Study Lesson 1
A Biblical Rapture Perspective
Or
The Elect Endure To The End
Something To Consider:
There are several rapture timing perspectives espoused by various groups for different reasons. The best reason for any doctrine, teaching, or tradition to be taught as truth must first and foremost be based entirely from a biblical basis. The truth being sought after and taught must be obtained entirely from the pages of sacred Scripture. Otherwise the doctrine, teaching, and or tradition are simply another man-made means of deceiving the masses of individuals in any given generation and beyond. Therefore, a proper biblical rapture perspective is essential for not being deceived especially for those possibly living in the end times.
Jesus addressed the subject of end time deception on several occasions and especially in Matthew’s gospel chapter 24. In four [4] separate verses Jesus warned of end time deception and cautioned the final generation to not be deceived. Why would Jesus warn those living in the end time generation to not be deceived if there was not a need to be warned?
The answer of course is that He would not have warned us time and again if deception was not to play a major role in end time events. Who better than Jesus, to set the stage for a study into a biblical rapture perspective using Scripture as our biblical GPS and or divine directional compass? And the fact remains, there is no one more qualified than Jesus to address a biblical rapture perspective and that which concerns the end time elect.
Therefore, Jesus declared in Matthew 24.4, “Take heed [beware] that no one deceives [misleads] you.” His first words of warning in Matthew chapter 24, which clearly lays out end time events exposed according to Jesus, are, “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Jesus follows up in verse 5 by stating, “For many will come in My name [in the name of Jesus], saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”
Notice Jesus predicted that many will come in His name as if Christian, themselves declaring that Jesus is the Christ, and according to Jesus they succeed in deceiving many. Therefore, the warning, “Take heed that no one deceives you.”
Something Else To Consider:
In verse 11 of Matthew 24, Jesus also predicted an increase in religious deception by proclaiming, “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” Oh how I wish that was not the case! But Jesus has rightly in advance predicted precisely what has happened within the last 100 years or so, concerning the widespread religious deceiving of many.
And how do we know this to be true? How do we know that false prophets have risen within the ranks of the so-called church? After careful study of Scripture one only needs to look closely at several recent false doctrines that have been fabricated as if the truth and approved by many leaders within the organized church.
An honest and diligent study of the bible should reveal false teaching which would include the timing of the rapture, easy grace without true repentance or requiring any life altering changes, false promises of salvation without any biblical conditions or demand of Scripture to live holy and righteous lives, as well as the health, wealth, and prosperity foolishness that cannot rightly be preached in most third world countries, but is widely preached in America.
All of the above have not only been approved and espoused by many so-called religious leaders especially in America, but these false doctrines, contrived concepts, and non-biblical theories have been used to increase the financial coffers of Christianity and their so-called charismatic leaders.
But to the last day church of Laodicea Jesus declared, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’, and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore, be zealous and repent.” And to the true church of this generation Jesus’ message remains a message of repentance when required!
In verse 23 of Matthew chapter 24, Jesus further warned, “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days [the days of the end time great tribulation] will be shortened.” And again in verse 24 of Matthew 24 Jesus predicted, “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” And so the first question to be asked concerning end time deception should be who are the elect that Jesus mentions while speaking of the end time great tribulation and end time events?
Something More To Consider:
For those who have never really searched the Scriptures for themselves, the immediate programmed answer by most to the question of who are the elect is the nation of Israel. Yes, the nation of Israel was chosen by God to be a nation who He wanted to rightly represent Him to the world, but the nation of Israel rejected God’s Word and His authority over it time and time again.
And finally as a nation, Israel rejected God’s Son Jesus and His atoning death upon an old rugged cross. But, keep your eyes on the nation of Israel and especially the much coveted city of Jerusalem for end time events to unfold.
This misconception of the nation of Israel being the elect of God does not have its roots in the biblical record. Like so many unscriptural thoughts, theories, traditions, and unbiblical doctrines of men, this heralded false concept is without validity whatsoever as it pertains to the truth of Scripture.
And what is worse is that a major portion of Christendom have approved just such false conceptions even including the false timing of the blessed hope as described by the apostle Paul, or known by the most recent term rapture. Therefore, if any rapture timing concept or theory is not found within Scripture, do not be deceived by its being much declared by false prophets as forewarned of by Jesus.
The term “elect” is mentioned approx. sixteen times in the bible. They are as follows: Ten times the word elect refers to believers in general, two times elect refers to believers who are Gentiles, once the word elect defines believers who were Jewish, twice elect refers to Jesus, and once more the word elect is used of Jacob, the son of Abraham who became a believer in God as did his father of whom God accounted it to him for righteousness through Abraham’s belief, trust, and eventual unwavering enduring to the end faith in God.
A Few Final Words:
Paul, writing in Romans 11.7, speaking of the election of grace, announced, “What then? Israel [nation of Israel] has not obtained that which it seeks for; but the election [believing Gentiles] have obtained it [election by faith through grace], and the rest [nation of Israel] were blind [hardened].” Therefore, the elect of Matthew 24 according to the biblical record are true born again present tense Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus Christ. Are we among that group of enduring to the end elect, and if not, why not?
But how does that biblical truth stand up against the fabricated fables that must be constructed in order to achieve the deception concerning the wrong timing of the rapture? How does this truth answer the man initiated end time theories, confusing charts, and ungodly end time graphs? The bottom line must be, do we believe the truth of God’s Word or man’s created and most deceptive false concepts? There is much too much at stake to believe the lie.
In Closing:
Speaking of end time deception, Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2.10-11, “And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them a strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.” The true elect of God, the true believers in Jesus, contrary to those who perish, receive the truth of the Word of God and thereby will be saved if they are found by Jesus enduring to the end. Will we, you and I be among the few of that group?
Or will we be further deceived by the strong delusion allowed by God so as to harden unbelievers in their unbelief? If so, it will be because of our rejection of the truth of God’s Word. If so, it will be because of our believing the lie. We must decide either to choose God’s will which may include suffering while alive on earth or God’s judgment which will last an eternity. It is our decision!
Study Lesson 2
A Proper Timing Of A Biblical Rapture
Or
Enduring End Time Deception
Something To Consider:
Some might ask why even study the subject of a biblical rapture. If believers of the various scenarios such as pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, post tribulation, or pre-wrath rapture perspectives are truly born again present tense believers with plenty of oil for their lamps, what real difference does it make? Are not all saved? These are good and valid questions that we would hope could be answered from an in depth study of a biblical rapture perspective.
For now, let me attempt to reveal more truth with the reading of what the apostle Paul deemed to be critical in the study of a biblical rapture found in 2 Thessalonians 2.1-4. Paul wrote, “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the Day of Christ had come.”
There was already some confusion within the early church concerning the coming of the Lord and the gathering together or rapture of God’s people. Paul continued, by stating in verse 3, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for the Day [the coming of Christ and the gathering together of His saints] will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition [Antichrist], who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he [Antichrist] sits as God in the temple of God [yet to be built], showing himself that he is God.”
Something Else To Consider:
Therefore, the main reason for the study of a biblical rapture is because of the millions of individuals who have been deceived even after all of the biblical warnings to not be deceived concerning end time events. Paul described two end time events followed by two more end time events. Please note that the sequence of these events is extremely important to the establishing a proper timing of a biblical rapture perspective.
According to Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, one of the first two events is the falling away or the offending of many believers as Jesus predicted in Matthew 24. Why? It is because of the revealing of the man of sin, the son of perdition, or Antichrist.
According to Daniel 9.27, once a final Middle East Peace Treaty is ratified, and permission is granted to build the third Jewish temple in Jerusalem, and after 3-1/2 years again according to Daniel, and verified by Jesus in Matthew 24.15, the Antichrist will be exposed for who he really is.
Jesus calls this end time event by the same name as does Daniel in his prophecy chapter 12 verse 11. Jesus declared in Matthew 24.15-16, “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea [immediate surrounding area] flee to the mountains.”
Now, at this time, God’s true end time prophetic clock time table will be revealed and will cause many to be offended and to fall away or to depart from the faith. All of a sudden many will realize they are in the middle of great tribulation, according to Jesus and Daniel. This new found truth for many will lead to much personal conflict and further confusion. Their only defense is that they have been lied to about end time events and the timing of the rapture. Many will wonder what else they have been lied to about or at best been deceived about, and rightly so.
Something More To Consider:
At this most crucial moment in the life of many believers who will find themselves in the middle of the final seven years of mankind’s rule upon planet earth, they will realize they have a most important decision to make. Will they decide with God’s divine help to endure to the end of the end time deception, or to be further deceived into being offended and to depart from the faith?
The biblical truth of the matter is a sad truth, for many will make the wrong choice in becoming offended and departing from their faith in Jesus Christ. Not only will many depart from the faith, but according to Jesus’ own prediction in Matthew 24.9-10, they become a vital part of the end time problem rather than the solution. “Then they [those previously deceived] will deliver you [enduring to the end believers] up to tribulation and kill you, and you [true end time Christian] will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.”
A Few Final Words:
Due to the eventual opening of seven seals in Revelation chapter 6, peace is removed from the earth, then there becomes a scarcity of food, and one forth [¼] of the earth’s population is killed by the sword, with hunger, and with death. The betrayal of friends and family members for favor with the one world ruling powers will be an everyday occurrence. The Word of God declares that now is the day of decision, now is the day of salvation, not then in the midst of such end time chaos.
According to Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 10.22, Matthew 24.13, and Mark 13.13; “But he [or she, young and old] who endures to the end shall be saved.” Those who are determined to endure to the end of the end time deception according to Jesus shall be saved. What about those who do not? Those who diligently study to show themselves approved unto God workmen that need not to be ashamed and who rightly understand the Word of God, and according to Jesus, who endure to the end of their lives or to the end of the age, they shall be saved.
What about those who do not? What about those who have been deceived into thinking they will be saved by a pre-tribulation rapture that according to Scripture does not happen? What about those deceived by false prophets and blind leaders of the blind who teach contrary to the Word of God?
Now is the time to personally search the Scriptures for ourselves in order to determine the truth rather than simply believe a lie. Jesus warned the people of God of His day to be aware of the hypocritical religious leaders He called blind. Jesus would today warn us all of not being deceived by itching ear false teaching and false prophet unbiblical messages. It is our spiritual duty to seek the truth within God’s written and preserved Word! And if we choose rather to not study the Word of God for ourselves, then we deserve what the Word of God declares that awaits us.
In Closing:
For me and my household, we will believe Jesus. We will believe the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God as recorded by men of God such as Daniel, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; as well as Peter, Paul, James, and Jude, and especially Jesus, as it relates to not being deceived by end time deception espoused by false end time prophets and end time evil ambassadors of the Antichrist. Let us therefore according to Jesus, take heed that we are not deceived.
Jesus said, “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Let us heed the many end time warnings found within Scripture and especially all things Jesus taught us to observe. A proper timing of the biblical rapture and our enduring to the end is most essential and truly critical to discerning end time deception for what it is, purely end time deception espoused by Satan and propagated by false puppet-like false prophets who like Satan have come to steal, kill, and to destroy a biblical sound doctrine concerning end time events and their sequence. Do not be deceived!
Study Lesson 3
A Command To Endure To The End
Or
A Command To Observe Christ’s Teaching
Something To Consider:
We ended our second study segment with the words of Jesus as recorded in three [3] separate gospel locations, to include Matthew 10.22, as Jesus declared, “And you [true end time Christian] will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he [or she] who endures to the end shall be saved.”
And again in Matthew 24.13 Jesus reiterated the same statement, “But he [or she] who endures to the end shall be saved.” And once more in Mark 13.13, Jesus reaffirmed, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he [or she] who endures to the end shall be saved.” It is safe to say from Jesus’ perspective that enduring to the end is important to Jesus, though it has been nearly neglected by most of Christendom in recent years.
