Sunday, February 22, 2009

Question 51 - WHY Will There even be a Tribulation?
 
We ask again for the Reader to please pray for God's Spirit to be with us as we continue. Thank you! In this Blogsite we will discuss how long the Tribulation will be, and whether or not the Church will be here on earth during the Tribulation. But our main purpose is to see what the Bible says about why there will be a Great Tribulation. We have some good news and some better news and some great news. 
Good News - The Church Will be Here on Earth! We'll explain.
Better News - The Tribulation will not continue for Seven Years! Prophecy says possibly 1 year.
Great News - God's Church Has NO need to fear the Tribulation!

 The Reader may ask how it is that the Church being here on earth and going through the Tribulation is "Good News?" It will be clear as we proceed, but we will give a hint here and now. What greater privilege could we have than to be on the front lines of God's army as they defeat Satan, his Demons, Antichrist, and those who choose to follow them? There is much Bible evidence showing that God's Church will be Satan's entire focus during the Tribulation. Could it be that Satan wants the Church to think the Tribulation will not involve them? Would this make it easier for him to deceive them?

Why Will There Be a Great Tribulation?
As a child, this Author wondered why Jesus couldn't bypass the Tribulation and just come and take us to Heaven. He struggled with this question and didn't want to even think about it! About 30 years ago, it became crystal clear! The Tribulation is a necessary part of God's plan to forever rid His Universe of sin, sinners, and the suffering caused by Satan and his Demons. Scripture clearly reveals that God's Church will demonstrate once and for all, to, "all the World" (Matt.24:14), how horribly wrong Satan has been since that time in Heaven when, "Iniquity was found in his heart" (Ezk.28-15)!

Forever Remove All Doubt
We know from Scripture that the horrible curse of sin will never rise again! The Tribulation will forever remove all doubt within God's Universe concerning His Laws and His fairness! The Tribulation is the Final Nail in the Coffin of Sin and Satan!  If God's CHURCH defeats Satan, using the New Covenant Power Jesus has provided for them, sin will be DONE - FOREVER FINISHED!!! Jesus will come to take His people to Heaven. After a thousand years, the Great White Judgment will display for all the universe to forever know that every Judgment God ever made was exactly right. John wrote, "That at the name of Jesus EVERY Knee shall Bow, of things in Heaven, and things in Earth and things under the Earth, and that Every Tongue should confess that Jesus is Lord to the Glory of God the Father" (Phil.2:10-11; See also Isa.45:23; Rom.14:11; Rev5:13)! That is why the Great Tribulation is necessary for the Church, and why will happen EXACTLY as the Bible says it will!

Satan's Worst Nightmare
When the Church realizes that it will be FRONT and CENTER , the MAIN ATTRACTION in the Tribulation, Satan will experience his WORST Nightmare! He is feverishly working to prevent the Church from preparing for the Tribulation. Could it be that one of those feverish plans is to deceive the Church into believing it need not prepare for the Battle because at the last minute, the Church will be taken out of the Battle and other warriors will be brought in fight the Battle?

Job - A Sample of the Church?
By the Tribulation being a demonstrate of God's fairness and mercy, it will also be Satan's final chance to prove his case in an earthly setting. Scripture has little to say about communications between God and Lucifer (Satan). If, however, we carefully examine all Scripture references to the Tribulation, we'll see its true purpose. Job's story tells of a time when God and Satan spoke to each other, and it reveals much about what could happen in End-Times. When the Church finally understands its purpose, God could then say to Satan, "Hast thou considered My Church?" And Satan could be given opportunity to test the Church much the same as he tested Job. When Satan tested Job, Job, because he was so connected to God, made an absolute fool of Satan! The Bible says this is what will happen when Satan challenges the Church during the Tribulation! Isaiah and Ezekiel also record conversations between God and Satan (See Isa.14:12-17; Ezek.28, whole chapter). Compile all this Bible info and the purpose for the Tribulation should be very clear!

