This
morning we are continuing our walk through Matthew 24 and 25. The end times is
a topic that it is pretty easy to find commentaries that express opposing beliefs.
I can tell you it has been challenging working through this series as I filter
through all of it.
Two
weeks ago we looked at how some of the theologians out there believe that the
first of the seals that are found in Revelations 6; the coming of the anti-Christ,
war, famine, and death are the period leading up to the tribulation and others
think they are part of the tribulation.
There
is that same difference of opinions on our main scriptures in Matthew 24 for
this morning.
One
group, those that feel that the verses we looked at two weeks ago are part of
the tribulation will tell you that starting at verse 9 we are seeing the second
half of the tribulation.
Another
group who feel that the first 8 verses are the period of time leading up to the
tribulation, the birth pains, that verse 9 is the beginning of the Great
Tribulation.
I
guess it really comes down to how you interpret these verses in Revelation 3.
Revelation
3:10-11
“10 Because you have kept My command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of
testing that is going to come over the whole world to test those who live on
the earth. 11 I am coming quickly. Hold on to what you have, so that no one takes your crown.”
What
does it mean to be kept from the hour of testing? Many will tell you these
verses mean that we will not be around in any part of the tribulation but
others tell you that we will be gone before the wrath of God starts, or the
final seal, the trumpets, and the bowls, or it could be something in between
the two.
Basically
if you believe we will not be a part of the tribulation at all, that is what is
called pre-trib. Mid trib is where the rapture happens half way through the
tribulation, so we would experience the seals we talked about last week but be
gone before the wrath of God.
There
are very strong cases for all of these theories. I have been pre-trib for many
years, but some of the things I have read have challenged that belief but I do keep
coming back to these verses and thinking pre-trib is the closest to the truth. I
still do not think it is as black and white as most people make it seem.
Before
we move forward, I do want to back up a bit. The rapture is important but I can
tell you most theologians agree that it is not a set event in time. The rapture
is not what starts the tribulation period. The rapture is not a fixed point in
the future, as scripture tells us only the Father knows when. He may take us
months before the beginning of the tribulation or just after the Antichrist
gains power. Heck it could be after a seal or two are opened. Regardless, it will
happen before the judgement and wrath begin, before the testing.
It
is almost funny how much of an emphasis people put on when the rapture is going
to happen, as it has no impact on the timing of events.
Daniel
9:27
“He will make a firm
covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a
stop to sacrifice and offering. And the abomination of desolation will be on a
wing of the temple until the decreed destruction is poured out on
the desolator.”
The
week here is referring to the 7 years of the tribulation. The beginning of the
tribulation is marked or triggered by a covenant with the people of Israel. The
new or soon to be world leader will make a peace covenant with Israel and
guarantee their safety.
Two
things need to happen for this to happen.
First,
Israel needs to occupy the land it has occupied since the end of World War 2.
The second is Israel needs to feel like she is no longer safe.
Zechariah
12:3
“On
that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who try
to lift it will injure themselves severely when all the nations of the earth
gather against her.”
At
some point every nation will stand against Israel. Until the last couple of
years, it could always be said that the United States of America was Israel’s
closest and strongest ally. Today, our President has made it clear that he no
longer supports Israel and neither does this country. Many American’s don’t
agree with him, but he has more control than we do.
In
the news we see the tension rising on the Temple Mount. Jewish people are being
attacked for going to the Wailing Wall. Islamist are attacking them at the
Temple Mount and pretty much anywhere else they can. Israel is being surrounded
by its enemies. Iran wants to wipe them out and so does ISIS. Hezbollah, Hamas,
Syria are all against them, and who is supporting Syria? Russia. The pieces are
coming together, Israel is being threatened and her old friend the USA is not
there to support her.
‘all
the nations of the earth gather against her.’
The
time is coming, Israel will no longer be safe and will be open to discuss a
peace treaty. That treaty signifies the beginning of the 7-year tribulation.
Now
let’s look at a couple of our verses from last week again.
Matthew
24:4-8
“4 Then Jesus replied to them: “Watch out that no one
deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am
the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many. 6 You are going to hear of wars and rumors of
wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but
the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise up against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various
places. 8 All these events are the beginning of birth
pains.”
