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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, when will these things happen?

I. Many will come IN MY NAME:

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

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

II. WARS and rumors of war:

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

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

Current wars and conflicts 2018: Interactive global conflict tracker.

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).

• Before 1901
• 1901–2000
• 2001–present

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.

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

V. PERSECUTION:

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

So, where does all of this lead?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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

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

The Sixth Seal – Terror

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

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

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

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

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

(You can also see a teaching by Pastor and Teacher, John Piper on the timing of the End Times. But, one of the first, most accurate, and persistent advocates of the Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church can be found at Zion’s Hope, with videos on this site.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So it is with the breaking of the tribulation Seals.

Your Brother and Friend

Mike Young

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

Presenting The Pretribulation Pre-Wrath Rapture Timeline.

(A supplemental to the video above).

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

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

(The illustration text is color-coded for reference:

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

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

Next are the Judgements which are to follow.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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