3 MAIN THINGS – you really should know

March 13, 2024April 17, 2024 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THREE MAIN THINGS – You Really Should Know

(Please note that I use page links in lieu of footnotes, citations and references. These links also give important details regarding statement and references in this article. I urge you to please use them.)

Whether you know it or not, whether you will believe it or not, and whether you like it or not, there are three urgent things everyone needs to know. There should be no doubt that:

1. 1. God exists.
  2. There is A Plan for all humanity, the earth, the heavens and the entire cosmos.
  3. Everything is going according to plan – and you are included in The Plan – whether you know it or not, whether you believe it or not, and whether you like it or not.

If you scoff at the THREE MAIN THINGS, then scoff if you must. But it would serve you well to take a closer look, and seriously investigate what is being presented here.

i. GOD EXISTS

There was a time, when in its infancy, science was compatible with religion. (When I speak of religion in this article, I am referring to Christianity). It was inevitable with the passage of time, however, that certain influential atheists, would become influential scientists. Their science would be defined by and framed by their humanist idealism, imagination and secular-humanist worldview. That is to say that since it is their conviction that there is no God, they concurrently would see the world, the universe and the cosmos, strictly as a natural occurrence.

By the way, I have heard it said that it takes faith to believe in God, but that it takes exponentially more faith to believe that everything that exists came from nothing and randomly ‘evolved’ into a precision that defies all reason, logic and science – all by chance; that all of existence has been a series of serendipitous events.

There was a period of about 175 years that America was considered a Christian nation. However, the Christian America thesis would be sidelined after the Scopes Trial of 1925, and it would find a new, yet brief life in the 1970s. It continues to be a burning issue today. Those who now argue that America was founded as a Christian nation inherit a long and consistent tradition.

Then in June 2006, then president Barak Obama stated, in a prepared speech, “that America is no longer a Christian nation – at least ‘not just’”, which marked a dividing line in America.

“It was also in the 19^th century that pair-structured phrases “religion and science” and “science and religion” first emerged in the literature. This coincided with the refining of “science” (from the studies of “natural philosophy”) and of “religion” as distinct concepts in the preceding few centuries, partly due to professionalization of the sciences, the Protestant Reformation, colonization, and globalization. Since then the relationship between science and religion has been characterized in terms of “conflict”, “harmony”, “complexity”, and “mutual independence”, among others.” (see the foregoing excerpt from Wikipedia).

It is also interesting that these humanist-atheists-scientists found it expeditious to use the language of the Bible as academic stepping stones to sell their new scientific idealism to succeeding generations – effectively separating God and science in the public mind and coining the new term, ‘creationism’ – a victory for atheists and humanists and a sad acquiescence on the part of Christian apologists and theologians.

For example:

Carl Sagan – Cosmos – Its Only Sacred Truths:

Carl Sagan – Cosmos- Stars – We Are Their Children

Only recently have a few notable Christian apologists offered a sound public rebuttal, which may have galvanized the beliefs of the faithful, but has done little to undo the damage to public perception caused by Saganists. Damage which has obscured the truth of scriptures and which has reached inside the Christian church and community.

Ken Ham’s “Answers in Genesis”. “Is Genesis History?” Del Tackett.

NEXT – JUST CONSIDERING THE ODDS

In case you have been unduly influenced by the “Saginists” of the science world, let me present you a case in favor of the fact that GOD DOES EXIST.

The Bible states that, “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel – (which means God with us.)” Isaiah 7:14.

Again, the Bible says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6.

Imagine these odds: 1 to 100, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000. (that is 1 to 10 to the 157th power).

These are the odds against – yes, AGAINST – Jesus Christ having sent by God, born, live on earth and fulfilled just 48 of the over 450 prophecies written about Him.

In order to give you some perspective, consider that electrons are very small objects. They’re smaller than atoms. It would take 2.5 TIMES of 10 to just the 15th power of them, laid side by side, to make one inch. Even if we counted 250 of these electrons each minute, and counted day and night, it would still take 19 million years just to count a line of electrons one-inch long. NINETEEN MILLION YEARS!

Read that again, please. Why is that significant?

It is significant because it gives us evidence that the Bible is true and correct when it says that Christ Jesus came to earth and is the Savior of the world.

Just think about it: It is a scientific and a mathematical impossibility that HAS COME TO PASS!

(And by the way, it gives you evidence, if you choose to pay attention, that your life can be eternal with the only LIFE Source which gives eternal Peace, Safety, Security, Joy and fulfillment the universe has ever known or ever will know.)

ii. There is A Plan.

The Bible, when read as a whole, reveal an amazing narrative reaching back in time to creation and extending in time to the conclusion and rebirth of all things.

The logical question to ask, I believe is, can you prove it? I will rely on one source and refer to another to validate this point.

THE ONE SOURCE

The Bible lays out God’s complete plan, from before creation through the end of the age and into the creation of a new heaven and a new earth. His is a ‘Plan of Perfecting’. God is perfecting all who would believe and follow Jesus in humble submission in preparation for us to live with Him, worship Him and to rule with Him for all eternity.

Most theologians and Bible apologists will outline the Bible by giving a book-by-book topical overview and details of events contained in the individual books, which is probably the very best way to study the entire Bible. However, considering that the Bible (New American Standard version) contains 782,815 words, composing 31,103 verses and 1,189 chapters and 66 books written by 40 authors over a span of 1,500 years, (and further complicating this matter, there are about fifty mainline versions of the Bible, not counting revisions), it is easy to see how one could fail to see ‘the forest’ for the many trees of words, verses, chapters and recorded events.

(The forest is the entire body of work of the Bible which is a straight line from the beginning of creation to end of all things and into a new creation.)

(ANOTHER SOURCE – Note: this small section is not included in the audio).

Scientist say, on the one hand, that all things had a beginning – including time and space – and they named it the Big Bang. Then on the other hand certain leading scientists are beginning to speculate that perhaps something existed before the ‘Big Bang’. But, they all agree that everything will likely end in an event they are calling the Big Crunch. So, at least on two points there is agreement: There was a beginning and there will be an end.

Scientists are quick to point out that they are still learning and what they know may change and that is just the nature of science. (Oh, my). That means we can depend on scientific truth, sort of.

That it is true until it is not – and this validates my point about the existence of God. Science says it is right, until it is not!

The Bible says it is right because it is God-breathed, yesterday, today and forever!

THE JOURNEY TO PERFECTION

If you will patiently walk with me, I will take you on an amazing journey. A journey from the beginning of time through recorded world and Biblical histories. We will identify important past Bible prophecies and correlate them to the actual past world events; then we will compare both prophecies and histories to one specific prophecy known as ‘Daniel’s Seventy Weeks’, which will bring us to current events and the final epoch of time known by various names, such as, “The Last Days”, “The End The Age” the “Latter Days” and “The Tribulation”, which are now unfolding with frightening accuracy.

I will not stop there, however. I will conclude by laying out a successful response to these events, a plan of action by which you can both survive and thrive in these final days.

Finally, there is an event coming which is so fantastic as to be unbelievable. But I will show the evidence leading to this event, known as the ‘Rapture’ and I will even help you calculate the odds of its occurrence. You will then be faced with the most monumental decision you have ever faced.

The Purpose of God’s Eternal Plan is “Perfection”. He 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.

“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.

This journey is not any easy one. In fact, it is impossibly difficult. It is something only God can accomplish; and as difficult as it is, and at times, terror filled, it is also filled with purpose with a glorious end.

The Purpose of Daniel’s 70 Weeks six-fold plan.

The prophecy of Daniel’s Seventy Weeks contains a statement concerning God’s six-fold purpose in bringing these events to pass: Verse 24 says this purpose is:

1) “to finish transgression,” (that is, to end man’s rebellion toward God)

2) “to put an end to sin,” (that is, to bring an end to sin)

3) “to atone for wickedness,” (that is, to make amends or reparation for wickedness)

4) “to bring in everlasting righteousness,” (that is, the quality of being morally right or justifiable)

5) “to seal up vision and prophecy,” and (that is, to confirm these prophetic visions)

6) “to anoint the most holy.” (That is, to anoint, or to confer divine or holy office upon; in this case the Holy One, Jesus.)

Notice that the results of this six-fold purpose concerns the total eradication of sin and the establishing of righteousness.

The prophecy of the 70 weeks summarizes what happens before Jesus sets up His millennial kingdom.

iii. EVERYTHNING IS GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN

The world has entered the final epoch of time, known by various names, such as, “The Last Days”, “The End The Age” the “Latter Days” and “The Tribulation Period”, which was marked by the birth of Jesus. There are reportedly visible and observable signs and ancient writings to help you. However, most people either don’t recognize the signs or writings or don’t believe. Even among those who believe these prophecies are coming to pass and see the signs, few know what they are seeing, where they are leading or what to do in response.

The best description of the purpose, length and, outcome of this end time, variously known as the “birth pains”, the tribulation and finally, the Great Tribulation.

Here is a Biblical outline of the seals broken up to this very day:

Revelation Chapter 6 – as corresponding to – Matthew Chapter 24

the 1st Tribulation Seal – Global conquest and political intrigue. (This Seal was broken around A.D. 1 to A.D. 95, and is overlapping seals 2 through 5, and is intensifying).

the 2nd Tribulation Seal – Wars and Rumors of War. (This Seal was broken around A.D. 1 to A.D. 95, and is overlapping seal 1 and seals 3 through 5, and is intensifying).

the 3rd Tribulation Seal – Famine. (This Seal was broken around A.D. 1 to A.D. 95, and is overlapping seals 1 through 2, and seals 4 and 5 amd is intensifying).

the 4th Tribulation Seal – Death. (This Seal was broken around A.D. 1 to A.D. 95, and is overlapping seals 1 through 3 and seal 5, and is intensifying).

the 5th Tribulation Seal – Martyrs, persecution, Anti-Christ, falling away. (This Seal was broken around A.D. 1 to A.D. 95, and is overlapping seals 1 through 4, and is intensifying).

There is clear and staggering testimonies and evidence that the Last Days began in our around A.D. 1 through A.D. 95 and that tribulation seals 1 through 5 have been progressively opened, are overlapping and intensifying to this day.

We are on the precipice of the opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal which triggers the beginning of the period known as the Great Tribulation or the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb – which will continue with the breaking of tribulation seal 7, then the blowing of the 7 tribulation trumpets, and ending with the pouring out of the 7 tribulation bowls.

The Opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal is The BEGINNING OF the 7 years

“THE GREAT TRIBULATION”

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

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

(Also see Matthew 24:21, Revelation 2:22 and Revelation 7:14; and for the Wrath of the Lamb, see Revelation 6:16), is found in Daniel 12:1.)

YOU ARE INCLUDED

Whether you know it or not, whether you believe it or not and whether you like it or not, you are included in God’s Plan.

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

AS THE SHEEP

“And He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

AS THE GOAT

“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;

“These (on My left hand) will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous (those on My right hand) into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46).

Dear friends, you and I get one chance at this. The Bible says “And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27).

“The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).

If you will “confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)

Now it is up to you. Choose wisely.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

“THE JOURNEY TO PERFECTION” – A brief and abbreviated study, from the beginning to the end, and beyond.

REVELATION 12 – A Prophetic Panorama from the Birth of Jesus to Armageddon

WHEN DID THE tRIBULATION BEGIN?

There is ‘tribulation’, then there will be TRIBULATION!

March 8, 2024April 23, 2026 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THERE are times of ‘birth pains’ & tribulation AND THEN THERE WILL BE GREAT

There are many differing views, much debate, disagreements, and apparent contradictions regarding the doctrines of the Last Days, the Rapture and the tribulation.

So, what does the Bible actually say about this End of Days?

More specifically, what did Jesus tell His disciples and the rest of the listening and believing world what about what is coming? What we can expect to happen? What are we to do in order to ‘get ready’ and ‘stay ready’ until He returns to claim His Church?

There are those who will tell you that the seven years of tribulation are coming with the breaking of the first of seven seals, and that the rapture is imminent. There is a distinction here that is often overlooked. So, let me repeat: Some are saying that the 7 years of the tribulation will begin with the breaking of the 1st tribulation seal – followed by the breaking of seals 2 through 7, then the blowing of the 7 tribulation trumpets, and ending with the pouring out of the 7 tribulation bowls.

However, there is clear and staggering evidence that the Last Days began in our around A.D. 1 through A.D. 95 and that tribulation seals 1 through 5 have been progressively opened, are overlapping and intensifying to this day. And that we are on the precipice of the opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal which signals the beginning of the period known as the Great Tribulation or the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb – which will continue with the breaking of tribulation seal 7, then the blowing of the 7 tribulation trumpets, and ending with the pouring out of the 7 tribulation bowls.