When Satan approached God concerning Job, his accusation was that if bad things happened to Job, Job would turn against God. The Bible indicates that this is how it will be in the end of time. Job said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:15), and because of Job's powerful faith in God, Satan was defeated. Satan suffered similar crushing defeats when he faced Joseph, Elijah, Elisha, Daniel, Daniel's three companions, and dozens of other Bible Saints. When he faced Jesus, Satan was utterly humiliated, and he'll be humiliated again when he faces God's last-day Church. God's Church will say, "We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us" (Phil. 4:13), and THEY WILL!!! Jesus says to us, "To him that OVERCOMETH will I grant to sit with Me on My Thrown, just as (the same as) I overcame and am set down with My Father on His Thrown" (Rev.3:21). Through the power God gives them, they accomplish everything God needs in order for Jesus to come and take His Church, His Bride, to the "Place He prepared for them" (Jn.14:1-3). The Church also accomplishes everything God will need at the Great White Throne Judgment where Satan meets his final condemnation!
     From the first "iniquity was found in him" (Ezek.28:15), Satan's charge has been that none of God's creatures can truly obey God, not even the Angels. During the Tribulation, humans, by using the Power God makes available to them, will, "Get the victory over the Beast (Antichrist), and over his image, and over his Mark (of the Beast), and over the number of his name" (Rev.15:2). These are humans, still in their mortal, human bodies, yet they overcome Satan and his Antichrist and all those who, "wonder after and worship the Beast" (Rev.13:3-4). We must never forget the words of Jesus when He said to us,"To him that OVERCOMETH will I grant to sit with Me on My Thrown, just as I overcame and am set down with My Father on His Thrown" (Rev.3:21). "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself to walk even as He walked" (1Jn.2:6).

Satan's Death Blow
Thus, by using the same Power that Jesus used when He overcame Satan, Christ's last-Day Church will do the same. And by doing so, Christ's Church, His Bride, destroys the last argument Satan has. He will go into the Great White Judgment empty handed. Thus, during the Tribulation, the most trying time in Earth's history, the time when God allows Satan and Antichrist to use all of Satan's deceitful power, Christ's Church, the Bride of Christ, proves once and for all that Satan has been lying about God! And so we see the reason for the Great Tribulation.  The Church will show the World and the Universe what can happen when God's people say, "We can do all things through Christ who strengtheth us" (Phil.4:13).  

When?
When God's Church realizes how much God needs them to defeat Satan and Antichrist, and someday they will, God can tell the 4 angels holding the,  four winds of strife (Rev.7:1-3) to let go. Satan took his best shot at Job, Joseph, and Daniel, and they defeated Satan, and he'll lose again when he tries to destroy God's Church/Bride in the last days. The Universe will forever see Lucifer's lies openly displayed. His blasphemous lie that obeying God is impossible and un-necessary will be forever exposed. His deceitful lie that, because of Grace, God insists we disobey His Law will be laid bare once and for all. When the Tribulation is done, Christ's Bride can go Home, FOREVER and FOREVER!

Who Suffers in the Tribulation? 
In the beginning of the Tribulation, some of God's people will suffer and some will die (Matt.24:9). Sometime during the Tribulation, when everyone has had opportunity to choose Christ or Anti-Christ, Jesus will declare "Let him that is unjust be unjust still, and let him that is filthy be filthy still" (Rev.22:11)!   After Jesus makes this declaration, only those wearing the Mark of the Beast suffer.  They, "Drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation" (Rev.14:10). Horrible plagues will be all around God's people but, "A thousand shall fall at thy side, and 10 thousand at thy right hand, but it shall NOT come nigh thee" (Ps.91:7)! God's People are completely protected during the 7 last plagues. Following is the plight of all upon earth who have refused the Salvation Jesus offers:

