“Well come on and let me know…Should I stay or should I go?”
~lyrics from “The Clash” (appropriately named)
Today we see more and more evil every day in the form of a “darkness covering the earth and a deep darkness the people.” (Isaiah 60:2). There’s a core visceral sense that we are, indeed, entering “dark times.” Thus, there has been a marked increase on social media chatter regarding the various “Rapture” views. Currently, two new movies (one released and one about to be released) further stoke this frenzy. This month, on October 3rd,
“Left Behind: The End Begins,” starring Nicholas Cage opened in theaters around the nation. The other is entitled: “Final: The Rapture”…soon to be released in November 2014.
While I believe God often PURPOSEFULLY obscures Himself and His plans for His own higher reasons, we can still, nonetheless, turn to the Bible for a great deal of insight and clarification.
What exactly is “tribulation” and where does it appear in the Bible? Should we expect, teach and welcome the idea of NO end times tribulation for the “faithful?” Let’s go to the ultimate source…God’s Holy Word.
I typed the word “Tribulation” into Strong’s Concordance. Immediately, I knew this would be interesting. There are 22 references in the Old and New Testament. For those of us who study Bible Gematria (the incredible connection between numbers and God’s Holy Word), we would instantly recognize #22 as meaning:
“light, clarity.”
So, I humbly propose that God intends to give us some light and clarity today on this issue if we earnestly seek Him.
In this world of “spin doctors,” it is popular to just pluck the truths that we like and discard the other evidence in order to bolster our preconceived notions. In order to avoid even the semblance of having this turn out skewed, I will briefly touch on ALL 22 verses. You will see that NOT ONE SINGLE VERSE on tribulation confirms that we (the faithful Christian Church) will NOT be here to experience it. I exhort and encourage you to take out your Bible for yourself and review all 22 verses again after you read this. Buckle your seat-belt of Truth.
One final clarification before we begin. Tribulation is NOT Judgment. Tribulation is what we encounter simply by living for Christ in a dark world that repudiates Him. Judgment is God’s sentencing on an evil world. Please do not confuse the two. If you love God and do your absolute best to serve Him; if you are truly repentant of sin and earnestly turn away from evil as a daily practice, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE GOD’S JUDGMENT. The Bible is clear on this issue. Believers will be caught up to be with the Lord before the Day of His Judgment, His Day of Wrath.
For the “grace, grace, grace and more grace” crowd…you will be judged if you don’t TURN AWAY from your life of sin and REPENT. None of us can presume to know whether, by the skin of their teeth, they will make it into heaven or not. However, there is much scripture that does not appear to favor this position. THIS is the time when the verse “Judge Not” is especially pertinent. We can’t prejudge those that profess the Lord Jesus Christ yet continue sinning. We cannot claim to know “they are definitely going to hell.” That will be Christ’s job as they stand before His Throne. Let’s just say, I don’t want to be in that hot seat and neither should you. These people will have much explaining to do. I fully confess that I am a fallible sinner, but with every fiber of my being, I choose not to be a presumptuous sinner. If you want more explanation on this issue here’s a link from www.dayofrepentance.org:
Let’s begin. First let’s examine the meaning of the word “Tribulation” in both the Hebrew and Greek. It means: narrow, tight, straits, distress, adversary, foe, enemy, oppressor, pressing together, affliction, distress, compressed, to press (as grapes), to press hard upon. Now on to the 22 verses to enlighten us:
1) Deut 4:30 ~ Scripture says “When,” not “if” describing God’s people experiencing tribulation
2) Judges 10:14 ~ God mocks unbelievers and says “go ask your gods for help” during tribulation which suggests that believers get help during tribulation.
3) 1 Sam 26:24 ~ David asks for deliverance from tribulation by being merciful to another DURING tribulation. Clearly the Jewish race has experienced much tribulation in history.
4) Matt 13:21 ~ Tribulation will only be endured by those whose roots are deep, the shallow shall not endure.
5) Math 24:21 ~ End Times tribulation will be so severe, that unless God cut that time short…NO ONE WOULD SURVIVE IT. He specifically mentions “the Elect” of God. If we believe the premise that we are not to experience any end times tribulation at all, why would God have to “cut it short” in order to give the Elect a break?
6) Matt 24:29-30~ Jesus does not return until AFTER this Great Tribulation.
Let’s take a pause right here. Here in the NIV version is the ENTIRE SCRIPTURE, what the Bible literally says. To me it is “cut and dry,” I cannot understand how anyone is reading this differently.
For then there will be great distress
, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now-and never to be equaled again.
If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect
those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time.
~Matthew 24:21-25
“Immediately AFTER the distress (tribulation) of those days:
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
30 THEN will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And THEN all the peoples of the earth
(this has not happened yet–future event)
will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other
(Greek word “akron” meaning: from the uttermost parts of heaven AND earth-those both alive on the Earth and those previously dead in the faith).
