LEFT BEHIND RAPTURE/ Christians were LEFT BEHIND to shine like the sun!

"LEFT BEHIND" RAPTURE" Where Dispensational Premillennialists like Tim Lahaye get his nonsense

by Tuese Ahkiong

Yeshua's words on the rapture:  

John 17:15  I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

Here is why I believe Tim Lahaye is a Scripture twister and deluded.  Lahaye has so twisted the minds of Christians into believing that they will one day "soon" be sucked off the earth to heaven and unbelievers left behind to eat God's wrath.  Study below where he gets his "left behind" fantasy and flips and twists the Scripture pretty much upside down.  Btw, he sure is making BIG money on distorting Scripture.

Matt 24.34-41

³⁴ Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 

³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

³⁶ “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 

37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 

38For as in those days before the flood THEY were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 

39and THEY were unaware until the flood came and TOOK them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 

40Then two men will be in the field; one will be TAKEN and one LEFT. 

41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be TAKEN and one LEFT.

**Who are the "they" in v 38?  Is it not those outside the ark eating and drinking?  

This is where you say, "yes."

Who gets taken away by the flood or into judgment?  

The rebellious people outside the ark who did not believe the message of warning from God through Nosh!

So, at the coming of the Son of Man v37,39 which Yeshua said would happen in “this generation” (30-70AD) v34, who gets TAKEN AWAY, according to this passage?
A: The evil unbelieving folk get taken away in judgment by the judgment that fell upon Jerusalem by God via The Roman Armies aka The Coming of The Lord!

Christians were LEFT BEHIND to shine like the sun!

By Tuese Ahkiong

9-29-14

Matthew 13:24-29

²⁴ He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, ²⁵ but while his men were sleeping, HIS ENEMY CAME AND SOWED WEEDS among the wheat and went away. ²⁶ So when the plants came up and bore grain, THEN THE WEEDS APPEARED also. ²⁷ And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? HOW THEN DOES IT HAVE WEEDS?’ ²⁸ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’²⁹ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together UNTIL THE HARVEST, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, GATHER THE WEEDS FIRST and BIND THEM IN BUNDLES TO BE BURNED, but GATHER THE WHEAT INTO MY BARN.’”

Matthew 13:36-43

³⁶ Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” ³⁷ He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, ³⁹ and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. THE HARVEST IS THE END OF THE AGE, AND THE REAPERS ARE ANGELS. ⁴⁰ JUST AS THE WEEDS ARE GATHERED AND BURNED WITH FIRE, SO WILL IT BE AT THE END OF THE AGE. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will SEND HIS ANGELS, AND THEY WILL GATHER OUT OF HIS KINGDOM ALL CAUSES OF SIN AND ALL LAW-BREAKERS, ⁴² AND THROW THEM INTO THE FIERY FURNACE. IN THAT PLACE THERE WILL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

**What Age was Yeshua and His disciples in? 

A:  The Old Covenant Age    Galatians 4:4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

What happened at the end of the age? 

A:  The Harvest

Who were the reapers? 

A:  Angels or another definition is messengers who proclaim The Gospel to bring the lost into God’s House.

Who was gathered out of Christ’s Kingdom? 

A:  Weeds, all causes of sin and all law-breakers.

Where do they go? 

A:  They are thrown into the fiery furnace to be burned.

What happened to the righteous? 

A:  Christians were left behind to shine like the sun!  They were gathered into Christ’s barn, the place Christ went to prepare, His Father’s House. –John 14:2-3

Daniel 12:1-3 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above;and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Philippians 2:15  that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Another good example of AUDIENCE RELEVANCE by Tuese Ahkiong

Another good example of AUDIENCE RELEVANCE

by Tuese Ahkiong

So, my last post got me thinking of another similar passage related to imminent judgment in the first century at Christ's return and the end of the age.

1 Corinthians 10
For I do not want YOU to be unaware, brothers, that OUR FATHERS WERE ALL UNDER THE CLOUD, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses IN THE CLOUD and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and THE ROCK WAS CHRIST. 5 Nevertheless, WITH MOST OF THEM GOD WAS NOT PLEASED, FOR THEY WERE OVERTHROWN IN THE WILDERNESS.
6 Now these things took place as EXAMPLES FOR US, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters AS SOME OF THEM WERE; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality AS SOME OF THEM DID, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, AS SOME OF THEM DID and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, AS SOME OF THEM DID and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 NOW these things happened TO THEM AS AN EXAMPLE, but they were written down FOR OUR INSTRUCTION, ON WHOM THE END OF THE AGES HAS COME. 12 Therefore let ANYONE who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let YOU be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that YOU may be able to endure it.