At the end of the gospel of Matthew after Jesus’ garden arrest, unjust sentence of death, cruel mistreatment, death upon an old rugged cross, and after His resurrection from a borrowed tomb, and after forty days of appearing to His disciples, Jesus gave His final lesson many have entitled His Great Commission.
Matthew records Jesus’ words in Matthew 28.18-20, as Jesus proclaimed for all to hear and learn from as Jesus declared, “All authority has been given Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples [not converts of a denomination but disciples of Christ] of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Therefore, it cannot be honestly disputed that Jesus taught His followers that they are to endure to the end of either their lives and or to the end of the age. Nor can it be honestly disputed that Jesus taught those who were called by His name, to teach His Christian disciples to observe all things that Jesus commanded. This would include both biblical concepts of enduring to the end and of observing all things Jesus commanded. And yet how can these two things be disputed or neglected by so much of Christendom?
How can these two commands as are others be overlooked by the majority of mainstream so-called Christian churches and religious leaders? I have attempted to follow Christ just over four decades and to my understanding of these subjects, enduring to the end and observing all things Jesus taught are missing from most pulpits of America and therefore now around the world due to the Americanization of many foreign lands by American church mission boards. God help us to make true disciples of Jesus of all nations and not followers of more false teaching of organized and established church denominations.
Something Else To Consider:
Many recent so-called theologians and self-appointed bible scholars have declared the capsulizing of the gospel or good news to be found exclusively within John 3.16; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son [Jesus], that whoever believes in Him [in Jesus] should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Others would attempt to include within the gospel of good news verses such as John 3.36, and would be correct in doing so. “He [or she] who believes in the Son [Jesus] has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son [His teachings] shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him [or her].”
The Word of God both endorses the blessings of God’s people who believe and also the warnings of eternal punishment to those who choose rather to not believe. God gives us the free will to make that decision for ourselves. What then will be our decision, spiritual eternal life or spiritual eternal death?
Can we begin to see more clearly how the whole counsel of the Word of God is important as we formulate our belief systems? Note that in John 3.36, those who believe in the Son have everlasting life, and those who do not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. The wrath of God is appointed to those who do not believe the Son or do not believe Jesus’ teaching. Both observing and believing all the teachings of Jesus has eternal ramifications for those living in every generation and especially those found living in this end time generation.
According to the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 3.16-17; “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man [or woman] may be complete, thoroughly equipped [completely furnished] for every good work.”
Are we availing ourselves of all Scripture for the formulation of our belief systems? If not we should be! And if not we are doomed to be deceived. If not, we are most likely not spiritually ready to endure to the end of either our lives or to endure to the end of the coming end time chaos that is to soon be unleashed upon planet earth. The truth is that all Scripture is inspired, including and especially all the teachings of Jesus as found in the gospels and in the book of Revelation!
Something More To Consider:
Speaking on the subject of end time events, Jesus, in Matthew 24.9-13 attempted to make end time believers better aware of the coming perilous times and the falling away or departing from the faith by many. Jesus began by predicting in verse 9, “Then they will deliver you [end time true believer] up to tribulation and kill you, and you [end time present tense believing Christian] will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.”
I understand this is not an encouraging scenario that Jesus is portraying of end time events. I also understand that talk of the tribulation and the killing of believing saints is most difficult to hear, but how important is hearing the truth concerning end time events exposed according to Jesus. How crucial is knowing what lies ahead of true born-again present tense believing Christians who are committed to standing firm and refusing to be found among the many who are offended and who depart from the faith?
And if we do not believe this, then all we need to do is to look closely at that which Jesus revealed concerning the killing of saints that will take place during the tribulation as predicted in Revelation 6.9-11. Those under the altar in heaven killed for the Word of God and for their testimony of Jesus were told to rest a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants or other enduring to the end believers and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. Trust the Word of God, a great end time persecution is coming prior to the coming of Christ!
We the people of God, alive in this 21st century generation are most likely the final generation. That concept brings great joy to some and great fear and frustration to many others. If prepared for end time events a person can focus their attention on the things of God eternal. If one is not spiritually prepared for end time events that unpreparedness will create much tension and terror in a person’s heart and life.
A Few Final Words:
According to Jesus’ words of John 8.31-32, “If you [enduring to the end present tense believer] abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The truth of the Word of God may at times be difficult to swallow, but it is always enlightening and is more than able to set us free from fear, doubt, and deception.
Paul writing in 2 Timothy 1.7 revealed, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but [a spirit] of power and [a spirit] of love and [a spirit] of a sound [clear thinking] mind.” Are we therefore taking full advantage of what God has granted to us? Living in the end times according to the forewarned of end time events according to Jesus we will need God’s Spirit of power, His Spirit of love, and His Spirit of a sound clear thinking mind.
A few verses later Paul encouraged young Timothy and all true believers in every generation by instructing in verse 13, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words [sound doctrine] which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” Our command by Christ to endure to the end is most indeed a part of our holding fast the pattern of sound doctrine we have in abundance within the Word of God.
Our part in this enduring to the end is to hold fast to the faith that is created in our hearts by the hearing of the Word of God. Now is the time to prepare for our enduring to the end, not in the midst of the coming tribulation!
In Closing:
Our observing Jesus’ end time teaching to endure to the end is a vital part of our observing all things Jesus taught. This one final command given by Jesus before He ascended into heaven in the presence of His early disciples, if heeded, if fully observed, if willfully obeyed, will enable us as present tense believers in Jesus to joyfully endure to the end of whatever these last days may call upon us to endure.
And as we faithfully endure to the end we do not do so in our own strength or without the presence of the Lord in the person of the Holy Spirit of God Almighty. Amen!
Study Lesson 4
Prophesied End Time Events
Or
The Revealing Of Future History
Something To Consider:
Let’s consider the words of John written in Revelation chapter 6 which deals with the opening of the previously mentioned six seals which reveal the further culmination of human history upon planet earth. The opening of the first seal unveils a white horse and he who sat on the white horse went out to conquer. The opening of the second seal exposes a fiery red horse and its rider who takes peace from the earth and causes people to kill one another. The third rider upon a black horse is unleashed and creates scarcity of food on the earth.
Finally a fourth pale horse and its rider are given power to kill with the sword, with hunger, and with death ¼ of the earth’s population. The earth is fast approaching 8 billion people. It is hard to imagine 2 billion people being killed at one time. The Black Death plague which enveloped the land of Europe between the years 1346-1353 was estimated to have killed approx. 75 – 200 million people. The opening of the fourth seal will kill more than 20 times the number of people of the Bubonic Plague pandemic of centuries past.
Something Else To Consider:
After all that has taken place with the opening of the first four seals, revealing future history, John further revealed in verse 9, “When He [the Lamb, Jesus] opened the fifth seal, I saw under the alter [in heaven] the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held [as enduring to the end saints]. And they [those slain for their faith] cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ Then a white robe was given to each of them [those slain for their faith]; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren [fellow believing saints], who would be killed as they were, was completed.”
How will the above mentioned killing of saints as reported by John in Revelation chapter 6 be accomplished? If we or our loved ones are the last generation, this is important to understand. Therefore, let us return to the words of Jesus in Matthew 24 verses 9-13.
We have already considered verse 9 in which Jesus reported; “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you.” Who are the they of verse 9? It is important! Jesus continued His end time scenario in verse 10, by predicting, “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.” Who are the many? It is important to understand who they are!
The they of verse 9 and the many of verse 10 are one-time believers in Jesus who have been offended according to Jesus. These one-time believers in Jesus will realize they have been lied to by false prophets peddling their poisonous pre-rapture unbiblical nonsense. Or, they will wrongly believe that God has forsaken them and they and the many will betray true end time enduring to the end believers whether family, friends, or simply one-time fellow believers in Jesus Christ.
There is no doubt during those days that true Christians will pay a price for maintaining a present tense belief in Jesus. Many will pay the ultimate price with their lives! But is not following Jesus who died for our sins that which we are commanded to do? Why are we then shocked if many of the few truly following Jesus are to be killed? The Word of God declares that to be absent from this body, that is to die, is to be with the Lord as those found in heaven under the altar!
Something More To Consider:
And furthermore, according to Jesus, in verse 11-12 of Matthew 24, “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many [one-time believers] will grow cold.” Because of world-wide religious, political, and societal lawlessness that will abound, the love for God and the love for one-time brothers and sisters in the faith will grow cold, according to Jesus.
Therefore, the betrayal and hatred of true Christians attempting to endure to the end will increase, while the killing of many Christians, which is on the rise even now, will continue to increase around the globe. Let us not be surprised! We have been warned by Jesus and others in advance.
But, this killing of many will usher them into the presence of their Lord and into the presence of other enduring to the end martyred saints of the tribulation and past centuries going back to the early church. Is that not our eternal goal? The death of enduring to the end saints is actually their graduation ceremony into eternal life!
A Few Final Words:
Just look around us! Listen to the news! Read the headlines of every newspaper in the country and around the world, and you will be convinced of the predicted by Jesus abounding lawlessness. This abounding lawlessness reaches every level of every society. This exposed of in advance lawlessness spoken of by Jesus permeates every aspect of life from the halls of government, politics, education, home land security, the judicial systems, business, banking, and sad to say, lawlessness has even infiltrated the religious ranks of the organized established church.
Lawlessness fueled by greed and the love of money, power, and position has and continues to poison the fabric of society itself. Therefore, we cry come quickly Lord Jesus! Amen.
Along with the abounding lawlessness, political correctness has muddied the water of the authority of the Word of God around the world and especially in America. Bowing down to the political correctness agenda has ruined many a church leader and many a congregation in this country and around the world and will continue to do so until Christ returns. Not observing all things Jesus taught has caused the spiritual backbone of many religious leaders to melt away due to the cancerous disease of spiritual compromise or complacency.
What will it take to finally fan the flames of true God ordained revival among the many spiritually dead bones of this 21st century Christianity? Will the abomination of desolation spoken of by Jesus and by Daniel the prophet create a resurgence of biblical boldness within the ranks of Christianity? Will media broadcasts around the globe of the Antichrist standing in the holy place of the newly yet to be built Jewish temple create enough end time panic to wake up the many spiritually living dead within the church? I certainly hope so!
The truth of the matter is best described by Jesus in Luke’s gospel chapter 18 and verse 8, as Jesus stated for the record, “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” That is a question that can only be honestly answered by every individual privately in their own prayer closet. What will be our answer? Will we be found by Jesus looking unto Him, the author and finisher of our faith? Will we if looking unto Jesus rather than focusing on the perilous times, will we be found by Him enduring to the end of our lives and or enduring to the end of the age?
In Closing:
Will we be found by Jesus determining from this moment on to be faithful to Him by observing all things that Jesus taught rather than believing man’s most deceptively devised false theories and delusional fables ? Will we be convinced by end time events to no longer approve but rather to expose and to oppose deceivingly false man-made doctrines that only appeal to the flesh of fallen man?
Be careful how you and your family answer these very valid questions concerning enduring to the end and observing all things that Jesus taught! Remember the first words of warning spoken by Jesus in His expose on end time events in Matthew 24.4, “Take heed that no one deceives you.”
Will we ready ourselves and our families concerning the prophesied end time events spoken so clearly in the Word of God? Will we trust in the Lord in the midst of end time tribulation? Will we believe the in advance revealing of future history? And if so, what will be our plan of attack? Lesson 5 will discuss the difference between the many who will not be ready and the few faithful who will heed the warnings of the Word of God spoken of by Jesus and therefore also according to Jesus. Until then, let us believe the prophesied end time warnings spoken of by Jesus and learn from them.