Scriptures clearly tell us that

The last days and, also known as ‘the beginning of sorrows’ or the ‘tribulation’ (small ‘t’) are here now; but that
The Great Tribulation is yet to come; and that
The rapture will not occur unless the apostasy comes first, and that
The man of lawlessness is revealed, that is the son of destruction,(the antichrist), who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

THESE ARE THE SCRIPTURES THAT SAY SO

Matthew 24:9

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

(This was spoken around A.D. 30 – around 2,000 years ago, and there has been ongoing and intensifying persecution of Christians to this day. Compare this to the 5^th tribulation seal as found in Revelation 6:9-11 and referenced by Jesus in Matthew 24:9-12.)

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.”

(This seven-year period of Great tribulation has not yet occurred, but with a careful study, one can see that the tribulations as referenced by the words, “for then there will be a great tribulation” are the tribulation seals 1 through 5 (see Revelation 6:1-11), which are also referenced by Jesus in Matthew 24:9-12, which have been occurring and are continuing to occur. But Seals 6 and 7 are the beginning of The Great Tribulation, a.k.a., The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb, which begin with the 6^th Tribulation Seal and will conclude with the 7^th Bowl Judgment.)

Matthew 24:29

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

(This is speaking of the tribulation that will come after the tribulation events that have already occurred and continue to occur, as being described by Jesus in Matthew 24:1-28, (i.e., tribulation seals 1 through 5). These “days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken” have not occurred yet, but with a careful study, one can see that the tribulations spoken of in Seals 1 through 5 have occurred and are continuing to occur, but Seals 6 and 7 have not occurred.)

Mark 13:19

“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.”

(In order to get the chronology right, please read Mark 13:1-27. There will be tribulations and then will come “such a time of tribulation as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will again.” I.e., there will be tribulations then there will be a Great Tribulation, a.k.a. The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb, which begin with the 6^th Tribulation Seal and will conclude with the 7^th Bowl Judgment.)

Mark 13:24

“But in those days, after that tribulation (referring to the events that have already occurred), THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT.”

(In order to get the chronology right, please read Mark 13:1-27. There will be tribulations and then will come “be such a time of tribulation as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will again.” I.e., there will be tribulations then there will be a Great Tribulation, a.k.a. The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb, which begin with the 6^th Tribulation Seal and will conclude with the 7^th Bowl Judgment.)

John 16:33

“These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Revelation 1:9

“I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

Revelation 2:10

“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Revelation 7:14

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

THESE ARE THE ONES WHO SAY SO

The Last Days and the opening of the tribulation Seals began in our around A.D. 30 according to the words spoken by Jesus, the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy :

WHAT ARE GOD’S PURPOSES OF THE TRIBULATION?

Daniel 9, verse 24 says the PURPOSE is:

1) “to finish transgression,” (that is, to end man’s rebellion toward God)

2) “to put an end to sin,” (that is, to bring an end to sin)

3) “to atone for wickedness,” (that is, to make amends or reparation for wickedness)

4) “to bring in everlasting righteousness,” (that is, the quality of being morally right or justifiable)

5) “to seal up vision and prophecy,” and (that is, to confirm these prophetic visions)

6) “to anoint the most holy.” (that is, to anoint, or to confer divine or holy office upon; in this case the Holy One, Jesus.)

Notice that the results of this six-fold purpose concerns the total eradication of sin and the establishing of righteousness.

The prophecy of the 70 weeks summarizes what happens before Jesus sets up His millennial kingdom.

*Of special note is the third in the list of results: “to atone for wickedness.” Jesus accomplished the atonement for sin by His death on the cross (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17).

Secondly, it is important to know the four-fold PLANNED OUTCOME of the tribulation found in Daniel 12:10, (Which is the purpose of the Tribulation Seals ONE through FIVE):

“Many will be purged,

cleansed, and

refined,

those who have insight will understand.”

(SPECIAL NOTE: Tribulation Seal SIX through the SEVENTH Tribulation Bowl, also known as the GREAT Tribulation or the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, are judgments directed specifically at the non-believing world.)

WHY DO THESE THINGS MATTER?

They matter because many Christians are sitting idly waiting for an event that has already begun, and they are not DOING what He told them to do and therefore are in grave danger.

They matter because some of our family, friends and neighbors are completely unaware or just don’t believe that Christ will return and God’s final judgments will sentence them to outer darkness.

They matter because as Christians, our faith, our convictions and our behavior are speaking louder than our words.

They matter because being ready for His Return is proof of True Christianity, and only a True Believer in Christ will be guaranteed to join Christ at the sound of His Great Trumpet call and escape the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.

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

They matter because He has warned that “Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’”

WHO ELSE IS SEEING AND SAYING THESE THINGS?

Corrie Ten Boom speaks out about a prevailing tribulation and rapture view.
Pastor John Piper. You can also see a teaching by Pastor and Teacher, John Piper on the timing of the End Times.
David Rosenthal and Zion’s Hope. One of the first, most accurate, and persistent advocates of the Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church can be found at Zion’s Hope, with videos on this site.)
Pastor Jack Hibbs, senior pastor of Cavalry Chapel of Chino Hills, California is an advocate saying we are NOW in the Last Days and the End of Days period known as the Great Tribulation, the Great and Terrible Day of the LORD or the Wrath of the Lamb.
- Pastor Hibbs is informing and warning about the current Marxist-style Globalist movement, which is being led by the U.N., the U.N.’s Agenda 2030, UNESCO and their sustainable development goals, and the World Economic Forum. (Please also see “The One World Government – How It Is Fitting Together”.)

I offer this article to say that these things matter in our preparation and readiness for Jesus’ return. They should alert us to get ready and stay ready.

What these things don’t change or affect is the steady guarantee of our salvation in Christ. My concern, which I believe should be all our concern, is that when the time comes we all will hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant”, and not the fateful words, “Why do you call me Lord when you do not what I say?”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: It is written – ^“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). There is no way anyone can earn their salvation through works. But what we continually practice in our lives, reveals the true intentions of our heart. Please, get ready and stay ready for His return by serving God and obeying the Words of Jesus. Let’s pray for one another to be strengthened.

PSS: There are five major views of eschatology.

JUST BEFORE THE RAPTURE

March 5, 2024November 5, 2025 ~ 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 1st 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 1st 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 6th 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 6th 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 2nd 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 6th 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 6th 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 6th 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

PROPHECY WATCH – Wars and Rumors of War – The Dragon, The Woman and The Child

October 18, 2023March 28, 2025 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

This audio bar is for the text which follows:

The news of the day is the heinous attacks on innocents in Israel by the demonic terrorists, Hamas, in Gaza. There is speculation swirling in the smoke and columns of fire from the rocket attacks that this could be the ‘beginning of the end’ as prophesied in scriptures (The Last Days).

The swift, decisive and appropriately violent response by Israel would make it seem that this will at least be the end of Hamas as a terror group, and should send a strong message to Iran and other terrorist states. But if this unprovoked attack and murder of innocent men, women, children and babies spreads, it could begin to look like prophecies regarding Israel and the End of Days are coming to pass.

There are events, however, which must take place to confirm or disprove these kinds of speculations, but this could very well the precursor or harbinger, of things to come.

Revelation 12:1-17

The Woman

“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was pregnant, and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

The “woman” represents Israel. According to Joseph’s dream (Genesis 37:9-11), the sun represented Jacob, the moon represented Joseph’s mother Rachel, and the eleven stars were the sons of Israel which bowed down to Joseph. In this sign with twelve stars, Joseph is now among the other tribes of Israel.

The Child is Jesus. The pain described refers to the travail of Israel at the time of Jesus’ birth (under Roman occupation and oppression).

The Red Dragon, Satan

Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven crowns. And his tail *swept away a third of the stars of heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her Child.

A red dragon “symbolically suggests” an actual person will come to power on earth, with fierce power and a murderous nature. This is a picture of the complete evil with hideous strength.”

The revived Roman Empire is in view, here. The seven heads and ten horns refer to the original ten kingdoms of which three were subdued by the little horn of Daniel 7:8, who is to be identified with the world ruler of the great tribulation who reigns over the revived Roman Empire.”

Seven diadems on his heads: This dragon (person and political power) had great power (seven heads and ten horns) and claimed royal authority (seven diadems). The crowns represent his presumptive claims of royal authority against the true King.

His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven: Many believe this describes one-third of the angelic host in league with Satan (his angels of Revelation 12:9). This army of angelic beings in league with Satan makes up the world of demonic spirits.

The Male Child, Christ

And she gave birth to a Son, a male, who is going to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there [c]she would be nourished for 1,260 days.

A male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron refers to Jesus Christ, the Messiah. He rules the world with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:9 and Revelation 19:15) refers to the triumphant return of Jesus. By stating the starting point and ending point of Jesus’ earthly work, John alluded to all that stood in between.

After a conflict with the Prince of this world (Satan and his evil accomplices), who came and tried Him, but found nothing in Him, the Son of the woman (Jesus the Christ) was taken up to heaven and sat on the right hand of God (Ephesians 1:20). Words can hardly be plainer than these.

“She would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days” is a reference to a three and one-half year period connects these events with the final seven years of the Daniel 9 prophecy. Since Revelation 12:5 describes the ascension of Jesus, and Revelation 12:6 describes yet-to-occur events in the 70^th week of Daniel, between these two verses lies hundreds of years sometimes known as the “Age of Grace” (our current period).

The Angel, Michael

And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,

“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. For this reason, rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 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. And the serpent hurled water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon had hurled out of his mouth. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Around the mid-point and concluding near the end of the Great Tribulation period, (from the 7th Tribulation Trumpet to the 7th Tribulation Bowl of Wrath), God will turn the tide against Satan – first in heaven, then on earth. The formation of that battle is already taking place and it will deny Satan access to heaven.

THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE – compared to Matthew 24

Matthew 24:15-28, “So when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION [the appalling sacrilege that astonishes and makes desolate], spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains [for refuge]. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things that are in his house [because there will not be enough time]. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. And woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! Pray that your flight [from persecution and suffering] will not be in winter, or on a Sabbath [when Jewish laws prohibit travel]. For at that time there will be a great tribulation (pressure, distress, oppression), such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will [again]. And if those days [of tribulation] had not been cut short, no human life would be saved; but for the sake of the elect (God’s chosen ones) those days will be shortened. Then if anyone says to you [during the great tribulation], ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and they will provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones). Listen carefully, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out there, or, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms [of a house],’ do not believe it. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming [in glory] of the Son of Man [everyone will see Him clearly]. Wherever the corpse is, there the [e]vultures will flock together.”

THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE as seen in Luke 21

The Return of Christ

Luke 21:25-28, “There will be signs (attesting miracles) in the sun and moon and stars; and on the earth [there will be] distress and anguish among nations, in perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea and the waves, people fainting from fear and expectation of the [dreadful] things coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with [transcendent, overwhelming] power [subduing the nations] and with great glory. Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as] your redemption is drawing near.”

THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE compared to Matthew 24

Matthew 24:29-31, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT PROVIDE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And at that time the sign of the Son of Man [coming in His glory] will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth [and especially Israel] will mourn [regretting their rebellion and rejection of the Messiah], and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN with power and great glory [in brilliance and splendor]. And He will send His angels with A LOUD TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect (God’s chosen ones) from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

WARS AND RUMORS OF WAR – THE COMING INVASION OF ISRAEL?

WHO ARE THE ‘PLAYERS’?

When we see this invasion of Israel by the joint forces of Russia, Iran and her proxies, forces from Turkey, the Republic of Georgia, Ethiopia, Libya and Northern Africa, and the Caucuses, we can know this time has come. This is when God will intervene

Luke 21:20 tells us, “when you see Jerusalem surrounded by [hostile] armies, then understand [with confident assurance] that her (Israel’s) complete destruction is near.”

We can see who these hostile invading armies are, by reading Ezekiel chapter 38:1,

“And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

Verse 2. “Son of man, set your face against Gog of the land of Magog (current day Russia),the chief ruler of Meshech (southern Russia and Ukraine and possibly the Republic of Georgia) and Tubal (central Turkey), and prophesy against him,

Verse 3, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief ruler of Meshech and Tubal.

Verse 4. I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them magnificently clothed in full armor, a great horde with buckler (small shield) and [large] shield, all of them wielding swords;

Verse 5. Persia (Iran), Cush (Ethiopia), and Put (Libya, N. Africa) with them, all of them with shield and helmet;

Verse 6. Gomer (southern Russia) and all its troops; Beth-togarmah (the Caucuses region of Armenia and Georgia) from the remote parts of the north and all its troops–many peoples with you.

Gog, a.k.a., Rosh (Russia) and,
Rosh (Russia),
Magog (Russia),
Gomer (Eastern Europe-Southern Russia),
Put (Libya),
Cush (Ethiopia),
Persia (Iran),
Meshech (Modern Day Turkey),
Tubal (an area in central Turkey),
Beth-Togarmah (Georgia, Chechnya, Turkey/Armenia).

