The Rapture of the Church Explained
Dear Uncle Brock,
This is Marshall Taylor, your Nephew. Right now you’re probably in shock or maybe you aren’t. I know that you used to be a Christian. Please, if you already haven’t, accept Christ as soon as possible. You most likely know what is to come. Your family is in heaven with Jesus. Please don’t be discouraged.
-Marshall Taylor
Dear One and All,
I am writing to you because I know that if anyone in the family is concerned about our whereabouts, it will be you who bothers to check on us if possible, by making a trip down here unless Marshall Law has been declared because of the current chaotic condition. It has been my desire for a number of years to leave something behind in case we are strangely missing, along with many thousands (or millions) of other people.
I know how strange this must sound, and I feel rather ridiculous to be writing such a page, yet feel an unexplained urgency to do so. It is currently the end of February 1998, however when you read this it will be later on in the future sometime at an undetermined date. I’m afraid you will someday look back on past conversations, and see that we were right all along. By then it may be too late, unless it’s early in the game and you will listen now…please, your life is at stake here.
My first piece of advice to you is…don’t trust anybody…especially the government or news media. What they are telling you regarding this massive disappearance is NOT, I repeat NOT the truth! If you are believing them, you are under a strong false delusion. Right now, however you need to know what happens next. Please leave room for human error…I never claimed to be a prophet. For truth and accuracy regarding what will be happening right now and for the next 7 years, read the book of Revelation in the Bible starting with chapter four.
And what do we say to you, now that we are gone and you all remain? I guess, study. Study, read, see if what I am saying to you and what is happening in the world is consistent with Biblical scripture. If what I am saying to you is true, then consider who Jesus was. Read the Gospel of John for that information. We would plead with you to recognize who He is and invite Him to be your Lord and Savior now, while you still have a chance… before you must stand before Him in judgment. It will be too late then. The world is now in judgment; there is still time, albeit short. Like a woman in labor with pain increasing intensity and frequency, so the events soon to take place will deliver you up to the battle of Armageddon.
Where’d Everybody Go?
Right now, I’m sure there’s a tremendous battle going on, with various points of view trying to explain why millions of people just suddenly vanished. (And we are assuming at this particular point in time, and from what the Bible seems to indicate, that this will be a literal physical disappearance). Because it’s likely that the media will be teaming with possible explanations for the disappearances, most likely the final explanation will be that we were all abducted by aliens. Don’t buy it! What I will do is tell you what did cause this supernatural event, and it was supernatural. The mass disappearance of all these people was the result of the Lord Jesus Christ removing all true believers, [those of us who acknowledge Jesus Christ as being the only true God Who died in our place, rising from the dead three days later, and who we have asked personally to forgive our sins and be the Lord of our lives], from off the earth. This catching up of the true believer into heaven is referred to as the rapture the Church. Maybe you remember us talking about that in times past. Those of us who are true believers have been looking forward to Jesus returning for some time now, and especially because most of the signs of His coming have taken, or are taking place right now. Anyway…this is what happened…
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thess. 4:16-17)
This event is known as, the rapture (or the catching up) of the church. The original Greek word for “caught up” means to “snatch by force”. Don’t look for the word “rapture” in the Bible…it’s not there.
Why Didn’t He Take Me?
Because you are reading this after the rapture, you need to realize that you have been left behind.
At this time you may be feeling rejected by God. You might be saying to yourself, “Why didn’t he take me?” or “I don’t understand; I’ve led on good life.” The problem wasn’t that God rejected you; the problem is that you have rejected Him. By not believing and committing your life to Jesus, you have left him with no other choice but to leave you behind. God is a gentleman and won’t force Himself on anybody.
“And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son, has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” (1 John 5:11-12)
Is There Hope For Me?
Depending on how early you read this, you may have heard people say, “Because we’ve missed the rapture, we are lost forever.” If you do hear something like this, whoever they are, there assumption is flat wrong. As long as you have breath in your lungs, you can gain salvation by trusting in Jesus Christ as your Savior.
“… him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.”(John 6:37)
“Come unto me, all that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.(Matthew 11:28)
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”(John 1:12)
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”(Isaiah 1:18)
According to Revelation, there will be a huge number of people saved during the tribulation. Some scholars have predicted that tribulation believers would grow to out number the saints that were just raptured.
“After these things, I looked, and, behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, and all tribes and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palm branches in their hands;” (Revelation 7:9)
“…And he said to me, These are the ones who come out of great tribulation, and they have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14)
Why do I need Jesus Christ to be my Savior?
To be allowed to pass through the gate’s of heaven you need to have all your sins removed, and the only industrial strength cleanser that I know is strong enough to thoroughly remove sin stains is the blood of Jesus Christ. You could say heaven is much like the “clean rooms” where computer companies make their microchips, or an operating room where sin is like dirt or any other airborne contagion that might try to find its way into one those rooms.
The manufacturing process for microchips requires “clean rooms” to be absolutely spotless, having virtually zero free-floating dust or dirt particles that could damage the delicate microchips. Because humans are naturally contaminated with all kinds of dirt and dust particles, whenever a worker enters one of these “clean rooms,” they need to wear a special suit that prevents them from giving off particles. To prevent heaven from becoming contaminated with sin particles, God has long set the requirement that anyone desiring to enter into his untarnished dwelling place needs to be covered in the blood of Jesus.
The sin decontamination process is very simple – your simply ask Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for it. First you admit your sinful state, then you ask Jesus to forgive you of your wrong-doings, and then you ask Him to become the Lord in your life.
By dying on the cross, Jesus has made it possible for each of us to be granted a full pardon from the punishment of eternal damnation. The reason so few people take God up on the offer of being pardoned is that most people don’t think they need a Savior or they want to find their own way of salvation. Your wealth cannot get you into heaven any more than your good works. Your wealth means nothing to God and is of no value…
‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” (Revelation 3:17)
“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” (Proverbs 11:4)
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” (Ephesians 2:9-10)
There is absolutely nothing we can do to obtain righteousness, not infant baptism, the faith of our parents, or other good works included. When we accept Jesus, we put off our old filthy rags and put on Jesus’ righteousness.
‘Jesus said, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” (John 14:6)
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”(Matthew 16:24-26)
“…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shall be saved; for with the heart man believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth he confesses resulting in salvation.” Romans 10:9-10)
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”(John 3:16)
There Will be Strong Delusion
Jesus foretold that false prophets would arise using “great signs and wonders” to trick people into believing satanic lies. Now, the Antichrist arrives on the scene. A man who is the head of a ten-nation confederacy, most probably the EU, who makes or confirms a peace contract with Israel. He seems to solve all the problems of the world and he will seem like the most benevolent leader that has ever held office. However, by the end of the tribulation, he will easily make the likes of Hitler and Stalin look like,” good ole boys.”
