JESUS WARNED US
An in-depth look at Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17 & 21 with commentary.
Jesus is the great shepherd. He cares about His sheep and wants us to heed His voice. Matthew, Mark and Luke all recorded what the Lord’s reply to the disciples asking about the destruction of the temple, the sign of His coming and the end of the age. In His reply, the Lord warned of hard and harsh times to come. The interpretation of what the Lord said, should be made for one’s self. This is a commentary on the matter which includes our view. Whether one agrees or not, is up to each person, but all three gospels are put together in such a way that it is very comprehensive.
Many times, when studying select verses, the “preceding verses matter,” as well as, (if there are any) other verses regarding the same event or subject. So in considering the text of this study, we can see that just prior to them, Matthew almost sounds as though he was writing about another day as Jesus taught somewhere to the multitudes, stopped and then proceeded to record what has become Matthew 24. But in the cases of Mark and Luke, they describe what just preceded the situation very clearly.
Jesus had been teaching in the temple.
Luke records:
And in Matthew on the matter:
So it seems that the last thing Jesus did in the temple that day was sit in front of the treasury watching people put money in it and gave the above teaching involving the poor widow and her 2 mites deeply giving out of her poverty as opposed to those who gave out of their abundance.
As they left the temple, the disciples were discussing the temple buildings (about their grandeur: “Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations” Luke 21:5). And this is when Jesus amazed them by saying:
After they arrived at the mount of Olives... and the Lord sat down there, they then privately asked of Him,
What is so amazing is that they were not only asking about the destruction of the temple, but about His coming and the end of the age. For men who could not even hear that He would die and be raised again in three days, they most certainly had some knowledge that He would be leaving and coming again and that there would be an end of the age.
Did the disciples think something like: “Wow, the destruction of this rock solid, huge incredible temple must happen after Jesus dies or when He leaves and comes back again someday... or there must be a link to His return someday and the destruction of the temple...”
We can only know what is written and receive from the Holy Spirit but we take for granted now, the whole Bible and all the information it conveys. These guys did not have the New Testament, but understood there would be an end to the age and that the Lord would come again. And now with the Lord saying that the temple would be destroyed, they were totally wondering.
Next, as the final Passover was drawing near, the Lord had much to tell and teach His beloved disciples and, in turn, leave “Word” for those to come. The Lord begins with strong warning.
Considering all three writers, we can put them together: Take heed, be very careful not to be deceived. Many are going to come in His name saying they are the Christ, the Messiah, that the time has come and deceive many. Do not be deceived or go after them.
Paraphrased collectively: And there will be wars, talk and rumors of wars, but know it must happen before the end can come but it still will not be for a while as there is still more which must happen first.
In essence, the Lord is saying that there will be no international peace; for nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.
In Matthew and Mark, verse 8, it says, “All these are the beginning of sorrows,” it should be noted that “of sorrows” comes from the word “ōdinōn”
in the original Greek and literally means “of birth pains.” The definition of “ōdinōn” is: “the pain of childbirth, acute pain, severe agony, a snare. It is akin to “odune”; a pang or throe, especially of childbirth.” In many translations the verse it is in, comes across as, “and all these are the beginning of birth pains.”
Paraphrased collectively: There will be famine, pestilence and troubles, earthquakes in different places. But it is only the beginning of sorrows, with more to come before it is over. There will also be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
Does this mean only in and from the natural heaven (universe) or from the heaven of God’s throne? One has to seek that out for them-self.
Paraphrased collectively: Many of you will be delivered into tribulation, persecuted, imprisoned and killed. You will be delivered up to councils, beaten in synagogues, brought before rulers, governmental authorities and even kings for the Lord’s sake, as an opportunity of testimony. Decide ahead of time not to meditate or think too hard on how you will answer their accusations, for the Lord will give you the words and wisdom in such a way, that your adversaries will not be able to contradict or handle.
Paraphrased collectively: There will be much hatred and offense towards you for My namesake. Much betrayal, even betrayal unto death, sibling to sibling, parent to child and child against parent. Relatives and friends will betray the Lord’s followers, some even to death.
In other words, being a Christian will be reason to be hated, with persecution and betrayal; and even unto death.
This is spoken about later in Luke after the abomination of desolation is put in the temple but this particular warning about false prophets is ahead of it. Next is a short verse that says much.
Lawlessness will abound. This is part of the apostasy spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2, sometimes called the great falling away. As God is rejected more and more, ungodliness will increase. In their wickedness, they will repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative. People are and will be becoming less thankful to the point of being ingrates and having attitudes of self-entitlement. They are and are becoming more futile and godless in their thinking with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning and stupid speculations. Their senseless minds are being darkened and it will get worse. Claiming to be wise, they are becoming more and more foolish. All these things come from rejecting God and His voice through the Holy Spirit. This ungodliness will include illicit and perverted sexual relations and dishonoring of their bodies among themselves.
