37) – The sacrifice is made. The eradication of sin and the imperfect because the perfect has come.

30 A.D.
15th. Jesus’s resurrection (Matthew 28:1–20; Mark 16:1–20; Luke 24:1–53; John 20:1–31).

Jesus conquers sin and death. He lives, and we – you and I – can now live! The way is cleared to follow Jesus.

30 A.D.
16th. The giving of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20) – The invasion of earth has begun. Jesus sends His army of saints – which includes you and me – to set the prisoners free. He sends us with His authority, and He is with us until the end!

A.D. 30 to A.D. 60.
17th. The day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1–41) – A.D. 30 to A.D. 60, the power of the Holy Spirit is released into the lives of the saints of God – and yes, that includes you and me, and, nothing will ever be the same.

Peter called those days the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS, Acts 2:14-17,.- (the Apostle Peter), saying, “let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be…’

These words were spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60, and these events have been intensifying and overlapping with other tribulation seals to this very day!

1 Peter 1:20, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “He, (Jesus), was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

 1 Peter 4:7, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “The end of all things is at hand.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

 2 Peter 3:3. (the Apostle Peter), saying, “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

These verses say all these things began occurring in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60, and Peter called those days the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

What would you think?

A.D. 30 to A.D. 60,

The Apostle Paul said these are the LAST TIMES, THE DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.1 Corinthians 10:11, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “Now these things happened to them as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Hebrews 1:2, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Hebrews 9:26, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “But as it is, Jesus has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

These verses say all these things began occurring and The Apostle Paul said these are the LAST TIMES, THE DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

What would you think?

A.D. 30 to A.D. 60.

Timothy said these are the LAST TIMES, THE DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS. 2 Timothy 3:1, (Timothy), saying, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

These verses say all these things had begun occurring and Timothy said these are the LAST TIMES, THE DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

What would you think?

A.D. 95.

Through these verses John said that the Last Hour had come and John said was a fellow participant IN THE TRIBULATION 1 John 2:18. (the Apostle John), saying, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

 Revelation 1:9, (The Apostle John), saying, “I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 95 to A.D. 100).

Through these verses John said that the Last Hour had come and John said was a fellow participant IN THE TRIBULATION in the year A.D. 95.

What would you think?

These testimonies clearly tell us that the Last Days, also known as The End of All Things, The End of the Ages, The Last Hour, The Last Times and the tribulation, began at the birth of Christ and these first 5 tribulation Seals have been overlapping and intensifying since those days. (We are still awaiting the breaking of the 6th tribulation seal, also known as the Great and Terrible Day of The Lord, the Wrath of the Lamb and the Great Tribulation.

The Near Future.

18th. The Second Coming of Jesus. – (Matthew 24:29-31) – We are now standing at the precipice of a cosmic cataclysm which will shake and reshape the planet, disrupt the stars in heaven and cause many to die from cosmic, meteorological, geological disturbances and from fright.  This event is known as Daniel’s Seventieth Week, which begins with the breaking (or opening) of the 6th Scroll Seal of the Tribulation.

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. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other – and if you are alive at that time, we are included. (The rapture will have occurred).

The Future.

18th. The 7 Years of Great Tribulation, also known as the Wrath of the Lamb or the Great and Terrible Day of The Lord. – (Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 6:16, Malachi 4:5) – 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. And the Great Tribulation, the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, will have begun. (Those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will have escaped these days.)

In The Future.

19th. The arrival of Jesus on a white horse, as the “Word of God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords”. (Revelation 19:11–19) – From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it, He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath, of God, the Almighty. An angel standing in the sun cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid-heaven, “Come, assemble for the great feast of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, both free and slaves, and small and great. Satan, the Beast and those who are not written in the Lambs Book of Life are relegated to the pit and the fires of hell.”

In the Future.

20th. The new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1–5) –  Those who have overcome, are with God eternally – which includes you and me – and, God’s Plan for Perfection has been completed.

Yes, we will experience difficulties, trials and tribulations in this life, but as The Apostle Peter says,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold which perishes, and though you are tested by fire, it may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

No matter at what time you will have lived your earthly life, the outcome for all Christians is the same. Those still alive when Christ returns will be raptured from the earth, those Christians who had passed on from this life will be raised from the grave to join them in the heavens, and we all will spend our eternity with the Lord.

Take heart, for Jesus has overcome this world.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

For a more detailed narrative, please see the series:  Journey to Perfection.