Study Lesson 5
The Many And The Few Dilemma
Or
Depart From Me – I Never Knew You
Something To Consider:
Our few final words of the previous study focused on the lawlessness that Jesus predicted would ultimately abound as we draw nearer to the end of this age of human rule upon planet earth. Our focus in this lesson 5 will be on the vast difference between the narrow and broad eternal gates or eternal entrance points that are readily available to the human race, according to Jesus in Matthew chapter 7. According to His many and few discourse every individual who has ever lived and ever will live is destined to live eternally in one or the other of two vastly different eternal destinations.
We will attempt to better understand Jesus’ position on those who have been deceived into thinking they may be among the few who have been granted eternal life when in reality, they may very well be among the many who may hear Jesus declare, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” In our study today please note that it is lawlessness or the practicing of iniquity that separates or divides the many from the few in the end, according to Jesus and other New Testament spokesmen for God.
Something Else To Consider:
Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 7, evidently with end time events, eternal judgments, and eternal destinations upon His mind, began teaching on the two eternal destinations that must be decided upon by every man, woman, and young person before it is too late. Beginning in verse 13, Jesus instructed His listeners, by stating, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.”
He continued by emphatically declaring in verse 14, “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” There are two access points that lead to two very different eternal destinations which eventually separates the many from the few for all eternity. And there lies the dilemma! Immediately following Jesus’ statements concerning the many and the few and the two very different destinations to be decided upon, Jesus warned of the most deceptive deterrents to the many making the right decision.
Beginning in verse 15 of Matthew chapter 7, Jesus declared, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a corrupt tree bears evil fruit. A good tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a corrupt tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
It is imperative throughout these study lessons to be reminded of Jesus’ first words of warning found in Matthew chapter 24, in verses 4-5; “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” According to Jesus, it is the many who are deceived and the few who are not!
Also according to Jesus in His follow up to His lesson concerning the narrow and wide gates, and good and bad fruit, Jesus explained in verses 21-22 of Matthew 7, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he [or she] who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied [preached] in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’”
According to Jesus in the above verses, many in the Day of Judgment will realize they have been deceived into thinking they were a part of God’s kingdom, because they were involved in many religious appearing activities, and even after learning all the correct Christian appearing language, such as calling Jesus Lord. But pay close attention to the root cause of their deception and their eternal downfall.
According to Jesus’ shocking words of Matthew chapter 7 verse 23, it will be the many who will hear, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness [iniquity].” According to the writer of Hebrews 12.14, without holiness, no one shall see God! According to Jesus, practicing lawlessness or iniquity has nothing to do with holiness and or righteousness or righteous living! Therefore, where do we stand?
Something More To Consider:
As it pertains to the many and the few dilemma, the bible contains several such examples of both the devastating outcome of being among the many, and the eternal rewards available to those being among the few. We want to invest some time in the next couple of studies looking closer at a few of these Old Testament examples Paul declared were written for our learning and for our spiritual benefit.
The first biblical example of the many and the few is found early in the biblical record of Genesis chapter 6. In verse 5 we read, “And the LORD saw that the wickedness [lawlessness or iniquity] of man was great in the earth.” Many were living lives of wickedness according to God!
Can we relate to the findings of God’s Genesis report in our 21st century backslidden condition of humankind throughout the earth? Because every intent of the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil continually, God declared in verse 7 of Genesis chapter 6, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth.” But, in the midst of such destruction, a sliver of light like hope shined forth, as if through the vast darkness that had enveloped the eternal destination of so many. According to God and verse 8 of Genesis chapter 6, “But Noah [one among many] found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”
A Few Final Words:
But why did Noah, one man among so many find grace in the eyes of the LORD? According to God and verse 9, “Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.” And yet, on the other hand, according to God and verses 11-12, “The earth [the many] also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” This estimation of God on the condition of the earth’s occupants sounds a lot like our evening news!
And yet, the Word of God continued its condemnation in verse 12, by stating for the record, “So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh [many] had corrupted their way on the earth.”
What is it that God sees when He looks upon the earth today? Make no mistake about it; God sees the corruption of society, politics, governments, and even the religious corruption within the so-called church. The church has sadly opened wide its doors of acceptance and approval to the evil birds of deception and financial prey of false prophets who are able to abide comfortably and compromisingly within the branches of the unbiblical and abnormally overgrown church.
But the day of judgment is fast approaching when the prosperity they have long enjoyed will not protect them from the wrath of an Almighty God who desired the truth of His Word to be widely proclaimed instead of the lies and deception of all is well when all is not well within the church or within this Christ rejecting world.
In Closing:
And yet, the many and the few dilemma continues while bringing us all to our final destination whether among the many or among the few. And while God’s final judgment is fast approaching an evil and very corrupt world system, the few are to be found contently following Jesus’ example while abiding upon the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life. That path also according to Jesus may lead many of us living in these end times squarely into the face of persecution, betrayal, and physical death.
There are many living among the many who are destined to eternal destruction having chosen to exist and have their being on the fast-paced widened highway to hell paved with all the pleasures of a moment the flesh of all humanity could afford. For them, their decision to reject Jesus over and over again during their lifetime, has granted them the end of their life hearing of the words that will usher in an end to the pleasure, fame, fortune, and misguided fleshly appetites that they craved and could not get enough of. According to Jesus, if you are among the many, you will hear Him declare loud and clear, “Depart from Me, I never knew you.”
Which will it be? Will we be found by Jesus among the many lost for all eternity and faced with the suffering of eternal punishment as their reward for rebellion? Or will we be found by Jesus faithfully enduring to the end? The final decision rests solely with us!
Study Lesson 6
The Many And The Few – Part 2
Or
The Consequence Of Practicing Iniquity
Something To Consider:
Judgment, as in the days of Noah, is now upon America and all nations who have forgotten and or forsaken God and neglected His preserved Word and His dear Son Jesus. Their judgment, as in the days of Noah is pending. We are reminded in 2 Peter chapter 3 beginning in verse 5, “For this they [scoffers of the Word of God] willfully forget: that by the Word of God the heavens were created of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same Word are reserved for fire until the Day of Judgment and the perdition of ungodly men.”
Let us not be deceived as those who lack understanding! According to 2 Peter 3.9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Peter continued in verse 10, “But the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night [unannounced], in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat: both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”
Therefore, will we choose in advance to be among the many or among the few as was mentioned in last lesson? If Christ comes as a thief in the night, there will be no time for making our decision then. Will we choose now to be among the many who perish or among the few who have availed themselves often of the path that leads to repentance? Will we be forced to reap the consequences of practicing iniquity or will we joyfully receive an eternal reward for living a life of holiness which according to the Word of God is our reasonable service?
Something Else To Consider:
It would do us all well to heed the many lessons of a lifetime contained in the written Word of God as it pertains to living a godly life in the midst of this wicked and perverse 21st century generation.
It would do us well spiritually to heed Peter’s follow up words in 2 Peter 3.11-13. “Therefore, since all these things [heaven and earth] will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you [and me] to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the Day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
What is it that we are looking for as we approach the end of this age? And just what have we learned from the many lessons of a lifetime contained in the Word of God while living in this 21st century generation? What have we learned from the lesson of Noah, his family, and the multitudes of many who perished in the judgment of God?
Noah, according to the New Testament testimony of Peter, we are told was a preacher of righteousness and therefore no doubt preached to the occupants of the earth while building the ark. Were there then no converts? Was there not even a single other person than his family who could bring themselves to believe the message of the coming of judgment and God’s wrath for the sin of mankind? That is the dilemma of the many and the few!
What have we learned from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the saving of Lot and his two daughters, a few among so many? We are told in Genesis 18.20-21; “And the LORD said, because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”
Have we not surpassed the grave sin of both Sodom and Gomorrah at least here in America as well as around the world? Has not the judgment of America as well as the rest of the nations been set in stone by God because of the greatness of the sin and iniquity practiced without repentance? Legalized by man sin is still sin in the eyes of God!
Something More To Consider:
Therefore, knowing all these things, will we choose to be found by Jesus at the end of our lives or at His coming in the clouds, among the faithful few looking unto Him, the author and finisher of our faith? Or will we be found among the many floating downstream with the current of the earth’s corruption and compromise? Being among the many as mentioned last week in reality takes very little effort on our part!
Being among the many means we simply follow every wind of evil and false doctrine that is espoused by the next front runner in a long list of charismatic but corrupt leaders. And yet, being among the few faithful enduring to the end followers of Jesus Christ means we heed His warnings and observe all of His teachings as recorded in the living and breathing everlasting Word of God.
Jesus declared in Matthew 24 beginning in verse 37, speaking of lessons we should learn from Noah and the flood; “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man [Jesus] be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
In other words, the second coming of Jesus Christ in great power and much glory will be during a time when the earth’s occupants will be doing business as usual while not heeding the warnings of righteous preachers preaching the Word of God. For the most part as in the days of Noah, the vast majority of humankind will be taken totally by surprise. Now is the day of salvation! Make it right today!
A Few Final Words:
The alternative to heeding the Word of God and observing the teachings of Jesus makes us ever so vulnerable to hearing those words of Jesus that after hearing will seal one’s eternal fate. Whether we have learned all of the right words such as Lord, Lord, or whether we have been busily involved in what we have called the work and ministry of Jesus; the possibility of our being deceived is ever present if we have neglected to enter through the narrow gate of Jesus Christ and His revealed conditional commands.
Life in the end, will not be as a Hollywood movie, there will be no re-filming a scene over whenever the outcome is not what one desires. What we have decided as of now will probably remain our final decision! If we continue to refuse to take upon us His cross, if we deny our need to deny ourselves, if we neglect to abide in Christ who is the Word of God and refuse to allow Him and His Word to abide in us, then we too can be deceived.
And if so, we too could be found hearing those convicting and regretful words of Jesus, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness [iniquity].” Yes, practicing iniquity has eternal consequences. Our not observing all that Jesus taught also has great eternal consequences. In other words, if we are not living a life of holiness unto the Lord now, we are most likely guilty of practicing iniquity.
In Closing:
Let us wisely receive the encouraging instruction of the closing remarks of the apostle Peter in His final recorded words in 2 Peter 3.17-19; “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”
These are all important reminders when considering a biblical rapture perspective and or our enduring to the end. As Noah and his family, may we be found among the few worthy to escape the coming wrath of God upon the unrighteous!
According to the apostle Peter we must protect ourselves from being among the many practicing iniquity, by our being steadfast, and our being willing to endure to the end of no matter what. But that decision to not be led away from Christ and the Word of God, to not be led away by the error of wickedness and by man approved and man proclaimed doctrines of demons, must be made in advance.
The alternative is not at all something any of us want to experience. But, the alternative must be understood as having eternal consequences. Silly excuses will not open the door to eternal life once God has closed that door from the inside!
Study Lesson 7
In Defense Of The Righteous
Or
Wrath Upon The Unrighteous
Something To Consider:
Our study this lesson focuses on Abraham’s defense of the righteous and Lot’s deliverance from Sodom and Gomorrah. These Old Testament examples of Abraham’s defense of the righteous, Lot’s deliverance from Sodom, and Noah’s escaping God’s wrath of the flood, have also been used by those preferring to teach a pre-tribulation rapture perspective. But is that a truthful interpretation of the Scripture?
1 Thessalonians 5.9 is also quoted as a proof text for a pre-tribulation rapture; “For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” But we must ask ourselves if Paul was writing about the wrath of man, the wrath of the Antichrist, or the wrath of God? A cursory study of history will prove that many believing Christians have suffered greatly the wrath of man down through the centuries. A study of end time events will also prove that many Christians will suffer greatly the wrath of the Antichrist.
Therefore, Paul must have been referring to the wrath of God in 1 Thessalonians 5.9. This would indeed agree with Abraham’s assessment of God in Genesis 18.25, when the Lord announced He was about to pour out His wrath upon the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham declared, “Far be it from You [Lord] to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?”
