THE END TIMES (part 2)

We will start with the questions the disciples asked Jesus as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (Matt 24:3) "Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?" Jesus had just remarked to them about the coming destruction of the temple, which we know from history happened soon after that time in 70AD. It was really one question with two parts, and Jesus took the rest of the chapter to give His answer. He started off in verse 4 by telling them "Don't let anyone mislead you", and then outlined some of the terrible things that would happen. Then in verse 8 He tells them "But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come". It's important to note the time words like "then", or "after" as used in verses 9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 21, 23, 29, and 30. These words help to establish the sequence of when certain actions take place, such as the coming of the Lord for His "elect" in verses 30, and 31 "immediately after the tribulation of those days", as recorded in verse 29! This would indicate clearly that the Church, which are part of God's elect, will be here for the duration of the "great tribulation".This verse alone proves that the theory that many believe about a "Pretribulation Rapture" is not correct.

There will be a "rapture" of God's people that will take place sometime in the second half of Daniel's 70th week, that starts with the Antichrist breaking the peace pact with Israel, that he signed at the start of this 7 year period. The first half, or 3 1/2 years, is covered by verses 4-8, then verses 9-22 describe the time of "hard labor", as opposed to the beginning of labor pains mentioned in verse 8. This time of great tribulation will come to an end when God shortens the time, as recorded in verse 22 "In fact unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen ones".

This time of persecution, or tribulation, by the Antichrist will be used by God to cleanse and purify the church. At present we realize that the church contains many members who have never been "born again", and are not really part of God's chosen ones. These people will fall away when the persecution starts from the Antichrist after the mid-point of the 7 year period. Most of these people will take the mark of the Antichrist, in order to buy and sell (Rev 13:16-17), and forfeit any chance of spending eternity with Jesus.

Sincerely submitted

Gramp