It's Not the End Yet!

Ps Melinda Song

People are intrigued by the mystery of the unknown future. Hence the popularity of astrology, fortune-telling and horoscopes.

So it is no surprise that Doomsday prophecies garner great interest among people, especially Christians when they involve the end of the world and the second coming of Christ.

But belief in end-time predictions seems to require a faith with a very short memory–you have to forget all the previous times the end was predicted that proved wrong in order to get excited about the most recent time-table. It is like the story of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf".

Let us take the example of the latest end-time prediction of the world ending on 23 September 2017. If David Meade had been right, all of us would not be here today.

If you remember, in my last message I spoke of my desire for TOP to be a Spirit and Truth Family Church that honours equally the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit and the authority of the Word of God. As such it is my duty as your Pastor to address this issue that keeps cropping up to see how it aligns with the Word of God and how we should respond to it.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

On 16 September 2017, the headline on the front page of Fox News read, "Christian doomsdayers claim world will end next week."

It's under the heading "Science"!!! When you click on it, the article headline proclaims, "Biblical prophecy claims the world will end on Sept. 23, Christian numerologists claim."

How common are predictions that the end is at hand?

Wikipedia lists over 170 different religiously motivated predictions of the end of the world.

·     The first recorded one dates back to the year 66 and ancient Judea.

·     They seem to be a mostly Protestant pastime.

Why this prediction now? Wasn't there another big "apocalypse now" prediction a few years ago? 

Scholars say doomsday predictions cluster around certain events — the Great Plague of the Middle Ages, or the "harmonic convergence" of the planets, or the year 2000.

And there has been a long string of predictions in the last two decades.

1.   American Christian radio host Harold Camping stated that the Rapture and Judgment Day would take place on May 21, 2011. When that did not happen he recalibrated the date to five months later on October 21, 2011 which was also proven wrong.

2.   Then came the blood moon prophecy which is a series of apocalyptic beliefs promoted by Christian ministers John Hagee and Mark Biltz, which state that a tetrad (a series of four consecutive lunar eclipses—coinciding on Jewish holidays—with six full moons in between, and no intervening partial lunar eclipses) which began with the April 2014 lunar eclipse is a sign of the end times as described in the Bible in the Book of Joel, Acts 2:20 and Revelation 6:12. The tetrad ended with the lunar eclipse on September 27-28, 2015. Again nothing happened.

3.   The most recent prophecy is by conspiracy theorist and self-proclaimed Christian numerologist David Meade made international headlines over his claims that the world would end on 23 September 2017.

His comprehensive theory for the end times based on a mixture of supposed biblical studies and science centres around a non-existent planet Niburu which, he claimed, is due to collide with planet earth.

The suggestion was widely rubbished by experts including NASA with a spokesman saying: 'The planet in question, Niburu, doesn't exist, so there will be no collision.'

Clearly the end has been postponed again as we're all still here, but Meade – whose motivations must remain mysterious – has had an enormous amount of media attention.

Now is he claiming people misunderstood his theory, that Sept. 23 was merely a day of “signs.” He told Washington Post that “the world is not ending, but the world as we know it is ending. A major part of the world will not be the same the beginning of October.” His astrological omen interpretations are now meant to be figurative and foreboding omens to a “beginning of the end” (i.e., the tribulation) and the date was pushed back from a very specific “September 23” to “beginning of October.”

Doomsday prophets ALWAYS do this. Failed doomsday prophets don’t repent – they just dig in, change the date, and turn it into a metaphor.

A LOOK AT DAVID MEADE & HIS CLAIMS

1.   He claims to be a Christian numerologist. Rev. Ed Stetzer wrote in Christianity Today, “There is no such thing as a legitimate ‘Christian numerologist.’”

Numbers do have meaning in Scripture but there are no secret numerical codes that require a profession called “Christian numerology.” No seminary nor do any professional accredited institutions offer such a degree.

Whenever someone tells you they have found a secret number code in the Bible, everything else he or she says can be discounted.

There are numbers in the Bible but they don’t require a numerologist.

·     The number one denoting the singleness of the Creator as a unified being: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

·     The number three is used to signify perfection in the Trinity as well as completion: Jesus’ ministry on earth lasted three years and his resurrection occurred three days after his death.