Every kind of unrighteousness will increase, iniquity, grasping and covetous greed, and malice. You will see more and more envy and jealousy, murder, strife, deceit and treachery, ill will and cruel ways; backbiters and gossipers, slanderers, hateful to and hating God, hating God’s true people (Christians), full of insolence, arrogance, and boasting; inventors of new forms of evil, disobedient, disrespectful and undutiful to parents. There will be more and more people without understanding, who are conscienceless and faithless, heartless, loveless and merciless (see Romans 1).
As all this happens, cold-hardheartedness will greatly increase and the brotherly love of many will grow cold. Without the Lord, hearts can easily become hard.
The Lord says must endure to the end to be saved. Betraying Him is not allowed. The Lord is coming for a faithful bride. And He wants His people to be prepared, and not be taken by surprise. The Lord wants us to know that “by our patience we can possess our souls.” He wants us to take comfort in the fact, that we (the eternal us) are safe in Christ. When Jesus says, “not a hair on our head shall be lost,” I believe that He means, “He has us.” A physical hair is only that, but in the spirit, we are intact and if we endure to the end and keep our patience, then we will keep our souls and we will be with the Lord for all eternity.
The gospel must first be preached to all the world as a witness to all nations and then the end will come. The Two Witnesses will accomplish this. Christians do their part in sharing the gospel but Father God has two very Anointed Ones that will complete the mission. And no matter how hard the enemy will try to stop them, all will still hear what God has to say through them. Their testimony is Jesus Christ, the true Messiah, and the gospel. And when their “witness” is finished (the gospel having gone out throughout all the earth), they will be killed by the Antichrist and lay dead in the street for 3 ½ days and then the Lord will bring them back to life. Please consider the two preceding verses with the verses that follow.
Sometime before the Lord gave this main teaching in Luke 21, it is recorded in Luke 17 where He also spoke about it to the disciples.
When the Two Witnesses are killed, the abomination of desolation will be set up in the temple, as spoken of by the prophet Daniel and written of later, by the apostle John in the book of Revelation. The “abomination” is the image of the beast and will be set up in the temple in Jerusalem. It will happen when the evil one stops the sacrifices that will be being made in the temple at that time.
What the Lord warned about up to this point, were things to watch out for in the last of the last days before He comes to gather up His people at the rapture. But from the time the gospel is completely gone out to all the nations and the Two Witness are killed, this is when the great tribulation happens. It will be “such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” When the image of abomination is set up, the demand to worship the beast and the command to take the mark will go out as well. True Jews and true Christians will not do it and this is when the killing will begin. This also is the 5th seal as it says:
All true Jews and true Christians will need to seek safety. Some of the prophecy in this next section of Scripture was for a time in the past, but is also for the time in the future when the abomination of desolation is set up and the attack begins on all who will not bow to the will, and worship, of the Antichrist and his image.
Some people consider this prophecy complete as being fulfilled at the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, when the Romans defiled the temple and then destroyed everything, including the temple just as Jesus said it would happen, even to the point that one stone was not left upon another. This is what is called a two-fold prophecy. It happens twice. Consider the following verses in Daniel where the Antichrist musters forces and then defiles the sanctuary, stops the daily sacrifices and sets up the abomination of desolation.
Israel, like the rest of the non-Christian world, will be deceived by the false Messiah/ false Christ. This wicked son of perdition, will be like no other before. He will pretend to be pro-Israel, but when his time comes, the hatred will come out. He will surround Jerusalem and go on a killing rampage just as the Roman leader did in 70 AD.
While Luke 21:20-23 is very much a double prophecy, Luke 21:24 was unique to 70 AD. This part of the prophecy is for when the Jews were taken away captive to all the nations and Jerusalem was trampled by Gentiles. When it happens next time, the remnant Jews (144,000) will be sealed by God and protected for the last 3 ½ years. And the time for the Gentiles (which is “the church age” which started with Christ) will be fulfilled.
As for the true Christians. Consider these verses in Matthew and Mark.
First let’s address “For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” In the days that this Scripture was written, eagles was a broad term which included vultures. This is really saying, when you see the bodies of the Two Witnesses lying in the street dead (they will not allow anyone to bury them), you can know the Lord is coming very soon.
We can also see that, unless the time is shortened, which is for the sake of the elect (the Lord’s chosen ones), that no flesh would be saved (no one left alive to rapture up). To some it might sound like all humanity but it means that the enemy will viciously seek out all who will not bow. No flesh would be saved (to rapture alive) so the Lord will cut the time short.
This is the time of tribulation, that will be such as never before or will ever be again. This part is single prophecy, as it has not happened yet.