“…the one coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not love the truth so as to be saved. And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-11)
” For there shall arise false Christ’s, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; inasmuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matt. 24:24)
Because the lies of the Antichrist and false prophets will be so pervasive, you will need to assume everything and anything in the mass media is tainted doctrine. Your only source for the truth must now exclusively come from the Bible.
Do Not Trust Christian Leaders
In the coming days, you are going see and hear messages from some of the biggest names in Christendom on radio and TV, and these messages won’t be ones recorded before the rapture. The broadcasts you’ll be hearing will be either be live or taped after the rapture. They will be from religious leaders that have also been left behind. Millions of people may be being reassured by the religious media that their favorite Christian celebrity is still here on earth. I expect most of these well-know leaders, possibly out of embarrassment, will be working feverishly to disprove the rapture event. Many religious and political leaders will be attempting to persuade you into believing some logical explanation for the rapture-all will be contrary to the word of God.
Enduring to the End
Well, here comes the unpleasant news. You will likely have to choose martyrdom if you wish to maintain your commitment to Jesus Christ. There will be no middle ground. During this period of time, you will have to choose between two masters – the new World Leader (Antichrist) or Jesus Christ.
Your decision to follow Jesus will not be a popular one. The majority of the world’s populous will soon be falling captive to the Antichrist’s hypnotic words. Because true believers will refuse to join the chorus of praise, the Antichrist will demand that all nonconforming Christians be put to death.
“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindred’s, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man has an ear, let him hear. He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.” Revelation 13:7-10)
“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” (Revelation 6:9-11)
At first it may seem rather easy to secretly be a follower of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, very soon the Antichrist will be requiring everyone to receive a mark in their right hand or forehead. This electronic implant or tattoo will be the means by which everyone buys and sells goods and services. If you do not have this implant, it will become quiet obvious.
“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”( Revelation 13:17)
Because the Bible says that everyone who receives this implant (mark of the beast) will be eternally lost, I’m going to highly advise you to decline the offer when the government informs you, they have your implant ready for insertion.
“And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:11)
In the coming persecution, you will likely be faced with the greatest amount of trials that Christians have ever had to endure in world history.
The good news here is that you will know how long you will have to endure. >From the time the Antichrist declares himself to be God (in the newly rebuild Jewish temple in Jerusalem) , there will be only 1260 days until Christ returns to earth.
“And you shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10:22)
Post-Rapture Survival Guide
Let me be real frank with you. If you are reading this manual and the rapture has already occurred, then you probably are not going to physically survive; you most likely will die. This manual is about the survival of your soul. The horrible things which are about to come upon the earth are listed below, however, some are interpretations or speculations of scriptural passages. Whether they are literal or only somewhat accurate, you are going to go through terrible suffering. The first 3-1/2 years will be a picnic, the last 3-1/2 years will be a literal hell. The only question is whether you will go to heaven or go to hell when you die. Know this, however, that you have the longest seven years of your life ahead of you right now.
Definition: Rapture- This is the event that will occur when Jesus calls His followers (both gentile and Jewish believers) with a trumpet blast, and in the “twinkling of an eye” they will be removed from the earth and transported to be with Jesus in the heavens.
Biblical Foundation for the Rapture
“Take notice, I am telling you a secret. We shall not all die but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet call. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall all be changed. ” I Corinthians 15:51-52
“For with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God, the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven, and those who died in Christ will rise first. Afterward we, the living who remain, will be caught up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall forever be with the Lord.” I Thessalonians 4:16-17
“…For I am going away to prepare a place for you. And when I have gone and have prepared a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself so that where I am, you also will be.” John 14:2-3
Signs of the Times
When Jesus disciples asked Him about the signs that would be a precursor to His coming and the end of the age He responded that there would be (Matthew chapter 24):
� Wars and rumors of wars
� Nation will rise against nation. It is very interesting to note that the Greek word that is translated as nation is “ethnos” which deals with ethnic background and race. Most of the wars and conflicts in the 1980’s and 1990’s were wars amongst ethnic groups and tribes.
� Kingdom will rise against kingdom
� Famines
� Earthquakes “these will be like the early pangs of childbirth”, that is, as the time grows nearer and nearer to His coming, the frequency and intensity of these five signs will increase.
� The followers of Jesus will be handed over to be persecuted and killed -This is happening with more frequency in the Moslem controlled nations in the Middle East and in Africa where Black Moslems are enslaving Black Christians.
� Christians will be hated by all nations on account of His name. In many parts of the world Christians are jailed and killed for their beliefs; in the United States those who are Christians are hated by the media and liberals and are known by the code words “religious right”.
� Many will fall away…that is, many who claimed to be Christians will recant their faith and betray and hate Christians.
� Many false prophets will ariseand deceive many.
� Due to excessive lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold
After the Rapture
Shortly after the rapture, a seven year period known in the Bible as the Great Tribulation will take place. It will begin with the confirmation of a peace agreement between Israel and her enemies and it will end with the physical return of Jesus Christ to set up His kingdom on earth. In between will be seven years of terror for those on earth. The following events and trends will take place in increasing intensity during that seven year period (these events are not necessarily chronological):
� A man will arise who will achieve victory after victory both in politics and in war. This man, who should be easily identified by his rapid rise and popularity, is THE anti-christ. Many people believe that this person must be Jewish. That is, in order for Jews to accept him as Messiah, only a Jew will suffice. This is not necessarily the case; the Bible does not specify that he is a Jew, and it does not specify nationality. Only God-fearing Jews will require a Jewish Messiah. He is to come from a ten nation confederacy, the “revived Roman Empire”, most likely the European Union. The liberal ungodly Jews who dominate Israel will be as lost when it comes to Biblical truth as the gentiles of the world and will be deceived by his charisma, and more than likely, the desires of the world’s media.
� The “world dictator” (anti-christ) will allow the Jewish Temple to be re-built in Jerusalem where three and a half years after confirming a peace contract with Israel will break that contract and will go into the Jewish Temple and proclaim that he is God and is to be worshipped. He makes an image of himself to be worshipped.
� People will be required by the world dictator to receive a mark (possibly a tattoo or an implant) in their right hand or forehead in order to buy and sell. Those who receive this mark will develop a “loathsome and malignant sore” on their bodies with short period of time.
� A third of the earth, one-third of all trees and all the green grass will be burned up due to a comet or meteor (speculated), that hits the earth.
� Violence will increase in all parts of the world both nation against nation (ethnic wars) and domestically. Men will indiscriminately slay one another as peace will be removed from the earth.
� There will be extreme inflation, poverty, and lack of food. One day’s wages will buy enough food for one day for one person. The richer you are, the better.