Both Abraham and Paul’s rationale should bring us much comfort and great hope of not having the wrath of God appointed to us as end time true present tense believers in Jesus Christ. Of this the biblical evidence is clear! And so the question arises concerning the timing of God’s wrath and judgment as found recorded in the book of Revelation; also the timing of Daniel’s final seven years of man’s rule upon planet earth; and the New Testament sequence and timing of certain end time events, namely the timing of the rapture or the gathering together of true end time believing saints, which is coupled with the coming of Jesus in power and great glory.
Something Else To Consider:
The two angels sent to Sodom to warn Lot of the impending wrath of God, instructed Lot to speak to his family members in order to warn them of the coming judgment. According to the record of Genesis 19.12, “But to his sons-in-law Lot seemed to be joking.” That is the same foolish response of most even today when warned of the impending wrath of God. Some things never change! Will we heed the warnings of God’s Word or bear the eternal brunt of God’s wrath?
As warned, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of the very grave sin of those living within these two cities. We are told in 2 Peter chapter 2; that God did not spare the angels who sinned but cast them down to hell. We are also told, that God did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a few among so many, Noah being a preacher of righteousness, and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, God condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly. We have been warned! The world has been warned!
Peter explained in verse 7 of 2 Peter chapter 2, “And God delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked.” And in verse 9 Peter revealed, “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the Day of Judgment.” No one deserving of judgment will escape the wrath of Almighty God! And yet, the righteous will be delivered and or protected by God according to the written and preserved Word of God.
Something More To Consider:
Many agree on the validity of the divine delivering power of God, but disagree on the timing and or manner in which God chooses to deliver or to protect the righteous. Abraham defended the righteous by his negotiating with the Lord on the basis that God is just in His not slaying the righteous with the wicked. Therefore, Abraham and the Word of God affirmed that God has not appointed unto the righteous few the wrath of God reserved for the many wicked. Again, as among the few righteous in Christ we should rejoice at the prospect of not suffering the wrath of an Almighty and just God!
Abraham’s negotiating began with his asking God to spare the city if fifty righteous individuals could be found. And God agreed, the wrath of God would be spared if fifty righteous people were found living inside Sodom. Abraham, defending the righteous as a masterful defense attorney, reduced the negotiations to the finally finding a mere ten righteous individuals and God agreed that He would spare the cities from destruction if only ten righteous were discovered. But the angels could only find four, a few among the many living inside Sodom.
And even among the few, Lot’s wife so longed for Sodom that her last act in life was to disobey the Word of the Lord by looking back and suffering the fate filled consequences of her decision. Will we and others suffer for our foolish and fleshly decisions that in essence are decided in disobedience by our not observing all things Jesus has commanded? God forbid!
A Few Final Words:
Like Sodom and Gomorrah, America and other nations will reap the wrath of God for the same grievous sins God judged in Sodom and Gomorrah, whether legalized by our Supreme Court or not. Paul described the downfall process in Romans chapter 1, beginning in verse 28; “And even as they [the unrighteous] did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased [reprobate] mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil mindedness.” Sound familiar!
Therefore, the just and most deserved wrath of God is being reserved for a time of God’s choosing. Let us therefore be reminded of a previous revelation exposed by the apostle Paul and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as found in 2 Thessalonians 2.1-3. “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together [biblical rapture] to Him. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day [coming of our God and His gathering together of His present tense end time believers] will not come unless the falling away [departing from the faith… Matthew 24.10] comes first, and the man of sin [Antichrist… Matthew 24.15] is revealed, the son of perdition.”
Abraham’s defense of the righteous reveals a biblical principle we can depend upon. According to the Word of the Lord in up to date language, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous, if I find forty-five righteous, if I find forty righteous, thirty righteous, twenty righteous, if I find ten righteous individuals, I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten righteous.”
God would not pour out His wrath upon the righteous of Sodom and of Gomorrah until first delivering them or protecting them in the midst of His indignation and deserved wrath. This is certainly a reason to obey the admonition of Paul as he wrote in Philippians 4.4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!”
In Closing:
This concept of protecting and or delivering the righteous will be further discussed in the next study lesson 8. In closing, I would like to quote a verse Luke recorded as Jesus was speaking of end time events. Jesus declared as if prophetically commanding the righteous, in Luke 21.36; “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things [God’s end time wrath] that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man.” Let us do just that while we forever rejoice in the Lord!
Therefore, let no one deceive us into thinking we as true enduring to the end believers may not suffer the wrath of evil and wicked men as we approach the end of this age. Let us not be deceived into thinking we may not suffer the wrath of the Antichrist as we approach the end of this age.
Quite the contrary, according to Jesus and several New Testament Scriptures, we may experience very difficult times of persecution and betrayal simply because we are willing to name the name of Jesus Christ and side with His Word. But through it all, we have the promise of Jesus, to never leave us and to never forsake us!
Study Lesson 8
Saved From The Wrath Of God
Or
Persevering Even Unto The End
Something To Consider:
A cursory study of the wrath of God will reveal, beginning with John 3.36, as mentioned earlier; according to John the Baptist’s testimony; “He [or she] who believes [present tense believes] in the Son [Jesus] has everlasting life; and he [or she] who does not believe [present tense believe] the Son [His teachings] shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him [or her].”
The apostle Paul began his thesis on the wrath of God in Romans 1.18, by announcing for the biblical record; “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness, and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.”
Paul reinforced his opening remarks in Romans relating to the wrath of God, by declaring in Romans 5.8-9; “For God commends [reveals] His love toward us [true present tense believers in Jesus], in that, while we were yet sinners [while we were in total rebellion against God and His Word], Christ died for us. Much more then, being justified by His blood, we [born again present tense believers] we shall be saved from wrath [God’s wrath] through Him [Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life].”
Therefore, let me repeat an already mentioned biblical precept that brings hope and comfort to all who are faithfully awaiting the end time appearing of our Lord, Savior, and rightful ruling King of kings, ruler of our hearts, conqueror of our minds, and sustainer of our lives, Jesus Christ! “For God has not appointed us [end time present tense believers] to wrath [God’s wrath], but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Something Else To Consider:
In this study lesson we want to examine one more final Old Testament divine example filled with exceptional lessons of a lifetime for all who have been given by God, spiritual ears to hear, and spiritual eyes to clearly see the importance of a biblical rapture perspective. We have already investigated the truth revealed in two Old Testament examples of divine deliverance and protection of those willing to persevere even to the end of perilous times, yet times divinely appointed and orchestrated by an all knowing God and loving heavenly Father.
In the true story of Noah and the God ordained flood filled wrath of God upon a wicked and adulterous world, we were introduced to God’s principle of preserving the righteous even in the total destruction of the wicked and unrighteous, though they lived side by side. Also in the biblically accurate account of the warnings of God’s wrath upon Sodom and Gomorrah, we better understand the justice of God in not subjecting the righteous to the judgment and wrath deserving of the unrighteous.
From the solemn scene of the smoke and ash filled destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, let us fast forward approx. 400 years to a famine stricken desert scene of a traveling caravan of seventy souls [few among so many] of the house of Jacob, Isaac’s son, of whom was Abraham’s son. They are headed for Egypt in search of relief from a severe famine in the land and in hope of Jacob once again seeing with his own eyes, his long left for dead and sold into slavery son, Joseph.
Joseph who had been cruelly mistreated by his brothers and sold to some descendants of Ishmael because of envy and the jealousy of his older brothers, and yet, due to God’s divine direction and providence, Joseph found his way to second in command under Pharaoh in Egypt. Therefore, God’s chosen people, though small in number, were provided for during a most severe famine that spread its destruction far and wide. After four generations [430 years], the few among so many seventy Jewish occupiers of the land of Goshen in the realm of Egypt, grew to a mixed multitude of approx. 600,000 men besides women and children according to the Word of God.
Something More To Consider:
Our focus in this study will be the ten plagues sent against Egypt by God according to Exodus chapters 7-12. It is important to understand that the first three [3] plagues [wrath of God or warning against Egypt] were also experienced by the Jewish God fearing people living in the land of Goshen. The first plague God sent against Egypt for not letting His people go into the desert to worship Him, was that all water avenues were turned into blood in all of Egypt as well as in the land of Goshen where God’s people were living.
The second plague unleashed by God was the nuisance of frogs appearing everywhere and in great quantities over all of Egypt as well as all of Goshen, the home of God’s people. The third plague allowed by God to permeate the occupied space of both Egypt and the land of Goshen was the creation of lice or as in some translations gnats everywhere according to the record of Exodus chapter 8 and verse 16. Many have asked why God would inflict His wrath or judgment upon His people as well as the Egyptians who were not believers.
It is crucial for us to understand that these first three [3] plagues were not life threatening. Therefore, could these first three [3] plagues be better considered as warnings from God rather than His wrath? It is indeed something more to consider! And if so, could these first three [3] plagues also be considered as shots fired over the bow of their nation’s spiritual ship?
It is also critical for a proper perspective of this judgment or warning being experienced by God’s so called people, for us to realize according to the Word of God, those living in Goshen, though Jewish by descent, they are entitled later in the narrative as a mixed multitude. A New Testament synonym might be wheat among tares or tares among the wheat. After living 430 years in Egypt, could it be possible that compromise and or complacency had settled in among them?
A Few Final Words:
What becomes so fascinating to me and should to others also is, that as we study these more severe remaining seven [7] historical plagues, that the first six [6] were entirely experienced only in the land of Egypt. Whether it was; flies, severe pestilence, biological boils from ashes, armies of locusts covering the earth, or three [3] days of thick darkness, God was in total control of who were and who were not affected by each and every plague. God was also in total control of who was to escape His wrath filled judgments or who were to be protected even surrounded by His wrath.
God’s promise and explanation to Moses as it pertained to the final plague of the death of all first born males in every household throughout the land of Egypt, was; “…that you may know that the LORD does make a difference between the Egyptians [unbelievers] and Israel [children of God].” “Then God instructed Moses and the elders of Israel to sacrifice a Passover lamb without blemish [a picture of Jesus the true Lamb of God to be slain for the sins of mankind], and to take some of the blood of the lamb and to apply it to the side posts and overhead lintel of every entrance door to their homes.” Therefore, God called for a simple act of obedience!
By doing so, as the overhead blood ultimately due to the nature of gravity, dripped down to the threshold of the door, it symbolically formed and represented the sign of the cross of Christ. This Old Testament portrait of no greater love, was reflected in God’s precise commands which if obeyed would result in the death angel passing over their homes and new life experienced as if restored, while death had been restrained. Have we too experienced new life in Christ Jesus because of our obedience to His commands?
When the time comes for us to pass from this life into eternity through the portal of death, or the gathering of His saints, will the death angel pass us over and will we enter into the presence of our Lord? Or will we experience all of the eternal pain and suffering of hell for all of eternity because we were not willing to rightly obey the commands of the Word of God?
Something that is often missed in this very emotional life and death biblical drama is the fact that the application of the blood as prescribed by God, had to be acted upon by those Old Testament believers in Goshen in order for the divine protection and deliverance from the death angel to be personally experienced. The present tense faith of those living in Goshen, these early children of God, had to be exercised through unconditional obedience to the Word of God. The same will be true for all those living in the spiritual replica of Goshen at the time of God’s final judgment and wrath.
Our only hope of being counted worthy of escaping the wrath of God is to be found through our unconditional obedience to God’s Word among the few faithful who have willingly entered into and through the narrow gate of Jesus and His Word. Jesus proclaimed in Revelation 3.10; “Because you have kept My commandment to persevere [endure to the end], I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world [as it did upon Egypt] to test those who dwell on the earth.”
In Closing:
Are we truly observing the teachings of Jesus as commanded by Him? Will we escape the wrath of God which is to be revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and the unrighteousness of men, women, and young people who hold what they think is the truth and yet is nothing but unrighteousness that has been taught and wrongly communicated by false prophets as warned of by Jesus over and over again in the gospels?