And now we read again, the Lord warns us not to be deceived in Mark 13:22, “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (also Matthew 24:24)
Can anyone imagine the events that are to come? There will be an Antichrist given 3 ½ years authority on the earth, even over Christians. If it were not for the Two Witnesses keeping evil at bay, there is no doubt that all Jews and Christians would be eradicated from the earth. People are just pawns to him. His real goal is to overtake God and hurt Him as much as possible. We matter to God, but never to the devil, no matter how deceived anyone is about it.
How many will be able to withstand not taking the mark of the beast? The devil has huge plans for super deceptive tricks to deceive people. Sadly, he is the master of deception. Between the deception and the tribulation, it will not be easy for anyone. “Tribulation” in these verses come from the Greek word, “thlipsis,” which means pressured as being squeezed between two objects.
Hang on though! Only a little bit longer and the enemy will be put in his place.
The wicked will fear and the saints will lift up their heads because redemption (rapture) is near! It will be a time of deliverance, not just going to heaven. Many are not willing to believe these things but as the Lord said many times, “He that has an ear to hear, let him hear.”
The Lord directly answered in Matthew 24:30 about “the sign of His coming.” Luke shows in Luke 21:25-26 also tells of signs. Consider these two selections of verses.
We see signs in Luke 21:25-26 and Matthew 24:29 leading up to the final big sign Mathew 24:30. The earth is going to shake, as the heavens cannot shake without shaking the earth and this will effect the oceans and seas. And without the light of the sun, moon and stars, the earth will go dark. These are signs! But the greatest sign is when the atmosphere rolls back and all the people of earth are stopped in place and the brightness of the Lord’s coming, comes through the darkness.
These next verses are mistaken by some to be Armageddon but it is not. It is the rapture. And these verses are followed by verses that begin the process of the sealing of the 144,000 Jews which must happen before the wrath of God can be poured out. And as this is the sixth seal, corresponding with Matthew, Mark and Luke, realize the seventh seal is the rapture where there is silence in heaven because they come to get the church.
Sometimes people miss these verses as rapture verses because they misunderstand what happens at the rapture. It is not all about you and I or anyone else just going up to heaven. It is part of the bigger picture of God Almighty. It is mentioned earlier in this work about Jesus prophesying to those who were having him killed and it is confirmed again in Revelation 1:7. This is what He told them that day:
This truly will be a visible and all-creation event.
It breaks my heart, that people would believe the lie of pre tribulation rapture before they would believe what Jesus said in these verses. It is not a matter of preference. It is what will be. Jesus has warned us and told us so much about it in His Word. As my mother used to say, “you do not have to like it, but you will have to deal with it.”
The Lord wants His people informed and to endure to the end, not to be deceived. In the following verses, over the years, many have declared the fig tree to be Israel becoming a nation again. Notice however, that is not what it says.
Consider again these previous verses from Luke 17.
Notice that the Lord did not bring up “the wickedness” before the flood or of Sodom in these verses. What He did say, in essence, is just as when Noah was secured in the ark and it began to rain, it meant the destruction of all outside it. And just as when Lot was removed from Sodom, it meant their destruction was immanent. And so it will be, when the Lord is revealed in His glory at the rapture. Once those taken up are secured, it will mean the destruction of those left.
And every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11, Revelation 5:11-13). And once all the events that happen at the time of the rapture are complete and 144,000 sealed for the last half of the 7 years, the time of judgment and wrath will begin. There are 7 trumpets and 7 bowls set aside just for this purpose. And finally, anyone still alive at the conclusion of the 7 years, will meet their demise at Armageddon and the harvesting of the grapes of wrath (Revelation 14:17-20, 19:17-21).
Jesus warned us all about what would happen before His coming return to gather His people. His warning began with the disciples before His crucifixion/resurrection and continued through Paul, Peter, Jude and especially later with the apostle John. The whole book of Revelation is “from Jesus to us,” His people and in it the first thing the Lord did, after establishing who He is, was to warn His churches to get their lives in order (Revelation 2:1-29 & 3:1-22, letters to the 7 churches). The Lord is not a slothful shepherd. He is diligent and loves His sheep.
The events of the last seven years before the Second Coming and Millennium have been prophesied of, for a long time. They have been called the last week of years, the seven years of tribulation, the seven years of wrath, the last seven years of this age and more. But no matter how they are called, what happens during these seven years may be clearly seen, once we understand the timeline of the Lord.
This last week of years is certainly not seven years of God’s wrath. In our view, it is easy to see that the 7 trumpets and 7 bowls of judgment and wrath do not begin to happen until, the Lord’s people are taken up at the rapture and the 144,000 Jews are sealed for the last 3 ½ years.
