God chooses to use the stress of trials in our lives to develop perseverance. We know that because the book of James 1 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds”. This is the same phraseology as found in 1 Peter, interestingly—“because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”
God uses the stress of trials to prove the quality of our faith which results in praise, glory and honor of Christ., in 1 Peter 1:6. says, “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;”
God uses distress to purge, purify and refine us and to give us understanding in these Last Days. Daniel 12:1, says, “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; 10 “Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.”
Jesus has told us these things would occur. Pandemics, anarchy, terrorism, diseases, wars and threats of wars…
Step back from the chaos of the 2020 election news. Step back from the chaos of the so-called CORONA virus pandemic, and realize, we are in an historic time in world history – in fact, an historic time in cosmic terms. Don’t miss or ignore what is actually taking place. We will never pass this way again.
Are we in the “Last Days”, as spoke of in the Bible? And, in case you are wondering, “what exactly are these ‘Last Days’?” Then, read further.
The Bible describes events and conditions that would mark “the conclusion of the current system of things,” or “the end of the world.”(Matthew 24:3; NASB) The Bible calls this time period, variously,
The following are some outstanding features of last-days, or end-times, prophecies:
1. Wars and rumors of wars – Just to name three wars of the thousands which have occurred: The religious crusades 1095 – 1291, 2 million dead; WW I, 1914-1918, 17 million dead; WW II, 1939-1945, 70 million dead.
2. Famines. There is no way to accurately calculate the numbers of famiines and deaths since AD 1, but, the best records show at least 246 major famines and over 316 million dead. (See Famines – Wikipedia) .
3. Pestilences, or epidemics of “terrible diseases.”
4. Increase of crime.
5. Ruining of the earth by mankind. —Revelation 11:18.
6. Deterioration of people’s attitudes, as shown by many who are “unthankful, disloyal, . . . not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride.” —2 Timothy 3: 1-4.
7. Breakdown of the family, with people who have “no natural affection” and children who are “disobedient to parents.” —2 Timothy 3: 2, 3.
8. Love of God growing cold in most people. —Matthew 24:12.
9. Noteworthy displays of religious hypocrisy.
10. Increased understanding of Bible prophecies, including those related to the last days. —Daniel 12:4.
11. Global preaching of the good news of the Kingdom. —Matthew 24:14.
12. Widespread apathy and even ridicule toward the evidence of the approaching end. —Matthew 24:37- 39; 2 Peter 3: 3, 4.
13. The concurrent fulfillment of all these prophecies, not just a few or even most of them. —Matthew 24:33.
SO – WHEN DID THE “END OF DAYS” BEGIN?
I. Matthew 24:3-14, verse 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 10. “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Verse 11. “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Verse 12. “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
Verse 13. “But the one who enduresto the end, he will be saved.
Verse 14. “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. “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”
*When was Matthew written? (Around AD 60) What “timeline” clues do you see?
II. Hebrews 1:2“In these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”
*When was Hebrews written? (Around AD 60) What “timeline” clues do you see?
III. Acts 2:14 “But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15“For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; 16but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
17‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says, ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;”
*When was Acts written? (Around AD 60) What “timeline” clues do you see?
IV. 2 Timothy 3:1 “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. verse 2. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, verse 3, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, verse 4, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, verse 5, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.“
*When was Matthew written? (Around AD 60) What “timeline” clues do you see?
V. 2 Peter 3:3 “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?”
*When was 2 Timothy written? (Around AD 60) What “timeline” cluesdo you see?
VI. 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. “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. “Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness 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, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.”
Verse 5. “Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the river and the other on that bank of the river. Verse 6. And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” Verse 7. I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, 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; (note: 3.5 years), and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. 8 As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?” Verse 9. He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. Verse 10. “Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. Verse 11. “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. “How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days! Verse 13. “But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”
*What “timeline” clues do you see?
These “timeline clues” tell us that the LAST DAYS, (THE END OF TIMES, THE END TIME, THE END OF THE AGE), began sometime between AD 1 and AD 69.
We have, in fact, been in the tribulation period known as the “times of distress”, that is Tribulation Seals 1 through Seal 4 since AD 1 and the effects of these broken Seals are working concurrently and have been intensifying.
We are have now entered the 5th tribulation Seal and are awaiting the revealing of the anti-christ.
Identifying the timeline and what may have already occurred, we can identify the “season” we are now in and the urgency of this time.