·     The number seven—likely the most well-known of biblical numbers—is also used to show divine perfection and completeness. This can be seen in God’s creation of the world in six days and decision to Sabbath on the seventh as well as numerous Old Testament rituals and celebrations.

God uses numbers in Scripture as a means to communicate with his people, they aren’t to be put to inappropriate use, such as making wild claims and trying to predict the end of the world using numbers and planetary motions as Meade and others have.

2.   Meade doesn’t have any biblical training yet he is discussing biblical matters of profound significance and making predictions about events of global importance without any real authority on these topics.

3.   There’s also another strange detail that those touting the September 23 theories have somehow missed: The same celestial arrangement has reportedly already happened in 1827, 1483, 1293 and 1056 — all in the month of September.

BUT WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE RETURN OF CHRIST?

Mark 13:32-37, NKJV

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!”

As we look at events in the world today, we may wonder how history is going to turn out. We may even be confused and troubled about end times, ethnic hatreds, volatile economies, international strife, and the warnings of doomsayers may feel very unsettling.

Jesus' words in Mark 13, Matthew 24, and Lk 21:5-36 speak of these issues. The whole conversation started off with the disciples' comments on the solidity and significance of Jerusalem's major urban structure, the temple (Mk 3:1). Jesus replied by noting how temporary such structures actually are (13.2). Later, in a quiet setting (13:3), he entered into far more detail about the end of history as we know it and the stresses believers would undergo (13:4-37).

Rather than avoid he topic, he spoke of:

•      deception, wars, earthquakes, and famines as the beginning of troubles (13:5-8).

•      how his followers would experience testing as his witnesses before courts, rulers, and. kings (13:9-11).

•      how family members would turn against each other (13:12, 13).

•      how distress and deception would eventually reign, but such times would be limited by God (13:14-25).

•      his eventual return for his own (13:15-31).

•      the fact that no one knows precisely when he will return–and thus the need for his followers to be watchful and dutiful in serving God (13:32-37).

The fact that Jesus says no one knows the day or hour of His return means that it's utter foolishness to predict a specific day. Jesus knows the signs of his coming are sure, but the timing is not (Mk. 13:32,33,35,36).

End-time date-setting does not align with the Bible so we should stop predicting specific days or entertaining them.

WHAT SHOULD BE OUR RESPONSE?

Before the Second coming of Christ and the end of the age, Jesus will first come for His Church in what is often called 'The Rapture' that could happen at any moment, when hundreds of millions of Christians are suddenly and stealthily removed from the earth without any definite signs.

Verse 33 – Take heed, watch and pray

Verse 35 – Watch

Verse 37 - And what I say to you, I say to ALL: Watch!”

1.   Since Jesus could come back for His people at anytime, we should always live with readiness to meet the Lord. We must be alert (not sleep) and watchful or vigilant, and not grow complacent thinking that the Lord is going to tarry long.

ARE YOU READY?

2.   Jesus is coming back for a radiant bride so let us say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:12,13).

1 John 3;2-3), NLT

² Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. ³ And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. 

3.   The Master also left his property, his authority, and his work in the hands of his servants. He has given to his servant “each his work” so we should labour with all our might to make an impact for Him in our assigned tasks, since we have only one life to reach our generation.

We are not discounting biblical prophecy. We need to be students of Bible prophecy which should motivate us to live godly lives and do all that we can to reach our generation while we can.

THE NEED FOR SPIRIT AND TRUTH IN THE CHURCH

The apostle John in his first epistle tells us not to believe everything: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 Jn. 4:1). We need to be discerning concerning things we choose to believe in.

We can’t just believe everything in the media; instead, we must think both carefully and critically about what we read, see and hear. We need to consider our sources and, when situations like this arise, be careful to seek out answers from people who actually know what they’re talking about. If those matters are of a spiritual or eternal nature we should look to the Bible for our answers.

Acts 17:11, NKJV

¹¹ These [Jews in Berea] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

Gullibility is not a virtue. We need to develop a Christian mind that is able to carefully filter the beliefs and ideas being presented to us. Apply wisdom and cultivate a spirit of discernment.

