What Biblical Evidence Is There For The Closeness Of The Rapture

[Quantrill]

I believe and think that observing the world events and positioning of the nations, as aligned with how they will be in the Tribulation period can give us a clue that it could happen at any time. When the props are right for the Tribulation to begin, then it is possible that it will be the time. It's all up to God, but at certain times in history everything seems to line up like this is it, but then like a wave of the ocean it just fades away. But one day that wave will be the real one.

But I do think we are living in one of those times where things are lined up, more than ever before, to indicate the coming Tribulation period. Which would mean the Rapture is even closer...as a pre-trib believer.

Quantrill

 

[Bethlehem57]

In regards to what we tell our unbelieving family and friends about the Rapture.
It begins with knowing the Bible.
Personal study and meditation of the scriptures and yielding to The Holy Spirit for guidance and understanding.
It's not a good idea to share what we hear on social media where anything may be an opinion outside of scripture.
Some prophecy teachers are humble enough to admit it's an opinion and not "so sayeth The Lord".
In this case we consider the opinions but not take them as scripture.
When sharing our blessed hope with an unbeliever it's important to stay within the boundaries of scripture because if we don't and an opinion doesn't come to be as hoped for, this can cause more distancing from the unbeliever from God's biblical truths and what may lead to the scoffing of Jesus coming as Peter warns us about in
2 Peter 3:3. It can also cause a believer weak in the faith to become more weary and lessen their trust in God's promise.
Stay within Scripture. God's Word is convincing enough when our faith is anchored on God's biblical Truths.
We want to be like Noah was.
He demonstrated such faith not knowing what was to come when God instructed him to build the Ark as long as it took to build it he preached the coming judgement of God and was ridiculed by the people who never saw rain before much less a coming flood that would sweep them all away.
Noah had no idea when the flood was coming but he did as God instructed him to do and fearlessly preached the coming judgement in spite of opposition from the world at that time.

Unfortunately, they still think I’m a lunatic…even my daughter and her husband who are saved. That’s okay! I told them “when I see you up there. I’m going to say I told you so!”

 

[1LoverofGod]

Another evidence that the Rapture is near is less people are looking for Bible truth and are more inclined to having their ears tickled.
Also, apostasy is rampant and out in the open, demonstrating that the false Christians are being exposed preparing for the separating of the Wheat and the Tares and then the Harvest when Believers are Raptured and unbelievers are left behind to go through God's judgement.

 

[Matthew6:33]

Another evidence that the Rapture is near is less people are looking for Bible truth and are more inclined to having their ears tickled.
Also, apostasy is rampant and out in the open, demonstrating that the false Christians are being exposed preparing for the separating of the Wheat and the Tares and then the Harvest when Believers are Raptured and unbelievers are left behind to go through God's judgement.

Amos 8:11-12 KJV — Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

While good preaching can be found online... There is SOOO much bad preaching everywhere. Even in good churches, conviction is hard to find. Just my opinion.

 

[Cheeky200386]

I am so excited for the rapture to happen. I am secretly getting excited thinking it could happen by 2026 but am remembering that it may not. Either way, I’m curious to see what else happens in the next few years that will draw us even closer to the rapture.

 

[Spartan Sprinter]

LOL imagine how on edge a messianic Jew would be on Rosh Hashana when the shofars start blowing and when it gets to the last shofar then there like maybe this time this is it !!

 

[Spartan Sprinter]

Not really biblical as the author says up front but a nice list of fun coincidences from rr article

Let's Have Some End-Time Fun with President Trump :: By David Cogburn

I think we will all agree that not only our nation but the entire world has undergone a tremendous change since our Presidential election in 2016. Obama

www.raptureready.com

 

[Shinobi]

There have been lots of interesting comments on this forum recently about the strong possibility of the rapture being this year.

What biblical evidence would anyone use as evidence the rapture is this year, or at least within the next few years? In other words, if you were trying to convince your Christian or non Christian friends about the extreme closeness of the rapture, how would you present your views to them?