I mentioned that these are the birth
pains or lead up towards the tribulation. Signs we need to watch for to tell us
that the tribulation is near and that they may or may not tie to the first 4
seals of Revelation 6.
Another point of view is that these
verses are actually the first half of the tribulation and that they absolutely
tie to the seal judgements. This would fit with the belief that Revelation 3
tells us that we will be kept from ‘the hour of testing’. From what I have read
over the last month, this is the most popular belief from the theologians I
have looked at.
In
my opinion, the first Seal is probably the only seal that could be opened
before the testing begins. This is the seal that represents the coming of the
Antichrist and his rise to power. He is going to need to be in a position of
power before he has any authority to negotiate with Israel. So it is very
likely that this seal is opened before the tribulation begins.
We
are going to see the rise of the antichrist, world wars, worldwide famines,
followed by death, the fifth seal will be martyrdom, which will be followed by
the sixth seal of earthquakes.
Under
this view, the birth pains are not signaling the birth or start of the
tribulation. Instead they are the first half of the tribulation. They are the
early birth pains of the Day of the Lord, which comes at the end of the
tribulation.
As the world comes to the middle of
the 7-year tribulation that peace that Israel was enjoying will come to an end.
The antichrist will break the peace treaty he made with Israel.
Daniel 7:25
“He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to
change religious festivals and
laws, and the holy ones will be
handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.”
He
will come into Israel and convert the Holy Temple into his own temple. The
time, times, and half a time is the 3 ½ years that the antichrist will be in
control. The last 3 ½ years of the tribulation.
2
Thessalonians 2:3-4
“3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way.
For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man
of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.4 He
opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s sanctuary, publicizing that he
himself is God.”
The
world leader who brought peace takes over the Holy Temple of Israel and sets
himself up as God. The antichrist comes out of the closet and things only get
worse.
Matthew
24:9-12
9 “Then they will hand you over for persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations
because of My name. 10 Then many will take offense, betray one another and hate one
another. 11 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.”
All
of a sudden the world will be turned completely upside down as those remaining
endure the 2nd half of the tribulation. Persecution will increase significantly
for Jews and those who are true to Jesus. Believers will be betrayed by those
that don’t believe.
The
false prophet will arise.
Revelation
13:11-14
“11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of
the earth; he had two horns like a lamb, but he sounded like a
dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the
first beast on his behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to
worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He also performs great signs, even causing
fire to come down from heaven to earth in front of people. 14 He deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that
he is permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, telling those who live on
the earth to make an image of the beast who had the sword wound and
yet lived.”
He,
the false prophet, will come to turn as many away from God as he can and lead
them to destruction through the worship of the antichrist. People who had
‘found’ Jesus since the beginning of the tribulation who had not fully
committed will fall away. Those remaining true believers will be persecuted;
they will be hunted down.
You
think it is bad now as we are called bigots for not supporting the ‘popular’
agenda. Those left during this time caught not worshipping the antichrist will
be hunted down and killed. That is the 5th Seal of martyrdom.
Matthew
24:13
“But the one who endures to the end will be
delivered.”
Those
believers who have remained faithful, who have continued to serve God, who
continued to share His love, who have survived being hunted by the antichrist
and the false prophet, will be delivered. It is believed that those faithful
Christians who have survived until the end of the tribulation will enter into
the Kingdom in a physical body.
Matthew
24:14
“This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in
all the world as a
testimony to all nations. And then
the end will come.”
Though
the tribulation will be a horrible thing to live through. Those who believe
will be used by God to carry the Good News of Jesus Christ and His coming
Kingdom to the entire world. The message they carry to all will be the same
message we have today. That through faith in Jesus Christ we are saved and get
to spend eternity in the presence of God.
If
there are going to be faithful messengers in a time when they will be
persecuted and killed for it, we need to be faithful today. If people are going
to be proclaiming the Gospel with boldness when their life is on the line, we
need to be doing the same today.
Your
job as a follower of Jesus is simple. Love God, Love Others, and Make
Disciples. If people can do it when facing death, You can do it today! Share
the Good News with your family and friends, don’t hold back. With the way
things are looking for Israel the tribulation is coming.
We are living in challenging times and it appears prophesy is coming true. Be watchful and be prepared. If you haven't yet, come to the cross and let Jesus be the Lord of your life!
Blessings,
Robert
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