It’s not crazy to look at world events and ponder whether the signs mentioned in the Bible are, in some form, coming to fruition; but it is bizarre and dangerous to start setting dates in violation of the very scripture you claim to hold dear.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Therefore, as another end-of-the-world prophecy fails, we ought to remember that:

A. WE STAND IN FAITH AND NOT FEAR

"...if indeed you continue in the faith, firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard" (Col 1:23).

The spirit of fear is rampant around the world and we must keep our hearts and minds fixed on God's goodness and His triumphant love. Faith is what pleases God (Heb 11:6). Jesus is coming back for us.

B. JESUS IS RETURNING FOR A RADIANT BRIDE

"Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless" (Eph 5:25-27).

It is to the Father's glory that the Bride of Christ is ready for the return of the Bridegroom. He is looking for a Bride that is held in honour (radiant), free of moral faults (without stain), not old and tired (without wrinkle), blameless (holy), and free of any blemish (without moral blame or rebuke). UNTIL we demonstrate this reality, we have work to do. Let us pray that we would become a Bride that is fitting for the King.

C. THE LOST NEED TO BE SAVED

"Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 'The time has come,' He said. 'The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news' " (Mark 1:14-15)!

We must never forget what we were commissioned to do — preach the gospel of the kingdom of God so that the lost will be saved and empowered for eternity. Every day until Jesus returns provides another opportunity for those in darkness to see the light. Let us use this time wisely as good stewards of this good news.

Every time end-of-the-world predictions resurface in the media, it is important that we ask ourselves, "Is this helpful? Is peddling these falsehoods a good way to contribute to meaningful, helpful discussions about the end times?"

Failed date-setting has discredited Christians many times before. It's irresponsible for any Christian to tell an unbeliever when Jesus is coming back or when the world will end. Dates and deadlines don't have the power to save souls—only the gospel can do that.

Our job is to preach the good news. All the storms, floods, fires, earthquakes, riots, political tension, terrorism and nuclear attacks have put fear and anxiety in people's hearts today. But the answer to all this bad news is not a doomsday prediction; the answer is Jesus, who gives us supernatural peace so we can live securely in a chaotic world.

We should tell about the miracle of Calvary and remind them: "Now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2). Hundreds of thousands of people die every day without Jesus, whether or not He returns in their generation. This alone should motivate us to avoid foolish distractions and false prophecies so we can get busy with the task of evangelism.

One of the signs of Jesus’ return is that the gospel shall be preached to the ends of the earth.

D. WE ARE TO DO BUSINESS UNTIL HE RETURNS

"The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is in your midst" (Luke 17:20).

" So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’" (Luke 19:13, NKJV).

Let us do what we have been called to do and let God be God. Luther in response to the question of what he would do if he knew the end of the world would come the next day -- something to the effect of "I would plant a tree." This could mean that he would (1) continue to do what God put him here to do, and (2) live with hope.

CONCLUSION

Jesus Himself said all end-times date setting is strictly off-limits.

Acts 1:6-8, NIV

⁶ So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 

⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

As await the coming of our Lord and Master, our Bridegroom may we continue to:

•      Walk in faith and not in fear

•      Live godly and holy lives to be a radiant bride fitting for a King

•      Get busy with the task of evangelism

•      Be good stewards of the gifts, talents, treasure and time that God has given to us

People who get excited about supposed signs miss the point that Jesus made. Instead of setting dates, we ought to be ready for His return at any moment. Are you ready?

If you are, then you be able respond as the apostle John did.

Revelation 22:20, NIV

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” 

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 

The Rapture

Rev Gideon Lee

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

The Coming of the Lord

13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

This morning I want to talk to you about the Rapture. For the last three weeks I have been conducting funerals. It started with Sis Varinda's grandmother. Then Sis Julie's mother and this week our dear Bro Moses' sister in law.

It's not easy to lose a loved ones. We see how before a person pass, the body deteriorates. Even to gasped for the next breath is so hard.

As Christians although we will be sad we have this blessed hope. The Rapture is often associated with the end times. People like to know what happens in the end. Like Korean dramas. We all want to know the end.

When we talk about the Rapture we confuse it with another event called the second coming. The Rapture happens when Jesus comes mid air and the dead in Christ will rise first and all those of us who are still alive will be caught up. The second coming is when his feet touch on Mount Olives. Jesus is coming for the Saints and it's a joyous occasion but the second coming is for judgement of the world.