1 & 2 Corinthians were written by Paul TO the Church in Corinth (if that was not obvious) around 55-56AD. I say state the obvious because modern day Christians are constantly saying the Bible was written TO THEM. Sorry Charlie!

1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

V1 Paul was NOT writing TO “you,” in 21st century but to the “you,” the church in Corinth in the 1st century.

Paul is admonishing them to not to be like their fathers in doing evil.

V6 Their Fathers were examples for “US.” The “US” is NOT “US” in 2014 but the “US,” “The Corinth Church” including Paul.

V7-10 Paul gives examples of as some of them (the fathers) did.

V11 Paul states the failures of the fathers were examples and instruction for the church in Corinth.

V11 ON WHOM THE END OF THE AGES HAS COME. The Old Covenant Age was coming to an end and ended completely in 70A.D.

V12-14 Paul again admonishes the saints not to rebel in sin.

A good example of Audience Relevance by Tuese Ahkiong

A good example of Audience Relevance

by Tuese Ahkiong

Just studied through 2Pete2:1-10 and want to share my notes that stick the events in the 1st century.

2 Peter 2:1-10

2 But false prophets also arose among the people, JUST AS there will be false teachers AMONG YOU, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, BRINGING UPON THEMSELVES SWIFT DESTRUCTION. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit YOU with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and THEIR DESTRUCTION IS NOT ASLEEP.

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, MAKING THEM AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE UNGODLY; 7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); 9 THEN THE LORD KNOWS HOW TO RESCUE THE GODLY FROM TRIALS, and TO KEEP THE UNRIGHTEOUS UNDER PUNISHMENT UNTIL THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, 10 and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority…

The “you” in this passage is NOT you in 2014 but the “you” to whom the letter was written.
Peter wrote 2 letters to:

1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 Peter 3:1 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,
**These epistles were written around 65-68AD.

Peter speaks of how there were false prophets in the OT and how there were false prophets present in the 1st century at the time of his writing of his epistles.

V1 Peter speaks of the imminent destruction of these false prophets (Judaizers).

V3 The Christians were being exploited by the Judaizers.

V4-6 Peter gives 3 examples of God’s swift destruction of judgment upon the wicked.

V7-8 Lot is an example of the righteous rescued.

V9 Peter encourages the saints of The LORD's ability to rescue the godly and the promise of judgment for the unrighteous.

The saints were rescued from imminent swift judgment that fell upon Jerusalem in 70AD. at Christ's return. The apostate jews were judged and the Christians rescued.

THE GREAT TRIBULATION-happened already by Tuese Ahkiong 9-24-2014

THE GREAT TRIBULATION-happened already

 by Tuese Ahkiong 9-24-2014

 W.H.O.INTERPRETS THE BIBLE

W ords of the text, in context. All words have meaning. God’s words communicate God’s thoughts to us! Genre-The type of literature. Accordingly particular rules of interpretation will apply to each kind of writing; Historical Narrative, poetry and wisdom, or prophetic writings.

Historic setting. The time of the writing, the writer and his purpose, and those to whom the message was addressed must be considered! *Audience relevance is so important because the Bible was NOT written “to” us in 21st century but “for” us. Many readers are very egotistic in that they constantly read themselves into the text.

O ther Bible Texts. The Bible has unity of doctrine. We must compare Scripture with Scripture to seethe whole picture (This is known as the analogy of faith put forth and taught by The Protestant Reformers.).

Here’s a great acronym for interpreting Scripture: HAT HAT

H ermeneutics 

A udience Relevance

T ime Statements

H istory

A pocalyptic Language

T ypology

During the writing of the New TESTAMENT 45-68AD, The Old COVENANT was passing away and the new was coming in.  The old covenant was referred to as:

“THIS  AGE,”

“present age,”

“present time,”

“present evil age,”

“THE WORLD”

“this world,”

“heaven and earth,”

“passing away”

The New Covenant was referred to as:

“the age to come”

“in the new world”

“new heavens and new earth”

THE GREAT TRIBULATION

Futurists and Dispensational Premillennial Zionist teach and define THE GREAT TRIBULATION as event that man is going to get so evil in the future which will provoke God to bring about The GREAT TRIBULATION.  I’m like where the heck does the Bible teach this?  Christ taught THE GREAT TRIBULATION would happen in His Generation and it did, 70A.D.  THE GREAT TRIBULATION is an event that the 1st Century saints would go through.