These are the 10 Nation Confederation to watch, (THE HEADS), of the BEAST Ezekiel 38, of Daniel 7,9 and Revelation 17. All are Islamic, the Center of which is MECCA:

Nation #1. Gog: A Reubenite, son of Shemaiah, the prophetic prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and Magog. Gog is identified as a descendant of the prophet Joel, and in Ezekiel 38–39, he is the chief prince of the tribes of Meshech and Tubal in the land of Magog, the mountainous region between Cappadocia and Media (Russia.).

Nation #2. Magog: The 2nd son of Japheth, grandson of Noah, and progenitor of several tribes northward from Israel; the mountainous region between Cappadocia and Media and habitation of the descendants of Magog, son of Japheth and grandson of Noah. (Russia.)

Nation #3. Rosh: “the Prince of Rosh” is Asiatic Russia receives confirmation from the Imperial Dictionary. “Evidence exists of an ancient people called Rosh, or Rhos, supposed to be the original stem from which the Russia or modern Russians have derived their race and name.” The scholar, Bishop Lowther says: “Rosh, taken as a proper name, in Ezekiel, signifies the inhabitants of Scythia, from whom modern Russians derived their name. We must conclude therefore, that Ezekiel’s “episode of Gog’s invasion” (A. B. Davidson) points irrefutably and undeniably to the Russians.

Nation #4. Meschach: Was a Chaldean. The Chaldeans inhabited the coastal area near the Persian Gulf. About 630 Nabopolassar became king of the Chaldeans and in 626 he forced the Assyrians out of Uruk and crowned himself king of Babylonia. Modern day Turkey.

Nation #5. Tubal: a region in east Asia Minor, perhaps nearly equal to Cappadocia

Nation #6. Persia: Iran

Nation #7. Cush (Ethiopia): located on either side or both sides of the Red Sea. As such, “Cush” is alternately identified in scripture with the Kingdom of Kush or ancient Ethiopia.

Nation #8. Put (Libya): Ancient Libya. In this sense, Libya was the whole known African continent to the west of the Nile Valley and extended south of Egypt. Herodotus described the inhabitants of Libya as two peoples: The Libyans in northern Africa and the Ethiopians in the south.

Nation #9. Gomer: (was the wife of the prophet Hosea (8th century BC), mentioned in the Hebrew Bible‘s Book of Hosea (1:3). Hosea 1:2 refers to her alternatively as a “promiscuous woman” (NIV), a “harlot” (NASB), and a “whore” (KJV) but Hosea is told to marry her according to Divine appointment. She is also described as the daughter of Diblaim.) The Hebrew name Gomer refers to the Cimmerians, who dwelt in what is now southern Russia, “beyond the Caucusus”, and attacked Assyria in the late 7th century BC.

Nation #10. Beth-Togarmah: Togarmah is a city mentioned in Assyrian and Hittite texts. It was north of Carchemish on an Assyrian trade route. It may be related to modern Gurun between the Halys and Euphrates Rivers. (Georgia, Chechnya, Turkey/Armenia.)

Because of the length and complexity of the scriptures regarding the invasion of Israel in the Last Days from the book of The Revelation, I will simply recap these events by linking to the appropriate verses, and a detailed commentary with videos by Zion’s Hope (David Rosenthal) at the end of this page..

Just know that the destruction of the Antichrist, the beast and their invading armies and demonic forces will be thoroughly defeated and cast into the eternal lake of fire (Revelation 16 through 20) after the 7^th Tribulation Bowl is poured out.

It is also worthy to note that there is some ‘controversy’ or discussion about the “2^nd Coming” or the SECOND ADVENT of Jesus Christ. Matthew 24:29-31 (and similarly in Luke 21) record these words, “But immediately after the tribulation of those days (it is important to note the words ‘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.

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.” This is clearly Jesus appearing, which will occur after the 5^th Tribulation Seal and at the moment of the breaking of the 6^th Tribulation Seal and is spoken of in the future tense. By all appearances we are well into the 5^th Tribulation Seal and are very near the 6^th Seal, so the ‘future tense’ of this verse can easily be considered to be from this day (10/11/2023) until His appearing – which could be immanent.

Then, in Revelation 19:11-16 we read, “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. 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. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 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. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Many commentators believe these verses describe the 2^nd Advent of Christ. But clearly, taking Matthew 24:29-31 into account, this would be a THIRD advent, which would be incorrect. This is NOT a new advent or a new coming of Christ, but it is Jesus, who has already returned to gather His Elect (Matthew 24:31) and is seen sitting on horse, judging and waging war against the nations!

CONCLUSION – THE LONG VIEW

The events of the “Last Days” began as early as the birth and/or the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus, as reported by Jesus and the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy in or around 2 B.C. through A.D. 95, and found in:

These events will conclude at the end of the pouring out of the Tribulation Bowls at the end of the SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION period, the Great and Terrible Day of The Lord.

We are seeing clear and distinct signs of the final days before His return and the beginning of the Great Tribulation. If you are His disciple, you do not need to be afraid. He is your protector. Your weapons and shield are the words of your testimony and the Blood of the Lamb.

When the time comes, He will give you words of wisdom to say, which no one can resist. Be brave and courageous.

If you have not already, now is the time, now is the day of your salvation. Turn to Jesus in humble submission and exchange your life for His, today – this moment. Find your peace, safety, sanctuary and salvation in Him!

If you have already given yourself and your life to God by His grace and through faith in Jesus, now is the time to complete your calling.

Do not wait for others to do the work of your calling – not the preacher, pastor, deacon, elder or friend. It is your calling and your joy to serve the Living God today.

YOU, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Jesus, believe in Him, and obey His words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that He has commanded you; and lo, He is with you always [remaining with you perpetually–regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE

October 11, 2023March 28, 2025 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

(Notice: there are 3 seperate audio clips on this page.)

THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE

“HAMAS”

“HAMAS”

The news of the day is the heinous attacks on innocents in Israel by the demonic terrorists, Hamas in Gaza. There is speculation swirling in the smoke and columns of fire from the rocket attacks that this could be the ‘beginning of the end’ as prophesied in scriptures (The Last Days).

The swift, decisive and appropriatley violent response by Israel would make it seem that this will at least be the end of Hamas as a terror group, and should send a strong message to Iran and other terrorist states. But if this unprovoked attack and murder of innocent men, women, children and babies spreads, it could begin to look like prophecies regarding Israel and the End of Days are coming to pass.

There are events, however, which must take place to confirm of disprove these kinds of speculations, but this could very well the precursor or harbinger, of things to come.

Comparing the correlating verses from Luke chapter 21 and Matthew chapter 24 we can get a clearer view of prophesied events of the Last Days, specifically targeting similar events in the Middle East and Israel.

Luke chapter 21 and Matthew chapter 24 give us a look at the events leading up to the breaking of the 6^th Tribulation Seal, which is the beginning of the SEVEN YEARS of the Great Tribulation – also known as Daniel’s Seventieth Week – The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord.

THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE

as seen in Luke 21

Luke 21:5-9, (Amplified Bible Version – annotated), “As some were talking about the temple, that it was decorated with beautiful stones and consecrated offerings [of magnificent gifts of gold which were displayed on the walls and hung in the porticoes], He said, “As for all these things which you see, the time will come when there will not be one stone left on another that will not be torn down.”

They asked Him, (Jesus), “Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to happen?” He said, “Be careful and see to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name (acting as if they are Me or pretending to act on my behalf as leaders of religious organizations calling themselves ‘The Church’), [appropriating for themselves the name (and the authority of) Messiah which belongs to Me alone], saying, ‘I am He,’ (thereby implying and acting in a way that says ‘I have the authority of Jesus as given by His Father’) and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and disturbances [civil unrest, revolts, uprisings], do not panic; for these things must take place first, but the end will not come immediately.”

THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE

as compared to Matthew 24

Matthew 24:1-5, (Amplified Bible Version – annotated): “Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to Him to call His attention to the [magnificent and massive] buildings of the temple. And He said to them, “Do you see all these things? I assure you and most solemnly say to you, not one stone here will be left on another, which will not be torn down.”

While Jesus was seated on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, and said, “Tell us, when will this [destruction of the temple] take place, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end (completion, consummation) of the age?”

Jesus answered, “Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error]. For many will come in My name (acting as if they are Me or pretending to act on my behalf as leaders of religious organizations calling themselves ‘The Church’), [misusing it, and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me], saying, ‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ (thereby implying and acting in a way that says ‘I have the authority of Jesus as given by His Father’), and they will mislead many .”

THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE

as seen in Luke 21

Things to Come

Luke 21:10-11, “Then Jesus told them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be violent earthquakes, and in various places famines and [deadly and devastating] pestilences (plagues, epidemics); and there will be terrible sights and great signs from heaven.

(Note: Jesus spoke these prophetic words in the future tense in or around A.D. 30. So, although there have always been wars, conflicts, earthquakes, famines, plagues and epidemics, they will greatly increase in their frequency and intensity and Ezekiel 38 describes the crescendo of these events.

Jesus pinpoints the season of these events as He links them with the words, “and there will be terrible sights and great signs from heaven” which is a direct link to the breaking of the 6^th Tribulation Seal, which is the beginning of the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb – marking the 70^th Week of Daniel and the beginning of the final SEVEN YEARS of THE TRIBULATION: THE SIXTH and SEVENTH SEAL of The Great Tribulation, The SEVEN TRUMPET JUDGEMENTS and The SEVEN BOWLS OF WRATH.)

THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE

as seen in Luke 21

Luke 21:12-19, “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, and bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake (which is the amplifying and intensifying of the breaking of the FIFTH TRIBULATION SEAL). This will be a time and an opportunity for you to testify [about Me]. So, make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you [skillful] words and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. But you will be betrayed and handed over even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be continually hated by everyone because of [your association with] My name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your [patient] endurance [empowered by the Holy Spirit] you will gain your souls.

THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE

as compared to Matthew 24

Matthew 24:6-14, “You will continually hear 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 [of the age]. 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 pangs [of the intolerable anguish and the time of unprecedented trouble].

“Then they will hand you over to [endure] tribulation, and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will be offended and repelled [by their association with Me] and will fall away [from the One whom they should trust] and will betray one another [handing over believers to their persecutors] and will hate one another. Many false prophets will appear and mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, the love of most people will grow cold. But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved. This good news of the kingdom [the gospel] will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end [of the age] will come.“

THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE

as seen in Luke 21

Luke 21:20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by [hostile] armies, then understand [with confident assurance] that her (Israel’s) complete destruction is near. At that time, those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are inside the city (Jerusalem) must get out, and those who are [out] in the country must not enter the city; for these are days of vengeance [of rendering full justice or satisfaction], so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. Woe to those women who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For great trouble and anguish will be on the land, and wrath and retribution on this people [Israel]. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles (a race of people, the nations of the heathen world, Gentiles, joined by practicing pagan and heathen customs and common culture; unbelieving Gentiles (non-Jews)), are fulfilled (completed).

THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE

as compared to Matthew 24

Matthew 24:15-28, “So when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION [the appalling sacrilege that astonishes and makes desolate], spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains [for refuge]. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things that are in his house [because there will not be enough time]. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. And woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! Pray that your flight [from persecution and suffering] will not be in winter, or on a Sabbath [when Jewish laws prohibit travel]. For at that time there will be a great tribulation (pressure, distress, oppression), such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will [again]. And if those days [of tribulation] had not been cut short, no human life would be saved; but for the sake of the elect (God’s chosen ones) those days will be shortened. Then if anyone says to you [during the great tribulation], ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and they will provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones). Listen carefully, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out there, or, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms [of a house],’ do not believe it. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming [in glory] of the Son of Man [everyone will see Him clearly]. Wherever the corpse is, there the [e]vultures will flock together.”

THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE

as seen in Luke 21

The Return of Christ

Luke 21:25-28, “There will be signs (attesting miracles) in the sun and moon and stars; and on the earth [there will be] distress and anguish among nations, in perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea and the waves, people fainting from fear and expectation of the [dreadful] things coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken.

THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE

as compared to Matthew 24

Matthew 24:29-31, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT PROVIDE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And at that time the sign of the Son of Man [coming in His glory] will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth [and especially Israel] will mourn [regretting their rebellion and rejection of the Messiah], and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN with power and great glory [in brilliance and splendor]. And He will send His angels with A LOUD TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect (God’s chosen ones) from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

WARS AND RUMORS OF WAR – THE COMING INVASION OF ISRAEL?

WHO ARE THE ‘PLAYERS’?

