When what theologians call the Rapture takes place, the Church Age believers (on Earth) are taken away and are united with the already departed Church Age believers in Heaven. Unlike the Second Advent that takes place on the Earth seven years later, this reunion takes place in the air above the Earth. From that point on, the entire Church will be wherever the Lord Jesus Christ is throughout all of eternity (1Thess. 4: 15-17).
As of the Rapture, the dispensation of the Church Age (not the Church) comes to its appointed end (Matt. 24: 14).
When the dispensation (period of time) of the Church Age ends, the dispensation of the Tribulation period begins.
During the dispensation of the Tribulation (some teach during the last 3 1/2 years of it) the spiritual, natural, social, and political environment experienced on planet Earth will be so horrific that no life would survive (Matt. 24: 22) if the Tribulation were not cut short.
This, I believe, is especially true for the last half (3 1/2 years of the Dispensation of Tribulation that is referred to as the Great Tribulation.
During that time the human population will be greatly reduced, and many who survive will wish they were dead (Rev. 9: 6). As bad as life here on Earth has been for different groups throughout the course of human history, the worse is yet to come.
Note that many of these horrific events and circumstances are not coming from the devil, but from the hand of God as the bowls of God's wrath are poured out upon the Earth (Rev. 16).
But this does not mean that the devil (1Pet. 5: 8) and his forces of evil (Eph. 6: 12) are idle. The Gospel Message will still be preached, but at the risk of certain arrest and execution if detected. Promoters and believers in the Gospel Message during this dispensation (period of time) are who/what theologians refer to as Tribulation saints. The persecution of these Tribulation saints will be the focus of attention and what the spiritual combat of Tribulation period will be all about during the final seven (some teach 3 1/2) years of the Angelic Conflict.
Under the governmental authority of the Antichrist, souls who are born again during the dispensation of the tribulation period will face persecution and death if their relationship with Christ is made known.
Loyalists to the Antichrist will bear the mark of the beast (government) The government of the Antichrist will go to great lengths to detect, identify, and execute anyone who identifies him/self with the Lord Jesus Christ, as NO one, without the mark of the beast will be able to "buy or sell" anything, anywhere.
Those caught selling anything anywhere to Christians will be likewise treated as enemies of the state and dealt with accordingly.
With the technology available today, let alone what may become available then, such things are no longer science fiction but a realistic probability.
The Great Tribulation will be abruptly cut short and brought to its appointed end when the Second Advent takes place.
At the Second Advent, the Lord Jesus Christ, accompanied by His Church, returns to the Earth, destroys the armed coalition advancing on Israel (Rev. 19: 19), and then establishes the promised 1,000 yr. kingdom to be headquartered in Jerusalem, Israel.
There are three schools of thought regarding just how long a period of time, if any, will pass in between the Rapture and the Second Advent.
There are different interpretations of Scripture as to what part of the Great Tribulation (if any) the Church that God designed will go through before it is taken away in what theologians refer to as the Rapture.
At least one major Christian denomination perceives the Rapture and Second Advent to be one in the same event.
I believe that that they are two separate events, that differ in time, location, and purpose.
Briefly, I believe that the Rapture takes place seven years before the Second Advent. The dispensation of the Tribulation Period begins after the Rapture takes place bringing the dispensation of the Church Age to its end. The dispensation of the Tribulation ends when the Second Advent takes place, seven years later.
The Rapture takes place in the air above the Earth (1 THess. 4: 17), whereas the Second Advent takes place seven years later ON the Earth.
The purpose of the Rapture is to take the members of the Church who are on the Earth at the time AWAY, whereas at the Second Advent, the Church (in its entirety) returns with Christ, and among others things, establishes His 1,000 kingdom (Rev. 20: 6).
I believe that the dispensation of the Tribulation Period is a seven year period of human history that is about to come on the Earth. The final three and one half years of the Tribulation Period involves what theologians refer to as the Great Tribulation.
There have always been degrees of tribulation for the people of God throughout all of the different dispensations, but nothing as severe as will be experienced by those who are on the Earth during the final years that precede the Second Advent.
Scripture (Matt. 24: 21, 22/Mark 13: 19, 20) defines the Great Tribulation dispensation (period of time) as being so horrific that if this dispensation were not cut short (by God) no life on Earth would be saved.
Rev 9: 6 NASB adds, "And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; and they will long to die and death flees from them."
It is for the sake of the "elect" (Mark 13:9/Matt. 24: 22) that God will shorten these days.
The "elect" being spoken of here consists of those who were not yet born again when the Rapture takes place, but will be born again during the Tribulation Period.
The Gospel Message will still be preached during the Great Tribulation, but those who identify themselves with the God of the Bible will do so at the risk of life and limb.
Church Age believers are those who came into this world physically alive, but spiritually dead during the Church Age. But during the course of their time here on Earth were born again (John 3: 5, 7).
The Church Age began at the Feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem, Israel, shortly after the Ascension (Acts 1: 9) of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Church Age, but not the Church, comes to its prophesied (Matt. 24: 14) end when the Rapture takes place, having by then completed the work (Matt. 28: 19, 20) that it was commissioned to do.
The Church will not be the only group of believers in Heaven.
Believers (to the extent that God had revealed Himself) from Adam down to the last soul born during the Old Testament period) went to the Paradise section of Hades (aka the Bosom of Abraham-Luke 16: 22).
This Paradise was a place of conscious comfort and rest (Luke 16: 25), but was NOT the third Heaven (2Cor. 12:2).
This was the same Paradise that the Lord Jesus Christ spoke of in (Luke 23: 43), into which He descended and remained for three days and three nights (Matt. 12: 40), before rising from the dead and being re-united with His body that was raised in resurrection form (Acts 2: 27).
Hades is in the subterranean heart (center) of planet Earth (Matt. 12: 40). There are several sections of Hades (Paradise, Torments, the Abyss, etc.) that serve different purposes and functions.
What theologians refer to as the Torments section of Hades remains to be the place where the souls of unbelievers from all the different dispensations (including the Church Age) descend to, upon leaving the body at the moment of physical death (Luke 16: 22, 23).
In the Torments of Hades, they suffer in agonizing flame (Luke 16: 23). There they will remain until they are called up to participate in the Rev. 20: 13, 15 events. At that time they will be sent into what the Bible calls the lake of fire, for all of eternity.
As of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, there are no longer any souls in the Paradise section of Hades. All believers from past dispensations are now in the 3rd Heaven (2Cor. 12: 2). As of the Church Age, departing believers do not descend to Paradise, but go directly to the 3rd Heaven in the presence of God (2Cor. 5: 8).
The souls of all departed born gain believers of the Church Age (from approx. 33 AD to date) are presently in interim bodies (2Cor. 5: 1) in the Third Heaven (2Cor. 12: 2).
When the Rapture takes place, they will receive their resurrected bodies and be among the group that gathers together around the Lord in the air above the Earth (1Thess. 4: 14).
