"Seven Year Tribulation!"
"Left Behind" series Part 2
Text: Mt. 24:3-31 & Selected
Cross Creek Community Church
Pastor Dave Martin - Jan. 14, 2001
www.crosscreekcc.org
God’s Word is Powerful, Relevant, and Life Changing!
Matthew 24:3-8 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
4Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, ’I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.
You and I are living today in a seemingly stable world and society. Living in the United States, where we have relative freedom to worship God, to travel, to buy and sell things, even to choose our employment. As Christians, many have become so caught up making a living, raising our families, and generally doing the "things" we want to do, that we sometimes lose track of our eternal values and what God is doing in this world. Which all brings us to the false assumption that this world will continue for thousands of years more. That Jesus Christ won’t return in my lifetime, so why "waste" my time going to church, praying, or reading my Bible. And yet we see the stock market on a downward slide, sin becoming more brazen and rampart. We see the technological boom advancing in our daily lives, the alignment of world powers, false cults, fighting in Jerusalem, homosexuality and the family breakdown - all signaling the return of Jesus Christ. How close are we?
Any student of history, who has studied the events of the holocaust, will realize the awfulness of what transpired and how quickly things can change. The message this morning is on the Tribulation period - the next step in our series "Left Behind". To some here this morning, the things you hear may sound surreal, a fairy tale, or just plan hard to comprehend. If God said it, I believe it and that settles it! We need to love, read, study and trust God’s blessed book - the Bible. The Disciples of Jesus wanted to know about the future, so they came to Jesus, and asked Him this question, " what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" There is no difference today - people wanting to know the "future".
There are a few different views concerning Prophecy:
Premillennialists - Sees the tribulation period before the Second Coming of Christ.
Pre-tribulationists - Sees the rapture occurring prior to the Tribulation.
Mid-tribulationists - sees the rapture at the mid-point of the Tribulation.
Post-tribulationists - sees the church remaining on earth during the entire Tribulation.
There are many fine men of God who may differ on these views. I hold to the premillennial, Pre-tribulational view comprising of two parts to the Second Coming of Christ. Our Lord tells us in:
Rev. 3:10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial (Tribulation period) that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
Most Bible scholars agree, there will be a Tribulation period upon this earth:
- The duration will be seven years, broken into two parts of 3-1/2 years, 1,260 days, 42 months each.
- Vs 4-14 generally thought of being the first half with Vs 15-28 the second half of the Tribulation.
- The main characters during this time will be the Antichrist (Beast) and the False Prophet (2nd beast).
- The 144,000 Jewish evangelists and God’s two witnesses.
- There are numerous references to the Tribulation, both in the Old & New Testaments.
- This will be a time when the wrath of God is poured out upon an unbelieving world, this will be a time when God will bring to a close the current world system.
This morning we are not going to look at all the details of the Tribulation, this study is vast. We are only going to look at five points, from Jesus’ words in Mt. 24.
Characteristics of the Tribulation period (From Mt. 24)
1. Tremendous worldwide DECEPTION. (Rev 6:2; 13:13-14)
Matthew 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible.
Matthew 24:4-5 Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, ’I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
* Today we have many claiming - "I am Christ", the Shirley McClain’s. We even have new age teachings in our schools, TV, Newspapers, Magazines. Channeling, meditation, Fortune telling, inner consciousness, crystals, many deceptive practices today taking the subject to a higher level.
* Satan works by imitation. He seeks to ensnare by counterfeiting everything that is of God.
* Just check out the following verses from Mt. 24 - Vs. 4, 5, 10, 11, 23, 24, 26 - Deception!
* It is absolutely essential to be on guard constantly against Satan’s deceptions.
Rev. 13:13-14 And he (False Prophet) performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 14Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
* Every false religion and sect of every generation has its false messiahs - even during the time of Christ, Josephus reports.
* Look around today, we are seeing strange miracles and claims in churches - is this the true church? Am I being deceived? Am I saying, no need to read my Bible or pray? Do you live your life by "going to Church when convenient"? If you are - you are deceived by the evil one!
* We need to test everything by the Holy Scriptures.
* I believe scripture teaches there shall be an increase in false Christ’s and teachings as the last day’s approach, just what we’re seeing today.
2 Thes. 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders,
* As we draw closer to the end-times, we will see an intensification and escalated deception.
* The period of the tribulation will be the ultimate, a time of tremendous deception by the Antichrist.
A Time of tremendous deception...
2. Tremendous worldwide VIOLENCE. (Rev. 6:4)
Matthew 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
* The Antichrist comes on a white horse upon the scene talking peace, peace - yet he comes conquering diplomatically in Rev 6:2. He is severely restrained in the first half of the Tribulation by God’s two witnesses of Rev. 11. When they are killed, the Antichrist turns more violent.
* "You will hear" - a sense of a continual hearing, a constant talk of war and violence.
* This violence will increase in number of conflicts and intensity as the Tribulation continues.
* The coming war with Russia will transpire in the first half of the Tribulation. Ez. 38 & 39.
* The return of Christ is at the ultimate peak of violence & war, the Lord tells us, except those days are shortened, no flesh would be saved! - The battle of Armageddon, the war of all wars.
