I. Introduction. In this article, we will consider the events of today’s world, and historical events, as they relate to the suggested outcomes of personal opinion and Bible prophecy. The USA is dealing with the effects of a virus that began in China. Rioting has been taking place throughout the USA, with the city of Portland, Oregon experiencing 100 days of violent riots, as of September 20, 2020. The many voting irregularities of the November 3, 2020 Presidential election have many Christians and Jews wondering if the USA will survive as a nation that God has used to support His Chosen People of Israel (Deuteronomy 14:2).
A. Video Title. Revelation.
B. Article Title. Bible? Virus? Riots? Rigged Elections? Which will cause, “End Of The World, 2nd Coming Of Christ, Tribulation, Rapture?
C. Article Focus. God’s Plan, or God’s Reaction.
1. Many among Christian and Jewish groups are attributing the current day events to God’s response to today’s lawlessness and turmoil. But, there has been a great lack of misunderstanding of events that have happened in world history that have resulted in far greater deaths than those that are being experienced today. Before anybody assumes that today’s world events will cause God to do anything to His creation, we must consider the great numbers of deaths that have resulted from past wars, disasters, pandemics, natural disasters, and other catastrophies.
d. Conclusion. In spite of previous atrocities, pandemics and wars, with deaths that greatly surpass those of today, God has not responded with the end of the world, the second coming of Christ, the Tribulation, or the rapture of the believers in Christ. God has a plan for His creation that will not be thwarted by events that come as a result of His creation’s bad behavior, or by the effects of nature or anything else that may happen in this world (there is no mother nature!).
II. Today’s World. God’s Plan. The Times Of The Gentiles; The Fullness Of The Gentiles.
A. The Times Of The Gentiles…The Fulness Of The Gentiles. In the Book, “Things To Come,” written by J. Dwight Pentecost, there is a good study on this subject on pages 303-304 (re Romans 11:25-27). Pg 303, in Lk 21:24, Christ referred to the “times of Gentiles” as continuing as long as Jerusalem is “trodden down of the Gentiles.” The reference in Luke is to the political domination of Jerusalem by Gentiles which began with the fall of Jerusalem at the time of the captivity and has continued to the present day. While the terminology is not significant in itself from the context of the two passages involved, it seems clear that the expression “times of the Gentiles” has reference to political domination of Gentiles, while the expression “fullness of the Gentiles” has reference to Gentile blessing and opportunity in this present age. If this analysis is correct, the times of the Gentiles and the fullness of the Gentiles are two entirely different ideas. The times of the Gentiles began long before Christ, and will continue until Christ returns to establish His kingdom. The fullness of the Gentiles began at Pentecost and will continue only as long as the present age of grace. From the standpoint of eschatology, the important point is that the fullness of the Gentiles will come to its close before the times of the Gentiles are run out …{“it seems clear that the fulness of the Gentiles will come abruptly to its close when the church is caught up to heaven” (John Walvoord, “Israel’s Blindness, July, 1945}.
B. The MacArthur Study Bible adds the following note on Romans 11:25 (Times Of The Gentiles): “Until” refers to a specific point in time; “fullness” refers to completion; “has come in” translates a Gr. verb often used to speak of coming salvation (Mt 5:20, Mk 9:43, 45, 47; Jn 3:5, Ac 14:22). Israel’s spiritual hardening (which began with rejecting Jesus as Messiah) will last until the complete number of elect Gentiles has come to salvation.)
C. The Ryrie Study Bible explains the time of Tribulation and Second Coming of Christ in Mt 24:3 note: Christ speaks of the end of the age in vs 4-28. Vs 4-14 lists the characteristics of the first half of the Tribulation period, whereas vs 15-28, deal with the second half. In vs 29-31 Christ speaks of his second coming. Zech 12:10, At the second coming of Christ, Israel will recognize Jesus as her Messiah, acknowledging with deep emotion that He was the One whom their fathers pierced …(Jn 19:37)]
D. Mt 24:31 is not the rapture; neither is Mt 24:40-41. Zech 14:1-5 and Rev 19:11-21 tell of Christ returning “to earth” with his saints and angels (as opposed to the rapture in the air, Jn 14:2-6, 1 Cor 15:50-54, 1 Thes 4:13-18). Zech 14:9,11, tells of Christ taking His throne, with peace finally coming to earth. The 1000 year millennial reign of Christ (Kingdom age, Rev 20:4) will follow the tribulation (Rev 6:1-19:21) and the 2nd coming of Christ (Mt 24:29-31). The rapture of the church will occur prior to the Tribulation, when the predetermined number of Gentiles has come to saving faith in Christ, which will occur during the Church age of grace. The tribulation will follow the rapture (Rev 6:1-19:21), being followed by the Kingdom Age (Rev 20:1-10), and the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15, where unbelievers of all ages are cast into the lake of fire). The destruction of the world in which we live will follow the Great White Throne Judgment (2 Pet 3:7-12, Rev 21:1). The eternal state of new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem, will follow the destruction of the former (Rev 21:1-1).
E. Re: Rom 11:25. God has determined “a fullness” of Gentiles (the number of saved Gentiles). Then, the rapture of the church (born again believers in Christ) will take place. The fullness of the Gentiles is based on God’s measure, and doesn’t happen in, and of, itself.
F. Credentials.
1. Charles C. Ryrie (Th.D, Ph.D.) (Deceased).
2. J. Dwight Pentecost (Th.M., Th.D.) (Deceased).
3. John F. Walvoord (Th.M., Th.D.) (Deceased).
4. John MacArthur (M.Div., Litt.D., D.D.). Walvoord has made reference to McArthur’s writings.
III. The Cause Of Today’s World’s Problems.
A. Upon the completion of God’s creation of our world, and all that is contained, the words “very good,” are found in Genesis 1:31 to assess the condition of the newly created world. Everything that is found in Chapters one and two of Genesis show perfection; without error, without sin (1 Tim 4:4).
B. Sin entered the world through the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden (Gen 3:1-13).
C. A curse on all of God’s creation followed the fall (Gen 3:14-19), which included death (Gen 2:17; Rom 5:12). There were no human or animal life before the creation in the Garden. There was no death of pre-Adamic cavemen, or dinosaurs of billions of years ago. The perfection of Genesis chapters 1 and 2, is no longer present in our world, and will not return until the time of the eternal state (Rev 21:3-4).
D. The world in which we now reside is affected by the effects of the fall of Adam and Eve, and the resulting curse, and is shown in the words of Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Such sin from the fall and the curse, causes pandemics, riots, and election rigging. Such persistent sin is evidence of people not having been born again, not having the righteous influence of the indwelling Spirit of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Jn 3:3; 14:20; 16:7-14), NOT HAVING BEEN SAVED!
IV. Considering References. Everybody reads something that someone else has written. It has been my goal to study the works of pastors, seminary instructors, and authors of books, who have a history of being respected for their works by others of their peer groups. No conclusion that I draw comes without having also been such a conclusion coming from one of my sources of information. A list of my sources of information can be found on my website Page, “About Sources.” https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/about-sources/
V. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
VI. Video Details. REVELATION. REVELATION STATION. Aug 6, 2019.
REVELATION 4,333,246 views This article is a continuation of one that I posted that used the same video. That post title is “You Must Be Born Again,” and is dated October 13, 2018. The opening video shows different events that will take place during the time of the seven-year tribulation, which is “future” to us.
Consider the “What” of this article.
The Tribulation
Matthew 24:21 New King James Version (NKJV)
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Consider the words of the above verse. The devastation of the worldwide flood of Noah’s time can not even be compared to the severity of God’s wrath that will be unleashed on the entire world during the time of the tribulation.
Revelation 16 gives a good description of the horrible things that will happen to the earth, and to those people whom are left on earth following the catching up of his believers (John 14:1-6, 1 Thessalonians 14:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:54-58). In Revelation 16:16, you will see the word, “Armageddon,” which relates to a campaign of battles between the forces of God and the forces of Satan, and will culminate with the return of Christ to earth to judge sin and set up His earthly 1,000 kingdom at the end of the tribulation. We will discuss more about the people which will have to endure the wrath of God. Watch the video carefully. You will see events that match the times of tribulation which will encompass a seven-year period of time after the catching up of the saints of God occurs; the last half of the tribulation is known as the great tribulation.
Consider the judgments of God that will occur during the tribulation.
Seal Judgments. Revelation 6:1-8:6. (1. Antichrist. 2. War. 3. Famine. 4. Widespread death on Earth. 5. The cry of the martyrs. 6. Great Earthquakes.)
Trumpet Judgments. Revelation 8:7-9:21. (1. A third of vegetation burned. 2. A third of the seas struck. 3. A third of fresh waters struck. 4. A third of the luminaries darkened. 5. Increased demonic activity. 6. A third of mankind killed.)
Bowl Judgments. Revelation 15:1-16:21. (1. Malignant sores. 2. Seas turned to blood. 3. Fresh waters to blood. 4. Population scorched with fire. 5. Darkness over the kingdom of the Anti-Christ. 6. Invasion from the east. 7. Greatest earthquake and widespread destruction.)
Notice that the severity of the judgments will increasingly become greater. Let’s consider the Bowl Judgments of Revelation 16, which will occur during the second half of the seven-year tribulation.
Revelation 16 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Seven Bowls
16:1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”
First Bowl: Loathsome Sores
Second Bowl: The Sea Turns to Blood
Third Bowl: The Waters Turn to Blood
Fourth Bowl: Men And Women Are Scorched By The Sun’s Fiery Heat/Polar Ice Caps Melt/Great Floods
Fifth Bowl: Darkness and Pain
Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried Up
16:16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. (This gathering is in preparation for the great spiritual battle of Revelation 19:11-21 when Christ returns to earth with His caught up saints. The battle is won by a spiritual sword that comes out of the mouth of Christ.)
Seventh Bowl: The Earth Utterly Shaken/Thunderings/Lightnings/Great Earthquake/. Islands/Mountains not to be found. Great Hail/Great Plague/Those Left Behind Blaspheme God.
Consider the “Who” of the article. “Who’s There?” In other words, who are the people that will be present on Earth during the tribulation?
The purpose of the total tribulation is for God to judge sin and to draw unsaved Jews to saving faith in Christ. Unsaved gentiles whom will be left behind on earth when the catching up of the born again believers in Christ occurs, will also be able to come to saving faith in Christ. However, it is important to know that the time of tribulation, with its judgments and wrath of God, is not designed with the purpose of born again believers in Christ being the targets of God. In many videos of the tribulation, small children are shown. Please let me make this statement: “small children will not be left behind from the catching up of the saints.” God does not have a problem with small children, or with born again believers in Christ. The focus of the tribulation is on those whom have not been born again. (Matt 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” NASB). Israel, that is unbelieving Israel, is stated as being the reason for the tribulation. See Jeremiah 30:7, Daniel 9:20 and Daniel 9:24-27.
Let’s look at some verses of scripture that specifically relate to the people whom will, or “will not,” be left behind to endure the judgments of God and the persecution of the anti-christ.
You must be born again (to be present with God).
John 3:3 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
God’s Holy Spirit causes the new birth to take place.
John 3:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
To be born again is also to believe in Christ.
John 3:16-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
The Spirit of God dwells within the spirit of every born again believer in Christ.
John 14:20 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
God, the Holy Spirit, will testify to His believers of the things of God.
John 15:26-27 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, 27 and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
The indwelling Presence of God’s Holy Spirit will convict His believers of sin, and righteousness and judgment. Because Christ is not physically in our world, His Spirit (Whom dwells within the spirits of all of His born again believers) will teach those believers the same things that Christ taught His disciples, and more. The reason is that born again believers in Christ will tell the world about the righteousness of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
John 16:7-11 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
At the moment that anyone has been born again, their spirit becomes as perfect as the Spirit of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:21 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Salvation comes through accepting Christ as Lord, which comes through the Word of God.
Romans 10:13-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
Consider the tools that are used by Satan to get in the way of unbelievers coming to saving faith in Christ. This information is of extreme importance to parents of children, both young and not so young. God’s Word to parents is very clear. There can be no lack of understanding of the role that parents are told by God’s Word to play in the Godly training of their children.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 English Standard Version (ESV) 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Parents have the responsibility of teaching their children the Word of God, and also of shielding their children from anything that is not of God. (Whatever is not of faith is sin, Romans 14:23). Christian parents are responsible for ensuring that their children are placed in an environment where they are encouraged to call on the Name of the Lord,” (Romans 10:13-15). However, there is competition for the minds of our children that comes from the following satanic detractors: liberal academia, entertainment, news and opinion, new world order corporations, and the democrat party. Any family that puts their children in the environment of these above detractors is playing Russian Roulette with the eternities of their children. Nothing of God comes from those groups. Support for abortion on demand, homosexuality, violence, and opposition to Israel are being fed to the American public on almost a twenty-four hour a day basis. If such a diet of sin is constantly placed before a family, that family will not come to saving faith in Christ. Consider the follow breakdown of entities that are opposed to God’s Holy Word. The truth of such ungodliness can easily be seen in news reports, even from the agencies of fake news.
A. From that which we see on news reports, a large majority of universities bombard their students with the pressure of accepting their ungodly beliefs of: abortion on demand; homosexuality and same-sex marriage; mob violence; a total disrespect of the nation of Israel, and the love that God has for “His chosen people,” (Deuteronomy 7:6).
B. The entertainment industry continues to produce movies and other so-called forms of art, in such a way that few entertainers feel free to express their view that the killing of unborn babies is murder; that homosexuality and same-sex marriage are not only to be accepted but – – – to be embraced, with the consequence of jail. Much of the entertainment industry holds to the view that the support of Israel is inconsistent with being an open-minded member of the actor’s guild; few actors or actresses openly stand up to the forces of “Hollywood.”
C. That media which has earned the reputation of being “fake news,” has a constant barrage of attacks on anyone whom believes that unborn babies have a Godly and constitutional right to be born; that if any segment of society opposes, or speaks out against, homosexuality and same-sex marriage, that those “narrow-minded bigots,” should be shunned and openly attacked for their narrow-mindedness; that so-called Palestinians have a legal right to the ownership of the land that God promised to Israel, His chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6).
D. New World Order Corporations. Such businesses work hand-in-hand to hold back those employees whom deny support for abortion on demand, and other aspects of homosexuality. These corporations also show opposition to Israel, and the placing of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, which is the actual capital of Israel, and has been the capital since 1451 B.C.
E. In order to put teeth into forcing abortion on demand, homosexuality and same-sex marriage, and a total lack of Israel’s right to its God-given home land, a political party is needed to enact laws that will not only make people accept the things that I have been discussing, but to also embrace such things that God opposes. In essence, “accept and embrace homosexuality, pay a large fine, or go to jail!” This is not a fairy tale; it has actually happened. The baker in Colorado that did not want to design a homosexual wedding cake was destroyed by the media. He would have sold a cake to the homosexual couple, but that was not good enough; they wanted to get into his mind and force him to create a cake of abominable purposes.
Such above ungodly opposition to the election of Republican candidates is because the Democrat party supports the ungodly positions of supporting abortion on demand, same-sex marriage and opposition to Israel. The Democrat party has also encouraged violent acts against Republicans. If a Christian family votes for only one Democrat, that vote lends support to the ungodliness of the Democrat party.
A family, that subjects its family members to a constant diet of the liberal and ungodly agendas of the above mentioned liberal entities, is making the way easier for that family to find itself left behind from the catching up of the saints, to endure the judgments of God and the persecution of the anti-christ, and to find its eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-15). The reason for this statement is that such families are putting ungodly obstacles between them and the Holiness of the Word of God that draws unbelievers to saving faith in Christ.
Parents! This is serious business. As many would say,”they’re only your family!” Some may object to the truth of this article but, the truth is the truth (John 8:32).
No one voting for any democrat candidate can deny the position of that party on killing unborn babies, and using legislation to force acceptance of homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Abortion on demand is murder! Homosexuality is an abomination; it is an act that is repulsive to God; it can be best described as something that makes God want to “throw up!” A single sin does not cast a person’s eternal destiny in stone. But, a lifestyle of murder and homosexuality shows that such a person has not been born again, having the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within their spirit, prompting them to righteous living. Such people will spend their eternity in Hell.
AN ABORTION (This video is provided to expose the Nazi mindset of the democrat party. Notice that the aborted baby is still moving.)
Worst abortion video yet: Intact living fetus; Don’t just defund Planned Parenthood; Shut them down
A STERN WARNING
If you are a doctor, or are part of a medical staff; if you are a government official, (elected, appointed or party staff or supporter); if you are a voter; if you find yourself in any of these or other situations, and you have a lifestyle of support for killing unborn babies, you have not been born again, having the Spirit of Christ dwelling within your spirit prompting you to righteous living. Regardless of the 1973 Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision that made abortion on demand, “law,” based on “privacy,”; regardless of the continued statements of democrats about “precedent and settled law,” abortion on demand is the killing and dismemberment of an innocent baby that has life within that child (Law of Biogenesis, “life comes from life,” Dr. Louis Pasteur). If you are a government official (elected, appointed or party staff or supporter); if you are a voter, or anyone else who supports legislation that supports same-sex marriage, you have not been born again, and have a destiny of hell awaiting you, and very probably “your children too!” (1 Cor 6:9-10; Rev 21:8). But, that destiny can be changed if you accept the Spiritual call on your life to accept Christ as you Lord and Savior, and are born again and change your lifestyle of conflict with God’s Holy Word, your destiny can be changed to where you will join the “elect” of God, and not have to endure the tribulation or the lake of fire (Rev 20:10-15), per the following verse.
1 Corinthians 6:11 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
CONCLUSION
The purpose of this article is not one that is political, but relates to eternal presence. The purpose that can be best described is one of drawing people to Christ; those that have not been born again and are heading straight to hell. I do not want anybody to spend an eternity in the lake of fire; I want those whom have not been born again, to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, to be born again, to change their lifestyle of support for abortion on demand and same-sex marriage, and to join the great numbers of people whom are of God’s elect in the “new heaven, new earth, new Jerusalem (Rev 21:1-2).
The Spirit of God is endlessly calling people to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior (John 1:9). I join in that call to draw people, whom are unbelievers in Christ, to come to know Him as their Lord and Savior.
Politically speaking, I am neither democrat nor republican. My opposition to the ungodly nature of the democrat party would be the same for the republican party, if the republican party were to have the same emphasis as democrats on abortion on demand, same-sex marriage, and opposition to Israel.
Would you belong to the following political party?
Exodus 1:15-17 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
The Nurses Who Followed God
15 There were two Hebrew nurses who helped the Israelite women give birth. They were named Shiphrah and Puah. The king of Egypt said to the nurses, 16 “You will continue to help the Hebrew women give birth to their children. If a girl baby is born, let the baby live. But if the baby is a boy, you must kill him!”
What would you do if you were one of the nurses?
17 But the nurses trusted God, so they did not obey the king’s command. They let all the baby boys live.
Eternity 