There is NOTHING that the devil can do to undo the (Titus 3: 5/Eph. 4: 30) Work of God the Holy Spirit that took place the moment a soul chose to believe in the Person and the Work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Never-the-less, the devil, his forces of evil work long and hard trying to shake the confidence and the trust that the people of God have in the Person and the Work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sad to say, but he often will make use of "religious" persons and organizations that do not understand the Gospel Message to accomplish this diabolical goal. Like a driver of an automobile who spends most of his time looking in the rear view mirror, the born again believer who doubts the security of his salvation will not be focused on moving forward in the post salvation spiritual life.
Christian religions have developed and promote a never-ending list of reasons why souls can go to Hell, whereas the Bible (John 3: 18/Rev. 20: 18) speaks of only one (the sin of disbelief). The fact that one is a born again believer eliminates him from having committed this sin.
Christianity promotes faith, whereas Christian Religion promotes fear. Faith and fear are like to kids at opposite ends of a see-saw. As either one goes up, the other does down! When faith rises, fear goes down. When fear rises, faith goes down.
It is the unbelievers who have good cause to fear physical death.
There is nothing in Scripture that speaks of a human soul being given any opportunity to be saved after he/she has departed this world in the capacity of an unbeliever.
Q. Where can the term "saved" (referring to the salvation of born again believers) be found in Scripture?
A. Acts 2: 47/Romans 10: 13.
Q. Saved from what?
A. Saved from what the Bible (Rev. 20: 15) calls the lake of fire that is awaiting all unbelievers.
Praying for the salvation of a departed soul of an unbeliever is like praying for a change in the weather we had yesterday, here on Earth.
The perceived need to pray for the salvation of a departed soul of a born again believer reveals that one does not understand or promote the true Gospel Message.
The devil tries to increase fear in the minds of those who have nothing to fear, while he tries to diminish fear in the minds of those who have much to fear.
Life after physical death is NOT a matter of IF, but of where and how every soul that was ever created will spend all of Eternity.
All the unbelievers, throughout the course of human history will find themselves in the Torments of Hades and will eventually find themselves in what the Bible calls the lake of fire (Rev. 20: 13, 15) where they will spend all of eternity.
Just as believing in a presentation of the Gospel Message assures one of eternal life, the same Gospel Message assures disbelievers of eternal damnation.
All born again believers will find themselves in Heaven. However, some will experience eternity with reward (1Cor. 3: 14, 15) and privileges (Rev. 2/Rev. 3), whereas some will not.
Church Age believers have until they depart this Earth to make that difference.
Their departure could be result of their physical death or the Rapture, whichever comes first. The dying man on the cross on the side of our Lord received assurance of his salvation (Luke 23: 43) only hours before he was to have his legs broken (John 19: 32) and depart this world. There was no time for him to engage in the life of discipleship and reap the accompanying rewards, but at least he knew where he was going and where he would be spending eternity.
Throughout much of the Old Testament dispensation, the nation of Israel was the client nation of God, and as such, was the primary focus of attention in the realm of spiritual combat.
During the Church Age, the Church became the primary focus of attention.
During the dispensation of the Tribulation that follows the Rapture of the Church, the nation of Israel, being God’s client nation, will once again be at the center of attention in the Angelic Conflict, with the Second Advent only being seven years away!
Events taking place now in the Church Age are setting the stage for end time events to play out, once the Church has been taken out of the picture via the Rapture.
The "new" Christian Community consisting of Tribulation Believers will go mostly "underground" with secret hiding and gathering places, as did many of earliest believers during the Church Age.
As in the days of ancient Rome, the followers of Christ will be rounded up and dealt with as enemies of the state. There will likely be many "Peters" denying having any association with Christ in fear of the governmental authorities.
The political stage has been set for the Tribulation period to begin at any time, with its final 3 1/2 years being consumed by the Great Tribulation.
No one with any sense at all would want to be here on Earth when what Scripture refers to as the worst period in human history (Matt. 24: 21, 22/Mark 13: 19, 20) takes place.
I believe that by being born again not only assures one of a home of Heaven, but of being taken up in the Rapture, should he/she find himself here on Earth when the Rapture takes place.
I say this because I believe that the entire Church that is on the Earth (consisting of all born again believers) will be taken up in the Rapture.
There is a different theory, based partly on Luke 21: 34-36/Matt. 25: 1-13, that promotes the idea that only the born again believers on the Earth who are watching, praying, anticipating, and prepared will be taken up in the Rapture, leaving some born again believers of the Church Age behind. Being taking up, according to this theory, is a reward given to those who are found worthy by having been watching, praying, anticipating, and preparing for the Rapture.
As I understand it, supporters of this position believe that the born again believers left behind do not lose their salvation, but will be subjected to the horrors and persecution that will be the experienced by the Tribulation believers who are born again during that period of time.
Regardless of which interpretation of Scripture ultimately proves to be the correct, one cannot deny that the command (not an option) to be alert (consciously aware) and prepared for the Rapture is found in Scripture.
* * *
All dispensations have clear starting and ending points of time, following the time line that God has established for the human race. I believe that the dispensation of the Tribulation begins when the dispensation of the Church Age ends at the Rapture.
Knowing what dispensation one is living in and what is the primary objective of each dispensation is critical if one is to understand where we (the human race) are in the time line of God. The primary purpose and function of the Church Age is to announce the Gospel Message to unbelievers (providing them with the opportunity to be born again, and to make disciples (students and appliers of the Word of God) out of those who are born again. It is when this objective has been reached that the dispensation of the Church Age comes to its end.
Dispensations do not overlap.
Some scholars take the position that the Church will be raptured at the midway (3 1/2 year) point of the Tribulation period. In order for this to be correct, the last 3 1/2 years of the Church Age dispensation would have to overlap the first three 3 ½ years of Tribulation dispensation. This would be inconsistent with Biblical history.
Biblical history shows that what takes place in one dispensation sets the stage for what will take place in the next, but dispensations do not overlap.
There are some believers that have taken the position that the sounding of the trumpets of 1Thess. 4: 16 and 1 Cor. 15: 52 are also the sounding of one or more of the trumpets of Revelation 8 and 9. If so, this would place the timing of the Rapture in the middle of the seven year Tribulation Dispensation.
For reasons previously stated, I favor the pre-Tribulation position, placing the timing of the Rapture at the beginning of the seven year Tribulation Dispensation.
There are some scholars who perceive the Rapture and the Second Advent as being one in the same incident, but this position runs contrary to Scripture that reveals the differences in the timing, location, activity, and purpose for the Rapture and the Second Advent.
Knowing what and why and when things happened in eternity past before Man was created, and what, why, and when things took place during the past dispensations that Man has already gone through, contributes to having a better understanding of what brought us (the human race) to where we presently are in the time line of God.
When the Great Commission has been completed (Matt. 24: 14), the Church Age (not the Church) will come to its appointed end, and the seven year dispensation of the Tribulation begins, bringing the human race at large to and through the Great Tribulation.
This will be a horrific period for both Tribulation Believers and for unsaved souls here on planet Earth. Tribulation believers will suffer at the hands of the Antichrist, and unsaved souls will suffer under the wrath of God.