It is also clear that the seven seals lead up to and include the rapture. We see the Antichrist who is given 42 months authority (Daniel 7:25, Revelation 13:5) over the people of earth, given a white horse and his authority at the first seal (Revelation 6:1). What happens next, while it will be a time of tribulation, as the biblical definition of tribulation means, being pressured as squeezed between two objects, it is not the time of God’s wrath as after the rapture when the 7 trumpets and bowls begin. It will be one half tribulation and one half God’s wrath.
And from the verses in this study, we can see that part of this “tribulation time” will be like no other time before or ever will be again.
It is important to note “when” the Lord said this will happen. He said it will happen after the abomination of desolation is set up in the temple (Matthew 24:15). This matters because this happens at the beginning of the fifth seal. This martyrdom is a part of the Lord’s teaching that some believe has already been fulfilled in 70 AD. If something happened in some manner in the past, it certainly will happen again but will fulfill all the Scripture involved. The idol that was set up in the temple, prior to its destruction in 70 AD, is not the one spoken of by the prophet Daniel or seen by John in Revelation 13:15-18. Some people believe that those martyred will be people that will miss the rapture but will still be saved (even though it is impossible to be saved without the Holy Spirit or that God’s wrath is not for His children).
The fact is that Christians will be here until the rapture that happens in the middle of the last week of years. And prior the rapture, Christians will certainly be hated and persecuted just as Jesus said. When the Antichrist succeeds in killing the Two Witnesses, this will be the beginning of the “great tribulation” (like no other) that the Lord spoke of (the fifth seal/martyrdom). At this point in time, all the pretense of the Antichrist being pro-Jewish will be over. It really will be the time for true Jews and true Christians to flee. For 3 ½ days the wicked will rejoice over the Two Witnesses’ deaths, but also, anyone who will not bow to the image or take the mark of the beast, will face the wrath of the Antichrist, his government and followers. This is why we believe the Lord cuts the time short.
Only the Lord knows the day and hour of our being gathered up to Him, but we can know that when the abomination is set up, that it will be very close.
One of the reasons we believe this, is from some of the prophecy in Daniel. We believe this timing shortens the amount of time of the fifth seal from 33 ½ days to 3 ½ for the sake of the elect (Daniel 12:11). We believe instead of being 1290 days, it is shortened by 30 days to 1260.
In final conclusion, the last week of years, will not be easy for anyone. It will be a time of apostasy, deception, wickedness, persecution, hatred of Christians and much more. We know from the seven seals that additionally, there will also be inflation, famine, pestilence and death. These things are not going to happen because it is what God wants for mankind. On the contrary, it will happen because of an earth filled with evil people (like the tower of Babel on a large scale) who will empower the devil with their rebellion against God. For the Christians who are scared, I would suggest to be more scared of the punishment that awaits those who are not faithful to the Lord . There is no pain this world can put upon us that is worth denying the Lord over. There is no hard time we could endure that is worth losing our salvation for. And lastly, whether anyone wants to believe it or not, it will still happen. The wise thing to do is get in God’s Word and start truly living one’s life by it. Truly love the Lord with all one’s heart and instead of hoping one day to just disappear from this earth (like a coward). See as many people come to the Lord as possible. And for the people that believe man’s prophecies of a last of the last days revival that will see most people on earth saved: It is most likely that the only revival that is coming to this earth, will be as in the early church, under great pressure. There is no such thing in the Bible as “taking this earth for Christ” and that when enough people are saved, the Second Coming will then happen as Christians will have made it all possible. Here is a true warning: Hard times ahead, be hot for the Lord and be not deceived. Get it in your heart to endure to the end. Be willing to do it even unto death. We will close with these verses:
Many times, when studying select verses, the “preceding verses matter,” as well as, (if there are any) other verses regarding the same event or subject. So in considering the text of this study, we can see that just prior to them, Matthew almost sounds as though he was writing about another day as Jesus taught somewhere to the multitudes, stopped and then proceeded to record what has become Matthew 24. But in the cases of Mark and Luke, they describe what just preceded the situation very clearly.
Jesus had been teaching in the temple.
- Mark 12:38-44 “Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, 39 the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation." 41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."”
Luke records:
- Luke 20:45-47, 21:1-6 “Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, 46 "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 47 who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."
“And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3 So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had." 5 Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, 6 "These things which you see--the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down."
And in Matthew on the matter:
- Matthew 24:1-3 “Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down." 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
So it seems that the last thing Jesus did in the temple that day was sit in front of the treasury watching people put money in it and gave the above teaching involving the poor widow and her 2 mites deeply giving out of her poverty as opposed to those who gave out of their abundance.
