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Satan’s SeductiveDoctrine of Deception

‘PRETRIBULATION RAPTURISM’

Author: Bob Fisher (2011)

INTRODUCTION

For various reasons the introduction to a written work seems to be the portion which iswritten last. This was no exception. When we commenced work on this undertaking severalyears ago, we could never have anticipated the amount of work and research that would berequired in our attempt to fully expose a very seductive ‘doctrine’ of satanic deception that hasbeen progressing quietly and relatively unchallenged for nearly two centuries. One is referring tothe doctrine of ‘Pretribulation Rapturism,’ currently a very popular end-time scenario viewpoint.

This is a message concerning biblical prophecy and prophetic interpretation. One feelsconstrained to write it, because of the apparent lack of true scripture-based insight andunderstanding concerning biblical end-time chronology among ordinary Christian believers. It isalso occasioned by the proliferation of false doctrine, erroneous teaching and misleadinginformation being taught and dispensed today by well-meaning yet misinformed preachers andbible teachers. Also many of the warning passages proclaimed directly to the disciples by ourLord and hence to the ‘Church’ are herein explored and their message understood fully.

One is compelled by love for our Lord Jesus Christ and His universal Church of ‘born-again’ believers, whoever and wherever they may be, and love for scriptural truth, to bring thisurgent warning to His saints (believers) concerning some very troublesome times that lie ahead.

A careful in-depth analysis of much of what is alleged today to be sound scripturalteaching of the prophetic portions of God’s Word, reveals that a great amount of this supposed‘teaching’ is nothing more than blatant sensationalism, wild speculation and pure fantasy, withvery little in the way of sound scripture based support to back it up.

Proponents of various end-time scenarios and view-points, often quote many scripturesfor authentication of their ideas and beliefs. These scriptures are often quoted out-of-context,without proper background analysis, or much attempt to extract their contextual meaning, or anyeffort to place them into their correct chronological order and correctly apply them. Thus, thosewho are relatively unlearned or who have been sparsely taught in the prophetic scriptures reallyhave no way of determining the value or truth of what they are reading or hearing.

Consequently, there is already much confusion among some believers, and to my mindsatanic deception, created in the understanding and comprehension of those who are genuinelyseeking a clear answer from the Scriptures regarding end-time events, which God has graciouslychosen to reveal to us through His written Word the Bible.

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THE CONSEQUENCES OF DECEPTION.

Doubtless, like oneself, we have all experienced dealings with unscrupulous merchantswho have sold us a product or an item, claiming it to be thus and thus, only to find out later, thatit was not all it was claimed to be. We have all experienced that sinking feeling, upon our fullrealization that we have been deceived and misled by the glowing claims of the merchant, andthat the product or item we were persuaded into purchasing was either not genuine, or failed toperform as we had expected. When we discovered the truth about things we would chastiseourselves, for failing to obtain more details before having committed to the original purchase.

We had failed to do our homework properly, we had not read all the fine print, and theitem we bought did not have all the features we expected it to have. We have been deceived intobuying an inferior product by an articulate salesperson, whose job is to sell the merchandise theyhave on hand. Who is to blame? We can only blame ourselves, for being naive and gullible, andfailing to do enough preliminary fact-finding, research or investigation before committingourselves to an inferior product.

These same basic principles apply in the spiritual realm also, particularly to the end-timeprophetic scenario we embrace or ‘buy’ into. It is the writer's contention that a huge segment ofthe evangelical Christian community has ‘bought’ into a major error of prophetic interpretationthat is not the genuine article.

We are also persuaded that the false doctrine of ‘Pre-tribulation Rapturism’ is part of aseductive ploy on the part of Satan the arch deceiver, to delude many innocent Christians into afeeling of false security and complacency during these critical last days. Fortunately there is stilltime to reject this inferior viewpoint and exchange it for the genuine article.

PARTING INSTRUCTIONS

In the last few days of His earthly ministry, knowing that His time had now come, andthat His own rejection, suffering and death by crucifixion was soon to be His appointed destiny,our blessed Lord spent much time instructing His chosen disciples. He taught them much future‘Church truth,’ even before the church’s foundation at Pentecost, together with considerabledetails of what lay ahead for believers as the age progressed towards its final consummation.

Our Lord’s ‘Olivet discourse’ (Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21) was given to Hisdisciples, the future ‘Church,’ during those last few days prior to His betrayal and crucifixion,similarly the remembrance feast of the ‘Lord’s Supper’ which is also ‘Church’ truth, was taughtand initiated by Him during the ‘Passover’ feast the very evening of His betrayal.

In the seclusion and shade of the old olive trees upon the Mount of Olives immediatelyfacing the temple mount of east Jerusalem, in response to His disciple’s questions He gave thema panorama of world history and ‘end-time’ world events, together with some very specificissues involving Jerusalem, the nation of Israel, and other events and conditions which would

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mark the ‘times and seasons’ identifying the closing days of this age. His first words of cautionand warning, spoken in answer to their questions were:

"Take heed that no one deceives you." Matthew. 24:4b

"He knew what was in man" (John 2:25). He foresaw what men, even mistaken believers,could be capable of doing, when under delusion and the seductive power of satanic influence.That there would always be some individuals even within the professing Church, who like thereligious, legalistic pharisees of His own day, would deliberately twist and wrench the scripturesto promote their own false concepts, ideas and teachings. Further, that Satan both could andwould use these unsuspecting collaborators to continue in his deceitful attempts to thwart theplan and purposes of God for mankind, by constantly promoting false doctrines and heresiesfrom within the Church. The history of the Christian Church is replete with accounts of suchindividuals and their virulent heresies.

By means of these ‘sincere’ yet unwittingly seduced accomplices and the long-termdestructive effects of their misleading teachings, Satan the arch deceiver could effectivelyweaken and reduce the witness of the Church during the final days just when it would be neededmost. He could accomplish this by rendering the majority of evangelical Christians apathetic,complacent, passive, unprepared and helplessly open and vulnerable to the merciless oppression,and persecutions of the end-time 'man of sin,' simply by having them falsely believe that theywill not be present on earth during his future seven-year term as 'world dictator.' Does the readerunderstand and appreciate the implications of this subtle deception?

It is our assertion and observation that the false doctrine of 'Pre-tribulationism', ispresently achieving this hidden satanic agenda, by deceptively promoting a completelyunjustified and false sense of security among ordinary, humble Christian believers whoinnocently and unknowingly embrace its erroneous viewpoints, thereby rendering themselvestotally unprepared and vulnerable for the implacable and diabolical onslaughts of Satan's falsemessiah the end-time ‘antichrist,’ when he commences his ruthless, barbaric, and totalitarianactivities on the world stage.

For the past 180 years, many evangelical Christians have been deceived and deluded intothe adoption of erroneous end-time views which effectively nullify and render ineffective, thescriptural warnings for them regarding ‘antichrist’ and his end-time ‘final holocaust’ campaignof Jewish and Christian exterminations. It is time that those responsible for perpetrating theseblatantly false and deceptive teachings be made aware of the serious spiritual damage they do,and be alerted to the urgent need for them to correct their errors.

What is of grave concern to this believer is, what may become of the patient enduranceand faith of some humble and trusting believers, who must suffer needlessly, should they at somefuture point in time recognize that current world history has swept them into the final seven yearsof ‘Daniel’s 70th. Week,’ and their expected 'Pretribulation rapture' has not happened as theyhad comfortably expected. The question then will be, ‘What do we do now?’ Obviously they willsoon discover to their regret, they have mistakenly embraced and ‘bought’ into an end-timescenario which is not the genuine article. It is our current purpose to present these believers with

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systematic biblical truth, and a much more reliable, totally scripture-based alternative to thehumanly conceived view they presently hold.

Therefore in this present writing we will attempt to compare this subtly false doctrine of'Pretribulation Rapturism' with what our blessed Lord Himself actually taught. Together withevents which old testament prophets foresaw and foretold, and with doctrine which the apostlesunderstood and taught in the early church, and permit God the Holy Spirit Himself to speakthrough the Scriptures to the minds, hearts and consciences of believers.

THE AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURES

God has always said just exactly what He meant, and meant just exactly what Hesaid. He has seen fit to record His words and thoughts by means of human authors in the HolyScriptures, for our spiritual instruction, preparedness and response. The Scriptures are ourlegacy, enabling us to link our thoughts to His thoughts, and our mind to His mind, and our spiritto His Spirit:

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD."Isaiah 55:8

"Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, andthere is none like Me, [10] Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient timesthings that are not yet done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all Mypleasure," Isaiah 46:9-10

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, forcorrection, for instruction in righteousness," 2 Timothy 3:16

"For whatever things were written before, were written for our learning, that we throughthe patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Romans 15:4

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, asunto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in yourhearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any privateinterpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men ofGod spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1:19-21 (KJV)

We need resort to no other guide than the indwelling Holy Spirit and the book that Heinspired to be written. Scripture alone is our sole authority for establishing doctrine, notvisions, not dreams, not fables, not myths, not speculations, not guesses, not opinions, notinferences, not typology, not eisegesis, not tradition. We should never accept human logic,emotional appeals or the plausible, convincing arguments of any teacher as truth, unlessthey come soundly and fully supported by the plain, simple, unstrained, contextualteaching and entire consensus of the Word of God.

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Doctrines and beliefs founded upon visionary dreams, inference, special revelations,typology, eisegesis (reading into scripture that which is not really there), and wistful thinking areplainly unacceptable. Under close and careful scrutiny, anyone may personally determine that thefalse doctrine of ‘Pretribulation Rapturism’ is founded entirely on this kind of teaching;

Some may find these statements quite shocking, this is good, because now we haveyour attention!

The apostle Peter foresaw such future false teachers, and their seductive heresies:

"And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shinesin a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; [20] knowing thisfirst, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private (singular or unsupported) interpretation,[21] for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they weremoved by the Holy Spirit." [1] "But there were also false prophets among the people, evenas there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies,even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. [2] Andmany will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will beblasphemed. [3] By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long timetheir judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber." 2 Pet.1:19-2:3

Note verses 1 & 2: Our enemy is very smart. Corrupting the Church from within byheresy and false doctrines not only impedes full understanding of the truth, it gets groups ofChristians fighting against each other, and disrupts the unity of the ‘body of Christ.’

Note well verse 3: Could Peter perhaps have been predicting the slick, present day, fullycomputerized, promotional television ministries, who weekly garner in thousands of dollars fromgullible folks, for the video tapes and books of these latter-day 'prophecy specialists' and self-styled seers, those who continually claim for themselves 'special revelation' or 'insight'?

Every day my mail-box is loaded with what I call 'Christian junk mail,' spectacular offersof new videos or books from well-known television preachers, each of them claiming ‘specialinsight’ into end-time prophecies. In reality, they are simply courting my interest in theirsupposed ‘special insights,’ because they hope to sell me their tapes and books, to keep theirministries well funded and on the air. Their trade secret is to tell people what they want to hear!

We are fully in favor of supporting ministries which dispense sound biblical truth.However, when one makes a detailed and in-depth comparison of many of these currentprophetic teachings with what the Word of God actually teaches, one is astounded by the wildlyspeculative ideas and fantasies these people purvey and promote as ‘biblical truth.’ Because ofthis one has become somewhat hardened against supporting such ministries and the worthless,confusing rubbish they peddle.

Perhaps the apostle Paul foresaw our day even in his own time, and thus he cautionedyoung Timothy:

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"For the time will come when they (in context:-believers generally) will not endure (continuewith) sound doctrine, but according to their own desires (cravings), because they haveitching ears (ears needing to be tickled), they will heap up for themselves (false) teachers; [4]and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." 2 Timothy4:3-4

Regrettably today is the day of 'itching ears.' Catering to this universal malady andcommon craving for the spectacular, we have this plethora of weekly T.V. sensation mongers,whose trade secret, is to tell people what they want to hear! These latter-day seers and falseprophets, dispensing their false teachings, absurd predictions, and wild speculations, concerningtheir ever-changing end-time fantasies and scenarios, are continuously fabricating more for theirdeceived disciples. If you like what they say, then send $24.95 plus $3.00 shipping and handling,and they will send you more of the same on DVDs. Today is truly the day of 'itching ears'!

Many of us have been exploited by the ‘covetousness and deceptive words’ of thesefalse teachers, who really have nothing to offer except mass sensationalism.

In the mind of Paul and the other apostles it was mandatory that ‘sound doctrine’ must betotally based on the eternal, absolute truths of the Word of God alone. Any departure fromthis basic concept was quite unthinkable. For when myths, fables, private revelations,speculations, extra-biblical prophesies, and human opinions are substituted for, or added to therevealed truth of the Word of God, the result is total confusion and chaos.

As a consequence to this, one feels challenged by the Lord and compelled to write thisrebuttal to some of the incorrect ideas and views currently taught and embraced in evangelicalChristian circles. Our constant prayer is that the Lord through His Holy Spirit will speak His owntruth to the hearts, minds and consciences of true believers, and remind them of His own wordson these matters. If this present writing accomplishes this purpose our task will be accomplished.

Those who hold tenaciously to ‘pretribulation rapture’ viewpoints, must be shown theirerror of interpretation and how they have been deceived, and then carefully and lovingly re-taught directly from the Scriptures, by a careful systematic presentation of biblical truth, apartfrom any human emotions. If there be any residual argument following such a presentation, thenthe argument is not against an individual but against the Word of God.