OUTLINE OF THE TRIBULATION SEALS
Here is a Short outline comparing Jesus’ account of the Tribulation period both in the Book of Revelation and in the Book of Matthew:
During the 6th Tribulation Seal, these events occur:
Sealing of the 144,000
The Rapture
Multitude from the tribulation before the Throne of God
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 Trumpet is the mid-point or 3.5 years)
The 7th Tribulation Seal – The announcement of the 7 Trumpet Judgments
Here is a detailed comparison of the The Tribulation Seals between the Book of Matthew chapter 24 and the Book of The Revelation chapters 6 & 7
Seal 1 —Rider on White Horse – Revelation 6:1,2 –
1Then 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.” 2 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.
Matthew 24:6 – Wars and rumors of war,
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
*Seal 1 has been ongoing since between AD 1 -AD 69 and has been intensifying.
Seal 2 – The Red Horse —Peace is taken from the earth, War – Revelation 6:3
When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” verse 4, 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.
Matthew 24:7 – Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.
*This has been ongoing since between AD 1 – 69 and has been intensifying.
Seal 3 – The Black Horse —Famine – Revelation 6:5
“When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. verse 6, And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”
Matthew 24:7 – Famines
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.
*This has been ongoing since between AD 1 – AD 69 and has been intensifying.
Seal 4 – Ashen Horse – Death and Hades – Revelation 6:7
“When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” verse 8. 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.
Matthew 24:21 – Death
“For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. verse 22. “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
This has been ongoing since between AD 1 – AD 69 and is intensifying.
“When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell 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.
Matthew 24:9 – Persectuion, Martyrs, Deception, Apostsay
“Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. verse 10. “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. verse 11. “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. verse 12. “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. verse 13. “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. verse 14. “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.
*Except for the revealing of the “man of perdition”, this has begun or been ongoing since around AD 60 and is intensifying.
IMPORTANT NOTE: from 2 Thessalonians2:1
“Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
((which is seen inMatthew 24:31 “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” An IMPORTANT TIME MARKER in MATTHEW))
2 Thessalonians 2:2 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.
Verse 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, verse 4, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”
*BEFORE The Day of the Lord, the Great Apostasy will come. This is the 5th Seal
Seal 6 – Cosmic Disturbances, Great Day of the Wrath of the Lamb has come. This has not occured.
Revelation 6:12 “I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood;
Verse13. and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.
Verse 14. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Verse 15. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains;
Verse 16. and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;
Verse 17. for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
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.
Verse 30. “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory.
Verse 31. “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
INTERLUDE: Revelation 7:1 through 17 – Winds stopped, Sealing of the 144,000 of Israel, The Multitude Raptured from the Tribulation
Seal 7 – Silence and Preparation for – THE WRATH OF THE LAMB
Revelation 8:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 – Silence in heaven for half an hour, Seven Judgment Trumpets prepared, smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, go up before God, the fire of the altar is thrown to the earth; and there follows peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
The pre-wrath-rapture
These are exciting and dangerous times. We can be ready. Contact me if you have questions!
The first evidence that God has a plan for the course of cosmic history, referring to humans, planet earth and ultimately, the entire cosmos, is found in the Bible in the Book of Genesis.
The first evidence of the timing and sequence of events for the destruction and recreation of the earth is found in the Bible in the Book of Daniel. There are other prophecies and clues, but, this is the clearest.
The first and clearest record of details of the coming Tribulation or End of Days is found in the Bible in the book of Matthew and the Book of The Revelation, although important and relevant clues are also found in the Books of Matthew, Acts and Hebrews.
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW?
Beware: Denominationalism has clouded the issues of
Creation, sin and the fall of man,
The judgment of wickedness and the destruction of humankind and the cleansing of the earth,
the prophesied Messiah and His arrival and redemptive work,
the Last Days, the tribulation and
the Great Tribulation,
the End of the Age and destruction of the planet and the cosmos,
the creation of new heavens and a new earth,
Considering that there are over there are over 200 different known denominations in America and over 33,000 denominations worldwide, you will find widely differing opinions, arguments and even some hostilities between denominations on the matters of the Bible, especially concerning the End Times.
So, to clear some denominational clutter, let’s take the Bible at face value where applicable.
I want us to focus on God’s “eschatological clock”, and discuss ‘Where we are now”, then ‘How we got here’, ‘What is coming next’, and what we are to do:
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?”
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.
NOTE:The description in Matthew is “AN EARTHLY PERSPECTIVE” and the description in The Revelation is “A HEAVENLY or SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE”.
