|
THE WRATH OF GOD
AND
THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS
Jesus said in Luke 21:27,28,
“And THEN shall they see the SON of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
Whenever we see the word “then” we know that something must occure FIRST before we will see Jesus coming in a cloud with power and great glory. In other words there will be something that we are to look for that will tell us that the coming of Jesus is very near.
In verse 28 we read,
“And when THESE THINGS begin to come to pass, THEN look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh (near).”
Now ask yourself the question, “What things?” In order to answer this question we will need to back up a couple of verses and read the context of this passage of scripture.
Let’s begin with Luke 21:25,26, which says,
“And there shall be SIGNS in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26. Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are COMING on the earth: for the powers of the heaven shall be shaken.”
The “WHAT THINGS” or the “THESE THINGS” spoken of in verse 28 that we will see which only BEGIN to come to pass are the SIGNS in the SUN, and in the MOON, and in the STARS, and in the SEAS, and in the HEAVENS. Jesus said that when we first start to see these signs BEGIN to take place that we are to know without a doubt that he is coming to deliver us very soon.
In other words we will see the beginning of these SIGNS just prior to the second coming of Jesus. Therefore it is only when we BEGIN to see these signs starting to come to pass that we will know that our redemption is near. Remember that the definition of BEGIN means the initial setting in motion without reference to what is to follow.
Now when we compare Luke 21:25-28 with revelation 10:7, which says,
“But when the days of the voice of the seventh angel WHEN he shall BEGIN to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets”,
We see that both verses are in perfect harmony.
We have already learned in that ONLY the FIRST SIX seals, the FIRST SIX trumpets, and the FIRST SIX vials are poured out during the GREAT TRIBULATIION period, and that the SEVENTH seal, trumpet and vial are RESERVED for the WRATH of God.
The Bible clearly teaches that THESE SIGNS in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and in the heavens shall BEGIN to occur BETWEEN the sixth seal, trumpet and vial, and the seventh seal, trumpet and vial right at the time that the RAPTURE of the church takes place, which is just prior to the WRATH of God being poured out. THESE SIGNS are listed or mentioned throughout the Bible, and they always occur immediately BEFORE the WRATH of God as if they are what signify the BEGINNING of God’s wrath.
Look at Revelation 6:12-14, which says,
“And I beheld when he had opened the SIXTH seal, and low, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood:
13. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of there places.”
THESE SIGNS are the exact SAME signs that we just read about in Luke 21:25-28. They are the signs in the sun, moon, stars, and the heavens being shaken. The wording may be slightly different and the sign of a great earthquake is added, but nonetheless THESE SIGNS are referring to the same event. Now notice that these signs take place at the very end of the GREAT TRIBULATION period, or more precisely, immediately AFTER this period of great tribulation.
Matthew 24:29 says it like this,
“IMMEDIATELY AFTER the tribulation of those days shall the SUN be darkened, (black as sackcloth of hair), and the MOON shall not give her light (become as blood or dark), and the STARS shall fall from heaven (like untimely figs) and the powers of HEAVEN shall be SHAKEN (departed as a scroll).”
Now if we continue reading in this passage of scripture you will find that THESE SIGNS occur just prior to the coming of the Son of man which agrees perfectly with what we read in Luke 21:27,28.
Let’s read Matthew 24:30,31 and you will clearly see what I mean.
“And THEN shall appear (or you shall see) the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see yhe Son of man coming in CLOUDS of heaven with power and great glory.
31. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a TRUMPET (the margin of my Bible reads or with a trumpet and a great voice, which compares exactly with 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 that describes the rapture of the church), and they shall GATHER TOGERTHER the elect (God’s chosen) from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
It is crystal clear from these verses of scriptures the THESE SIGNS take place BEFORE the rapture of the church occurs. Again more accurately we will SEE these signs in the sun, moon, stars, and heaven BEGIN to occur immediately AFTER the great tribulation period just prior to the rapture of the church and then the WRATH of God will be poured out.
Now let’s go back to the book of Revelation and read chapter one and verse seven along with Revelation 6:15-17, which is at the very END of the opening of the sixth seal. Remember that the FIRST six seals, the FIRST six trumpets, and the FIRST six vials are what comprises or makes up the great tribulation period.
Let’s read Revelation 1:7 first.