Have we heard and or seen the warning shot fired by God over the bow of the so-called church’s spiritually sinking ship? Will we be kept from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world because we have kept Christ’s commandments and because according to Him, we are willing to persevere and or endure to the end of our lives and or to the end of this age? These are all questions we best answer correctly and before it is too late!
Study Lesson 9
Immediately After The Tribulation Of Those Days
Or
The End Time Gathering Of His Elect
Something To Consider:
In the first half of Matthew chapter 24, Jesus warned us and every generation since, four times to not be deceived concerning end time events. In the same segment of Scripture Jesus warned of false prophets two times directly and alluded to their deception two other times. In Matthew 24.11 Jesus predicted, “And many false prophets shall rise, and will deceive many.” Again in verse 24 Jesus warned of these false prophets producing great signs and wonders which will deceive many, according to Jesus.
And, also according to Jesus, because iniquity or lawlessness will abound, the love of many [one time believers] will grow cold. But, Jesus affirmed in verse 13 of Matthew 24; “But he [or she] who endures to the end, the same shall be saved.” In other words, those living in the end times who endure to the end are to be saved, according to Jesus. Why dare we not hearing that message preached from American pulpits?
Is Jesus also confirming that all those who do not endure to the end of their lives will not be saved? I personally believe Jesus to have said what He meant and meant what He said. Therefore, enduring to the end is an extremely important biblical concept. Otherwise, why would Jesus repeat Himself as recorded in Matthew 10.22, Matthew 24.13, and Mark 13.13?
With that in mind, Jesus began the second half of Matthew 24 with these eye opening words that are also seldom taught from the pulpits of pre-tribulation rapture espousing teachers. In verse 29, Jesus continued His end time events exposed exposition, by predicting, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days [those days of which Jesus has been describing thus far in Matthew 24], the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
These are not events that took place in 70 A.D. or at any other time in past history. The teaching of Matthew 24 should not be considered as historic but as futuristic and prophetic. In Revelation 6.12-14, John wrote of identical futuristic events. These events are indeed futuristic end time events though exposed by Jesus in advance and confirmed in Revelation 6, and they will take the unprepared many totally by surprise.
For the few faithful who have studied diligently the Word of God, and who are watching for certain end time events, and who are waiting as encouraged by Jesus, to this faithful few, these things will be further confirmation of Christ’s timely prophetic predictions coming to pass.
Because the faithful few understand that true narrow gate Christianity may lead to difficulty as taught by Jesus and other New Testament writers, they also know God’s promise of eternal provision and His eternal presence will maintain a peace that passes all understanding.
Something Else To Consider:
And according to Jesus, “Immediately after [not before] the tribulation of those days…”; “Then the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes [peoples] of the earth shall mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” John, in Revelation 1.7, speaking of the coming of Jesus, declared; “Behold, He [Jesus] is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes [peoples] of the earth will mourn because of Him.”
The coming again of Jesus Christ will not be a secret event as will be deceivingly propagated by the false teachers and end time false prophets as warned of by Jesus in Matthew 24.23. Jesus’ answer to their lies is, “Do not believe it.” The coming again of Christ will be a world-wide spectacle unmatched even by the sun being darkened, and the moon not giving her light, and the falling of stars, as well as the heavens being physically shaken!
And yet, what follows will ultimately prove to be the most sought after fulfillment of prophetic Scripture true believers of every past and present generation have been longing for. What is it that we are longing for?
Something More To Consider:
According to Jesus and Matthew 24.31, after the appearance of Jesus in heaven, and after the tribulation of those days; “And He [Jesus] will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect [1 Thessalonians 4.13-18, and 2 Thessalonians 2.1-4] from the four winds [from the farthest part of the earth, Mark 13.27] from one end of heaven to the other [those who were killed for their faith and those who have died in Christ].”
Finally, the event to overshadow all other events, including being killed for one’s faith, will be introduced by a great sound of a trumpet, according to Jesus in Matthew 24 and also Paul in the New Testament and John in the book of Revelation.
The sound of a trumpet has called many a soldier down through the centuries of time to the breakfast, lunch, and dinner table. The sound of a trumpet has called many a soldier to the battlefield, to charge forward, and also to retreat. But, the trumpet sound of all trumpet sounds will in a moment of time, in the twinkling of an eye, call every past, present, and future soldier in the army of the Lord to be either awakened from the dead, or to be translated from earth and to be caught up in the air to meet their Lord and to forever be with Him as has been promised and predicted.
A Few Final Words:
At that moment, and forever more, according to Jesus in Revelation 3.12; “He [or she] who overcomes [endures to the end], I [Jesus] will make him [or her] a pillar in the temple of My God, and he [or she] shall go out no more. I will write on him [or her] the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him [or her] My new name.”
Jesus also declared in Revelation 2.17, “To him [or her] who overcomes [endures to the end] I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him [and her] a white stone, and on that stone a new name written which no one knows except him [or her] who receives it.”
So much awaits the enduring to the end true faithful few! Why then would so many exchange so much eternal rewards for so little earthly pleasure? And no one will have a single silly excuse on that great Day of Judgment, because Jesus was not accustomed to sugar coating the spiritual cost involved in true discipleship. Mark recorded Jesus’ honesty beginning in Mark 8.34; “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.”
Following Jesus in no way exempts a person from difficulty! On the contrary, following Jesus, according to Jesus, guarantees a degree of difficulty in one’s life. According to Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in 2 Timothy 3.12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Notice Paul did not say that all who live godly, but all who desire to live godly; there is a difference.
Enduring to the end or overcoming from a biblical perspective, does not mean we are perfect people living lives of perfect righteousness every hour of every day. Neither does enduring to the end mean we never fall short of God’s standards and never sin or are never found in error.
Enduring to the end means we desire to live godly lives in accordance with the Word of God and that we are not willing to neglect the words of Jesus, but rather we attempt to observe all Jesus has taught while attempting to teach others to do the same. Enduring to the end and following Jesus also involves denying ourselves for the sake of Jesus and His gospel of enduring to the end, according to Jesus. And no false preaching, heretical teaching, or demonic doctrine will change the truth Jesus and others have so gallantly proclaimed.
In Closing:
Therefore, in closing, how will we answer the questions posed by Jesus in Mark’s gospel chapter 8 verse 36 and 37? “For what will it profit a man [or woman] if he [or she] gains the whole world [all the wealth, all the power, and the highest position within the world’s system], and loses his [or her] own soul?”
What in this world could be considered of so much more value than one’s own soul for all of eternity? “Or what will a man [or woman] give in exchange for his [or her] soul?” What could any person possibly give of all that could be accumulated here upon planet earth that could equal or compare in any way to the losing of one’s own soul? This is indeed something more to consider before it is too late!
Study Lesson 10
The Future Preaching Of Angels
Or
Take Heed To Endure To The End
Something To Consider:
There simply is no comparison to what Jesus Christ has offered the world in and through His atoning for all eternity death upon an old rugged cross! There simply is nothing in this world worth exchanging for our eternal salvation. There is nothing this world or the enemy of our souls could falsely attempt to offer to even come close to equaling what an eternity with Christ is worth. Absolutely nothing!
And that includes false promises of the false timing of the rapture or the end time gathering of God’s saints. It also includes end time false teaching that does not include observing all things that Jesus taught. And it certainly includes the neglect or outright refusal to teach the gospel record that regards enduring to the end as taught by Jesus as extremely important.
Therefore, what will we do with the nothing but the truth of a biblical rapture perspective? Will we consider it as simply another interesting alternative to the other perspectives being proclaimed by man? Or will we heed the written and preserved warnings of Jesus, such as; “Take heed that no one deceives you.”
Will we receive His predictive cautions, such as; “For many will come in My name [as if Christian], saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Will we exemplify enduring faith and trust due to His admonition, “See that you are not troubled; for all these things [wars, rumors of wars, world-wide altercations, famines, pestilences, and earth quakes in various places] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”
Something Else To Consider:
We must realize that all these things are the beginning of sorrows, according to Jesus. And yet, the end is approaching and no one knows the hour or the day. Therefore, will we be found among the few faithful watching, waiting, and enduring to the end, even in the midst of being delivered up to tribulation, and being betrayed, and many being hated by all nations, and some even being killed simply because we are willing to observe all things Jesus taught and to be called Christian?
Will we continue to endure to the end and to spiritually overcome the end time many one-time believers becoming offended and departing from the faith who will ultimately betray many of those attempting to remain overcomers by their enduring to the end?
According to Jesus, “But he [or she] who endures to the end shall be saved.” And according to Jesus, this gospel message is of utmost importance and therefore should not be neglected. Just think about how many times you have not heard these kinds of messages! Why would this message of such importance be so little proclaimed by so many?
Could it be that this most important gospel message of Jesus, of which He repeated on three separate occasions, is not a message that promotes the constant infilling of the financial coffers of Christianity. And if that is the case, how sad of a case it is! Could the fleshly attraction of financial increase be one reason why those who promote the pre-tribulation rapture perspective, and write the many books, and direct the many movies, and create the many charts and graphs reflecting this concept?
Something More To Consider:
But to listen to the messages of many, one might assume these words of Jesus have little or no real spiritual eternal value. But nothing could be further from the truth! For Jesus followed up on the heels of His warning, “But he who endures to the end, shall be saved” by His announcing, “And this gospel of the kingdom [the gospel of enduring to the end] will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations and then the end will come.” When will this prophecy be fulfilled? When will this gospel message of enduring to the end be proclaimed in fulfillment to the prediction of Jesus?
At this time let us read the written record of this gospel message of warning to endure to the end as it will be perfectly fulfilled as Jesus predicted. It is found beginning in Revelation 14.6. “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people; saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment [wrath] has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’”
In other words, endure to the end and worship God rather than giving in to the demonic demands of the Antichrist. Our eternity is dependent upon our enduring to the end and our not worshipping the Antichrist!
John continued his revealing of more angelic warnings, by writing, “And another angel followed, saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’ Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.’”
In other words, let us commit to enduring to the end rather than worshipping Satan or his earthly representative. Otherwise, the alternative is eternal judgment!
A Few Final Words:
John completed his message of warning in Revelation 14.13 with these words; “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on [during the tribulation].”’ Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
And in the immediately following verses the reaping of the earth is described and the promised wrath of God is indeed unleashed upon the wicked and unrighteous upon planet earth.
Therefore, the gospel message of enduring to the end will be delivered as predicted by Jesus before the end by angels. Are we ready for the coming of the Lord as biblically portrayed and not as falsely presented by end time false prophets whose concern is of their own financial profit? Will we be of help in proclaiming the gospel message of enduring to the end in these last days?
Will we be found practicing what we preach or preaching what we practice? Yes, this message of enduring to the end is so critical that God dispatches angels before the end to warn all the occupants of the earth to endure to the end. What will be our response?
In Closing:
Jesus declared in Matthew 24.37, “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Jesus followed up by stating, “For as in the days before the flood [judgment/wrath of God], they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
In other words, it will be business as usual upon planet earth. Men, women, and young people will be going about their business as if nothing hangs in the balance. For the most part the majority of the end time population including many calling themselves Christian, will be taken totally by surprise.
Let us keep in mind what we have gleaned from the preserved record of the Old Testament concerning Noah and his family who were not raptured or removed from the earth during the wrath of God upon the wicked and unrighteous. But rather, that Noah and his family who were righteous in that evil, wicked, and adulterous generation, were protected in the midst of the wrath of God as if they were in the world and yet not of the world.
Therefore, God is again in these last days able and willing to protect and to provide for those who choose to endure to the end. Amen!