Well if we look at prophecy about the end times and start with the founding of the state of Israel in 1948 as a starting point and look at the list that Jesus gave in Mathew 24 of signs then add in the part in Mathew 24:34 that this generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled, it becomes quite obvious that we are nearing the end of said generation. Looking back Israel became a nation in 1948 but it was almost 20 years till the 6 day war. In between we had the Korean war, Cuban Missile crisis, and the Vietnam war and all the struggle that brought in the US. Then there is the part about earthquakes in diverse places. Presently we are seeing are seeing more earthquakes on a daily basis and in places that rarely see them. We have also seen more larger ones in a shorter amount of time than historically happen. Then there are famines in North Korea, Afghanistan, Russia, multiple places in Africa, Indonesia and now food is getting so expensive in the US many people looking at less and less available food they can afford. That too is part of prophecy, a measure of wheat for a penny, 3 measures of barley for a penny.

Then of course there is the analogy that Jesus used to a pregnant woman. At first there is nothing till morning sickness shows up. Then there is the longer period till the baby has developed enough that she starts to feel movement inside. That goes for a while with the occasional surprises of movement. Then not long before the water breaks the child is moving all of the time and it is no longer all the enjoyable because it has grown to a size that is no longer comfortable to be carrying inside.

If we compare the generation of Mathew 24:34 to gestation period of a baby, we are nearing the end of that gestation period as the world events like a large active baby in the womb is now very uncomfortable which means the water breaking is very soon.

What I tend to look at is first the generation concept. Many say 40 years because that is how long the Israelites were in the desert allowing for the passing of all those over a certain age. Some say it is the current given general life span of a man is about 70 years. That time came and went in 2018 but not all people of a given birth year pass away at the same time. Some live longer like my MIL who made it to the age of 100 and my father who made it to 94. So it is safe to say we still have probably quite a few people who were born before and in the year 1948 so good guess the generational concept is not fixed to a specific year. Then there is 6000 year idea of the world matching the 6 days of creation where a day is as of 1000 years. So if we look at the history from the time of Adam till the birth of Jesus most scholars put that at around 4000 years. That means the church age is going to be likely very close if not exactly to 2000 years. While many scholars differ on the year that Jesus was crucified and put it between 26 AD and 36 AD, the most common thought is it happened in 33 AD. Now if I count back from 2033, 2000 years since Jesus was crucified then that puts the start of the Tribulation at some time in 2026. One thing we don't know is whether or not the Rapture kicks off the Tribulation period but not likely as the sudden loss of millions or billions of people will be its own major shake up which will help to bring the anti-Christ to the attention of the whole world.

All that being said I am guessing we have between now and some time in 2026 for the Rapture. Mind everyone though this is my view of things. This does not come from any Biblical scholar nor any current ministers or pastors. Anything I said here is of course open to interpretation and I am sure there are many other views as well. This is just the one I have settled on over the years as it makes the most sense to me. Truth is none of us really knows and we know that is true because Jesus told it was so that none of us will know. He comes as a thief in the night at time we do not expect. Hence we need to be ready at all times. Therein lies another view that I have adopted over the years. I do not chase so called high watch times, I don't equate the Rapture timing to traditional Jewish feast times. I am of the mind that Jesus will likely pick a time outside of that because we, being human ride the emotional roller coaster of high watch times and then the depression of waking up after those come to pass. I expect to make a point, Jesus is likely to come specifically during those times when people are depressed because the latest high watch time did not bring it to pass. So as poorly as I am at it I try to live each day as if it is the day. If I wake up the next morning I try to start that way all over again. It is not a constant anxiety that it is close but an even keel that any day could be the one. As long as I am ready as I can be then when it happens it happens. I will be just as shocked as everyone else but at least I don't live on that emotional roller coaster. I am as we are told to be sober, living in the day, in the light.

 

[LatterRain]

I love how God gives us little clues about all the questions we have. Regarding the return of our Lord, He tells us:

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

 

[mattfivefour]

I try to live each day as if it is the day. If I wake up the next morning I try to start that way all over again. It is not a constant anxiety that it is close but an even keel that any day could be the one. As long as I am ready as I can be then when it happens it happens. I will be just as shocked as everyone else but at least I don't live on that emotional roller coaster. I am as we are told to be sober, living in the day, in the light.

And this is exactly the correct attitude, brother.

 

[mattfivefour]

I love how God gives us little clues about all the questions we have. Regarding the return of our Lord, He tells us:

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

But let's not cut the message of the revealing of the Antichrist off in it's midst. Let's continue on to it's conclusion so that we get all the necessary facts: Do you not remember that I told you these things while I was still with you? And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now restrains it will continue until he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival. (2 Thessalonians 2:5-8)

 

[LatterRain]

But let's not cut the message of the revealing of the Antichrist off in it's midst. Let's continue on to it's conclusion so that we get all the necessary facts: Do you not remember that I told you these things while I was still with you? And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now restrains it will continue until he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival. (2 Thessalonians 2:5-8)

Amen, @mattfivefour.