“Behold he comes with CLOUDS; and every eye shall SEE him, and they ALSO which pierced him (the ungodly); and all kindreds of the earth shall WAIL (or mourn) because of him. Even so Amen.”
Why do you suppose that we are told that the world will wail and mourn when they SEE Jesus coming in clouds? All we are told in this particular verse is that it is BECAUSE of him.
This does not tell us much until we read Revelation 6:15-17, which says,
“And the kings of the earth, and great men, and rich men, and chief captains, and mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man (in other words, all the kindreds of the earth) HID themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16. And said to the mountains, Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; (WHY?) For (or because) the great day of his WRATH is COME; and who shall be able to stand?”
Remember the word “come” here means is coming, or in other words is just beginning to be poured out.
Men’s hearts will fail them, because they are fearfully looking at the WRATH of God that is COMING upon them. You see the wrath of God will BEGIN or will be set initially set in motion by THESE SIGNS in the sun, moon, stars, and heaven, and there will be no stopping it. That is why the world will mourn and wail, because Jesus is coming as a THIEF in the night to take vengeance upon the ungodly. The church is going to witness THESE SIGNS as well. I believe that is why Jesus made this profound statement in Luke 18:8 which speaks of the vengeance of God.
“I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. NEVERTHELESS when the Son of man comes shall he find FAITH on the earth?”
Think about this for a moment. All of these dreadful signs in the sun, moon, stars, and in heaven are taking place all around you. People are mocking you, saying, where is his coming? Many will begin to doubt and THINK NOT that Jesus is coming back.
Matthew 24:44 says,
“Therefore be you also ready: for in such an HOUR (time) as you THINK NOT then Son of man comes.”
Don’t give up hope for your redeemer is standing by. He will come just as he said, so LIFT UP your head when these signs or circumstances all around you have your head hanging down as if there is no more hope, because your redemption is drawing nigh as Luke 21:28 assures us.
However, I cannot help but wonder how many Christians will fall away from the faith at this time, BECAUSE they have NOT been told the TRUTH about WHEN the RAPTURE of the church will take place, or they have heard the TRUTH, but they have REJECTED it, because it was not pleasing to their ears.
God tells us in Hosea 4:6,
“MY PEOPLE (Christians) are destroyed (WHY?) for lack of knowledge: because you have REJECTED knowledge (truth), I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.”
The Bible speaks of a GREAT FALLING AWAY that will take place before the second coming of Jesus.
Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:3, which says,
“Let no man DECEIVE you by any means: for THAT DAY (the coming of the Lord or the rapture of the church) shall NOT come EXCEPT there come a FALLING AWAY FIRST, and that man of sin (the antichrist) be revealed, the son of perdition.”
1 Timothy 4:1 says it like this,
“Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall DEPART from the FAITH, (WHY?) giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.”
The word “expressly” here means to definitely and unmistakably make known. It is vitally important that you clearly understand that the reason that some shall depart or fall away from the faith is because they did not know the TRUTH or they rejected the truth by giving heed to doctrines of devils.
1 Timothy 4:3 in this same passage of scripture goes on to say this,
“For the time will come when they will NOT endure SOUND doctrine; but after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teaches, having itching ears.
4. And they shall TURN AWAY their ears from the TRUTH, and shall be turned unto fables (that is to say turned away to believe something that is simply not true).” The phrase “itching ears” means that they are eager to hear things that are PLEASING to hear. Now I realize that the POST-tribulation doctrine of the RAPTURE of the church is not as PLEASING to the ears as the PRE-tribulation teaching, but you can be assured that the teaching of the rapture occurring immediately AFTER the great tribulation period is BIBLICALLY SOUND DOCTRINE. Therefore this truth of the post-tribulation teaching must not be kept back or withheld from the body of Christ for any reason. The TRUTH of God's word will not ever harm the body of Christ, but will always be PROFITABLE to the believer.
Acts 20:20 says,
“And how I kept back NOTHING that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house.”
The TRUTH of the matter is that things are only going to grow worse and worse, and the body of Christ needs to be made aware of this TRUTH so that they might prepare their hearts in order that they will not fail in the coming days of trouble.
2 Timothy 3:1 gives us this warning,
“This know also, that in the last days PERILOUS times shall come.”
