Edition 431: August 21^st 2018

The Rapture and the Tribulation:

Introduction:

In this edition I want to have a fresh look at the rapture, the state of the church, the soon coming tribulation period, wars in the Middle East and more.

I have a strong sense of something prophetic impending, approaching, looming!

It is imminent. It’s a lot more than something blowing in the wind, or the cards on the table, or even the writing on the wall! Satan’s antichrist is within spitting distance and the trumpet blast is near.

I must assure you that I will never give you speculation, presumption or manipulation as fact, to score points, as many do these days. That’s not my style.

In this edition I will consider some speculation and look at some facts. I will differentiate.

Soon-coming wars:

The prophesied wars which will take place just before the tribulation begins, or just into it are the wars of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38&39) The Syria / Damascus war (Isaiah 17) and the Psalm 83 war.

These wars all involve Israel.

I have discussed them in previous editions, but now I want to look briefly, at some interesting consistencies and facts between them.

There is no harm done to prophecy by inserting the modern place or country names. Likewise, there is no harm done when we insert modern weaponry.

These wars are monumental. They appear to be sudden and very quick, lasting a day or two. They will involve military forces on land, on sea and from the air. Have a look at these interesting verses:

●Zechariah 5:1-8 “I turned and raised my eyes, and saw a flying scroll...” (Flying scrolls here, is a reference to missiles - read it.) You can find more on this, under the heading “God’s secret nuclear weapon” In edition 301: HERE

●Ezekiel 38:9 “You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and your troops and many peoples (nations) with you.”

●Ezekiel 38:16 “You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I am hallowed in you, O Gog before their eyes.”

●Isaiah 31:4-5 “As a lion roars, and a young lion a young lion over its prey, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor be disturbed by their noise, so the Lord of hosts (armies) will come down to fight for Mount Zion and its hill. Like birds flying about, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending, He will also deliver it. Passing over He will preserve it.”

●Habakkuk 1:6-8 “I am raising up the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation which marches through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling places that are not theirs. They are terrible and dreadful; their judgement and their dignity proceed from themselves. Their horses are swifter than leopards, and fiercer than evening wolves. Their charges charge ahead; their cavalry comes from afar; they fly as the eagle that hastens to eat.”

The name “Chaldeans” above, originates from a number of words meaning: “Wandering, destructive, demons and robbers.” They were a people who settled in Babylon becoming synonymous with them. Babylon is one the types of the end-time world!

This verse above could be a reference to any, or all of the end-time world wars. The aerial and missile warfare places these wars in our day. There are some other verses in these passages that clearly say that they will be in the “latter days”.

The rapture:

Joseph is a type of Messiah. This is well accepted.

One of the most dramatic events in the Bible is found in the story of Joseph. Let’s consider some points of relevance:

Joseph was a Jew. He was married to a Gentile wife, which is a type of the church. Joseph therefore represents the relationship with God, to the Jews and the church.

His brothers, representing the Jews, had got rid of him long ago – or so they thought! They went off to Egypt to buy food for the coming seven-year famine, a type of the seven-year tribulation to come. They thought they were dealing with an Egyptian official of Pharaoh. They did not recognise that it was Joseph their brother, but he recognised them.

Joseph could not bear the separation any longer and decided to reveal his identity to his brothers.

And now the drama!

This event took place in Pharaoh’s courts. Joseph’s Gentile bride would have been there with many others. As the time of the revelation approached, Joseph first of all said to all who were with him: “make everyone go out from me. So no one was left with him, while Joseph revealed who he was to his brothers.” (Genesis 45:1)

Our Lord Himself, alone, reveals Himself to the Jews. The mostly Gentile church has gone!

During the great dramatic, reveal, Joseph forgave his brothers for rejecting him all those years ago.

Psalm 130:8 “He Himself will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.”

What a powerful type of the pre-tribulation rapture of the church this is!

We see many other types of the pre-tribulation rapture, revealed in Old Covenant events.

●Noah and his family went into the ark seven days before the rain and God shut the door.

Isaiah 26:20 “Come My people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourselves as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation (tribulation) is past.”

●Lot and family were removed from Sodom before the destruction of God fell.

●The Gentile, Rahab who helped Joshua and the children of Israel on their journey to the Promised Land, was taken to safety outside the city of Jericho just before it was destroyed.

●The Hebrew feast of the Lord, Rosh Hashanah means: “new beginning.” This is the next of the seven feasts to be prophetically fulfilled. It would most certainly mark the new beginning of the next dispensation. They appear in order and are fulfilled in order.