Here are some of the things that ARE going to take place here on planet Earth during the dispensation of the Tribulation that is about to come on planet Earth.
"And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them (Rev. 8: 6 NASB)."
* "And the first sounded and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the Earth, and a third of the Earth was burned up, and third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up (Rev. 8: 7 NASB)."
* "And the second sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea turned blood; and a third of the creatures, which was in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed (Rev. 8: 8, 9 NASB)."
* "And the third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters; and the name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the water became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter (Rev. 8: 10, 11 NASB)."
* "And a forth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon nd a third of the stars were smitten, so that a third of them might be darkened and the day might not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way. And I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in the mid-heaven, saying in loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound (Rev. 8: 12, 13 (NASB)."
* "And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit were given to him. And he opened the bottomless pit; and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. And out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth; and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And they were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing or tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of the Lord on their foreheads (Rev. 7: 3). And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man. And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; and they will long to die and death flees them. And the appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads, as it were, crowns like gold, and their faces were like faces of men. And they had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates like the breastplate of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. And they have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tales is their power to hurt men for five months....(Rev. 9: 1-10).
* "And the four angels who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released so that they might kill a third of mankind, and the number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million (Rev. 9: 15, 16). A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by (#1) the fire and (#2) the smoke and (#3) the brimstone, which proceeded out of their mouths (Rev. 9; 18 NASB italics mine).
Some scholars interpret these destructive forces and events verses as symbolic, whereas others interpret these literally.
The bottom line, is that in either case, wide-spread death and destruction that will come upon the Earth as the time for the Second Advent approaches, fulfilling the ominous prophecy of (Matt. 24: 22/Mark 13:20).
The divine purpose for this horrific activity is to call mankind to repent of their sin, but they (as a whole) will NOT do so (Rev. 9: 21).
This horrific period of history will be“cut short” (Matt. 24: 22) by the Second Advent taking place.
At the Second Advent, the departed born again believers of the Church Age that had been taken away at the Rapture returns with the Lord to planet Earth. The Lord will destroy the military coalition that at that time will be attacking the nation of Israel. The Lord will then establish His 1,000 year kingdom here on Earth, with Jerusalem being the capital.
Only God knows when the Church Age will come to its end. The only thing that we can count in is the fact that it will, and the need to be prepared. If it should not come during our individual lifespan, we still need to be prepared for our own departure and our personal accountability that follows.
The one resource that cannot be "recycled" is time. On the day we came into this world, the plan of God assigned a specified amount of "ticks" on our individual clocks. No one knows how close any one of us are to receiving our last "tick", but each and every day we continue to wake up, we have some 115, 200 less ticks on our clock than what we had the day before. (24 hrs per day. x 60 mins an hour, x 80 beats per minute = 115, 200). Each day we wake up bringing us closer to our personal day of departure or the Rapture.
Time spent out of fellowship with God is time wasted, regardless of whatever else we may have accomplished with it (Mark 8: 36).
We may have new opportunities to get involved in the production of divine good (gold, silver, precious stones of 1 Cor. 3: 12-15), but the opportunities and the accompanying rewards that we overlooked or fail to act on during the course of any given day are gone forever.
The more spiritually mature an advancing disciple becomes, the more clearly she/she will see the daily opportunities to glorify God as we walk with Lord in fellowship.
* * *
The Church", having already fulfilled its purpose and mission (Matthew 28: 19, 20) would have no divine purpose for being on Earth until it returns with Christ at the Second Advent.
The horrific activity to be experienced during the relatively short period of the Great Tribulation here on Earth has been decreed by God to take place. There are some things that ARE going to happen.
What God decrees to take place can be the result of what He chooses to do Himself, what directs others to do, or by what He permits (See Book of Job) the devil and his Eph. 6: 12 forces of evil to do.
When things get nasty, people generally get nastier. You think it’s a "dog eat dog" world now, just imagine what it will be like when these end time events take place.
As if the above scenario weren't enough to deal with, Tribulation believers who are here on earth will be risking life and limb by identifying themselves with the God of the Bible. No one will be able to conduct essential daily activities (Rev. 13: 17) if they do not display the "mark of the beast" on their person.
Person aiding (providing food shelter, clothing, etc.) to any person or any group of persons who do not possess and display the mark will likewise be considered to be enemies of the state and dealt with accordingly.
Persons taking on the mark of the beast will subject to severe divine retribution (Rev. 14: 10).
The technology (micro chips/implants/readers) needed to enforce these regulations are already available. Those not having the mark of the beast will be easily identified.
For the inhabitants of the world that are left behind at the Rapture, there will no longer be a mystery the mark of the beast, the name of the beast, or the numerical significance of 666, 616, or the Arabic figure (6) will be (Rev. 13: 15-17).
The "beast" is not a creature, but is a coalition of nations with military and political clout that will come under the control of the Antichrist.
There are several interpretations as to what the number 666, 616, or the Arabic symbol that looks like a number 6 signifies in the "mark of the beast."
Accordingly, there have been many attempts to apply this riddle to various historical, political, and religious individuals.
Some researchers contend that he mark of the devil consists of a combination of symbols that look like a number six. There IS an Arabic symbol (that looks like a number six) that when repeated reveals the name Allah. These symbols have been clearly displayed on the head and wrist bands (See Rev. 13: 16) of members of international terrorist organizations whose stated goal is the destruction of the nation of Israel and any Western nation (USA) or coalition (UN) that allies itself with Israel.
World domination, to the glory of Allah, has been and remains to be the ultimate objective of the followers of the Islam religion. It is their position that any nation or individual who does not submit to Allah are considered "infidels" worthy of death.
This does not mean that all Muslim people follow or support achieving this goal by way of military or terrorist actions. Remember that the so-called "Christian Crusades" consisted of soldiers from all over Europe that were told that would receive eternal life if they engaged in a military takeover of Jerusalem and establish a global kingdom in the name of Christianity. There have been similar attempts by Muslim coalitions to do the same in the name of Allah. There are Muslim soldiers and terrorists who have told that they will received the rewards of Allah for killing "infidels." An infidel, in the eyes of a Muslim is anyone who does not acknowledge Allah.
It will be a military coalition that will be invading the land of Israel when the Second Advent takes place.
The world has clearly come to the point that the stage is being set for some of the end time events that include, but are not limited, to the Rapture, the Great Tribulation, and the Second Advent.
The most obvious was the re-establishing of the nation of Israel in 1947, completing the times of the Gentiles (Luke 21: 24). This was clearly the beginning of events that will bring the end times events front and center.
Note that the final end of the Angelic Conflict will not take place until AFTER the 1,000 year millennial kingdom of God has been completed.
During the 1,000 year period, the devil will be confined to the abyss (Rev. 20: 2, 3). During this confinement, the devil will not be able to deceive the nations (Rev. 20: 3).
After 1000 years pass, the devil will be released (Rev. 20: 3), and once again have the ability to deceive the nations (Rev. 20: 8).
He will be permitted to organize (from among the peoples he deceives) one last final assault on Jerusalem by way of an international coalition (Rev. 20: 8).