When we see this invasion of Israel by the joint forces of Russia, Iran and her proxies, forces from Turkey, the Republic of Georgia, Ethiopia, Libya and Northern Africa, and the Caucuses, we can know this time has come. This is when God will intervene

Luke 21:20 tells us, “when you see Jerusalem surrounded by [hostile] armies, then understand [with confident assurance] that her (Israel’s) complete destruction is near.”

We can see who these hostile invading armies are, by reading Ezekiel chapter 38:1,

“And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

Verse 3, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief ruler of Meshech and Tubal.

Verse 5. Persia (Iran), Cush (Ethiopia), and Put (Libya, N. Africa) with them, all of them with shield and helmet;

Gog, a.k.a., Rosh (Russia) and,
Rosh (Russia),
Magog (Russia),
Gomer (Eastern Europe-Southern Russia),
Put (Libya),
Cush (Ethiopia),
Persia (Iran),
Meshech (Modern Day Turkey),
Tubal (an area in central Turkey),
Beth-Togarmah (Georgia, Chechnya, Turkey/Armenia).

These are the 10 Nation Confederation to watch, (THE HEADS), of the BEAST Ezekiel 38, of Daniel 7,9 and Revelation 17. All are Islamic, the Center of which is MECCA:

Nation #5. Tubal: a region in east Asia Minor, perhaps nearly equal to Cappadocia

Nation #6. Persia: Iran

Nation #7. Cush (Ethiopia): located on either side or both sides of the Red Sea. As such, “Cush” is alternately identified in scripture with the Kingdom of Kush or ancient Ethiopia.

CONCLUSION – THE LONG VIEW

These events will conclude at the end of the pouring out of the Tribulation Bowls at the end of the SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION period, the Great and Terrible Day of The Lord.

When the time comes, He will give you words of wisdom to say, which no one can resist. Be brave and courageous.

If you have already given yourself and your life to God by His grace and through faith in Jesus, now is the time to complete your calling.

Do not wait for others to do the work of your calling – not the preacher, pastor, deacon, elder or friend. It is your calling and your joy to serve the Living God today.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

ADDITIONAL READING:

UKRAINE AND RUSSIA IN. PROPHECY – THE BEGINNING OF THE END?

Additional Relevant Scriptures:

THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS

A SECRET RAPTURE?

ONLY ONE 2nd APPEARING!

ONLY ONE SECOND COMING AND NO SECRET RAPTURE

THE RETURN OF JESUS AND THE END OF THE AGE

Following this video are a series of videos of greater detail on these matters:

Signs Of The 5th Tribulation Seal

October 9, 2023March 25, 2025 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Signs of the FIFTH Tribulation Seal

Matthew 24, Verse 10. (Seal #5), And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

Matthew 24, Verse 13. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Revelation 6, Verse 9. (Seal #5) When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed 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 live on the earth?” Verse 11. And a white robe was given to each of them; and they were told that they were to rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters who were to be killed even as they had been, was completed also.

2 Timothy 3:3, “But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear].

The things described in these verses seem to be recognizable and occurring, especially in our day-and-time. But these things have been occurring since the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. In fact, not only have the continued to occur but they have been increasing in frequency and in their intensity. (see “Is This The End?”).

The foregoing prophetic statements referring to the “last days” fit perfectly with the words of Jesus and the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy as they describe the events and times of the “last days”, which were written around A.D. 30, and are found in :

The progression and timing of the breaking of the Tribulation Seals in Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 6,7 and 8 can be seen in this short outline (below, with links) which compare Jesus’ account of the Tribulation period both in the Book of Revelation and in the Book of Matthew:

Revelation Chapter 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

(The Opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal is The BEGINNING OF the 7 years

“THE GREAT TRIBULATION”)

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

Sealing of the 144,000

The Rapture

Multitude from the tribulation before the Throne of God).

WARNING: Prior to the SIXTH TRIBULATION SEAL, scriptures tell us that God will send a ‘deluding influence so people will believe a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness”.

This malaise and apostasy has infected Christian Churches across the globe and nowhere is it more evident that in the western world and in America. You can visit just about any church and find an ‘entertainment-oriented’ production, dedicated to move the emotions of the visitor, practitioner and adherent to moments of emotional ecstasy. The ‘sermons’ can better be described as intellectually fulfilling – a religious sales pitch about how things should be. . The ‘congregation has become an audience attending a play’ in large part.

The sense of ‘Church is like family’ has become a social affair. Cliques have taken the place of the Body. The day of lamenting one’s sins, brokenness and repentance at the altar are gone. (See “I Will Build My Church”).

This transformation, this apostasy has been developing over the decades and centuries. It was subtle at first. Now it is in full bloom and is unrecognized by the perpetrators – church-goers and Christians.

A more complete description of the attitudes and behaviors of people in these ‘last days, which are precursors to the Great Apostasy (the great falling away from the Gospel and the teachings of Jesus) and the Great Martyrdom and persecution of Christians, (the fifth Tribulation Seal) are found in 2 Timothy chapter 3.

Verse 1, For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, verse 3, [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, verse 4, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God,

Verse 5, holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith].

Avoid such people and keep far away from them.

Verse 6. For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate morally weak and spiritually-dwarfed women weighed down by [the burden of their] sins, easily swayed by various impulses,

The term “morally weak and spiritually-dwarfed women” as it is used here, may seem to be specifically aimed at women and to the exclusion of men. That is incorrect. This description is anachronistic. It must be understood in the social context of that day. Women, in general were considered to be second class members of society when these verses were written. Women’s lives and value were defined almost solely in relation to men: their fathers and husbands. This description is being used contemptuously to define anyone, and specifically a man who would be considered to behave in such a way. (It could be said, in a contemporary and derogatory way, “he acts just like a silly old women” or “he is such a Nancy”.)

Always learning and listening to anybody who will teach them, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Is this not what is occurring in our churches? People lament, “I am not being fed”. So, they are relieved of their own duty to ‘get off the milk of the word’ and feed themselves the meat of the word by doing the Word of God.

Too many churches and pastors placate ‘the sheep’, who by now should be pastors, teachers, deacons, elders, ambassadors for Christ, by substituting the ‘Work of the Gospel’ with always learning and listening and never actually ‘going into the fields which are ripe for harvesting’.

Just as Jannes and Jambres, [men, in the court magicians in the court of the Pharaohs Egypt] opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, unqualified and worthless [as teachers] in regard to the faith. But they will not get very far, for their meaningless nonsense and ignorance will become obvious to everyone, as was that of Jannes and Jambres.

The postmodern religious teachings of ‘hyper-grace’ and ‘soft-sell salvation’ has convinced millions upon millions that a small ritual of bowing one’s head and praying a simple prayer is all that is needed to be saved from the coming wrath and to go to heaven. This is not so. Jesus is clear. It is the one who does the will of the Father who will be saved.

Finally, the importance of recognizing the intent of this letter by Timothy and the placement of the breaking of the 5^th Tribulation Seal is that the first FIVE TRIBULATION SEALS are, accoring to Jesus, ‘the birth pangs’ – forerunners of the Great Tribulation, also known as the Great and Terrible Day of The Lord, which begins with the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal.

You and I must be the ‘salt and the light’. We must be the initiators, the ambassadors, the martyrs for Christ. We must demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] by our love [unselfish concern for others], by our joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], by our kindness, by our goodness, by our faithfulness, by our gentleness, by our self-control.

Against these things there is no law. And those of us who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.

If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:22-26)

We have now been warned against false teachers, false teachings, false prophets and our ominous proximity to the breaking of the 6^th Tribulation Seal.

We have now been instructed how we are to engage this fallen world as the Day of The Lord draws near.

We have now been instructed about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and about living and walking by the Spirit with personal integrity, Godly character and moral courage, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The day and the hour of the SIXTH TRIBULATION SEAL is near. It will initiate the 7 years of Great Tribulation, also known as the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord. A time when the world will see a God’s judgements, tribulation and devastation as it has never seen and will never see again.

Prepare yourself and your household and know that at that time,“Immediately after the tribulation of these days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not provide its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And at that time the sign of the Son of Man [coming in His glory] will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth [and especially Israel] will mourn [regretting their rebellion and rejection of the Messiah], and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory [in brilliance and splendor]. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet and they will gather together His elect (God’s chosen ones) from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” (Matthew 24:29-31).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

THE PURPOSE OF THE BIBLICAL TRIBULATION

September 21, 2023April 29, 2026 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

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; and at that time your people, 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. 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?” 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, 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.

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.

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.”

(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 were a foreshadowing of what is yet to come.)

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

The ‘Birth Pain Seals‘ of the Tribulation have been broken and “The mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him 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” has been revealed (see Ephesians 1:9-10) as foretold in Daniel, chapters 10 through 12, and as explained by Jesus and witnessed to by the Apostles Paul, Peter, John and the disciple Timothy. (We are awaiting the Great and Terrible day of the Lord, which will commence with the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal.)

He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant, John, (Revelation 1:2) and to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, and to all that he saw.

Verse 3. 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. Revelation 1:1-3

Tribulation Judgments of the Last Days and of the End of the Age

(Concern yourself with the first 6 Seals):

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

the 1st Tribulation Seal – International (Global) deceptions, 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

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.

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.
This fallen world brings both good and evil. God has told us in Matthew 5:44 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.
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.

1 Peter 1:4 “to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Psalms34:17 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.

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.”
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, 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, verse 7, so 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.

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 already upon us and it intensifying. It has been foretold.

Get Ready,
Stay Ready,
Overcome and
Endure to the End
And You Shall Be Saved.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

God’s Plan of Perfection

THESE LAST DAYS – Facts hidden in plain sight – Part 2

August 22, 2023August 25, 2023 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 2 Comments

Next, let’s confirm the meaning of scriptures related to the END OF THE AGE or THE LAST DAYS by correlating and comparing the Tribulation Seals of Judement, from Matthew chapter 24 with the book of The Revelation chapters 6, 7 and eight through COMPARISON and CONTEXT!

(NOTE: Jesus, in the book of Matthew gives a present view looking to the future – Jesus, in The book of The Revelation gives a panorama of a continuous past, present and future.)

After reading each of the following verses, please ask and answer, “What is REALLY Going On?

What is REALLY Going On – in Matthew 24:1 –5, “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?” And Jesus answered and said to them. “See to it that no one misleads you. “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

Revelation 6:1-2, “Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come!” I looked, and behold…”

Seal 1 – Matthew 24:6-7 – also in Revelation 6:1 – 6:3 – WARS & RUMORS OF WAR, RIDER ON WHITE HORSE.

What is REALLY Going On – in the First Seal in Matthew 24?

Matthew 24:6. “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.

“You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars -Matthew 24:6”
- (future tense – spoken in A.D. 30).
- (has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).

What is REALLY Going On – in the First Seal in Matthew 24?

Matthew 24:7-8, “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.

“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against – Matthew 24:7”
- (future tense – spoken in A.D. 30) .
- (has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur have been are increasing in intensity to this day).

What is REALLY Going On – in the First Seal in Revelation 6?

Revelation 6:1–2, Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

“A white horse rider went out conquering and to conquer – Revelation 6:2”
- (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D.)
- (has been occurring since A.D. 95, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).

-The Completion of the First Tribulation Seal –

Seal 2 & 3: Matthew 24:7-8 – also in Revelation 6:5 – FAMINES & EARTHQUAKES & A RED HORSE.

What is REALLY Going On – in the Second and Third Seals in Matthew 24?

Matthew 24:7-8, “…and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
- (has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).
“But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
- (This is the beginning – in or around A.D. 30,and they have been continuing to occur and are increasing in intensity to this day).

What is REALLY Going On – in the Second and Third Seals in Revelation 6?

Revelation 6:3-4. “When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.

“A red horse went out to take peace from the earth and people would kill one another – Revelation 6:4”
- (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95)
- (has been occurring since A.D. 95, are continuing to occur and has been increasing in intensity to this day).

People would kill one another.
- (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
- (has been occurring since A.D. 95, are continuing to occur and has been increasing intensity to this day).

-The Completion of the Second & Third Tribulation Seals –

Seal 4: Matthew 24:9 – also in Revelation 6:7 – PERSECUTION, DISEASE, FAMINE, DEATH.

What is REALLY Going On – in the Fourth Seal in Matthew 24?

Matthew 24:9, “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

“Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
- (has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).

What is REALLY Going On – in the Fourth Seal in Revelation 6?

Revelation 6:7-8, “When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.”

An ashen horse of death.
Death by sword, famine, pestilence and wild beasts.
- (has been occurring since A.D. 95, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity and will culminate with over one-fourth of earth’s inhabitants killed).

– The Completion of the Fourth Tribulation Seal –

Seal 5: Matthew 24:10-15 – also in Revelation 6:9 – APOSTASY, FALSE PROPHETS, HATRED, LAWLESSNESS, ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, GREAT EARTHQUAKES, MARTYRS, DEATH.

