Click onto any blue letter, number or character to see the typed text and video on the blog. The video is named “Left Behind,” (Part 1) and is consistent with the prophecies that are stated in Ezekiel 38-39 (587 B.C.)
” I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the Lord.”’ (Ezekiel 38:23)
Part 1 – The Tribulation
Much has been said about the time of the tribulation. We will take an honest look at a future time where nobody will want to be present. Let’s consider two verses of scripture.
Matthew 24:21 New American Standard Bible (NASB) (33 A.D.)
21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
Jeremiah 30:7 New American Standard Bible (NASB) (606 B.C.)
7 ‘Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, But he will be saved from it.
The situation of the tribulation is brought to our attention by the prayer of the prophet Daniel for his people, Israel. He refers to a prior prophecy of the prophet Jeremiah (606 B.C.) which relates to the 70 weeks (weeks of years) that is discussed in Daniel’s prophecy (553 B.C.) The seventieth week of Daniel relates to the time of tribulation.
Daniel 9:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.
Now, let’s pick up the story.
Daniel 9:1-19 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Notice that Daniel’s prayer relates to the sins of Israel.
Daniel’s Prayer for His People
9 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely,seventy years. 3 So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and loving kindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 5 we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. 6 Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land.
11 Indeed all Israel has transgressed Your law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; so the curse has been poured out on us, along with the oath which is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against Him.
12 Thus He has confirmed His words which He had spoken against us and against our rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great calamity; for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what was done to Jerusalem.
15 “And now, O Lord our God, who have brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have been wicked.
19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”
Daniel 9:20-23 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Notice that the angel brings an answer to the prayer of Daniel that relates to the people of Israel.
Gabriel Brings an Answer
20 Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, 21 while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering. 22 He gave me instruction and talked with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding. 23 At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.
Daniel 9:24-27 tells the purpose of the time of tribulation that will come upon Israel and will affect all people who remain on the Earth when the judgments begin. It is important to jump ahead in scripture and take a quick look at the people who are living on the earth at the time of the tribulation, and how “all of them” will be affected by the judgment that God will cause to come “upon the whole earth.” We must also consider God in this matter. We are aware that God’s Holy Spirit “courted” those of us which came to know Jesus as our Savior. We know that Jesus is our (the church) bridegroom and that all believers in Christ are the bride of Christ. We also need to consider the extent of the love that the “Bridegroom” has demonstrated for us which are the “Bride Of Christ.” (We will discuss Daniel 9:24-27 in Part 2 of this study)
Ephesians 5:25 New American Standard Bible (NASB) The extent to which Jesus showed His love for us, the bride of Christ, is that He protected us from an eternity of Hell by dying for us. Are we to think that He is going to subject us, His bride, to “any” of the three sets of judgments that He will create to come upon all who dwell on the earth?
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
Revelation 1:7 New American Standard Bible (NASB) This verse shows that when Jesus returns to earth, it will be a time that all who dwell on the earth will fear Him. No one will be glad to see our Lord. (Can you imagine a situation where any believer in Christ will fear His return to earth?) Jesus will be coming to commit those who dwell on the earth to judgment. This verse says nothing about Jesus coming to save those who dwell on the earth. Those who love Jesus will not be present on the earth at “the second coming” of Christ. They will have been removed from the earth when Jesus comes “in the air:” to catch up his bride; to carry her away; to keep her from the time of testing that will come upon all that are left on the earth. (1 Thes 4:16-17).
7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
Revelation 3:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB) This verse deals with a time of testing; a time that will come upon the whole world; that will test all who “dwell on the earth.” We, who have been born again and have the Spirit of God dwelling within our spirits, will be “kept from,” not “kept through,” that testing. We, who have been born again, have passed the test; we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior. No sin remains within our spirits; the Spirit of God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) remains within our spirits (John 14:20; 2 Cor 5:17; Col 1:27; 1 John 1:5). In Daniel 7:24, we will see the reason for the tribulation; we believers do not fit into the target that God has said will come under His judgment (see below). As we proceed through Revelation the words “earth dwellers” relate to those who have been left behind when the catching up of the saints of Christ takes place. They are those who oppose any Person of God.