This tells us that the Tribulation and death is not our end. When our earthly life ends our heavenly life begins. We live on. God’s plan is eternal and so are we who belong to Him.
We are part of God’s plan. We are active players, and our enduring participation assures our place with Him in the Kingdom of God.
2. HOW WE GOT HERE
I will only go back to the time of Jesus at this point. (Later, in a follow-up article, I will go back to the Book of Genesis.)
The period of the breaking or opening of the first FIVE Tribulation Seals, which began between AD 1 and AD 69 is also referred to as THE BEGINNING OFSORROWSor theLAST DAYS.
This period became evident in or around A.D. 1
(1) Jesus calls this period the LAST DAYS or the END OF THE AGE inMatthew 24:3-8
(2) The Apostle Peter calls this period the LAST DAYS in Acts 2:16-17
(3) The Apostle Paul calls this period THESE LAST DAYS in Hebrews 1:1-2
(4) The Apostle Matthew records the advent of John the Baptist and through this reminds us THESE ARE THE LAST DAYS and illustrates this in Matthew 3:1-12
(5) The Apostle Peter again reminds us THESE ARE THE LAST DAYS in 2 Peter
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:
(1) The Beginning of Sorrows, Birth Pangs, The End of The Age or the Last Days
(2) The Tribulation also known as The End of Days
(3) The GREAT Tribulation also known as the ‘Wrath of God’ or the ‘Wrath of the Lamb’.
When people read the Bible about eschatology, that is the matters about the End Times and the Tribulation period (the books of Matthew chapter 24 and the book of The Revelation), most tend to read it as one would read a ‘story’ or a novel. Most assume it is written in chronological order, a sequence of events, one event beginning as the previous event is ending. THIS IS NOT CORRECT.
When a Tribulation Seal is broken, an event or a series of events occur and will last for certain periods of time. Most events will continue until the “Consummation of the Age”.
In other words, once a Tribulation event begins, it may continue for days, weeks, months, years or decades. Then, as a second or third event occurs, events may overlap and occur simultaneously.
We see that the first 5 Seals have been opened are overlapping and are in progress. This began around AD 1. Here is the progression of the breaking of Tribulation Seals until the current time:
the 2nd Tribulation Seal – Wars and Rumors of War. (This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)
the 3rd Tribulation Seal – Famine. (This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)
the 4th Tribulation Seal – Death. (This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)
The 6th Tribulation Seal – Cosmic disturbances, blood moon, darkened sun.(The Opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal is yet to come. It is The BEGINNING OF the 7 years of “THE GREAT TRIBULATION” period, also known as The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb.)
Sealing of the 144,000
The Rapture
Multitude from the tribulation before the Throne of God
NOTE: The breaking of the 6th Tribulation Scroll Seal will be the start of the seven years of the GREAT TRIBULATION, also known as The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, or The Wrath of the Lamb and as Daniel’s Seventieth Week.
We are now standing at the precipice of a cosmic cataclysm which will shake and reshape the planet, disrupt the stars in heaven and cause many to die from cosmic, meteorological, geological disturbances and from fright. This event is known as Daniel’s Seventieth Week, which begins with the breaking (or opening) of the 6th Scroll Seal of the Tribulation.
THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING THE EXACT DAY NOR THE HOUR this will occur, but we know the season, and we are told that we must be ready according to scriptures or perish!
Our response will reveal our position in Christ, or in other words, whether you and I are truly saved.
We are part of God’s plan. We are active players, and our enduring participation assures our place with Him in the Kingdom of God.
Tribulation and death is not our end. When our earthly life ends our heavenly life begins. We live on. God’s plan is eternal and so are we who belong to Him.
If we are obedient, do what He has said and endure to the end, we will rule with Him. (2 Timothy 2:12)
1. Die to self. Surrender your life and purpose to Christ Jesus.
2. Follow Him in complete obedience.
3. Go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that He commanded you.
4. Do what He says and you will overcome.
5. Endure to the end and you will be saved.
Dearly Beloved:
If you attend church regularly, pray, do good deeds, tithe your income, live a good life, are a good person, there is no assurance you are saved or will spend eternity in heaven.
The Word of God says we are saved by God’s Grace through faith in Jesus and what He has done for us. It is not of anything we have done ourselves.
However, Jesus also says that we are to do what He has commanded, or we are not His disciples.
lemon?”
Christian?”
as we wait for His return!!