First Plague – Grievous Sores
The first Angel carrying the first plague pours out his vial (bowl) upon the earth and putrid boils break out on the wicked (Rev.16:2). The righteous are safe. The unsaved blame God's people for their horrid sores.
Second Plague – Seas Turn to Blood
The second Angel pours out his vial, and all large bodies of water are turned into what appears to be, "the blood of a dead man, causing every living soul in the sea to die" (vs.3).
Third Plague – Springs Turn to Blood
The third Angel turns rivers and fountains of water into the same putrid blood.  The Angel says,  "They have shed the blood of saints and prophets and Thou hast given them blood to drink" (vs.4-7). Jesus provides pure, clean water for His Bride.
Fourth Plague – Scorching Sun
The fourth angel, "poured out his vial upon the SUN...And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, who hath power over the plagues; and repented not to give Him glory" (Rev.16:8-9). Could the "Fourth" angel be punishing those who rejected God's Fourth Commandment by substituted a day Satan used for thousands of years to celebrate SUN Worship?
Fifth Plague – Painful Darkness
Suddenly there's darkness so intense that the wicked, "gnaw their tongues for pain" (Rev.16:10-11). Rejecting God's light of truth, they had chosen the Ruler of Darkness. They, "loved darkness rather than light" (Jn.16:19), and the Angel grants their wish.
Sixth Plague – Three Evil Demons
Antichrist and Satan are having a horrid time. Their human followers are coming to realize they’ve made a bad choice. Antichrist's promises of peace and safety are not happening. In an attempt to prove he’s the real Christ, Satan sends three of his most deceitful Demons to perform miracles as evidence of his power (Rev.16:13-14). But Satan knows it’s over. He is being humiliated and his followers are feeling the Blunt of God's anger. Satan knows the seventh Angel is going to deliver a plague that will create his "Bottomless Pit," and he knows that the plague will kill billions of his human followers and their bodies will lie unburied in a stench all over the planet (Isa.34:1-3; Jer.25:33).

Seventh Plague – Worldwide Earthquake, Mass Destruction, Second Coming!
The Seventh angel carrying the Seventh plague! The wicked have rejected the Seventh Day Sabbath—the Day God blessed and sanctified. Could there be a connection? The power of this Seventh angel exceeds human comprehension. The Voice of Jesus thunders throughout the Universe: "IT IS DONE" (Rev.16:17). This mighty Angel will literally, "shake the very foundations of our planet (Isa.24:18). Lightning and thunder engulf the entire earth. Mountains and islands disappear (Rev.18;20). A massive earthquake, "reels earth to and fro like a drunkard" (Isa.24:20). Nothing withstands the violence (Rev.16:18), but God’s people are perfectly safe!! Tsunamis level coastline cities. Blocks of hail weighing 50 pounds add to the destruction (Vs.21). God’s people are unharmed!! The Heavenly voice of Jesus was right. "It Is Done" (See Rev.16:17-21)! It is time for Jesus to rescue His people who have reflected His character during the Tribulation. He is ready to take them to the Heavenly homes He prepared for them (See Jn.14 1-3), and He does it in Splendor! The brightness of Jesus and His angels is too much for any of the lost wicked that have survived the plagues. They are destroyed by the brightness of His Coming. Every saved person since Creation that has died, along with, "those who are alive and remain shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall they EVER be with the Lord" (See 1Thess.4:16-17).

How Long Will the Tribulation Be?
We saved some "Good News" for the end. There's a reason we keep hearing people say, "The Seven Year Tribulation." Dispensationalism, or Pre-Trib, has as its foundation a view of the 70 Weeks of Daniel in which they believe the 70th week was removed from the Prophecy and will make up a seven year period in which Antichrist will persecute the Jews. We have several Blogsites in which we look at this view and show from Scripture that inserting Antichrist into the Prophecy and removing the 70th week and attaching it to end-times is incorrect. We do a careful examination of the Prophecy, comparing it to the activities of Jesus during His 3 1/2 year ministry and then the activities of the Disciples during the 3 1/2 years after Christ's death. A close look at this seven year period shows that every part of the Prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus and His Disciples. If what we show is true; if this is the way it was shown to Daniel, we will put this in the form of a question: How serious of an error would it be to delete Jesus from the Prophecy and insert Antichrist in His place? See, "Pre-Trib Replaces Jesus with Antichrist in a Prophecy?" So, how long is the Tribulation? Let's look:
 "Plagues Come in One Day"
Let's try something using the, "Day for a Year," prophecy interpretation. The whole 70 Week Prophecy uses this interpretation, and it is correct to do so. For example the way Pre-Trib comes up with a, "7 Year Tribulation," is converting a, "Week," seven days, into seven years. We agree that the 70th Week of Daniel's Prophecy is actually, literally, seven years. However, there is much Bible and Church History showing that the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy ended 7 years after Jesus was baptized. The event that occurred at that time was the stoning of Stephen and the conversion of Paul.  John records the following: "Therefore shall her (Babylon's) plagues come in one day [1 day = 1 prophetic year], death,and mourning, and famine, and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her" (Rev. 18:8)! This "one day" could indicate one Year. John also wrote: "Alas, alas, that great city, Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour [prophetically 2 weeks] is thy judgment come" (Rev.18:10; see also vss.17-19)! If a prophetic day is changed into a literal year, then 1 hour would be a 24th of a year, or approximately 2 weeks. Thus we might conclude that the entire Tribulation could be 1 year in length, and the 7 Last Plagues of the Tribulation could be about 2 weeks in length. Was John being precise by saying, "One Day" and "One Hour?" Perhaps not, but we know that however long it lasts, even though some may be killed, God will save them in His Everlasting Kingdom!! And that's enough, if we trust Him! If  the Tribulation served no purpose in God's overall plan, He would never allow it to occur. The purpose of the Tribulation is one of the most important subjects we can study. On a final note, Jesus said concerning the length of the Tribulation, "And except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the Elect's sake those days shall be shortened" (Matt.24:22). So, if a year is the projected length, and those days will be shortened, the entire Tribulation could be as short as days or weeks. Again, whatever the length,  God's people have nothing to fear.
Conclusion
We can't stress enough that God’s People are Totally Safe During the Plagues!
Psalms 91 was written Specifically for the Great Tribulation:
"He who dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust; His Truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day, nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand will fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone" (Ps.91:1-12).