What is REALLY Going On – in the Fifth Seal in Matthew 24?

Matthew 24:10-15, “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. 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. Therefore, when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place – let the reader understand. (this is the last of the prophecies to come).

Many will fall away and hate one another (the great Apostasy).
- (has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).
False prophets will arise and mislead many..
- (has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).
The Abomination of Desolation (<-link).
- (A past event foreshadowing the future event which marks the last of the prophecies and the coming End).

What is REALLY Going On – in the Fifth Seal in Revelation 6?

Revelation 6:9-11, “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; 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?” 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.”

Persecutions, martyrs and death of the saints of God.
- (has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity until the end).

– The Completion of the Fifth Tribulation Seal –

Seal 6: Matthew 24:29-31 – also in Revelation 6:12 – COSMIC CATACLYSMS after the tribulation of the previous days, TERROR, SUN DARKENED, MOON WILL NOT SHINE, STARS WILL FALL, HEAVENS SHAKEN, SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN, SON COMING ON THE CLOUDS, GREAT TRUMPET BLAST, GATHERING OF THE ELECT, RAPTURE.

What is REALLY Going On – in the Sixth Seal in Matthew 24?

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

“But immediately after the tribulation of those days
- (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND
- (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND
- (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and
- (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then
- (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and
- (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. And
- (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET BLAST, and
- (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
- (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).

What is REALLY Going On – in the Sixth Seal in Revelation 6?

Revelation 6:12-17, “I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

There was a great earthquake.
- - (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95)
  - (has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
The sun became black
- - (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95)
  - (has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
The moon became like blood.
- - (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95)
  - (has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
The stars fell from the sky.
- - (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
  - (has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
The sky was split apart like a scroll.
- - (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
  - (has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
Every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
- - (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
  - (has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
Him who sits on the throne.
- - (Present historical tense; is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
  - (It has always been this, from the past to the present).
Hide us from The Wrath of the Lamb.
- - (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
  - (has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
The Great Day of Wrath has come.
- - Notice this is in the Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95)
  - (has been occurring since A.D. 95, are continuing to occur and has been increasing in intensity).(A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).

An Interlude between the 6^th Tribulation Seal and the 7^th Tribulation Seal. (the last of the prophecies yet to come)

What is REALLY Going On – in the Sixth Seal in Revelation 7?

Revelation 7:1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”

What is REALLY Going On – in the Sixth Seal in Revelation 7?

The 144,000 Sealed

Revelation 7:4-5 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:
from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 6 from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 7 from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.

A Multitude from the Tribulation – The Rapture

What is REALLY Going On – WHAT IS GOING ON in the Sixth Seal in Revelation 7?

Who is the ‘great multitude’

Revelation 7:9-16, “After these things I looked, and behold, 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; 10and they cry out with a loud voice,

What is REALLY Going On – in the Sixth Seal in Revelation 7?

Where is this great multitude?
saying, “Salvation 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 and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

Where did this great multitude come from?

“Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?”

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

“For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. “They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
- - See Revelation 22.
  - All of these final events have culminated with the elect of God having been raptured before the Throne of God and in their eternal home, God’s Eternal Tabernacle.

– The Completion of the Sixth Tribulation Seal –

Seal 7: Revelation – SILENCE IN HEAVEN for half an hour, SEVEN ANGELS and SEVEN TRUMPETS, PEALS OF THUNDER, SOUNDS AND FLASHES OF LIGHTENING AND AN EARTHQUAKE.

What is REALLY Going On – in the Seventh Seal in Matthew 24?

Silence. (Jesus will continue in Matthew with instruction of recognizing the times and days, preparing for these Last Days and the Blessings and Consequences for not preparing ahead of time – preparing NOW!

The scene now moves to the heavens (see Revelation chapter 8).

What is REALLY Going On – in the Seventh Seal in Revelation 8?

Revelation 8:1-2, “When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
- A lull in the cosmic and terrestrial storms.
- 7 angels standing BEFORE GOD and 7 trumpets are given to them. (These are the 7 trumpets of judgment).

Revelation 8:3-5, “Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

– The Completion of the Seventh Tribulation Seal –

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PREVIOUS: THESE LAST DAYS – Facts hidden in plain sight”

NEXT: Jesus’ Instructions and warnings about getting ready, being ready and staying ready for His return.

THESE LAST DAYS – Hidden facts found in plain sight

August 21, 2023March 28, 2025 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 1 Comment

THE SIGNS OF CHRIST’S RETURN

There are testimonies, warnings and plain statements regarding at time in the Bible known as the Last Days or the End of the Age. For example, Jesus gives us an account of the Last Days and The End of the Age from two distinct perspectives. We need to look at a Biblical comparison and correlation of The Seals of the Tribulation as seen in the book of Matthew and correlated with the book of The Revelation (1). So we can know the sequence of these events that may be prepared and ready at all times. (2). It is also important so that we will not be taken by surprise or frightened and lose focus and composure; (3). It is also a reminder that we are to inform and warn others of the present and coming judgements. To Wit:

Matthew 24:1-5 tells us, “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?”

Revelation 1:1-3, which was written around A.D. 95 says, “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, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”
Verse 4. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who [c]is to come, and from the [d]seven spirits who are before His throne, verse 5, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— verse 6, and He made us into a kingdom, priests to [e]His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Verse 7. BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

These words were written sometime around A.D. 90. Over 1,900 years have passed since this prophecy was written, and according to the God-breathed and Holy Spirit inspired Word of God. The first ‘contradiction’, if that is possible, is if these were ‘to soon take place’.

(Please Note: Many protestant denominations will interpret Revelation 1:7 as being fulfilled in Revelation 19:11 as “Jesus’ Second coming’. It is important, when establishing a Biblical timeline, to get the chronology right. Please compare Matthew 24:30 and Revelation 19:11

Matthew 24:30-31, “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.”

And,

Revelation 19:11-16, ^“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. 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. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 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. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Matthew 24:30, is when 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 will occur at the beginning of the 7-year period of the Great Tribulation period. This is when Jesus 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. THIS IS THE ONE AND ONLY 2ND ADVENT – AND THE GATHERING (rapture) OF HIS ELECT (CHOSEN).

Revelation 19:11, is when the 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 is to occur at the end of the Bowls of Wrath, which is at the end of the 7-year Great tribulation period. This is when Jesus ‘judges and wages war’. JESUS HAS ALREADY RETURNED AND GATHERED HIS ELECT (HIS CHOSEN) AND IS NOW DEFEATING THE BEAST, THE ANTICHRIST AND ALL WHO RELIEVED THE MARK OF THE BEAST, and is casting them into the lake of fire.

Jesus and these same disciples testified that these present and coming prophetic judgments and events may have already begun. in or around A.D. 30, calling them “events of These Last Days”:

Hebrews 1:2, “but in these last days He (God) has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”

(This was written by the Apostle Paul, is written in the present tense, in or around the year A.D. 70 and is referred to as these last days ).

Hebrews 9:26, “For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, He (Christ) has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”

(These events were occuring in or around A.D. 30. The book of Hebrews is written by the Apostle Paul, and is written in the past and present tense, in or around A.D. 70 and is referred to as the end of the ages.)

Acts 2:14-17, “But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, 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, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.”

(This occurred in or around A.D. 60 and as written in the past and present tense, by Peter the Apostle, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and is referred to as being ‘in the last days’).

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

(This was written by the Apostle Timothy, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in or around the year A.D. 67, was written in the present tense and is referred to as being ‘in the last days‘.)

1 Peter 1:20-21, “ He (Jesus) was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

(This is written in the past tense was recorded in or around A.D. 90, and is referred to, by the Apostle Peter, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as being ‘in the last times ‘.)

1 Peter 4:7, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

(This is written in the past tense was recorded in or around A.D. 90, and is referred to, by the Apostle Peter, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as being ‘the end of all things‘.)

2 Peter 3:3, “Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.

(This is written in the future tense as a testimony about. things that were already beginning to occur, and was recorded in or around A.D. 90. This is referred to, by the Apostle Peter, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as being ‘in the last days‘.)

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

(This is written in the present tense was recorded in or around A.D. 90, and is referred to, by the Apostle John, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as referred to as being in ‘the last hour‘.)

Matthew 24:29-31, ““But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 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.”

(This is written in the future tense was recorded in or around A.D. 70, and is referred to, by the Apostle Matthew, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as referred to as being in ‘after the tribulation of those days’ , speaking of the tribulation of those days already referred to (above here.)

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

It is important because this illustrates the correct timeline and timing of these events. ‘NOT THE DAY NOR THE HOUR’, because no one knows the exact day or hour, not even Jesus, but the Father alone knows. But, this does give us an accurate description of the fig tree: “as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near;. (Matthew 24:32)

It is important because we must be mentally, physically and spiritually of and ready for the things that are upon us so we do not faint or fall away.

It is important because the context, the uses and meanings of these various words which refer to Tribulation affect our attitudes and our motivation for GETTING and STAYING READY for His return. They also affect our view of the timing of the coming Tribulation and the Great Tribulation.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

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 behaviors
are speaking louder than our words – and if we truly believe these things are coming to pass – we need to be getting ready

Finally, there is are two huge misconceptions or misunderstanding and in some churches, a false teaching that (#1), the Rapture will occur before the appearing of the Antichrist.

HOWEVER, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 clearly says, “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 (the day of the Lord) will not come unless the apostasy 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.”

And (#2), the second big misconception is that the ‘mark of the beast’ will be given and this will occur prior to the rapture, when at that time no one will be able to buy or sell without that mark’.

However, Revelation 3:16-17 says, He will “cause 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, 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.” Therefore, the Antichrist gives his ‘mark’ after the Seal Judgments, after the Rapture, and just after the 6th Tribulation Trumpet Judgment and at the blowing of 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.

I mention these two misconceptions because they are included in the chronology of the last days.

Coming next: Confirm scriptures with scriptures regarding the Last Days by correlating and comparing the Tribulation Seals from Matthew chapter 24 with the book of The Revelation chapters 6, 7 and eight.

(Jesus, in the book of Matthew gives a present view looking to the future – Jesus, in The book of The Revelation gives a panorama of a continuous past, present and future.)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Please bookmark this page or subscribe. Next episode of “THESE LAST DAYS – Hidden facts found in plain sight – Part 2”.

The days of sorrow and tribulation, the Rapture, and the final DAYS OF GOD’S WRATH – Set Straight.

June 2, 2023April 23, 2026 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

The Mystery

A mystery or secret doctrine of which initiation is necessary; in the New Testament. The counsels of God, once hidden but now revealed in the Gospel or some fact thereof; the Christian revelation generally; particular truths or details of the Christian revelation.

The Revelation

An uncovering, an unveiling, revealing, revelation, disclosure. The book of the Revelation begins with John the Revelator addressing the seven churches in Asia.

What follows is an amazing prophetic insight of God’s plan and purpose for His creation from Genesis to the End of the Age.

Revelation 1:1, “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, verse 2, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw. Verse 3. Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Verse 4. “John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, verse 5, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— Verse 6, and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Verse 7. BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.”

Verse 8. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

I have color-coded certain words and phrases in these verses to draw attention to the Mystery of the Apocalypse. Others are color-coded in red to draw attention to their obvious and transcendent truth.

THE WORD OF GOD – THE ONLY WAY TO SAFETY AND SUCCESS

The cosmos and this world and everything in them, which God created from the beginning, were ‘Good’. God called all of His creation ‘Good’, and all things were ‘good’ because the process and the outcome of creation was perfectly in accordance to God’s Will, His Plan and His Purpose.

It may sound odd to say, but the scriptures about creation, particularly the creation of Adam and Eve, found in the Book of Genesis, seem to contain several contradictions.

THE FIRST ‘CONTRADICTION’

Revelation 1:1, says, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place…” These words were written sometime around A.D. 90. Over 1,900 years have passed since this prophecy was written, and according to the God-breathed and Holy Spirit inspired Word of God. The first ‘contradiction’, if that is possible, is if these were ‘to soon take place’, why haven’t they? But that is the wrong question to ask.

The right question to ask is, “Is this is more rock-solid evidence that the breaking of the first tribulation seals began at the birth of Christ and ‘the things which must soon take place’ began to appear around the time John the Apostle wrote his Apocalypse?”

This prophetic statement, “the things which must soon take plac” fits perfectly with the words of Jesus and the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy, written around A.D. 30. They illustrate, by the use of the TENSE of the words, the timing of certain events (I.e., when they began). Please read and study this carefully. These statements are found in :

Hebrews 1:2,
- - “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.“
  - “Last (days): from Strong’s concordance #2078: ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).