~Matthew 24:29-31
Let’s continue:
7) Mark 13:24, 26 ~ In those days, after that TRIBULATION, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light…THEN they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
8) John 16:33
~ God tells us to maintain our peace during tribulation, as He will ultimately overcome the world.
9) Acts 14:22
~ We MUST go through tribulation in order to enter into the Kingdom of God
10) Romans 2:9 ~ Tribulation PLUS Anguish will be upon every soul that does evil. First to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. This suggests we are spared from ANGUISH alone if we repent now.
11) Romans 5:3 ~ We GLORY in tribulation because it produces the Fruit of Patience. WOW! We never hear that preached anymore!
12) Romans 8:35 ~ No tribulation will ever separate us from the Love of Christ.
(described as: distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril and sword)
13) Romans 12:12 ~ During tribulation, be patient and continue in prayer.
14) 2 Cor 1:4 ~ God comforts us in tribulation as we comfort others.
15) 2 Cor 7:4 ~ We are to be JOYFUL in tribulation.
16) 1 Thess 3:4 ~ VERILY ~ WE SHALL SUFFER TRIBULATION. (Again…no way to spin this verse!)
17) 2 Thess 1:6
~ We endure tribulation, THEN God pays back (recompense) those that trouble us.
18) Rev 1:9 ~ The Blessed brethren (Church) is our companion in tribulation.
19) Rev 2:9 ~ Revelation Church of Smyrna is described as facing tribulation, which makes them spiritually rich (although they are monetarily poor).
20) Rev 2:10 ~ For some of us, tribulation may include PRISON and POSSIBLY EVEN DEATH.
21) Rev 2:22 ~ GREAT Tribulation will afflict the adulterous Church.
22) Rev 7:14 ~ Those who pass successfully through tribulation shall serve God and dwell with God in Heaven around His Throne.
So, to sum up, what does God’s Holy Word say about tribulation?
As sincere Christians, tribulation should be expected, it will increase our faith, it will give us opportunities to exhort and comfort others, it will be experienced by all prior to His Second Coming, it is necessary for us to undergo, it will allow us to see our enemies receive recompense, it will increase the bonds of Unity for the Church, it will make us spiritually rich, and it will be the defining criteria of those serving God before His Throne.
ALL TWENTY-TWO verses, say absolutely NOTHING about getting a Disney Rapture FastPass or a special Golden Rapture Ticket to Willy Wonka’s Heavenly Chocolate Factory. This is simply childish and immature thinking albeit not surprising based on the current “Christian-lite” preaching that wins the “tickle our ears” award of the last two millennia.
Let me re-phrase this: In essence, when we say we want or expect NO TRIBULATION, we are literally saying:
We don’t wish to grow up, we don’t think there is any benefit to further purification, we don’t wish to assist any others into the Kingdom, and we don’t wish to offer comfort to the suffering.
IS THIS NOT THE VERY “ANTI-ESSENCE” OF CHRISTIANITY AND THE CHURCH’S FUNCTION???
Finally, let’s look what the Apostle Paul has to say on the matter of “staying” or “going.”
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
~Philippians 1: 20-26
We must go through tribulation so that we grow in Christ and, at the same time, be an example to non-believers so that many will come to repentance and enter His Kingdom. Tribulation is not only inevitable but, with the purification of the Holy Spirit, a BLESSING, to grow towards Christ.
For to you it has been GRANTED on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.
~Philippians 1:29
Tribulation is a precious gift, A SHARED EXPERIENCE, which causes us to love Him and each other all the more. Those who depend on “cheap grace” instead of true repentance risk missing the fullness of Christ and His eternal rewards.
Unlike Obama’s “Dream Act,” there is no easy “path to citizenship” in God’s Kingdom. The path is narrow, tight, difficult to pass through (likened to a camel passing through the eye of a needle). Those who disregard God’s Word, the Law-breakers who try to skirt the Law, will not receive amnesty–they will find the full weight of the Law coming down upon their heads. If you think you can mock God, keep dreaming…
Their present life is only a dream that is gone when they awake.
~Psalm 73:20
But, those who patiently wait in line, acknowledging their need for faithful obedience, fulfilling all of the King’s expectations and legal requirements; those who are zealous to repent and follow His path of purity…
They will become full-fledged citizens of God’s New Kingdom.
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“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My Throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His Throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
~Revelation 3:21-22 (NKJV)
Prayer:
Most High God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, Master of the Universe it is to You that we bow our knee. You require us to be a holy people as You are Holy. Open the eyes of Your Church to receive this timely and necessary instruction. Stiffen our backbones as we “gird up” for the current spiritual battle. Put a righteous desire upon our hearts to be salt and light to a dying world. Thank you for being with each of us as we go through tribulation. Let us willingly embrace, and not shy away from, suffering and persecution as we follow in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May we abide in You and seek Your covering. Our flesh would like to have this cup pass from us, but as your ways are higher than our ways, help us to say: “Not my will but Thine be done.”
~Amen