Rev. 13:4 Men worshiped the dragon (Satan) because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast (Antichrist)and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"
* The Antichrist will become extremely powerful and ruthless. Rev. 6:8 says 1/4 killed or 1.5 billion.
Rev. 13:7 He (Antichrist) was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.
Remember Mt. 24 is written for the Jew - notice the phrase Jesus uses: Messiah, Gospel of the Kingdom, Abomination of Desolation (Daniel), Flee not on the Sabbath, Messiah, Messiah, There will be signs, etc.
Speaking here about the Jewish people the Lord says in Zechariah:
Zech. 13:8-9 In the whole land," declares the LORD, "two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. 9This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ’They are my people,’ and they will say, ’The LORD is our God.’ "
A Time of tremendous deception, tremendous violence...
3. Tremendous worldwide DISASTERS. (Rev. 6:8) Matthew 24:21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again.
* Famines, run away inflation, wild beasts, earthquakes, meteorites - Worldwide devastation.
No wonder God tells us:
Daniel 12:1 "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered.
* Vegetation burned up (Rev. 8:7), sea life dies (Rev 8:8), fresh water supplies poisoned (Rev. 8:10), luminaries darkened by third (Rev 8:12), Malignant sores on people (Rev 16:2), sun burning 7 times hotter (Rev 16:8/Is.30:26), wind is stopped (Rev 7:1), demonic creatures from the abyss (Rev 9:2).
Isaiah 2:19 Men will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from dread of the LORD
and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.
Isaiah 24:17-18 Terror and pit and snare await you, O people of the earth. 18Whoever flees at the sound of terror will fall into a pit; whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in a snare. The floodgates of the heavens are opened, the foundations of the earth shake.
* People of the earth will go from one calamity or disaster to another - they cannot escape.
Joel 1:15 Alas for that day! For the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.
A Time of tremendous deception, tremendous violence, Disasters...
4. Tremendous worldwide EVANGELISM. (Rev. 7:9) Matthew 24:14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
* The end shall come when the gospel has been preached throughout the entire world.
* There will be an unprecedented worldwide revival - people turning to Christ.
Rev. 7:3-4 "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
Rev. 7:9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
* The lines between saved & unsaved will become extremely clear - the mark of the beast will be evident - Sides will be drawn!
* Revival, yet with tremendous worldwide persecution by the Antichrist & those with his mark.
Rev. 20:4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
* Christians will not be lukewarm but HOT, sold out for Christ! Martyrdom will be widespread.
A Time of tremendous deception, tremendous violence, Disasters, tremendous Evangelism, Culminating in the...
5. Tremendous Second Coming of CHRIST.
(Rev. 19:11-16) Matthew 24:29-30 "Immediately after the distress of those days" ’the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 30"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.
Get the picture clearly painted in your minds...
* The battle of Armageddon, between the Antichrist & the Western powers and the armies of the East (China) begins to take place. Then the darkness sets in to get everyone’s attention.
* See the picture, worldwide devastation, power outages, wars, death, hundreds of millions in the valley of Megedo to fight the last war.
* We then see the sky going dark - sun, moon, & stars. The sun burns out, see Is. 30:26. Get the picture, blackness, darkness - then the whole world (as the earth rotates) will begin to see a bright light way off in the heavens. This light gets bigger and brighter - the awesome, radiant glory of Jesus Himself with the hundreds of millions of angels (Rev 5:11) and you and me as Christians!
Rev. 19:11-15 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
Rev. 19:19-21 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
Understanding the Second Coming will...
PURIFY the believer. 1Jn. 3:2-3
* How’s our walk today? Am I being faithful to my Lord? How’s my thought life?
1 John 3:2-3 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
1. By living holy and Godly lives. 2Pet. 3:11-12
2Peter 3:11-12 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
2. By obediently reaching the lost. Mt. 28:18-19
* Does your loved one know the Lord? Sister? Brother? Father/Mother? Son? Daughter? Spouse?
* Christian? How are you living your life? Holy, Godly lives / reaching the lost? BE READY!
CONVICT the sinner.
2 Thes. 1:7-8 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1. Give your heart to Jesus - don’t be left behind.
2. Explain the plan of Salvation.
Additional Emergency procedures for those "Left Behind"!
1. Bow your heart, by faith, ask Jesus to forgive your sins and to come into your life. Begin reading your Bible. (John 3:16)
2. There will be tremendous deception by the Antichrist. (2Thes 2)
3. There will be a religious world leader called the false prophet who will promote the Antichrist. (Rev. 13:11-15)
4. Russia & her allies will attack Israel - God supernaturally destroys them. (Ez. 38-39)
5. Do not be surprised by the many earthquakes and climate changes. (Mt. 24:7; Rev 16:18-20)
6. The earth will experience several huge meteorite strikes, which will poison both the oceans and fresh water. (Rev. 8:8-11)
(Major prophecy passages to study: Daniel; Ezekiel 37,38,39; Zech. 12,13,14; Revelation; Mt. 24; Luke 21; Mark 13; 2Thes. 2; Joel; and many others)
Please don’t wait until you’re "Left Behind" - Be saved today!
Lets Pray
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