Hebrews 9:26,
- - “for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
  - “End of the ages”: from Strong’s concordance #4930, syntéleia (from 4862 /sýn, “close together with” and 5055 /teléō, “complete, consummate”) – culmination (completion), i.e. when the parts come together into a whole (“consummation“) – “an end involving many parts” (B. F. Westcott). See 4931 (synteléō). that ushers in a new time-era/age (Mt 13:39,40,49,24:3, 28:20).

Acts 2:14-17,
- - But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, 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, God declares,
    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh”
  - “Last (days): from Strong’s concordance #2078: ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).
2 Timothy 3:1,

- - “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.”
  - “Last (days): from Strong’s concordance #2078: ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).

1 Peter 1:20,

- - “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.”
  - “Last (days): from Strong’s concordance #2078: ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).

1 Peter 4:7,
- - “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.”
  - End (of all things): from Strong’s concordance #5056: télos (a neuter noun) – properly, consummation (the end-goal, purpose), such as closure with all its results. [This root (tel-) means “reaching the end (aim).” It is well-illustrated with the old pirate’s telescope, unfolding (extending out) one stage at a time to function at full-strength (capacity effectiveness).]
2 Peter 3:3.
- - “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.”

- - “Last (days): from Strong’s concordance #2078: ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).

1 John 2:18.
- - “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.”
  - “Last (hour): from Strong’s concordance #2078: ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).

All of the cited verses were spoken and written sometime as early as A.D. 30 as late as A.D. 69. This illustrates and informs us that these are the times of the “beginning of sorrows”, a.k.a, the early days of tribulation (small ‘t’) – Seals ONE through FIVE are distinct from the SIXTH and SEVENTH Tribulation Seals which are the beginning of the final 7 years of Great Tribulation, and include the 7 Trumpet Judgements and the 7 Bowl Judgements – also known as “Daniel’s 70th Week”, “The Great Tribulation”, “The Days of Wrath” or “The Day of The Lord”.

Here is the Tribulation Timeline, in summary:

The opening of Tribulation Seal ONE began between A.D. 30 and A.D. 69, and perhaps as early as 2 B.C. Seals ONE through FIVE have been broken, progressively, up until this day.

So, in this case there is no contradiction. It is a clear and positive explanation of the timing of ‘the beginning of the End of all Things’ – The tribulation had begun. We are now standing at the precipice of the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal – which is the beginning of the final 7 years!

THE SECOND ‘CONTRADICTION’ – BACK TO THE BEGINNING

So, what does Genesis and the creation of man and woman have to do with the tribulation, the Revelation and the End of all Things? It shows that God planned all things to occur just has they have occurred from the very beginning. He planned it all.

Man and woman were created ‘in His image’ but as crazy as it sounds, the Hebrew language reveals, they were created with a flaw. They were created with a ‘as a mere image or a shadowed reflection of the Perfect God; an illusion with a dubious character’; but they were created with the potential of perfection.

This is shown as Adam and Eve sinned and doomed all humankind to live under the curse of sin. But, this was God’s plan all along, so He provided a solution, a Savior, His Son, Jesus. And the plan of Perfecting began.

Genesis 1:1, says, “In the beginning God, (Elohim), created the heavens and the earth. Verse 2. And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Verse 3. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. Verse 4. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. Verse 5. God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening and there was morning, one day.” And, God saw that it was good. (etcetera).

THE MAJOR EVENT

Then, in Genesis 1:26, “God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness.”

This is a major event. The seminal event in all creation. God is making a creature He calls ‘mankind’ in His, (Their), own image and according to Their likeness.

AN ODD THING

In the midst of His creation work, an odd thing occurs. This is an event, an occurrence in the creation of mankind, which is completely overlooked by the vast majority, if not all, Bible teachers. This is a bit technical, but please pay particular attention, as this is a game-changer.

Genesis 1, Verse 27. “So, God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

It may seem tedious to look at the wording of this verse, as it was written in the original Hebrew language, but it is vitally important for our understanding of God’s Design, plan and purpose:

Verse 27. “So created God, man in His own image, in the image of God, He created him, male and female, He created them.”

man =adam, from ‘adam’; man, mankind. ruddy, i.e. A human being (an individual or the species, mankind.

In Him own image = tselem = an image; a mere, empty, image, semblance; image, vain show, from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e., an illusion, a resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol, an image, a vain shew, of dubious character.

In the image = tselem = an image; a mere, empty, image, semblance; image, vain show, from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e., an illusion, a resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol, an image, a vain shew, of dubious character.

Male = zakar = A male

Female = naqab = female, from the sexual form.

Genesis 1, Verse 27 , in other words, says, “So, God, signifying that this is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, created, shaped through a formative process to make man, that is, mankind, ruddy, i.e., a human being, an individual of the species of mankind, in His own image, in the image; a mere, empty, image, semblance; image, vain show, from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e., an illusion, a resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol, an image, a vain shew, of dubious character, of God, yet having potential of being very great, mighty, and consisting as a plural in the ordinary sense, He created him, shaped, created, through a formative process; male and female He created them.”

RECAP:

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, created, shaped and formed mankind.
God created mankind ‘in His Own image’, which initially was a mere faint image of Himself; a vain representation, a shadow of the Original; an icon, a phantom pattern, an illusion, a mere resemblance; a being of dubious nature.
God has deliberately made man and woman with a flaw, and destined them to fail.
God would, through a formative process which would take a millennium, provide a way for man and woman to be redeemed and recreated into His perfect image through a Savior, His Son, Jesus.

Once again, there is no contradiction. God created man and woman with a flaw – He created you and me with a flaw – and destined us to fail WITH A PURPOSE. He also provided a Savior to redeem you from failure. Through all time, God is perfecting His creation, man and woman, into the very image of Jesus the Christ,

The Purpose of God’s Eternal Plan is “Perfection”. He is maturing and perfecting you into His image, ultimately to live in Perfect harmony with Him and with one another, in a New and Perfect heaven and 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.

Read it. Know it. Believe it. Live it.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: This description of the Apocalypse comes from a careful and painstaking, decades-long study. I did not come to these conclusions easily; it was done through much prayer, study, labor and criticism.

Why does it matter “when” the tribulation starts or “when” Christians are to be raptured into 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.

Because, as Christians, our faith, our convictions and our behavior
Are speaking louder than our words.

Now I am certain – no, make that ‘I am galvanized’ in my certainty, and I believe you may come to the same conclusions given the same dedication to uncovering the truth.

ESCHATOLOGY – The Study of the End Times – Part 5

March 16, 2023April 20, 2024 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

ESCHATOLOGY – The Study of the End Times – PART V.

THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – part 3:

Martyrs, persecution, Anti-Christ, falling away– as corresponding to – The 5th Tribulation Seal

(Please Note: The corresponding verses in the books of Matthew and Revelation are color-coded for your reference and convenience).

Matthew 24:9, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. Verse 10, And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. Verse 11, And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. Verse 12, And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.”

As corresponding to:

Revelation 6:9, “When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 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.”

AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL MARKER:

The events Jesus describes in verses 9 through 12 had already begun in His day and His disciples suffered this ‘tribulation’ (internal pressure of a tribulation, especially when feeling there is “no way of escape”) of persecution, alienation because of Jesus’ name, the rise of false prophets, lawlessness and death.

Jesus goes into greater detail in the sixth chapter of the book of Revelation, verses nine through 12, regarding this time of tribulation, death, hatred and the falling away of Christians from one another and from faith in God. This is a description of the breaking of the fifth seal of the tribulation scroll, which is the great apostasy, the great falling away from the faith and the great persecution of the Church.

Let’s remember, as the tribulation seals are broken (open), the effects of each seal will overlap with the preceding seals and the effects will compound and intensify, leading us to the 6^th Tribulation Seal, also known as the beginning of The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb.

BACK TO: PART 4 – Click Here.

NEXT: PART 6 – Coming Soon.

NOTE: CHRONOLOGICAL MARKERS are useful for identifying events in their chronological order, which can help us identify our placement on God’s End of Days ‘calendar’.

ESCHATOLOGY – The Study of the End Times – Part 4

March 8, 2023March 21, 2024 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

ESCHATOLOGY – The Study of the End Times – PART IV

WARS AND RUMORS OF WAR

THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 2:

Matthew 24:6. “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. Verse 7. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Verse 8. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

(Correlated verse found in Matthew 24 – links in red, with Revelation 6,7,8 – links in blue/green.)

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

Global conquest and spiritual deception and political intrigue (Matthew 24:4-5) – as corresponding to – the 1st Tribulation Seal (Rev. 6:1-2. These seals have been opened around A.D. 1 through A.D. 1, and they have been overlapping and intensifying to this day.)

Wars and Rumors of War (Matthew 24:6-7) – as corresponding to – the 2nd Tribulation Seal (Rev. 6:3. These seals have been opened around A.D. 1 through A.D. 1, and they have been overlapping and intensifying to this day.) )

Famine (Matthew 24:7) – as corresponding to – the 3rd Tribulation Seal (Rev. 6:5-6. These seals have been opened around A.D. 1 through A.D. 1, and they have been overlapping and intensifying to this day.)

Death (Matthew 24:9) – as corresponding to – the 4th Tribulation Seal (Rev. 6:7-8. These seals have been opened around A.D. 1 through A.D. 1, and they have been overlapping and intensifying to this day.)

Martyrs, persecution, Anti-Christ, falling away (Matthew 24:9-12) – as corresponding to – the 5th Tribulation Seal (Rev. 6:9-11. These seals have been opened around A.D. 1 through A.D. 1, and they have been overlapping and intensifying to this day.)

Cosmic disturbances, blood moon, darkened sun (Matthew 24:29-31) – as corresponding to – the 6th Tribulation Seal (Rev. 6:12-17) These seals have NOT been opened yet, but we are on the precipice of Seal 6, which is the beginning of the Great Tribulation, a.k.a. as the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb and the final 7 years of Great Tribulation.)

The Opening of the 6th Tribulation Scroll Seal is The BEGINNING OF the 7 year, also known as “Daniel’s 70th Week” and “THE GREAT TRIBULATION” period.

During the 6th Tribulation Seal, all of these events occur:

- - Sealing of the 144,000 (Rev. 7:4-8)
  - The Rapture – Multitude from the tribulation before the Throne of God (7:9-17)
  - The breaking of The 6th Tribulation Seal is the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel, which are the final 7 years of the great Tribulation.

The 7th Tribulation Seal – The announcement of the 7 Trumpet Judgments

AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL MARKER:

Jesus’ disciples heard of wars and rumors of wars in their day, and His disciples, since that day, have been hearing of wars and rumors of wars. These conflicts have increased in frequency and intensity, but Jesus is clear that wars and rumors of wars are not yet the end. He also said nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and we have had a myriad of global conflicts including two world wars, but once again he is clear that this is not yet the end for these things must first take place.

Jesus goes on to tell his disciples, both then and now, that we will experience famines and earthquakes, and we have seen an increase in the frequency and the severity of famines and earthquakes over the ensuing decades, in various places. Again, Jesus says these are just the beginning of birth pangs, which is an apt metaphor to describe the coming birth of something new and terrible.

IMPORTANT: Jesus’ words, as recorded in Matthew 24:6-8, regarding ‘wars, rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes’ are a summary of His remarks recorded in the book of The Revelation, chapter 6, which goes into greater detail about the breaking of the first 4 seals of the scroll of the tribulation, also known as ‘birth pangs’ or the ‘days of distress’ which had begun sometime around A.D. 1 to A.D. 25.

BACK to Part 3 – Click Here.

NEXT: Part 5 – Click Here.

NOTE: CHRONOLOGICAL MARKERS are useful for identifying events in their chronological order, which can help us identify our placement on God’s End of Days ‘calendar’.

IS THIS THE END?

December 5, 2022June 5, 2024 ~ 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.

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).

Seismic Event List Index

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

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

Acts 2:14-17,
1 Corinthians 10:11,
2 Timothy 3:1,
Hebrews 1:2,
Hebrews 9:26,
1 Peter 1:20,
1 Peter 4:7,
2 Peter 3:3.
1 John 2:18.
(Also see “The 5th Tribulation Seal”)

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. 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.

A TIMELINE AND CHRONOLOGY OF THE “LAST DAYS” – Simplified

October 23, 2022June 8, 2025 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A Timeline Chronolgy of the Last Days

Genesis to Revelation

A Chronology of the

TRADTIONAL DENOMINATIONAL TIMELINE OF THE “END OF DAYS”

– VS –

THE PRE-WRATH RAPTURE – SIMPLIFIED.

It is important, as a Disciple of Jesus, to know where you are on God’s historical and prophetic Timeline so you will not panic, or faint from the faith as the End of Days come upon you We will explore what it means to you to ‘endure to the end to be saved’; what is required of you and what it means to be ready and how to prepare for these Last Day.