Study Lesson 11
A Reminder Of Previous Lessons
Or
Overcoming The Enemy
Something To Consider:
In looking back at previous lessons let us not forget to consider Lot, of whom Peter described in 2 Peter 2.7 as righteous, who was not raptured or removed from the earth during the wrath of God being poured out upon the wicked and unrighteous. But rather as was Noah and his family, a few among so many, Lot, his wife, and two of their daughters, were made a way of escaping the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Therefore, three [3] of the four [4] were divinely protected even in the midst of the wrath of God as if they too were in the world and yet not of the world. Sadly, Lot’s wife chose to turn back even after God’s warning through the angels, and suffered as did others in Sodom and Gomorrah.
And God forbid that we forget the lesson of a lifetime to be learned from the children of Israel living in the land of Goshen at the time of God’s wrath being unleashed upon a nation that worshipped so many false gods and refused to obey the commands of the true and living God of all the earth. Let us remember these lessons as we face the coming perilous end times described in detail by Jesus in Matthew chapter 24 and elsewhere. Let us remember the goodness of the Lord in His divine intervention during the wrathful plagues upon Egypt.
Let us forever remember how God protected His people, who were not raptured or removed from the earth during the difficult days of God’s wrath. But rather as the children of Israel in the land of Goshen, a distinct difference was made between the righteous and the unrighteous, as in the days of Noah and Lot, as if the righteous were in the world and yet not of this wicked and judgment deserving world. Having endured to the end of God’s longsuffering they were saved. Will we be able to be found by Jesus enduring to the end of whatever? I certainly hope so!
Something Else To Consider:
Think with me for a moment, of what will be our response when as mentioned in Study Lesson 4, we see with our own eyes, the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel, an end time prophet, and confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 24.15. What will be our immediate response as teachers of the Word of God, if we have neglected to prepare the people of God when the Antichrist is revealed through media broadcasts to all corners of the globe as he stands in the newly built temple yet to be built in Jerusalem?
Will we beg for forgiveness for our misinterpretation of Scripture or will it be much too late? Of course it will be much too late! Will we as the people of God at the moment we realize we are in the midst of the tribulation, will we fully and finally understand that we have been lied to whether knowingly or unknowingly?
Will we at that moment be among the many offended and decide to depart from the faith? Will we as one-time believers yield to the temptation of believing the lie, that God has forsaken us simply because we were deceived into thinking that those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus would not suffer persecution, even though that concept is contrary to God’s Word?
At that moment in time, we will not be able to change the past! At that moment the damage would have been done and will not be able to be undone. At that very moment we will realize we have been deceived by the very ones Jesus, John, Peter, and Paul warned us about in the Scriptures that have been heard and read and wrongly interpreted for whatever reason, Sunday after Sunday, and sermon after sermon.
At that very moment the weight of the world will hang around the necks of so many and will be too much to bear to the point of their departing from the faith, and to make matters worse according to Jesus in Matthew 24.10, “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.”
Something More To Consider:
Having looked back at previous lessons let us look forward to a scene of an overcoming testimony found in Revelation chapter 12. John wrote as Jesus dictated to the angel and beginning in verse 7 a behind the scene end time event is reported. “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was there a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
John continued his revelation of things yet to come, by stating in verse 10; “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they [the brethren] overcame him [Satan, the devil, the serpent and his angels] by the blood of the Lamb [the Lord Jesus Christ] and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.’”
John was describing an end time event and declared that end time saints overcome the enemy of our souls by the precious blood of Jesus and by their earthly testimony that reveals their faithfulness and willingness to endure to the end of their lives.
John closes out this end time event by instructing all true end time believers in Jesus caught behind enemy lines in the last days, by proclaiming in verse 12 of Revelation chapter 12; “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
From that point John finishes out chapter 12 describing some of the end time persecution of those of a Jewish background but God makes a miraculous way of escape for them and nourishes them for 3-1/2 years while hiding them in the wilderness. And in the final verse of Revelation chapter 12 John revealed, “And the dragon was enraged with the woman [Israel], and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring [true Christian end time believers], who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Will we be counted among those faithful who may suffer persecution?
A Few Final Words:
If you have been deceived into believing an unscriptural teaching of a pre-tribulation rapture, there is still time to seek the Lord for divine understanding of this most important end time teaching. There is still time to undo what spiritual damage false teaching has created.
We are in the midst of what Jesus warned of in Matthew 24.11-12; “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” Therefore, we must be reminded of the warning of Jesus to the Ephesian church in Revelation 2.5; “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand [true church status] from its place – unless you repent.”
Will we be found among those overcoming by the blood of Jesus and by way of their faithful enduring to the end testimony when Satan is finally cast out of heaven? Will we trade eternal life for 3-1/2 years of hell on earth? Will we heed the warnings of Jesus and the Word of God while there still is time to make a difference in our lives and the lives of others, especially those of our own household and family?
Even in the face of persecution and death, according to John and Jesus there will be those who do not love their lives even unto death when pursued by Satan. Will we be counted worthy to suffer for Christ or be found worthy of judgment and eternal punishment?
In Closing:
May these words and teachings of Jesus forever become as the screensaver on the monitor of our minds, “Take heed that no one deceives you! For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”
And may these repeated words of Jesus take on much needed new meaning every time we read or hear them read, “But he [or she] who endures to the end shall be saved.” And all true born again possible end time Christian believers should say and should pray, while watching and waiting for the return of Jesus, “Come Lord Jesus, come quickly! Amen.”
Study Lesson 12
Biblical Rapture Timing Evidence
Or
End Time Understanding By Some
Something To Consider:
In the next three study lessons of which are still pertaining to a biblical rapture perspective and an enduring to the end gospel, we will lay the ground work for a possible future in depth investigation of Scripture to be completed by each of us on our own in private. We will be merely touching the surface of Old and New Testament Scripture references that reveal biblical rapture timing evidence and end time understanding of truth by some.
These end time events that we will be discussing in these next three lessons scripturally appear to take place before the gathering of the saints as proclaimed by Jesus in Matthew 24.31. And yet, we do not want to appear emphatic or as all-knowing concerning these and other events. We do not claim to know the hour or the day of Jesus Christ’s return and His gathering of His enduring to the end saints to Himself.
We have been given enough information in advance by Jesus and other biblical writers to ascertain the lateness of the hour in which we live. Therefore, we will make mention of twelve (12) end time events, four [4] per each of the next three study lessons, although there does appear to be more than twelve [12].
End Time Event #1:
In one of Daniel’s visions in Daniel chapter 8, he predicted, “And in the latter time [end times] of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means. And the vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true; therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future.”
There is coming a cunning, deceptive, and violent world leader that will arise onto the scene of the world’s final round of leaders. His power will not be his own. He appears to be an end time representative of an evil behind the scenes demonic force that will be used by Satan as a puppet in the orchestration of final earthly events. He is not only deceptive but he causes deceit to prosper under his rule and authority, and he will exalt himself in his heart. Therefore Jesus admonished enduring to the end saints, “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Are we heeding the admonition of Jesus?
End Time Event #2:
A covenant or treaty is to be confirmed concerning the area of the Middle East and Israel at least. This covenant will mark the beginning of a final seven (7) year period of man’s political, military, and religious rule upon planet earth. Daniel in his book of prophecy in chapter 9 wrote of a seventy (70) weeks period of time to represent 490 biblical years. We will not go into detail here concerning the 70 weeks, other than to say, many bible scholars believe there is one (1) week or seven year period of Daniel’s prophecy remaining.
But, in verse 27 of Daniel chapter 9 we are given the following future end time information; “Then he [the end time representative of Satan] shall confirm a covenant with many for one week [7 biblical years]; but in the middle of the week [3-1/2 years or approx. 1,260 days according to the Babylonian calendar of that day] he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation [end], which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.”
Therefore, if God is able to predict this evil interruption to the above mentioned peace accord, God is also able to protect and to provide for His own who are endeavoring to endure to the end. As the writer of Psalm 1 declared, “For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” God will be faithful to accomplish His Word. Will we be faithful to attend to enduring to the end?
End Time Event #3:
Some of these twelve (12) end time events overlap such as the above event and the permission being given or negotiated for the rebuilding of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem that is yet to be built. In the above event Daniel mentioned this representative of Satan or Antichrist who will bring an end to sacrifice and offering in that yet to be built Jewish temple in Jerusalem.
Jewish sacrifices and offerings have not happened since the second temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. by an invading Roman army under the leadership of Titus a Roman general. Historians report that Titus gave strict orders to not desecrate the Jewish temple, but it was destroyed by fire and every massive stone was thrown down as prophesied by Jesus approx. forty [40] years earlier in verse 2 of Matthew 24.
The Jewish temple must be built according to Jesus in Matthew 24.15, “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, [declared by the angel Gabriel as an end time event] standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.”
Jesus then warned in verse 21 of Matthew 24, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”
The term “elect” is mentioned approx. sixteen [16] times in the bible. They are as follows: Ten times the word elect refers to believers in general, two times elect refers to believers who are Gentiles, once the word elect defines believers who were Jewish, twice elect refers to Jesus Christ, and once more the word elect is used of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, who became a believer in God. Therefore the word elect refers to believers and not the nation of Israel as wrongly taught by many.
Paul writing in Romans 11.7, speaking of the election of grace, announced, “What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the election [believing Gentiles] have obtained it [election by faith through grace], and the rest [Israel] were blind.” Therefore in the midst of Jesus warning believers of great tribulation that they are going to be confronted with, He promised the shortening of those days for His elect enduring to the end saints.
End Time Event #4
As mentioned earlier but important enough to be included in the list of end time events and evidences of the biblical timing of the rapture; is the future removal of the daily sacrifices and offerings unto God in the yet to be built new Jewish temple in Jerusalem. The evidence of this can be found in the already alluded to Scripture of Daniel 9.27 and also Daniel 11.31. “And forces shall be mustered by him [Satan’s evil end time earthly representative], and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.”
We have more evidence of the removal of the daily sacrifices in the yet to be built Jewish temple in Jerusalem according to Daniel 12.11. “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days [30 days more than 3-1/2 years].” The angel Gabriel said to Daniel in the closing words of Daniel chapter 12, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words [the words of Daniel’s prophecy] are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.”
In Closing:
Are we to be found by Jesus among the wise who understand and therefore heed the warnings of the Word of God? Or are we to be among the wicked who do not understand and therefore continue to mislead and to deceive themselves and others concerning the truth pertaining to end time events such as the timing of the blessed hope or more recently described as the rapture?
At some point, time to decide what side we are on will run out! Life on earth as the human race has known it is very rapidly changing. The lawlessness that Jesus spoke of in Matthew chapter 24 is upon us. The rule of law is grossly disappearing from every nation on earth. Today is the day of decision!
Study Lesson 13
Biblical Rapture Timing Evidences – Part 2
Or
A Coming Departing From The Living God
Something To Consider:
In our last study lesson we discussed four (4) biblical rapture timing evidences concerning a revealing of an end time entity or leader who will understand sinister schemes according to Daniel the prophet. We also discussed the confirming of a peace covenant in the Middle East which will initiate the last seven (7) years of man’s ruthless rule upon planet earth. We also mentioned the building of a new Jewish temple, yet to be built in Jerusalem.
And finally, Daniel 12.11 revealed the Antichrist entering that newly built Jewish temple and ceasing the daily sacrifices and offerings 3-1/2 years after the peace agreement has been established. In this lesson we will expose four (4) additional end time events for end time believers to be aware of.
End Time Event #5:
One of the most monumental end time revelations will be the eventual revealing of the Antichrist, or better referred to as the abomination of desolation spoken of by both Daniel in Daniel 9.27, 11.31, and 12.11, and by Jesus in Matthew 24.15. We have already looked into these Scriptures in the previous end time events spoken of thus far.