But that coalition will be destroyed by divine weaponry Rev.20: 9).
After this final defeat, the devil and his associates will be tossed into the lake of fire, from which he and they will never come out of again. This same lake of fire will also become the final destination of all the human souls that were unbelievers throughout the course of human history (Rev. 20: 13, 15).
It will not be until the final incarceration of the devil and his allies (Rev. 20: 10) takes place that final phase of the Angelic Conflict will come to its end.
I have often wondered exactly where on Earth the born again believers (who returned and ruled with Christ during His 1,000 year kingdom ) will be, and what their role will be during this final phase.
Will they be at headquarters in Jerusalem, or will they be posted throughout the nations ((Luke 19: 17) as Christ's (2Tim. 2: 12) reigning (Rev. 20: 4) representatives ? The answers to such questions are among the “secret things” spoken of in Deut. 29: 29.
When the Angelic Conflict is over, there is a new heaven and a new earth coming (Rev .21.)
The old one (on which we presently stand) and on which will return with Christ) will have melted away in intense heat (2Pet. 3: 10).
Where will we be when that takes place? All we know for sure, is that wherever the Lord Jesus Christ is, we as Church Age believers, will be with Him (1Thess. 4: 17).
!
I believe that when the Rapture takes place, it will be like the days of Noah (Matt. 24: 37/Luke 17: 26), with most people going about their daily lives with little concern for God or the things of God.
The typical attitude of Man at that time was clearly prophesied in Scripture (2Tim 3: 2).
"For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lover of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding onto a form of godliness (Man-made religion), although they have denied its power (to impact their daily lives), avoid such men as these (2Tim. 3: 2-5 NASB italics mine)."
But then one day in Noah's time, it started to rain!
* * *
The Rapture may or may not take place during our individual lifetime here on Earth. If it does not, keep in mind that our individual departure (before the Rapture) could happen today.
Accordingly, there are two questions that each believer of the Church Age must ask him/herself.
(#1) "If the Rapture should take place in my lifetime, will the Lord find me faithfully executing the post salvation spiritual life (Luke 18: 8) at the time, or will He come and find me living in some kind of sin (James 2: 10), or all wrapped up in the issues of the here and now (Matt. 13: 22)?
(#2) If the Rapture takes place after I have already departed, what will I have to say for myself when called to give an account (Romans 14: 12) of what I did (or didn't do) with the post salvation call to discipleship?
This accounting in Heaven applies to born again believers only, as no one else is going to be here. The good news is that this accounting has got NOTHING to do with sin (Romans 8: 1) or who goes to Hell. It does however, have everything to with how any given born again believer is going to experience eternity.
Will our individual experience in Heaven be one with or without reward (1Cor. 3: 14, 15), or with or without and (Rev. 2: 7, 11, 17, 26/Rev.3: 5, 12, 21) privileges? Will our "uniform of glory" be hardly seen, or will it shine bright as the sun (1Cor. 15: 41)?
Going to Heaven or Hell was resolved here on Earth when each one of us chose to either believe or reject (John 3: 18), the Gospel Message.
You can click here, if you are not certain exactly what the Gospel Message entails.
Having had this opportunity now, or in the past, takes the "I didn't know" and the "Nobody ever told me" defense off the table.
This accounting has to do with what we did or didn't do regarding the post (after) salvation call to discipleship.
Discipleship, initially, has to do with the building of and the applying of one's own Biblically-edified soul structure. The long term objective of discipleship calls for our personal involvement in the Great Commission.
One cannot pass on to others what he/she has not yet secured for him/self.
Doctrinal ignorance is choice that born again believers make. God cannot command (as He does- 2Pet. 3: 18) to continue to grow in the knowledge of the Lord and then not supply the means to anyone who desires to do so!
Christian religion, as well as the devil, has a whole warehouse full of alternatives designed to keep us from entertaining true discipleship. It will not be too far down the road of Bible study that one will begin to see the differences between what the Bible has to say and what Christian Religion(s) and/or the devil has to say.
Some denominations and organizations are further off course than others, but there is not one that has not been impaired by Man-made Christian Religion.
These alternatives will usually include just enough "religion" to satisfy any qualms of conscience or sense of obligation that we may have, but will fall short of what it takes to advance in the spiritual life. Such distractions usually afford us the opportunity to enjoy the tranquility of our comfort zone without having to face the challenges that true disciple will bring to our door.
Back-sliding believers (and the devil) will be quite content to (have us) remain right where we are and move no further forward in the plan of God.
There is NO neutrality or resting areas along the road to spiritual maturity. If we are not moving forward, we are in retreat. Those who are moving forward will find themselves in the front lines of Angelic Conflict, here in the Church Age.
The more we engage in spiritual combat, the more confident and bold we will become in sharing the Gospel Message with unbelievers, and/or sharing a principle of Scripture with a fellow believer in need. This advancement will not be well-received by those it challenges to do the same, but have no desire to do so.
Every time that we choose not to get involved with the spiritual well being of others, the easier it gets to say "No!" (to God) the next time.
Remember it was the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom we will give an account, that stated, "Everyone who shall confess (acknowledge) Me before men, I will also confess (acknowledge) him (as a disciple) before My Father who is in Heaven. But who shall deny (fail to acknowledge) Me before men, I will also deny him (fail to acknowledge as a disciple) before My Father who is in Heaven (Matt. 10: 32, 33 NASB italics mine)."
Denying/rejecting the written Word of God (Bible) is, in principle, the same as denying/rejecting the Living Word of God, that being the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1: 3).
To identify oneself as a "Christian" and then not live accordingly is a Church Age application of the Ten Commandments that speak of taking (on) the name of the Lord in vain (Exodus 20: 7).
Note that the Exodus 20 passage goes on to say that, "...the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain (Exodus 20: 10 NASB)."
Identifying and doing one's assigned (1Cor. 12: 18) part in the proclaiming of the Gospel Message to unbelievers and the making of disciples (disciples = students and appliers of the Word of God) is the very purpose that each and every born again believer is here on Earth.
Again, the devil has a warehouse full of ways and means to distract us. Depending on which side of the conflict one is one, it is either the promotion or the inhibiting of the Gospel Message that is at the center of attention in the realm of spiritual combat (Eph. 6) of the Church Age.
In closing, The Angelic Conflict began BEFORE Man was ever created, and will continue on until its appointed end with the final and permanent incarceration of the devil and his allies in what the Bible calls the lake of fire. Man was created to glorify God in the midst of this ongoing conflict.
In the meantime, personal participation in the Angelic Conflict is what "fighting the good fight" that Paul was referring to as he came to end of his earthly life and ministry.
Here in the Church Age, fighting the good fight calls for the ongoing learning and applying of the Word of God. This is what glorifies God.
The glorification of God in the presence of angels, seen and unseen, fallen and elect, is what the Angelic Conflict was and remains to be all about. The angels, fallen and elect are a part of the great cloud of witnesses (Heb. 12: 1) that observe our activity each and every day.
Paul said, "I have fought the god fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4: 7 NASB)."