THE INFALLIBILITY OF SCRIPTURE.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,for correction, for instruction in righteousness," 2 Timothy 3:16

"for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they weremoved by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:21

We believe that the Holy Bible is the inspired, recorded and written Word of God, andthat it is utterly infallible and wholly inerrant in its original manuscript languages as inspired by

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the Holy Spirit of God through its original human authors. This is commonly known as ‘plenaryverbal inspiration.’

We further believe that it is the only and final authority in all matters of doctrine andtheological belief. It is a textbook for Church government and practice, a specific instruction forour godliness and Christian lifestyle, and a concise guide towards a proper eschatologicalviewpoint that may be derived from a correct understanding of its prophetic portions.

THE FALLIBILITY OF TRANSLATIONS.

However, we cannot ascribe this same inspired infallibility to all the many Englishtranslations of the Scriptures. The authorized King James Version, revered by many godly saintsof the Lord, is a good translation, but not an ‘inspired’ translation as some assert. There is nosuch thing as an ‘inspired’ translation. Modern readers have more than a little difficultyunderstanding the KJV, because the English language has changed a great deal over the past 400years, and many of the words and grammar used in the KJV, are archaic and redundant inmodern English usage. Words and phrases change their meaning with time.

Most modern translations are generally quite good. They are absolutely necessary, and anessential commodity for us all. Without them, the majority of us would not be able to read, digestand fully understand God's Word in our own mother tongue.

Unfortunately however, even the very best translations contain errors and tend to becomeflavored or biased towards the particular theological or eschatological viewpoints of thetranslator(s). Sometimes the unfortunate choice of a particular word or phrase may create a realdoctrinal difficulty, or may sway belief away from a truth that the alternate choice of a slightlydifferent word or phrase might have avoided.

Therefore we urge readers to use every available means, to verify the translation accuracyof difficult biblical passages, and those areas of questionable or alternate interpretation, by theuse of concordances, commentaries, bible word dictionaries, Greek and Hebrew lexicons, andside by side analysis of all available texts and translations. These compared together, will usuallybring out the exact sense of meaning of the original Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic text into our ownnative language.

It has always been God's wish that His words be fully understood by those seekingunderstanding and enlightenment. Due to the dedicated and tireless effort of many godly servantsof the Lord over the years, many of these helps and references are available to us today.

There was a very commendable attitude displayed by the Bereans of old, who uponhearing the message of the gospel preached by Paul and Silas:

"......received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find outwhether these things were so." Acts 17:11.

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In these days of high technology, new and additional helps are available for modernBereans. Using our computers and a multitude of Bible study software programs, we caninstantly search the scriptures in more than twenty different English translations plus the originalHebrew and Greek texts, by word, phrase or topic, and easily find all relevant quotations incontext for any given subject.

The result of these searches is often quite surprising, not only in the content of thematerial we may find, but also for highlighting the ease with which manual searches maysometimes overlook very important and key pieces of the prophetic jig-saw puzzle. Howevereven the best computers and software have their own special limitations, they are only a tool, ameans to an end. One must always be entirely dependent on the Holy Spirit of God to guide onethrough this mass of material and information towards a personal determination:

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to beashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

The inference being, that the Word of God can be wrongly divided by the undiscerning.We must all do our own homework, and not just simply accept what someone else says aboutthings. Many of us tend to get our biblical instruction by reading the opinions of others.

When we read a book by an author, we should always check out the author’s quotedreferences. We should never accept any teaching or viewpoint that does not have firm,unstrained biblical foundation, and is not fully supported by all other relevant orassociated scripture passages. This is especially true in the area of prophetic interpretation.

We believe that God in His infinite love and wisdom has given us within the pages ofHoly writ an almost complete disclosure of the many major events that will terminate thispresent age, together with His specific chronology for these events.

‘Prophecy’ is simply ‘history,’ written in the future tense.

Our personal task is to search out this future 'Divine scenario' from the scriptures anduse our awareness of it to daily exhort one another to righteous and godly living, and to support,comfort and encourage each other with the message of the ‘blessed hope’ we embrace,concerning the personal return of our Lord Jesus Christ, when He comes at the end of thispresent age, to consummate our final redemption, to vindicate God's holiness, to bring judgmentand retribution to wicked and godless men, and to establish His millenial kingdom on the earth.

It is realized that not all believers can easily embrace the body of teachings containedherein since to do so requires a complete change in thinking and a probable revision ofviewpoint. We wish to state however, that it is only through love and concern for the safety andwell-being of God's people during the awesome reign of the world's ‘false messiah,’ the coming‘antichrist,’ that we are motivated to present this completely scripture-based viewpoint,compared to that of human origin currently held by many evangelical Christians. We would alsodraw the reader’s attention to the wise words of King Solomon:

"He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him." Proverbs 18:13

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WHAT THEN SHOULD WE BELIEVE?

Logically, only that which God Himself has seen fit to reveal to us by His own Holy Word theScriptures, everything else of human origin is completely superfluous and of no consequence:

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable (1) for doctrine, (2) forreproof, (3) for correction, (4) for instruction in righteousness," 2 Timothy 3:16

Notice that the apostle begins with the phrase, ‘All Scripture’ not ‘Some Scripture!’The importance being that, true doctrine must be grounded and supported by all scripturealone! Note also, the order of importance Paul places on the use of the scriptures in theunderstanding and life of the believer and the local Church. We cannot stress too fully the needfor believers to know their Bibles, in order for them to learn genuine doctrine, and to be able todiscern and eliminate false doctrine.

The Golden Rule of Prophetic Interpretation

"When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore,take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual and literal meaning unless the facts of theimmediate context, studied in the light of related passages and fundamental truths, indicateclearly otherwise." D.L.Cooper 'An exposition of the book of Revelation.'

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Hopefully every Christian believer studies his or her personal Bible. God the Holy Spiritwho originally inspired it, is also perfectly capable of interpreting it and giving understanding tothe humble soul, who with an open heart and an open mind is willing to read and be instructedfrom within its pages, it is the believer’s resource for knowledge of God and of our Savior.

"and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make youwise for (concerning) salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 3:15

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He willnot speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell youthings to come." John 16:13

Those who do not know what the Word of God actually teaches are those most easilydeceived and misled by false teachings. Our personal prayer should ever be this, that we will bewilling and open to be taught by God the Holy Spirit from the same Word He inspired. That Godwill grant us personal wisdom to understand His eternal truths from within the pages of HolyWrit. Just like Daniel of old:

"Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, withfasting, sackcloth, and ashes. [4] And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, andsaid, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love

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Him, and with those who keep His commandments, [5] "we have sinned and committed iniquity,we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Yourjudgments." Dan. 9:3-5

"Yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at thebeginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. [22]And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to giveyou skill to understand. [23] "At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, andI have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, andunderstand the vision:" Daniel 9:21-23

"Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart tounderstand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have comebecause of your words." Daniel 10:12

Many believers fail to read and prayerfully digest the scriptures, consequently they areforced to rely heavily upon second-hand knowledge and information from other men. As aconsequence of this neglect, a large portion of the Church of God has been completely mistaughtor misinformed about biblical end-time chronology, by very sincere but misinformed teachers,who have been dispensing this misleading, and untrue, doctrine of deception, the ‘PretribulationRapture’ of the Church.

It is entirely possible to be very sincere in what we say, think or do, but at the sametime be sincerely wrong!

It is no pleasure or joy for us to belabor the sincere and dedicated efforts on behalf of ourLord's work by many of His devoted servants. However we must state that for some of them,much of their labor has been spent in vain. For the things they taught and continue to teachconcerning their interpretations of prophecy and the second coming of our Lord, were not andare not ‘sound’ doctrine (1 Cor. 3:11-15)

Supposedly learned men, have over the years, built up humanly conceived end-timescenarios that truly fly in the face of the plain, revealed truth of scripture. These ‘Teachers’have deliberately bent, twisted and even denied plainly written truth, to make it say whatthey want it to say, rather than humbly accepting what it does say, and being taught afresh ofthe Holy Spirit, seeking the Divine end-time scenario for themselves.

This is ‘false’ teaching, and those who continually pursue this course are ‘false’ teachers.They hide behind their academic standings, and use these as a cloak to authenticate theirfalsehoods and biblically unsupported views. The apostle Paul warned Timothy to expect suchend-time false teachers:

"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed todeceiving spirits and doctrines of (or from) demons, [2] speaking lies in hypocrisy, havingtheir own conscience seared with a hot iron," 1 Timothy 4:1-2

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"But evil men and impostors (false teachers) will grow worse and worse, deceiving and beingdeceived." 2 Timothy 3:13

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to theirown desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; [4]and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." 2Timothy 4:3-4

True heaven-sent teachers, teach and preach the Word of God alone. False teachers, teachmyths, fables, extra-biblical visions, dreams and prophecies and the like. Christians need toclosely monitor what they allow themselves to listen to, for Satan and his minions have no otherway of corrupting sound scripture-based doctrine, than the dissemination of error, falsehood andhalf-truths through false teachers within the Church.

How aptly Paul foresaw the latter day profusion of television bible prophecy teachers.The ‘Sensationalists’ who Sunday by Sunday give out with their latest predictions andprognostications, from Fatima, Nostradamus or Edgar Cayce and whatever else seems currentlyappetizing. These men are truly religious quacks and charlatans making merchandise of simplegullible folks, who are really just seeking for truth, howbeit unfortunately in the wrong place.

One is reminded of God's utter condemnation of false prophets in days of old:

"Thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and haveseen nothing!" Ezekiel 13:3

"They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, 'Thus says the LORD!' But theLORD has not sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed. [7] "Have you notseen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination? You say, 'The LORD says,' butI have not spoken." [8] Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Because you have spokennonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you," says the Lord GOD. [9]"My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility and who divine lies; they shallnot be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, norshall they enter into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord GOD. ' Ezekiel13:6-9

Over and over again in the Scriptures, we believers are individually exhorted:

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Matthew 11:15) or, "The eyes of yourunderstanding being enlightened;".... (Ephesians1:18a) or, "He who has an ear, let him hearwhat the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 2:7)

These exhortations are given for a very real purpose, they are not just there for windowdressing. The eyes and ears of our spiritual understanding must become fully attuned andalert to what God through His Holy Spirit is yearning to teach us, if we will but listen toHim and be guided and instructed by Him.

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If we will but refrain from listening to the misleading teachings of misinformed men. Ifwe will adopt an open and teachable mind, and concentrate instead on the study of His ownWord for us as individuals. To be Holy Spirit taught from the Word alone, is both an honor and aprivilege for every believer. Hear what our Lord promised the night of His betrayal:

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. [13] "However, when He,the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His ownauthority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. [14] "Hewill glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you." John 16:12-14

AN OUTLINE OF THE ‘RAPTURE’ OPTIONS.

That our Lord Jesus Christ will return again for His own people is clearly promised in Scriptureand beyond question:

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. [2] "In My Father'shouse are many mansions (dwelling places); if it were not so, I would have told you. I go toprepare a place for you. [3] "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again andreceive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. [4] "And where I go youknow, and the way you know." John 14:1-4

"Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloudreceived Him out of their sight. [10] And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as Hewent up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, [11] who also said, "Men of Galilee,why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you intoheaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." Acts 1:9-11

The personal return of our Lord Jesus Christ for His own people, is commonly referred toas the 'rapture' of the Church. The 'snatching away' of living and resurrected believersimmediately prior to the 'Day of the Lord' judgments. The word 'rapture' does not occur in ourEnglish bibles, it comes from the Latin word 'rapere' used to translate the Greek word 'harpazo',and means to 'seize' or 'snatch away,' as in the following passage:

"Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpazo) together with them in theclouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians4:17

Over the years several different 'rapture' viewpoints have emerged within theeschatology (study of end-time events) of the Church, regarding the timing or chronology for the'rapture' and 'resurrection' events which are to occur simultaneously with the return of ourLord Jesus Christ to the air (sky) for His own. All of these views have their own defenders andfollowers, they are variously named as follows:

1. The PRE-TRIBULATION rapture viewpoint - which holds that the 'rapture' of thechurch will occur 'secretly,' at or just before the commencement of the final seven year period

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(called by its adherents the 'tribulation' period). This view originated approximately 180 yearsago. It is widely accepted, and has been much promoted and taught, however scriptural support isquite scant with many difficulties.

2. The MID-TRIBULATION rapture viewpoint - holds that the 'rapture' will occurexactly midway through the final seven year period. Originating some 50 years ago, it is notwidely accepted, and scriptural support for the view is poor.

3. The POST-TRIBULATION rapture viewpoint - holds that the 'rapture' will occur atthe very end of the final seven year period. There is no definable origin date, but is said to be anhistorical view, it has been around much longer than the Pre-Trib. or Mid-Trib. views. It is notwidely accepted, scriptural support also has some major difficulties.