If you reject dispensations, by the logic and consistency of interpretation you have to accept a post -tribulation rapture. You then have no answer for these verses describing dispensations:

Ephesians 1:10, Ephesians 3:2, Hebrews 1:1, and Colossians 1:25. (All use G3622 – dispensation)

Bible dispensations begin, and end following on from each other immediately. There is no inter-dispensation time period like some erroneously teach.

One of the greatest pre-tribulation rapture proofs is the dispensational division and roles of the church and Israel.

Rapture timing:

●Moses took seventy elders up Mt. Sinai to meet with God. (Exodus 24:9-11) This relates to the start of the dispensation of the law, which began here on Sinai with the giving of the law in stone.

●Seventy disciples were chosen by our Lord to be sent out to evangelise. (Luke 10) This relates to the church dispensation which began on the day of Pentecost, with the law now transferred from stone to the heart of the believer.

● Seventy sevens of years (seventy times seven) are determined upon Jerusalem. (Daniel 9:24)

●Yeshua said to forgive seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:21)

●Israel spent seventy years in captivity in Babylon, before freedom. (Jeremiah 29:10)

●The modern state of Israel is now seventy years old since its birth in one day. (Isaiah 66:8)

●Israel spends seven years cleaning up the destruction of the war of Gog and Magog. (Ezekiel 39:9) This ends with the great revealing of Messiah to the Jews in verse 29. The church is not seen in any of these events at all.

●The number seventy is the number of spiritual completion and also the number of judgement.

So what can we say about these things? The rapture of the church and the start of the tribulation are very near. We can’t be totally sure, but we can be sure it’s very close indeed! Is it this year, next month? Maybeeeee! If not we watch and wait.

The great escape:

Many post tribbers criticise us who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture as being escapists. If they knew their Bible well, they would know that it is them who will not escape!

Isaiah 47:11 (The end of Babylon – a type of the world) “Evil shall come upon you, you shall not know from where it arises, you will not be able to put it off (Lit=escape), and desolation shall come upon you suddenly.”

But to those who accept the pre-tribulation rapture, thank the Lord that you will escape:

Revelation 3:10 “Because you have kept My word to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial (tribulation period) which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell upon the earth.”

See also Luke 21:36.

If you had even the slightest understanding of the severity of the tribulation, you would be most thankful for the pre-tribulation rapture.

The character of the tribulation period:

The rapture of the church obviously ends the church dispensation and begins the next one which is called: ●time of Jacob’s trouble, ●the seventieth week (of years) of Daniel, ● the seven-year tribulation period of the Revelation. It is also called the ●wrath of God (last half).

The tribulation is also referred to as: ●The time of distress, ●the affliction, ●the indignation, ●the vindication of God, ●the time of lawlessness, ●the day of darkness, ●the hour of testing and more.

This completes the Old Covenant dispensation, paused during the church era.

The church dispensation is called the grace of God.

The character of the tribulation is revealed in hundreds of verses – all consistent. Here is a succinct view of this, the most severe time the world has ever seen or ever will see again. (Matthew 24:21)

Zephaniah 1:14-17 “The great day of the Lord is near. The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter. It is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. It is a day of trumpet and alarm against the fortified cities and against the high towers. I will bring distress upon men, and they shall walk like blind men, because they sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like refuse.”

The tribulation begins as the church, which is also the restrainer is removed, the antichrist is revealed and huge changes take place in the manner in which God deals with man.

That does not mean God changes. It means that He changes His methods of operation only.

The church age centres on Gods work with the church. The church however is made up of born-again Jews and Gentiles. The tribulation period focuses on Israel and not the church. Large numbers of Gentiles will be saved in the tribulation period. They do not become part of the church. They are called “tribulation saints.”

The primary focus is on Israel, Jerusalem and the Jews, and their becoming God’s chief evangelists to the world in the tribulation.

Hosea 5:15 “I will return again to My place till they (Jews) acknowledge their offence. Then they will seek My face, in their affliction (tribulation) they will diligently seek Me.”

There will be a huge number of Jews saved suddenly right at the start of the tribulation, but millions will be saved right through it as well.

Enormous numbers of very stupid people, including leaders of nations and churches, inspired by Satan ill come against God’s work with the Israel:

Psalm 79:6-7 “Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not know You, and the kingdoms that do not call on Your name. For they have devoured Jacob (Israel) and lay waste his dwelling place.”

Zechariah 12:9 “It shall be in that day that I will destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”

The purpose of the tribulation period:

●A purpose is forGod to bring judgement upon all sin by His wrath.

●A purpose is to cause the repentance and salvation of the Jews.

●A purpose is to bring repentance and salvation to masses of Gentiles.

●A purpose is to create a true nation under God –called the Millennium.