10 Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Revelation 5:1-2 New American Standard Bible (NASB) This verse immediately precedes the three sets of judgment that will come upon “those who dwell on the earth; “all of those” who dwell on the earth! But, what about Jesus, the Bridegroom, who protects His bride (time to think). Judgment will come in the forms of Seal Judgments, Trumpet Judgments, and Bowl Judgments. As we will see Jesus, the Lamb of God, will cause “all who dwell on the earth” to be the targets of His judgments. Jesus is in charge. He is making all of these things happen. The question in this verse is: “who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” We shall see.
The Book with Seven Seals
1 I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?”
Revelation 5:5 New American Standard Bible (NASB) In this verse we see that Jesus, the Lion that is from tribe of Judah, will open the book and its seven seals.
5 and one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”
Revelation 6:1-2 New American Standard Bible (NASB) In this verse we see that Jesus opens the first of the seven seal judgments. The result is the appearance of the Anti-Christ. Remember that it is Jesus who is causing all of these horrible judgments to come upon “all who dwell on the earth.” In the first seal we see a false peace being proclaimed.
The First Seal—Rider on White Horse
1 Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.” 2 I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Revelation 6:3-4 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Jesus opens the second seal of War.
The Second Seal—War
3 When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” 4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
Revelation 6:5-6 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Jesus break the third seal of Famine.
The Third Seal—Famine
5 When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”
Revelation 6:7-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Jesus breaks the fourth seal of Death. See John 14:1-3, 1 Cor 15:50-54; 1 Thes 4:13-18. These three verses tell us about Jesus coming to “take his saints away” from the earth. The word “rapture” is the meaning of the “catching away” of the saints. The second coming of Christ talks about Jesus coming back to earth; to stand on the earth; to judge those who mistreated Israel during the tribulation (Matthew 24-25). Those who are “earth dwellers” will face certain death at the hand of the Anti-Christ if they do not deny Christ.
The Fourth Seal—Death
7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” 8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.
John 14:1-3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“1 Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
1 Corinthians 15:50-54 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Revelation 6:9-11 New American Standard Bible (NASB) During the tribulation some of those whom were left behind will accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. When Jesus breaks the fifth seal, death will come to many martyrs at the hand of the Anti-Christ. Those martyrs are they who did not know Jesus as Lord and Savior; were not born again; did not have the Spirit of Father, Son, Holy Spirit dwelling within their spirits prior to the catching up of the saints/the rapture of the church, prior to the tribulation and the outpouring of the judgments of Christ/The Lion Of The Tribe Of Judah.
The Fifth Seal—Martyrs
9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.
Revelation 6:12-17 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Jesus breaks the sixth seal that brings great cosmic disturbances upon the earth. There is a teaching that God’s people will be subject to the seal judgments during the first half of the tribulation. That teaching is the “pre-wrath” rapture. But, in verse 16 we see that all of these six seal judgments are “from the wrath of the Lamb.” The people who are suffering from the “wrath of the Lamb” say that they are suffering from the wrath of the Lamb; it is a matter of fact of that which is happening to them. Those earth dwellers are so traumatized from the suffering of the six seals, that they want to die. They want the rocks to fall on them, to keep them from Jesus and His wrath.
The Sixth Seal – Cosmic Disturbances
12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
We must be honest about the extent of the judgments of Christ; that he is in charge of each and every seal judgment that is terrorizing “those who dwell on the earth,” and of the trumpet and bowl judgments which will follow. We must ask why the “Bridegroom of bridegrooms” would put His bride in the midst of all of the deception, war, famine, death, martyrdom and cosmic disturbances that will plague “those who dwell on the earth.” Remember the words of Ephesians 5:25.
Ephesians 5:25 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,”
More is to come.
Eternity 