(Please remember that there are corresponding world events which reflect the prophetic events found in the Bible. For those interested, here is an important Comparative Biblical, Secular and a ‘Daniel’s 70 Weeks’ Historical chronology chart for your review.)

 

EVIDENCE THAT WE ARE IN THE LAST DAYS – PRE-WRATH, PRE-TRIBULATION

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

Matthew 24:3 says,  “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Verse 4, “And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.

Verse 5, “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

Verse 6, “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

Verse 7, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.

Verse 8, “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

Verse 9, “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.”

So, when will these things happen?

I. Many will come IN MY NAME:

This can be someone literally saying ‘I am the Christ’, but it is proving to be those who consider themselves as an emissary of Christ – such as ‘ordained pastors’ – who speak for Christ, but are blindly following ‘new age’ or errant doctrines; or, as we are clearly seeing, now, in our day, ‘institutional deception’, where entire denominations fall away from the clear teachings of Jesus and lead millions astray. (Also see“Shipwrecked”).

So, how can we know ‘which of the false Christs’ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

II. WARS and rumors of war:

There have been thousands upon thousands of wars and conflicts since the time of Christ. Most notable for their scope and breadth are the

  • Religious Crusades (1095 – 1291, Muslims vs Latin Church, almost 2 million dead),
  • WWI (1914 – 1918, 17 million dead), and
  • WW2 (1939 – 1945, over 70 million dead).

Current wars and conflicts 2018: Interactive global conflict tracker.

historical_activity_200years.jpg

So, how can we know ‘which wars and rumors of wars‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

III. EARTHQUAKES & VOLCANOES:

Earthquakes are nothing new. In fact, they are so numerous that I can only give you a web link by period of time and let you view what has been recorded. But, Jesus did warn they would come.

Lists of earthquakes by period. (use the links below).

HISTORY_of_earthquakes_1900-.svg.png

Seismic Event List Index

Volcanoes are nothing new, either, but it would seem that seismic events (volcanoes) are on the rise.

historical_activity_600years.jpg

Figure 1. Graph lines showing the number of volcanoes reported to have been active each year since 1400 and 1800 C.E.

At first glance the nearly exponential increase through recent centuries suggests that the planet may soon be overwhelmed by volcanic activity, but this increase tracks the striking growth of global population that has spread potential observers of eruptions over much of the Earth and the technological advances that have facilitated reporting of those eruptions. Global Volcanism Program, 2013. Volcanoes of the World, Smithsonian Institution. January 2020.

So, how can we know ‘which EARTHQUAKES‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

IV. FAMINES:

Famines have taken hundreds of millions of lives since the time of Christ, so this is nothing new, either.

Famine-victims-and-world-population-sinc

So, how can we know ‘which FAMINES‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

V. PERSECUTION:

Jesus tells us there will be a worldwide persecution of Christians. A look at history shows us that In the first few centuries, Christianity grew quickly. By A.D. 325, an estimated 7 million people were Christians, with as many as 2 million killed for their faith in Jesus.

However, according to a Christian think-tank. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC) says 900,000 Christians have been ‘martyred’ in the last decade, equating to 90,000 a year and one every six minutes.

This may be the most dangerous time in history to be Christian

 

At least 327 million Christians face persecution, according to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), which released its biannual report on Religious Freedom in the World in November 2018. That is 7 percent of the world’s 2.3 billion Christians, estimated by Pew Research Center in 2015.

245 million Christians in the top 50 countries on Open Doors USA’s 2019 World Watch List experience high levels of persecution (i.e.: torture, rape, sex-slavery, for conversion to Christianity, murder and genocide), an increase of 14 percent from 2018. Sixty percent of those enduring persecution are children; women and girls are most violated. Release International, a UK-based human rights watchdog in operation for the past 50 years who partner with U.S.-based “Voice of the Martyrs” said they expect global anti-Christian persecution is set to rise ‘sharply’ in 2019. – (Read the report here)

So, how can we know ‘which period of Christian Persecution’ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

So, where does all of this lead?

1. You will know when ‘The End of the Age’ is near, not when one or two of these events occur, but when ALL of ‘these things’ occur and converge concurrently, as Jesus said they would; then these things are the harbinger of ‘those things’ which are yet to come to pass. (Also, see “The Tribulation of Those Days’).

2. The phrase “the beginning of birth pangs” is a statement made by Jesus in or around the year AD 30 and is a translation of the Greek archē _ ōdin . The meaning of the phrase, translated in the KJV as “the beginning of sorrows” is a direct reference to preliminary birth pangs that ultimately lead to the full scale contractions and travail, which leads to the actual birth.

