"A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever: but thou, LORD, art most high for evermore."(Psalms 92:6-8)
The Deadly Tribulation
The earlier discussion in the previous parts of this series should have allowed a basic picture to be formed about the widespread celestial devastation which shall occur at the final end of this rebellious world. Let us now consider those days leading up to this final end. The Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed the following:
"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."(Matthew 24:21-22)
So, what are the words above speaking about? What do they indicate will be happening upon this earth, as we approach the end of this world?
Concerning the Tribulation
Just before the end of the world, there will be an extremely intense time of tribulation upon this earth. It will be the most horrible tribulation and period of bloodshed that this earth has ever experienced. It will be worse than the brutal torture and gruesome murders perpetrated in earlier times by the Catholic Church during their bloody Crusades and Inquisitions.
During the great tribulation, things will be worse than those things which occurred during the French Revolution and Reign of Terror. It will be worse than the atrocities practiced in Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany. It will be worse then those things perpetrated by Catholic Croatia on non-Catholics, during the World War Two era, which are spoken about in the pages linked below. It will be worse than the times of bloodshed perpetrated by Pol Pot and Stalin. All these may look tame in comparison.
Because of the intensity of the brutality and horror of this tribulation which is coming in the days ahead, fragile civilization may break down completely and utter chaos will reign. People may become worse than vicious, bloodthirsty animals. Except that God would shorten those days and put an end to them, using his mighty power, no flesh would be saved. In other words, if God did not put an end to these evil days, the human race would ultimately exterminate itself.
In relation to these things, the Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed:
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."(Matthew 24:29-31)
Do you see how the above passage from the uncorrupted Holy Bible presents similar events to those other passages which were presented in the earlier parts of this series? Immediately prior to the darkening of the sun's light and the stars falling from heaven, there shall be this brutal and savage tribulation. And, when the wicked of this earth believe that they have exterminated the true people of God and they can then have peace in their wickedness and corruption, then sudden destruction shall come upon them, at the return of the authentic Lord Jesus Christ.
The True Order
At this point, let us make one thing very clear. In the passages of Scripture above, the Lord Jesus Christ declared the true order in which things shall occur upon this earth, as we approach the end. There shall be a period of immense, deadly tribulation which will last for a certain period of time. Again, it will be the most horrible time of brutality and bloodshed ever experienced upon this earth.
Immediately after this horrible tribulation, there shall be signs in the heavens and the stars shall fall to the earth. Yes, the very stars (which includes asteroids and comets) shall swiftly come crashing down upon this earth in a mighty barrage. Dust, ash and smoke will fill the air, making it like night, in the midst of the day. The light of the sun and moon shall not be clearly seen from the face of the earth, like they are now.
After the above things occur, the sign of the return of Christ shall be seen in the heavens. At this point, all the tribes of the earth shall see Christ coming with power and great glory, and they shall mourn. Why? Because they know that the massive judgment will quickly be starting. The people of the world will now be greatly punished for their utter wickedness, plus willful rebellion and arrogance against the God of heaven.
At this point, let us seriously consider a very important piece of information.
Going Through the Tribulation
The order set by the clear words of the Lord Jesus Christ should be closely noted. He will not gather his people to him to meet him in the air, before the tribulation. There will be nothing like a "pre-trib" rapture, such as is commonly taught in the churches of today. Yes, many religious people and organizations of our day teach the doctrine of a "pre-trib" rapture, but these teachings are not in accordance with the very plain words of Jesus Christ.
It appears that the "pre-trib" teachings are commonly taught in the churches and organizations which are associated, in one way or another, with the organization of the man of sin, who the uncorrupted Holy Bible also calls the son of perdition. The unbiblical "pre-trib" teachings appear to be welcomed by those who are fearful of the times ahead. In regards to this, let us consider the following words of Scripture.
It is clearly written: "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."(Revelation 21:8)
According to the written word of God, it is not a time to be fearful or to put forth "feel-good" or deceptive doctrines. It is time for only the pure truth. It is also time to look to God for our strength and help, that we may stand true in the days of the horrendous trial which is rapidly approaching. It is a time to diligently study the uncorrupted Holy Bible and ask God for true faith and understanding, and that wisdom which comes from Him.
The people of God; and indeed, the whole human race which is alive at that time; will go through the devastating tribulation. It appears that no one will disappear off this earth to escape it. During this intense period of triblulation, great numbers of people shall lose their lives. Even many true Christians may lose their lives during this time. The Holy Bible speaks of these things, so why should we try to run away from the truth?
But there is something worse to consider. Many people shall lose their faith in God and in Christ during the tribulation period. Why? Because they have been programmed to believe they will be wisked out of here in a so-called "pre-trib" rapture. And, when it does not happen that way, they will believe that God has left them behind and they are lost. Then they will turn and give themselves to the wicked one, just as the man of sin --- the one called the son of perdition --- wants it to happen.