As they left the temple, the disciples were discussing the temple buildings (about their grandeur: “Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations” Luke 21:5). And this is when Jesus amazed them by saying:
- "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."” (Matthew 24:2)
After they arrived at the mount of Olives... and the Lord sat down there, they then privately asked of Him,
- Matthew 24:3b “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
What is so amazing is that they were not only asking about the destruction of the temple, but about His coming and the end of the age. For men who could not even hear that He would die and be raised again in three days, they most certainly had some knowledge that He would be leaving and coming again and that there would be an end of the age.
- Mark 13:3-4 “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”
- Luke 21:7 “So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?"
Did the disciples think something like: “Wow, the destruction of this rock solid, huge incredible temple must happen after Jesus dies or when He leaves and comes back again someday... or there must be a link to His return someday and the destruction of the temple...”
We can only know what is written and receive from the Holy Spirit but we take for granted now, the whole Bible and all the information it conveys. These guys did not have the New Testament, but understood there would be an end to the age and that the Lord would come again. And now with the Lord saying that the temple would be destroyed, they were totally wondering.
Next, as the final Passover was drawing near, the Lord had much to tell and teach His beloved disciples and, in turn, leave “Word” for those to come. The Lord begins with strong warning.
- Matthew 24:4-5 “And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.”
- Mark 13:5-6 “And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 6 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and will deceive many.”
- Luke 21:8 “And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them.”
Considering all three writers, we can put them together: Take heed, be very careful not to be deceived. Many are going to come in His name saying they are the Christ, the Messiah, that the time has come and deceive many. Do not be deceived or go after them.
- Matthew 24:6-7a “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”
- Mark 13:7-8a “But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”
- Luke 21:9-10 “But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately." 10 Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”
Paraphrased collectively: And there will be wars, talk and rumors of wars, but know it must happen before the end can come but it still will not be for a while as there is still more which must happen first.
In essence, the Lord is saying that there will be no international peace; for nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.
- Matthew 24:7b-8 “And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
- Mark 13:8b “And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.”
- Luke 21:11 “And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.”
In Matthew and Mark, verse 8, it says, “All these are the beginning of sorrows,” it should be noted that “of sorrows” comes from the word “ōdinōn”
in the original Greek and literally means “of birth pains.” The definition of “ōdinōn” is: “the pain of childbirth, acute pain, severe agony, a snare. It is akin to “odune”; a pang or throe, especially of childbirth.” In many translations the verse it is in, comes across as, “and all these are the beginning of birth pains.”
Paraphrased collectively: There will be famine, pestilence and troubles, earthquakes in different places. But it is only the beginning of sorrows, with more to come before it is over. There will also be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
Does this mean only in and from the natural heaven (universe) or from the heaven of God’s throne? One has to seek that out for them-self.
- Matthew 24:9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.”
- Mark 13:9,11 “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.
11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”
- Luke 21:12-15 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. 13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for Iwill give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.”
Paraphrased collectively: Many of you will be delivered into tribulation, persecuted, imprisoned and killed. You will be delivered up to councils, beaten in synagogues, brought before rulers, governmental authorities and even kings for the Lord’s sake, as an opportunity of testimony. Decide ahead of time not to meditate or think too hard on how you will answer their accusations, for the Lord will give you the words and wisdom in such a way, that your adversaries will not be able to contradict or handle.
- Matthew 24:10 “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.”
- Mark 13:12-13a “Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.”
- Luke 21:16-17 “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.”
Paraphrased collectively: There will be much hatred and offense towards you for My namesake. Much betrayal, even betrayal unto death, sibling to sibling, parent to child and child against parent. Relatives and friends will betray the Lord’s followers, some even to death.
In other words, being a Christian will be reason to be hated, with persecution and betrayal; and even unto death.
- Matthew 24:11 “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.”
This is spoken about later in Luke after the abomination of desolation is put in the temple but this particular warning about false prophets is ahead of it. Next is a short verse that says much.
- Matthew 24:12 “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
Lawlessness will abound. This is part of the apostasy spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2, sometimes called the great falling away. As God is rejected more and more, ungodliness will increase. In their wickedness, they will repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative. People are and will be becoming less thankful to the point of being ingrates and having attitudes of self-entitlement. They are and are becoming more futile and godless in their thinking with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning and stupid speculations. Their senseless minds are being darkened and it will get worse. Claiming to be wise, they are becoming more and more foolish. All these things come from rejecting God and His voice through the Holy Spirit. This ungodliness will include illicit and perverted sexual relations and dishonoring of their bodies among themselves.
Every kind of unrighteousness will increase, iniquity, grasping and covetous greed, and malice. You will see more and more envy and jealousy, murder, strife, deceit and treachery, ill will and cruel ways; backbiters and gossipers, slanderers, hateful to and hating God, hating God’s true people (Christians), full of insolence, arrogance, and boasting; inventors of new forms of evil, disobedient, disrespectful and undutiful to parents. There will be more and more people without understanding, who are conscienceless and faithless, heartless, loveless and merciless (see Romans 1).