Recognizing the Old Testament reference that Jesus is referencing, is an essential, but often overlooked key to determining the timing of the prophecy. Jesus was pointing his disciples to two key passages from the prophet Isaiah.

These passages are found in Isaiah 26, a portion of Scripture that is sometimes referred to as “Isaiah’s little apocalypse”. There, the Lord speaks through Isaiah, specifically contrasting the expectations of the Jewish people regarding deliverance, redemption and physical resurrection with the reality of the pain, suffering and travail that they had corporately experienced. In verses 16-18, the complaint of Israel is raised that despite having endured the great suffering of labor, the expected “birth” of deliverance, redemption and resurrection had not arrived.

This helps make clear that the Last Days and the opening of the first five tribulation Seals began in our around the birth of Christ through A.D 95.

When considering this question, we must, once again look at the words and testimonies of Jesus and the Apostles who referred to these periods and to those days as:  ‘The Last Days’, ‘The Last Times’, ‘The End of All Things’, ‘The End of The Ages’, and “Jesus has appeared, once for all, at the End of The Ages’. Here are the references which further confirm these dates:

Matthew 24:4-31, (Jesus), describing a panorama of the tribulation and the Last Days.

From these verses, we can plainly see that the first 5 tribulation Seals were broken and the effects had begun between the time of the birth of Jesus and A.D 95.

Acts 2:14-17, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be…’

1 Peter 1:20, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “ He, (Jesus), was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.”

 1 Peter 4:7, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “The end of all things is at hand.”

 2 Peter 3:3. (the Apostle Peter), saying, “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days.”

 1 Corinthians 10:11, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “Now these things happened to them as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

Hebrews 1:2, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.”

Hebrews 9:26, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “But as it is, Jesus has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

 2 Timothy 3:1, (Timothy), saying, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.”

 

 

 1 John 2:18. (the Apostle John), saying, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.”

 Revelation 1:9, (The Apostle John), saying, “I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation.”

The Sixth Seal – Terror

Verse 12. I looked when He (the Lamb) broke open the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as, [footnote ‘h’], sackcloth [made] of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; verse 13, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree shedding its late [summer] figs when shaken by a strong wind. Verse 14. The sky was split, [separated from the land], and rolled up like a scroll, and every mountain and island were dislodged and moved out of their places. Verse 15. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the, [footnote ‘i’], military commanders and the wealthy and the strong and everyone, [whether] slave or free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; verse 16, and they called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the [righteous] wrath and indignation of the Lamb; verse 17, for the great day of their wrath and vengeance and retribution has come, and who is able to [face God and] stand [before the wrath of the Lamb]?”

It is clear from history, that the events describing the 6th Tribulation Seal have not yet occurred. Furthermore, it could be said that the Seal Judgments actually come in 2 stages: The first five Seals could be referred to as the first stage of seals, known as the “birth pains” , which “are not yet the end” – as they have been described by Jesus in Matthew 24:6.

 These are followed by what we could call the second stage of tribulation Seals, 6th and 7th,, also known as the Great Tribulation Seals and The Day of Wrath.

It is plain to see that the intensity of the 6th Seal increases exponentially over the previous five Seals. This period is rightly named “The Great Tribulation” period. There is a continuing escalation of intensity as we approach the Trumpet Judgments, (The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord), and the Bowl Judgments, (The Wrath of the Lamb.)

Additionally, these three events occur during the 6th Tribulation Seal: (#1). An interlude for the sealing of the 144,000. (#2). The sealing of the 144,000 from the 12 Tribes of Israel, (see Revelation chapter 7), and (#3). The gathering of the ‘multitudes from the tribulation – also known as the Rapture. (also read Matthew 24:20-31). (End this commentary).

(You can also see a teaching by Pastor and Teacher, John Piper on the timing of the End Times. But, 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.)

3. You must ask yourself, “why would Jesus warn His disciples (and subsequent disciples or anyone who would eventually read His Words in the Bible) about these coming events if they would not experience these events? Said another way, if we would have been Raptured before the tribulation, why warn us?  Why warn His disciples and followers about something they would not experience?” The anwer is, “HE WOULD NOT HAVE WARNED US UNLESS WE WOULD ENDURE THE FIRST 5 TRIBULATION SEALS, AND WOULD  NEED TO BE PREPARED!”