� In a very short period of time, one-quarter of the earth’s population will be killed due to wars, famine, pestilence and wild beasts. These wild beasts could be literal and/or could very well be viruses, bacteria and other microbes. In late 1995 Time magazine ran a cover story on the rise of new infections and called microbes “malevolent little beasts”.
� Many people will experience a religious conversion and become followers of Jesus Christ and most of these people will be hunted down and killed.
� There will be a great earthquake, the sun will be blackened, the moon will turn red and all mountains and islands (which are underwater mountains) will be moved.
� There will be a brief period of calm on the earth following this great earthquake which will give those who survive a false sense of security.
� A meteor, a nuclear weapon, or maybe a volcanic eruption (speculated), will hit the earth causing the sea to become like blood (possibly coagulated), killing one-third of all sea creatures and destroying one-third of all shipping.
� A “star” named Wormwood (bitterness) will fall from the sky and poison one-third of all fresh water killing many people. It is interesting to note that the Russian word, “Chernobyl” means bitterness.
� The sun, moon and stars will be darkened by one-third. The day and night will be reduced by one-third. There is some speculation that this means the rotation of the earth will be changed so that a day lasts only 16 hours instead of 24 hours.
� Fearsome locust-like beings will be released from underground who only attack people who have the mark in their forehead or right hand, who are not followers of Jesus Christ. These attacks will be very painful but last only 5 months. People will try to commit suicide, but can’t die.
� Two men (known as witnesses, see item 6 below) of Jewish origin will preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ for 3 1/2 years and be killed at the midpoint of the 7 year tribulation. These two will be responsible for a 3 1/2 year world-wide drought
� The oceans will chemically change and become like the blood of a dead man (coagulated?) and everything in the sea will die.
� The fresh waters will become like blood.
� The sun will scorch the people on earth with fierce heat.
� The throne of the world leader (anti-christ) and his kingdom will become darkened.
� The Euphrates river will dry up allowing the armies from the orient to march westward.
� Possible nuclear exchange, modern warfare escalating to the point of near destruction of mankind and the earth.
� The kings of the world will gather their armies together to battle God at the Valley of Mageddo. There will be a great earthquake, so great that all the mountains and islands will disappear. There will be hailstones weighing close to 100 pounds that will crush the armies that have gathered.
� Shortly after this great earthquake, Jesus Christ will return with His army to claim the earth as His possession.
The Two Witnesses
These two Jewish men are God’s gift to the people of the earth who refused to submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ prior to the rapture, but who will recognize the error in their life and seek God knowing the terrible mistake they have made. These two men will proclaim the gospel and provide hope for those left behind. Their message is for the salvation of the soul and to eternal life. Listen to what these two men are preaching and turn to God.
The Bible does not say who these two men are. Many speculate that they are Elijah and Enoch, who never died, or Elijah and Moses, two ancient prophets of God . Regardless of who they are, they will be responsible for many of the natural catastrophes that will reek havoc on the property and economy of the earth. They will have the power to prevent rain, and there will be a 3 1/2 year draught on earth until they die. They will turn water into blood and cause all kinds of plagues on earth and in general make life miserable for those who are living on earth. If anyone tries to harm them, the witnesses will “consume them with fire out of their mouths.” They will be invincible. Only the world dictator will be able to kill them, and only then, when God allows it.
The purpose of all the misery that these two witnesses inflict on the earth dwellers is to turn people back to God in repentance. The misery will be so great that when the world dictator does finally kill these two men, the world will rejoice in a Christmas-like celebration, giving gifts to one another. It will have world-wide TV coverage. Three and one-half days after their death they will be resurrected and in full view of the entire population of the world ascend to heaven at the command of God when He calls them to “Come up here”.
The 144,000 Jewish Witnesses
Shortly after the rapture, God will call His army of 144,000 new Jewish believers into service to provide a voice of hope for Jews throughout the world.
Money
Hard currency will become obsolete. However, at some point after the rapture, probably right after the two witnesses are killed, everyone will be required to get a mark on their right hand or forehead in order to buy and sell. Do not, do not, do not under any circumstances participate by receiving this mark. All those who receive this mark known as “the mark of the beast” are doomed for eternity. By taking this mark you are swearing allegiance to the anti-Christ. God will render judgment on those with the mark by inflicting them with a disgusting looking and very painful ulcer covering their bodies. So how can a person without the mark survive and still buy and sell? Again, this will almost be impossible, therefore, you may profit from saving up for you elf gold; gold has always had value as money and always will, even in a cashless society
Safety Concerns
This era will be the most violent of times in the history of the world. In order to survive this time, you need to remove yourself from society and live in a remote area that is difficult to access.
Health Concerns
You must build a supply of multiple vitamins with particular emphasis on anti-oxidants such as C and E and minerals. It will also be necessary to have a supply of disinfectants, particularly one that can be added to water to make it potable. If possible a get a portable water filter.
Above all, do not accept the mark of the beast on your right hand or forehead. If you do take the mark then nothing can be done for you. I hope and pray that we will have the privilege of welcoming you into the heavenly kingdom in seven years, but to do that the choice you make now to ask Christ into your life is now up to you. You can ignore our warnings as in the past, or you can watch and see what happens. See if what I am saying is true or not. But, don’t wait too long, and don’t take your life for granted that it will be here tomorrow. Regardless of what, or in whom your personal belief is in right now…remember that one day, “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
* Please note that most of this information has been downloaded from: http://www.raptureready.com
Please go there for more comprehensive information.
Dear Loved Ones,
This is a bittersweet letter for us to write…we love you so…forgive us if we did not talk to you even more about Jesus than we did. We tried many times over the years: through just talking, helping you without grumbling whenever we could….but somehow, the walls were always up with both of you…a hardness we could never get past.
But do know, dear loved ones, that we did pray…we stormed Heaven’s Gates for you…we fasted and we prayed…so do know, that even though we are not there, God will honor those prayers and Scriptures claimed for you on your behalf..these are still at work in your life. God’s Word will not come back void. He has promised us this. Please remember this as you go through the coming days…you are surrounded by prayers said on your behalf…God will hear you if you get down on your knees and pray.
Do not listen to remarks that aliens have taken us away….that is a lie straight from the pit of hell…do know that we are with Jesus..we have been taken away as His Bride…We are now at the Wedding Feast! The Rapture has occurred! You both will discover, the world will discover, that the only common denominator against all of us missing people is that we all have a personal faith in Christ…Understand that many individuals, (we hope both of you included) will now begin to have an interest in the Prophecies made of the Rapture and begin to look to their Bibles for the answers! Believe us, your Bible is the only book you need now…nothing else…no videos, no tapes, no pc’s…only your Bible.
You will have to understand and now gain an acceptance that you are living in “supernatural times”…events of good and evil will begin to unfold before your eyes…For what has happened, Loved Ones, is that God has removed His Church from the world…but now, now you will see the Holy Spirit’s Work on Earth with even greater power than before…you will see countless conversions during the Tribulation. Yes, loved ones, you are in the Tribulation.