4. The PRE-WRATH rapture viewpoint - which holds that the 'rapture' will occursometime during the second half of the final seven year period, after the 'Great tribulation' butprior to the ‘Day of the Lord’ judgments. It was truth taught directly by our Lord Himself, andthereafter by the apostles, for they believed and taught it. It was the original and overwhelmingview of the true Church until 1830, when it was pushed aside in favor of the newer 'Pre-Trib.'view. It is now regaining acceptance and credence among many believers world-wide. Scripturalsupport is overwhelmingly both excellent and complete.

~~~~~~It should be noted here, that there are other minor views together with these four major

premises, but since these are easily refuted by scripture we will not waste time to consider them.~~~~~~

It should further be noted, that the term 'Tribulation period' is a biblically unjustifiedmisnomer for the final period of seven years of this age, named so by those who believe andteach the Pretribulation Rapture viewpoint. This error of terminology has been corrected by Pre-Wrath teachers and called by its biblical identifier, ‘Daniel’s 70th. Week.’

Our main assertion is that there are four major viewpoints, but logically only one ofthese viewpoints can be doctrinally sound and therefore the correct view, fully supportedby all relevant Scriptures. This means that the other three views are doctrinally unsoundand incorrect and therefore they are ‘false’ teachings which should be abandoned.

Those who thus promote them, howbeit very sincerely, are unknowingly ‘false’ teachers.This may seem like a somewhat harsh comment on our part, but as a servant of the Lord wewould be remiss if we failed to point this out, and call it for what it truly is. However, we makethese comments in a genuine spirit of Christian love.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS.

When we commenced this personal study of this intriguing subject some eighteen yearsago, it was never our intention to refute that which we had learned, or cast aside eschatologicalviews we had believed true for over 40 years.

However after a very thorough review of what we had been taught, and then seeking forscriptural proofs for holding such beliefs, we were finally forced to admit that our prior held

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views were founded upon the very flimsiest of foundations, inference, speculation, typology,eisegesis (reading into scripture that which is not actually there) and wistful thinking. We wereastonished to discover that none of our prior held ‘Pretribulational.’ views could be supportedfrom scripture at all. For over 40 years we had been deceived into believing unscriptural error.

Since Scripture is the only basis we have for determining truth, nothing else may besubstituted. Valid doctrine, must always be founded upon the plain, simple, unstrained,contextual truth of Scripture. "Thus saith the Lord!" or as the prophet Isaiah put it.

"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line,Here a little, there a little." Isaiah 28:10

Our own intensive personal review of this entire doctrine of ‘Pretribulation. Rapturism,’has led us to the conclusion that it is of very dubious origin. The doctrine simply cannot besupported by proper and sound, critical biblical exegesis.

That is not to say that many of the future prophetic events themselves, believed by'Pretrib.' rapturists are wrong, not at all. We all have the same individual pieces of the propheticjig-saw puzzle. 'Pretrib.' rapturists are simply trying to force these jig–saw pieces into a humanlydevised scenario or framework where most will not fit easily, and where some have to be left outentirely. This all stems from some very basic chronological errors occasioned by ultra-dispensational perspectives in looking at the overall panorama of end-time events involving theChurch, the nation of Israel, and the unsaved gentile world.

Until one gets the specific chronology of end-time events correct, very little elsemakes sense, and results in many wild speculations and much confusion concerning them.

Only the 'Pre-Wrath' viewpoint allows all the pieces of the prophetic jig-saw puzzle tocome together correctly into the ‘Divinely ordered’ scenario, where all the individual pieces fitjointly and chronologically, without straining, twisting, or forcing them into any humanlypreconceived end-time scenario.

It accomplishes this, by allowing the 'Rapture' of the Church and it's companion eventthe 'Resurrection' of the dead in Christ, to assume their proper chronological position,immediately after the 'Great tribulation' and immediately prior to the 'Day of the Lord'judgments. One must always bear in mind that the 'Great tribulation' does not continue for thefull duration of the second half of Daniel’s 70th.week, but is deliberately cut short or amputated,by the direct personal intervention of God:

"And unless those days (in context- the 'Great Tribulation') were shortened, no flesh would besaved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened." Matthew 24:22

What is not revealed to anyone, is the exact ‘day or hour’ that the 'Great tribulation'will be terminated by God's intervention, and the 'Day of the Lord' judgments commence. Wesimply know that this will occur sometime during the second half of Daniel’s 70th.week. We donot and cannot set dates, and we would be skating on very thin ice to speculate beyond what Godhas revealed to us in the Scriptures:

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"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Fatheronly" Matthew 24:36

One of the ear-marks of false teachers is that they continually try to guess dates, based onvarious predictions and indicators they see as valid, such as the Mayan Calendar or Nostradamus,or Fatima. Most of these are from non-biblical sources. Or they constantly come up with newrevised end-time scenarios, based on their ongoing speculations in the realm of propheticinterpretation. We suggest that all such teachers should be avoided like the plague.

PREPARATION FOR END-TIME DECEPTION.

There are many of God's children, 'born again' by His matchless grace, who downthrough the past couple of centuries have believed, held, supported, sustained, taught, promotedor contended for one or other of the first three ‘rapture’ viewpoints. This was primarily andsimply because they were not shown or heard any different view. One does not believe or wouldeven suggest, that any of these devoted servant’s of the Lord made any conscious decision tobecome false teachers of false doctrine. They simply fell under Satan’s deception and becameunwitting accomplices in his plan to thwart and disrupt God’s plan, by creating confusion ofunderstanding, among His saints.

Satan has, by means of his minions, the spiritual demons, done his work well, for he laidthe groundwork of his devious plan to create end-time apathy, complacency and confusionwithin the minds of Christians, beginning almost two centuries ago. The apostle Paul knew allabout these outside demonic spiritual influences:

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (schemings) ofthe devil. [12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, againstpowers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in theheavenly places." Ephesians 6:11-12

THE HISTORY OF ‘PRETRIBULATION RAPTURISM.’

What most present day believers are not aware of is the fact that, the view we now referto as the "PRE-WRATH" rapture viewpoint, was the original and commonly held view of theChurch for its entire history up until approximately the year 1830 in England, and 1870 in NorthAmerica. An open-minded and unbiased study of the writings of the early Church fathers duringthe first three centuries A.D. will confirm this.

It was the introduction at that point in time (1830), of a completely new and prior to thenunknown doctrine, the "Pretribulation Rapture” viewpoint, that brought about the modernhumanly devised end-time scenarios imposed upon the Church by dispensationalists.

First introduced in England by Edward Irving of the Catholic Apostolic Church, and lateradopted and supported by John Darby of the Plymouth Brethren. Their individual and jointconcept of a ‘double’ second coming, a secret ‘second’ coming for His saints to be followedseven years later by a public ‘third’ coming with His saints, emanated from the visionary dreams

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of a bed-ridden, 15 year old charismatic lassie, named Margaret McDonald in Port Glasgow,Scotland. Not as should be expected, from a careful and studious exegesis of the HolyScriptures.

These facts have all been very carefully researched and documented in 'The IncredibleCover-Up' by Dave MacPherson, (published by Logos International, Plainfield, N.J. 07060)A second book by Dave MacPherson entitled ‘The Rapture Plot’ contains the most researchedand carefully analyzed material on the origin of the Pretribulation Rapture position yetassembled by any author, though somewhat difficult to read for the average person, it is probablythe best evidentiary piece of investigative journalistic material available for scholars to date.

The ‘Pretribulation Rapture,’ was first introduced and published as a new doctrine inthe September 1830 edition of The Morning Watch a publication of the newly formed CatholicApostolic Church founded by Edward Irving, which in later years became the Pentecostalmovement, thereafter adopted by J.N Darby of the Plymouth Brethren movement.

Our comment in response to this, is that, God's Word our Bible contains His completewritten revelation to the Church. The canon of Scripture closed with the apostle John’s writing ofthe book of Revelation near the end of the first century. It concluded with dire warnings foranyone who would seek to add to or detract from its content:

"For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds tothese things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; [19] and if anyonetakes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from theBook of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." Revelation22:18-19

One cannot accept the premise, that God would find it necessary to add even morerevelation by means of charismatic visionary dreams of a 15 year old girl some 1730 yearslater, as if by an afterthought.

Those who first introduced and promoted this new doctrine were themselvescompletely deceived and they ‘bought into’ a major error of prophetic interpretation andunderstanding, which today has now guilefully infiltrated through much of evangelicalChristianity.

The 'Pretribulation rapture' doctrine first appeared in North America about 1870 and wasat first adamantly opposed by many staunch believers and only accepted by a relative few.

However, gradually, over the ensuing years the doctrine has insidiously taken over tobecome the majority viewpoint, because of its 'comfort and safety' appeal to the personal well-being of the individual Christian during the greatest time of trial and world crisis ever, Daniel's70th. Week, which for 21st century believers still lies ahead.

It is much more acceptable for most people to believe they will be carried off toglory by His angels secretly, rather than facing the monstrous and diabolical persecutions

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of ‘antichrist.’ Therefore its present popularity and wide acceptance are entirely understandable.However we must vigorously point out that:

The eternal truths of God's word are not a matter for our personal acceptancebased on popular public opinion, consensus or democratic vote!

Jesus said: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."Matthew 24:35

Events during the future Daniel’s '70th.week' will come to pass, exactly as our LordHimself declared them, and as God the Father in His foreknowledge and omniscience hasproclaimed them through the prophetic word, despite what some latter-day prophets,dispensationalists, and television soothsayers, would attempt to have us otherwise believe.

RETURNING TO FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS

Prior to 1830, no eschatological viewpoint had ever been systematized. There wasnever any need to systematize a commonly held view. Hence only the name 'Pre-wrath rapture'is of recent origin, because now the predominant viewpoint held for many centuries by true menof God in the Church, has been systematized and given a distinctive name, to enable study byGod's people, for their enlightenment in what may very well be this final generation.

If the reader is unfamiliar with the ‘Pre-wrath rapture’ viewpoint we urge you to purchaseand prayerfully study the book, "The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church" by MarvinRosenthal, published by Thomas Nelson Publishers, it is available at most Christian book stores.Those wishing to pursue an even greater in-depth study of this same subject should also purchasethe companion book, ‘The SIGN’ by Robert Van Kampen, published by Crossway Books,Wheaton Ill. a Division of Good News Publishers.

These two books will introduce the reader to an entirely different perspective of end-timeevents than is commonly held by evangelical Christians, without diminishing their hope of fullsalvation and deliverance by ‘rapture’ prior to the unleashing of the wrath of God during thecoming ‘Day of the Lord’ judgments.

It is our prayer, that the Lord will use this present writing as a means of alerting God'speople to the urgent need to return to the fundamental truths of the Word of God.

To the distinct possibility, yea probability that very soon, those events foretold by ourLord during His Olivet discourse (Matthew 24:, Mark 13:, Luke 21:) which would characterizethe final days of this age, may very shortly immerse us all in unmistakable magnitude. That rightnow, we Christians will endeavor to be constantly ready, watching and waiting, living in eagerhope and expectation, correctly understanding the Word of God. That we will be spiritually andphysically prepared for the merciless onslaughts of Satan's false messiah, the man of sin, the‘antichrist’ during the future ‘Great Tribulation.’ commencing the 2nd, half of Daniel’s 70th.Week.

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AN ESCATOLOGICAL DILEMMA!

On September 13th. 1993, a Peace accord or Peace Treaty, brokered by a European (nowdeceased) and covering a seven year period, was signed publicly and openly on the lawn of theWhite House in Washington, between the leader of Israel and the leader of the PLO. This wasfollowed by a hand-shake between Yitzhak Rabbin and Yassir Arafat, an event literallyunthinkable just a few short weeks prior to that time. The American President, Bill Clinton wasprominent in his sponsorship of this event. However this turned out to be one of perhaps manysuch Treaty signings that have been forthcoming, as peace talks between Israel and its neighborscontinue. One of these will eventually be the ‘Treaty’ or ‘Covenant’ referred to in Daniel 9:27.

Some bible scholars saw in this first much publicized and entirely unexpected spectacle apossible fulfillment of biblical prophecy, while others immediately disclaimed it as such, becauseit did not fit in with their humanly preconceived prophetic end-time scenario. Let us thereforelook for a moment at the actual prophecy in full context:

[24] "Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish thetransgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring ineverlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.[25] "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore andbuild Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; Thestreet shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.[26] "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And thepeople of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shallbe with (like) a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.[27] Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of theweek he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall beone who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out onthe desolate. (desolator)" Daniel 9:24-27 KJV

For those who may be uninformed, the 'week' referred to is known as a 'heptad' or aweek of seven prophetic years.

There are at least two possible ways of looking at any Peace Treaty signing, either the‘antichrist’ himself (the prince who is to come) will be one of the signatories, or he will be one ofthose supporting or confirming a Peace Treaty between Israel and its enemies. Whatever hispersonal role is regarding the Treaty, he will be acting completely incognito, his true identity willnot be revealed to anyone, until the mask comes off, some three and a half years later.

There is also the possibility of an all-embracing or encompassing universal Peace Treatyin the making, involving all of Israel's neighbors and antagonists. This may eventually be signedby ‘many’ signatories from the nations of the world, only the immediate future will develop thisprospect. Negotiations for this ‘super’ Peace Treaty are presently being held in secret betweenthe parties. These are exciting times for the student of prophecy to watch and observe how Godworks out His end-time purposes regarding Israel.

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The message for God’s people should be evident, the long period of time between Daniel9:26a and 9:27a, now almost 2000 years could be drawing to a close. It appears evident, that Godis preparing and setting the world stage, to again take up His dealings with Israel as a nation, tocomplete His program for them as outlined in Daniel 9:24b.

This brings bible prophecy students who only know the 'Pretribulation Rapture'viewpoint up against a critical dilemma. For them, the final seven years of history is a period oftime they have dubbed without scriptural justification, the 'Tribulation' period, which theyclaim commences the 'Day of the Lord.' They specifically teach this 'Tribulation period' willbegin with a private second coming of Christ for a 'secret rapture' or snatching away of theChurch to glory. They cannot accept any Peace Treaty signing as a significant fulfillment ofprophecy. In fact their doctrinal teaching of the ‘Imminent Return of Christ’ excludes thepossibility of any fulfilled prophecy prior to their secret rapture.

In contrast, the 'Pre-wrath' viewpoint using correct biblical terminology for this last'heptad,' denotes this final seven year period as 'Daniel's 70th. week,' the entire periodintimately involves the resumption, and then the consummation of God’s dealings with thenation of Israel. It sub-divides this final seven year period into three biblically named periods asfollows;

The first half of the week of years or 'heptad', is called by our Lord Himself 'Thebeginning of sorrows' (Birth-Pangs) (Matthew 24:4-8). It is a period of 1260 days, or 42 monthsor 3 1/2 prophetic years of 360 days each. During this period 'antichrist' will arise to worldprominence, then build and consolidate his world-wide empire with himself as worlddictator. This will then be followed by the second half of the week having exactly the sameduration overall, but containing within it two indeterminate periods of undisclosed duration,named respectively 'the Great Tribulation' and 'the Day of the Lord.' (Matthew 24:21,42)