NOTE: The first five tribulation seals have been opened progressively since around the birth of Christ, have been overlapping, (occurring concurrently and converging), and increasing in intensity to this day. All of which will lead to the future opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal. This will usher in The Great Tribulation, also known as the Great andTerrible Day of The Lord, with cosmic disturbances, a blood red moon, a darkened sun, the Rapture, the multitude of people out of the tribulation before the throne of God, the Sealing of the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel.

4. How can we tell WHICH ‘wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes’ were the result of the breaking of the first Seal of the tribulation, because there have been thousands of them since Jesus said these words.

5. I say again, Jesus, the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy, plus direct, clear and obvious scriptural references in  Hebrews 1:2, Hebrews 9:26, Acts 2:14-17, 2 Timothy 3:1, 1 Peter 1:20, 1 Peter 4:7, 2 Peter 3:3. confirm that these events began in or around the birth of Christ through A.D 95.

6. Was Jesus wanting to ‘scare’ listeners into believing by warning them ahead of time? (I think not. Trickery is not in Jesus Character. And, He tells us “do not be frightened” by these things.)

7. Jesus tells His disciples (and subsequent disciples or anyone who would eventually read His Word in the bible), in Matthew 24:6 that

“You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. Verse 7. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. Verse 8. “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”

And a few verses later, Matthew 24:13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”

If we will have been “Raptured” and out of harms way when these things begin, then why would He be telling us these things?

Why is Jesus telling us that we should not be frightened by the WARS, Rumors OF WARS, NATIONS RISING AGAINST NATIONS, FAMINES, EARTHQUAKES, and that we must ENDURE TO THE END TO BE SAVED if we would not be affected?

Again I ask if we will have been “Raptured” and out of harms way when these things begin, then why would He be telling us these things?

Finally, let’s look at it this way:  When Hurricane Irma hit the U.S. in 2917, it was a classified as a category 5 storm;  As Irma progressed up the peninsula of Florida, it became a category 4 storm;  then as it entered Alabama it became a category 3 storm;  and finally as it entered Georgia, Irma became a tropical storm; and later as it entered Tennessee, it became a rain event.

To those in the various areas and states which hurricane Irma entered, it would have appeared to them that Irma might have been 5 different storms, occurring consecutively; first a Category 5 storm, then, a Category 4 storm, then, a Category 3 hurricane, then, a Tropical storm, and, finally, a rain event.  But if viewed “From Above” it was ONE CONTINUOUS STORM, progressively unfolding to its conclusion.

So it is with the breaking of the tribulation Seals.

Your Brother and Friend

Mike Young

Belows is a short video illustrating a simplified Pre-Tribulation, Pre-Wrath, Tribulation Timeline for your use. (Or, click on this link for a larger version enchanced PDF verson of ->).The Tribulation Timeline

Presenting The Pretribulation Pre-Wrath Rapture Timeline.

(A supplemental to the video above).

This headline section represent a timeframe from 2 B.C to A.D 95. These are the Tribulation Seals which have been opened, are overlapping, and intensifying to this day.  This center section represents our current day and year. The purple colored section represents Future Dates.

This is an illustration and graph depicting the Pre-Tribulation, Pre-Wrath Rapture. A Short outline comparing Jesus’ account of the Tribulation period, found both in the Book of Revelation and in the Book of Matthew and in His Words.

(The illustration text is color-coded for reference:

  • Purple text represents future events.
  • Green text represents scriptures from the book of The Revelation.
  • Red text represents scriptures from the Book of Matthew.
  • Black text is narration or descriptive commentary.
  • Blue text are links to Bible references or external commentaries.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Jesus names tribulations Seals 1 through 5 the “birth pains” of the tribulation period and says, “they are not yet the end”.  He then says of the 6th Tribulation Seal and the Judgements to follow, “there will be a Great Tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.” This is the beginning of the 7 Years of Great Tribulation, The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and The Wrath of the Lamb.

Next are the Judgements which are to follow.

This illustration compares the Book of Revelation Chapter 6  as corresponding to – the book of Matthew Chapter 24.