My prayer is that each one of us will be able to say the same when each one of us gives our account to God so that we can hear these words, "Well done, good and faithful servant... (Matt. 25: 23 NASB)."
This concludes our study of the Angelic Conflict.
As of the Rapture, the dispensation of the Church Age (not the Church) comes to its appointed end (Matt. 24: 14).
When the dispensation (period of time) of the Church Age ends, the dispensation of the Tribulation period begins.
During the dispensation of the Tribulation (some teach during the last 3 1/2 years of it) the spiritual, natural, social, and political environment experienced on planet Earth will be so horrific that no life would survive (Matt. 24: 22) if the Tribulation were not cut short.
This, I believe, is especially true for the last half (3 1/2 years of the Dispensation of Tribulation that is referred to as the Great Tribulation.
During that time the human population will be greatly reduced, and many who survive will wish they were dead (Rev. 9: 6). As bad as life here on Earth has been for different groups throughout the course of human history, the worse is yet to come.
Note that many of these horrific events and circumstances are not coming from the devil, but from the hand of God as the bowls of God's wrath are poured out upon the Earth (Rev. 16).
But this does not mean that the devil (1Pet. 5: 8) and his forces of evil (Eph. 6: 12) are idle. The Gospel Message will still be preached, but at the risk of certain arrest and execution if detected. Promoters and believers in the Gospel Message during this dispensation (period of time) are who/what theologians refer to as Tribulation saints. The persecution of these Tribulation saints will be the focus of attention and what the spiritual combat of Tribulation period will be all about during the final seven (some teach 3 1/2) years of the Angelic Conflict.
Under the governmental authority of the Antichrist, souls who are born again during the dispensation of the tribulation period will face persecution and death if their relationship with Christ is made known.
Loyalists to the Antichrist will bear the mark of the beast (government) The government of the Antichrist will go to great lengths to detect, identify, and execute anyone who identifies him/self with the Lord Jesus Christ, as NO one, without the mark of the beast will be able to "buy or sell" anything, anywhere.
Those caught selling anything anywhere to Christians will be likewise treated as enemies of the state and dealt with accordingly.
With the technology available today, let alone what may become available then, such things are no longer science fiction but a realistic probability.
The Great Tribulation will be abruptly cut short and brought to its appointed end when the Second Advent takes place.
At the Second Advent, the Lord Jesus Christ, accompanied by His Church, returns to the Earth, destroys the armed coalition advancing on Israel (Rev. 19: 19), and then establishes the promised 1,000 yr. kingdom to be headquartered in Jerusalem, Israel.
There are three schools of thought regarding just how long a period of time, if any, will pass in between the Rapture and the Second Advent.
There are different interpretations of Scripture as to what part of the Great Tribulation (if any) the Church that God designed will go through before it is taken away in what theologians refer to as the Rapture.
At least one major Christian denomination perceives the Rapture and Second Advent to be one in the same event.
I believe that that they are two separate events, that differ in time, location, and purpose.
Briefly, I believe that the Rapture takes place seven years before the Second Advent. The dispensation of the Tribulation Period begins after the Rapture takes place bringing the dispensation of the Church Age to its end. The dispensation of the Tribulation ends when the Second Advent takes place, seven years later.
The Rapture takes place in the air above the Earth (1 THess. 4: 17), whereas the Second Advent takes place seven years later ON the Earth.
The purpose of the Rapture is to take the members of the Church who are on the Earth at the time AWAY, whereas at the Second Advent, the Church (in its entirety) returns with Christ, and among others things, establishes His 1,000 kingdom (Rev. 20: 6).
I believe that the dispensation of the Tribulation Period is a seven year period of human history that is about to come on the Earth. The final three and one half years of the Tribulation Period involves what theologians refer to as the Great Tribulation.
There have always been degrees of tribulation for the people of God throughout all of the different dispensations, but nothing as severe as will be experienced by those who are on the Earth during the final years that precede the Second Advent.
Scripture (Matt. 24: 21, 22/Mark 13: 19, 20) defines the Great Tribulation dispensation (period of time) as being so horrific that if this dispensation were not cut short (by God) no life on Earth would be saved.
Rev 9: 6 NASB adds, "And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; and they will long to die and death flees from them."
It is for the sake of the "elect" (Mark 13:9/Matt. 24: 22) that God will shorten these days.
The "elect" being spoken of here consists of those who were not yet born again when the Rapture takes place, but will be born again during the Tribulation Period.
The Gospel Message will still be preached during the Great Tribulation, but those who identify themselves with the God of the Bible will do so at the risk of life and limb.
Church Age believers are those who came into this world physically alive, but spiritually dead during the Church Age. But during the course of their time here on Earth were born again (John 3: 5, 7).
The Church Age began at the Feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem, Israel, shortly after the Ascension (Acts 1: 9) of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Church Age, but not the Church, comes to its prophesied (Matt. 24: 14) end when the Rapture takes place, having by then completed the work (Matt. 28: 19, 20) that it was commissioned to do.
The Church will not be the only group of believers in Heaven.
Believers (to the extent that God had revealed Himself) from Adam down to the last soul born during the Old Testament period) went to the Paradise section of Hades (aka the Bosom of Abraham-Luke 16: 22).
This Paradise was a place of conscious comfort and rest (Luke 16: 25), but was NOT the third Heaven (2Cor. 12:2).
This was the same Paradise that the Lord Jesus Christ spoke of in (Luke 23: 43), into which He descended and remained for three days and three nights (Matt. 12: 40), before rising from the dead and being re-united with His body that was raised in resurrection form (Acts 2: 27).
Hades is in the subterranean heart (center) of planet Earth (Matt. 12: 40). There are several sections of Hades (Paradise, Torments, the Abyss, etc.) that serve different purposes and functions.
What theologians refer to as the Torments section of Hades remains to be the place where the souls of unbelievers from all the different dispensations (including the Church Age) descend to, upon leaving the body at the moment of physical death (Luke 16: 22, 23).
In the Torments of Hades, they suffer in agonizing flame (Luke 16: 23). There they will remain until they are called up to participate in the Rev. 20: 13, 15 events. At that time they will be sent into what the Bible calls the lake of fire, for all of eternity.
As of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, there are no longer any souls in the Paradise section of Hades. All believers from past dispensations are now in the 3rd Heaven (2Cor. 12: 2). As of the Church Age, departing believers do not descend to Paradise, but go directly to the 3rd Heaven in the presence of God (2Cor. 5: 8).
The souls of all departed born gain believers of the Church Age (from approx. 33 AD to date) are presently in interim bodies (2Cor. 5: 1) in the Third Heaven (2Cor. 12: 2).
When the Rapture takes place, they will receive their resurrected bodies and be among the group that gathers together around the Lord in the air above the Earth (1Thess. 4: 14).
There is NOTHING that the devil can do to undo the (Titus 3: 5/Eph. 4: 30) Work of God the Holy Spirit that took place the moment a soul chose to believe in the Person and the Work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Never-the-less, the devil, his forces of evil work long and hard trying to shake the confidence and the trust that the people of God have in the Person and the Work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sad to say, but he often will make use of "religious" persons and organizations that do not understand the Gospel Message to accomplish this diabolical goal. Like a driver of an automobile who spends most of his time looking in the rear view mirror, the born again believer who doubts the security of his salvation will not be focused on moving forward in the post salvation spiritual life.
