Understanding the Times We Live in Part 2

Understanding the times we live in Part 2 To be forewarned is to be forearmed In the last issue I spoke about the need to be prepared for much tribulation, not a topic that endears me to the hearts of my readers; however this needs to be addressed.  I wrote about the deception that states, that will be will all be raptured out of this world before the antichrist takes power, this is one of the most devastating lies the enemy has ever sowed into the church.  There is coming a time soon where we will not be able to buy or sell i.e. purchase goods with currency.  God will allow this coming scenario in order to remove our dependence upon finance and bring us to a place of total trust in the Lord. We are warned in scripture not to take the mark of the beast, this warning presumes that we are still around when the antichrist is in power. The pre-tribulation rapture doctrine is a doctrine that has been preached for years and has had the affect of lulling the church into a deep sleep. At the heart of this doctrine is the lie that we will not have to go through the tribulation. Anyone who would honestly study this doctrine will find that it is contrary to the entire teaching of the scriptures. Of course this is a popular doctrine, a doctrine that most Christians want to believe in, however believing in this lie will have devastating consequences. Most teachers who teach that we will go through the tribulation are considered false prophets. Jesus said this, note He is talking to His followers. Matthew 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. Not something we want to hear. The Rapture The following is condensed version of a message I preached in 1975 The word “rapture” is not found in scripture, however is does describe an event that coincides with second coming of Jesus, this event is described in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1stThessalonians chapter 4. 1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. It is very obvious that this catching up is literal. Now there is no clear biblical reference that this event happens before the tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. When and where did this doctrine of pre tribulation rapture arise? This doctrine is never found in church history until the year 1830, and arose out of the teachings of a single woman from Scotland who is said to have had dreams and visions’ regarding this doctrine, her name was Margaret Mc Donald.  This new conjecture was later popularized by Edwin Ervin, and John Darby, and Schofield. Jesus was very clear when He said this, Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax 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 ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Jesus said that the Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached to all nations, note we are still on this earth at this time, we have not been raptured. He then went on to say when we see(inferring we will see this event) the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel. Daniel had been shown a book that was to be sealed until the end-times and was told that this book would be opened in the end-times at time when knowledge shall be increased and when people travel to and fro. We of course are now living in this time, world travel is common place today and knowledge is increasing at a phenomenal rate. The Abomination of Desolation is generally understood to be the Antichrist setting up His throne in the temple at Jerusalem this event has been foreshadowed by Antiochus Epipfanes . Antiochus Epiphanes represents the type of 'the abomination of desolation' foretold by the prophet Daniel. In  168 BC Antiochus Epiphanes dared to occupy Jerusalem, enter the Holy of Holies, desecrate the sanctuary by offering unclean animals upon the alter of burnt-offerings, polluting  the whole building by sprinkling it with water in which flesh had been boiled, dedicated the Temple itself to Jupiter Olympius, and erected the statue of that deity and plundered the temple treasures.  Now note what Jesus was saying about this time period Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. Now this is clearly referring to the great tribulation In this context verse 2 tell us this Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. This verse clearly is talking about the resurrection of the dead and the rapture. The apostle Paul clearly said the dead in Christ shall rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16. And he puts the time frame in a time of the Great Tribulation saying this. Daniel 12:3  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. There will be a great harvest during the tribulation and the Christians shall turn many to righteousness, in order to do this we have to be still on this earth. Matthew 24:14 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 ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Blessings Neville Johnson  March. 17, 09