Some people say there is no such word Rapture in the Bible. We call it the Rapture but just because the word is not in the Bible does not mean it will not happen. Like the word Trinity. It's not in the Bible but we believe in the Trinity.

Another word not found in the Bible is pornography. Just because it's not in the Bible does that mean it's okay?

The Rapture has been described even since the book of Genesis.

Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

One moment Enoch was here in earth and in another moment he is no more and is with God.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

It will not be a silent event. The trumpet and the voice of the archangel will be heard by all. Because we are his sheep and we know the shepherds voice, it is only those who are saved that will meet him in the air.

The Saints that have passed on will be the first. We are not people without hope. Even as I conducted funerals we do not grief like those without hope. We are sad but not hopeless. One day I dreamt of meeting my father in heaven. He never saw all my children. Only Elisa at one years old. I'm sure he will love all of them. One day I want to see my father.

We who are still alive will be caught up. But as Christians all is not lost. We have the blessed hope. The church talks about the Rapture but Jesus have not come yet. It's been more than 2000 years.

One day this man was on a long distance travel. He was driving his car and he brought his dog along with him. As he was halfway he needed to make a stop at the petrol station. He was filling his car and saw his dog inside. He opened the door for the dog to go out a while. The dog happily went out and sniffed around.

The master got into the car after he finished he drove off. The dog didn't chase because he knew the car was too fast for him to chase. The dog decided to just stay put because he knows when the master realised his dog is missing he will turn back.

But the dog thought, don't know how long. So he thought while waiting he might as well be useful. So he thought he might as well help guard the petrol station.

Sometimes we are like that dog. We get so used to doing things that we forget Jesus is coming back. Sometimes people ask me when is the date and time Jesus is coming back? The Bible say no man knows. September has come and gone and Jesus is not coming back yet.  I'm not belittling prophesy but my question is are you ready when Jesus comes? It's not about the blood moon. The Bible says he comes like a thief in the night.

No thief tells you when he is coming. We know only the season and if you look around us the season is ripe for Jesus to come back. If Jesus will come in the next 5 minutes are you ready? Don't say, Jesus come in another three months because I'm not married yet. Or that you have not made your  first million. The only way you can be ready is if you have Jesus in your heart as Lord and Saviour.

I want to see my loved ones there, not just my father. I hope to see all of you there. Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian. It's walking with God and having Jesus in your life. Are you ready if Jesus comes back?

The second is are you ready and can you get others ready. That is our responsibility. His last commission to us is to go into all the world and preach the gospel. This December we have 400 seats. I hope we have 200 non believers. Everyone just bring one non Christian. One. TOP boleh? Bring them. Jesus is coming back soon.

Are you ready? Let's gets others ready.

Some people ask me, we will have a glorified body, so will I look 25? Did the disciples recognise Jesus? Yes. I will know we can recognise each other. No more pain and sickness. The mark of a Christian is faithfulness. It's in the faithfulness in all.you do.

So church, are we ready?

Module 7 Lesson 5 - The Great Tribulation

by Bro Koay Kheng Hin

Lesson 5 - The Great Tribulation

Note: Text in Blue are transcribed from the Bible Study proper. Text in black are the physical notes given.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

​1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Here it talks about the tribulation. When it begins, the world has a time.of peace and safety. The beginning is not marked by war. After a while only you'll realise you're into it.

Daniel 9:27

He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.’”

This one week is the 7 year tribulation. It mentions that at the 3½ year period the antichrist will be in the temple.

2 Thessalonians 2:4

He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Here is where there will be a new temple in Jerusalem.

Revelation 16:12-16

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13 Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.

15 “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

Here is the gathering of earthly armies at Armageddon.

These 2 verses forms the backdrop.

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.

This is the great tribulation.

John 16:33

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

This is the tribulation.

I was wondering how to start  this lesson. So I'll tell you a story.

Yesterday I just watched a movie called the Maze Runner. I enjoyed the movie. I thought it was a teenage movie so I brought my daughter but I enjoyed it.