So again, look to the pure truth shown in the uncorrupted Holy Bible. Immediately after the tribulation ends, Christ shall return. At this point, he shall send his angels to gather his elect together from every direction upon this earth. Please note: by the very words of Jesus Christ, this gathering together of his people to him will not occur before or during the tribulation. It is clearly shown that this gathering together of God's people will occur immediately after the tribulation has ended. Clearly, this is what the Lord Jesus Christ declared.
A Falling Away
Since we are living in the end times, there are things which we need to take to heart. The following passage comes from the uncorrupted Holy Bible:
"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."(II Thessalonians 2:1-4)
The above passage of Scripture shows that there will be a falling away, before the day of the Lord occurs. Indeed, the masses of people shall fall away from the genuine doctrine and truth of Christ and God. They shall fall away from the teaching of the cross of Christ and the need for crucifying the flesh and its worldly lusts and desires. In this falling away from the truth of God and Christ, the people will then follow false, feel-good types of doctrines and a god and christ which is different from the true God and Christ shown in the Scriptures.
Once again, there is something to consider, because it is very important. Because of its seriousness, the following truly needs to be taken to heart. The organizations associated with the man of sin are flooding this world with lies and deceptions. These lies and deceptions lead people away from the authentic truth of God and Christ. The lies and deceptions perpetrated by the organizations of the man of sin lead people on the way to eternal destruction.
Again, it appears that those who believe in the false doctrine of a "pre-trib" rapture are being set up for the fall. It appears that they will be in for a very rude awakening in the times ahead. They will be in for this rude awakening, because they neglected to look closely at and believe the simple words of Jesus Christ: those words which state that he will return immediately after the tribulation to gather his people.
When the tribulation gets intense and really horrible, the "pre-trib" people may lose whatever faith they had. Once again, they will likely fall away, because they will believe that they must not have ever been one of God's people or else they would have been "raptured" already. At that point, all their beliefs may be "thrown to the wind" and they may wholeheartedly give themselves to Satan and follow whatever is the popular world belief or religion.
In relation to the above thought about "pre-trib" people losing their faith in the midst of the tribulation, let us consider another important point. It appears that a certain segment of the population is already being prepared or preconditioned for potentially losing their faith by books with titles like "Left Behind." Need I say more.
Not A Love for The Truth
In relation to the previous thoughts, let us consider the following Scripture.
It is written: "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."(II Thessalonians 2:8-12)
When Christ returns, he shall destroy the wicked one: that one whose coming was a result of the working of Satan. The wicked one shall readily deceive those who do not have a genuine love for the plain truth of God. Again, these people shall perish: they will not be saved, because they did not have a genuine love for God's truth.
To many, it appears that a genuine "love of the truth" is a rather small and unimportant thing. Yet, in the eyes of God, it is an extremely important thing. A genuine love of the truth, or the lack of it, is the difference between eternal life and eternal destruction in the lake of fire.
Let us consider what the passage at the beginning of this section, which comes from the uncorrupted Holy Bible, is really saying. Because the people do not have a genuine love for the real truth, God shall then send them strong delusion. In their delusional state, they will no longer understand the very simple words spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ and they will readily follow after the false "truths" presented by the man of sin.
In place of the genuine truth, those who do not have a love of the truth shall be given a lie to believe. They shall be given a false religion, with false doctrines to believe. It appears that the doctrine of a pre-trib rapture is just one of those lies which is contrary to the plain words of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A Killing Frenzy
Let us now consider the horrid tribulation which will occur upon this earth for a period of time, shortly before the end of the world when the authentic Lord Jesus Christ returns. There will be much unrest on this earth. This unrest may be part of that which ultimately initiates the killing spree during the tribulation. In this tribulation, it appears that people of this world will be savagely killing one another. It should be noted that this killing is already occurring on this earth in many situations.
Consider the drug wars in Mexico, plus the drug-related skirmishes occurring in other places of this world, and the numerous people being killed each day because of them. Consider the killing which goes on in the Middle East, as rivals fight each other. Consider killings done by terrorist organizations. Consider the killing which is performed by the many militaries of this world.
Then, after all of the things mentioned above are considered, consider the mass murder of the innocent unborn, via abortion. And things only grow steadily worse, because of the rebellion of humanity against the God of heaven. Possibly in our particular life, we may be somewhat insulated from what is truly going on in this world. But, our world is like a "powder keg" which is waiting to explode.
During the tribulation, it appears that even "good friends," neighbors and allies may be killing one another. It appears that these people will have no control over themselves once Satan has them under his spell, but will do those horrid things which God allows them to do. They will do these things because God will turn them completely over to their own evil hearts. Because of their rejection of God and his true way, he will turn them over to a reprobate mind. This will occur, because of the willful wickedness and disobedience of the masses of people.
In the next part in this series, let us look to the Word of God and consider a few examples of the control which the Spirit of God can have over humans and nature, when he desires to do so for his purpose. Let us also consider the control which other spirits, especially the spirit of Satan, may have over humans or nature, when mankind entertains spirits which are different from the genuine Spirit of God.