You are in the beginning of the first half of the Tribulation. The Tribulation will last for 7 years…both of you may live through it to see Jesus return or you may not…Either way, it is still not too late to repent and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior! Our prayer is that you both will be surrounded by others who have been left behind and now desire to have a relationship with Jesus…..Believe us…they will be out there.
So by now, both of you must be frantic …the house is empty..maybe some of your other friends are gone…your world must be turned upside down..it must be terrifying…..(my heart is aching and I am crying now as I write this letter from us…we love you both so … we … I must stop this and continue….) Yes, by now we know you are both frantic…but do not despair…it is not too late for anyone left behind….with Jesus while we live and breathe, it is never too late to repent and accept Him as Lord and Savior!
From what we understand of reading Scripture…please go into our room…you both will find our Bibles on our nightstand. It is very important now for both of you to read your Bible…it is your only chance for understanding your survival..both physically and spiritually.
Revelation tells us that their will be an “edgy” type of peace for the next three and a half years…but do not be lulled into this false peace…I don’t have to tell you where to go in Revelations…you know where this Book is in the Bible…throughout the years, we have asked the Holy Spirit to keep convicting you of all the Sunday School lessons you both had…of the discussions we had at home of Scripture….we are confident, now in your time of need, that the Lord will honor these prayers of long ago…we know that you both are now remembering Scripture long buried in your hearts and minds. We Praise God for this. God’s Hand has always been on your lives…just reach out now and take His Hand..no matter what comes!
Since the Rapture has occurred, everything is turned up-side down and chaos is the rule of the day, the anti-christ will now assume power to bring “peace and normalcy” into the world. He will be successful at this… The world will hail him as its savior…DO NOT BELIEVE THIS…SEE HIM FOR THE EVIL MAN HE IS! Do not assume that your life will be as it was before…it will not be…that life no longer exists for either of you…understand that! This new world ruler will rule with an iron hand that will make Hitler look kind in comparison.
You will see horrible things slowly begin to happen. It will be common to see things on the streets you often watched in “adventure movies”…people being murdered in front of your eyes..witchcraft abounding..a man may decide to rape a woman he sees and do it right in front of your eyes…who will be there to stop him? Rebellion against God will be rampart…you will witness humanity in its most perverse form.
Eventually, buying and selling will become very hard…even for the simplist of things..such as food. In order to buy, you will be demanded to take a universal mark…DO NOT DO THIS! The mark will make you recognizable as belonging to the anti-christ. We do not know how this mark will come to the world…it can be in an implanted micro-chip under your skin (like the one the veterinarian wanted to implant into Lilly’s neck and we said, “No”…remember?)Or, it could be something in the hand…remember when Daddy was shopping at Wal-Mart and the woman ahead of him at the check out line simply waved her hand over the scanner and up popped her Master Charge account? Remember Daddy telling us about this? It wasn’t that long ago…maybe a year ago or so…we told you both about that and you laughed at us…do not laugh now. It is real, evil and deadly.
To try and help you both for now, please go and look in the box behind the china cabinet…Daddy and I have deeded the house over to both of you…it will give you a place to live…for now. Also in that box you will find cash…we put in as much as we could…We don’t know how long our form of currency will be good…but it is there for your use.
The Holy Spirit also inspired me to do a lot of extra canning this summer… look down cellar in my canning kitchen…you will find enough vegetables, beans and other stuff that should last you both for a year or so. Try to save it for as long as possible. Daddy and I would suggest that you buy as much canned food as you can .. it might be wise to see if you can find a secret place to store this…as we told you before, buying and selling even of food will become hard..especially for those who do not accept the “mark”. People will become scavengers of food…they will kill for food…You might even put other provisions into this secret place…think of medicines, extra clothing,(make sure you have extra clothing for men, women and children..do not forget that you will meet other people who are now searching for Jesus…you will become as the First Century Church where the Christians had to hide in order to meet..these people will need help too…) bandages..blankets, batteries…don’t forget the oil lamps throughout our house….the oil for them is underneath the kitchen sink…hide these as well…
As you read in Revelation, you will see that there is this “false” peace for three and a half years…at the end of that time…if you are still on earth, the world becomes even worse…as we said before, man’s perversity becomes even worse…you will see the anti-christ die and rise again from the dead…do not be deceived…HE IS NOT OF THE LORD…it is at this time satan will inhabit him… ….satan was known as Lucifer in Heaven (read what he looked like before his fall…last chapter of Ezekiel…he was beautiful, he was loved by God..but Lucifer wanted what belonged to the Father) the anti-christ with satan in him, will now begin to perform counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders…he will try to deceive those who are perishing….Kings and governments will bow to his wishes…once he has full control…he will then begin the largest killing of Jews and Christians known to mankind…He will seek and destroy those who do not accept the mark and worship and bow down to him.
The longer you refuse the “mark” the more hated you will become by those who have accepted it…for they belong to the devil…you will be hunted..you will be persecuted…but do not give up…DO NOT BE AFRAID…Remember 2Tim 1:6..”For God has given you a spirit of Power and not of fear…” Simply put, loved ones…you can face whatever is coming after you. Have assurance that God still loves you … He has never stopped…just repent and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior….Remember your bodies are only temporary…eternity is forever. Have assurance, that even though we are with the Lord right now, we are continually interceding for both of you…and as we intercede, Jesus stands before the Throne of His Father petitioning for both of you…it is up to you, however, to make Jesus Lord in your lives…for that is the only way back to the Father…
By now, both of you will have figured out that there are three kinds of people left on earth: those who are following the anti-christ, the Tribulation Saints (those who have accepted Christ by faith and those who have returned to Christ) and the still undecided . Which one have you become?
During this last three and a half years both of you will see things in Nature as never seen before…horrible meteorite storms, volcanoes erupting, earthquakes..hurricanes, sickness…water turning bad…ocean life dying beyond belief…but take heart…should you survive these things…remember, God is in Control…
Loved Ones, all we can tell you now is not to be afraid…to repent…live your lives with Jesus in the Center of the them….spend your time in prayer..and always help others now who are searching for the Lord….know that until we meet again, we are continually praying and asking Jesus to intercede for both of you before His Father’s Throne…
With all our love and praying that we meet both of you in Heaven as Tribulation Saints…
Mom and Dad
Hey.
My name is Matt. I’m writing this near the end of August in the year 2000. I just turned twenty-four years old. You are reading this because recently a lot of people vanished from the face of the earth. Perhaps their clothes and jewelry just fell to the ground, their bodies disappearing without a trace. I’m sure you are wondering what happened, why it happened, and can it happen again. You’re reading this because you were not one of them. You are one of the people remaining on the earth. I’m writing this because I’m one of those who disappeared, and I want you to know why.