"What evil thing can man do in the future that can compare to MURDERING CHRIST that can bring about a future GREAT TRIBULATION??" This is why THE GREAT TRIBULATION fell upon that generation as Christ said. No other generation had the King of Glory in their presence and then murdered Him.  Within context, the Jews were the only people in covenant relations with God.  Apostate Israel persecuted and murdered the saints, prophets and scribes of Christ.  By their ultimate breaking of covenant in murdering Jesus, this demanded divorce, execution of adulterer by stoning and burning. This is precisely what took place in 70AD when Christ returned.

Unbelieving Israel in the 1st century, the generation to whom Jesus and the Apostles spoke was THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, A PROSTITUTE, and AN ADULTEROUS GENERATION that was judged in 70 A.D. The Olivet Discourse in the synoptic gospels (Matt, Mark, Luke) all point to the judgment that would fall on Jerusalem in that generation. The book of Revelation is John's Olivet Discourse which speaks of God's Divorce of Israel, Judgment on Israel and marriage to The Israel of God/New Jerusalem.

That adulterous generation asked for a criminal, Barrabas, instead of Jesus; they several times tried to kill Jesus; they called Jesus a bastard; they said Jesus was a devil and had demons; they screamed crucify Jesus; they said they had no King but Ceasar; they murdered Jesus; they asked for a generational curse to be upon them by saying His blood be upon them and their children (God said Amen and they ate their kids in the siege upon Jerusalem by the Romans just like Deut 28:55,57 said they would for breaking the covenant).

No longer be DUPED by Dispensationalists and Zionists who are trying to convince you that Israel Today is God's Chosen people. If you are a Christian then YOU are God's Chosen ;-) IT IS BECAUSE OF IGNORANCE OF GOD'S HOLY WORD THAT CHRISTIANS ARE SENDING THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY TO PAGAN ISRAEL.

**In The Olivet Discourse below (Matthew, Mark & Luke), Christ describes the destruction of Jerusalem, the great tribulation and several other events in His generation.  Remember Christ was speaking to His disciples, so the “you” in these passages refer to them and not us in the 21^st century.  The events are not global but local.  The Lord uses apocalyptic language to describe the destruction.

MATTHEW 24:1-34

Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. ² But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you,there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

³ 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?” ⁴ And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. ⁵ For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. ⁶ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.⁸ All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

⁹ “Then they will deliver you up to TRIBULATION and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. ¹⁰ And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.¹¹ And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. ¹² And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

¹⁵ “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), ¹⁶ then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁷ Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, ¹⁸ and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. ¹⁹ And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! ²⁰ Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. ²¹ For then there will be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. ²² And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. ²³ Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. ²⁴ For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ See, I have told you beforehand. ²⁶ So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. ²⁷ For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ²⁸ Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

²⁹ “Immediately after THE TRIBULATION of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, 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 out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

³² “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ³⁴ TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, THIS GENERATION WILL NOT PASS AWAY UNTIL ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE.

***"Such as not been... and nor ever will be..." is hyperbolic language describing the magnitude, greatness, vastness of something, i.e., this judgment upon the apostate Jews.  See Exodus 10:14, 11:6; 2 Kings 3:12, 18:5, 23:25; Ezekiel 5:9; Daniel 9:12, Joel 2:2

MARK 13 

And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” ² And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

³ And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, ⁴ “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” ⁵ And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. ⁶ Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. ⁷ And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet.⁸ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

⁹ “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.¹⁰ And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. ¹¹ And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. ¹² And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death.¹³ And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

¹⁴ “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁵ Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, ¹⁶ and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. ¹⁷ And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! ¹⁸ Pray that it may not happen in winter. ¹⁹ For in those days there will be such TRIBULATION as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. ²⁰ And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. ²¹ And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. ²² For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. ²³ But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.