Christian religions have developed and promote a never-ending list of reasons why souls can go to Hell, whereas the Bible (John 3: 18/Rev. 20: 18) speaks of only one (the sin of disbelief). The fact that one is a born again believer eliminates him from having committed this sin.
Christianity promotes faith, whereas Christian Religion promotes fear. Faith and fear are like to kids at opposite ends of a see-saw. As either one goes up, the other does down! When faith rises, fear goes down. When fear rises, faith goes down.
It is the unbelievers who have good cause to fear physical death.
There is nothing in Scripture that speaks of a human soul being given any opportunity to be saved after he/she has departed this world in the capacity of an unbeliever.
Q. Where can the term "saved" (referring to the salvation of born again believers) be found in Scripture?
A. Acts 2: 47/Romans 10: 13.
Q. Saved from what?
A. Saved from what the Bible (Rev. 20: 15) calls the lake of fire that is awaiting all unbelievers.
Praying for the salvation of a departed soul of an unbeliever is like praying for a change in the weather we had yesterday, here on Earth.
The perceived need to pray for the salvation of a departed soul of a born again believer reveals that one does not understand or promote the true Gospel Message.
The devil tries to increase fear in the minds of those who have nothing to fear, while he tries to diminish fear in the minds of those who have much to fear.
Life after physical death is NOT a matter of IF, but of where and how every soul that was ever created will spend all of Eternity.
All the unbelievers, throughout the course of human history will find themselves in the Torments of Hades and will eventually find themselves in what the Bible calls the lake of fire (Rev. 20: 13, 15) where they will spend all of eternity.
Just as believing in a presentation of the Gospel Message assures one of eternal life, the same Gospel Message assures disbelievers of eternal damnation.
All born again believers will find themselves in Heaven. However, some will experience eternity with reward (1Cor. 3: 14, 15) and privileges (Rev. 2/Rev. 3), whereas some will not.
Church Age believers have until they depart this Earth to make that difference.
Their departure could be result of their physical death or the Rapture, whichever comes first. The dying man on the cross on the side of our Lord received assurance of his salvation (Luke 23: 43) only hours before he was to have his legs broken (John 19: 32) and depart this world. There was no time for him to engage in the life of discipleship and reap the accompanying rewards, but at least he knew where he was going and where he would be spending eternity.
Throughout much of the Old Testament dispensation, the nation of Israel was the client nation of God, and as such, was the primary focus of attention in the realm of spiritual combat.
During the Church Age, the Church became the primary focus of attention.
During the dispensation of the Tribulation that follows the Rapture of the Church, the nation of Israel, being God’s client nation, will once again be at the center of attention in the Angelic Conflict, with the Second Advent only being seven years away!
Events taking place now in the Church Age are setting the stage for end time events to play out, once the Church has been taken out of the picture via the Rapture.
The "new" Christian Community consisting of Tribulation Believers will go mostly "underground" with secret hiding and gathering places, as did many of earliest believers during the Church Age.
As in the days of ancient Rome, the followers of Christ will be rounded up and dealt with as enemies of the state. There will likely be many "Peters" denying having any association with Christ in fear of the governmental authorities.
The political stage has been set for the Tribulation period to begin at any time, with its final 3 1/2 years being consumed by the Great Tribulation.
No one with any sense at all would want to be here on Earth when what Scripture refers to as the worst period in human history (Matt. 24: 21, 22/Mark 13: 19, 20) takes place.
I believe that by being born again not only assures one of a home of Heaven, but of being taken up in the Rapture, should he/she find himself here on Earth when the Rapture takes place.
I say this because I believe that the entire Church that is on the Earth (consisting of all born again believers) will be taken up in the Rapture.
There is a different theory, based partly on Luke 21: 34-36/Matt. 25: 1-13, that promotes the idea that only the born again believers on the Earth who are watching, praying, anticipating, and prepared will be taken up in the Rapture, leaving some born again believers of the Church Age behind. Being taking up, according to this theory, is a reward given to those who are found worthy by having been watching, praying, anticipating, and preparing for the Rapture.
As I understand it, supporters of this position believe that the born again believers left behind do not lose their salvation, but will be subjected to the horrors and persecution that will be the experienced by the Tribulation believers who are born again during that period of time.
Regardless of which interpretation of Scripture ultimately proves to be the correct, one cannot deny that the command (not an option) to be alert (consciously aware) and prepared for the Rapture is found in Scripture.
* * *
All dispensations have clear starting and ending points of time, following the time line that God has established for the human race. I believe that the dispensation of the Tribulation begins when the dispensation of the Church Age ends at the Rapture.
Knowing what dispensation one is living in and what is the primary objective of each dispensation is critical if one is to understand where we (the human race) are in the time line of God. The primary purpose and function of the Church Age is to announce the Gospel Message to unbelievers (providing them with the opportunity to be born again, and to make disciples (students and appliers of the Word of God) out of those who are born again. It is when this objective has been reached that the dispensation of the Church Age comes to its end.
Dispensations do not overlap.
Some scholars take the position that the Church will be raptured at the midway (3 1/2 year) point of the Tribulation period. In order for this to be correct, the last 3 1/2 years of the Church Age dispensation would have to overlap the first three 3 ½ years of Tribulation dispensation. This would be inconsistent with Biblical history.
Biblical history shows that what takes place in one dispensation sets the stage for what will take place in the next, but dispensations do not overlap.
There are some believers that have taken the position that the sounding of the trumpets of 1Thess. 4: 16 and 1 Cor. 15: 52 are also the sounding of one or more of the trumpets of Revelation 8 and 9. If so, this would place the timing of the Rapture in the middle of the seven year Tribulation Dispensation.
For reasons previously stated, I favor the pre-Tribulation position, placing the timing of the Rapture at the beginning of the seven year Tribulation Dispensation.
There are some scholars who perceive the Rapture and the Second Advent as being one in the same incident, but this position runs contrary to Scripture that reveals the differences in the timing, location, activity, and purpose for the Rapture and the Second Advent.
Knowing what and why and when things happened in eternity past before Man was created, and what, why, and when things took place during the past dispensations that Man has already gone through, contributes to having a better understanding of what brought us (the human race) to where we presently are in the time line of God.
When the Great Commission has been completed (Matt. 24: 14), the Church Age (not the Church) will come to its appointed end, and the seven year dispensation of the Tribulation begins, bringing the human race at large to and through the Great Tribulation.
This will be a horrific period for both Tribulation Believers and for unsaved souls here on planet Earth. Tribulation believers will suffer at the hands of the Antichrist, and unsaved souls will suffer under the wrath of God.
Here are some of the things that ARE going to take place here on planet Earth during the dispensation of the Tribulation that is about to come on planet Earth.
"And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them (Rev. 8: 6 NASB)."
