or the hour of Christ’s return at the Rapture. But one day billions of people will suddenly vanish from the face of the earth. Are you ready?
- Dr. David Jeremiah
According to biblical prophecy, the Tribulation is a seven-year period that will begin immediately following the Rapture. Evil will spread without restraint. The diseases, natural disasters, wars, and devastation we see in our world today will pale in comparison to the atrocities to come. Toward the end, the Antichrist will sit at the helm of the world government and religion as he personifies Satan.
Although the Tribulation will be a terrible time, it will warn everyone on earth of God’s imminent and final judgment. We cannot prevent or delay its horrors, but we can prepare ourselves by studying God’s Word. It reveals everything we need to know about living in the World of the End.
God’s Word reveals everything we need to know about living in the World of the End.
The Rapture is the next event on God’s prophetic timeline and will occur without warning. But according to Matthew 24:5-14, a groundswell of phenomena will emerge subtly in the days leading up to the Rapture, warning that the Tribulation is drawing near. These signs will continue to multiply and progress in the first half of the seven-year Tribulation. They are:
“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (verse 5).
“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (verses 6-7).
“And there will be famines… in various places” (verse 7).
“And there will be… pestilences… in various places” (verse 7).
“And there will be… earthquakes in various places” (verse 7).
If you believe in Jesus, you’ll be saved during the Rapture. But what about the young kids in your life, like your children or the neighbor’s child? Are they safe if they’re too young to decide about eternity?
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"All these are the beginning of sorrows." –Matthew 24:8
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake” (verse 9).
“And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another” (verse 10).
“Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many” (verse 11).
“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (verse 12).
“And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations” (verse 14).
"…And then the end will come." –Matthew 24:14
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Today, God’s extension of grace ends with the death of one who rejects Christ. At the Rapture, God’s grace will end for anyone alive who has not accepted it. Those remaining on earth during the Tribulation will experience a “strong delusion,” likely aided by drug use. In that time, false religion will be characterized by what the apostle John calls “sorceries” (Revelation 9:21). John uses the word pharmakos, from which we get the word pharmacy. It is an ancient reference to the ingestion of drugs. Mind-altering substances such as narcotics and hallucinogens will be associated with false religions.
Second Thessalonians 2:10-11 tells us, “He [the Antichrist] will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies” (NLT). According to Revelation 13, the Beast and the Antichrist will mislead many by imitating the life of Christ. In the absence of God’s grace, most who rejected the Gospel before the Tribulation will be unable to detect these ruses.
The best preparation for the Tribulation is making sure we are not around for it. Scripture urges, “Behold, now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Don’t expect to outwit God’s plan. One day soon, the Lord will return. If you have rejected Him, the day of opportunity will be lost. While it will be possible to get right with God during the Tribulation, Satan will have more power to oppose you than ever before.
If you haven’t already, confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, and trust Him to be your Savior. Accept God’s gift of eternal life while there is still time. Once that is settled, carry out Christ’s commission to take His message to the very ends of the earth (Matthew 28:19-20). A select few will receive grace during the Tribulation, but for now, it is our responsibility to share the Gospel with anyone who will listen.
If you want to know more about becoming a Christian, please request a free copy of my booklet, Your Greatest Turning Point.
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