Therefore, we will examine 2 Thessalonians 2.3-4 as the apostle Paul sheds much needed inspired light upon the subject at hand. In verse 1 and 2 of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 Paul instructed all who have ears to hear, by mentioning two end time events that follow two other end time events in biblical sequence.
Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, “Now brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the Day of Christ had come.” Paul’s concern is that there is no confusion, and that saints are not troubled by false messages or misleading messages by wicked men who do not understand biblical end time events. Paul is very clear in his 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 end time teaching!
He continued, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day [the Day of Christ’s coming and His gathering of the saints spoken of in verse 1] will not come unless [two other events happen first] unless the falling away [departing from the faith and an offending of the faith] comes first, and the man of sin [Antichrist] is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God [yet to be built], showing himself that he is God.”
The revelation of the man of sin must take place before the gathering of God’s people at Christ’s second coming, according to Scripture. How is it then that the false teaching of a pre-tribulation rapture has caused so many to be led astray through its deception and its misleading messages? How can so many be so deceived even in the midst of so much biblical evidence of Scripture revealing the timing of the end time event known recently as the rapture?
End Time Event #6:
Buried in Daniel chapter 11 beginning with verse 32 is end time information that to me is so fascinating and exciting considering the increase of Christian persecution that is and will continue until Christ gathers His elect saints to Himself. Daniel reports in verse 32, “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he [the Antichrist representative of Satan] shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”
Daniel continued in verse 33, by stating, “And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue.” Those who understand will teach others to understand. We will teach many Daniel declares! That warms my heart and encourages me as these days that have been prophesied are fast approaching. Will we be among those who understand or among those who aid in the death of those who understand?
End Time Event #7
We are told in Daniel 9.27; “Then he [Antichrist or end time representative of Satan] shall confirm a covenant with many for one week [7 biblical years]; but in the middle of the week [3-1/2 years later] he [Antichrist] shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wings of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even unto the consummation [end], which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.”
These things are set in stone and must take place as predicted and as foretold in advance for our benefit and our fully understanding when we see them taking place. In other words, Scripture must be fulfilled!
Daniel fine tunes his Daniel 9.27 prediction before closing his book in Daniel 12.11, by declaring as previously mentioned, “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety [1,290] days.”
Daniel then follows up in verse 12-13 as an encouraging admonition for those alive upon planet earth at that time, “Blessed is he [or she] who waits [endures], and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five [1,335] days. But you [Daniel] go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance [at the end time gathering of the saints] at the end of the days.” The angel Gabriel explicitly states these events are end time events!
Jesus verifies Daniel’s end time information as reliable when He makes known in Matthew 24.15 after warning all who have ears to hear to endure unto the end and thereby to be saved; “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him [or her] understand)”.
But so many do not understand because the truth of Jesus’ words and the biblical concept of the proper rapture perspective have been neglected by some, altered by many, and simply disregarded by most. How shameful and how deceitful! Therefore, we cannot explore the subject of the abomination of desolation without also examining Paul’s treatise on the subject found in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2.
Paul admonished all end time present tense believers in verse 3; “Let no one deceive you by any means [by false teaching, false prophecy, or false doctrine]; for that Day [second coming of Jesus and His gathering the saints both alive and dead in Him to Himself as declared in verse 1 of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2] for that Day will not come unless the falling away [or departing from the faith probably due to the abomination of desolation] comes first, and the man of sin [Antichrist] is revealed, the son of perdition who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he [Antichrist] sits as God in the temple [yet to be built in Jerusalem], showing himself that he is God.”
The abomination of desolation is a future event! We have all been warned! Will we heed the warnings of the Word of God, or will we suffer the eternal biblical consequences?
End Time Event #8:
No one can be humanly assured of the sequence of these end time events and as mentioned earlier some of these events appear to overlap or happen simultaneously. The next end time event we wish to discuss is that which brings much sadness to my heart and mind as I attempt to approach the subject.
As mentioned in the previous end time event, Paul revealed a falling away which in the original language depicts a departing from the faith that is to take place in the future end times if it is not already being accomplished due to the false messages of comfort, safety, and peace that are penetrating Christendom, especially in America.
The cry from many if not most pulpits of this once great nation under formed under God’s guidance, is that of you’re OK, I’m OK, we’re all OK, and that simply is not biblical and therefore is not correct. If we are not attempting to endure unto the end, not desiring to continue in the Word of God, not abiding in Jesus, nor taking up our cross and following after the teachings and conditional commands of Jesus Himself as taught throughout the gospels and the seven letters to seven churches found in the book of Revelation, then we are not OK.
We will not reiterate the teachings of Paul from 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 other than to draw attention to them by mentioning them. But Jesus in Matthew 24, after revealing end time events leading up to end time tribulation, such as wars, rumors of wars, nations rising up against nations, famines, pestilences, and the immense increase in worldwide earthquakes; Jesus declared beginning in verse 8, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.” In other words there are more sorrows, more difficult times ahead as we approach the end times according to Jesus. But look up, for our redemption draws near!
But Jesus’ heart is to warn His people in advance who will be living on planet earth at this time, so He instructs those who are willing to understand in verses 9-14, by stating; “Then they will deliver you [end time believing occupant of planet earth] up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness [iniquity] will abound, the love of many [one time believers in Christ] will grow cold. But he [or she] who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel [the gospel of enduring to the end] will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come.” Are we listening?
Jesus can be no more clear and precise in His end time warning of future end time events. Therefore, will we as true born again enduring to the end believers be an integral part of the promoting and advancing the gospel message of enduring to the end? Or will we be among the many who refuse to become among those who understand what it is the Spirit of God is saying to the churches?
We cannot become neutral in this end time decision of great importance. Jesus declared early on in His ministry in Matthew 12.30, “He [or she] who is not with Me is against Me, and he [or she] who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” The last thing anyone wants to be found guilty of is in the end having been against Christ whether knowingly or unknowingly.
In Closing:
The mystery writer of Hebrews chapter 3 beginning in verse 12 admonished New Testament believers in Jesus by instructing, “Beware, brethren [fellow believers], lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God [contrary to what the once saved always saved promoters proclaim]; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
The writer continued by stating, “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end [or endure to the end], while it is said: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice [Christ’s voice], do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.’”
In the twinkling of a moment, when the last trumpet has sounded and Christ gives the order to gather His enduring to the end elect who are alive upon planet earth, the door of opportunity will be closed, as was the door to the ark in Noah’s day was closed by God from the inside. Will we be found holding steadfast to our faith to the end, or will we take part in the rebellion of the eternally lost? We have all been forewarned! Will we heed that eternal warning?
Study Lesson 14
More Biblical Rapture Timing Evidences
Or
More Enduring To The End Admonitions
Something To Consider:
Daniel the prophet, concerning end time events, of whom Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24, also revealed an evil agenda and deliberate move of end time persecution against God’s end time faithful enduring to the end occupiers of planet earth at the time of the end. In Daniel chapter 7 and in verse 25 Daniel reported what he received in a vision from God. “He [Antichrist] shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law.”
Daniel continued by announcing, “Then the saints [those alive upon planet earth during the tribulation of those end times] shall be given into his hand [the hand of the Antichrist] for a time and times and half a time [3-1/2 years].” Keep a close eye on the Christian persecution around the world as well as the nation of Israel of which God’s Word declares will eventually stand alone in a very hostile and evil world according to Zechariah 12.3.
Now if Daniel had stopped his vision there we may want to cry out there is no hope! But Daniel did not stop there. God did not allow Daniel to stop there because God is a God of hope and determines in the end to vindicate His saints. Therefore, Daniel makes an abrupt 180 degree turn by describing what we like to entitle as the Millennial Kingdom or the thousand year reign of Christ on earth.
End Time Event #9
In verses 26 and 27 of Daniel chapter 7, we are told the whole truth and the end of the redeeming story from God’s perspective. “But the court [the heavenly court] shall be seated, and they [God and Christ] shall take away his [Antichrist’s] dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”
We saw in the closing moments of 2016, Friday December 23, the United Nations Security Council voted 14 – 0, with the president at that time of America Barack Hussein Obama abstaining from a resolution vote against Israel, thereby allowing the betrayal of a longtime friend and ally of America. Mr. Obama, against advice of a majority of both the House and the Senate condoned the action of the United Nations in mandating Israel to return all land to Palestinian authority acquired in the 1967 six-day war of which Arab armies initiated against Israel.
This pompous appearing decision and calculated move on the part of the outgoing president of America is one end time event in a chain of end time events, that due to possible backlash in favor of Israel from America’s new presidential elect, at that time, Donald Trump, may lead to Middle East peace negotiations that may also possibly allow or permit the re-building of a Jewish temple in Jerusalem as part of a peace for land deal! One way or another God is still in control even in the midst of an outgoing arrogant American president.
As of Wednesday, 12/16/17, Donald Trump acknowledged Jerusalem as the capitol of Israel, and announced his declaration of moving the United States Embassy to Jerusalem, as he has since done. Though these dramatic decisions enraged the United Nations, they are extremely significant and they have moved us all one step closer to further end time events and biblical fulfillment of end time prophecy including the positioning of the nation of Israel and Jerusalem according to God’s true biblical end time time table. Therefore, look up, for our redemption draws near!
End Time Event #10:
We are nearing the end of our twelve [12] end time events exposed by the Word of God that appear to take place before the second coming of Jesus and His gathering of His saints both dead and alive to Himself. Again I want to reiterate that the sequence of these events is not as important as is the biblical consideration of their taking place prior to the rapture or the gathering by Christ of His saints to Himself.
For instance, as we study the book of Revelation we find several end time events being discussed in more or less detail in earlier chapters of Revelation and then again they are discussed in greater or simply different details in a later chapter. But the bottom line is that Jesus, Peter, Paul, Daniel, John, and other biblical writers do not want us to be deceived by any means. Of that we can be very confident!
Jesus assured us in Matthew 24.14 that the preaching of the gospel message of enduring to the end rather than succumbing to the Antichrist’s demands to worship him, will be preached in all the world before the end of man’s rule on planet earth comes to an end. Several church denominations believe that man will bring about the preaching of the gospel to all the world thereby inducing the culmination of world history as we know it.
And though I believe whole heartedly in Christians going into all the earth to preach the gospel, I more so believe we should be teaching all disciples around the world to observe all things that Jesus has declared and taught.
If we were to teach that all things Jesus taught were to be observed we would include Jesus’ teaching our enduring to the end, denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Jesus which includes all of His teachings and not just those that lend themselves to protecting highly safe guarded false doctrines and traditions that when taught and learned make converts to denominations and not disciples for Christ who in many cases become twice the sons and daughters of hell than those teaching their messages of demonic device.
But I am saddened to admit that the gospel of enduring to the end is not being preached in all the world. I wish it was the case! In Revelation chapter 14 verse 6 we are enlightened to the truth of this gospel of enduring being preached in all the world before the end comes and the pouring out of God’s end time wrath upon a Christ rejecting world of unbelievers.
In verse 6 John reported, “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth – to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people – saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and the earth, the sea and springs of water.’” Angels will be dispatched by God to preach the gospel of enduring to the end before the end!
The above angelic message and the other two angelic messages preached in Revelation chapter 14 come on the heels of the abomination of desolation and the decree declared of the Antichrist to worship him and or the beast as God and to take the mark of the beast. In response the third angel said with a loud voice; “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his [or her] forehead or on his [or her] hand, he himself [or herself] shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His [God’s] indignation. He [or she] shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb [Jesus].”
We have all been warned in advance! What will be our decision concerning enduring to the end? Will we therefore endure or will we believe the lie and be deceived into worshipping the enemy of God? Will we be among the few who enter into that straight and narrow gate of Jesus Christ and possibly suffer for our allegiance to Christ, or will we be among the many who sell their eternal souls to Satan and his earthly representative for that physical food that feeds our flesh? Be assured, our answer has eternal consequences!