Perilous times are times of imminent danger all around. Now skip down to verse 13, which says,
“But EVIL men and SEDUCERS shall wax (grow) worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
Even these false teachers are deceiving themselves while they are unknowingly deceiving others.
This entire context of this chapter is talking about Christians who have RESISTED the TRUTH. Yes they have a form of godliness, but they are denying the power thereof. One way to deny to power of the truth is to say that it is not important enough to teach to the body of Christ. They are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of TRUTH. In other words they are ever learning what MAN teaches rather than that which the Holy Ghost teaches. Search the word daily to see if what you are being taught is the truth. And right in the middle of all of this we are told in verse 12,
“YEA (truly or of a truth), and all that will live godly in Christ shall suffer persecution.”
Just speak the TRUTH of God’s word and see if you don’t suffer persecution. The appearing of the beginning of THESE SIGNS in the sun, moon, stars, and heaven BEFORE the rapture of the church occurs is SOUND doctrine and must not be held back from the body of Christ. The saints of God need to hear the TRUTH that the church will without a doubt go through the entire period of great tribulation and shall witness THESE SIGNS begin to take place BEFORE the WRATH of God is poured out.
THESE SIGNS that shall appear in the heavens and in the earth will be TERRIFYING signs, and if you are not expecting to see them, because you have been deceived into given heed to doctrines of devils, you could very well be among the number of those whose hearts fail them for fear and fall away or depart from the faith. Now even the word "terrifying" is probably to mild a word to actually describe the feelings of those who are going to be caught unaware and are found to be themselves eyewitnesses of THESE SIGNS in the sun, moon, stars, and the heavens and earth being shaken. After you read this following list of scriptures you too may find yourself in agreement that this statement is not an exaggeration.
“Behold the day of the Lord comes, CRUEL both with WRATH and
FIERCE ANGER, to lay the land desolate, and he shall destroy the sinners
thereof out of it.
For the STARS of heaven and the CONSTELLATION thereof
shall not give there light: the SUN shall be darkened in his going forth (the
second coming of Jesus) and the MOON shall not cause her light to shine.
(darkness day and night) And I will punish the world for there evil and the
wicked for there iniquity (which will include Christians with sin in their lives),
and I will make men more precious than fine gold, even a man than the golden
wedge of Ophir.
Therefore will I SHAKE the HEAVENS, and the earth shall
REMOVE OUT OF HER PLACE (be moved out of its orbit around the sun) in
the WRATH of the Lord of host and in the day of his fierce anger.”
The WRATH of God will be so fierce that this very planet that we live on will be moved out of it’s orbit and will reel to and fro like a drunkard. There will be a great earthquake such as never been before. The Bible also tells us that the earth will be destroyed by fire and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.
Look at 2 Peter 3:10, which says,
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; IN THE WHICH (during which or at which time) the HEAVENS shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
However, the word of God assures us in 1 Thessalonians 5:9 that those who are watching and who are found blameless (those without sin) will ESCAPE the coming WRATH of God which is reserved for the ungodly and sinners.
2 Peter 3:11-13 goes on to say,
“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of person ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness.
12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, WHEREIN the heavens being on FIRE shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13. NEVERTHELESS we according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
In other words our eyes need to be focused on PROMISE of the new heavens and the new earth rather than on the THESE SIGNS lest our hearts fail within us also.
Let me summarize by giving the order in which these events will take place. The time clock or count down will begin with the ABOMINATION of DESOLATION spoken of by Daniel the prophet which will initiate the last 3 ½ years of GREAT TRIBULATION. Immediately AFTER the great tribulation period there will appear THESE SIGNS in the SUN, in the MOON, in the STARS, and in the HEAVEN. Then when we BEGIN to witness THESE SIGNS we are to lift up our heads and be of good courage for our redemption is drawing near. It is at this time that the dead in Christ will be resurrected and then we who have remained alive will be changed in a moment and a twinkling of an eye TOGETHER with the resurrected saints. We will THEN see Jesus coming in a cloud with power and glory and will be raptured or caught up in the air to meet our Lord never to be separated again. Since there will be Christians ascending into the clouds all over the earth it will be necessary for us to be GATHERED TOGETHER. Jesus will gather us together to a place called ARMEGEDDON where we will help execute judgment upon the ungodly. After the WRATH of God is poured out upon all those who commit iniquity the 1000 years reign of Jesus will begin and all those who take part in the rapture will rule and reign with Jesus for 1000 years. Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit at this time for 1000 years. When the 1000 years are finished Satan will once again be loosed to tempt and deceive the nations. The nations will rebel against God and surround the saints in the beloved city, and then fire from God out of heaven will come down and devour them. Satan will then be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity never to deceive mankind again. A SECOND and final resurrection will then take place after the thousand years are finished and this is where all the ungodly will be resurrected and cast into the lake of fire as well. However the ungodly will not be the only ones who are resurrected at this time. All the righteous who died during the 1000 years reign will also be raised and judged according to their works. After the 1000 years reign Jesus will then deliver the kingdom back into the hands of his Father and then we will I suppose go into the ages to come spoken of in Ephesians 2:7. I cover this summary in more detail in the study I have entitled “The Rapture” Since the ABOMINATION of DESOLATION is what starts the count down of the great tribulation period it is important to know what it is. Now I know that there is a lot of speculation as to what the abomination of desolation may be, and these speculations may as well take place, but I wish only to focus on what the Bible actually has to say.