As all this happens, cold-hardheartedness will greatly increase and the brotherly love of many will grow cold. Without the Lord, hearts can easily become hard.
- Matthew 24:13 “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
- Mark 13:13b “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
- Luke 21:18-19 “But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 By your patience possess your souls.”
The Lord says must endure to the end to be saved. Betraying Him is not allowed. The Lord is coming for a faithful bride. And He wants His people to be prepared, and not be taken by surprise. The Lord wants us to know that “by our patience we can possess our souls.” He wants us to take comfort in the fact, that we (the eternal us) are safe in Christ. When Jesus says, “not a hair on our head shall be lost,” I believe that He means, “He has us.” A physical hair is only that, but in the spirit, we are intact and if we endure to the end and keep our patience, then we will keep our souls and we will be with the Lord for all eternity.
- Matthew 24:15 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
- Mark 13:10 “And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.”
The gospel must first be preached to all the world as a witness to all nations and then the end will come. The Two Witnesses will accomplish this. Christians do their part in sharing the gospel but Father God has two very Anointed Ones that will complete the mission. And no matter how hard the enemy will try to stop them, all will still hear what God has to say through them. Their testimony is Jesus Christ, the true Messiah, and the gospel. And when their “witness” is finished (the gospel having gone out throughout all the earth), they will be killed by the Antichrist and lay dead in the street for 3 ½ days and then the Lord will bring them back to life. Please consider the two preceding verses with the verses that follow.
- Matthew 24:14-21 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
- Mark 13:14-19 "So when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. 16 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 17 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 18 And pray that your flight may not be in winter. 19 For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.”
Sometime before the Lord gave this main teaching in Luke 21, it is recorded in Luke 17 where He also spoke about it to the disciples.
- Luke 17:22-37 “Then He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, 'Look here!' or 'Look there!' Do not go after them or follow them. 24 For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. 25 But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left." 37 And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."”
When the Two Witnesses are killed, the abomination of desolation will be set up in the temple, as spoken of by the prophet Daniel and written of later, by the apostle John in the book of Revelation. The “abomination” is the image of the beast and will be set up in the temple in Jerusalem. It will happen when the evil one stops the sacrifices that will be being made in the temple at that time.
What the Lord warned about up to this point, were things to watch out for in the last of the last days before He comes to gather up His people at the rapture. But from the time the gospel is completely gone out to all the nations and the Two Witness are killed, this is when the great tribulation happens. It will be “such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” When the image of abomination is set up, the demand to worship the beast and the command to take the mark will go out as well. True Jews and true Christians will not do it and this is when the killing will begin. This also is the 5th seal as it says:
- Revelation 6:9-11 “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.”
All true Jews and true Christians will need to seek safety. Some of the prophecy in this next section of Scripture was for a time in the past, but is also for the time in the future when the abomination of desolation is set up and the attack begins on all who will not bow to the will, and worship, of the Antichrist and his image.
- Luke 21:20-24 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
Some people consider this prophecy complete as being fulfilled at the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, when the Romans defiled the temple and then destroyed everything, including the temple just as Jesus said it would happen, even to the point that one stone was not left upon another. This is what is called a two-fold prophecy. It happens twice. Consider the following verses in Daniel where the Antichrist musters forces and then defiles the sanctuary, stops the daily sacrifices and sets up the abomination of desolation.
- Daniel 11:30-31 “For ships from Kittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.”
Israel, like the rest of the non-Christian world, will be deceived by the false Messiah/ false Christ. This wicked son of perdition, will be like no other before. He will pretend to be pro-Israel, but when his time comes, the hatred will come out. He will surround Jerusalem and go on a killing rampage just as the Roman leader did in 70 AD.
While Luke 21:20-23 is very much a double prophecy, Luke 21:24 was unique to 70 AD. This part of the prophecy is for when the Jews were taken away captive to all the nations and Jerusalem was trampled by Gentiles. When it happens next time, the remnant Jews (144,000) will be sealed by God and protected for the last 3 ½ years. And the time for the Gentiles (which is “the church age” which started with Christ) will be fulfilled.
As for the true Christians. Consider these verses in Matthew and Mark.
- Matthew 24:22-28 “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. 23 Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”
- Mark 13:19-23 “For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. 20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days. 21 Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, He is there!' do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.”
First let’s address “For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” In the days that this Scripture was written, eagles was a broad term which included vultures. This is really saying, when you see the bodies of the Two Witnesses lying in the street dead (they will not allow anyone to bury them), you can know the Lord is coming very soon.