The way I understand it, after being cast out of heaven and standing in the holy place, Satan will subsequently be destroyed. Jesus reiterates what Paul says in Matthew 24:15: Satan will arrive and rule before the return of Jesus and the gathering of the saints. Then Satan will be destroyed by Christ at the 7th trump.

"Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand),

- Matthew 24:15 (NKJV)

 

[Spartan Sprinter]

Amen, @mattfivefour.

The way I understand it, after being cast out of heaven and standing in the holy place, Satan will subsequently be destroyed. Jesus reiterates what Paul says in Matthew 24:15: Satan will arrive and rule before the return of Jesus and the gathering of the saints. Then Satan will be destroyed by Christ at the 7th trump.

"Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand),

- Matthew 24:15 (NKJV)

Nah not quite, Satan is thrown into the lake of fire after the 1000 year reign of Christ comes to an end

 

[LatterRain]

Nah not quite, Satan is thrown into the lake of fire after the 1000 year reign of Christ comes to an end

Yes, this is true. The millennium begins when Jesus returns. After the millennium, Satan is thrown into the lake of fire. The Great White Throne Judgment happens after the millennium. And after the GWTJ, eternity begins, the New Jerusalem.

 

[Margery]

Amen, @mattfivefour.

The way I understand it, after being cast out of heaven and standing in the holy place, Satan will subsequently be destroyed. Jesus reiterates what Paul says in Matthew 24:15: Satan will arrive and rule before the return of Jesus and the gathering of the saints. Then Satan will be destroyed by Christ at the 7th trump.

"Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand),

- Matthew 24:15 (NKJV)

I think there's a misunderstanding of timing here.

The Day of the Lord can refer to the Tribulation or the Tribulation followed by the Millennial Reign of Christ. The Rapture is a signless event that precedes the Day of the Lord.

First we have the Rapture. No signs preceding. As Paul makes clear in the passages above, fully quoted in context by @mattfivefour

What Paul said there is not the period of time that Jesus is referring to when He is speaking to the Jews in the Olivet Discourse. Much of that has to do with the Tribulation period.

Daniel establishes that the Time of Jacobs Trouble is a 7 year period that starts with the covenant that the AC establishes or strengthens.

The Rapture doesn't start the Tribulation, the covenant between the AC and the Jews does. Isaiah further clarifies that covenant calling it the covenant with Death and Hades.

What Paul lays out is a clear order of events

First the Rapture, the Restrainer is removed, and THEN and only then can the man of sin (another name for the AC) be revealed.

Daniel and Jesus in the Olivet Discourse above, are both referring to the abomination of desolation when the AC enters the rebuilt Temple and desecrates it. This is Jesus prophesying to the Jews in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas to get up and GO, don't stop because the latter half of the Tribulation is about to start. It's important to remember who Jesus is talking to, and it's not the Christians who were raptured out before the Tribulation even began.

This is the midpoint, and it's the Abomination of Desolation which Jesus clearly ties to Daniel's prophecy.

 

[Margery]

Satan's fate:

Rev 12 is about the fall of Satan to earth and v 6 and 14 of that chapter establish that it is the final half of the Tribulation.

Rev 13 explains the relationship of the dragon (Satan) with the Beast out of the Sea and one of it's 7 heads that has an apparent fatal head wound. This is the AC. The False Prophet is next in that chapter, the Beast out of the Earth. The Sea is often used in the Bible to denote the Gentiles while the Earth is often used to denote Israel.

Rev 17 has a further explanation of the relationship between Satan and the AC, kind of like a recap.

Satan indwells the AC around the midpoint of the Tribulation, and in Rev 19 the AC, and False Prophet are thrown into the lake of fire when Jesus returns at the end of the Tribulation. Satan and the AC are 2 separate entities but Satan apparently indwells the AC for the last half of the 7 years. Satan is then bound (Rev 20) and locked up for the 1000 year period in the Abyss. After that Satan is set free for a short period.

Rev 20:7-10
7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison

8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.

9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.

10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.




This occurs along with the Great White Throne Judgment as the rest of that chapter outlines:

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.

14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.



It can sure be confusing, all the moving parts, the symbols and tying in the prophecies about the Tribulation from the rest of the Bible into their places.

But if we look at Revelation there are time stamps as I call them all over. Clues that show us whether it's the first half, middle or last half.

Jesus gives the outline of Revelation right at the beginning in Rev 1:19 "19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.

And those major divisions cover the first part- what you have seen, the letters to the churches, what is now and Chapter 4 on is what will take place later.

 

[LatterRain]

I think there's a misunderstanding of timing here.

The Day of the Lord can refer to the Tribulation or the Tribulation followed by the Millennial Reign of Christ. The Rapture is a signless event that precedes the Day of the Lord.

First we have the Rapture. No signs preceding. As Paul makes clear in the passages above, fully quoted in context by @mattfivefour

What Paul said there is not the period of time that Jesus is referring to when He is speaking to the Jews in the Olivet Discourse. Much of that has to do with the Tribulation period.

Daniel establishes that the Time of Jacobs Trouble is a 7 year period that starts with the covenant that the AC establishes or strengthens.

The Rapture doesn't start the Tribulation, the covenant between the AC and the Jews does. Isaiah further clarifies that covenant calling it the covenant with Death and Hades.

What Paul lays out is a clear order of events

First the Rapture, the Restrainer is removed, and THEN and only then can the man of sin (another name for the AC) be revealed.

Daniel and Jesus in the Olivet Discourse above, are both referring to the abomination of desolation when the AC enters the rebuilt Temple and desecrates it. This is Jesus prophesying to the Jews in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas to get up and GO, don't stop because the latter half of the Tribulation is about to start. It's important to remember who Jesus is talking to, and it's not the Christians who were raptured out before the Tribulation even began.

This is the midpoint, and it's the Abomination of Desolation which Jesus clearly ties to Daniel's prophecy.

Thank you for sharing your understanding of end-time events; however, since I believe in a post-trib Second Coming, we disagree. Our views may not be the same, but the most important thing is that Christians not be deceived by Satan who will be claiming to be God.

 

[Margery]

We are a Pre Trib Pre Mill site. Appreciate the honesty.

I'd ask you to re read the Rules here: Scriptural Truths quoted below.

This section in particular

• The Rapture of the Church is Pre-Tribulation and Pre-Millennial Reign. Scripture therefore teaches that Christians will not suffer through the Great Tribulation when God’s wrath is poured out on the earth and all its inhabitants. (Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7; Romans 1:18, 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10)

You may ask questions for your own edification, but you may not argue against these truths.



Scriptural Truths

This board will operate on a scripturally sound basis…for your protection and that of the Kingdom of God on this earth. We hope you respect that. If not, we reserve the right to remove offending posts. And, as in any church, continual offenders will be dealt with—using the disciplinary measures outlined in the epistles.
Being a scripturally sound Christian board means some doctrines are foundational and not up for discussion. You may ask questions, but you cannot post material attempting to negate these doctrines. We will contend for the faith once delivered (Jude 1:3-4).