Look at Matthew 24: 9-16, which says,
“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and you shall be HATED of all nations for my names sake.
10. And then many shall be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12. And because the love of many shall abound, the love of many shall wax (grow) cold. 13. But he that shall ENDURE unto the END, the same shall be saved. 14. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 15. When you therefore shall SEE the ABOMINATION of DESOLATION spoken of by the prophet Daniel, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him UNDERSTAND): 16. Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains;” Now read Mark 13:13,14.
“ And you shall be HATED of all men for my names sake; but he that shall ENDURE unto the END, the same shall be saved.
14. But when you shall SEE the ABOMINATION of DESOLATION, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing were it ought not, (let him that reads UNDERSTAND,) then let then that be in Judea flee to the mountains.” I want to draw your attention to the order of were the wording of “abomination of desolation” is placed in both of these verses. Notice that it is sandwiched between the wording “ and ye shall be HATED of all men…he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” and “then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains. With this thought in mind, read this same account given in
Luke 21:17-21, which says,
“And you shall be HATED of all men for my names sake.
18. But there shall not a hair of your head perish.
19. In your patience posses you your souls.
20. And when you shall SEE Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the DESOLATION thereof is nigh.
21. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let them that are in the countries enter thereinto.”
Notice that verse 20 is were we should see the wording
“When you shall SEE the ABOMINATION of DESOLATION spoken of by the prophet Daniel”,
but instead we see the these words:
“And when you shall SEE Jerusalem COMPASSED WITH ARMIES, then know that the DESOLATION thereof is nigh.” Therefore the “ABOMINATION of DESOLATION” is Jerusalem being COMPASSED or surrounded with ARMIES spoken of by Daniel the prophet.
Daniel 11:31 says,
“And ARMS shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall PLACE the abomination that maketh desolate.”
There have been many opinions about what the abomination of desolation might be though the years, such as an idol or a pig, something that would desecrate the holy sanctuary. And these opinions may be right.
However. I have an opinion of my own that I would like you to consider. Think along these lines for a moment. Jerusalem is compassed about with ARMIES that want to completely annihilate her. What could these armies PLACE in Jerusalem that would make her DESOLATE? I propose to you that if an ATOMIC BOMB were PLACED in Jerusalem and detonated that this would surely cause the complete desolation of Jerusalem. One definition of the word abomination is to greatly oppose. Since the detonation of the atomic bomb at Hiroshima pretty much all nations have been greatly opposed to the use of nuclear weapons. It would truly be an abomination to detonate an atomic bomb in a city filled with innocent civilians. Also the margin of my Bible says that the meaning of abomination that makes desolate is ASTONISH. Now the word “astonish” means to fill with sudden wonder, to confound. It comes from the Latin word “extondre” that means to strike with thunder, to STUN. The word astonished implies the condition of being overwhelmed and often dazed, or dumbfounded. It is synonymous with the word surprise, which means to encounter suddenly or unexpectedly. No matter which OPINION may be right, we are still told to watch Jerusalem, and WHEN she is COMPASSED about with ARMIES, then those who are in Judea are to FLEE to the mountains, because Jerusalem is on the verge of being made desolate. LET HIM THAT READETH UNDERSTAND! Yours in Christ Jesus, Now and Forever, Mark
.”
“ |