The following are just a few of the points we've learned
the past several weeks concerning the Rapture of the Church
and the Great Tribulation period.
1. We've learned from the prophesy of Israel's 70 weeks found in Daniel chapters 9 & 12, there is a timetable concerning God's work with His people Israel. We've learned that it tells us of a final week, a period of 7 years, which is still yet to be seen upon the earth. This 7 year period will transpire after the Church is taken up to be with the Lord at the rapture.
Following are a few short excerpts from the passage in Daniel 9
"Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city..."
"There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;"
"And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off..."
"Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week"
Understanding from what Daniel tells us about the events during these weeks, we learn they are 3 periods of years. The first is 7 weeks (49 years - which is the time that it took Nehemiah and Ezra to restore the temple and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem when Israel was captive in Babylon), the second is 62 weeks (434 years - the time between the rebuilding of Jerusalem until Jesus 'the Messiah' was cut off 'Jesus was crucified'), the third is 1 week (7 years - which has been put on temporary hold according to the Lord's mercy towards the Gentiles). He tells us in Romans 11 that,
"blindness in part has happened to the Jews, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in".
The first century apostles tried to spread the gospel of Jesus to the Jews, but the Jews continued to reject it. Time eventually came where the Apostle Paul said he was going to begin preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. So, while the Lord is building His Church which is comprised primarily of Gentiles, but also some believing Jews, the nation of Israel as a whole refuses to accept Jesus as the Messiah. But time will come (according to a season that only the Father in Heaven knows), when Jesus will descend from Heaven and will catch away the Church up to heaven and begin His restoration work upon Israel. He said in both Matthew and Luke that He longed for Israel, to gather them as a hen would gather her young, but they refused to come to Him. That last week of Daniel's prophecy is the time, when after showing Israel once and for all that there is no other Messiah but Jesus, and seeing them come to a place of repentance, they will once and for all be saved. During this time, although the Church will be in Heaven, there will still be many Gentiles converted to the Lord.
This time will be a time of struggle, persecution, wrath, and judgment. It will be a time unlike Israel has ever seen. Daniel chapter 12 teaches us a little overview of what is going to transpire during this time. In it we see Michael taking his place as Israel's guardian and seeing them through to their restoration as much difficulty is seen on the earth.
"At that time, Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people, and there shall be a time of trouble, such as has never was since there was a nation, even to that time, and at that time, your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book..."
What an exciting time for Israel! Though it will be a terrible time of struggle, it will also be their greatest hour of salvation. Michael, the archangel, is going to 'stand up'. The Hebrew rendering of this is the word "awmad". It means to 'stand as a pillar', to 'stand firm', to 'stand still (as a watchman)'. It is at this time, that Michael, after 2,000 years of waiting through Israel's blindnes to the Messiah, will be allowed to finally stand as the pillar for Israel and be able to lead them into their eternal salvation in the Lord Jesus. God is truly faithful!
2. We've also learned that the Apostle Paul taught us (through his letters to the Thessalonian Church) that the Church must be removed before the anti-Christ will be able to do his worldwide work. It tells us:
"For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way." He taught that it is the Church that must be removed. The Church is not appointed to wrath, and the entire 7 year Great Tribulation period is shown as a period where God's wrath is poured out through what are called 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls. The Bible teaches us that the final third of these, the 7 bowls will 'complete' His wrath that we are shown begin with the 7 seals.
"Then I saw another sign in Heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete."
It is these 7 plagues (called bowls), that God uses to finish His wrath upon mankind. Just like the Lord has used many people throughout history to accomplish his judgement and wrath, he will use His creation once again, including nature, the elements, and mankind to pour out His wrath upon the earth. Revelation tells us, this wrath is finally completed when He pours out the 7 bowls upon the earth. Though the Church is never promised that we won't suffer persecution and tribulation, we are promised that we will be kept from the hour of trial (the 7 year Great Tribulation period, or Daniel's 70th week that will come upon the whole earth.
In speaking of this Great Tribulation time, the Lord tells us through the Apostle Paul,
"For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him."
If you'd like more
information on
this topic, you can
stop by New Hope for a Sunday Service, where we have available the sermon series entitled, "The Ratpure, the Church, and Israel" on both CD and DVD.