End Time Event #11:
Prior to Jesus discussing the rapture or the gathering of His saints in Matthew 24.37-51, He mentioned end time events in Matthew 24.29 that coincide perfectly with Revelation chapter 6 and the opening of the seven [7] seals which reveals the final days of man’s existence on earth before the wrath of God is poured out.
The opening of the seven seals is the revealing of the culmination of human history and end time events on the earth. Jesus in Matthew 24.29 declared, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
John in Revelation 6.12, after five of the seals have been opened, records; “I looked when He [Jesus] opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.” We know believers will be upon planet earth at that time due to the conversations that are revealed by John just prior to verse 12 of Revelation chapter 6 which describes the opening of the sixth seal.
In verse 9 of Revelation chapter 6 John gives us a glimpse into the future and a front row seat to a conversation that takes place in heaven prior to the opening of the sixth seal but after the opening of the fifth seal. “When He [Jesus] opened the fifth seal, I [John] saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God and for the testimony [concerning Jesus] which they held. And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’”
These saints died during the tribulation because they refused to worship the Antichrist and or the beast. They boldly refused his means of earthly provision by not compromising their faith in Jesus. Therefore, they also refused to worship the beast and or the Antichrist. This we know because of what follows in verse 11 of Revelation chapter 6. John continued his eye witness account of this future end time event, by stating, “Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.”
Do we fully understand what is being described here in Revelation by Jesus to the apostle John? I do not know how Jesus could present end time events and end time scenarios more clearly than He has already done in advance for the sole purpose that we are not to be taken by surprise by the unfolding of end time events quite differently than they have been proclaimed by most of the many mainstream denominations for many decades. Who are we going to believe, the Word of God or the deceitful misleading words of man?
My prayer is that the deception of the many false end time messages begin to have less of a strangle hold upon the hearts and minds of men, women, and young people. Oh, that the Word of God would take precedence in our lives! Oh, that we could be rightfully convicted of becoming Berean end time believers and approved of by God as true students of the Word of God.
Therefore, let us study these important end time events with open hearts and receptive minds as the Holy Spirit of God directs our thoughts. Let us be willing to admit we do not know everything about all things as it pertains to end times. But let us be willing to be taught by God’s Spirit and the Word of God as we attend the lifelong and beyond classroom of the Holy Spirit together.
End Time Event #12:
Though there are other end time events that could be written about and discussed, we have reached the end of our list of twelve [12] end time events that biblically appear to come to pass prior to the second coming of Jesus and His gathering His enduring to the end people of God to Himself.
The last end time event we want to focus our attention upon before bringing these study lessons to a close is found in Matthew 24 and verses 30-31. In these last two verses to consider Jesus instructed those who desire to understand and who have spiritual ears to hear what the Spirit of the living God has to say to the church of these last days.
Jesus emphatically declared beginning in verse 30 of Matthew 24; “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather His elect [enduring to the end believers in Jesus] from the four winds [from the farthest part of the earth according to Mark 13.27], from one end of heaven to the other.”
And is that not what all true born-again present tense enduring to the end believers are looking for? Is that not exactly what Jesus has explained in His Word to take place? And does this not, and will this not give us hope and comfort our hearts even in the midst of end time persecution, affliction, human betrayal, and tribulation? If not, it should!
The record is clear and cries out from the pages of much sacred Scripture. Will we be among the many who will be led astray and deceived by the many false end time messages propagated by many of the forewarned of by Jesus false end time prophets? Or will we be found overcoming the temptation to believe the lie as we endure to the end, abide in Christ, continue in His Word, and anticipate His coming and His gathering all true believers both dead and alive to Himself forever and ever?
In Closing:
There is much too much at stake to not take very seriously the teachings of Jesus, Daniel, Peter, Paul, John, and other biblical scribes. We have been adequately warned! There will be no excuse that will lessen the punishment and the warned of judgment that faces all who reject the gospel of enduring to the end that will be preached in all the world before the end will come.
Maybe this will be your final opportunity to become a believer in the Word of God and the teachings of Jesus on this subject. My heart’s desire is that all come to repentance and the saving knowledge of Jesus and to observe all things He taught and commanded! And in doing so, let us not be deceived by any means nor by anyone as we approach the end of this age.
Study Lesson 15
A Few Final Thoughts
Or
A Final Plea To Endure To The End
Something To Consider:
There is a mighty tide and rising ocean of discontentment, deception, and disinformation flooding over the banks of every nation on earth and especially this once great nation we call America. A once united Christian nation known as one nation under God, formed with the burning hope and earnest desire for liberty, justice, and freedom for all, has once again become greatly divided.
America has slowly but surely become a spiritually deteriorating nation overflowing with men and women hungry for political, military, and religious power, greedy for financial gain, and lustfully languishing in their prideful and arrogant atheistic attitudes.
And yet, this is exactly the strategy of the puppet string pulling demonic force that hides behind the scenes of every powerful and influential nation. The leader of this forceful opposition to all that is good and godly is the same entity who perpetrated the spiritual demise and fall from grace of the human race in the Garden of Eden so many years ago in the beginning. His battle strategy has remained the same for nearly six thousand years.
His end result to the turmoil, confusion, and world-wide end time chaos remains to divide and conquer through his platform of discontentment, deception, and much dis-information. According to his evil and ongoing universal agenda, America and other nations are being fractured from within, and manipulated from without.
The inalienable rights of states, businesses, families, and individuals are eroding due to the leftist leaning socialist minded ungodly leaders that are moving more towards a one world global government initiated rule that is not intended to function politically, economically, or rationally in the best interest of the people of the world. Therefore, Jesus declared in Matthew 24.4, “Take heed that no one deceives you.” In other words, beware, or live your life under extreme spiritual caution.
Something Else To Consider:
And yet there is a biblically based heavenly hope and immense contentment that is not only available but can be taken full advantage of by anyone choosing to become faithful enduring to the end present tense believers in Jesus Christ, who through experiencing new life in Christ they willingly pass through the narrow gate that leads to spiritual abundant life both here on planet earth now and eternal life in the not so far future.
But, the battle rages even within the so-called church of the Lord Jesus Christ. For the arch enemy of all righteousness and justice has under the cover of darkness insidiously infiltrated the rank and file of the church and its leadership in order to create havoc by way of his most effective war time weapon of division brought about by discontentment, deception, and much unbiblical disinformation.
Therefore, his strategy to divide and conquer continues to rear its ugly head with the help of unbiblical compromising false end time messages delivered by end time false prophets. Will we become part of the problem or part of the solution?
Therefore, there remains an age old decision that in and of itself creates an inevitable division among nations, cities, families, and even the very fiber of societies. This decision is based on a question that was asked by Pilate, the ruling political puppet power in play in Jerusalem at the time of Christ’s first coming, who in appearance was subject to Rome’s dictates, and yet in reality was under Satan’s control depending on what political and or religious strings required pulling at any given interval of universal affairs. Sound familiar!
And yet, according to the Word of God, we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. So, for whose purpose are we therefore living for? Whose purpose are we guilty or innocent of pushing to the forefront, God’s purpose, or our own purpose? Whose purpose are we seeking first and foremost during our very brief pilgrimage here upon planet earth?
These are questions that each of us must answer including myself on a daily basis! And yet, this is something that is often easily lost sight of in our daily journey to follow Jesus. Will we seek to endure to the end or will we succumb to the discontentment, end time deception, and disinformation?
But with that said, Pilate stood before an angry mob that had formed during the mock trial of Jesus; a crowd who cried out for the destruction of Jesus because of their discontentment with the status quo, and because of their being deceived by so-called religious leaders who were more earthly minded than spiritually minded, and also because they had believed the disinformation that had been propagated for so long as truth, but was in complete contradiction to the Word of God.
Pilate asked this discontented and deceived angry mob; “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Without any prayerful consideration or searching the Scriptures for the truth, they replied, “Let Him be crucified!”
And so the satanic controlled puppet strings were tightened around the necks of those discontented and deceived listeners of disinformation, in their rejection of the truth concerning Jesus, and also in their commitment to estrange themselves from the only hope that could have helped them in the midst of this behind the scenes age old spiritual struggle. How sad is the dilemma that is encouraged by discontentment, deception, and unbiblical disinformation!
Something More To Consider:
With all that is going on at this monumental moment upon planet earth, we must ask ourselves if we intend to go along to get along with the global powers that are possibly soon to be revealed, as did this angry mob crying out for the death of Jesus. Or will we take heed, will we beware, will we resolve to live our lives under spiritual extreme caution? To an end time generation Jesus proclaimed, “Take heed that no one [no man, no woman, and or no demonic end time representative of Satan or religious appearing church leader] deceives you.”
Those among the deceived mobs demanding Jesus to be crucified sealed their fate when after the governor asked, “Why, what evil has He done?” Having been deceived by the religious and political leaders who themselves were deceived puppets in a great earthly drama, they cried out; “His blood be on us and on our children.” And with that arrogant cry the deed was done. Therefore, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us all! What then shall we do with Jesus who is called Christ? What must we do?
And yet, what we decide to do with Jesus and His vast end time teachings and His conditional command to endure to the end in order to be saved, will not affect Jesus in the least. But our decision of what we do with Jesus will make all the difference in our eternal destination. Will we vow to live lives of holiness or lawlessness? Will we be deceived or will we believe? What will we do?
What will be our personal decision and eternal determining answer to the question, what then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ? What then shall we do with His clear and precise end time teachings preserved in the Word of God? These questions should not go unanswered!
A Few Final Words:
Will we heed Jesus’ end time warnings found in Matthew 24 beginning with verse 4; “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I [Jesus] am the Christ,’ and will deceive many [not some, but many]. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Sound familiar!
According to Jesus’ end time warning in Matthew 24.9-14, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many [not some, but many] will grow cold. But he [or she] who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel [this gospel of enduring to the end] will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come.”
What therefore, will we do with the biblical rapture timing evidence of these study lessons which reflect the Word of God? Will we be found by Jesus among those who understand these end time events as taught by Jesus and others in advance for our benefit in order to be spiritually, physically, and emotionally prepared?
And in our understanding will we heed the enduring to the end biblical admonitions of Jesus, Peter, Paul, Daniel, and John, as well as other more recent biblical scribes? Our final decision rests solely with us as individuals in the great spiritual and eternal end time scene that Scripture provides us.
Will we, as millions of unbelievers and one time believers, allow ourselves to be filled with end time discontentment, deception, and disinformation due to our believing the lie of the enemy? Or will we rise to the occasion by understanding end time events through our own diligent study of the Scriptures?
Will we become among those of whom Daniel described in his prophecy chapter 11 verse 32; “But the people who know their God [we might add and know His Word] shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” Let us choose wisely by heeding Jesus’ admonition found in Luke’s gospel chapter 21.36; “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things [the wrath of God] that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man [Jesus].”
In Closing:
It is clear according to the many biblical references mentioned in these study lessons that Jesus was speaking of our escaping God’s final end time wrath, and not man’s and or Satan’s wrath. Are we prepared? Are we watching? Are we praying to be counted worthy to escape God’s wrath?
Are we willing to take full advantage of God’s grace in order to endure man’s wrath and the Antichrist’s wrath? According to 2 Corinthians 12.9, and Paul’s continued prayers for God to remove a certain thorn in the flesh, God responded, by declaring, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Let us end these study lessons pertaining to the biblical rapture timing and our enduring to the end, by quoting a verse from the garden scene of Gethsemane when Jesus wrestled in prayer over His enduring to the end of the agony and suffering that faced Him at the end of His life on earth.
Jesus admonished His early followers as well as all followers down through the centuries, including those living in the end times, by instructing; “Watch and pray, lest you [and me] enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And yet in our weakness He [Jesus] is made strong!
In Him Always, Brother Mike…
According to Jesus 