Eschatology 4 Of 16 The Tribulation Period

In the last three sermons in this Bible series on eschatology, we have been having a shouting time talking about the rapture of the church and receiving our glorified bodies. But much of what we are going to be talking about today, will cause us stand in awe!

Most of the Book of Revelation deals with the subject we are going to talk about today, that period in the Bible that is known as the “Tribulation Period”.

The Bible refers to the tribulation period in many ways, such as:

• Day of the Lord - Isa. 2:12, Isa. 13:6, Isa. 13:9, Eph. 3:15, Joel 1:15

• Day of God’s Vengeance - Isa. 34:8, Isa. 63:1-6

• Time of Jacob’s trouble - Jer. 30:7

• Daniel’s seventieth week - Daniel 9:24-27

• Time of the End - Daniel 12:9

• Great Day of His Wrath - Rev. 6:17

• The Hour of His Judgment - Rev. 14:7

• The End of the World - Matthew 13:40 and 49

• The Indignation - Isa. 26:20, Isa. 34:2

• The Over Spread of Abominations - Daniel 9:27

• The Day of trouble - Daniel 12:1

Any time you read about these things in the Old Testament or the New Testament, you are reading about this dreadful time that is known as the tribulation period.

Paul could see the beginning of this dreadful time in his age, and he referred to it as the “Mystery of Iniquity” in 2 Thess. 2:7.

If Paul could see it in his time, how much more should we see it today? Beloved, the “Mystery of Iniquity” is preparing to be revealed.

WHAT IS KEEPING THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY FROM BEING REVEALED? Only one thing, the HOLY SPIRIT and the CHURCH are still here.

The Holy Spirit and the church must be removed from the earth before the tribulation period starts.

Look at verse 7 again, we read, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, UNTIL HE BE TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY.”

One day very soon now, the Holy Spirit and the church will be removed from the earth, and this period in history called the tribulation period will start. When this happens, the most dreadful time on the face of the earth will take place. There will be virtually no one here to stop Satan from doing what he wants to do.

Illus: Remember how the old west was when people began to move west? There were no cities, no counties and no laws, and evil men and women could do anything they wanted to do until someone stopped them by killing them.

When the Holy Spirit and the church are removed from the earth, the devil will be able to do what he pleases, whenever he pleases, to whomever he pleases.

The only opposition that he will have to contend with is the two extraordinary witnesses, and the 144,000 Jewish missionaries spreading the gospel of the kingdom. THEY WILL BE A THORN IN THE SIDE OF THE ANTICHRIST.

This sinful world has seen all kinds of rulers, but once this time in history starts, the world will be introduced to one of the most BRILLIANT, CHARISMATIC, and DECEPTIVE rulers that has ever existed.

Notice, the Bible says in verse 9, “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.”

• He is going to be the Politician of all Politicians

• He is going to be the most successful Leader of Leaders

WHY WILL HE BE SUCCESSFUL? He will be successful because those who have been left behind after the rapture have rejected God’s Son.

Because they have rejected God’s Son, God’s love is going to turn to God’s anger, and God is going to see to it that this evil crowd that REJECTED HIS SON will RECEIVE THE ANTICHRIST.

But notice this, the Bible teaches that they had a choice when it came to receiving Christ, but they will not have a choice in receiving the antichrist.

Look at verses 11-12, we read, “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Notice, they won’t believe the TRUTH but they will BELIEVE A LIE! Because they will not believe the TRUTH, the Bible says He is going to send STRONG DELUSIONS, and they will believe a LIE.

God is angry at the sinful inhabitants that are left behind after the rapture, for rejecting His only beloved Son. Listen, if you are here today and you are lost, you need to accept the Lord Jesus Christ.

WHY? Because if you have heard the gospel and rejected the gospel, and the rapture takes place, you will be among that crowd that will believe a lie and be damned for eternity.