²⁴ “But in those days, after that TRIBULATION, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, ²⁵ and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. ²⁶ And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷ And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

²⁸ “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ³⁰ TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, THIS GENERATION WILL NOT PASS AWAY UNTIL ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE. ³¹ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

 LUKE 21:5-33

5 And while some were talking about the temple, that it was adorned with beautiful stones and votive gifts, He said, 6 “As for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down.”

7 They questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And He said, “See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not go after them. 9 When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.”

10 Then He continued by saying to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, 11 and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

12 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. 13 It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; 15 for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. 16 But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, 17 and you will be hated by all because of My name. 18 Yet not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.

20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. 21 Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city;22 because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon THE LAND and wrath TO THIS PEOPLE 24 and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; andJerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25 “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

29 Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.32 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place.33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

***v23 In context, Christ is stating that great distress will be upon the earth (or land) and THIS PEOPLE, the apostate Jews.

John 16:32-33

³² Behold, THE HOUR IS COMING, INDEED IT HAS COME, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. ³³ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have TRIBULATION. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

 **The disciples were the ones scattered as prophesied Zech13:7.  They would have tribulation as Christ prophesied.  Matt 23:34-36  Most of them would be martyred before the return of Christ in 70AD.

Acts 14:22

strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many TRIBULATIONs we must enter the kingdom of God.

**Many saints were martyred as Christ prophesied. Matt 23:34-36

Revelation 1:9

 I, John, your brother and partner in THE TRIBULATION and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

**John states that he is IN THE TRIBULATION around 65-66 A.D.

REVELATION 5:18-25

¹⁸ “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

¹⁹ “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. ²⁰ But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. ²¹ I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. ²² Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into GREAT TRIBULATION, unless they repent of her works, ²³ and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. ²⁴ But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden.²⁵ Only hold fast what you have UNTIL I COME.

***Christ is promising Great Tribulation to a woman called “Jezebel” and those who commit adultery with her.  Christ then states to the faithful in Thyatira to hold fast what they have UNTIL HE COMES.  This is consistent with the Olivet Discourse when the disciples asked The Lord “TELL US, WHEN WILL THESE THINGS BE, AND WHAT WILL BE THE SIGN OF YOUR COMING AND OF THE END OF THE AGE?” (Matt 24:3)  along with Christ stating “³⁴ TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, THIS GENERATION WILL NOT PASS AWAY UNTIL ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE.”  Christ's "UNTIL I COME" took place in 70A.D.

Revelation 7:13-14

¹³ Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” ¹⁴ I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of THE GREAT TRIBULATION. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

**Christ said around 30-33 A.D. that THE GREAT TRIBULATION would happen in His generation.  John is writing around 65-66 A.D. and already stated being in THE TRIBULATION.  He is now receiving a vision of those coming out of THE TRIBULATION.



THE WRATH TO COME was THE GREAT TRIBULATION
Remember audience relevance.  Who was wrath and tribulation directed to?

Matthew 3:7-10  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from THE WRATH TO COME?  ⁹ And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. ¹⁰ EVEN NOW THE AXE IS LAID TO THE ROOT OF THE TREES. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Luke 3:7-9  So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from THE WRATH TO COME?  ⁸ Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. ⁹ EVEN NOW THE AXE IS LAID TO THE ROOT OF THE TREES. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

***John, the Baptist, asked the Pharisees and Sadducees as to who warned them of the wrath to come; meaning wrath was coming upon that “this generation” as Jesus said it would.

1 Thessalonians 1:10  and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues US from THE WRATH TO COME.

*** Who is the “US” in this passage?  Paul and Thessalonians.  What wrath is being spoken about here in this context?  The Judgment upon the apostate jews who were persecuting the saints just like Jesus said in Matthew 23:29-36.

1 Thessalonians 2:16  hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; WITH THE RESULT THAT THEY ALWAYS FILL UP THE MEASURE OF THEIR SINS. BUT WRATH HAS COME UPON THEM to the utmost.

***”The them” in this passage is the apostate Jews who were filling up the measure of their sins (see Matthew 23).

Revelation 6:16-17  and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from THE WRATH OF THE LAMB; 17FOR THE GREAT DAY OF THEIR WRATH HAS COME, and who is able to stand?”

***The events in Revelation are said to be near, soon to take place, coming soon…  This includes The Great Tribulation that Jesus said would take place in that “this generation.”

to be continued...