The Bible tells us that after Jesus died, after the first coming, a time will come:

1. Christians will go through persecution and go through the tribulation. Jesus said that we are in the world but not in the world and we will go through sufferings.  The flip side is that God heals and God provides. This is the tribulation that have been going on throughout the history of the church.
2. A time will come for the great tribulation. That will come with the opening of the first seal. It depicts someone on the white Horse. It depicts a spirit of conquest and this person is the antichrist. Who is he? We spent a whole lesson on him. He will come from Europe and you will realise the war starts with the opening of the second seal. One way to conquer a nation is by war or by deception and persuasion. To conquer without having to go to war. The military behind him will be strong. A military, political and economic power. He will subdue the world. Rev 6:1,2. He will sign a treaty with Israel. In that covenant he will promise security.  Then you will have the new temple on which the antichrist will seat on.

After this the seal will start to be reopened. Look at the seal chart I gave you. These are all of the seven seals and all these will happen after the antichrist sits at the temple.

After that the trumpets happens. You can again looks at the list. It's a terrible time and it occurs somewhere between the 5th and 7th trumpet. This is when he will break the covenant and take over Jerusalem. That is the 3½ year period. That is when the mark comes in for you to buy and sell. It will be chaotic.

After the 7th trumpet, it's specifically mentions the wrath of God. That's the 7 bowls. Refer to the chart. This is the final year of the 7 year period. It is believed it will be less than 9 months. It is where the armies start to March and he is the instigator.

Revelation 16:12

Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried Up

Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.

The river dries up so the army of the East could cross. We know Russia will be involved. We know Putin is capable of starting a great War. He has reignited his nuclear arsenal. This is the final battle. We of course don't know when what will happen. The army will cross the Euphrates  and meet at Armageddon. This is were the whole situation blurs. This will be the greatest armies ever assembled.

Some people will ask where's China. We don't know where's their alignment but it does look like the U.S. is pushing China to align with Russia.

Here where they meet, the end nears.

Revelation 6:1-2

Chapter 6

First Seal: The Conqueror

​1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

The tribulation ends with the white horse. It begins and ends with a white horse. Jesus comes in the true white horse.

The tribulation begins from Rev 6 until Rev 19. The tricky part is we gentiles when we read, what does some of the signs means? I gave you the narrative but now I want to give you the outline.

We have the seals, the trumpets and the bowls. From theology, what are we looking at? The first question is are they different or the same? From Rev 6 to 16, is it just the seals as the background of the trumpets and the bowls. In other words they intensify what was described in the he seals. Or are they in chronological order first the seals, then the trumpets and the bowls.

I find them to be in chronological order because sometimes it's good to read and read about it. Your first reading will tell you it's in chronological order. It's only when you try to read more into it that you have the other view.

The second question is whether they are to be taken literally or symbolically?

In the Bible there is a literal and symbolic frame. The Bible is interspersed with literal and symbolic narrative.  When Jesus said he is the gate, it's symbolic. Where else when Jesus said to forgive, it's literal.

So how do you know which is which? Sometimes experience counts. At other times you are guided by the Holy Spirit. As you read the Bible the Holy Spirit does give revelation but systematic theology makes the process of study with proper understanding.

Some theologians say everything is literal. You look at seal number six. Stars fall from the sky. That theologian is probably not a physic teacher. Our sun is an old star. It's on the red shift. A blue shift star is a young star. Our star the sun is dying. But it's still red hot. If it comes a little nearer we're in trouble. The nearest star the alpha centaury is still light years away, so you can imagine this verse is symbolic.

But when you look at seal number three, the famine is probably real and not symbolic. So we just have to use our sense to determine if it's symbolic or literal.

I have found out that the 7 years is an accelerated 7 years in terms of catastrophes. Events happens very fast. If you look at the chart you'll see the 7 years of worldwide turmoil.

In today's perspective when you hear famine you'll find that it may be natural causes. But the most common is by man especially because of war. Food production is replaced by military needs. You will also have a global economic meltdown. Just imagine if there's a war you can forget about your  shares. It will be upheaval in nature.

Everything that has been mentioned has happened before at one time or another in history.

Matthew 24:3-18

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

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?”

4 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. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumours 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. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

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. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 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.

The Great Tribulation

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.

This is a summary of the seals. The beginning of the tribulation. It is also an interpretation of false prophets. With the false christ there will be false prophets to lead you into a false perception of Christ.

I believe in the pre-trip so the church would have been raptured. So only the shell of the church remains. So what is this shell? A one world nation will need an organisation system. The Catholic Church is one such organisation and it will need to be reformed or reworked. Please don't say I quoted that the Catholic Church is left behind. The Christians in the Catholic Church would also be raptured.