Some of this will not be easy to read, some truth never is. It may be hard to accept, some truth always seems to be. However, it is the truth, and my disappearance is a testimony to that fact. Not only that, but it may surprise you to know that what happened has been prophesied for millennia. It’s my obligation, in writing this letter, to let you know what happened, why it happened, and what’s in store. It’s my hope that you read this with an open mind, examine it for what it says, and think really hard about the ramifications.
First things first. Depending on how much time has passed since the sudden disappearance of millions, you may have heard several theories as to why. I’m sure the scientific community will try to come up with something. Perhaps some will even subscribe to an alien abduction theory. Those are simply not true.
Also, it’s my belief that from the time of the disappearances the earth as you know it only has a limited amount of time remaining. At least seven years, perhaps a few more.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, let me go ahead and tell you what happened. Have you ever heard the term “rapture”? Well that’s what has happened. Rapture means “snatched away.” The rapture is a term Christians have used to describe God’s calling up of His believers to Heaven. You may be asking yourself, “Wasn’t Jesus supposed to come back when this happened?” Well, not exactly. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is imminent, but not for at least another seven years. The rapture, the disappearance of millions, was a prelude to that. In 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, the apostle Paul states that “…we (Christians) will not all sleep, but we will be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised, imperishable, and we will be changed.”
Those who were alive and genuinely believed in Jesus Christ were the ones who disappeared. They didn’t die, but they were changed. Their physical bodies are no longer here on earth. They are in Heaven. Furthermore, those who believed in Jesus since the founding of the Church nearly two thousand years ago but died were also taken. You may find that some caskets buried in cemeteries are now empty.
Before I continue, it’s important that you know more about Jesus. He is the most important part of this. I’m sure you’ve heard of Him, but maybe have no clue as to who He really is. Well, to understand the rest of this letter, it’s imperative you understand who He is. So if you have one, I recommend you pull out a Bible. I will reference it for the duration of this letter. You will find it helpful.
Quite simply, Jesus is the Son of God; God in the form of a man. About two thousand years ago, God sent Him to earth to die for everyone’s sins. He is the Messiah that many Jews are still looking for today. Unfortunately they missed Him the first time, as did you. The good news is that you all have a second chance.
There are over one hundred prophecies concerning the Messiah in the Old Testament, books of the Bible all written at least four hundred years before Jesus was born. The first chapter of the book of the Matthew, the first book of the New Testament, goes through a genealogy, a family tree as it were, of Jesus. In fact, the very first verse of Matthew calls Jesus the Messiah “the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
Genesis is the first book of the Bible, written well over a thousand years before the birth of Christ. However, in that book (Genesis 12:3, 18:18) God says that through Abraham all the families of the earth shall be blessed, a reference to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Jesus coming from the lineage of David, the king of Israel, is foretold in Psalm 132:11, as well as in Isaiah 11:10, Jeremiah 23:5, and Jeremiah 33:15, all Old Testament references. There are also prophecies (Numbers 24:17) that the Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob. Jesus was (Matthew 1:2). All written at least hundreds of years before the birth of Christ.
Need more proof that Jesus is the Messiah? Isaiah 7:14 (Old Testament) tells us that the Messiah will be born of a virgin. Matthew 1:18-25 (New Testament) details how Jesus was born of the virgin Mary. It’s prophesied in Micah 5:2 that the Messiah would be born in the city of Bethlehem. Matthew 2:1 says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
Chapters 52 and 53 of Isaiah contain prophecies concerning the crucifixion of Jesus. Each of the first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), also called The Gospels, contain details concerning the Jesus’ crucifixion. I suggest reading the nineteenth chapter of John. Also read about His resurrection on the third day, also prophesied in the Old Testament.
But you need to know why Jesus was crucified. If it was prophesied for centuries before it happened, why did it happen? Why did it have to happen? Before you know that, you need to realize something. Even though you were left behind, God loves you. God loves you as much as He loves those He took to Heaven. In fact, one of the most famous verses of the Bible speaks of God’s love:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son; that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
God loves the world… everybody. So God loves you, but that still doesn’t really answer the question of why you were left behind. Why weren’t you raptured? Well, quite simply, God sent Jesus to die for your sins, but you didn’t believe in Him, and trust in Him as your Lord and Savior. Let me tell you why you needed to do that.
1.You’re A Sinner – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
I sinned, you sinned. Everyone has sinned, except for Jesus. He was, is, and always will be God. We aren’t God, so we fall short of Him.
2.Because You’re A Sinner, You Deserve To Die – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Because we have all sinned we all deserve to die, but God sent Jesus as a free gift. He took our place on that cross. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says “He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf…” I’ll discuss the second half of that first in a moment. Because Jesus was sinless, perfect, He didn’t deserve to die. However, we did. But He died for us so we don’t have to. God can’t permit sin into Heaven, so for us to be able to spend be with God in Heaven, a way needed to be provided so we might be made righteous. The second half of that verse, 2 Corinthians 5:21: “… so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Since Jesus took the place of our sin, we are made righteous; therefore we can be with God. That’s a free gift of eternal life. So why the gift?
3.God Loves You – “But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 We didn’t deserve it, but God loves us so much that even though we are sinners, even though we live 2000 years after Christ died, He still died for us. No matter who you are and no matter what you’ve done, God loves you. That’s ultimate, unconditional love.
4.Confess And Believe – “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9; “for Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13 You’ve got to believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, that God sent Him to die in your place. You have to earnestly receive Him as your Lord and Savior, and confess it with your mouth. You can’t be ashamed of it. Part of really believing it is making it known.
5.Remember, Jesus is the only way – “…I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” John 14:6 No matter what anyone else might tell you, the Word of God is clear. There is no other way to Heaven, no other way to experience eternal life with God. Jesus is the answer… the only answer.
If you want to become a Christian, I’m going to give you the chance right now. Maybe you don’t even need to read the rest. Maybe you’re already convinced that Jesus is for real. Perhaps you knew people who were Christians that are gone. Well, if you want to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you can do it right now. Pray this prayer with all your heart.
“Lord, I am a sinner. I confess to you that I am not worthy of the gift you’ve given me. I believe that you sent Your Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins. I don’t deserve that, but I recognize that You love me and that Jesus is the only way. Thank you for that gift. I also believe that You have power over death. I believe that You can give me eternal life because I believe that You raised Jesus from the dead. I recognize that You are the one and only God. I commit my life to You. Please be my Lord and Savior. I know now that You love me. I love You, too, Lord. Thank You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
If you prayed that and meant it, you are a Christian. I congratulate you and am excited for you. I praise the Lord for your decision. The Bible says that angels rejoice when someone invites Jesus Christ into their life, so rest assured that if you did pray that prayer there’s a party going on in Heaven. If you didn’t pray that prayer, I continue to pray that you will make a decision for Christ. Rest assured, everyone will make a decision about Christ, either to accept Him or reject Him, but I pray you make the right one. The rest of this will not be easy to read, whether you are a Christian or not. However, rest assured that if you are a Christian, this thing has a happy ending.