What has not been revealed to anyone is the exact day or hour when the 'GreatTribulation' (Satan and man's wrath) will be interrupted by the direct intervention of God(Matthew 24:22), the true Church gathered unto Christ by ‘rapture’ (Matthew 24:31,36-41), andthe 'Day of the Lord,' God’s wrath and judgments commence (Rev 8). What we are taughthowever, is that for the unbelieving, unsaved world of men, both Jews and gentiles, it will be atotally unexpected event (Luke 21:34-35). Whereas for us ‘saved’ Christian believers, we arenot in darkness concerning it (1 Thessalonians. 5:4-9).

Those who embrace the 'Pre-wrath' chronology of end-time events, do not expect asudden, mysterious and biblically unknown 'secret rapture' to commence Daniel's 70th. week,but rather the fulfillment of Daniel 9:27a the signing of a Peace Treaty between Israel and itsantagonists, or the confirmation of an already existent Treaty to initiate this period.

After the commencement of Daniel's 70th. week, a hitherto inconspicuous worldpolitical leader will subsequently rise to world-wide prominence as the supreme peace-makerand humanitarian leader of all time. Doubtless he will be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for hispersonal efforts on behalf of Middle-East and World peace. He will be respected, yea reveredand worshipped by most of the world's population for being the one man whose effortsalone, brought peace and prosperity to a planet in political, economic, religious, racial,

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ethnic and environmental turmoil. But remember he is only a man, Satan's counterfeit ofthe one true Messiah, and after the first three and a half years of his administration as abeneficent world dictator, the mask finally comes off!

Unmasked, he will prove out to be the arch dictator and despot of all time. The veritable'beast' of humanity. In setting up his world-wide totalitarian regime he will be adamantlyopposed and frustrated by those holding to traditional Judeo-Christian ethics and morals, inshort, ‘believers.’ Consequently he will initiate and pursue a program of Jewish and Christianextermination surpassing even the horrors of World War II, as he attempts by his ‘finalholocaust’ program to rid his New World Order of every vestige of traditional religious beliefand worship of the true God of heaven from among men. His purpose being to eliminate from his‘New World Order society’ all dissenting and disruptive elements:

"So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast,saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" [5] And he was given amouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. [6] Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name,His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. [7] It was granted to him to make war with thesaints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, andnation. [8] All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written inthe Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. [9] If anyone has an ear, lethim hear." Revelation 13:4-9

"I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailingagainst them, [22] "until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of thesaints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom." Dan. 7:21-22

"He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the MostHigh, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his handFor a time and times and half a time." Daniel 7:25

In his satanic and diabolical thinking, if no potential kingdom citizens survive hismaniacal purge, there can be no future kingdom of God. By exterminating all possible futurecitizens of the promised kingdom, there will be no believers left to populate that kingdom. Allthis he will attempt, in order that he may direct the worship and servitude of the balance ofhumanity to his own true lord and master, Satan. Who is completely unwilling to relinquishpossession of the kingdom of this earth which he acquired by deception and subtlety from Adamin the garden of Eden, until it is forcibly wrested from him by the Lord Jesus Christ Himselfupon His return in glory, to rescue His own.

A CONSTRAINT TO UNDERSTANDING!

The basic reason 'Pretribulation Rapturists’ do not accept an orderly transition of worldevents into Daniel's 70th. week is because they look for their biblically unknown 'secretrapture' of the Church to initiate this period.

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However, 'Pre-wrath' rapturists do accept an orderly progression of internationalworld events involving Israel moving us into this final seven year period, believing as is true,that God is always right on schedule. That He is constantly working out his purposes andpromises concerning the nation of Israel, concurrent with His dealings with the godlessunbelieving gentile world, and also in perfect harmony with fulfilling His promises to the Churchregarding our full salvation and deliverance before the eventual outpouring of His indignationand wrath.

Some teachers seem to lack the singular ability to envision a God who is entirelycapable of dealing with Israel, the gentile nations and the Church simultaneously duringthe end-times.

It is truly regrettable that they have developed such a close-minded and singularinterpretation of end-time prophecies, which fail to allow for any understanding of the Scripturesbeyond their own narrow dispensational focus. Also by the practice of categorizing portions ofScripture, as pertaining solely to Israel or, only intended for the Church, they have strippedaway, negated and nullified large sections of scriptural truth intended for the Church (e.g.Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21). They assert that God must needs follow their carefully arrangedand preconceived dispensational charts and scenarios, and would limit and restrict God'swisdom, power, and abilities.

Would it not be better for these people to be taught afresh by the Holy Spirit from thewritten Word? God does not follow their charts, schedules or timetables. He is totally Sovereign,totally wise and totally capable of working out His own purposes with all mankind, in completeaccordance with His own Word, without the guidance and assistance of dispensational teachers.

Dispensationalism can be helpful as a basic learning tool, but also quite detrimental whencarried to such extremes so as to blind its adherents to the real world, and the entire truth andconsensus of the Word of God.

CHRISTIANS ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM THE WRATH OF MAN!

Nobody, having read from scripture, about the horrors that will be unleashed uponhumanity by ‘antichrist’ during his seven year tenure as a world-dictator, as he forciblyestablishes his police-state, his ‘Big Brother Society’ on a world-wide basis, would want orwelcome it. There are few who would look forward to, or enjoy living under such anauthoritarian system. Even the thought makes one shudder. Most Christians balk at thesuggestion of enduring this terrible reign and persecution of ‘antichrist,’ and secretly trying tosurvive while avoiding their acceptance of his mark.

By this however, we are not necessarily referring to the first 3 1/2 years of hisadministration, for that initial portion could be relatively peaceful as he builds and consolidateshis New World Order of global government and global economics among the volunteeringdemocracies.

It is the period that immediately follows during the second half of his tenure, the timeknown as the 'Great Tribulation' which causes most of us to balk, cringe and shy away as thisself-deified ‘man-god’ demands the worship and loyalty of all humanity. The time when all men

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everywhere, are forced to worship and pledge allegiance to him or suffer death, and must receivehis ‘mark’ as a token of their submission and personal allegiance, and his murderous reprisal anddeath sentence against any and all those who refuse to do so:

"Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb andspoke like a dragon. [12] And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, andcauses the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly woundwas healed. [13] He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven onthe earth in the sight of men. [14] And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signswhich he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to makean image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. [15] He was granted power togive breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause asmany as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. [16] He causes all, bothsmall and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or ontheir foreheads, [17] and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or thename of the beast, or the number of his name." Revelation 13:11-17

Christian believers have been forewarned by scripture, concerning this ‘mark:’

"Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beastand his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, [10] "he himself shallalso drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup ofHis indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holyangels and in the presence of the Lamb. [11] "And the smoke of their torment ascends foreverand ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoeverreceives the mark of his name." [12] Here is the patience (endurance) of the saints; who keep thecommandments of God and the faith of Jesus." Revelation 14:9-12

We feel it was only abject 'fear' of possible suffering, persecution, and even martyrdomas revealed by Scripture that prompted the false doctrine of ‘Pretrib. Rapturism,’ which allowsfor the Church to be removed out of harm's way before ‘antichrist’ enters the world's stage.When one looks for any other possible reasons for adopting such erroneous beliefs, one comesup blank. There is no scriptural support or justification whatever, for believing the Church willbe removed from the scene, just when her witness for her risen Lord to the unsaved world ofmankind will be needed most.

Mark 13:11 (KJV)11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what yeshall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, thatspeak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

As Christians we are called upon to be soldiers of the Lord fighting for righteousness andthe truths of His gospel, not fearful, cringing cowards opting for a way to flee and escape fromthe persecutions of ‘antichrist.’ Time and again in scripture we are exhorted and called upon toendure right up till the very end, to be faithful even unto death, to back up our testimony for our

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Lord with our lives if need be. Nowhere in scripture is being absent from the heat of battlecommended. We are to be witnesses for our Lord right up till the very end of the age, as detailedin our Lord’s great commission:

"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven andon earth. [19] "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name ofthe Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] "teaching them to observe all things that Ihave commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.Matthew 28:18-20

When is the end of the age? The time of the harvest is the end of the age: (Matthew 13:37-43)

IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED BEFORE!

Emotional appeals, such as, "The Lord would never allow His own people to suffer theterrible persecutions and martyrdoms of the Great Tribulation," are purely emotional andsentimental, and are not arguments from scriptural understanding or discernment. One has onlyto review the terrible persecutions and martyrdoms of the early infant church under numerouspagan Roman emperors to realize, that our Lord has already permitted this kind of thing tohappen in the historical past, and that persecution, deprivation, suffering and martyrdom forsome believers are a distinct probability both now and into the future.

We believers have been promised exemption from the ‘wrath of God,’ we have notbeen promised exemption from the ‘wrath of man and Satan,’ through his false messiah theend-time ‘antichrist.’

THE ETERNAL SOVEREIGN PURPOSES OF GOD.

For almost six thousand years now God has been sovereignly working out own His ownplans and purposes for the world and mankind, and is consistently following His own schedule ortimetable in doing so. Since He is totally supreme in such matters, we must be prepared to acceptHis timetable and His chronology for future events, and not seek to impose upon either theScriptures or the Almighty a schedule of our own devising:

"God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does notdwell in temples made with hands. [25] "Nor is He worshipped with men's hands, as though Heneeded anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. [26] "And He has made fromone blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined theirpreappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, [27] "so that they should seek theLord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from eachone of us; [28] "for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your ownpoets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' [29] "Therefore, since we are the offspring ofGod, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, somethingshaped by art and man's devising. [30] "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but nowcommands all men everywhere to repent, [31] "because He has appointed a day on which Hewill judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has givenassurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." Acts 17:24-31

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"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousnessof men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, [19] because what may be known of God ismanifest in them, for God has shown it to them. [20] For since the creation of the world Hisinvisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even Hiseternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, [21] because, although they knewGod, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, andtheir foolish hearts were darkened. [22] Professing to be wise, they became fools, [23] andchanged the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birdsand four-footed animals and creeping things. [24] Therefore God also gave them up touncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, [25] whoexchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather thanthe Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. [26] For this reason God gave them up to vilepassions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. [27]Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another,men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of theirerror which was due. [28] And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, Godgave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; [29] being filled withall unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy,murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, [30] backbiters, haters of God,violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, [31] undiscerning,untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; [32] who, knowing the righteous judgment ofGod, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but alsoapprove of those who practice them. [1] Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you arewho judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practicethe same things. [2] But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against thosewho practice such things. [3] And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing suchthings, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? [4] Or do you despise theriches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of Godleads you to repentance? [5] But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitentheart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of therighteous judgment of God, [6] who "will render to each one according to his deeds": [7]eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, andimmortality; [8] but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obeyunrighteousness--indignation and wrath, [9] tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man whodoes evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; [10] but glory, honor, and peace to everyonewho works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:18-2:10

Throughout the scriptures a very special 'Day of God's anger and wrath' is spoken ofby his appointed spokesmen, the old testament prophets and the new testament evangelists, whorefer to this day as 'The Day of the Lord.' The references are far too numerous to attempt toquote them all, but we have selected several to illustrate what they prophesied concerning it:

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The 'DAY OF THE LORD' in the 'PROPHETS.'

"Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is at hand; It shall come as destruction from theAlmighty." Joel 1:15

"The great day of the LORD is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of theLORD is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out. [15] That day is a day of wrath, A day oftrouble and distress, A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness andgloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, [16] A day of trumpet and alarm Againstthe fortified cities And against the high towers. [17] "I will bring distress upon men, And theyshall walk like blind men, Because they have sinned against the LORD; Their blood shall bepoured out like dust, And their flesh like refuse." [18] Neither their silver nor their gold Shall beable to deliver them In the day of the LORD'S wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured Bythe fire of His jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance Of all those who dwell in the land."Zephaniah 1:14-18

"Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. [7]Therefore all hands will be limp, Every man's heart will melt, [8] And they will be afraid. Pangsand sorrows will take hold of them; They will be in pain as a woman in childbirth; They will beamazed at one another; Their faces will be like flames. [9] Behold, the day of the LORD comes,Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinnersfrom it. [10] For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not give their light; Thesun will be darkened in its going forth, And the moon will not cause its light to shine. [11] "Iwill punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance ofthe proud, And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. [12] I will make a mortal more rarethan fine gold, A man more than the golden wedge of Ophir. [13] Therefore I will shake theheavens, And the earth will move out of her place, In the wrath of the LORD of hosts And inthe day of His fierce anger." Isaiah 13:6-13

"For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, A day of vengeance, That He may avengeHimself on His adversaries. The sword shall devour; It shall be satiated and made drunk withtheir blood; For the Lord GOD of hosts has a sacrifice In the north country by the RiverEuphrates." Jeremiah 46:10

"For the day of the LORD of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Uponeverything lifted up--And it shall be brought low--" [17]"The loftiness of man shall be boweddown, And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; The LORD alone will be exalted in thatday, [18] But the idols He shall utterly abolish. [19] They shall go into the holes of the rocks,And into the caves of the earth, From the terror of the LORD And the glory of His majesty,When He arises to shake the earth mightily. [20] In that day a man will cast away his idols ofsilver And his idols of gold, Which they made, each for himself to worship, To the molesand bats, [21] To go into the clefts of the rocks, And into the crags of the rugged rocks,From the terror of the LORD And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake theearth mightily." Isaiah 2:12,17-21