* "And the first sounded and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the Earth, and a third of the Earth was burned up, and third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up (Rev. 8: 7 NASB)."
* "And the second sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea turned blood; and a third of the creatures, which was in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed (Rev. 8: 8, 9 NASB)."
* "And the third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters; and the name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the water became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter (Rev. 8: 10, 11 NASB)."
* "And a forth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon nd a third of the stars were smitten, so that a third of them might be darkened and the day might not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way. And I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in the mid-heaven, saying in loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound (Rev. 8: 12, 13 (NASB)."
* "And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit were given to him. And he opened the bottomless pit; and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. And out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth; and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And they were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing or tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of the Lord on their foreheads (Rev. 7: 3). And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man. And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; and they will long to die and death flees them. And the appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads, as it were, crowns like gold, and their faces were like faces of men. And they had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates like the breastplate of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. And they have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tales is their power to hurt men for five months....(Rev. 9: 1-10).
* "And the four angels who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released so that they might kill a third of mankind, and the number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million (Rev. 9: 15, 16). A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by (#1) the fire and (#2) the smoke and (#3) the brimstone, which proceeded out of their mouths (Rev. 9; 18 NASB italics mine).
Some scholars interpret these destructive forces and events verses as symbolic, whereas others interpret these literally.
The bottom line, is that in either case, wide-spread death and destruction that will come upon the Earth as the time for the Second Advent approaches, fulfilling the ominous prophecy of (Matt. 24: 22/Mark 13:20).
The divine purpose for this horrific activity is to call mankind to repent of their sin, but they (as a whole) will NOT do so (Rev. 9: 21).
This horrific period of history will be“cut short” (Matt. 24: 22) by the Second Advent taking place.
At the Second Advent, the departed born again believers of the Church Age that had been taken away at the Rapture returns with the Lord to planet Earth. The Lord will destroy the military coalition that at that time will be attacking the nation of Israel. The Lord will then establish His 1,000 year kingdom here on Earth, with Jerusalem being the capital.
Only God knows when the Church Age will come to its end. The only thing that we can count in is the fact that it will, and the need to be prepared. If it should not come during our individual lifespan, we still need to be prepared for our own departure and our personal accountability that follows.
The one resource that cannot be "recycled" is time. On the day we came into this world, the plan of God assigned a specified amount of "ticks" on our individual clocks. No one knows how close any one of us are to receiving our last "tick", but each and every day we continue to wake up, we have some 115, 200 less ticks on our clock than what we had the day before. (24 hrs per day. x 60 mins an hour, x 80 beats per minute = 115, 200). Each day we wake up bringing us closer to our personal day of departure or the Rapture.
Time spent out of fellowship with God is time wasted, regardless of whatever else we may have accomplished with it (Mark 8: 36).
We may have new opportunities to get involved in the production of divine good (gold, silver, precious stones of 1 Cor. 3: 12-15), but the opportunities and the accompanying rewards that we overlooked or fail to act on during the course of any given day are gone forever.
The more spiritually mature an advancing disciple becomes, the more clearly she/she will see the daily opportunities to glorify God as we walk with Lord in fellowship.
* * *
The Church", having already fulfilled its purpose and mission (Matthew 28: 19, 20) would have no divine purpose for being on Earth until it returns with Christ at the Second Advent.
The horrific activity to be experienced during the relatively short period of the Great Tribulation here on Earth has been decreed by God to take place. There are some things that ARE going to happen.
What God decrees to take place can be the result of what He chooses to do Himself, what directs others to do, or by what He permits (See Book of Job) the devil and his Eph. 6: 12 forces of evil to do.
When things get nasty, people generally get nastier. You think it’s a "dog eat dog" world now, just imagine what it will be like when these end time events take place.
As if the above scenario weren't enough to deal with, Tribulation believers who are here on earth will be risking life and limb by identifying themselves with the God of the Bible. No one will be able to conduct essential daily activities (Rev. 13: 17) if they do not display the "mark of the beast" on their person.
Person aiding (providing food shelter, clothing, etc.) to any person or any group of persons who do not possess and display the mark will likewise be considered to be enemies of the state and dealt with accordingly.
Persons taking on the mark of the beast will subject to severe divine retribution (Rev. 14: 10).
The technology (micro chips/implants/readers) needed to enforce these regulations are already available. Those not having the mark of the beast will be easily identified.
For the inhabitants of the world that are left behind at the Rapture, there will no longer be a mystery the mark of the beast, the name of the beast, or the numerical significance of 666, 616, or the Arabic figure (6) will be (Rev. 13: 15-17).
The "beast" is not a creature, but is a coalition of nations with military and political clout that will come under the control of the Antichrist.
There are several interpretations as to what the number 666, 616, or the Arabic symbol that looks like a number 6 signifies in the "mark of the beast."
Accordingly, there have been many attempts to apply this riddle to various historical, political, and religious individuals.
Some researchers contend that he mark of the devil consists of a combination of symbols that look like a number six. There IS an Arabic symbol (that looks like a number six) that when repeated reveals the name Allah. These symbols have been clearly displayed on the head and wrist bands (See Rev. 13: 16) of members of international terrorist organizations whose stated goal is the destruction of the nation of Israel and any Western nation (USA) or coalition (UN) that allies itself with Israel.
World domination, to the glory of Allah, has been and remains to be the ultimate objective of the followers of the Islam religion. It is their position that any nation or individual who does not submit to Allah are considered "infidels" worthy of death.
This does not mean that all Muslim people follow or support achieving this goal by way of military or terrorist actions. Remember that the so-called "Christian Crusades" consisted of soldiers from all over Europe that were told that would receive eternal life if they engaged in a military takeover of Jerusalem and establish a global kingdom in the name of Christianity. There have been similar attempts by Muslim coalitions to do the same in the name of Allah. There are Muslim soldiers and terrorists who have told that they will received the rewards of Allah for killing "infidels." An infidel, in the eyes of a Muslim is anyone who does not acknowledge Allah.
It will be a military coalition that will be invading the land of Israel when the Second Advent takes place.
The world has clearly come to the point that the stage is being set for some of the end time events that include, but are not limited, to the Rapture, the Great Tribulation, and the Second Advent.
The most obvious was the re-establishing of the nation of Israel in 1947, completing the times of the Gentiles (Luke 21: 24). This was clearly the beginning of events that will bring the end times events front and center.
Note that the final end of the Angelic Conflict will not take place until AFTER the 1,000 year millennial kingdom of God has been completed.
During the 1,000 year period, the devil will be confined to the abyss (Rev. 20: 2, 3). During this confinement, the devil will not be able to deceive the nations (Rev. 20: 3).
After 1000 years pass, the devil will be released (Rev. 20: 3), and once again have the ability to deceive the nations (Rev. 20: 8).
He will be permitted to organize (from among the peoples he deceives) one last final assault on Jerusalem by way of an international coalition (Rev. 20: 8).
But that coalition will be destroyed by divine weaponry Rev.20: 9).