You may be thinking, “How can a God that loves so much leave people behind?” Well, God is not only loving, but He is also just. He is the one true God, and He will not tolerate sin. He will not put up with people worshipping anything but Him. He loves you, but you have to make the choice to love Him and serve Him.
The rapture was not only meant to gather up Christians into Heaven, but it was also meant to get the world’s attention. In fact, the next seven years or so God is going to pull out all the stops in an effort to get people to recognize that He is the one true God.
The sad thing is, if you were left behind, chances are you will not survive the next seven years or so. They will be, by far, the most tumultuous years in the history of the planet. You may think, “Well it certainly sounds like God is out to get me.” That’s not the case at all. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” To repent means to turn away, in this case turn away from sin. This is your chance to do just that. The remainder of your time on the earth as we know it will not be easy. This is God’s way of getting across His message to those who didn’t believe in Him before the rapture.
Let’s review what the rapture is.
Rapture means “snatched away,” and it’s the term Christians use to describe the event Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. “…We (Christians) will not all sleep, but we will be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised, imperishable, and we will be changed.”
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
This is the rapture, the disappearance of God’s people from the earth. Just remember that you have a second chance to become one of God’s people.
In describing the last days, the apostle Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 that “the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.” He’s referring to the rapture.
You may have heard stories about the last days, wondering why Jesus didn’t come back like so many people said He would. Well, that’s going to happen at the end of this seven-year period I’ve alluded to. Ever since Christ ascended into Heaven following His resurrection (Acts 1:9), Christians have been eagerly anticipating His return. The rapture was the first part of that. It was the part that had to occur like a thief in the night, out of nowhere. Jesus Himself said that no man would know the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36). Jesus told people to be ready for it in Matthew 24:44 because it would happen unexpectedly. You have to admit that you were taken by surprise!
So what happens next?
I’m not going to dance around the truth. To put it bluntly, you’re going to be experience seven years of hell on earth. Many extraordinary things are going to happen soon, or are perhaps already happening. Before we really get into that, lets go over some of what Jesus Himself said about the end times. Turn your Bible, if you have one, to Matthew 24.
Wars and rumors of war (verse 6): As I write this in the summer of 2000, I go to the major news web sites every day and hear about skirmishes in India and Pakistan, China’s threats of Taiwan and the United States, impending war between Israel and the Palestinians, not to mention the myriad wars that don’t even get ink in the U.S.
Nation will rise against nation, kingdom will rise against kingdom (verse 7): The Greek translation of the word nation here in “ethnos,” referring to an ethnic group or race. I find that especially interesting in today’s world climate. The situation in Bosnia and other Slavic nations is just one example of this, with all of the ethnic fighting going on.
Famines and earthquakes (verse 7): Over the last twenty years we’ve heard a lot about famines in Africa. There seems to be an earthquake of at least six on the Richter scale somewhere in the world every other week.
Christians will be hated, even killed (verse 9): Christians aren’t killed in the U.S. like they are in some other parts of the world, but liberal groups, Hollywood and the media in particular, hate them. However, I read just the other day about a religious war in Indonesia where hundreds, if not thousands, of Christians have been killed. Christians are also killed frequently in the Middle East and African nations.
Many will fall away, hate and betray one another (verse 10): There is a lot of division in the Church, even as I write this. I can only imagine how much worse it has gotten. Many have abandoned their Bible-based beliefs in the name of tolerance. Many have abandoned their Christian beliefs in the liberal belief that all truths and faiths are relative and equal. Christians are hated, looked at as dogmatic, intolerant exclusivists.
Many false prophets will arise (verse 11): This is happening with more frequency as I write this. Take David Koresh and the 1993 Waco standoff for example. Sadly, there are even some false prophets masquerading today on television as Christians. Excessive lawlessness, the love of most will grow cold (verse 12): Crime is rampant. Apathy is the norm.
Even as I write this, I feel the climate is right for the rapture, and the events after the rapture. There is no really strong government in the world anymore. For most of the century the United States was looked at as the superpower. It still is, but the sphere of influence my country’s government once had is shrinking. This is due to incapable leadership and godlessness. The political weather is right for a major government shake-up.
Perhaps this is already happening to some extent, depending on how long after the disappearances you read this, but the entire world is about to be united under one government. And you need to be on the lookout for a dynamic new leader who the world will look at as perfect, the man to solve the world’s problems. The Bible calls this man Antichrist, and many scholars believe, including I, that he will be of some sort of Roman descent. The Bible says that Antichrist will come from the people who destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. The temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Roman Empire.
Antichrist will rise to power quickly, so fast you may not have heard of him before it happens. He will be immensely popular. He will continue to make waves as his new one-world government signs some sort of seven-year pact with the nation of Israel. The only real specific concerning the details of this agreement is that Israel is promised peace.
The signing of this seven-year agreement will signify the beginning of this period I’ve talked about. You may have heard of it before: the tribulation. These will be the most horrific years in the history of the planet. Three-fourths of the population that did not disappear will die before the end of the tribulation. Think about that. Seventy-five percent of, three out of four, people will be gone. This period will not be easy, but since you did not receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior before the rapture, you have to go through this. You may not live through it. In fact, if you are a Christian now, the chances of you living through it are even slimmer. But before I really get into what will happen during this seven years, let me tell you what will happen at the end of it.
When the seven years is over, this will happen: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war… And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.'” (Revelation 19:11, 16)
Any time you see the word “He” capitalized it’s referring to God… Jesus. This is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. When the seven-year tribulation is over Jesus will return physically to earth to set up a kingdom. He will rid the world of Satan and Antichrist during that time. You may have heard references to the millennial kingdom. That’s what this is. This period of history, the greatest ever on earth, will last for one thousand years, before Satan is gone for good.
Another thing. Once Jesus has returned to set up His millennial kingdom, you will have had to make a decision about Him. That’s what these next seven years are for. Any doubt about whether or not there is a God will be removed. People who haven’t decided one way or the other about Jesus Christ will have to make a decision to follow Him or deny Him. I implore you, if you haven’t already prayed the prayer I outlined earlier to do so. You do not want to endure these seven years without Jesus!
So what happens during the tribulation? Well, I’ve already pointed out that Antichrist will rise to power and be the leader of a new world government. Revelation is the last book of the New Testament, the last book of the Bible. A man named John, who was also one of Jesus’ twelve apostles, wrote it. The book is a written account of a vision of the future given to John by the Lord Himself back in the late first century A.D.