Jesus compares the 1st Tribulation Seal as found in Revelation chapter 6, verses 1 and 2, to Global conquest and political intrigue found in Matthew chapter 24 verses 6 and 7. (This Seal was broken between A.D 1 and A.D 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

The 2nd Tribulation Seal as found in Revelation 6, verses 2 and 4, as corresponding to Matthew 24, verse 7,  Wars and Rumors of War. (This Seal was broken between A.D 1 and A.D 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

The 3rd Tribulation Seal from Revelation 6, verse 5, as compared to Matthew 24, verse 7, Famine and earthquakes. (This Seal was broken between A.D 1 and A.D 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

The 4th Tribulation Seal from Revelation 6, verses 7 and 8, as compared to Matthew 24, verse 9, Death. (This Seal was broken between A.D 1 and A.D 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

The 5th Tribulation Seal from Revelation 6, verses 9 through 11, as compared to Matthew 24, verses 9 and 10, Martyrs, persecution, Anti-Christ, falling away. (This Seal was broken between A.D 1 and A.D 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

The 6th Tribulation Seal  from Revelation 6 verses 12 through 14, as compared to Matthew 24, verse 29, Cosmic disturbances, blood moon, darkened sun. (The Opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal is the beginning of the SEVEN YEARS OF GREAT TRIBULATION, also known as Daniel’s 70th Week, and is yet to occur. It will be The BEGINNING OF the 7 years of THE GREAT TRIBULATION period, also known as The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb.) These first 6 Seals will be followed by ‘a silence in heaven for half an hour’, while these 3 events occur:

  • Sealing of the 144,000 during the 6th Seal. (Revelation 7, verses 1 through 8).
  • The gathering and The Rapture of God’s Elect. (Matthew 24, verses 29 through 31).
  • Multitude from the tribulation before the Throne of God. (Revelation 7, verses 9 through 17).

The foregoing events are followed by the breaking of the 7th Tribulation Seal; then the Great and Terrible Day of The Lord begins with the sounding of the 7 Tribulation Trumpets. (the 6th Trumpet is the mid-point of the Great Tribulation); and finally The Wrath of The Lamb through the pouring out of the 7 Bowls of Wrath.

NEXT:  Below, watch each of the 5 videos on this page, which explain the Pre-Wrath Rapture and teaching commentary on this subject by Pastor John Piper. Please watch, listen, pray and think.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ – that even you and I can understand and use immediately – Episode 1

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

EPISODE 1

(Presented In a Way So Even You and I Can Understand and Apply Its Truth. These Episodes are not meant to ask and answer just the question “What”, but they are meant to answer the question, “SO WHAT?”)

The interest, and yes, even the demand for teaching on the Book of The Revelation is on the rise. It has always been a wildly popular subject, especially among Christians.

The problem associated with teaching and learning about this Book is its complexity, and the odd and even weird hard-to-understand imagery, and that it cannot be studied and fully understood without references to scores of other scriptures throughout the Bible. The Book of The Revelation explains and foretells the history of all creation, from the beginning to its end. Its scarlet threads can be found woven throughout the prophet books of Daniel, Zechariah, Isaiah, Joel, Amos, Psalms, Zephaniah, and Ezekiel.

As a result, most of those who begin a study on the Book of The Revelation either quit before it is completed or they finish the study with more questions than when they began – and with very little idea of what to do with what they have read and heard.

This task not only seems monumental – it is monumental! It can be likened to the quote and answer, “How do you eat an elephant? One small bite at a time!”

The Book of the Revelation – The Run-up

A study of the Book of the Revelation cannot and should not be studied as a standalone book. Most studies of this Book normally begin with Revelation chapter 1 and verse 1, and will conclude with Revelation chapter 22 and verse 21.  Naturally, there are references and cross-references to other books of the Bible which must be made.

However, such a study should be done within the longer narrative of the entire Bible, its historicity, through the lens of eschatology. Otherwise it can be interminably confusing and bewildering, and subject to wide speculation.

As a standalone study, the reader or student can get the main points about God’s Judgements, humankind suffering, salvation and the ultimate destruction of evil. You would read about astronomical and physical cataclysms, great military conflicts, political intrigue, wars and rumors of wars. You can read to experience God supernatural intervention into the affairs of humankind, complete with unintelligible symbolism and imagery.

If, however, it is studied as part of the total narrative of God’s Complete Plan for His creation, from Genesis to the Revelation, you get a more complete understanding of God’s Plan, Purpose, Methods and Reason for the End of Days, God’s Judgements by way of The Great Tribulation, The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and The Wrath of the Lamb.

All of which includes affects you, the reader, directly – as well as all the earth and its inhabitants, the heavens, and the entire cosmos.

The details and the purpose of the book of the Revelation will become clearer if taken in ‘small bites’ – even with the wild imagery, metaphors and the allegories used by an ancient people to describe futuristic technology and events.

