Then Shall the End Come - Part 2

And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached 

in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and 

then shall the end come.

Matthew 24:14

There are varying beliefs regarding the events surrounding the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ.  Some people believe the rapture (the transporting of believers to heaven at the Second Coming of Christ) will occur before the tribulation and that believers will not have to experience any of this terrible time on earth. Others believe the rapture will happen midway through this period. Still others believe the rapture will happen at the end of the tribulation. The most common belief is that the rapture of believers will happen before the tribulation begins. The different views of the timing of the rapture result from various interpretations of Scripture. Actually, no one knows the exact timing of this event; the rapture, except God the Father: 

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Matthew 24:36

We are given signs of his coming:

And Jesus answered and said unto them, 

     ®    Take heed that no man deceive you.  

     ®    For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

     ®    And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

     ®    For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

     ®    All these are the beginning of sorrows.

     ®    Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

     ®    And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

     ®    And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

     ®    And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

     ®    But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.   Matthew 24:4-13

What is most important is to know you are a true believer and are ready to go with Jesus in the rapture when it does occur.

God has revealed many things in His Word about the end of the world:

v  The Tribulation:

Some people will not be glad to see Jesus return:

Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.  Revelation 1:7

The reason for their sorrow is that they did not accept Jesus. They rejected Him and lived in their own sinful ways. Now, they face a time of great suffering on earth. The Bible tells of this terrible time called the "tribulation" which will occur after believers have been raptured to be with Jesus:

The tribulation will last 42 months or 1,260 days (Daniel 9:24-27).  It will be a very difficult time. There have been many difficult times in the world, but three things will distinguish the tribulation from all other times of trouble:

          √

                 It will be worldwide and not just local (Revelation 3:10).

          √  People will realize that the end of the world is near (Revelation 6:16).

          √  The intensity of the trouble will be greater than ever before experienced  (Matthew 24:4-14).

There are a series of judgments of God on the earth during the tribulation. These are described in Revelation 6, 8, 9, and 16.  The judgments fall on all men and women who have rejected Jesus Christ.

v  The Millennium:  

The Bible tells of a period of 1,000 years after the tribulation during which Jesus will rule the earth in righteousness (Zechariah 14:9; Daniel 7:14). 

The city of Jerusalem will be the center of government (Isaiah 2:3). This period will end when Satan stages a last revolt against God (Revelation 20:7-9). 

God will send fire from Heaven and end all opposition. Satan will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity (Revelation 20:10).

v  Judgment:  

Those who died as unbelievers will be resurrected from the dead to face judgment. Because they did not repent from sin and accept Jesus as Savior, they will be condemned to eternity in Hell (Revelation 20:12-15). 

True believers who repented from sin and accepted Jesus as Savior will spend eternity in Heaven in the presence of God (Revelation 21).

v  The World Destroyed:  

The Bible speaks of the world being destroyed with fervent heat:  

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night: in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.   2 Peter 3:10

Time as we now measure it, will no longer exist. We will enter eternity, which has no beginning and no end:

And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by Him that liveth for ever and ever, who created Heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer.   Revelation 10:5-6

And then, the special purpose of God will be made manifest: 

Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself; That in the dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him.  Ephesians 1:9-10

At last, God's special plan will be fulfilled:  

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.   Revelation 11:15

And every creature which is in Heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.   Revelation 5:13

God will create a new Heaven and a new earth. The description of these is given in Revelation 21 and 22. Believers of all nations will be gathered together with the one true God:  

After this I beheld and lo a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever. Amen.    Revelation 7:9-12

Men and women of all nations--of all tribes and tongues, of every people group--gathered before the throne. But as we preview this great scene of rejoicing in Heaven, let us not forget the challenge that only those who. . .

. . . shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.   Romans 10:13

BUT. . . 

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?   Romans 10:14-15

There is a lifestyle that has to be upheld that is representative of Jesus.

AND . . .

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, . . .  2 Corinthians 5:20

Now. . . what is YOUR personal response to this great challenge?

Be blessed and stay encouraged in the word of God!

Biblical Studies

10/05/13
09/13/14

09/08/15
10/22/16
08/23/19

03/04/21