End Times #4 – Tribulation
This is part 4 in the End Times series. Today we will talk about the Tribulation.
This is a 7 years period of time. (There is much written about this in Daniel
that I have not gone into.) This time is
also called “the day of the Lord” which refers to a time of God’s judgment
against both Israel and the unbelieving world.
Joel 1:15 says, “Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near, and
it will come as destruction from the Almighty.” Zephaniah 1:14-15 also talks
about this time. Then Paul talks about
it in I Thessalonians 4-5 that this time period will come as a thief in the night
while some are saying peace and safety, then destruction will come. He told us this so we would know what to
expect and not to be in the dark about what was to happen. Remember Christians need not fear this time
as they will be taken to be with Christ in the rapture.
1.
The
beginning…..the first 3 ½ years
-
A crisis will probably happen in Middle East
that will bring the Antichrist to power
-
The antichrist:
o
Will come to power after Christians are removed
from the earth. 2 Thessalonians 2:6-9
o
Most likely will be a Gentile – Rev. 13:1
o
Will rule over a revived Roman empire
o
Will oppose the people of God and try to change
the laws of God without opposition from the people
-
The false prophet
o
Will be a man, empowered by Satan
o
A religious leader who will head up a world
church that is a mix of many different religions that denies the basic beliefs
of Christianity – this church is called a ‘harlot’
o
During the first 3 ½ years will use his
influence to promote the Antichrist
o
Then during the last 3 ½ years will destroy the
church and direct worship toward himself.
Rev. 17:16
o
He will focus on industry and commerce and require the mark of the
beast on everyone to participate in financial transactions
-there will be 144,000 Jewish missionaries
that will convert many Jews and Gentiles to Christianity
o
They cannot be destroyed by the antichrist .
Rev. 7:3-4
o
They are Jews from each of the twelve tribes who
have come to Christianity after the rapture.
Rev. 7:9,14
-
These first 3 ½ years will be a time of peace. I
Thess. 5:3
2.
The
midpoint of the tribulation
-
The antichrist will break his peace treaty with
Israel and begin persecuting the Jews and Christians. Daniel 7,9,11
-
The persecution will be horrible and if not cut
short no life would be left
-
God’s judgments from Revelation take place – the
seal judgments, trumpet judgments, and bowl judgments
God’s love is perfect and He is holy. That demands he judge sin. He does that during the tribulation
period. He also gives a last chance for
people to come to His salvation. This
choice for salvation comes with a great cost of persecution to the believers
during the tribulation. Ezekiel 33:11
pleads with the wicked to turn from their evil ways. Why not make the decision to turn from
wickedness now and to follow Christ before this terrible tribulation time
comes?
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