So, at the risk of losing readers and students to these videos, I will start with an overview, (small bites), a 12-minute video on this exciting book. This is a 12-minute video, covering chapters one through eleven. A second video, found later in another episode, is also about 12 minutes long and covers chapters twelve through twenty-two. (After viewing these videos, please continue with the following Episodes).

‘Small Bite’ Video #1, An overview of The Book of The Revelation, chapter 1 through chapter 11.

NEXT:  EPISODE 2 –  THE ABBREVIATED LONG -VIEW OF THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

(Please bookmark this page or subscribe for future episodes).

THE WRATH OF THE LAMB – What and When?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

THE WRATH OF THE LAMB – What is it? When is it?

There has been confusion surrounding several key scriptures, thanks mainly to denominational differences and poor methodology of interpretation and incorrect explanation or analysis of text. (I am not a theologian nor am I an expert. But with prayer and diligent study, the word of God is meant to be understood when kept in the context of the entire Bible. Therefore:

“Now as to the periods and the end times, brothers and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you. verse 2. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. verse 3.  While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. Verse 4.  But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief; verse 5. For you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; verse 6, so then, let’s not sleep as the rest of the others do, but let’s be alert and self-controlled and sober. Verse 7.  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, get drunk at night. Verse 8.  But since we are of the day, let’s be self-controlled and ]sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. Verse 9.  For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, verse 10.  Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Verse 11.  Therefore, comfort and encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:1)

 The Sixth Seal: The Wrath of the Lamb

Revelation 6:12, And I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; verse 13,  and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. verse 14.  The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. verse 15.  Then the kings of the earth and the eminent people, and the commanders and the wealthy and the strong, and every slave and free person hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; verse 16,.  And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the sight of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; verse 17,  for the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION

The placement of these verses, twelve through seventeen, of chapter six of the Revelation, is telling. They come  after tribulation seals one through five which, throughout the Bible, are consistently referred to as ‘the tribulation period’ or of  ‘birth pains“, as opposed to what follows, which is the Great Tribulation, The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb.

What do we know so far?

  1. The Lord is coming just like a thief in the night.
  2. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. Verse 4.  But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief.
  3. God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
  4. This occurs after the 5th tribulation seal – with the breaking of the 6th Tribulation seal, comes Revelation 6 verse 16 and, the wrath of the Lamb; Revelation 6 verse 17, the great day of Their wrath has come.

Next we see, in Revelation 14:9, “Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, verse 10, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.”

Revelation 15:1, “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.”

Finally, and, while we are at it… Three great ‘denominational misconceptions’.

Misconception #1. All the tribulation seals are broken after the rapture.

Correction to misconception #1. The tribulation seals ONE through FIVE have been broken as early as the birth of Christ through A.D. 95 and have been progressively overlapping and intensifying to this day. The Great Tribulation, also known as the Great and Terrible Day of The Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb and the rapture, occur at or near the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal. (Please refer to “Just Before The Rapture.”)

 

Misconception #2. The Antichrist will not be revealed until after the rapture.

Correction to misconception #2. The Antichrist is revealed after the Great Apostasy (the 5th tribulation seal) and before the rapture of the Church. (see 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3).

 

Misconception #3. The mark of the beast will be given before the rapture.

Correction to misconception #3. The mark of the beast comes after the rapture. It will not be given until the 6th Tribulation Trumpet.  (see the placement of Revelation 14:9).

The scriptures encourage us to be like the Bereans, noble-minded, receiving the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things are so.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

THE TRIBULATION & THE RAPTURE – Made Easier To Understand?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

THE TRIBULATION AND RAPTURE MADE EASIER TO UNDERSTAND

The (Very) Condensed Version

“Yeah. Right!”, you might say. But I say that it can be understood. And it is in your best interest to understand. But, you have to get the purpose, priority and chronology right, first. And, it is helpful if not absolutely necessary to know God’s Eternal Plan as it relates to the past, present and future history of all creation – the earth, the heavens, all humankind, and all living things.

From The Creation, through the Garden of Eden, and the Fall of Man to the Great Flood, the Tower of Babel, the call of Abraham, Moses, the Exodus from Egypt, the possessing of The Promised Land, the building and the Destruction of the First Temple and the Jewish Captivity in Babylon, the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Destruction of the Second Temple, our steady march through time has been exactly as Bible prophecy has foretold.  We have entered an era leading to the destruction and, eventually, a rebirth of the heavens and the earth. Throughout these eons of time, we can see The Hand of God working in the affairs of humankind, working out His Purpose for eternity.