We must choose!! If we live to see the Tribulation, we'll either be on the side God's people or Antichrist's people. May God's Holy Spirit guide us as we prepare for Jesus to come!
Thank you SO much Dear Reader, for your time!!
Your Brother in Christ
Walter C. Martin Jr. 
--------------------------------------------
Check Our Other Websites:

Pre-Tribulation Rapture

Post-Tribulation Second Coming of Jesus

Will We Eat Pigs During the Millennium?

Planet Earth WILL be Destroyed After the 1000 Years!
New Jerusalem - How BIG is It?
Great White Throne Judgment Seat - When and Where
Christ's Kingdom - Millennial or EVERLASTING?

 Hell Fire
Is God Torturing People Now
Did Jesus Suffer ALL of Your Hell?
The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Death
The Dead - Dead or Alive - What is Death?
Did Jesus Die YOUR Death for You?
Will Satan Ever Die - Bible Says "YES!"
Testing Our Doctrine About Death
The Dead Stand Before Great White Throne Judgment Seat

 The Gnostics Attack the Sabbath
Were Gnostics Really Christian?
Were Gnostics Satan's Implants into the Church?
Is Gnosticism Alive and Well in Today's Churches
Church is Israel - Israel is Church
Is the Church Israel and Israel the Church?
Is the Bride of Jesus the 144 Thousand?
Did Jesus Offer the Jews a Millennial Kingdom in His Ministry?
Will New Jerusalem Sit in Israel? How Big is It?
Christ's REAL EVERLASTING Kingdom is for ALL Believers!

The Sabbath
Is it a Sin to Observe the Sabbath?
Is There a Connection Between the Rapture and the Sabbath?
Will the Sabbath Be Observed By God's People During the Tribulation?
Who REALLY Changed the Sabbath in Early Christianity?
Un-Answered and Un-Answerable Sabbath Questions For Popular Preachers
How to Test Your Doctrine Concerning the Sabbath

Heaven
Marriage in Heaven - Millennial Kingdom?
Strange Animal/Demons the Millennium?
Why Jesus Hasn't Come to Take Us To Heaven?
Teachers of Anomia (Law Annulling)
Good Ministers Teaching Against God's 10 Commandments?
Teaching of Anomia - The Reason Jesus Hasn't Come Yet?
Pre-Trib Rapture and Sabbath
Pre-Trib Rapture and the Sabbath?

Walter C. Martin Jr.
Everlasting Gospel Ministries

These are just a few of the questions we examine in our Websites.
Thank you, Dear Reader,  for checking them. Please feel free to give us your comments and feedback if you look at our Sites.  If you send us your questions or comments, we will try to answer and add your question to these Websites. We will Not give your name or E-Mail address to ANY ONE or ANY Church Group or Denomination! Nor will we send you ANY annoying E-Mails!! It is NOT our purpose to get you to withdraw from your present Church, but to invite you to present things you learn here to your Pastor and Friends.
Let's pray that God will continue sending His Holy Spirit to guide as we prepare for Jesus to come. Thank You!
Your Brother in Christ!
Walter C. Martin Jr
Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)