There are questions, relevant and rhetorical that ought to be asked before this article is casted aside. Whether we accept the thesis that we are in the midst of the tribulation period or not, we ought to come to a conclusion and/or consensus as to the status of the church as we know it today. In most studies, the church is often used as a marker to signify when the tribulation period began. The flourishing denominational church of today is a divided body and the scripture teaches us that a divided body will not stand. So, do we accept this divided body as the true church or do we condemn all churches except one denomination? This division goes deeper than denominations, it exist within the local church on an individual level. As earthly people, we are not prepared to accept certain conclusions on spiritual matters that causes us to question our indoctrinated view of worship and salvation. Why? It is easier to believe that Christ is coming back for his divided church, rather than believe that Christ has already called for his church before it became a divided body and we are in the midst of the tribulation. If there is any truth in this, then the parable of the ten virgins is validated and amplified. Five went in with the bridegroom and five went into the village and the surrounding area pretending to be members of the bridal party in search of oil. In reality, the bridal party had already left. Those that were selected went in with him to the 'award ceremony' and are preparing to return with him as His Holy angels.
A study of the history of the Christian Church is revealing and thought provoking. All church historians have stated that the Christian Church survived the Roman persecution and continued to exist afterwards. The church lived as one church with one faith, one baptism (Ephesians 4:5), common doctrines, and very closed rituals throughout the whole world for about five centuries. Durning that time denominations or sects did not exist in the Christian Church. Churches were named after big cities. In Revelation 1-3, Jesus referred to the churches by the name of the city in which they were located. The division of the churches took place in year 451 AD in the Chalcedon Council. What took place during that council is researchable and should be important to all believers. Did Christ suddenly appear and call for his church? At the end of this meeting, a sharp division occurred among the churches.
It is the question of salvation that bothers most when a discussion of this type proceeds. If the church is with Christ, and the tribulation have begun, is salvation still possible? A study of Revelation seems to indicate that John saw many different 'saved' groups. One of these groups are mention in Revelation 7:13-15: And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. John did not know the answer to the question when it was first presented, but he knew that the one asking the question knew. By allowing the elder to speak, John chooses to be enlightened. The operative words for this discussion are, "These are they which came out of great tribulation".
The tribulation is a period of time when God will finish His discipline of Israel and pour out his wrath on the unbelieving world. The church, the bride of Christ is made up of all who believed and trusted in the works of the cross as a pathway to salvation, will not be present during the tribulation. The Church or saints is a special group, they are being recruited to judge the world. 1 Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? The church will be removed from the earth in an event known as the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53). The church is saved from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Throughout Scripture, the tribulation is referred to by other names such as the Day of the Lord (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6-9; Joel 1:15; 2:1-31; 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2); trouble or tribulation (Deuteronomy 4:30; Zephaniah 1:1); the great tribulation, which refers to the more intense second half of the tribulation period (Matthew 24:21); time or day of trouble (Daniel 12:1; Zephaniah 1:15); time of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7).
In order to understand the tribulation that is to befall this earth, an understanding of Daniel 9:24-27 is necessary. A problem might accrue with the acceptance of the modern day interpretation of this passage when we seek to impose a timeline on the beginning and ending of the tribulation. Once a timeline is imposed words such as pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation and post-tribulation are used to validate the discussion. This often leaves the hearer or reader in a confused state. Daniel speaks of 70 weeks that have been declared against “your people.” Daniel's people are the Jews, the nation of Israel, and Daniel 9:24 speaks of a period of time that God has given “to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy. Seventy weeks are often interpreted as seventy weeks of years. Most Christian scholars, regardless of their view of eschatology (future things/events), have the above understanding of Daniel's 70 sevens. Yet, we must be careful that in the attempt to impose a timeline on the prophecies of God we do not detract from the prophecy.
It is also a common trick of the Devil, if the emphasis can be shifted from the prophecy to the time and place of the prophecy the message can be easily manipulated and rendered invalid. This holds true with the creation, when the pious prelates learn to count the years from the creation to the birth of Christ, they were able to state the biblical age of the earth. This became a point of contention between science and the Bible as the dates did not agree. A generation filled with the knowledge of good and evil, (the knowledge of the world) were forced to choose between the teaching of their pastor or the teaching of their science teacher. Translating the time elements into years give mankind the ability to predict and project when the events of the prophecy will take place, rather than acknowledging that they will take place or is taking place. It is possible that to acknowledge time constants within the Holy Scripture as, 'a period of time that God has ordained' is a more effective means of transmitting the knowledge of God.
The Bible says that in the end times Jesus Christ will be rejected of that generation. Already in the world today in 2015 we're seeing many people reject Jesus Christ. Ethnic groups are clamouring for their own God, this in itself is a form of rejection. The alternate lifestyle agenda is being advanced and those who disagree are being intimidated into silence. The social media has become a breeding ground for hate and division. In nearly every Hollywood movie today, the name of Jesus Christ suffers from trivialization to blaspheme. Increasingly, churches are becoming entertainment centers instead of preaching the Word of God. Instead of singing the old hymns of the faith, churches today have emotional experiences and call it praise worship. Ministers of God are becoming more concern with the 'planting of a seed' rather than preaching the gospel of the kingdom, preachers are preaching messages of prosperity, favor and earthly blessings, none of this has a place or purpose in the design of the coming Kingdom.
As we near the End Times, hostility toward Christianity will intensify. Jesus foretold that Christians will be killed, thinking they're doing God a favor (John 16:2). Jesus said that many will betray and hate one another (Matthew 24:10), and due to unpunished evil (iniquity) the love of many will wax cold (Matthew 24:12). Already today we are seeing legalized same-sex marriage, legalized abortion and legalized pornography in America. Sodom and Gomorrah weren't this rebellious! Now the scoffer and detractors will say, "this is nothing new", it is true the persecution of the Christians began under the Roman Empire, and it is also true that the Roman Empire called for a cessation of persecution. It is the widespread intensification of hostility towards Christians that should concern us.
if we chronologically follow the events projected in Revelation, in chapters 1-3, Jesus message to the representative churches ends with his rebuke of an apostate church. Revelation 3:15-16 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. In Revelation 4:1, John is caught up, which is indicative of the true church being caught up into Heaven. What proceeded after that event, was John’s view of Heaven and a view of the earth from Heaven. Immediately, John witnessed a silent God, whose objective was the pouring out of his stored up wrath upon the earth. John also saw Jesus as a “Lamb, standing as if it had been slain”. A reminder of the price he had paid. The works of the cross were the only thing standing between man and an angry God. The angry God concept does not coincide with our newly created God, who is constantly giving out blessings.
John also saw the bride of Christ, the Lamb’s wife safe in Heaven from the wrath of God. Revelation 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Jesus said it would be just as in Noah's day when only eight people boarded the ark. Luke 17:25-26, “But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” The reading of this verse can be narrowed and can be said to be indicative of the time that Jesus was on earth. I prefer to accept the expanded view that Jesus was referencing the time of his return after the tribulation. Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Framing the question in this manner seems to indicate he is referencing a point in time after the church has been taken out. He had already indicated that the gate of hell would not be able to stand against his church.
Revelation 6:9-17 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Daniel 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Is The Rapture A Real Event, Part 1
A Church Without Light, Part 2
Is The Rapture A Real Event, Part 1
A Church Without Light, Part 2