After this final defeat, the devil and his associates will be tossed into the lake of fire, from which he and they will never come out of again. This same lake of fire will also become the final destination of all the human souls that were unbelievers throughout the course of human history (Rev. 20: 13, 15).
It will not be until the final incarceration of the devil and his allies (Rev. 20: 10) takes place that final phase of the Angelic Conflict will come to its end.
I have often wondered exactly where on Earth the born again believers (who returned and ruled with Christ during His 1,000 year kingdom ) will be, and what their role will be during this final phase.
Will they be at headquarters in Jerusalem, or will they be posted throughout the nations ((Luke 19: 17) as Christ's (2Tim. 2: 12) reigning (Rev. 20: 4) representatives ? The answers to such questions are among the “secret things” spoken of in Deut. 29: 29.
When the Angelic Conflict is over, there is a new heaven and a new earth coming (Rev .21.)
The old one (on which we presently stand) and on which will return with Christ) will have melted away in intense heat (2Pet. 3: 10).
Where will we be when that takes place? All we know for sure, is that wherever the Lord Jesus Christ is, we as Church Age believers, will be with Him (1Thess. 4: 17).
!
I believe that when the Rapture takes place, it will be like the days of Noah (Matt. 24: 37/Luke 17: 26), with most people going about their daily lives with little concern for God or the things of God.
The typical attitude of Man at that time was clearly prophesied in Scripture (2Tim 3: 2).
"For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lover of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding onto a form of godliness (Man-made religion), although they have denied its power (to impact their daily lives), avoid such men as these (2Tim. 3: 2-5 NASB italics mine)."
But then one day in Noah's time, it started to rain!
* * *
The Rapture may or may not take place during our individual lifetime here on Earth. If it does not, keep in mind that our individual departure (before the Rapture) could happen today.
Accordingly, there are two questions that each believer of the Church Age must ask him/herself.
(#1) "If the Rapture should take place in my lifetime, will the Lord find me faithfully executing the post salvation spiritual life (Luke 18: 8) at the time, or will He come and find me living in some kind of sin (James 2: 10), or all wrapped up in the issues of the here and now (Matt. 13: 22)?
(#2) If the Rapture takes place after I have already departed, what will I have to say for myself when called to give an account (Romans 14: 12) of what I did (or didn't do) with the post salvation call to discipleship?
This accounting in Heaven applies to born again believers only, as no one else is going to be here. The good news is that this accounting has got NOTHING to do with sin (Romans 8: 1) or who goes to Hell. It does however, have everything to with how any given born again believer is going to experience eternity.
Will our individual experience in Heaven be one with or without reward (1Cor. 3: 14, 15), or with or without and (Rev. 2: 7, 11, 17, 26/Rev.3: 5, 12, 21) privileges? Will our "uniform of glory" be hardly seen, or will it shine bright as the sun (1Cor. 15: 41)?
Going to Heaven or Hell was resolved here on Earth when each one of us chose to either believe or reject (John 3: 18), the Gospel Message.
You can click here, if you are not certain exactly what the Gospel Message entails.
Having had this opportunity now, or in the past, takes the "I didn't know" and the "Nobody ever told me" defense off the table.
This accounting has to do with what we did or didn't do regarding the post (after) salvation call to discipleship.
Discipleship, initially, has to do with the building of and the applying of one's own Biblically-edified soul structure. The long term objective of discipleship calls for our personal involvement in the Great Commission.
One cannot pass on to others what he/she has not yet secured for him/self.
Doctrinal ignorance is choice that born again believers make. God cannot command (as He does- 2Pet. 3: 18) to continue to grow in the knowledge of the Lord and then not supply the means to anyone who desires to do so!
Christian religion, as well as the devil, has a whole warehouse full of alternatives designed to keep us from entertaining true discipleship. It will not be too far down the road of Bible study that one will begin to see the differences between what the Bible has to say and what Christian Religion(s) and/or the devil has to say.
Some denominations and organizations are further off course than others, but there is not one that has not been impaired by Man-made Christian Religion.
These alternatives will usually include just enough "religion" to satisfy any qualms of conscience or sense of obligation that we may have, but will fall short of what it takes to advance in the spiritual life. Such distractions usually afford us the opportunity to enjoy the tranquility of our comfort zone without having to face the challenges that true disciple will bring to our door.
Back-sliding believers (and the devil) will be quite content to (have us) remain right where we are and move no further forward in the plan of God.
There is NO neutrality or resting areas along the road to spiritual maturity. If we are not moving forward, we are in retreat. Those who are moving forward will find themselves in the front lines of Angelic Conflict, here in the Church Age.
The more we engage in spiritual combat, the more confident and bold we will become in sharing the Gospel Message with unbelievers, and/or sharing a principle of Scripture with a fellow believer in need. This advancement will not be well-received by those it challenges to do the same, but have no desire to do so.
Every time that we choose not to get involved with the spiritual well being of others, the easier it gets to say "No!" (to God) the next time.
Remember it was the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom we will give an account, that stated, "Everyone who shall confess (acknowledge) Me before men, I will also confess (acknowledge) him (as a disciple) before My Father who is in Heaven. But who shall deny (fail to acknowledge) Me before men, I will also deny him (fail to acknowledge as a disciple) before My Father who is in Heaven (Matt. 10: 32, 33 NASB italics mine)."
Denying/rejecting the written Word of God (Bible) is, in principle, the same as denying/rejecting the Living Word of God, that being the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1: 3).
To identify oneself as a "Christian" and then not live accordingly is a Church Age application of the Ten Commandments that speak of taking (on) the name of the Lord in vain (Exodus 20: 7).
Note that the Exodus 20 passage goes on to say that, "...the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain (Exodus 20: 10 NASB)."
Identifying and doing one's assigned (1Cor. 12: 18) part in the proclaiming of the Gospel Message to unbelievers and the making of disciples (disciples = students and appliers of the Word of God) is the very purpose that each and every born again believer is here on Earth.
Again, the devil has a warehouse full of ways and means to distract us. Depending on which side of the conflict one is one, it is either the promotion or the inhibiting of the Gospel Message that is at the center of attention in the realm of spiritual combat (Eph. 6) of the Church Age.
In closing, The Angelic Conflict began BEFORE Man was ever created, and will continue on until its appointed end with the final and permanent incarceration of the devil and his allies in what the Bible calls the lake of fire. Man was created to glorify God in the midst of this ongoing conflict.
In the meantime, personal participation in the Angelic Conflict is what "fighting the good fight" that Paul was referring to as he came to end of his earthly life and ministry.
Here in the Church Age, fighting the good fight calls for the ongoing learning and applying of the Word of God. This is what glorifies God.
The glorification of God in the presence of angels, seen and unseen, fallen and elect, is what the Angelic Conflict was and remains to be all about. The angels, fallen and elect are a part of the great cloud of witnesses (Heb. 12: 1) that observe our activity each and every day.
Paul said, "I have fought the god fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4: 7 NASB)."
My prayer is that each one of us will be able to say the same when each one of us gives our account to God so that we can hear these words, "Well done, good and faithful servant... (Matt. 25: 23 NASB)."
This concludes our study of the Angelic Conflict.