We can also see that, unless the time is shortened, which is for the sake of the elect (the Lord’s chosen ones), that no flesh would be saved (no one left alive to rapture up). To some it might sound like all humanity but it means that the enemy will viciously seek out all who will not bow. No flesh would be saved (to rapture alive) so the Lord will cut the time short.
This is the time of tribulation, that will be such as never before or will ever be again. This part is single prophecy, as it has not happened yet.
And now we read again, the Lord warns us not to be deceived in Mark 13:22, “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (also Matthew 24:24)
Can anyone imagine the events that are to come? There will be an Antichrist given 3 ½ years authority on the earth, even over Christians. If it were not for the Two Witnesses keeping evil at bay, there is no doubt that all Jews and Christians would be eradicated from the earth. People are just pawns to him. His real goal is to overtake God and hurt Him as much as possible. We matter to God, but never to the devil, no matter how deceived anyone is about it.
How many will be able to withstand not taking the mark of the beast? The devil has huge plans for super deceptive tricks to deceive people. Sadly, he is the master of deception. Between the deception and the tribulation, it will not be easy for anyone. “Tribulation” in these verses come from the Greek word, “thlipsis,” which means pressured as being squeezed between two objects.
Hang on though! Only a little bit longer and the enemy will be put in his place.
- Matthew 24:29-31 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
- Mark 13:24-27 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.”
- Luke 21:25-28 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
The wicked will fear and the saints will lift up their heads because redemption (rapture) is near! It will be a time of deliverance, not just going to heaven. Many are not willing to believe these things but as the Lord said many times, “He that has an ear to hear, let him hear.”
The Lord directly answered in Matthew 24:30 about “the sign of His coming.” Luke shows in Luke 21:25-26 also tells of signs. Consider these two selections of verses.
- Matthew 24:29-30 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
- Luke 21: 25-26 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.”
We see signs in Luke 21:25-26 and Matthew 24:29 leading up to the final big sign Mathew 24:30. The earth is going to shake, as the heavens cannot shake without shaking the earth and this will effect the oceans and seas. And without the light of the sun, moon and stars, the earth will go dark. These are signs! But the greatest sign is when the atmosphere rolls back and all the people of earth are stopped in place and the brightness of the Lord’s coming, comes through the darkness.
- Revelation 1:7 “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”
These next verses are mistaken by some to be Armageddon but it is not. It is the rapture. And these verses are followed by verses that begin the process of the sealing of the 144,000 Jews which must happen before the wrath of God can be poured out. And as this is the sixth seal, corresponding with Matthew, Mark and Luke, realize the seventh seal is the rapture where there is silence in heaven because they come to get the church.
- Revelation 6:12-17 “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
Sometimes people miss these verses as rapture verses because they misunderstand what happens at the rapture. It is not all about you and I or anyone else just going up to heaven. It is part of the bigger picture of God Almighty. It is mentioned earlier in this work about Jesus prophesying to those who were having him killed and it is confirmed again in Revelation 1:7. This is what He told them that day:
- Matthew 26:63-64 "Then the high priest said to Him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven."
- Mark 14:61-62 "But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."
This truly will be a visible and all-creation event.
It breaks my heart, that people would believe the lie of pre tribulation rapture before they would believe what Jesus said in these verses. It is not a matter of preference. It is what will be. Jesus has warned us and told us so much about it in His Word. As my mother used to say, “you do not have to like it, but you will have to deal with it.”
The Lord wants His people informed and to endure to the end, not to be deceived. In the following verses, over the years, many have declared the fig tree to be Israel becoming a nation again. Notice however, that is not what it says.
- Matthew 24:32-44 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
- Mark 13:28-37 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near--at the doors! 30 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 32 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming-- in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning-- 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"”
- Luke 21:29-36 “Then He spoke to them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 34 "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."”
Consider again these previous verses from Luke 17.
- Luke 17:26-30 “And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”
Notice that the Lord did not bring up “the wickedness” before the flood or of Sodom in these verses. What He did say, in essence, is just as when Noah was secured in the ark and it began to rain, it meant the destruction of all outside it. And just as when Lot was removed from Sodom, it meant their destruction was immanent. And so it will be, when the Lord is revealed in His glory at the rapture. Once those taken up are secured, it will mean the destruction of those left.
And every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11, Revelation 5:11-13). And once all the events that happen at the time of the rapture are complete and 144,000 sealed for the last half of the 7 years, the time of judgment and wrath will begin. There are 7 trumpets and 7 bowls set aside just for this purpose. And finally, anyone still alive at the conclusion of the 7 years, will meet their demise at Armageddon and the harvesting of the grapes of wrath (Revelation 14:17-20, 19:17-21).