The shell of the Catholic Church is an organized church that will be subject to the deception of the false christ. They will be open to the antichrist.

He will not come to suppress Christ. He will come to supplant Christ. 

In the pre-trip and post-trip there are two pitfalls. In the post-trip, people will ask you where are you going to find believers to enter the kingdom. In the pre-trip, they will ask if the church is raptured who the antichrist will persecute? The Rapture does not remove the Bible so there will still be new believers after the Rapture.

The great tribulation is a period of unprecedented suffering and catastrophe occurring on earth just before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It is worldwide in scope and of an intensity that has never been seen before. During this seven-year period of the Great Tribulation, the inhabitants of the earth will have a sense that the world is coming to an end. The great tribulation begins when the Antichrist as the leader of a federated states of Europe signs a peace treaty with lsraeI (Dan 9:27), with the guarantee that it will protect Israel from its enemies and allow Israel a sense of security and the favourable conditions to rebuild the Temple and institute once again the sacrifices, offerings and rites of Judaism in the new temple(2 Thess 2:4). This revealing of the Antichrist is depicted in the opening of the first seal (Rev 6:1-2). At the time that the Antichrist reveals himself, he will come as a man of peace and good will, obtaining the trust of the nations by persuasion and deception. He thereby gains control over nations, 'conquering" them and bringing them under his influence in order to establish a one world system over which he will be the head. However he will be opposed right from the beginning by Christians that have been saved after the Rapture (pre-tribulation view). He persecutes these Christians to the extent of killing them. The series of seven seals(Rev 6:1-17, 8:1-5) that are opened as recorded in the book of Revelationdepicts the first year of the great tribulation. Affairs take a turn for the worst as wars break out, famine occurs and natural disasters increase both in frequency and intensity. The opening of the seventh seal is followed by the sounding of a series of seven trumpets(Rev 8:6-9:21,11:15-19), bringing on a more intense series of catastrophes. Sometime during the sounding of the trumpets (most likely the fifth trumpet), the tribulation enters the three and a half-year point. At this point, the Antichrist reneges on its treaty with Israel and sets himself in the temple(Matt 24:15,2 Thess 2:4), thereby desecrating it, and demands that everyone worship him. The persecution of Christians intensifies. At the same time, the nations began to rebel against the Antichrist. During these last months of the tribulation, the seven bowls of the wrath of God(Rev 15:1 - 16:21) are poured out. The most intense suffering and unimaginable catastrophes in both nature and humankind occur. The nations of the East raise up armies that cross the Euphrates River and meet the armies of the Antichrist at the Plain of Esdraelon, the area around the mountains of Megiddo(Dan 11:44-45, Rev 16:12-16). The seven year great tribulation ends with the Second Coming as Jesus comes down from heaven with his heavenly army to completely defeat the armies of the earth in the battle of Arm aged don (Rev 19:11-16).

Rev 6:1-2

Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the living creatures saying with a voice like thunder/'Come and see." 2And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

Questions

1. Who are the 144,000 sealed servants of God mentioned in Rev 7:1-8 ?

2. Are we really living in the "end times"?

The question is how do we know. You may say there's more earthquake more than any other time. That's circumstantial. You may say there are more wars or diseases than ever before but are you sure? Europe had the black death and one third of the population died. Do we have that sort of disease now? False prophets, last time also have. So it's something to think about.

 If you tell your friend there is war and false prophets, it has happened throughout history. If you also me I believe we are living in the end times. There are two things that have not happened in history as mentioned in the Bible.

Matthew 24:14

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.

The ethnic groups to be reached is still going on. When the last ethnic group is reached, Jesus will come. We are right now in an unprecedented period where every nation have been touched and most ethnic group have been reached. Only God will know when all is reached. It's unprecedented because now there are translations for almost all ethnic groups.

Matthew 24:15

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),

That is about the new temple. 1.1 million Jews died during Roman times. The Jews were then scattered. There is no time in history where you can envision a new temple. The Jews were scattered. But in 1948, Israel became and nation and it looks possible. The Jews are now looking at building the new temple. And all these is unprecedented.

These are two clear indication so if you ask me the answer will be yes.