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"Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants ofthe land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is at hand: [2] A day of darknessand gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, Like the morning clouds spread over themountains. A people come, great and strong, The like of whom has never been; Nor will thereever be any such after them, Even for many successive generations. [3] A fire devours beforethem, And behind them a flame burns; The land is like the Garden of Eden before them, Andbehind them a desolate wilderness; Surely nothing shall escape them. [4] Their appearance is likethe appearance of horses; And like swift steeds, so they run. [5] With a noise like chariots Overmountaintops they leap, Like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble, Like a strongpeople set in battle array." Joel 2:1-5

"The earth quakes before them, The heavens tremble; The sun and moon grow dark, And thestars diminish their brightness. [11] The LORD gives voice before His army, For His camp isvery great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the LORD is greatand very terrible; Who can endure it?" Joel 2:10-11

"And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.[31] The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of thegreat and awesome day of the LORD." Joel 2:30-31

"Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! For what good is the day of the LORD to you?It will be darkness, and not light. [19] It will be as though a man fled from a lion, And a bearmet him! Or as though he went into the house, Leaned his hand on the wall, And a serpent bithim! [20] Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with nobrightness in it?" Amos 5:18-20

"Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD; For the day of the LORD is at hand, For the LORDhas prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests." Zephaniah 1:7

"Therefore wait for Me," says the LORD, "Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determinationis to gather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, Allmy fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy." Zeph. 3:8"Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst. [2] ForI will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled,And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the peopleshall not be cut off from the city. [3] Then the LORD will go forth And fight against thosenations, As He fights in the day of battle. [4] And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount ofOlives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, Fromeast to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north Andhalf of it toward the south." Zechariah 14:1-4

"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valleyof decision. [15] The sun and moon will grow dark, And the stars will diminish theirbrightness. [16] The LORD also will roar from Zion, And utter His voice from Jerusalem; Theheavens and earth will shake; But the LORD will be a shelter for His people, And thestrength of the children of Israel." Joel 3:14-16

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"For the day is near, Even the day of the LORD is near; It will be a day of clouds, the time ofthe Gentiles." Ezekiel 30:3

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day ofthe LORD. [6] And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of thechildren to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse." Malachi 4:5-6

The 'DAY OF THE LORD' in the 'NEW TESTAMENT'

'The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsufferingtoward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. [10] But theday of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with agreat noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are init will be burned up." 2 Peter 3:9-10

"For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. [3]For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor painsupon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. [4] But you, brethren, are not in darkness, sothat this Day should overtake you as a thief. [5] You are all sons of light and sons of the day. Weare not of the night nor of darkness. [6] Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watchand be sober. [7] For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.[8] But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as ahelmet the hope of salvation. [9] For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvationthrough our Lord Jesus Christ, [10] who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, weshould live together with Him." 1 Thess 5:2-10

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, andcares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. [35] "For it will come as a snare onall those who dwell on the face of the whole earth." Luke 21:34-35

"I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; andthe sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. [13] And thestars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mightywind. [14] Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and islandwas moved out of its place. [15] And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, thecommanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the cavesand in the rocks of the mountains, [16] and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on usand 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?" Revelation 6:12-17

"Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together toHim, we ask you, [2] not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or byletter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ (Greek: Lord) had come. [3] Let no one deceiveyou by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first (apostasy),and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, [4] who opposes and exalts himself above all

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that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showinghimself that he is God." 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

"since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, [7] and togive you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with Hismighty angels, [8] in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on thosewho do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] These shall be punished witheverlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, [10]when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those whobelieve, ......" 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10

The 'DAY OF THE LORD' - 'SUMMATION'

We have quoted many passages in context, and at length in order to impress upon thereader the absolute importance of the 'Day of the Lord' in the scriptures, and the greatdevastating judgments it will bring upon a world of ungodly, unrepentant, and sinful men.

This relatively short period of retributive wrath and judgment will follow shortly after theGreat Tribulation is terminated by Divine intervention, and the promised 'rapture' of theChurch. This is in preparation for the Millennial Kingdom Age of our Lord Jesus Christ whichwill commence shortly after the judgments of the ‘Day of the Lord.’

When one reviews these scriptures carefully, one is impressed by the fact that the 'Day ofthe Lord' is a day of retribution, and a venting of God's anger and wrath against a world ofungodly men, at no time is it ever conceived in scripture as a day of blessing or universalpeace.

However the position taken by 'Pretribulation Rapturists' has the 'Day of the Lord'commencing right at the beginning of 'Daniel's 70th. week' (their tribulation period), and thenextending right through to the end of the 1000 year millennial reign of our Lord JesusChrist. This is an erroneous dispensational view not supported in any way by the scriptures wehave covered.

WHEN DOES THE ‘DAY OF THE LORD’ BEGIN?

We have already noted the totally unscriptural yet popular practice of calling the 70th.week of Daniel the 'tribulation period'. Most prophecy scholars agree this final seven year periodwill indeed consummate human history and terminate government as we have known it.

Scripture does teach that during this period, the end-time man of sin, the ‘antichrist’ willrise to power, consolidate his totalitarian world-wide empire and assume world dictatorship.Scripture teaches that midway through this seven year period this man and his cohort ‘the falseprophet,’ will be responsible for the 'abomination that makes desolate,' and that he will proclaimhis own personal deity:

"Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together toHim, we ask you, [2] not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by

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letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ (Greek: Day of the Lord) had come. [3] Letno one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away(apostasy) comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, [4] who opposesand exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in thetemple of God, showing himself that he is God. [5] Do you not remember that when I was stillwith you I told you these things? [6] And now you know what is restraining, that he may berevealed in his own time. [7] For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He whonow restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. [8] And then the lawless one will berevealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with thebrightness of His coming. [9] The coming of the lawless one is according to the working ofSatan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, [10] and with all unrighteous deception amongthose who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved." 2Thessalonians 2:1-10

By clinging to their mistaken 'Pretrib' assertion that the 'Day of the Lord' begins with a'secret rapture' of the church at the commencement of the 'tribulation period,' all who holdthis doctrinal viewpoint, are in effect saying that Paul didn't know his stuff and has his end-timechronology mixed up. One thinks the shoe is on the other foot.

Notice Paul's chronology, first the apostasy (verse 3) or falling away from faith in theGod of the bible, we believe this apostate condition applies to both unbelieving Jews andnominal Christians alike. Next the career of the ‘man of sin.’ Verse 7, in the original Greek textit tells us that from out of the midst of this end-time apostasy and lawlessness, the man oflawlessness will be spawned forth. After a meteoric rise to prominence and world dictatorship hewill eventually desecrate the temple, the Jewish centre for worship of the true God of heaven.His ultimate blasphemy and insult to the God of Heaven will be his pride motivated act of self-deification, thereby revealing his true identity, as the false messiah and ‘antichrist.’ The templewill probably be rebuilt by the time all this happens (however the erection of a smaller temporarystructure, permitted under the terms of any Peace agreement should not be discounted).

The apostle tells us in verse 3 that the 'Day of the Lord' will not come until after allthis has taken place. The apostle Paul is teaching the Thessalonian Christians not to expect the'Day of the Lord' until after the revelation of the man of sin. Thus, Paul chronologicallyplaces the commencement of the 'Day of the Lord' sometime within the latter half of Daniel's70th. week not at its beginning. He then continues on in the passage, indicating that the publicrevelation of ‘antichrist’ will only occur when it is God’s time for this to happen.

As a further observation, verse 7. is completely mistranslated in most bibles. A literalinterpretation of the original Greek text would read as follows:

"For the concealed principle (mystery) of lawlessness already operates, only restrained justnow, until out from the midst (of apostasy-verse 3) he (the lawless one-verse 6) comes forth(into public prominence)." 2 Thessalonians 2:7 (Marshall Interlinear Grk-Eng N.T.)

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What is contextually in view in this passage (verses 6-9), is not the identity of therestrainer as commonly taught, God the Holy Spirit, but rather, that which is being restrained,the public revelation of the lawless one.

Verse 6, tells us he will be ‘revealed in his own time.’Verse 7, tells us his coming has been restrained, but will be occasioned by the lawless times.Verse 8, indicates the restraint to his public revelation has been removed. (since it is now God'stime)Verse 9, tells us that the coming or public revelation of the lawless one, is wholly a work ofSatan.

To paraphrase verse 7, "The concealed principle of lawlessness is already at work,only restrained, until the lawless times generate the lawless man." This fits in perfectly andcontextually with what follows in the following verses.

There is also an interesting parallel passage to verse 4, in the book of Ezekiel whichshould be considered:

"Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because your heart is liftedup, And you say, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, In the midst of the seas,' Yet you are aman, and not a god, Though you set your heart as the heart of a god [3] (Behold, you arewiser than Daniel! There is no secret that can be hidden from you! [4] With your wisdom andyour understanding You have gained riches for yourself, And gathered gold and silver into yourtreasuries; [5] By your great wisdom in trade you have increased your riches, And your heart islifted up because of your riches)," [6] 'Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Because you haveset your heart as the heart of a god, [7] Behold, therefore, I will bring strangers againstyou, The most terrible of the nations; And they shall draw their swords against the beautyof your wisdom, And defile your splendor. [8] They shall throw you down into the Pit, Andyou shall die the death of the slain In the midst of the seas. [9] "Will you still say before himwho slays you, 'I am a god'? But you shall be a man, and not a god, In the hand of him whoslays you. [10] You shall die the death of the uncircumcised By the hand of aliens; For I havespoken," says the Lord GOD.'" Ezekiel 28:2-10

Could the comment in Verse 10 possibly refer to the fact that he should normally expectto die the death of one circumcised and therefore he may be an apostate Jew or Arab? Somethingto ponder and keep in mind as history unfolds during the immediate future.

Following his public revelation and empowered now, by Satan himself he will initiatethe 'Great Tribulation' or 'Time of Jacob's trouble,' the 'final holocaust' which will involvethe world-wide persecution and martyrdom of both Jews and Christians alike, by thoseworshippers and followers of antichrist who receive his 'mark' and declare allegiance to him:

"He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the MostHigh, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his handfor a time and times and half a time." Daniel 7:25

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"And the dragon was enraged with the woman (Israel), and he went to make war with the restof her offspring, who keep the commandments of God (the sealed godly Jewish remnant)and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (the Christian Church)." Rev. 12:17

"They will put you out of the synagogues (places of worship); yes, the time is coming thatwhoever kills you will think that he offers God service." John 16:2

"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by allnations for My name's sake." Matthew 24:9

We know of no better verses that so explicitly outline the 'final holocaust' program ofantichrist. This merciless butchery and human slaughter will eventually precipitate World WarIII and bring about his final destruction by the Lord Jesus Christ during the campaign ofArmaggedon (2 Thessalonians 2:8, Rev 19:20).

The basic error of 'Pretrib Rapturists' is their unsupported belief that the seven years ofDaniel's 70th. week commence the 'Day of the Lord', and that this entire period is given overto God's judgments on humanity. We determine that all the events of the 70th.week right up untilthe end of the ‘Great tribulation’ have been instigated solely by the ‘lawless one’ and are theresult of Satan’s and man’s wrath against other men.

They further argue that if their 'secret rapture' commences the seventieth week, ittherefore follows that the ensuing period of seven years must be the ‘Day of the Lord.’

We have already shown that Paul taught the 'Day of the Lord' does not commence untilafter the Great Tribulation as instigated by Antichrist is terminated by God Himself, sometimeduring the second half of the week. Therefore, since this is immediately preceded by the'Rapture and Resurrection events' these too must take place during the second half of theweek. Thus it should be readily seen, that permitting the 'Rapture' and Resurrection' events toassume their proper chronological position, are quite essential to any proper understanding ofGod's prophetic end-time panorama.

From the 'Pre-Wrath" viewpoint, this final seven year period should be viewed as thecumulative and progressive build-up of apostate Israel's, and unsaved mankind's ultimate andfinal rebellion against the authority and sovereignty of God. Prompted, aided and abetted bySatan himself, and culminating in the deification, worship and following of Satan's ‘man-god’the false Messiah, by the vast majority of mankind.

Antichrist’s subsequent efforts to eradicate all worship of the true God of Heaven fromhumanity, by persecutions and martyrdoms directed mainly against Israel and the Church duringthe 'Great Tribulation,' will eventually lead to the near self-destruction of all humanity bynuclear war, when only the direct personal intervention by God Himself can prevent a totalannihilation of humanity. This Divine response brings an abrupt and decisive end to the 'GreatTribulation.'

'Antichrist' will not go unopposed in his persecutions and martyrdoms of end-time Jewsand Christians, some countries and individuals will rise to their physical assistance. However

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antichrist, by his diabolical and implacable actions he will shortly precipitate World War III.This can only result in a total world-wide nuclear holocaust destroying all living flesh except forthe divine intervention of God Himself. Who will intervene by creating havoc in the heavens andby sending His appointed King, our Lord Jesus Christ to put down sinful mankind's rebellion andrule, and to take the scepter of world government to Himself as ‘Lord of Lords and King ofKings!’

Psalm 2: vividly describes 'Antichrist's' utter rejection of God's moral laws and theirrestraint to his brutal, criminal, godless, and murderous behavior, also it describes God'sresponse and reaction in His termination of human self-determination and government.

"Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? [2] The kings of the earth setthemselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed,saying, [3] "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." [4] He whosits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. [5] Then He shallspeak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: [6] "Yet I have setMy King On My holy hill of Zion." [7] "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said toMe, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. [8] Ask of Me, and I will give You Thenations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. [9] You shallbreak them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' Psalm 2:1-9

This is God’s end plan, but first He must rescue and deliver His own people from‘antichrist’s’ tyrannies and intervene in the affairs of men to prevent them from self-destruction.

"And unless those days were shortened, (context– The Great Tribulation) no flesh would besaved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened." Matthew 24:22

God will not interfere in the affairs and self-determination of men until it is a move ofnecessity to save the race from virtual self-extinction. Herein is the patience, longsuffering, andlove of God for mankind demonstrated:

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsufferingtoward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."2 Peter 3:9

Yet when God is finally forced into action by man's total rebelliousness and disobedienceto His eternal laws, and is about to destroy himself and the planet in a nuclear holocaust, God'spatience and kindness will be at an end. The dam holding back His Divine pent-up anger, wrathand retribution against ungodly sinful men will burst, and release a flood of divine judgment,heralded by the seven trumpets of judgment which will be blown, and consummated by the sevenbowls of wrath which will be poured out.

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DIVINE INTERVENTION

God’s intervention in the affairs of mankind, will be accomplished by Divinely ordainedcosmic upheaval in the heavens, causing massive devastating earthquakes globally, and a greatresultant universal darkness. Next, the appearance of the 'Shekina Glory' of Christ's bodilypresence, the 'sign of His coming' as He returns in clouds and great glory to the air. Then thegathering out of His resurrected and glorified Church as our Lord Jesus sends His angels torescue and deliver His own people from 'antichrist's' oppression and tyrannies. Then follows ashort decisive period of 'trumpet' and 'bowl' judgments known as the 'Day of the Lord,' to beconcluded by Christ's triumphant return with the armies of heaven to defeat the world armies ofantichrist at the bloody campaign of Armaggedon, and finally the establishment of His millenialkingdom.

What must be stressed is, that during the first half of the seven years and right up until themoment when the 'Great Tribulation' is deliberately interrupted by God, the wrath ofman, supported and abetted by the wrath of Satan are the only causative factors for theevents recorded under the first five seals of Revelation 6:.

The retributive 'anger and wrath of God' (Trumpet and Bowl judgments) do not beginuntil after the Church has been raptured to its place of safety with the Lord, at the end of thesixth seal of Rev. 6 and before the seventh seal of Rev.8.

God’s ‘Day of the Lord’ wrath commences with the opening of the seventh seal ofRevelation 8: - The Trumpet Judgments.

FOREVER WITH THE LORD!

In the previous section it was noted that the Church was ‘raptured’ to its place of safetyat the conclusion of the events of the sixth seal, there are numerous biblical passages describingthis event, as Christ our Lord sends forth His angels to gather His elect saints into His presence:

"And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together Hiselect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matthew 24:31

"Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken (grk. paralambano) and the other left.[41] "Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left." Matthew24:40-41

"And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from thefarthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven." Mark 13:27

"I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken (Greek:paralambano) and the other will be left. [35] "Two women will be grinding together: the onewill be taken and the other left. [36] "Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken andthe other left." Luke 17:34-36

"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress ofnations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; [26] "men's hearts failing them from fear

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and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven willbe shaken. [27] "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and greatglory. [28] "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads,because your redemption draws near." Luke 21:25-28

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you (Greek:paralambano) to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:3

This is why in perfect chronological sequence the great multitude that no man couldnumber, the newly 'raptured' Church, is first seen before the throne in Rev. 7:

"After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of allnations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb,clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, [10] and crying out with aloud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to theLamb!" [11] All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures,and fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, [12] saying: "Amen! Blessing andglory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever andever. Amen." [13] Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed inwhite robes, and where did they come from?" [14] And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So hesaid to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed theirrobes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Revelation 7:9-14

There are those who insist that this great throng of saved believers, clothed in thegarments of salvation, are martyrs of the 'great tribulation,' Nowhere in Scripture can it befound to say that this great heavenly congregation gathered before the throne, in thepresence of the Lamb, the General assembly and Church of the Firstborn, are all martyrs.

The apostle John failed to recognize them, for he had no idea that the infant church hewas familiar with would indeed grow to such enormous proportions during the ensuing years ofthe Church era. He was only familiar with the tiny first century Church, struggling for survival ina pagan world, he was now being shown the final great 'body of Christ' at the consummation ofthe age. They are identified to him as coming out of the 'Great Tribulation,' thereby placingtheir departure time from earth somewhere in the second half of the 70th. week, and alsoidentifying them as fellow saints and believers, who like him had washed their robes in the bloodof the Lamb. 'Pretrib Rapturists’ must needs have these as martyrs in order to support theirposition. Every ‘born-again’ believer who has ever lived will be part of this great assembly ofsaints, praising and thanking God and the Lamb for their salvation!

SLAIN FOR THE WORD OF GOD.

We submit that the ‘souls’ but not the bodies (the resurrection event is still future forthem), of those who were martyred during the 'Great tribulation' and perhaps in many priorpersecutions were previously seem under the altar in heaven at the opening of the fifth seal:

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"When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain forthe 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 whodwell on the earth?" [11] Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to themthat they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants andtheir brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed." Rev. 6:9-11

Obviously at the time of the fifth seal, during the ‘great tribulation’ this martyrdom wascontinuing within the permissive will of God, and would be allowed to continue until theopening of the sixth seal that would bring about God’s direct intervention and the cataclysmicdisturbances to end it all.

Direct intervention by the God of all creation who has withheld His wrath and rage insilence and long-suffering all the many years since His last communication to mankind throughHis apostle John. Direct intervention, we repeat, to bring about an end to man's inhumanity toman, and to save the human race from complete self-destruction by thermo-nuclear warfare.

THE 'OLIVET' SERMON

In His 'Olivet' discourse or sermon, found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, & Luke 21 ourblessed Lord gave the disciples and ourselves a vivid panoramic picture of world events andconditions leading up to the end of this age and His own personal return in glory:

WARNING OF RELIGIOUS DECEPTION

"And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. [5] "For manywill come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many." Matthew 24:5

Space does not permit us, to fully explore the multitude of false messiahs who have comeupon the scene of world history over the centuries, all claiming to be the long promised messiah.Most have only succeeded in leading their deceived and deluded followers into either financialbankruptcy or physical death. Jim Jones in Guyana and David Karesh in Waco Texas, are butrecent examples of false messiahs. Add to these the names of all those who have foundedhundreds of pseudo-christian cults, and their numbers become staggering. Truly religiousdeception has, and still is raging unabated.

It may be fully expected, that this form of religious deception will continue uncheckedright up until the end. Believers who have been taught error concerning the chronology of end-time events, will probably be in a state of confusion and spiritual distress because their expected‘Pretribulation Rapture’ did not happen as they had hopefully expected. They will be willing tolisten to, and follow almost anyone who seems to know what is happening, and can promisethem deliverance. We should beware of these end-time false prophets and messiahs, for they willonly lead their followers to certain doom at the hands of antichrist!

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DETERIORATING WORLD CONDITIONS

Next, our Lord talked about wars, escalating international conflicts, ethnic turmoil, andpolitical chaos, causing great famines and mass outbreaks of fatal diseases in their wake, andalso the earth itself in violent upheaval as devastating killer earthquakes and natural storms anddisasters become more and more frequent. This is the inevitable result of accelerated globalwarming from increased industrial and transportation pollution, and increased release of‘greenhouse’ gasses.

"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these thingsmust come to pass, but the end is not yet. [7] "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdomagainst kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. [8]"All these are the beginning of sorrows (birth-pangs)." Matthew 24:4-8

"But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come topass first, but the end will not come immediately." [10] Then He said to them, "Nation will riseagainst nation, and kingdom against kingdom. [11] "And there will be great earthquakes invarious places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs fromheaven." Luke 21:9-11

We can find no valid scriptural reason for attempting to compress all of these events intothe first three and one half years of 'Daniel's 70th.week.' Rather, what appears to be described tous is the escalating course of world history throughout the Church era from the first century untilthe present. However the severity and frequency of the events described will greatly intensifyjust like a woman's labor pains as the age progresses, becoming more closely spaced and ofgreater intensity. Thus our Lord referred to them as the "beginning of sorrows (birth-pangs)."verse 8. Likening them to a woman in child birth labor.

What our Lord was predicting, and twenty centuries of history has already nowconfirmed, is that general world conditions will constantly deteriorate and become worse andworse, and that human suffering will become greater and greater. Despite all of his most nobleaspirations, mankind will be unable to achieve his dreamed of ‘Utopia’ by his own self-efforts.

This worsening or deteriorating condition will persist right up until the grand climaxduring the 'Great Tribulation,' man's greatest and ultimate demonstration of his owninhumanity to other men, which will be initiated by Satan's false end-time messiah the‘antichrist.’

This satanically inspired monster's arrival upon the world political scene will probably besomewhat obscure, and may go completely unnoticed at first. However, when through his ownpride (Ezekiel 28:2-10) and ambition, he eventually attempts to deify himself (2 Thessalonians2:4) and thereby desecrates the temple of God (Revelation 13:14-15) (the abomination thatmakes desolate), he will then be publicly revealed to all as the 'son of Satan' the 'false messiah,'not the 'God-man' but the 'man-god.'

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FOR TRUE CHRISTIANS -THE 'GREAT TRIBULATION' BEGINS

We feel the Lord describes some general early opening events of the 'Great Tribulation'pertaining to the Christian community commencing with verse 9. Since this could only apply totrue Christian believers of the end-times, we can foresee that the Christian Church will havebecome undeservedly hated world-wide at this time, probably because of our testimony andstand for truth and righteousness, and our constant ongoing battle against the immoral andsatanic works of evil and godlessness that society generally is bent on adopting. One only has toconsider the Church's stand against legalized abortion, euthanasia (assisted suicide), and samesex marriage as recent examples. The Church as a whole, and believers individually are a thornin the side of Satan and his godless hordes. One must also expect powerful objections, perhapswith violence by extreme activists, to the setting up of ‘antichrist’s’ totalitarian police state.There may also be other factors presently unforeseen that will become evident as the end-timesunfold.

"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by allnations for My name's sake. [10] "And then many will be offended (enticed to sin andapostatize), will betray one another, and will hate one another. [11] "Then many false prophetswill rise up and deceive many. [12] "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of manywill grow cold. [13] "But he who endures to the end shall be saved. (delivered) [14] "And thisgospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and thenthe end will come." Matthew 24:9-14

At this future time of intense anti-God, anti-Church pressure, many Church adherents,who falsely profess faith in Christ, whom we call ‘counterfeit Christians,’ will be forced torecant their bogus faith to save their own skins from the persecutions and martyrdoms of thosetrue Christians taking place around them, even betraying their own friends, family and neighbors.‘Antichrist’ who is but following Satan's guidance and instructions, will be utterly ruthless in hismaniacal attempt to stamp out and exterminate all Jews and Christians from the earth, in his'final holocaust' to eliminate every last vestige of worship of the true God of Heaven from amongmen.

"These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. [2] "They will putyou out of the synagogues (places of worship); yes, the time is coming that whoever kills youwill think that he offers God service. [3] "And these things they will do to you because theyhave not known the Father nor Me. [4] "But these things I have told you, that when the timecomes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at thebeginning, because I was with you." John 16:1-4

"Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations. The enemy (antichrist) has damaged everythingin the sanctuary. [4] Your enemies roar in the midst of your meeting place; They set up theirbanners for signs. [5] They seem like men who lift up axes among the thick trees. [6] And nowthey break down its carved work, all at once, with axes and hammers. [7] They have set fire toYour sanctuary; They have defiled the dwelling place of your name to the ground. [8] They said

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in their hearts, "Let us destroy them altogether." They have burned up all the meetingplaces of God in the land." Psalm 74:3-8

FOR FAITHFUL JEWS -THE 'GREAT TRIBULATION' BEGINS

Whilst primarily antichrist's activities and 'final holocaust' extermination program are tocommence against Israel, it will not be long before his program is expanded world-wide. Theemergence currently, of Neo-Nazi and extreme right-wing nationalistic groups in many countriesworld-wide, such as Vladimir Zhirinovsky in Russia, who could become president of thatcountry, is ample proof that Satan has his co-workers waiting in the wings, ready and willing topursue his false messiah's campaign of hate, murder and brutality against Jews and Christiansalike. The next few verses of Matthew 24: relate primarily to those faithful believing Jews whowhile still not yet converted to Christianity, still embrace their traditional Jewish beliefs in theGod of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph, primarily (in context) within the land of Israel:

"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 inJudea flee to the mountains. [17] "Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anythingout of his house. [18] "And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. [19] "Butwoe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! [20] "And praythat your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. [21] "For then there will be greattribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, norever shall be.

Most scholars identify this 'abomination of desolation,' with the 'image' to the beast asdescribed in Revelation 13:14-15. An 'image' supernaturally empowered, to both have life and tospeak, and cause the execution of all those refusing to worship the beast, to be erected, probablyat the Jewish temple site in Jerusalem. Little wonder the advice of our Lord to those in Jerusalemis, “ get out! get out now! don't hesitate! don't look back! remember Lot's wife!”

There is no question that there will be many who through indecision, and inopportunecircumstances just plain will not make it. Thus He advises them to pray for timing and suitableconditions that will permit escape from the city, as all hell upon earth for Jewish people breaksloose. 'The Great Tribulation,' the 'Time of Jacob's Trouble,' for Israel has begun.

GOD INTERVENES IN HUMAN AFFAIRS

"And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sakethose 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 signsand 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 theinner rooms!'(temple) do not believe it." [27] "For as the lightning comes from the east and

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flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. [28] "For wherever the carcassis, there the eagles will be gathered together." Matthew 24:15-28

God will never permit ‘antichrist’ and his Neo-Nazi henchmen to completely exterminateall Jews and Christians, and will finally break His silence and intervene directly in the affairs ofmen, to deliver His own people the true Church by 'rapture,' and to seal His faithful Jewishremnant for their protection during the ‘Day of the Lord’ wrath immediately to follow.