I will conclude with why these things must come to pass and why God plannned and ordained trials and tribulations since the time of creation which will culminate in a final Seven Years of Great Tribulation, ‘such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.‘.

This is the outline we will follow:

In the Beginning
Prophecy of things to come
Foreshadowing of things to com
Events missing in the Outline of the End Times
The tribulation’s days of distress begins
The Signs
The Events
The Eschatological Clock – The 5th Seal
Daniel’s 70th Week – The Great Tribulation – The 6th Seal
The Rapture of the Church – The 6th Seal- The Interlude- The 144,000- A Multitude from the Revelation
The Wrath of the Lamb – Trumpet & Bowl JudgmentsThe Battle of Gog and Magog
The Abomination of Desolation
The Battle of Armageddon
The judgment of the nations
The binding of Satan
The Great White Throne Judgment
The new creation.

Eschatology of the End Times – Chronology

In the Beginning – Prophecies of the coming New World Order. God creates mankind, with a flaw. Failure is planned; a Savior is provided; The Plan has begun.

The Tower of Babel– Then and Now. Man rebels and reaches for the heavens.

The coming of Messiah. The Messiah is foretold.

Prophetic warnings– 1st century AD. No one is listening.

The Days of Distress of the tribulation.The End has begun.

The countdown – The first 4 Seals of the Days of Distress

The World Events of the Seals. ONGOING.

The 5th Seal has been intensifying; the Great Apostasy is well under way, which is the falling away from the faith and the corruption of the church,and the Antichrist is revealed. After the church is taken out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:7–8), a satanically empowered man will gain worldwide control with promises of peace (Revelation 13:1; Daniel 9:27). He will be aided by another man, called the false prophet, who heads up a religious system that requires worship of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:20)
The rapture of the church. Christ comes in the clouds to “snatch away” all those who trust in Him (1 Corinthians 15:52). At this same time, the “dead in Christ” will be resurrected and taken to heaven, too. From the perspective of today, this is the next event in the eschatological timeline. The time for the rapture is close at hand; The only things that must yet happen are, (#1), the revealing of the anti-Christ, and (#2), the breaking of the 6th Seal of the Tribulation.
The Breaking of the Sixth SealThe Great tribulation, Daniel’s 70th week begins. A period of seven years in which God’s judgment is poured out on sinful humanity (Revelation 6–16). The Antichrist’s rise to power is associated with this time period. During the tribulation on earth, the Church will be in heaven. It is thought that at this time the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will occur in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 19:6–10).
The Battle of Gog and Magog. In the first part of the tribulation, a great army from the north, in alliance with several other countries from the Middle East and Africa, attacks Israel and is defeated by God’s supernatural intervention (Ezekiel 38–39). (Some commentators place this battle just before the start of the tribulation.)
The abomination of desolation. At the midway point of the seven-year tribulation, the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel and shows his true colors. The Jews are scattered, and many of them turn to the Lord, realizing that Jesus is their Savior. A great persecution breaks out against all those who believe in Christ (Daniel 12:11; Mark 13:14; Revelation 12:17).
The Battle of Armageddon. At the end of the tribulation, Jesus returns with the armies of heaven (Mark 14:62). He saves Jerusalem from annihilation and defeats the armies of the nations fighting under the banner of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:11–21). The Antichrist and the false prophet are captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).
The judgment of the nations. Christ will judge the survivors of the tribulation, separating the righteous from the wicked as “sheep” and “goats” (Matthew 25:31–46). (It is thought that at this time the Old Testament saints will be raised from the dead.) The righteous will enter the Millennial Kingdom; the wicked will be cast into hell.
The binding of Satan. Satan will be bound and held in a bottomless pit for the next 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1–3).
The Millennial Kingdom. Jesus Himself will rule the world, and Jerusalem will be the capital. This will be a 1,000-year period of peace and prosperity on earth (Revelation 20; Isaiah 60–62). Memorial sacrifices will be offered in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 40–48).
The last battle. At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be released from his prison for a short time. He will deceive the nations once again, and there will be a rebellion against the Lord that will be quickly defeated (Revelation 20:7–10). Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, never to reappear.
The Great White Throne Judgment. All those in hell will be brought forth, and all the wicked from all eras of history will be resurrected to stand before God in a final judgment (Revelation 20:11–15). The verdicts are read, and all of sinful humanity is cast into the lake of fire.
The new creation. God completely remakes the heavens and the earth. It is at this time that God wipes away all tears and there will be no more pain, death, or sorrow. The New Jerusalem descends from heaven, and the children of God will enjoy eternity with Him (Revelation 21–22).

There are multiple views of the chronology of the Biblical End Times. I do not want to pursue or repeat what has already been written. The following outline is a generally accepted chronology and is from the pre-tribulation view.

Almost every such outline or chronology of this sort, is the same. They begin with the rapture of the church and go from there. They usually ignore the prophecies about the coming End of Days, the events which foreshadow the coming Day of the Lord (a.k.a., End Times) and the most recent first century warnings which are leading up to the tribulation and the Great Tribulation periods.

I will use this outline, taken from Gotquestions.org – end times timeline, as my template and fill in the missing parts.

1. IN THE BEGINNING

It is difficult to imagine that God planned the entirety of time. We cannot go back far enough to discover when this began, because there is no beginning with God. In so few words, such an incomprehensible statement: “God has always existed”.

It is equally difficult to imagine “a world without end”, but God is eternal, even beyond “the new heavens and a new earth”. (Revelation 12:1)

But, God has spoken to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, and in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. And it is by these ways that we can know.

2. THE PROPHECIES

First, God has spoken to us through the prophets in various ways. God’s warnings are warning of coming judgment for His people’s rebellions and disobedience. God’s judgments followed His warnings, and each of these events, known as The Day of the Lord, are a foreshadowing of what is yet to come. A time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation. (Daniel 12:1)

The words and the imagery of the destruction during the great and Terrible Day of the Lord would be difficult for most to accept or to understand.

(The good news is that God’s people, everyone who is found written in the Book of Life, will be rescued.)

Here is are those prophecies:

Isaiah 13:9 See, the day of the LORD is coming –a cruel day, with …

See, the day of the LORD is coming –a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger–
to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. …

Lamentations 2:22 “As you summon to a feast day, so you summoned …

… terrors on every side. In the day of the LORD’s anger no one escaped or survived;
those I cared for and reared my enemy has destroyed …

Ezekiel 30:3 For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near– a …

For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near– a day
of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. …

Hosea 9:5 What will you do on the day of your appointed festivals …

… What will you do on a festival day, on the day of the LORD’s feast? …

Joel 1:15 Alas for that day! For the day of the LORD is near; it …

Alas for that day! For the day of the LORD is near; it
will come like destruction from the Almighty. …

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For …

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day
of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. …

Amos 5:18 Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you …

….. Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why …

Obadiah 1:15 “The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you …

….. The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As …

Malachi 4:5 “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before …

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that
great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. …

Zephaniah 1:7 Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of …

….. Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near. …

Zephaniah 1:8 “On the day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish …

“On the day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the officials and
the king’s sons and all those clad in foreign clothes. …

Zephaniah 1:14 The great day of the LORD is near– near and coming …

….. The great day of the LORD is near– near and coming quickly. …

Zephaniah 2:2 before the decree takes effect and that day passes …

… the decree takes effect and that day passes like windblown chaff, before the LORD’s
fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the LORD’s wrath comes upon …

Zechariah 14:1 A day of the LORD is coming, Jerusalem, when your …

A day of the LORD is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will
be plundered and divided up within your very walls. …

1 Thessalonians 5:2 for you know very well that the day of the …

for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. …

Each of these prophecies tell us what is past, what is present and what is yet to come. This is important because in order to look forward, we must look back. This is how prophecies work.

3. FORESHADOWING OF THINGS TO COME

Besides the prophecies in the Old Testament, we can foreshadowing of what is to come. It is as if we “see through a dark glass dimly”.

1. Genesis 6– The Flood shows us God’s judgment on a global scale. A catastrophe for mankind. God judged the world because (Genesis 6:5) “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.”

2. Genesis 6 – The Corruption of Mankind

– Building the Ark of their Salvation

3. Genesis 7 – The Flood; purging, cleansing the earth of sin

4. Genesis 9 – The Covenant; restoring

5. Daniel gives us a glimpse into our present and future. We know this by looking back. (the Book of Daniel chapters seven through 12)

6. Daniel 7 – Daniel’s vision of the 4 Beasts and a future Tribulation

7. The “Ancient of Days” – The Son of Man presented – The Vision Interpreted

8. Daniel 8 – Daniel’s vision of the Goat and the Ram

– The Little Horn

– The Vision Interpreted

10. Daniel 9 – Daniel’s Prayer for his people

11. Seventy Weeks and the Messiah

12. Daniel 11 – Conflicts to Come

13. Daniel 12 – The Time of The End

These are just two of many foreshadows of the coming Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.

*MISSING FROM“THE TRADITIONAL DENOMINATIONAL OUTLINES” of things to come: from Gotquestions.org – end time timeline, as my template:
*MISSING FROM THE TRADITIONAL DENOMINATIONAL OUTLINES”of thing to come: The rapture of the church. Christ comes in the clouds to “snatch away” all those who trust in Him. (1 Corinthians 15:52). At this same time, the “dead in Christ” will be resurrected and taken to heaven, too. From our perspective today, this is the next event in the eschatological timeline. The rapture is imminent; no other biblical prophecy needs to be fulfilled before the rapture happens.’
*MISSING FROM“THE TRADITIONAL DENOMINATIONAL OUTLINES” of things to come: Prior to the rapture of the church. We are told by Jesus and some of the Apostles that the End of Days, also known as the “times of distress” had begun as early as AD 1, but more likely between AD 60 and AD 100.

(1). Jesus called this period the LAST DAYS or the END OF THE AGE in Matthew 24:3-8.

(2). The Apostle Paul called this period the LAST DAYS in Hebrews 9:26.

(2). The Apostle Peter called this period the LAST DAYS in Acts 2:14-17.

(3). The Apostle Paul called this period THESE LAST DAYS in Hebrews 1:1-2.

(4). The Apostle Timothy called this period the LAST DAYS in 2 Timothy 3:1.

(5) The Apostle Peter called this period the LAST DAYS in 1 Peter 1:20.

(6) The Apostle Peter called this period the LAST DAYS in 1 Peter 4:7.

(7) The Apostle Peter called this period the LAST DAYS in 2 Peter 3:3.

(8) The Apostle John called this period the LAST DAYS in 1 John 2:18

(The following are an update to this list, but are not on the audio):

(9). The Apostle Paul called this period THESE LAST DAYS in 1 Corinthians 10:11,

(10). The Apostle John called this period the TRIBULATION in Revelation 1:9.

The Bible tells about the END OF DAYS and the Tribulation. It is important to know that the Tribulation period actually is called by three prominent, although variant names:

(a) The beginning of Sorrows, Birth Pangs, The End of The Age or the Last Days

(b) The Tribulation also known as The End of Days

The beginning of Sorrows, Birth Pangs The End of the Age or the Last days, begin with the opening of Tribulation Seal ONE began between AD 60 and AD 100, and perhaps as early as AD1.

Seals ONE through FIVE have been broken, progressively, up until this day.

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

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

(4). *MISSING FROM“THE TRADITIONAL DENOMINATIONAL OUTLINES” of things to come: The Denominational Outline says His Return is IMMINENT. BUT,

1. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “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”

There are two events that must take place before the day of the Lord can come. First, the apostasy must come. Second, the man of lawlessness must be revealed.

2. The rise of the Antichrist. After the church is taken out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:7–8), a satanically empowered man will gain worldwide control with promises of peace (Revelation 13:1; Daniel 9:27). He will be aided by another man, called the false prophet, who heads up a religious system that requires worship of the Antichrist. (Revelation 19:20).

3. MISSING FROM “THE DENOMINATIONAL OUTLINE”:

First, as has already been stated from 2 Thessalonians 2:3, “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”

There are two events that must take place before the day of the Lord can come. First, the apostasy must come. Second, the man of lawlessness must be revealed.

Secondly, a simple face value reading gives you a timeline. That timeline is deliberately blurred by denominational bible teachers who have to make the Bible fit their doctrinal statement. This can be confusing for the Christian Bible student and dangerous for those preparing in earnest.

4. The tribulation. A period of seven years in which God’s judgment is poured out on sinful humanity (Revelation 6–16). The Antichrist’s rise to power is associated with this time period. During the tribulation on earth, the Church will be in heaven. It is thought that at this time the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will occur in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 19:6–10).

5. The Battle of Gog and Magog. In the first part of the tribulation, a great army from the north, in alliance with several other countries from the Middle East and Africa, attacks Israel and is defeated by God’s supernatural intervention (Ezekiel 38–39). (Some commentators place this battle just before the start of the tribulation.)

