Birth Pangs and Fig Trees, Part 11

Today we continue looking into what it might look like for a believer entering the 70th week of Daniel. For many people it won't look too bad. For the better than two-thirds of the world's population that goes to bed hungry, they might even see some improvement. For those who live in "the west" (specifically in the USA, Canada and parts of western Europe) there will no doubt be some major adjustments. The post 2008 recession is just an indicator. I believe many of the luxuries, which we in the west take for granted, will be much harder to come by. This is not totally bad, as some will come to understand that less can be more, discovering those intangibles which are truly valuable.




That said, I believe the things which Jesus, Paul and Peter said would happen, will happen. We have covered those which Jesus spoke of in earlier blogs, so what about Paul and Peter? First of all, I must make it absolutely clear that Paul stated emphatically that the church would be here on planet earth during the first half of Daniel's seventieth week, a/k/a "the beginning of sorrows." (Matt. 24:8, Luke 13:8 KJV). He says quite plainly in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 that the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (not written for the Jews) and our being gathered to Him (the Rapture) had not come, as they had been falsely taught. Also, it would not come until two things happened first: 1) the rebellion (the Great Apostasy) occurs, and 2) the man of lawlessness (described more fully as none other than the Antichrist) is revealed. This occurs when he commits the act in the rebuilt Jewish temple described by Jesus as "the abomination that causes desolation" prophesied by Daniel. (Matthew 24:15)




Some time after that even the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the instantaneous change of all living believers followed closely by all being raised together to meet the Lord in the air will happen. This is commonly referred to as the Rapture (Greek "harpazo" for catching away was translated into Latin using the Latin word "rapturo" from which we get our English transliteration, "Rapture." Thus, the event is mentioned in Scripture more than once [1 Thess. 4:13-18, 2 Thess. 2:1, Matt. 24:40-41, 1 Cor. 15:51-54, et al] even though you will not find the word "Rapture" in most Bible translations.).




So what happens before the Rapture takes place. There are the increased intensity and severity of natural phenomena, such as earthquakes. There will be an increase in wickedness and war. There will be false peace in the midst of the war. There will be a continual movement towards one world government, economy and religion (with the one world religion ultimately being despised by this Satan-inspired movement. Global government and economics will gradually look more and more like Marxism of Fascism. Individual liberties will be revoked, including freedom of speech and freedom of religion. The Constitution of the United States is already being ignored by the power structure in Washington, D.C.




As individual religious freedom begins to disappear from our Society, organized religion will begin to look more and more like the permitted religions in totalitarian states today. (like the TSPM in China). The biblical/Christian distinctness of the church will publicly disappear, as the church more and more resembles the culture. We see this already with so many churches embracing abominable practices, or condoning abominable practices, or at least not wanting to confront abominable practices. This will get worse. Paul summarizes his end-times headlines in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 with this remark - "having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."




I'll close today by quoting the Life in the Spirit Study Bible commentary on 2 Timothy 2:5. "Paul refers to those who profess to be Christians and appear to be religious, but who do not manifest God's power that can save them from sin, selfishness and immorality. Such people tolerate immorality within their churches and teach that a person may practice the sins listed in vv. 2-4 and yet inherit salvation and God's kingdom." This is contrasted by the statement in 2 Timothy 2:13, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted..."


Be encouraged by these words of Paul as he begins to sign off in this second letter to Timothy: "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen."