In having dialogue with various people
from the pre-trib camp, it has been said of those who believe that we
must endure the tribulation, that we think we must go through it,
not because the Scriptures clearly teach that, but that we are trying
to earn our way to heaven by a works salvation. How anyone who
claims to understand the Bible can come to that conclusion is a
conundrum to me. Most born again Christians who have a personal
relationship with Christ (as opposed to those who call themselves
Christians based upon the fact that they belong to a church) know
that their justification before God is based upon what Christ
did on the cross and that no one can earn their way to heaven solely
by the works of their own efforts. That we are expected to make our
salvation or calling sure or certain by sanctification
or living a holy life
unto God, however, is a Biblical teaching. We are to show our love
by keeping the commandments, among other things.
John
14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
2 Peter 1:10 “Wherefore the
rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and
election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never
fall.”
1
Corinthians 9:24 “Know ye not that they which run in a
race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye
may obtain.”
Hebrews
12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with
so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the
sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with
patience the race that is set before us.”
It is
also a Scriptural teaching that we are expected to take up our
cross and follow Him.
Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus
unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Mark 8:34 “And when he had called
the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them,
Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross, and follow me.”
Today the phrase “taking up our
cross” is often interpreted as enduring our burdens. People
sometimes refer to a tribulation they are experiencing as bearing
their cross, but in Jesus' day that is not how the people would have
interpreted what He said. The cross to them meant one thing only.
It meant a torturous death in an extremely painful and humiliating
way. Because the Romans forced a person being crucified to carry
their own cross up to the crucifixion site, taking up one's cross to
follow Christ meant that in choosing to follow Him, one needed to die
to self (surrender totally to God) and be willing to literally
physically die, if required, to follow Jesus. For the people living
then it meant literally picking up a crucifixion stake and following
Him to Golgotha to be nailed to a cross too. It was much more than
just enduring an unpleasant experience. They were told to expect to
be martyred for their faith, and they were. Taking up a cross meant
then, and still means now that a person must accept that they must be
willing to sacrifice everything, including their lives, for their
belief in Christ. It is a choice that puts one right in the
crosshairs of Satan's sight. Anything less than this commitment is
not being worthy of Christ and His sacrifice. It has nothing to do
with trying to work one's way into heaven. It is called our
“reasonable service.”
Romans
12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies
of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service.”
2
Peter 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a
spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices, acceptable to God by
Jesus Christ.”
Please note that
God does not consider it a service that is above and beyond anything
He could ask, but a reasonable service that He has a right to
expect from us in gratitude for what He has done for us. It is not a
work in the sense of trying to earn our way into heaven by
ourselves. It is a show of gratitude, an act of obedience and love,
and a display of our faith.
The Bible does not teach that accepting
the Lord will make your life prosperous and one of ease where all
your wishes come true and hardships will never be asked of you. God
is not a sugar daddy. His goal is to conform us to the image of His
Son, and most of us need a lot of conforming.
Romans 8:29 “For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the
image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among
many brethren.”
That means that God must purge us of
the things which get in the way of our relationship with Him and
living a holy life.
John 15:2 “Every branch in me that
beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth
fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth
more fruit.”
1
Corinthians 5:6-7 “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not
that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge
out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are
unleavened.”
2
Timothy 2:19-21 “Nevertheless the foundation of God
standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.
And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from
iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold
and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and
some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from
these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and
meet for the master's use, and prepared unto
every good work.”
God does this purging through trials
and tribulations to chastise us.
Romans 5:3-5 “And not only so, but
we glory in tribulations also: knowing that
tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience;
and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love
of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given
unto us.”
James
1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into
divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your
faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect
work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
Job
5:17 “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth:
therefore despise not thou the chastening of the
Almighty.”
God ordains
tribulations in our lives so that His work in us can be complete.
Romans
8:28 “And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose.”
And
the end result is not without its rewards.
James
1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when
he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life,
which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
Psalm 66:10-12 “For thou, O God,
hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is
tried. Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst
affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride
over our heads; we went through fire and through water:
but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.”
2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light
affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a
far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
2
Timothy 4:7-8a “I have fought a good
fight, I have finished my course, I have kept
the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a
crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
judge, shall give me at that day.”
We are told that as
children of God, we should in fact fully expect to go through
tribulation.
1
Thessalonians 3:4 “For verily, when we were with you, we
told you before that we should suffer tribulation;
even as it came to pass, and ye know.”
1
Peter 1:3-7 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us
again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that
fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the
power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the
last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if
need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the
trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise
and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
We are told this
because through trials and tribulation we learn to be obedient as
Christ learned obedience through what He suffered.
Hebrews
5:8 “Though he were a Son, yet learned he
obedience by the things which he suffered.”
He had to learn
obedience unto death, so that He might be an example to us, so that
we might learn obedience unto death through our afflictions and
tribulations.
Psalm
119:67 “Before I
was afflicted I
went astray: but now have
I kept thy word.”
For those who
do not think that God would ordain our suffering to the point of
death, because they think He would never let Christ's Bride suffer,
think again. He lets us know that indeed, He expects us to give our
very lives for Him.
Hebrews
12:4-11 “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood,
striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which
speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not
thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art
rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and
scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure
chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he
whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without
chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and
not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh
which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much
rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For
they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but
he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his
holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be
joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth
the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are
exercised thereby.”
We should fear God
more than we fear what man or even Satan can do to us.
Matthew
10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body,
but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him
which is able to destroy both soul and body in
hell.”
We are also told in
several passages that we must endure much tribulation and suffering
before Christ's glory is manifest (Second Coming) and we enter into
the kingdom of God.
Acts 14:22
“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to
continue in the faith, and that we must through much
tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
1 Peter 1:6-7 “Wherein
ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in
heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial
of your faith,
being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be
tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory
at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 4:12-19 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”
Note that the above
verses tell us that we should expect to endure a fiery trial and
tribulations right up until Christ's appearing when His glory
will be revealed at His Second Coming. And what is the reason for
these fiery trials and tribulation? It is because God's people need
purging and cleansing and being made holy and acceptable. Christ's
blood does cover our sins, but our white linen garments are the
result of the kind of life we live for Christ. Our rewards are a
result of the holy life we live for Christ. We have an obligation to
God that we must acknowledge. The parable of the talents and wedding
feast give us some insight as to whether simply saying the sinner's
prayer is enough, (provided you do not do it on your deathbed) or if
God expects you to do the works He gives you to do.
Matthew
25:14-30 “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man
travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and
delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to
another two, and to another one; to every man according to his
several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had
received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made
them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he
also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged
in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord
of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that
had received five talents came and brought other five talents,
saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have
gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well
done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a
few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into
the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and
said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have
gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well
done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few
things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the
joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and
said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou
hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was
afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast
that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou
wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed
not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest
therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at
my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath
ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he
shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away
even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable
servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew
22:2-13 “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain
king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants
to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not
come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which
are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my
fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the
marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his
farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants,
and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king
heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and
destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he
to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden
were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as
ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into
the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both
bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when
the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not
on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou
in hither not having a wedding garment? And he
was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind
him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer
darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
In the
first parable, we see that when God gives us our justification and
spiritual gifts, He expects some return on His investment when
He returns. If there is no
“interest” on His investment, one can expect to be cast into
outer darkness. In the second we see that even a person who shows up
at the wedding feast (this indicates that it must be a true
born-again Christian for no one but true believers can come to the
wedding) if he has no wedding garment, is unworthy. And again he is
cast into outer darkness. So where does one get a wedding garment?
If our righteousness wholly depends on Christ alone, then why does
this guest not have a garment? Does not the Host provide it?
Apparently not. The reason is that the garment does not rest upon
Christ's work alone. We have a part to play also. In Revelation we
are told that the Bride is clothed in fine white linen and she has
made herself ready.
Revelation
19:7-8 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to
him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath
made herself ready. And to her was granted that she
should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen
is the righteousness of saints.”
She
has done something on her own to make herself ready for the
Bridegroom. The linen garment is her righteousness, but she has had
to help make herself righteous. In other words, we are being told
that not everything depends upon Christ. Her being there is a result
of what the Bridegroom did, but her apparel was in part supposed to
come from her. This very important wedding garment, which is
mandatory for the wedding feast according to the parable, is the
righteousness of the saints. But is not our righteousness entirely
derived from Christ? Our justification
is derived from Christ, but sanctification
is an ongoing process that continues all our lives and is something
upon which we must work.
That sanctification requires that there be some action on our part,
not that we sit back and not worry about our behavior.
James
2:17-26 “Even so faith, if it hath not works,
is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast
faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I
will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is
one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But
wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith
without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father
justified by works, when he had offered Isaac
his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith
wrought with his works, and by works
was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled
which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto
him for righteousness: and he was called the
Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is
justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not
Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she
had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For
as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without
works is dead also.”
We are
told that our faith, if it is untested and has no proving ground or
evidence (works), is a non-existent, dead faith. Our righteousness
demands that our justification and faith be backed up by works. It
must be tested and put to the proof for it to be of any merit.
Abraham was tested. Even Christ was tempted. Our wedding garments
consist not only of Christ's righteousness, but of our righteousness
being displayed by our works, some of which may require enduring
persecution or martyrdom. Without those works validating our faith
in Christ's sacrifice, we do not have a wedding garment. God
provides tribulations and tests so that we might have the opportunity
to display our works and thereby prove our faith in Him.
Titus
3:8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will
that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God
might be careful to maintain good works. These
things are good and profitable unto men.”
Titus
2:7, 13-14 “In all things shewing thyself a
pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness,
gravity, sincerity.... Looking for that blessed hope, and the
glorious appearing (Second Coming) of the great God and our Saviour
Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from
all iniquity, and purify unto himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
2
Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Ephesians
2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them.”
Likewise our works
or lack thereof can give testimony to our lack of faith.
Titus
1:16 “They profess that they know God;
but in works they deny him, being abominable,
and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
Works cannot give
us our justification. Only Christ's death and resurrection could do
that. However, that is not the end of the story. We need to run the
race, work out our salvation, and endure to the end.
2
Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid
up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
judge, shall give me at that day: and
not to me only, but unto all them also that love
his appearing.”
[Revelation 11:15,18 “And
the seventh angel sounded; and there were great
voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are
become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he
shall reign for ever and ever....And the nations were angry, and
thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead,
that they should be judged, and that thou
shouldest give reward unto thy servants the
prophets, and to the saints,
and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy
them which destroy the earth.” This
is the time of Christ's appearing. This is that day,
otherwise known as the Day of the Lord or God's wrath when we will be
judged and rewarded and the nations punished.]
Philippians
2:12 “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed,
not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” If
our salvation is such a sure thing, then why would we not only be
told to work it out (do the works we are given and live a sanctified
life), but to do it with fear and trembling? Why should we be
scared? Because we can, as the servants in the parable, be found
wanting and be cast into outer darkness.
Matthew
10:22 “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's
sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be
saved.”
2
Timothy 4:5 “But watch thou in all things, endure
afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make
full proof of thy ministry.”
James
1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth
temptation: for when he is tried, he shall
receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to
them that love him.”
If one
does not seek to live a life holy and acceptable unto God, and do the
works that He gives us to do, enduring to the end, he
runs the following risks.
1
Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in
the latter times
some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing
spirits, and doctrines of devils.”
2
Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when they
will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts
shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And
they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall
be turned unto fables.”
2
Peter 2:20-21 “For if after they have escaped the
pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the
latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been
better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than,
after they have known it,
to turn from the holy commandment
delivered unto them.”
Hebrews
10:26-31 “For if we sin wilfully after that we
have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth
no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking
for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour
the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy
under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose
ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot
the Son of God, and hath counted the blood
of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an
unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we
know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will
recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge
his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands
of the living God.”
1
Peter 4:16-18 “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let
him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the
time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:
and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey
not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be
saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
So it can be seen
that Scripture teaches us that we must take up our cross and be
prepared to die for our faith, that we must work out our salvation by
clothing ourselves in righteous works, and that trials and
tribulation are ordained by God in order to purge the leaven out of
our lives, so that we might present ourselves holy and acceptable
unto Him, which is our reasonable service.
The argument comes
in that while God gives us some small trials and tribulations, He
would never ask us to suffer the greatest tribulation to ever come
upon mankind. My question is, why not? Did He not allow Christians
to die at the hands of the Romans by fire and lions? Did He not
allow all of His apostles except for John be martyred? Has He not
and is He still not allowing people to be martyred around the world
for His name's sake? Why on earth would He not allow people to be
martyred during the tribulation? Especially when the Church has
strayed so far from Him into doctrines that come from demons. Death
is death. Martyrdom is martyrdom. There is no difference in the
result as to who is wielding the sword. Why is death due to martyrdom
during the tribulation any different or worse than death due to
martyrdom during any other era in history? In fact does not the
Church deserve a good purging?
The
answer comes back as … because the great tribulation is God's
wrath. First of all, nowhere in the Bible does God ever
call the great tribulation His wrath. Nowhere. That is an
appellation that some man at some time erroneously gave this period
of time and from thence created a whole theology around this
erroneous assumption. God calls it what it is – tribulation. In
Greek the word is “thlipsis,”
and everywhere the word “thlipsis” is used, it is referring to
the trials and tribulations that all the aforementioned verses
mention - the tribulations that we are supposed to expect. This
tribulation is no different. As God is not the author of temptation,
but allows it, we can see that Satan (as well as ourselves) is the
author of all the trials and tribulations in our life, because he is
the original author of evil. The great tribulation is merely the
first time that God entirely lifts His restraining hand from Satan
and lets him go at us full tilt. It will be greater than any other
tribulation in history, not because it is God's wrath (which it
isn't), but by virtue of the worldwide extent and enormous numbers of
people killed. This is what makes it the “great” tribulation.
God in fact tells us that the great tribulation is not His wrath, but
Satan's wrath.
Revelation
12:12 “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell
in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the
devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because
he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”
Indeed, God tells
us that He fully intends to turn us over to Satan and the beast. We
are given into his hand.
Revelation
12:17 “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went
to make war with the remnant of her seed, which
keep the commandments of God, and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ”
Daniel
7:25 “And he shall speak great words against the most
High, and shall wear out the saints of the most
High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be
given into his hand until a time and times and the
dividing of time.”
Revelation
13:7 “And it was given unto him to make war
with the saints, and to overcome them:
and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”
Revelation
6:9-10; 7:14, 12:11 “And when he had opened the fifth
seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were
slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and
true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on
the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it
was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season,
until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that
should be killed as they were, should be
fulfilled......And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to
me, These are they which came out of great tribulation,
and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the
Lamb.....And they overcame him by the blood of
the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they
loved not their lives unto the death.”
Why would God feel
the need to allow His children to suffer the worst holocaust in the
history of mankind? Because we have become high-minded and
arrogant. We trust in our riches and are blind to our spiritual
state. We have exchanged the doctrines of God for those from hell. We
need to be judged and purged of our sins. God has warned us that He
will begin His final judgment by cleaning up His own house. He must
be glorified and what better way than for His children to be put to
the test and come out winners for all creation to see. The Church
has become apostate. God will clean her up and judge His own
house first, before He judges the rest of the world.
1
Timothy 4:1-2 'Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in
the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving
heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot
iron.”
2
Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when they will
not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall
they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And
they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall
be turned unto fables.”
1
Timothy 6:17 “Charge them that are rich
in this world, that they be not highminded,
nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living
God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.”
1
Peter 4:17 “For the time is come that judgment
must begin at the house of God: and if it first
begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not
the gospel of God?”
Daniel
11:33-35 “And they that understand among the people shall
instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by
captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they
shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them
with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to
try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of
the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.”
In the letters to
the churches, Christ warns them of their sins and the need for
repentance or they will find themselves being judged.
Revelation
2:2-5 “I know thy works, and thy
labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are
evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are
not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience,
and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee,
because thou hast left thy first love. Remember
therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent,
and do the first works; or else I
will come unto thee quickly, and will
remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou
repent.”
Revelation
2:13-16 “I know thy works, and where
thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my
name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein
Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan
dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because
thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who
taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel,
to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So
hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the
Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or
else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them
with the sword of my mouth.”
Revelation
2:19-23 “I know thy works, and
charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy
works; and the last to be more than the first.
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee,
because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth
herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit
fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And
I gave her space to repent of her fornication;
and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into
a bed, and them that commit adultery with her
into great tribulation, except they repent of
their deeds. And I will kill her children with death;
and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the
reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you
according to your works.”
Revelation
3:1b-3 “I know thy works, that thou
hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be
watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to
die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast,
and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I
will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I
will come upon thee.”
[Note here that He
comes as a thief at an unknown day or hour. This describes the Second
Coming.
Matthew
24:30-31,36 “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of
man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and
they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great
sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the
four winds, from one end of heaven to the other..... But of that day
and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father
only.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4
“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord
so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and
safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a
woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye,
brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a
thief.”]
Revelation
3:15-19 “I know thy works, that thou
art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then
because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor
hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because
thou sayest, I am rich, and increased
with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and
blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me
gold tried in the fire, that thou
mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou
mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy
nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with
eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I
rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
Notice in the above
five churches that Christ uses references that are found in other
Scriptures when referring to the great tribulation and His Second
Coming... “I will come quickly...I will come quickly and fight....I
will come on thee as a thief...thou shalt not know what hour I will
come...I will kill her children with death...tried by fire. In fact
in one church they are told that they will be thrown into the “great
tribulation.” Clearly the Church (in the universal sense) is not
exempt from the great tribulation.
Now I hear the
argument that some will be left behind and this is to whom this
refers. Left behind for what reason? Answer: Because they
did not believe in a pre-trib rapture. And from where did this
teaching come? Certainly not the Word of God. I am guessing it
originates in the Left Behind series, which hardly qualifies as
Scriptural truth. Where does God ever say that the criteria for
participating in the resurrection and rapture (which occur at the
same time) is that we believe in a pre-trib rapture - or else? God
never makes the timing of the rapture doctrine a criteria for
resurrection/rapture. Will everyone who has died before the rapture
who has not believed this teaching, not be brought back and
resurrected because of this? What a ludicrous statement to make and
what an arrogant, self-righteous teaching this is.
The
only thing God has exempted us from is His wrath, and He has already
told us the tribulation is not His wrath. Heaven announces His wrath
in Revelation 11:15-18 at the last trumpet, “And the
seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in
heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the
kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he
shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty
elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces,
and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God
Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast
taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations
were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time
of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou
shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the
saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and
shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.”
It is again announced in Chapters 15:1 and 16:1 following the
blowing of the seventh trumpet and a gathering of the saints in the
clouds in Chapter 14:14-16 “And I looked, and behold a
white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man,
having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to
him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the
time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and
the earth was reaped..... And I saw another sign in heaven, great and
marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them
is filled up the wrath of God......And I heard a
great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your
ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God
upon the earth.” The only
places in Revelation where heaven announces that God's wrath is being
poured out on the world are found in the Chapters following the
blowing of the seventh trumpet (Chapters 11-19) The other place God's
wrath is mentioned in Revelation is in the sixth seal when the people
of the earth start screaming in terror for what is happening. They
believe God's wrath has come because 1) the celestial signs that are
supposed to happen before God's
wrath starts are occurring, and 2) the first thing people do when bad
things happen is to blame God. Their panicking and claiming that
God's judgment is falling on them does not make it God's wrath. Every
natural catastrophe is given that moniker by someone. I have seen
television shows about tornadoes titled The Wrath of God.
It is true that those are the
signs which herald God's
wrath, however it is not the commencement of
God's wrath until heaven declares
that it is.
It is
true we are not appointed
to wrath, which is why the rapture does occur (Revelation 14:14-16)
before the vials of God's wrath are poured out (Revelation 16), but
we are appointed to
tribulation. It is not earning one's way to heaven to believe one
will suffer tribulation in life or go into the great tribulation. It
is simply what the Word of God has told us and the reality of being a
Christian.
What is even more
of interest in the pre-trib view of things, is that they claim the
promise to the church of Philadelphia as belonging to them and them
alone. But does it? Does it really? Let us see what it actually
says.
Revelation
3:8-10 “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee
an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou
hast a little strength, and hast kept my
word, and hast not denied my name.
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they
are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come
and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience,
I also will keep thee from the hour of
temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try
them that dwell upon the earth.”
The interesting
thing about this verse is that the argument between people is over
the word “from” as to whether it means out of or within. What is
totally ignored is that the event that the Philadelphians are kept
from is not God's wrath, but the temptation. The word
“temptation” is in Greek “peirsmos.” This word means “to
put to the proof, to test, or discipline,” as when God put Abraham
to the proof and tested his faith when He asked him to sacrifice
Isaac. When God's wrath is referred to, we find two words used,
“thumos” or “orge”. Both of these words mean passion,
vengeance, fierce indignation, and angry punishment. Clearly this
verse is not speaking of wrath, but of chastisement or of God
disciplining His children. The Philadelphians are promised that they
will be kept from suffering during the time of God's
disciplining of the rest of His children, as they do not need the
chastisement. They have already purged themselves. It is like taking
a class and the professor has said that if you have received an A in
the course up to the time of the final exam, you are exempt from
having to take it. You have no need to prove yourself, because you
have been proving yourself all along. The great tribulation or
tribulation (as the only tribulation in this context is the
great tribulation), is a time when Christians, whose faith needs to
be tested and purged, will be tried and put to the proof. The five
above mentioned churches, whom Christ has something against, will be
tested during this time. It will be a time when He brings them to the
point of repentance and purges them of their sins. The
Philadelphians have run the race, they have abided with Christ, done
the works He has given them to do, kept His Word pure and
unadulterated, and purged themselves of apostasy, so there is no
need to test and discipline them.
The unrealistic and
prideful part of those who claim this promise for themselves is that
there is a strict criteria for those who qualify for this promise and
there will be few who meet it. First they have to keep God's Word and
not deny His name. Now most Christians would say that they meet this
criteria, but how many really keep His Word? How many even keep His
commandments? And if you think you do, do you keep the fourth? Do
you accept that God's Word literally means what it says, or do you
spiritualize it, adding and subtracting and twisting its meaning?
The next thing is that they must keep the word of God's patience. So
what is the word of God's patience? Where else is patience mentioned
that it might give us an idea of what this means? First we have God's
longsuffering patience toward us.
Romans
2:3-4 “ And thinkest thou
this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the
same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and
longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God
leadeth thee to repentance?”
Romans
9:22 “What if God, willing to shew his wrath,
and to make his power known, endured with much
longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:”
1
Peter 3:20 “Which sometime were disobedient, when once
the longsuffering of God waited in the days of
Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight
souls were saved by water.”
2
Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,
as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to
us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance.”
Then we have the
patience of the saints.
2
Corinthians 6:4-5 “But in all things approving ourselves
as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions,
in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in
tumults, in labours, in watchings, in
fastings,”
2
Thessalonians 1:4-5 “So that we ourselves glory in you in
the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your
persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest
token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy
of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer.”
Hebrews
10:35-37 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which
hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of
patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye
might receive the promise. For yet a little
while, and he that shall come will come, and
will not tarry.”
Hebrews
12:1 “Wherefore
seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so
easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that
is set before us.”
James
1:3 “Knowing this, that the trying of your
faith worketh patience.”
James
5:7-8 “Be patient therefore,
brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold,
the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath
long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be
ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for
the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”
James 5:10 “Take,
my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord,
for an example of suffering affliction, and of
patience.”
Revelation
1:9 “I John, who also am your brother, and companion
in tribulation,
and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,
was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for
the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Revelation
13:7-10 “And it was given unto him to make war
with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given
him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell
upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the
book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If
any man have an ear, let him hear. He that
leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with
the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is
the patience and the faith of the saints.”
Revelation
14:9-12 “And the third angel followed them, saying with a
loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and
receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The
same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is
poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he
shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the
holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their
torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor
night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth
the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints:
here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of
Jesus.”
Both of these
“patiences” work together. God is longsuffering and patient and
holds off until the last possible moment before pouring out His
wrath, so that every last person might be saved. He waits and
painfully watches, as He allows His children to be purified, so that
they can be witnesses for Him and end up with Him, because they have
made their white wedding garments during this time. The patience of
the saints is to endure this purifying tribulation, to the point of
death in fact, when the beast is making war upon them and forcing
people to take his mark. Both indicate that the rapture will not be
before the events but after. God's patience requires it for everyone
to be saved, and our patience demands that we endure to the end so
that we are worthy of Him.
For those who
believe that they meet the criteria in every way to be a
Philadelphian, there is still a problem. The saints at Smyrna are
also without criticism from Christ. They have no need of being
purged and refined, yet they are told that indeed they will be
martyred for their faith.
Revelation
2:9-10 “I know thy works, and tribulation,
and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them
which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold,
the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried;
and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death,
and I will give thee a crown of life.”
Why is God allowing
these faithful saints to be martyred? Do they not merit escaping
Satan's wrath if anyone does? Yet God allows their death. Why? For
His glory, that's why. Who is to say, even if they feel they are
walking with the Lord, who will fall into the church of Smyrna and
who will be a part of the Philadelphian church? None of us knows
where God has chosen to categorize us, so no one should think that
they are exempt from Satan's wrath. That there are a select few it
is true, but nobody can make the claim that they are one of that
chosen few. To do so would be the height of pride, which would then
automatically disqualify the person.