6. The abomination of desolation. At the midway point of the seven-year tribulation, the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel and shows his true colors. The Jews are scattered, and many of them turn to the Lord, realizing that Jesus is their Savior. A great persecution breaks out against all those who believe in Christ (Daniel 12:11; Mark 13:14; Revelation 12:17).

7. The Battle of Armageddon. At the end of the tribulation, Jesus returns with the armies of heaven (Mark 14:62). He saves Jerusalem from annihilation and defeats the armies of the nations fighting under the banner of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:11–21). The Antichrist and the false prophet are captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).

8. The judgment of the nations. Christ will judge the survivors of the tribulation, separating the righteous from the wicked as “sheep” and “goats” (Matthew 25:31–46). (It is thought that at this time the Old Testament saints will be raised from the dead.) The righteous will enter the Millennial Kingdom; the wicked will be cast into hell

9. The binding of Satan.Satan will be bound and held in a bottomless pit for the next 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1–3).

10. The Millennial Kingdom. Jesus Himself will rule the world, and Jerusalem will be the capital. This will be a 1,000-year period of peace and prosperity on earth (Revelation 20; Isaiah 60–62). Memorial sacrifices will be offered in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 40–48).

11. The last battle. At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be released from his prison for a short time. He will deceive the nations once again, and there will be a rebellion against the Lord that will be quickly defeated (Revelation 20:7–10). Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, never to reappear.

12. The Great White Throne Judgment. All those in hell will be brought forth, and all the wicked from all eras of history will be resurrected to stand before God in a final judgment (Revelation 20:11–15). The verdicts are read, and all of sinful humanity is cast into the lake of fire.

13. The new creation. God completely remakes the heavens and the earth. It is at this time that God wipes away all tears and there will be no more pain, death, or sorrow. The New Jerusalem descends from heaven, and the children of God will enjoy eternity with Him. (Revelation 21–22)

Finally, here is a table showing the alignment of World History, an historical overview of Daniel’s 70 Weeks and a Biblical Historical outline:

Timeline of World History compared to Biblical Timeline of Daniels 70 Weeks

I know that this is a long read and study, but, (#1), it is important for you, as a Disciple of Jesus to know where you are on God’s Timeline so you will not ‘faint’ when all this comes upon you, (#2), what it means to you, (#3) what is required for you to be ready, and, (#4) what it means to be ready for what is at hand and (#5), how to prepare.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:

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 a millennium until it became His Perfection.

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.

This is a thesis on the reasons for WHAT God is doing in these Last Days and WHY He is doing it this way. My prayer is that, after reading this, everything you’ve wondered about the reasoning behind God’s Plan for the world and your life, will fall into place.

“The Journey To Perfection”.

Don’t miss these important and relevant videos:

THE RISE OF THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST – The response toward a compromised church

September 8, 2022June 6, 2024 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 3 Comments

(This is a short panorama of the sudden rise of the Church of Jesus Christ, followed by the fall of the errant, compromised and false church and the rise of the Antichrist in these latter days.

Do not despair at what you are about to read. This is all part of God’s Glorious “Plan of Perfection”. We have an important part to play and we must fulfill our role. The End is nearer than you think. Rejoice!).

God’s plan is unfolding exactly as He purposed; from The Creation, through the Garden of Eden and the Fall of Man to the Great Flood, the Tower of Babel, the Exodus from Egypt, the possessing of The Promised Land, 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.

The Purpose of God’s Eternal Plan is “Perfection”. He 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.

“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.

THE JOURNEY TO PERFECTION – A Preview

The advent and rise of Christianity were sudden, dramatic and explosive despite being birthed in a crucible of severe, violent and bloody persecution. (Despite the risks, the early Church did not, shrink back to destruction, but followed Jesus in faith and practice for they had faith for the safekeeping of the soul. See Hebrews 10:39)

What was it about early Christianity that led so many to sacrifice everything, including their lives, in order to become a follower and a disciple of Jesus?

It was both a promise and a hope. A promise of forgiveness of one’s failed and sinful past. A hope of a future worth living, now, and an eternity with God in heaven. The promise and hope were played out in people’s lives through demonstrable love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit of God within you. (The early Church knew this and practiced it; the postmodern church seems to have forgotten.)

The Christian community was becoming known for its generosity, its humility and its commitment to a quiet and humble lifestyle of faith. The Christian community selflessly cared for one another and for others, giving and expecting little in return. (This was the way of life for the early church; the postmodern church has forgotten and has become self-serving in many ways.)

The greatest criticism of Jesus and His Church, (the Christian Community), was who they ministered to and kept company with the sick and the poor, the downtrodden, the oppressed and the outcast. Jesus responded, saying “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.” (This was the model and the way of the early church; today, the practice of this teaching and example of Jesus is sporadic at best.)

Although the penalty for becoming a Christian in the early church was often a beating, stoning and death, the Church grew exponentially. The Church was a movement of God.

Then something tragic happened.

AD 313 The Church expanded into Rome, and it gained recognition. It grew in power and popularity. It obtained wealth, buildings, property and influence. It became an institution.

AD 380 The Church expanded into Europe. It was becoming a worldwide phenomenon. It grew in wealth, stature, power and influence. It had become a culture.

AD 1607 The Church reaches America.

AD 1681 The Church became corporate. It had become a business and incorporated. It became regulated by the government.

The Corporate Church grew. It needed money to support growth and expansion, which meant the Corporate Church needed more people.

AD 1777 The state of Virginia granted tax exemption to houses of worship.

AD 1894 The corporate church was granted tax exemptions by the Federal Government.

AD 1954 The Federal Government regulated what a church could and could not say in order to retain tax-exempt status.

The church continued to grow, and in order to attract more people the Corporate Church lowered its membership and doctrinal standards. More people became ‘members’ and gave more money to support more growth.

The Church corporation is complete with leaders, boards and membership and a business model.

Local churches compete against one another for members (customers). The church is selling itself in “three-line slogans”.

The Church members now have choices and have become religious consumers. Church people can shop around for the religious brand and standards that best suits them. (2 Timothy 3)

The Leadership (pastors and preachers) have become CEOs, disciples have become church leaders, growing their 501(c)(3) business models.

Record numbers of pastors quitting because of stress, burnout or are being fired by their congregations (some stats say 1500 – 1700 leave “the ministry” each month).

Church debt in America soars; church foreclosures soar.

AD 1968 The church ordains homosexuals as clergy.

AD 1972 The United church of Christ ordains homosexual clergy

AD 2010 The Lutheran church ordains homosexual clergy

AD 2012 The Presbyterian church ordains homosexual clergy

The Episcopal Church in the United States and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have also allowed ordination of openly gay and lesbian candidates for ministry for some years.

Internationally, churches that have ordained openly lesbian or gay clergy include the Church of Scotland, the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Church of Sweden, the Church of Norway, the Church of Denmark, the Church of Iceland, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, the Evangelical Church in Germany, the Methodist Church in Britain, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, the United Protestant Church in Belgium, the Swiss Reformed Church, the United Protestant Church of France, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Anglican Church in Canada, the Old Catholic Church, the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and the United Church of Christ in Japan.

AD 2020 The church is losing and has lost influence. The church in 2020 is losing members.

AD 2021 The church-at-large is teaching and living a different Gospel than that of the Apostles.

A new and revolutionary message known as the Gospel of Jesus Christ had been largely abandoned, and as Aristotle postulated, “nature (and the world) abhors a vacuum”. This idiom is used to express the idea that empty or unfilled spaces are unnatural as they go against the laws of nature and physics and are soon filled. The same could be said to be true about human nature.

The teaching and practices of Jesus and the Bible were abandoned or replaced by self-serving methods of commerce, entertainment, comfort or exploitation people felt betrayed and they dropped out or rebelled. A void had been created.

Now, that void is being filled. Enter, Critical Race Theory. WOKE ideologies. The Emergent Church. Transgenderism. LGBQT ‘rights’. BLM. Gender Neutral ideologies. The ‘new Marxism’. Abortions-on-demand. Euthanasia of the elderly.

The popular cry from Christians in the postmodern 21^st century is to “put prayer back in schools” or to “return to the Bible”. But until we, Christians, forsake sin and return to the ways and attitudes of Jesus, no outward practice will bring us a saving relationship with God; we are saved only by God’s grace, through obedient faith in Jesus Christ.

THE AGE OF APOSTASY IS WELL UNDER WAY

Matthew 24:3, records, “And 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?”

Then, in Matthew 24:4, Jesus recounts to His disciples, the breaking of the first four Tribulation Seals which had begun in or around A.D. 30 and would continue to intensify and overlap with one another and the 5th tribulation seal, until the arrival of The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord (The 6th Tribulation Seal).

“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 they will mislead many people. Verse 6. 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. Verse 7. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Verse 8. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

It is urgent that “The Church”, that is the members of Christ’s Body, you and I, must turn away from the apostate church and surrender ourselves as bondservants of Jesus, in His service, as did the early Church. The time is short.

Jesus continues in Matthew 24: 9, describing a great persecution of the church, the great apostasy and the rise of false prophets and the spirit of antichrist. “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. Verse 10. And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. Verse 11. And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. Verse 12. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold”.

The point is that God will finish what He had started: The Perfecting of His Church, through purging, cleansing and purifying by way of the first half of the 7 yeare tribulation period (beginning with the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal.

Then comes judgment of all the earth, beginning with the 7th Trumpet Judgement. We need to be ready and understand what God is doing in these last days leading up to the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal and the rapture of the Church.

Read Daniel 12:5-12,“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. 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?” 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 (12 months), times (12 months), and half a time, (six months, or a total of 42 months = 3.5 years; the first half the 7 year tribulation period); and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. But as for me, I heard but did not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?” And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words will be kept secret and sealed up until the end time. 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. And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.Blessed is the one who is patient and attains to the 1,335 days! But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for allotted portion at the end of the age.” These are of Daniel’s 70 Weeks.

NOTES: For clarification, please first read Daniel 9:27, “And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come the one who makes desolate, until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, gushes forth on the one who makes desolate.”

The “seventy weeks” prophecy is one of the most significant and detailed Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. It is found in Daniel 9. The chapter begins with Daniel praying for Israel, acknowledging the nation’s sins against God and asking for God’s mercy. As Daniel prayed, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and gave him a vision of Israel’s future.

The Divisions of the 70 Weeks

In verse 24, Gabriel says, “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city.” Almost all commentators agree that the seventy “sevens” should be understood as seventy “weeks” of years, in other words, a period of 490 years. These verses provide a sort of “clock” that gives an idea of when the Messiah would come and some of the events that would accompany His appearance.

The prophecy goes on to divide the 490 years into three smaller units: one of 49 years, one of 434 years, and one 7 years. The final “week” of 7 years is further divided in half. Verse 25 says, “From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’” Seven “sevens” is 49 years, and sixty-two “sevens” is another 434 years:

49 years + 434 years = 483 years.

The Final Week of the 70 Weeks

Of the 70 “sevens,” 69 have been fulfilled in history. This leaves one more “seven” yet to be fulfilled. Most scholars believe that we are now living in a huge gap between the 69th week and the 70th week. The prophetic clock has been paused, as it were. The final “seven” of Daniel is what we usually call the tribulation period.

Daniel’s prophecy reveals some of the actions of the Antichrist, the “ruler who will come.” Verse 27 says, “He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’” However, “in the middle of the ‘seven,’ . . . he will set up an abomination that causes desolation” in the temple. Jesus warned of this event in Matthew 24:15. After the Antichrist breaks the covenant with Israel, a time of “great tribulation” begins (Matthew 24:21, NKJV).

From this we can find the answer to the question in Daniel 12, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” In the middle of the ‘one week’ which is equal to 3.5 years, the wonders of purging, cleansing and refining of His Church is completed, the abmonination of desolation will take place, and the begins the second 3.5 years of the Tribulation period when God will pour out His Wrath, cast Satan, the Beast and those not found in the Lamb’s book of life, into the eternal lake of fire.

The breaking of the 6^th Tribulation Seal will usher in the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation, also known as Daniel’s 70^th Week. (See 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.

And Matthew 24:29-31, tells us, “But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 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.

It will be at the end of the Age that Jesus will have defeated the the Antichrist and the beast and cast them into the eternal lake of fire. God, then will create a new heaven and a new earth. The walls will be jasper; and the city will be pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall will be decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone will be jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates will be twelve pearls; each one of the gates will be a single pearl. And the street of the city will be pure gold, like transparent glass.

There will be no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city will have no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God will illuminate it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:18-27).

Rather than pointing out the state of the church in this postmodern age, I am appealing to you to come out of the church lethargy that is so prevelant, and enter the ministry God has given you; discover and employ the Spiritual Gifts given you by the Holy Spirit.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6