HAVOC IN THE HEAVENS

How will this direct intervention by God be achieved? By cataclysmic cosmicdisturbances, devastating global earthquakes and a great universal darkness, every visible light inthe entire universe will be extinguished by the hand of God. It is reasonable to presume that thisshould immediately get everyone's attention!

Many scriptures tell us the powers of the heavens themselves will be shaken.

"The earth quakes before them, The heavens tremble; The sun and moon grow dark, Andthe stars diminish their brightness. [11] The LORD gives voice before His army, For Hiscamp is very great; For strong is the One who executes (fulfills) His word. For the day of theLORD is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?" Joel 2:10-11

"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not giveits light; [25] "the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken."Mark 13:24-25

"Therefore I will shake the heavens, And the earth will move out of her place, In the wrathof the LORD of hosts And in the day of His fierce anger." Isaiah 13:13

"The earth is violently broken, The earth is split open, The earth is shaken exceedingly.[20] The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, And shall totter like a hut; Itstransgression shall be heavy upon it, And it will fall, and not rise again." Isaiah 24:19-20

But now in the intense universal darkness (Exodus 10:21) a strange new supernaturallight appears, dimly at first then gradually growing in dazzling intensity as it draws closer, the‘Shekinah glory’ of His personal presence, the 'Sign of His coming' as He returns to the air toreceive His own. It will be observed from earth by two very different groups of people. Thosewho are ‘saved,’ will "lift up their heads, for their redemption draws near." (Luke 21:28)

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon willnot give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will beshaken. [30] "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes ofthe earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven withpower and great glory. [31] "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, andthey will gather together His elect (by rapture) from the four winds, from one end of heaven tothe other." Matthew 24:29-31

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There will however be a second group, who will truly ‘mourn’ when they see what ishappening, knowing full well what their immediate future holds for them. These are the‘unsaved’ of the world who have continually put off their own personal salvation, dismissedGod’s offer of mercy and forgiveness and now regrettably for them it is forever too late!

"I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sunbecame black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. [13] And the stars ofheaven 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 movedout of its place. [15] And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, themighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of themountains, [16] and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face ofHim who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! [17] "For the great day of Hiswrath is come, and who is able to stand?” (Rev 6:12-17)

One does not need to twist and wrench any scriptures to understand that the deliveranceof the Church by 'rapture' follows the interruption of the 'Great tribulation' by these massivecosmic and earthquake disturbances, and immediately precedes God's 'Day of the Lord' wrath.

All the events of Daniel’s 70th. week right up until the interruption of the 'Greattribulation' by God, have come about solely as the result of the wrath of man against man,instigated by Satan's man of sin, the ‘antichrist,’ who is himself the tool for Satan's wrathagainst Israel and the Church.

God's own retributive wrath and judgment have not even yet begun, and do notcommence until the opening of the seventh seal of Revelation 8: after the Church has beenraptured to a place of safety, and the remnant of faithful Jews have been sealed. (Rev 7:)

'PRE-TRIBULATIONISM' AN UNTENABLE POSITION

Now all the foregoing serves to demonstrate that scripture itself completely refutes the'Pre-tribulation' tenet that the 'Day of the Lord' commences at the opening of Daniel's 70th.week and extends right through to the end of the Millennium age, and that the 'rapture' of theChurch occurs ‘secretly’ at the commencement of the 70th. week. We therefore strongly suggestthat those believers who continue to teach a ‘Pretribulation Rapture’ are in serious error ofinterpretation and understanding.

In complete rebuttal, the Scriptures universally point to a 'Rapture of the Church’sometime during the 2nd. half of 'Daniel's 70th.' week following the cosmic disturbancesthat interrupt and terminate the 'Great Tribulation' and immediately prior to the 'Day ofthe Lord' wrath. (Matthew 24:30-31, Mark 13:24-27, Luke 21:25-28, Luke 17:26-30, 2Thessalonians 2:3, Daniel 12:1-3, Revelation 6:12-17)

The ‘Pre-tribulation rapture’ viewpoint is thus completely disproved by Scripture,and is accordingly an untenable position for any believer.

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Some other ‘Pre-trib.’ views are now discussed:

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WHO ARE THE 'ELDERS' OF REV. 4:?

There are some who believe that they can envision the Church represented in thedescription of the 24 elders of Rev. 4 & 5. Consequently, we feel it mandatory to re-examine theoriginal Greek text of the words spoken by the elders in their worship of the Lamb.

"And they sing a new song, saying: "You are worthy to receive the scroll, And to open the sealsof it; because You were slain, and have purchased to God by your blood out of every tribe andtongue and people and nation, [10] And have made them (us) a kingdom and priests to our God;and they (we) shall reign on (over) the earth." Rev 5:9-10 Marshall; Inter-Linear Greek-EnglishTranslation. (Nestle Aland text)

A similar rendering is given from the ‘majority’ text translation of the, 'New King JamesVersion. Greek-English Interlinear New Testament.' from Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Many English translations, insert the word 'us' into verse 9 without textual justification,and further compound the misinterpretation by using the words 'us' and 'we' in verse 10,whereas most Greek manuscripts read 'them' and 'they' this results in our misunderstanding ofwho the 24 elders really are.

Daniel 7:9-10, & 7:26-27 tell us explicitly, that the scene portrayed in Rev. 4, & 5 is theCourt of Heaven, convened to pass judgment on the final gentile world empire of antichrist, the'little horn' of Daniel 7:8, & 7:24-25, upon his blasphemies and his persecutions of end-timesaints, who will eventually possess the kingdom."I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment waswhite as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Itswheels a burning fire; [10] A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousandthousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The courtwas seated, And the books were opened." Daniel 7:9-10

'But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his (antichrist’s) dominion, Toconsume and destroy it forever. [27] Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of thekingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. Hiskingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.' Daniel 7:26-27

In Rev. 4 & 5 we have this same court of heaven scene with much more detail. Theseven-sealed scroll, we believe, contains the 'title deed' of the earth, lost by the sin anddisobedience of the first Adam, and regained by His obedience and redemptive work at Calvaryby the second Adam, our Lord Jesus Christ. The elders are simply that, 'elders,' most probablyold testament men of faith selected by God to fill the offices they hold:

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"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. [2] For by it(faith) the elders obtained a good testimony." Hebrews 11:1-2

Hebrews 11: goes on to give a long list of possible candidates, not to mention otherprophets and servants of God whose faith and works are recorded in the Scriptures. These eldersare wearing the white garments of redemption and the golden crowns (stephanos) of victors, thussome see them as representatives or surrogates of the church.

When the Lord takes me home to glory I am promised that I shall be in His presence forall eternity, I cannot accept the notion that my presence before the throne as a member of the trueChurch of Jesus Christ will be represented by a surrogate, and if for reasons presently unknownto me, a surrogate must needs appear for me, it will be the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who evennow is my Advocate, Mediator, and Great High Priest.

"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus," 1Timothy 2:5

We respectfully submit however, that these elders are old testament saints, men of Godwho have been saved by grace through faith, just as we are, but looking ahead to the time whenGod would 'provide Himself a lamb' (Gen. 22:8) for their redemption. The way of salvation hasnever changed, it has always been the same:

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believethat He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

A man is justified by faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus at Calvary. We lookback to that event, old testament saints looked forward to that event:

"knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from youraimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, [19] but with the precious blood ofChrist, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. [20] He indeed was foreordainedbefore the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you" 1 Peter 1:18-20

"But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand ofGod, [13] from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. [14] For by oneoffering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." Heb. 10:12-14

That God in His infinite love and wisdom should elect and choose certain of His formerredeemed saints to hold the office of 'elder' in the heavenly realm, displays His absolutesovereignty in such matters.

WHAT ABOUT THE OPEN DOOR OF REV. 4:1?

Some believers envision the church raptured to Heaven at or during the opening verse ofRev 4:. This is a perfect example of 'eisegesis,' reading something into the text that really is not

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there at all. This is spiritualizing the scriptures. The invitation given to John was given in thesingular, 2nd. person tense.

"(You) Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this," (Rev 4:1)

This means it was extended as a personal invitation for 'himself alone' to be transportedout of the real world, into the spiritual heavenly sphere to commence the final task of viewingand recording the Revelation, that had been outlined to him by his initial instruction of Rev 1:19,those who imagine they can see the ‘rapture’ of the church in this invitation, are simplyindulging in wistful thinking.

Origen, the patron saint of ammillenialists, of the early church's Alexandrian school oftheology, would have been proud of those who seek to allegorize every statement of scripture.

Compare if you will, in the original Greek text the word "Come up" - Anaba, with theidentical command to God's two resurrected witnesses in Rev 11:12 it is the same word -Anabate, correctly given in this later instance in the plural, 2nd. person tense. We must neverread into Scripture what is not there, in order to provide support for some humanly preconceivedscenario we are trying to prove.

Neither must we forget that the apostle Paul was also caught up to heaven (2 Corinthians12:1-6) and also received personal visions of paradise, yet to my knowledge no one ever alludesto his description of the experience, as being a spiritual picture for any universal ‘rapture’ of thechurch.

BIBLICAL GUIDES FOR THE TIMING OF THE RAPTURE!

Most bible scholars readily agree that the resurrection of the righteous dead and thetranslation of all living believers to their immortal bodies, occur simultaneously at the personalappearance of Christ when He comes in Glory for His own;

"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed-- [52] in amoment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the deadwill be raised incorruptible, and we (living) shall be changed. [53] For this corruptible must puton incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." 1 Corinthians 15:51-53

"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lestyou sorrow as others who have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. [15] For this we say to you by theword of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by nomeans precede those who are asleep. [16] For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with ashout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ willrise first. [17] Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them inthe clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. [18]Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

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These passages specifically teach that ‘resurrected’ and ‘translated’ believers will be‘raptured’ to be with Christ at the same time, thus the ‘resurrection’ and ‘rapture’ events arechronologically linked together and occur simultaneously.

As an aside comment, we have always found it difficult to accept the notion of a 'secretrapture' of believers in the light of a simultaneous 'resurrection' event which will open up thegraves of multitudes of dead believers who have fallen asleep in Jesus down through thecenturies.

An event of such earth-shaking magnitude could hardly go unnoticed by the unbelievingworld, this together with the sudden disappearance of countless thousands of living believersfrom all levels of society.

We submit that these future events will be anything but 'secret' for when they occur intheir correct chronological position, all men everywhere will know what the immediate futureholds for them. The ‘saved’ of earth will be carried by the angels into His glorious presence, the‘unsaved’ can only look forward to wrath and judgment.

"Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. [7]Therefore all hands will be limp, Every man's heart will melt, [8] And they will be afraid. Pangsand sorrows will take hold of them; They will be in pain as a woman in childbirth; They will beamazed at one another; Their faces will be like flames. [9] Behold, the day of the LORD comes,Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinnersfrom it." Isaiah 13:6-9

THE CHRONOLOGY OF DANIEL 12:

"At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of yourpeople; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Evento that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found writtenin the book. [2] And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some(these) to everlasting life, Some (others) to shame and everlasting contempt. [3] Those who arewise (saved) shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many torighteousness Like the stars forever and ever." Daniel 12:1-3

We would call the readers attention to the chronological sequence of events in the abovepassage. It opens at the time of the 'Great Tribulation' or 'Time of Jacob's trouble,' asinitiated by the future false Messiah, the end-time 'antichrist.'

The archangel Michael, Israel's protector stands still or stands aside, and ceases hispersonal protection of Israel by ceasing his hindrance of ‘antichrist's’ activities, who is then freeto pursue his ‘latter-day holocaust’ of Jewish and Christian extermination. It is promised that atthat time God will personally intervene to deliver His people, and then will follow a‘resurrection’ unto everlasting life for the righteous dead. Verse 3, then goes on to describe the‘glorification’ of righteous believers, which is paralleled by Paul in his epistle:

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"when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among allthose who believe, because our testimony among you was believed." 2 Thessalonians 1:10

This chronological order of events from Daniel 12: is completely in agreement withJesus' Olivet discourse found in (Matthew 24:, Mark 13:, Luke 21:), Paul's chronology of 2Thessalonians 2:, and John's chronology of Rev 6, 7 & 8:.

First the signing or confirmation of a Peace Treaty (Dan 9:27a) which commencesDaniel's 70th week, the final seven years. This is followed by the rise and early career ofantichrist (Rev 6:2-7). Then at the mid-point of the week, the setting up of the 'abominationwhich makes desolate' (Mark 13:14), thereafter initiating the 'Great Tribulation' ‘The Time ofJacob’s trouble’ (Daniel 12:1, Matthew 24:9-21, Rev. 6:9-11) followed by direct interventionby God (Matthew 24:21-22), by cosmic signs in the sun, the moon and the stars, great globalearthquakes and universal darkness (Joel 2:1-5, Joel 2:30-31, Joel 3:14-16, Rev 6:12-17,Zephaniah 1:14-18, Amos 5:18-20, Mark 13:24-25). The return of Christ in Glory to the air(Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:26, Luke 21:25-28). The ‘Resurrection’ of all the righteous dead(1 Corinthians 15:50-52), the translation (glorification) and ‘Rapture’ of all true living believers(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Mark 13:26-27). Then comes the ‘Sealing of the godly Jewishremnant’ for protection during the 'Day of the Lord' wrath (Rev 7:1-8). Then The appearancebefore the throne in heaven of the raptured church (Rev 7:9-17). The onset of the 'Day of theLord' judgments (Rev 8:-11:). To be concluded by the blood-drenched ‘Campaign ofArmaggedon,’ and the personal return to the earth of the Lord Jesus Christ who is King of Kingsand Lord of Lords (Rev 19:11-20:3)

Not one single verse in all of Scripture promises a special 'secret rapture' for theChurch. In fact, when the ‘Shekinah Glory,’ the 'sign' of His personal bodily presence(parousia) appears in the universal darkness ensuing from the opening of the sixth seal, everyeye shall see it, for it will be the only visible light in the entire universe:

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will notgive 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 willmourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power andgreat glory. [31] "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they willgather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matthew24:29-31

There is absolutely no need to read anything into this passage than any normative readingof it would imply. Notice again the chronological order, the 'great tribulation', interrupted bycosmic upheaval and universal darkness, the arrival in the sky of our glorified Lord Jesusreturning for His own, the sounding of the great trumpet of God calling dead Christians to‘resurrection,’ and living Christians to ‘glorification,’ then the in-gathering of His saints to Hisglorious presence by His angels. Little wonder that unsaved sinners still in their sins will beseeking the shelter of caves in the rocks and dens in which to hide from the judgment andretribution they know must shortly follow.