In the first verse of chapter four, John sees a door open up in heaven, and a voice tells him to “Come up here.” I believe this is symbolic of the rapture. Others might disagree with my assessment of this verse, but since you are only reading this if I was right, and the rapture occurred before the time of tribulation, I think it’s symbolic of God removing His people, the Church, the true believers, in this case symbolized by John, from the earth before the tribulation begins.
The tribulation is divided into three separate sets of seven judgments: (1) the seal judgments, (2) the trumpet judgments, and (3) the bowl (or vial) judgments. These judgments get progressively worse over the course of the seven years.
The Seal Judgments
1.The white horse (Revelation 6:1-2) – This is the Antichrist. He comes with a bow but no arrows, and he wears a crown. I think this signifies that the Antichrist will be the “king of the world,” the leader of the one-world government. That he comes with a bow but no arrows signifies that he will not use military force to attain his position. It will be slick diplomacy. You may have already witnessed his coming to power.
2.The red horse (Revelation 6:3-4) – War. There will be peace at the beginning of the tribulation. The Antichrist will gain the support of the large majority through seemingly miraculous diplomacy. There will be worldwide peace, but it will not last. There will be an uprising against Antichrist, creating a world war. Many will die. With today’s weaponry, there is reason to believe that mass destruction and bloodshed could occur in a short time. This war may only last a matter of weeks or months.
3.The black horse (Revelation 6:5-6) – After a war like that, famine will occur and inflation will rise. The Bible says that oil and wine will not be damaged. Many scholars believe that is a prophecy saying that the rich will get richer, they will not suffer like the rest of the world, and that there will be inflation.
4.The pale/ashen horse (Revelation 6:7-8) – This horse is named Death, and Hades follows with him. I believe this horse coincides with the previous two. Authority is given to this horse to kill a fourth of the population. It’s reasonable to believe that a war such as the one predicted with the red horse, and the famine of the black horse could wipe out a billion or more people.
5.Martyrdom of Tribulation Saints (Revelation 6:9-11) – The Bible calls those who receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior after the rapture tribulation saints. When this seal is broken, many of them are killed. If you have received Christ after the rapture, the hard truth is that you may be killed for your belief in Jesus.
6.The Wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:12-17) – God pours out His wrath over the killing of many of His people with a great earthquake. The sky will turn dark, the moon will look like blood, and the stars will disappear. Mountains and islands will be moved from where they sit. Verse 16 talks about men trying to hide from Him who sits on the throne. I think this means that many people will be convinced about the truth of who Jesus Christ is after this earthquake, if they survive. This will be the worst earthquake in history, and it will be worldwide.
By the time of the earthquake, there will be many Jews coming to believe in Jesus. Revelation 7:4 talks about 144,000 Jewish witnesses. These witnesses, new tribulation saints, will be protected supernaturally from the judgments to come. The previous verse talks about being sealed on their foreheads, probably some supernatural way of believers being able to tell one another apart. This may sound like science-fiction, but remember that these are the last days! God will be pulling out all the stops. There is some speculation that all tribulation saints, not just Jews, will receive this seal.
In Revelation 7:9, John sees in his vision a multitude that no one could number coming to receive Jesus Christ. This means perhaps a billion people will come to know Christ. Later on in Revelation John talks about an army numbering two hundred million. If he can see that number, but can’t see the number of the great multitude, how much more must that be. Over a billion perhaps?
7.Issuing in the Trumpet Judgments (Revelation 8:1-2) – The seventh seal issues in the next series of judgments. Those judgments are so severe that the Bible says “When He (Jesus) opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” Heaven is normally portrayed as a place of great joy. Imagine how bad it will get that Heaven goes silent.
The Trumpet Judgments
1.Storm of Hail, Fire, and Blood (Revelation 8:7) – One-third of the earth’s trees and all of the grass will be scorched when hail, fire, and blood rain down from the sky. The ecological ramifications will be devastating. This judgment was predicted back in the Old Testament, too, in Joel 2:30.
2.The Mountain of Fire (Revelation 8:8-9) – Following the disaster from the first trumpet, there will be a “great mountain burning with fire.” This, perhaps, will be a giant meteor. It will land in the ocean and turned a third of the water to blood. A third of all the creatures of the sea will die, a third of the ships will sink.
3.Wormwood (Revelation 8:10-11) – Many men will die when another meteor-type object falls into the rivers of the earth. The water will become bitter and poisonous.
4.One-Third of the Sun Is Struck (Revelation 8:12) – God will do something only He is capable of doing when He somehow reduces the amount of energy and light the sun, moon, and stars radiate by a third. The earth will turn cold. We can also imagine from “a third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night,” that an extra third of the day that is now daylight will be dark. In other words, if there are twelve hours of daylight there will only be eight.
Before the last three trumpets are blown, there is an ominous warning in the book of Revelation. “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels are about to sound!” (Revelation 8:13)
5.Apollyon the Destroyer (Revelation 9:1-11) – This passage of Scripture talks about an angel (demon) unlocking a “bottomless pit.” From the pit smoke will fill the air, along with locust-type creatures that will torment those who have not received Jesus as their Lord and Savior for five months. Those who are tormented will want to die, but according to Scripture “death will flee from them.” It’s hard to imagine the kind of carnage that will result from this. People will want to die. They’ll try to kill themselves, however, they want to be able to. The Bible says these locusts had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. In Hebrew the name of that angel (or demon, as it were) is Abaddon. In Greek the name is Apollyon. The name means “destroyer”.
6.200,000,000 Horsemen (Revelation 9:13-19) – The second of the three “woes” is unleashed. There will be an army of 200 million horsemen who will kill a third of mankind, all unbelievers, those who don’t have the seal of God on their foreheads. They will be supernatural beings. Many people believe that tribulation saints will be able to see them, but unbelievers will not. They will be frightening to even look at. They will sting with their mouth and their tails.
7.Ushering In The Great Tribulation (Revelation 11:15-19) – Just as the seventh seal judgment ushered in the trumpet judgments, this seventh trumpet judgment ushers in the bowl judgments. While the seal and trumpet judgments will all talk place during the first three-and-a-half years of the tribulation, these final seven will occur during the last three-and-a-half, which is called the Great Tribulation. This judgment will not really be one that people on earth will witness, but the Bible says that heaven will rejoice because they will know that Christ’s ultimate victory, His return, is coming soon.
I’ll get into the bowl (or vial) judgments in a minute, but I think it’s important to talk about the difference between the first half (three-and-a-half years) of the tribulation and the second half, which is called the Great Tribulation. I’ll also quickly go over some events that will take place at the midpoint of the seven years. You also need to know about two men. Since you are one of those left behind after the rapture, you may have already heard of them on the news.