●A purpose is the setting up of everlasting righteousness.

In terms of the big picture, the entire tribulation period is the holiness of God at work. The judgement of God is an act of holiness and grace because of its end result – everlasting, universal righteousness.

Most of those left behind at the rapture, will be shocked beyond belief. As the tribulation upheavals begin they will be struck by fear. Bear in mind that fear rightly directed and with a correct response, can be a very positive thing causing repentance.

Mercy and forgiveness produces repentance, but when this is exhausted, the severe side comes in.

Many of these things will happen very quickly!

Isaiah 29:5 “The multitude of your foes shall be like fine dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones (terror-creating) shall be as chaff that passes away; yes it shall be in an instant, suddenly!”

Isaiah 66:8-10 “Who has heard of such a thing, who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day, or shall a nation (Israel) be born at once?

Zechariah 3:9 “Behold the stone I have laid before Joshua; upon the stone are seven eyes. I will engrave its inscription says the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.”

Isaiah 10:17 “So the Light of Israel will be for a fire, and the Holy One for a flame. It will burn and devour His thorns and briers in one day.”

The wicked world:

The state of all nations is deteriorating fast. They will soon become great beasts – servants of Satan, to attack the truth of God’s word, His virtues and ways. Nations will become control-freaks.

A state, released from God’s influence, soon manifests a monster.

End-time man has become Satan’s greatest weapon of attack against God. Too many Christians are friends of the flaming world, and like a leper can’t feel the pain.

Today, people replace good with evil, light for dark, right for wrong and also ugliness for beauty. (Isaiah 5:20) This is even seen in music, where melody should be central, beat and rhythm secondary. That’s all reversed, creating ugly, terrible music. (And that’s coming from an ex-hippie!)

You must become state-less now. Obey the government up to the point where it violates God’s word directly. But even in your thinking, die to the state now. There are some strong, great Christians working in some state departments. They are its light. I know some – keep it up. (You too Ty)

It’s good to battle with and break our connection to the world, but we must get to a place where the battle is won and the world now lies as a desert of death before us.

Tragically, for the world, which rejects the fear of the Lord, it will soon get a crushing dose of the fear of the Lord – called the tribulation period and the wrath of God! The tribulation will produce the fear of God like never before.

People today have little fear of, or respect for the authorities and therefore no feelings of guilt. There is no more shame in sin anymore. The whole world has seared its conscience.

The world can scream the odds against Gods value system, and His holy virtues all they like. They will protest in the tribulation. They will scream against God’s wrath, but they will not stop it.

The provocation of the scriptures:

Our Lord was often provocative.

The Bible is called the gospel of offence.

We are in a world with no restraint (Hosea 4:1-2) and a Christian world of easy believism, in the face of an advancing, sin-rich church. This is because their sick leaders have surgically removed the “severity” and “hard sayings” of the gospel. (Romans 11:22, John 6:60)

In the face of fast spreading sickness, you need to step up the dosage, not water it down or remove it altogether.

Today too many Bible teachers accommodate acclimatisation to the spiritually bankrupt state of the world. They all, in their fallen wisdom, “compare themselves amongst themselves and are not wise.” Their lukewarm state slips to ice cold. (2 Corinthians 10:12, Revelation 3:16)

Imagine the stupidity of comparing yourself to things that are about to be hit by the wrath of God!

Both “goodness and severity” can be applied wrongly. One really needs to be led by the Spirit. The baseball bat is not a tool of the trade! And neither is the soft sofa.

My position is always to offend, attack and create disunity towards foundational doctrinal error. It is my aim to create unity within the truth and lovers of truth and to defend it. I am not referring to minor issues. It’s those entrenched in doctrines that violate the 6 foundational doctrines of Messiah that I’m at war with. (Hebrews 6:1-2)

Be careful of teachers trying to produce control and also those with a critical spirit always elevating themselves. The objective of correct instruction is to glorify God.

Be very careful of who you receive from in these days:

Jeremiah 5:13 “The prophets have become wind, for the word is not in them...”

Finally

God gives light, sight, blessing, mercy, cursing, blinding, darkness, and wrath.

Satan gives dark light, blinding, deceptive blessing, cursing and wrath.

You need the sword of God’s Spirit to divide between the two, and know the source.

The instinct and intuition of the Christian tend towards the things of God.

For deep inward strength, set you spiritual gaze silently inward, upward and outward.

Psalm 63:6-8 “I meditate on You in the night watches, because you have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You.”

I took these pictures in the wilds of Namaqualand during wild-flower season, which is starting up again now for this spring. It’s a wildly beautiful place with flower-power zebras too!

Shalom and grow in His Grace!