MOVING FORWARD
A day will come , and not very far off – some say weeks others months or a year at the most , when a large number of people will disappear from the earth. The explanation given will be a large scale alien abduction. The set up for that is already in the news. But here is what has really happened:-
1Thessalonians Chapter 4
15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
This is known as The Rapture – an outrageously spectacular teaching in the bible
It goes on to say , ” Whilst they are saying PEACE and SAFETY sudden destruction will come on them, and they will not escape ” . Have you heard the phrase PEACE and SAFETY in the news lately? Just about every second word. I have lost count of the times I have heard the UN declare a meeting regards Peace and Safety, an honoured year of Peace and Safety , a peace accord that will bring Peace and Safety … on and on … for the last year and a half. It’s as if a memo went out that all world leaders making a speech had to use those 2 words .
Here is the full context : 1 Thessalonians chapter 5
The Day of the Lord
5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
THE TRIBULATION
Then there will be a 7 year period on the earth , known as The Tribulation – a time like no other. In fact this is the most spoken of period of time in the bible. Even though it is 7 years in duration , it is broken up into 2 , three and a half year periods. The 2nd half is known as The Great Tribulation or Jacob’s trouble. To say that you’d probably want to miss these 7 years is an understatement.
See the ABC’s of Salvation if missing it , is your preference.
The Book of Revelation outlines the destruction that is coming. The 4 horses of the apocalypse ( this is metaphorical language – although how do I know , that perhaps in the spiritual world , that governs the 3D world , there may be such things). These details begin in Revelation 6 – here’s a summary – A one world government , with a strong leader has total control or conquest of the earth, peace is removed and people begin to slaughter one another. Then famine , worldwide food shortage, “a day’s wages for a loaf of bread” . One quarter of the earth’s population is destroyed , through famine, pestilence or disease and violence.
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse – painting by Viktor Vasnetsov – left to right – Death , Famine, War, Conquest .
The book of Daniel also has a lot to say about The Tribulation. A committee of 10 rulers arise. One of them removes three of them. He has a big mouth and slanders God. He firms up a covenant or agreement that is made with Israel and half way through he betrays them. He sets himself up in the 3rd temple , that has been built by now , as God, to be worshiped. Some people think that this agreement he makes with the Jews, includes allowing them to build the third temple on the temple mount. As of today , there are signs leading the way to the temple mount, announcing it’s arrival. The Temple Institute has all the furniture and utensils ready , the priests trained , the plans drawn up and parts of the building prefabricated. When the temple is built the daily sacrifices will resume after some 2000+ years.
This leader, this false christ , the anti christ , at the three and a half year mark , stops the daily sacrifice and requires everyone to receive a mark on the forehead or right hand in order to buy or sell. Anyone who does not receive the mark , will be beheaded.
The Jews, realising they have been deceived , flee to the desert for the remaining period of time – three and a half years. Here they will be protected by God – all of these Jewish people will be saved as the anti christ does everything in his power to annihilate them.
Then things really get bad.
The bible speaks of this last three and a half years as so grievous that if God didn’t shorten these days there would be no flesh left on the earth. Not just human flesh , no flesh at all. There are too many things to mention here but I will say this – men cry out for death , but death won’t come. They ask the rocks to fall on them and hide them – it doesn’t happen.
This post is a broad brushstroke of events. Eventually , whoever is left gathers together, standing in the valley of Meggido shaking their fist at God. This is known as the famous battle of Armageddon. It’s not much of a battle really. What happens next is laid out in the words of this song , taken directly , word for word, from Revelation 19 v 11 – 16.
The Rider On The White Horse – Words Saint John in Revelation – Music DeborahDicembre
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