The Two Witnesses
“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague as often as they desire.” (Revelation 11:3-6)
These two witnesses, two men, will provide hope to those who receive Christ after the rapture. They will be a thorn in the Antichrist’s side, so to speak, because they will be invincible for the first three-and-a-half years of the tribulation. They will proclaim the name of Jesus and many will come to believe through them. People who come against them will die.
So who are these men? Many believe they are two of the following: Elijah, Enoch, and Moses. Enoch was a godly man who never died. (Genesis 5:24) Elijah was a great Hebrew prophet who also never died (2 Kings 2:11-12). Moses is the only one of the three that did die. I’m one of the people subscribing to the belief that they are Elijah and Moses, arguably the two most influential men of the Old Testament. They were also the two men who were with Jesus and three of His disciples when He was transfigured (Matthew 17). Also, Moses and Elijah are men who have already performed miracles that these two men will do.
When their three-and-a-half years of invincibility are complete, at the midpoint of the tribulation, they will be murdered by the Antichrist, and the unbelievers in the world will love it. They will not be buried, instead their bodies will be left to rot. People will be so happy they will exchange gifts. However, their celebration will turn sour three-and-a-half days later. God will raise these two men from the dead, then bring them to heaven. At that time in Jerusalem there will be an earthquake. Seven thousand people will die and a tenth of the city will fall. Many will come to believe in Jesus as a result of this.
The Murder of the Antichrist
The two witnesses will not be the only men to die at the midpoint of the tribulation. Antichrist will also be murdered (Revelation 13:3). However, Satan being a poor imitation of the one true God, Satan himself will possess the Antichrist. He will “miraculously” rise from the dead. The world will be amazed. Furthermore, the Bible says that the temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt, and that Satan, possessing the Antichrist, will declare himself to be god in the temple. The Bible calls this the “abomination of desolation.”
Since Satan will then possess the Antichrist, the next three-and-a-half years will be called The Great Tribulation. They will be even worse the first half.
The Great Tribulation
The Mark of the Beast
During the Great Tribulation the Antichrist will require all people to bear a special mark, either on the forehead or on the hand. It will not be forced on anyone, but you will not be able to buy or sell without it. Technology already exists as I write this to put a system like this into place. I’ve read stories about the Digital Angel, a microchip that could be placed in the forehead or hand. There are serious ramifications for taking the mark, though. It is irrevocable. Those who take it will not enter heaven. Christians will have to survive somehow without it.
The Bowl Judgments (Revelation 16)
1.Painful Sores – Those who take the mark of the beast, worshipping Antichrist, will develop painful boil-like sores. This judgment will not affect tribulation saints.
2.Seas Turn To Blood – Quite simply, the oceans and seas will turn to blood, and every living creature in them will die. Can you imagine the ramifications? The fishing industry would be destroyed, but furthermore, the dead animals would rise to the surface. The potential for disease is huge here.
3.Rivers and Springs Become Blood – The rest of the world’s water sources will be turned to blood, creating havoc. Can you imagine a world without a water supply? Well, it’s going to happen. You have to think that by this point in time, probably before, there will no doubt in anyone’s mind that there is a God. The only question is, whom do you serve? God or Antichrist?
4.Scorching Heat – The same way God took away one-third of the sun, moon, and stars in the fourth trumpet judgment, turning the earth cold, this time the sun will be scorched. Immense heat will be the result. It will be the worst heat wave in history.
5.The World Goes Dark – Revelation 16:10-11 says that the kingdom of Antichrist (the world) will be plunged into darkness, i.e. the entire world will go dark. Jesus foretold of this judgment in Mark 13:24. What will a world without light be like? I can only imagine the frustration that will envelop the people.
6.Euphrates River Dries Up – Arguably the most important river in the history of the world, the Euphrates will dry up. However, that’s not all, because Revelation 16:12 says that the drying up of the river will make way for the “kings of the east” to participate in what is widely known as the Battle of Armageddon. Who are the kings of the east? As I’m writing this most prophecy scholars I respect believe this refers to the far east (or the Orient). Because of all these calamities happening to the earth, it’s possible some sort of alliance of Oriental nations will oppose Antichrist. However, because the Antichrist will be a great deceiver, these nations will probably align with him to fight their real enemy, Jesus.
7.Babylon Destroyed – Revelation 16:17-21 describes the seventh bowl judgment. There will be an earthquake so great that the topography of the earth will be altered. Islands and mountains will be gone. “The great city” is probably a reference to Antichrist’s kingdom. It will be destroyed.
THE GLORIOUS APPEARING: THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST
It’s all been leading up to this. When the seven years are complete, Jesus Christ will return to earth. Every eye will see Him. The Antichrist and his armies will try to make war with Christ. At that time all those who have failed to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior will perish. The Antichrist and a False Prophet who will be at his side will be thrown into the lake of fire. Satan will be bound up for one thousand years.
The one thousand year reign of Jesus Christ will be the most glorious era in the history of this world. At the end of that time, Satan will be released for the abyss for a short time. Then he will deceive many and try one last time to overthrow God. However, Satan will then be thrown into the lake of fire, and everyone will then be judged by whether or not they accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Those who have not will join Satan in the lake of fire. Those who have will be with the Lord for eternity.
Where do you stand? The rapture has already taken place. The wheels are in motion for the final stanza of history. I am no expert on Biblical prophecy, but I have studied it and these are the basics. The message is clear. I encourage you to study as well.
But most of all make a decision concerning Jesus. He loves you and He wants you to be with Him for eternity. You were left behind once. Don’t be deceived. Time is short. Make a decision today.
Increasingly tragic events continue to transpire as the economic situation worsens…
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Job 22:21 "Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.
These aren’t just for you, I need to be reminded every day…
The main question being “WHAT is going on!?” … we know the answer of course, there is warring for souls in the heavenlies and all around us, but the question still begs to be asked.
The recent news of the man who killed his wife and 5 children in LA has been weighing on me all day…even though it’s no longer ‘news’.
Money problems are causing people to do insane things lately… it’s tragic, and I’m afraid it’s just the beginning. Tens of thousands of people were laid off just yesterday by Seattle headquartered companies; Boeing 20,000, Starbucks 6,000 , Microsoft 5,000,
For far too long too many people have focused all of their attention on chasing money instead of on chasing God, and when the money is gone their foundation is gone so their perception of the world falls apart, leaving nothing for them to stand on…hopeless and falling.
But our foundation is the Rock who never changes.
The word “FOUNDATION” is now stuck in my mind, compelling a concordance search of course…
Psalm 11
In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: "Flee like a bird to your mountain.
For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?"
The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them.
The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates.
On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot.
For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face.
Isaiah 28:16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.
Isaiah 33 (wow…what an amazing vision of things to come)
Isaiah 33:6 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure…Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar…
Matthew 7:25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
2 Timothy 2:19 …God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his, and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."
Revelation 21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them…The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb…