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The Church Goes On A Long Trip After considering the inconsistent showing of Christ's church over the past centuries, we might be inclined to think that Christ would give up on it! But I'm happy to say that is far from the case. In fact, just the opposite is true. As the centuries have rolled by, Christ has been preparing the place in heaven for all who would face death before they could face their Lord. They didn't know--because it wasn't revealed until the New Testament--that someday Jesus would return in the sky and take a whole generation of believers to heaven without dying physically. There would be no "valley of the shadow of death" for them! In each of the seven phases of church history that we viewed in Chapters 2 and 3, earnest believers longed to be in that select group who would witness the coming of Christ. But God has a perfect time schedule for His program, and the long interlude between Jesus' first coming and the rapture has given opportunity for countless millions more to receive His love and forgiveness of sin. THE FIRST CHRISTIAN TO SEE IT ALL We're eternally indebted to the New Testament writers for the picture they've given us of Christ one earth and of His new creation called the Church. But to the Apostle John ALONE was granted the privilege of actually LEAVING this earth and RECORDING for us the scenes of the Church's final destination in heaven with Christ. You'll remember that John was an old man exiled to the Island of Patmos when Christ appeared to Him in His resurrection and glorified body. The sight so overwhelmed John that he lost consciousness. When he revived, Jesus told him the reason for His visit. John was to see God's future for mankind and creation, and he was to record it so that everyone could read it and be aware of what was coming. Jesus told John to write about three things: (1) the things he's seen in the glorified Person of Jesus (2) the things that were spiritually significant in the churches of John's day--churches whose experiences would typify conditions throughout church history until Jesus returned for His people (3) things that would take place "AFTER all these things" (Revelation 1:19) In other words, events at the end of the world. Although John didn't comprehend many of the things we saw, he faithfully recorded in all. In Chapter 1 we saw his description of Christ in His glory. Chapters 2 and 3 witness the spiritual condition of the church through the ages. These visions were given to John while he was still on Patmos. In Revelation 4 begins the story of John's space travel to heaven where he saw the things that will take place both there and on earth following the close of church history. AN OPEN DOOR IN HEAVEN After these things I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven; and the first voice that I heard, like that of a trumpet talking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things." (Revelation 4:1; KJB ). Again, it is important to note that the Church has been the main theme of Revelation up and until Chapter 4. Starting with this chapter, the Church isn't seen on earth again until Chapter 19, where we suddenly find it returning to earth with Christ as He comes to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The big question is once again: "Where is the Church during the earthly devastation described in Chapters 6 through 19, and how did it get wherever it is? We are now living in a period of prophetic warning about God's impending judgment. Books, preaching, mass media, and word-of-mouth messages about Jesus' return are having a wider dissemination than at any time in history. The ARMIES OF THE WORLD are, even now as I write, perched on the edge of eternity, surrounding Israel, in an event called "Desert Shield." The invasion of the small country of Kuwait by Iraq, and Saddam Hussein has the obvious goal, being the overwhelming power of the area surrounding Israel. We literally stand facing the eastern sky--expecting at any moment the taking up of the Church. Following the word of mouth prophetic warning, Christ will remove His people in the Rapture, and then the judgment such as man has never know will sear the world for seven years. After that, Christ will lead His rescued followers into God's Kingdom of peace and righteousness on a beautiful new earth. IS THE RAPTURE NEAR? Since the BIBLE teaches the Rapture is going to occur before the tribulation period begins, and since there are increasing signs that this time of God's judgment is nearing, it would be good to briefly summarize the major signs that Jesus and the prophets said would herald the Tribulation and the return of Jesus to this earth. Even though many of these signs are appalling in themselves, there tremendous significance should in themselves, gladden the heart of every "true believer" in Christ. Many of these predicted signs are amplified in various chapters of the Book of Revelation. Here, I am simply going to list them to get them focused in our minds as a group: 1. The return of the dispersed Jews to Israel to become a nation again in 1948. January 15, 1991 – I watched a Jewish Businessman on the Cable News Network on location in Israel make this statement: "I have left my business for the time being to be with my people during this most threatening time. I just want to be with the people and country I love." He said this even though there is imminent danger of Israel being devastated by military attack from the Arab Nations all around them. 2. The Jew's recapture of the Old City of Jerusalem in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. 3. The rise of Russia as a powerful nation and enemy of Israel. The power of Russia is no longer in question – even though recent events would seem to portray them as week and struggling. The MATURE CHRISTIAN should not be fooled by what would appear to be the case. Remember, it was Russia that armed the foes of Israel in such a way that these Arab Countries pose a forceful threat to not only Israel, but as well to the United States and all the United Nations Forces that are poised for war at this very moment, January 16, 1991, 1:49 PM. [November 19, 2002 – You may recall that Russia was deeply involved in Iraq prior to the Gulf War]. Until recently, Russia had more than 3,000 advisors in Iraq. They have left only in an effort to give the appearance of support to United Nations resolutions calling for the withdrawal of Saddam Hussein from the country of Kuwait. 4. The Arab confederation against the new State of Israel. 5. The rise of a military power in the far East that field an army of 200 million soldiers. (Red China alone boasts that she has a number of troops this large.) However, it is thought that Iraq alone has as much as one million or more it could place in the front lines of battle. If you were to add to that number the armies of all the Arab nations in not too far a distant future, they too could well be able to foster this number. 6. The revival of the Old Roman Empire in the form of a ten-nation confederacy. Few Biblical scholars that BELIEVE God's Written Word would disagree that the European Common Market is ultimately going to be this power. 