The
only thing we can do is strive to be holy, and as Jesus told us, pray
that we might be worthy to escape all these things. Luke 21:36 “Watch
ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may
be accounted worthy to escape all these things
that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”
We are told to lay
a good foundation, for when the time comes for the tribulation we
will need to have that to stand on so that we will not be shaken. We
will need to endure until the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ
(the Second Coming according to the verse below).
1
Timothy 6:18-19 “That they do good, that they be rich in
good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the TIME
TO COME, (against the
coming tribulation) that they may lay hold on eternal
life.”
1
Timothy 6:11-14 “But thou, O man of God, flee these
things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith,
love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on
eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast
professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee
charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before
Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until
the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:”
As one last warning, Christ gave another parable along with the two
mentioned above. It is the parable of the ten virgins.
Matthew
25:1-13 “Then
shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took
their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them
were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their
lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their
vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried,
they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made,
Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those
virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto
the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the
wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and
you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And
while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready
went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward
came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he
answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch
therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein
the Son of man cometh.”
Now I have heard this interpreted in a number of ways. One being that
the five virgins that had no oil, not being Christians. This does
not hold up, as all of them started out the same, virgins with oil
awaiting the Bridegroom. This indicates that both groups are
Christians at the start, not that five are unbelievers. A second
interpretation which is popular with the pre-trib camp is that the
five foolish virgins do not believe in the pre-trib rapture, so they
get left behind. This interpretation makes no sense at all to me.
Why would God leave behind a group of Christians who are so committed
to Him that they prepare spiritually to willingly face the
persecution and martyrdom that they know will come? Would He not
prefer this group to a group who arrogantly refuses to believe that
He would ever ask them to suffer for them? And again, where in the
Bible does it indicate that the timing of the rapture is a criteria
for salvation, so that some should be left behind, if it were a
pre-trib rapture? Would not those who were prepared to accept
martyrdom simply be happily surprised? Why the new teaching (and
this is a rather new teaching for I was brought up pre-trib and this
was never taught back then) toward other Christians that God would
let them suffer His “wrath” just because they do not accept a
pre-trib rapture? Just because they differ on a doctrine that has
nothing to do with salvation? Are not all Christians not
appointed to wrath? Do they not see the problem with this
teaching?
Here is another puzzle. Have they stopped to consider that in
teaching this that they are teaching that some Christians need to be
purged? Therefore suffering through this time of antichrist is a
time of purging Christians of what God considers unacceptable?
If some Christians need to be purged, and they are teaching that
they need to be purged merely because they do not accept a doctrine
that is actually not Scriptural to begin with, then would not God
want to purge Christians of their sins and apostasy? Have
they thought this through at all?
I
believe the true interpretation of the ten virgins parable is that
the Bridegroom does not come as early as expected by the foolish
virgins. He instead tarries long past the time they had prepared to
wait, for they never expected to have to wait so long and did not
bring sufficient oil to last them through this long
unexpected
wait. Does this not instead indicate that those who believe they
will have to endure this period and prepare spiritually, mentally,
and possibly physically are the ones with the oil? Are not the ones
without oil the ones who did not think He would be tarrying so long
and therefore were not prepared to wait it out? Does this parable not
teach the exact opposite of what pre-trib says it teaches? And we
are given the event in which this occurs. We are told that they will
not know the day or hour in which the Son of man comes. But this day
and hour phrase, although used by pre-trib to refer to a pre-trib
rapture, actually does not refer to a pre-trib rapture at all. This
phrase comes from Matthew 24:36 “But
of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven,
but my Father only.” This
verse is referring back to verses 30-31 which is the Second Coming.
“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in
heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they
shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power
and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a
trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four
winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
The event which no one will know the day or hour is the Second
Coming, not a pre-trib rapture. So Christ is telling us that this
parable is about His Second Coming (not a pre-trib rapture) by the
use of the phrase “no man knows the day or hour.” He is telling
us He will collect His Bride at the Second Coming.
So in closing, for
anyone to say that people who do not adhere to a pre-trib rapture
doctrine are trying to earn their way to heaven is simply a
ridiculous argument to avoid accepting the truth of what the Word of
God says. It is merely a way to preserve a belief which comforts and
tickles the ears.