PERFECTION

The Purpose of God’s Eternal Plan is “Perfection”. He began with the imperfect and created the Masterpiece, first in the heavens and then on the earth. His work completed in just seven days; He would allow His Masterpiece to mature for millennia until it becomes His Perfection.

God is maturing and perfecting His people into His image, ultimately to live in perfect harmony with Him and with one another, in a New and Perfect heaven and earth.

This is a journey of discovery and revelation of God’s Grand Plan and Design, from creation through the End of the Age, then into a New Heaven and a New Earth.

“Because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14

Each and every chapter, verse and word in the Bible, when viewed within this context of  God’s Eternal Plan of Perfection, begins to make perfect sense. (for great detail, see the series, “The Journey to Perfection”.)

God’s plan began, is unfolding, and will conclude exactly as He has purposed. Here are a few of the major Biblical events where you can see God’s Hand moving in the affairs of humankind, leading to the End of the Age:

1. The creation of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1–31) – Before Time
2.  The first humans (Genesis 1:26–31; 2:8–25) – Before 4,000 B.C.
3.  The fall of man (Genesis 3:1–24) – Before 4,000 B.C.
4. The great flood (Genesis 6:9–9:17) – Before 2,500 B.C.
5. The  of the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1–9) – Before 2,100 B.C.
6. The call of Abraham (Genesis 12:1–5) – 2,091 B.C.
7. The exodus (Exodus 12:31–42; 14:1–31) – 1,446 B.C.
8. The building of the first Temple (1 Kings 6) – 966 B.C.
9. The birth of Jesus (Matt 1:18–2:23; Luke 2:1–10) – 5 B.C.
10. The temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13) -27 A.D.
11. The calling of the disciples (Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11) – 27 A.D.
12. The Sermon on the Mount/Plain (Matthew 5:1–7:29; Luke 6:29–40) -27 A.D.
13. Jesus’s crucifixion (Matthew 27:32–56; Mark 15:21–41; Luke 23:26–49; John 19:16–37) – 30 A.D.
14. Jesus’s resurrection (Matthew 28:1–20; Mark 16:1–20; Luke 24:1–53; John 20:1–31) – 30 A.D. – 30 .A.D.
15. The giving of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20) – 30 A.D.
16. The  of the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1–41) – 30 A.D.
17. The second coming of Jesus (Revelation 19:11–16) – In The Future
18. The new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1–5) –  In the Future

(Please remember that there are corresponding world events which reflect the prophetic events found in the Bible. For those interested, here is an important Comparative Biblical, Secular and a ‘Daniel’s 70 Weeks’ Historical chronology chart for your review.)

 FIRST – A Matter of Important Business:

Unless you have received Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior, you have a limited-to-no capacity to understand the spiritual significance and application of spiritual truth to your life. However, once you surrender your life to Jesus, the Holy Spirit will come to indwell you and will reveal all Truth to you and will guide you in that Truth. Receive Him, today – Now is the time.

(Please, click on each of these images for ‘how to be saved’ before proceeding)

         

SECONDLY, to have even a rudimentary understanding of the Tribulation, the rapture, and the Book of The Revelation, you should know WHY God is bringing times of ‘birth pains’, and tribulations of plagues to the earth which will escalate into what is known as “The Great Tribulation”, “the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord”, “The Wrath of the Lamb”, “The End of Days” and “The End of the Age”. (answer below).

THIRDLY, in order to understand the Book of Revelation, we also need to know WHEN these things are coming upon us. (answers below).

FOURTH, in order to understand the Book of Revelation, we need to know HOW God will bring about The End of Days in a chronological order and by visible signs. (answers below).

FIFTH, in order to understand the events of the Book of The Revelation, we need to know how this will affect you.

SHORT ANSWERS:

 THE SHORT ANSWER TO “WHY” God is bringing times of ‘birth pains’, and tribulations of plagues to the earth is that the wickedness of people will have become, and is becoming great on the earth, just like in the days of Noah, and God’s plan and purpose for His creation is perfection. Therefore, He will “Many will be purged, purified and refined”. (see Daniel 12:10).

THE SHORT ANSWER TO “WHEN” are these things are coming upon us, is that these things are already evident, are increasing in frequency and intensity throughout the earth. Read these words and testimonies by the Apostles Paul, Timothy, Peter and John which tell us that these things began in or around A.D. 1 to A.D. 95, and they have been continuously evident, overlapping and increasing in their intensity to this day.

Also, as early as A.D. 30, Jesus said these things:

  1. Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. (see Matthew 24:4-5.)
  2. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. (see Matthew 24:6-8 and Revelation 6:1-4)
  3. In various places there will be famines and earthquakes. (Matthew 24:8.  But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Also see Revelation 6:5-6.)
  4. Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. (see Matthew 24:9-10 and Revelation 6:9-11.)
  5. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. (see Matthew 24:10-13.)
  6. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (see Matthew 24:14.)

THE SHORT ANSWER TO “HOW” God will bring about The End of Days in a chronological order and by visible signs, is that there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time God’s people, that is everyone who is found written in the Book of Life, will be rescued. But, there will be a shattering of the power of the holy people and a purging, a cleansing and a refining of God’s people.

THE SHORT ANSWER, “WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ME?” is that the Bible warns that “The coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so, will the coming of the Son of Man be. Of that day, no one knows the day or the hour”, but if you did know, would you be ready?

“Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left … the Master will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut the unfaithful into pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

(What does it mean to be ready? Go here What does it mean to get ready)

I will conclude this short essay with a short outline of the Tribulation Judgment Seals which lead to the Great Tribulation, also known as the Great and Terrible Day of The Lord, The End of the Age or the Wrath of the Lamb. (Concern yourself with the first 6 Seals):

  1. 1st Tribulation Seal – International (Global) conquest and political intrigue (has already occurred and continues to occur, overlapping with seals 1 through 5, increasing in intensity).
  2. 2nd Tribulation Seal – Wars and Rumors of War (has already occurred and continues to occur, overlapping with seals 1 through 5, increasing in intensity).
  3. 3rd Tribulation Seal – Famine (has already occurred and continues to occur, overlapping with seals 1 through 5, increasing in intensity).
  4. 4th Tribulation Seal – Death (has already occurred and continues to occur, overlapping with seals 1 through 5, increasing in intensity).
  5. 5th Tribulation Seal – Martyrs, persecution, falling away – the great apostasy (has already occurred and continues to occur, overlapping with seals 1 through 5, increasing in intensity).
  6. 6th Tribulation Seal – Cosmic disturbances, blood moon, darkened sun, terror, calamity (yet to occur).
    1. Sealing of the 144,000.
    2. The Rapture.

There is also a lot of discussion and disagreement on the placement and the timing of the rapture of the saints. I find this odd since Matthew 24:29-31 gives such a compelling and plain-face-value description of the rapture of the saints of God:

Matthew 24:29-31,“But immediately after the tribulation of those days (previous days of ‘tribulation – seals 1 through 5, a.k.a., days of distress, see Daniel 9:1) 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. 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. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” (Matthew 24:29-31.)

There are those who will say that this is not the 2nd Coming of Jesus because He only appears in the sky and does not come down to the earth. They will say the 2nd coming of Jesus occurs later, as found in Revelation 19:7-16.

Revelation 19:11, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. Verse 12, His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. Verse 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Verse 14, And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.” (Revelation 19:11-16)

Please notice that in Matthew 24, ‘all the tribes of the earth will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds‘.

 

 

Then in Revelation 19:11, only John the Revelator, who is speaking and according to the text, sees Jesus: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.” And nowhere in the text of Revelation 19, does it say that Jesus actually comes to the earth – it is a weak assumption that Jesus could only defeat the forces of if He physically came down to the earth. The text does not say.

A simple explanation is that the sign of the Son of Man (Jesus) HAS APPEARED in the sky, in Matthew 24, 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.  In other words, Jesus has appeared and will continue to appear – according to the text, STILL IN THE HEAVENS – just at another time.

Why is this important. It is important because it pinpoints the timing of the rapture! Immediately following the breaking of the first six tribulation seals (Revelation chapter 6), scriptures in Revelation chapter 7:9-14,which correspond to Matthew 24:29-31, we see “a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

This is another clear, and what should be indisputable, description of all of the raptured saints, from all the ages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.

And, Why does it matter when the tribulation starts or when Christians are to be raptured into heaven?

  • It matters 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.
  • It matters because being ready requires believing and doing what He has instructed us to do in preparation for His return.
  • It matters 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.’
  • It matters 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.
  • It matters 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.
  • It matters because, as Christians, our faith, our convictions and our behavior are speaking louder than our words.

This has become to be known as the Pretribulation Pre-Wrath, Rapture; and whether you believe it this way or whether you hold a differing view, the important thing is that you and I are doing what Jesus has instructed, thereby being ready for His return.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young