Jesus warned us all about what would happen before His coming return to gather His people. His warning began with the disciples before His crucifixion/resurrection and continued through Paul, Peter, Jude and especially later with the apostle John. The whole book of Revelation is “from Jesus to us,” His people and in it the first thing the Lord did, after establishing who He is, was to warn His churches to get their lives in order (Revelation 2:1-29 & 3:1-22, letters to the 7 churches). The Lord is not a slothful shepherd. He is diligent and loves His sheep.
The events of the last seven years before the Second Coming and Millennium have been prophesied of, for a long time. They have been called the last week of years, the seven years of tribulation, the seven years of wrath, the last seven years of this age and more. But no matter how they are called, what happens during these seven years may be clearly seen, once we understand the timeline of the Lord.
This last week of years is certainly not seven years of God’s wrath. In our view, it is easy to see that the 7 trumpets and 7 bowls of judgment and wrath do not begin to happen until, the Lord’s people are taken up at the rapture and the 144,000 Jews are sealed for the last 3 ½ years.
It is also clear that the seven seals lead up to and include the rapture. We see the Antichrist who is given 42 months authority (Daniel 7:25, Revelation 13:5) over the people of earth, given a white horse and his authority at the first seal (Revelation 6:1). What happens next, while it will be a time of tribulation, as the biblical definition of tribulation means, being pressured as squeezed between two objects, it is not the time of God’s wrath as after the rapture when the 7 trumpets and bowls begin. It will be one half tribulation and one half God’s wrath.
And from the verses in this study, we can see that part of this “tribulation time” will be like no other time before or ever will be again.
- Matthew 24:21 “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
It is important to note “when” the Lord said this will happen. He said it will happen after the abomination of desolation is set up in the temple (Matthew 24:15). This matters because this happens at the beginning of the fifth seal. This martyrdom is a part of the Lord’s teaching that some believe has already been fulfilled in 70 AD. If something happened in some manner in the past, it certainly will happen again but will fulfill all the Scripture involved. The idol that was set up in the temple, prior to its destruction in 70 AD, is not the one spoken of by the prophet Daniel or seen by John in Revelation 13:15-18. Some people believe that those martyred will be people that will miss the rapture but will still be saved (even though it is impossible to be saved without the Holy Spirit or that God’s wrath is not for His children).
The fact is that Christians will be here until the rapture that happens in the middle of the last week of years. And prior the rapture, Christians will certainly be hated and persecuted just as Jesus said. When the Antichrist succeeds in killing the Two Witnesses, this will be the beginning of the “great tribulation” (like no other) that the Lord spoke of (the fifth seal/martyrdom). At this point in time, all the pretense of the Antichrist being pro-Jewish will be over. It really will be the time for true Jews and true Christians to flee. For 3 ½ days the wicked will rejoice over the Two Witnesses’ deaths, but also, anyone who will not bow to the image or take the mark of the beast, will face the wrath of the Antichrist, his government and followers. This is why we believe the Lord cuts the time short.
Only the Lord knows the day and hour of our being gathered up to Him, but we can know that when the abomination is set up, that it will be very close.
One of the reasons we believe this, is from some of the prophecy in Daniel. We believe this timing shortens the amount of time of the fifth seal from 33 ½ days to 3 ½ for the sake of the elect (Daniel 12:11). We believe instead of being 1290 days, it is shortened by 30 days to 1260.
In final conclusion, the last week of years, will not be easy for anyone. It will be a time of apostasy, deception, wickedness, persecution, hatred of Christians and much more. We know from the seven seals that additionally, there will also be inflation, famine, pestilence and death. These things are not going to happen because it is what God wants for mankind. On the contrary, it will happen because of an earth filled with evil people (like the tower of Babel on a large scale) who will empower the devil with their rebellion against God. For the Christians who are scared, I would suggest to be more scared of the punishment that awaits those who are not faithful to the Lord . There is no pain this world can put upon us that is worth denying the Lord over. There is no hard time we could endure that is worth losing our salvation for. And lastly, whether anyone wants to believe it or not, it will still happen. The wise thing to do is get in God’s Word and start truly living one’s life by it. Truly love the Lord with all one’s heart and instead of hoping one day to just disappear from this earth (like a coward). See as many people come to the Lord as possible. And for the people that believe man’s prophecies of a last of the last days revival that will see most people on earth saved: It is most likely that the only revival that is coming to this earth, will be as in the early church, under great pressure. There is no such thing in the Bible as “taking this earth for Christ” and that when enough people are saved, the Second Coming will then happen as Christians will have made it all possible. Here is a true warning: Hard times ahead, be hot for the Lord and be not deceived. Get it in your heart to endure to the end. Be willing to do it even unto death. We will close with these verses:
“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."
Revelation 12:10-12
Revelation 12:10-12