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"I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sunbecame black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. [13] And the stars of heavenfell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. [14] Then thesky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of itsplace. [15] And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mightymen, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of themountains, [16] and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from" the face ofHim who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! [17] "For the great day of Hiswrath has come, and who is able to stand?" Revelation 6:12-17

The inference here is that unsaved men now realize that they have procrastinated toolong, the day of salvation for them is now past, the door of opportunity has now been slammedshut by God Himself, all that remains for them is judgment and retribution, which they know isabout to commence.

"Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD; For the day of the LORD is at hand, For the LORDhas prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests." Zephaniah 1:7

"When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour." ...... Sothe seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound." Revelation 8:1,6.

"For the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you;Your reprisal shall return upon your own head." Obadiah 1:15

"Therefore wait for Me," says the LORD, "Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determinationis to gather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, All myfierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy." Zephaniah 3:8

There is no question that there is pleasure in sin, and these who now cry out are quiteaware they have indulged themselves fully and drunk their fill. How many times have they beenentreated by the Spirit of God, to come to the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation andthey have refused His offer of mercy. Now for them it is forever too late, God does not promiseany second chances to those who have had opportunity, and refused to come in humblerepentance to the foot of His cross to have their sin burden dealt with by a loving Savior. Nowthey must face Him as their eternal righteous Judge, little wonder He warned and repeated sooften; "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 22:1-14

144,000 EVANGELISTS?

Another of the unsupported notions that 'Pretrib Rapturists' must embrace, is the beliefthat the sealed Jewish remnant of Rev 7: are to become a band of Jewish evangelists preachingthe gospel of the kingdom world-wide and causing the greatest evangelistic revival of all time.The only information given to us concerning them in the Word of God is that they are called(Greek: doulos) bond-slaves or servants of God:

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"saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants (doulous) ofour God on their foreheads." Revelation 7:3

"Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred andforty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. [2] And I heard a voicefrom heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard thesound of harpists playing their harps. [3] They sang as it were a new song before the throne,before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except thehundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. [4] These are the ones whowere not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lambwherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to theLamb. [5] And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne ofGod." Revelation 14:1-5

Not one single word about them being evangelists, however, we may properly understandthem to be chaste ‘spiritual’ virgins, who have not committed spiritual adultery with the NewWorld Order and the false New World religion of 'antichrist' worship. That they are Israelites isbeyond question, for they are selected from the twelve tribes of Israel of their birth. These are thevery special group of faithful Jewish believers, the godly remnant who will be sealed for theirown protection during the venting and outpouring of the wrath of God upon a world of ungodlysinners.

God will not leave Himself without witness during this awful period of wrath andjudgment, 'the Day of the Lord'. Just as in a relay race, these are the ones to whom the baton ofwitness is passed as it were, by the departing Church. At no time are they ever described asevangelists, but it may be genuinely deduced they will effectively witness to their own Jewishbrethren concerning the impending arrival of their long awaited Messiah. Search as we may wecan find no evidence in scripture for any great world-wide revival during the final years of the70th. week. On the contrary our Lord Himself asked the question:

"And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bearslong with them? [8] "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Sonof Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:7-8

Few people if any, would be willing to confess faith in Christ at the height of antichrist's‘final holocaust’ and his deliberate pre-planned extermination of Jewish and Christian believers,knowing it would bring instant death for them to do so. To suggest a massive world-wide revivalat this point in time is ludicrous.

AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH!

"For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part underheaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. [25] "But first He must suffer many thingsand be rejected by this generation. [26] "And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also inthe days of the Son of Man: [27] "They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given inmarriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

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[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 andbrimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. [30] "Even so will it be in the day when the Sonof Man is revealed." Luke 17:24-30

There is nothing particularly sinful about eating, drinking, marrying, buying, selling,planting etc. The whole purpose of our Lord in making these remarks, was to impress upon Hisdisciples the complete lack of concern about spiritual matters of the unregenerate, unbelievingworld who are pursuing everyday matters totally oblivious to imminent impending judgment. Hiswarning was repeated and reinforced later when He stated:

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, andcares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. [35] "For it will come as a snare onall those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. [36] "Watch therefore, and pray always thatyou may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand beforethe Son of Man." Luke 21:34-36

Again He was emphasizing the total unexpectedness of God's intervention in the affairsof mankind, at the end of the age. However the apostle Paul says regarding true Christians:

"But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.[2] For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in thenight. [3] For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes uponthem, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. [4] But you, brethren,are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. [5] You are all sons oflight and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. [6] Therefore let us not sleep,as others do, but let us watch and be sober. [7] For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those whoget drunk are drunk at night. [8] But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplateof faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. [9] For God did not appoint us towrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9

The 'Pre-Wrath' rapture viewpoint does not diminish in any way our hope of fullsalvation and deliverance before the retributive 'wrath of God' is unleashed, rather, it reinforcesour individual determination to maintain our personal faith in the Lord, and our belief in God'spromises to His own people, when all else might appear lost. Do we individually have this kindof faith and determination to endure in the face of adversity right through to the very end? Beingforewarned is to be forearmed!

And again the apostle Paul in his letter to Titus:

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, [12] teaching us that,denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in thepresent age, [13] looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God andSavior Jesus Christ, [14] who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawlessdeed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. [15] Speak thesethings, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you." Titus 2:11-15

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If ever there was a time in the history of the Christian church for all true believers to beactively living, godly, righteous and sober lives, witnessing for their risen Lord it is the presenttime, as much as we have opportunity and are individually enabled by His grace to do so.

Let each one of us live today in the light of His revealed truth concerning the end-times,knowing what we may be facing very shortly, and praying always that we may be accountedworthy to stand before Him at His glorious parousia.

THE CAMPAIGN OF ARMAGGEDON.

The Church has now been raptured away to a place of safety, the sealed remnant havehidden themselves away in the Judean wilderness. The universe is in upheaval, the entire planetis devastated by massive earthquakes, darkness prevails, devastating judgments from God havebeen unleashed against the ungodly. Yet we are told:

"But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works oftheir hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, andwood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. [21] And they did not repent of their murders ortheir sorceries (drug abuse) or their sexual immorality or their thefts." Revelation 9:20-21

"And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has powerover these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory." Revelation 16:9

"They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repentof their deeds." Revelation 16:11

Despite all these catastrophic environmental judgments men still refuse to repent of theirsins and acknowledge the true God of all creation, the rebellion of men, of Satan, of ‘antichrist’his false messiah and of the ‘false prophet,’ the ‘unholy trinity,’ are still not at an end.

Now they desperately gather the armies of the world together for the blood-drenchedcampaign of Armaggedon. In their corrupted thinking, they may perhaps prevent the comingKing from physically returning to the earth to claim the Kingdom which is rightfully His. Asthough puny human weapons, even nuclear-tipped missiles could possibly harm or do damage tothe eternal King of Glory. Mounted on His heavenly white stallion, wearing the robe and crownsof the office He bears, leading the white-robed armies of heaven against the world armies ofantichrist, what earthly power could possibly withstand a face to face confrontation with theeternal glorified 'Son of God?'

"Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst. [2] ForI will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled,And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the peopleshall not be cut off from the city. [3] Then the LORD will go forth And fight against thosenations, As He fights in the day of battle. [4] And in that day His feet will stand on theMount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in

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two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward thenorth And half of it toward the south. [5] Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, Forthe mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee As you fled from the earthquake Inthe days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the LORD my God will come, And all the saints withHim [6] It shall come to pass in that day That there will be no light; The lights will diminish. [7]It shall be one day Which is known to the LORD--Neither day nor night. But at evening time itshall happen That it will be light." Zechariah 14:1-7

"And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought againstJerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, Their eyes shall dissolve intheir sockets, And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths. [13] It shall come to pass in thatday That a great panic from the LORD will be among them. Everyone will seize the hand of hisneighbor, And raise his hand against his neighbor's hand;" Zechariah 14:12-13

"Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was calledFaithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. [12] His eyes were like aflame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knewexcept Himself. [13] He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called TheWord of God. [14] And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followedHim on white horses. [15] Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He shouldstrike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads thewinepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. [16] And He has on His robe and on Histhigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. [17] Then I saw an angelstanding in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst ofheaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, [18] "that you may eat theflesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those whosit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great." [19] And I saw thebeast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him whosat on the horse and against His army. [20] Then the beast was captured, and with him the falseprophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark ofthe beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fireburning with brimstone. [21] And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from themouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh." Revelation19:11-21

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a greatchain in his hand. [2] He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan,and bound him for a thousand years; [3] and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up,and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years werefinished. But after these things he must be released for a little while." Revelation 20:1-3

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THE VICTOR RETURNS

It is hard to find words to describe the unspeakable joy which will ensue as a greattriumphal procession winds its way from the Judean wilderness, and many thousands of faithfulJews come out of their hiding places to greet their long-awaited Messiah, and to join this greatexultant throng as it makes its way towards Jerusalem. One can almost hear the joyous songs ofdeliverance and greeting from the multitudes:

"Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna tothe Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Hosanna in the highest!"Matthew 21:9

"Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the LORD.[20] This is the gate of the LORD, Through which the righteous shall enter. [21] I will praiseYou, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation. [22] The stone which thebuilders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. [23] This was the LORD'S doing; It ismarvelous in our eyes. [24] This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad init. [25] Save now (Hosanna), I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. [26]Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house ofthe LORD. [27] God is the LORD, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords tothe horns of the altar. [28] You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exaltYou. [29] Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." Psalm118:19-29

The great eastern gate of the temple mount, closed and sealed for centuries, is nowunsealed and opened wide to greet the triumphant returning King, the Shekinah glory of theDivine Presence has returned at last to the temple of God (ref. Ezekiel 10: concerning thedeparture, note particularly Verse 19b)

" Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of gloryshall come in. [8] Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mightyin battle. [9] Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King ofglory shall come in. [10] Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory.Selah" Psalm 24:7-10

"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of graceand supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him asone mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. [11] "In that daythere shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain ofMegiddo." Zechariah 12:10-11

"In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants ofJerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness." Zechariah 13:1

"The LORD their God will save them in that day, As the flock of His people. For they shall belike the jewels of a crown, Lifted like a banner over His land--" Zechariah 9:16

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"And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be--"The LORD is one," AndHis name one." Zechariah 14:9

"Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, andlanguages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not passaway, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed." Daniel 7:14

"Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,And all dominions shall serve and obey Him." Daniel. 7:27

The important questions we must all ask ourselves at this point, are these, am I ready?Have I personally passed over from death to life, or am I still dead in trespasses and sins? Havemy sins been brought to the foot of His cross? Am I forgiven? Have I been saved? Do I know thetrue Messiah Jesus? Am I living for Him daily? Do I warn others of the 'wrath' to come?

"And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. [12] Hewho has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.[13] These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that youmay know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of theSon of God." 1 John 5:11-13

John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe theSon shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

In our Lord's name we beg and implore you be reconciled to God while there is still time,before His 'Day of the Lord' wrath is poured out upon this godless, lawless, sinful, Christ-rejecting world.

Come to Him now in repentance and confession of your sins and wickedness, and byfaith that He will supply you, accept His personal offer of mercy and forgiveness, claim Jesus thetrue Messiah, as your Lord and Savior, follow Him, and become His disciple, for:

"how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spokenby the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him," Hebrews 2:3

"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: weimplore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20

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ARE YOU PERSONALLY READY?

"EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS!"Revelation 22:20

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All scripture quotations are in full context,New King James Version ,

emphases added and notations inserted.~~~~~~~~~~~