• All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16) Therefore it is inerrant and must be our only instruction and guide—in our daily lives…and on this board. (Romans 15:4)
• God is One God. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Deuteronomy 4:35; Mark 12:29) However, He is a Trinity of Persons. Although the word “trinity” does not appear in the bible, the reality of the Trinity does, perhaps nowhere more evidently than at Christ’s baptism, where we read “After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he (John the Baptist) saw the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit) descending as a dove and settling on Him (Jesus) and behold, a voice from the heavens (the Father) said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)
• Jesus Christ is the only way to God. There is no other name given under Heaven whereby mankind can be saved (Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5). Salvation grants us fellowship with God here and an eternity with Him in Heaven
• Jesus came physically, died definitely, rose actually, and ascended to Heaven where he is preparing a place for his followers. (Hebrews 2:14 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Acts 1:9-11; John 14:2)
• Salvation occurs when a person recognizes they are a sinner, repents of their sin and trusts that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross paid for their sin in full. (Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9)
• Salvation is instantaneous and permanent: we do not pop in and out of it. You cannot be born, unborn, and then born, etc, etc. Once God the Holy Spirit takes up residence in someone who genuinely calls on Christ for salvation He will never leave. (Deuteronomy 4:31, 32:8; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5) Scripture—when taken ALL together—lets us know that He who authors our salvation also completes it. (1 Corinthians 1:8-9; Philippians 1:6) Colossians 1:22-23 clearly lays out the entire contract between God and us. It reads: “Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions. But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him —if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard.” So, His part was to die for us; as a result of which he will present us holy, faultless and blameless in His Presence—which is something He does even now. Our part is simply to believe that gospel and hold firm to it.
• Baptism does not save anybody. However, it is an important first step of obedience for a believer following salvation. All through the New Testament people are advised to believe in Christ and be baptized. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38, 41; Acts 10:47; Acts 19:5)
• Sanctification begins at the moment of salvation when the Holy Spirit enters the person and will not end until the person enters Heaven. (Ephesians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:9-14)
• The purpose of sanctification is to change the believer—from being controlled by their old nature with which they were physically born and into the new nature with which they were born again. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Sanctification does not make you fit for Heaven, as some claim. You are fit for Heaven the second you accept Christ as your savior; there is nothing else for you to do. (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8) The purpose of sanctification is to make you fit to serve God here on earth by living a life that bears witness to the faith you profess. (Ephesians 2:10, 4:17-24; Philippians 2:12-13, 3:12-16)
• Sin in a believer separates him or her from fellowship with God not relationship with God. As soon as we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin. (Romans 8:39; John 1:29; Hebrews 8:12, 13:5b; 1 John 1:9; Isaiah 43:25; Psalm 103:12)
• Jesus will return to gather us to Himself forever. (John 14:3) This is called the Rapture of the Church and occurs before the wrath of God is poured out on the earth during the Great Tribulation. Jesus has promised to remove us from the earth before God's wrath is visited upon the inhabitants of this planet (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53).
• The Rapture of the Church is Pre-Tribulation and Pre-Millennial Reign. Scripture therefore teaches that Christians will not suffer through the Great Tribulation when God’s wrath is poured out on the earth and all its inhabitants. (Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7; Romans 1:18, 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10)
• Christ's return to rule and reign on earth with occur after the Great Tribulation. This return will be at the end of the Great Tribulation and will usher in the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 19:11-20:6).
• The Trinity is a reality—not a theologian’s idea. While it is true that the word “trinity” does not appear in the Bible, the concept clearly does. Genesis 1:2 tells us that in the beginning “the earth was formless and void” and that “the Spirit of God (i.e. the Holy Spirit) was hovering over it.” John 1:3 tells us that “through Him (Jesus) all things were made and without Him nothing was made,” a truth that is confirmed by John 1:10; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2. In those verses we see clearly the Trinity described. And if a person needs more proof, we only need to look at the baptism of Jesus, where we hear the Father’s voice, see Jesus in the flesh, and watch the Holy Spirit descend on Him in the form of a dove. (Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:10-11; Luke 3:22)
• The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity—not merely a force. The Holy Spirit is never referred to in the Bible as “it”, always as “He”. He is given to every believer to seal them to God for eternity, being the down payment and guarantee of our heavenly inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14); to be our helper (John 14:16); to teach us (John 14:26); to guide us (John 16:13); to give us gifts (Isaiah 11:1-3; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Romans 12:3-8); to produce the nature of Jesus in us (Galatians 5:22-23); and above all to glorify Jesus (John 16:14).
• No posts will be permitted that deny any of these God-given truths.

You may ask questions for your own edification, but you may not argue against these truths.

 

[LatterRain]

We are a Pre Trib Pre Mill site. Appreciate the honesty.

I'd ask you to re read the Rules here: Scriptural Truths quoted below.

This section in particular

• The Rapture of the Church is Pre-Tribulation and Pre-Millennial Reign. Scripture therefore teaches that Christians will not suffer through the Great Tribulation when God’s wrath is poured out on the earth and all its inhabitants. (Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7; Romans 1:18, 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10)

You may ask questions for your own edification, but you may not argue against these truths.



Scriptural Truths

This board will operate on a scripturally sound basis…for your protection and that of the Kingdom of God on this earth. We hope you respect that. If not, we reserve the right to remove offending posts. And, as in any church, continual offenders will be dealt with—using the disciplinary measures outlined in the epistles.
Being a scripturally sound Christian board means some doctrines are foundational and not up for discussion. You may ask questions, but you cannot post material attempting to negate these doctrines. We will contend for the faith once delivered (Jude 1:3-4).