7. The revival of the DARK OCCULT PRACTICES of ancient Babylon. Early in year 1991, even the major news networks have acknowledged the surprising revival of the occult, Satanism, etc. The music our youth listen to on a continuous basis is laced with the occult, and encouragements to kill, or to take one's own life, and to worship Satan. 8. The unprecedented turn to drugs. There have been some weak claims that we are beginning to get some hold on the astounding drug addiction in this country....only to see the daily parade of press reports of the devastating results of its on-going use. 9. The increase of international revolution. Within just the past year we have seen a world-wide revolution in almost every country of the world. The entire European continent has been turned completely around – up-side down with revolutions and a turning to what we Americans call democracy. This has left nearly every one of the involved countries in a state of not knowing what tomorrow will bring. They reach out for financial help as they struggle for freedoms we have enjoyed. They are ripe for any direction that would seem to lead them to survival. They are ripe for the entrance of the Anti-christ. They will willing fall at his feet when he arrives on the scene. He will promise to find solutions to all their turmoil and difficulties. 10. The increase of wars. (No comment necessary) 11. The increase of earth quakes. 1991 warnings prevail as we still recover from the recent devastating earthquakes worldwide. 12. The increase of famines as a result of population explosions around the world. 13. The coming of plagues. AIDS, various increases of different strains of Venereal Diseases, Cancer, and numerous other yet unnamed diseases world-wide. 14. The increase of pollution. 15. The departure of many Christian churches from the historic truths of Christianity. 16. The move toward a one-world-religion. 17. The move toward a one-world government. We hear this in the more familiar terms of "A NEW WORLD ORDER." 18. The decline of the United States as a major world power. Today, America's best is poised south of a second rate Arab Nation, Iraq, wondering and questioning if we are able to forcefully make them retreat and pull out of the country they sacked. December 2, 2003 ~ Iraq is at this point behind us but leaves an open door to future possible action in Seria and Iran amoung others . . . 19. The increase in lawlessness. 20. The decline of the family unit. A LOOK INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL THAT NOW SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN POLISHED "GO YOUR WAY, DANIEL, FOR THE MEANING OF THE WORLDS OF PROPHECY IS SHUT UP AND SEALED UNTIL THE TIME OF THE END. Many shall travel about and knowledge shall increase. None of the wicked shall understand these words, but those who are wise shall in the last days understand. No other prophet has ever had more numerous, far-reaching prophecies revealed to him than Daniel; and yet a great deal of what he received in God-given visions and revelations, he didn't understand. Many of his predictions had to do with "the end times", or the events immediately preceding the coming of the Messiah--Jesus to set up God's kingdom. At the close of Daniel's written account of his prophecies, he reveals his bewilderment about when and how all the things he had predicted would occur: "How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?" (Daniel 12:6 ). A special angelic messenger replied to Daniel and said, ". . . when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished." Daniel replied, "I heard, but I did not understand." Then he said, "O my Lord, what shall be the issue and final end of these things?" (Daniel 12:8) The messenger replied, "Go your way, Daniel; for the words [of prophecy] are shut up and sealed till the time of the end (Daniel 12:9, ~ Amplified). In other words, God revealed to Daniel that his prophecies would not be clearly understood UNTIL the end times, e.e., the times when the events predicted would begin to take shape. The key that would unlock the prophetic book would be the current evens that would begin to fit into the predicted pattern. [(1991) news bulletin states that there are more than 680,000 troops located in the Persian Gulf at this very time. The GO AHEAD to advance these troops is reported to be just moments away.] Christians, after the early second century, spent little time really defining prophetic truth until the middle of the nineteenth century. Then there seems to have been a great revival of interest in the prophetic themes of the BIBLE. Today, Christians who have diligently studied prophecy, trusting the Spirit of God for illumination, have a greater insight into its meaning then ever before. The prophetic word definitely has been "unsealed" in our generation as God predicted it would be. November 19, 2002 ~ It is with much regret that I must address a very negative feeling about the spiritual condition of the United States. Since the previous paragraph was written we have experienced the most un-godly presidency ever in America. We no sooner get past that tragic epidemic in our history, get a godly man as president, and early on in his presidency we experience tragedy after tragedy, then 9/11. On September 11, 2001 four commercial aircraft loaded with passengers begin their separate journeys – all ending in the tragic deaths of all on board including more than 3, 000 souls. By intention, two of them crashed into the Trade Towers in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and the 4th into a lonely field in Pennsylvania. The latter is thought to have been brought down by the actions of the passengers – sacrificing their lives to save more on the intended destination of their aircraft. December 1, 2003 ~ Hate! So much hate in the United States. Hate towards Law Enforcement. Hate towards any authority. Hate of any symbol of Christianity. And an unprecedented hatred of our President. In 66 years I have never felt a seething hatred such as exists today. What does it all mean? Considering those among many other disasters, tragedies – including the recent sniper incidents, one would think that people would be drawn to turn from evil ways and draw nearer to Christ and His church. However, we have witnessed the harshest attacks on God, the moral fabric of society, and a falling away from sincere worship at our churches. Now, I am about to walk into the lion's den. Perhaps it would be wise to follow Churchill's tactic when he said, "You know I always avoid prophesying beforehand, it is much better policy to prophecy after the event has already taken place." However, in this study we will consider a number of forecasts about the future which are based on a careful study of the prophetic truth and the writings of many scholars on the subject. I believe that these forecasts are based upon sound deductions; however, again, please don't get the idea that I think that I am infallibly right in the same way that a biblical prophet speaking under the direct inspiration of God's Spirit was. I do believe, though, that God today does give us illumination to what has been written. Here, then, are the things that I believe will...and is happening and are going to develop in the very near future. TOP CONTINUE> Revelation ~ Index