• All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16) Therefore it is inerrant and must be our only instruction and guide—in our daily lives…and on this board. (Romans 15:4)
• God is One God. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Deuteronomy 4:35; Mark 12:29) However, He is a Trinity of Persons. Although the word “trinity” does not appear in the bible, the reality of the Trinity does, perhaps nowhere more evidently than at Christ’s baptism, where we read “After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he (John the Baptist) saw the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit) descending as a dove and settling on Him (Jesus) and behold, a voice from the heavens (the Father) said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)
• Jesus Christ is the only way to God. There is no other name given under Heaven whereby mankind can be saved (Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5). Salvation grants us fellowship with God here and an eternity with Him in Heaven
• Jesus came physically, died definitely, rose actually, and ascended to Heaven where he is preparing a place for his followers. (Hebrews 2:14 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Acts 1:9-11; John 14:2)
• Salvation occurs when a person recognizes they are a sinner, repents of their sin and trusts that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross paid for their sin in full. (Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9)
• Salvation is instantaneous and permanent: we do not pop in and out of it. You cannot be born, unborn, and then born, etc, etc. Once God the Holy Spirit takes up residence in someone who genuinely calls on Christ for salvation He will never leave. (Deuteronomy 4:31, 32:8; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5) Scripture—when taken ALL together—lets us know that He who authors our salvation also completes it. (1 Corinthians 1:8-9; Philippians 1:6) Colossians 1:22-23 clearly lays out the entire contract between God and us. It reads: “Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions. But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him —if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard.” So, His part was to die for us; as a result of which he will present us holy, faultless and blameless in His Presence—which is something He does even now. Our part is simply to believe that gospel and hold firm to it.
• Baptism does not save anybody. However, it is an important first step of obedience for a believer following salvation. All through the New Testament people are advised to believe in Christ and be baptized. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38, 41; Acts 10:47; Acts 19:5)
• Sanctification begins at the moment of salvation when the Holy Spirit enters the person and will not end until the person enters Heaven. (Ephesians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:9-14)
• The purpose of sanctification is to change the believer—from being controlled by their old nature with which they were physically born and into the new nature with which they were born again. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Sanctification does not make you fit for Heaven, as some claim. You are fit for Heaven the second you accept Christ as your savior; there is nothing else for you to do. (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8) The purpose of sanctification is to make you fit to serve God here on earth by living a life that bears witness to the faith you profess. (Ephesians 2:10, 4:17-24; Philippians 2:12-13, 3:12-16)
• Sin in a believer separates him or her from fellowship with God not relationship with God. As soon as we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin. (Romans 8:39; John 1:29; Hebrews 8:12, 13:5b; 1 John 1:9; Isaiah 43:25; Psalm 103:12)
• Jesus will return to gather us to Himself forever. (John 14:3) This is called the Rapture of the Church and occurs before the wrath of God is poured out on the earth during the Great Tribulation. Jesus has promised to remove us from the earth before God's wrath is visited upon the inhabitants of this planet (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53).
• The Rapture of the Church is Pre-Tribulation and Pre-Millennial Reign. Scripture therefore teaches that Christians will not suffer through the Great Tribulation when God’s wrath is poured out on the earth and all its inhabitants. (Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7; Romans 1:18, 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10)
• Christ's return to rule and reign on earth with occur after the Great Tribulation. This return will be at the end of the Great Tribulation and will usher in the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 19:11-20:6).
• The Trinity is a reality—not a theologian’s idea. While it is true that the word “trinity” does not appear in the Bible, the concept clearly does. Genesis 1:2 tells us that in the beginning “the earth was formless and void” and that “the Spirit of God (i.e. the Holy Spirit) was hovering over it.” John 1:3 tells us that “through Him (Jesus) all things were made and without Him nothing was made,” a truth that is confirmed by John 1:10; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2. In those verses we see clearly the Trinity described. And if a person needs more proof, we only need to look at the baptism of Jesus, where we hear the Father’s voice, see Jesus in the flesh, and watch the Holy Spirit descend on Him in the form of a dove. (Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:10-11; Luke 3:22)
• The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity—not merely a force. The Holy Spirit is never referred to in the Bible as “it”, always as “He”. He is given to every believer to seal them to God for eternity, being the down payment and guarantee of our heavenly inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14); to be our helper (John 14:16); to teach us (John 14:26); to guide us (John 16:13); to give us gifts (Isaiah 11:1-3; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Romans 12:3-8); to produce the nature of Jesus in us (Galatians 5:22-23); and above all to glorify Jesus (John 16:14).
• No posts will be permitted that deny any of these God-given truths.

You may ask questions for your own edification, but you may not argue against these truths.

Thank you, Margery. I enjoyed the brief time I was here.

God bless.

 

[Margery]

Amen, @mattfivefour.

The way I understand it, after being cast out of heaven and standing in the holy place, Satan will subsequently be destroyed. Jesus reiterates what Paul says in Matthew 24:15: Satan will arrive and rule before the return of Jesus and the gathering of the saints. Then Satan will be destroyed by Christ at the 7th trump.

"Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand),

- Matthew 24:15 (NKJV)

To answer this more completely

Satan is NOT destroyed at the 7th Trump.

He is not destroyed even at the end of the Tribulation.

He is bound and thrown into the Abyss, but that is at the beginning just before the Millennial Reign of 1000 years is counted. At the end of that time he is let loose for one more chance to try and over throw God and a number of humans from the end of the Millennium join him. They are all killed, and Satan is thrown finally into the Lake of Fire for all eternity, with the AC and the False Prophet who landed there right after the Tribulation, before the Millennium starts.

For Satan's actual destruction you have to go to Rev 20:10 AFTER the Millennium when Satan is let out of the Abyss, deceives the nations one more time, and is tossed into the Lake of Fire for eternity.

Here's a quick recap of everything from the 7th Trumpet in Rev 11 on so we can see the timeline of the second half of the Tribulation in progress:

The 7th Trumpet is sounded in Rev 11 and occurs just after the 2 Witnesses are raised to life and are called by God up into heaven, ascending in the sight of all. They have witnessed to all for 1260 days or 3.5 years of 360 days each which is the prophetic year length in the Bible. Years before the Flood were 360 days with 12 months of 30 days each. It's only since the Flood that the years grew to the current 365.2422 Perhaps God returns the year length to the shorter 360 which may be obliquely alluded to in the passage about shortening the days. In Mark 13:20 and Matt 24:22

That covers the first half.

That is approximately the Mid Point of the 7 year Tribulation period when we see the 7th Trumpet sounded in the series of Trumpet Judgments.

At the end of Rev 11 the voices in heaven proclaim God's Kingdom on Earth. This proclamation comes as an establishing the facts of the case before Jesus will come and take possession of His kingdom

His legal right to His kingdom and authority is being legally and solemnly announced.

We don't actually see the 7 Bowl Judgments yet, till Rev 15.

A lot happens in Rev 12-14 it's an interlude in which a lot gets explained.

Rev 12 is the Woman and the Dragon, the Dragon is hurled to earth where he torments the woman (the Jews) and she flees to safety in the wilderness for a time, times and half a time which translates to 3.5 years or the last half of the Tribulation. The dragon also wages war with "the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus."

Rev 13 is the Beast from the Sea (the AC) and the Beast from the Land (the False Prophet) and the dragon's relationship with them. Another time stamp here 42 months for the Beast to have authority and to wage war against God's holy people. This is where the number 666 is mentioned.

Rev 14 is the 144,000 and the 3 Angels flying thru the air, 1 proclaims the everlasting gospel, the next proclaims the doom of Babylon, the last warns against taking the mark. Finally there is a preview of the last half of the Trib- the winepress of God's wrath.

Rev 15 starts up where Rev 11 left off. In heaven, in the Tabernacle of God, the Temple in heaven that was the original that Moses was to copy down on earth. Rev 15 starts with a mention of the final 7 judgments- the bowls and it finishes with this verse: 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

Rev 16 is all about the Bowls 1-7 and we see Babylon mentioned at the end. It ends with this: 17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. 21 From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.

Rev 17 is all about Babylon- it includes the Beast and her relationship with the Beast.

Rev 18 more about Babylon as she meets her final end

Rev 19 is 2 parts: Heavens joyous reaction to the destruction of Babylon and JESUS coming to earth on a white horse, the armies of heaven following Him. It explains how He conquers and it ends with the Beast (the AC) and the False Prophet being thrown into the Lake of Fire and the death of all who oppose Jesus. THAT is when Satan meets his end.

Rev 20- Satan is bound and thrown into the Abyss till the end of the Millennium which is also covered in this chapter which finishes at the end of the Millennium and the Great White Throne Judgment

Rev 21 The New Heaven and the New Earth and Eternity future. No more war, suffering, sin or death.

Rev 21: 3-8
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.

7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”