As I indicated in my most recent post I have purposed
to gather up and place in order a summary of the prophetic utterances from the
Scriptures relative to the unfolding world events leading us towards the end of
the age. This covers a comprehensive revelation of significant events prophetically
developed by several of the prophets
whose purpose it was to inform us precisely what to expect that individual
believers could gain an understanding and avoid the many deceptions of the enemy
who seeks to ensnare many and capture them for his own purposes of death and
destruction.
After
careful thought and consideration I believe that to focus our attention on the
words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 24 provides us with a context to build upon
for he is answering a question posed to him by the disciples. “Tell us, when shall these things be? And
what shall be the sign of thy coming, and the end of the world?”(Matt.24:3) Jesus’
answer gives
us a foundation to fully examine prophetic truth to
the very end of the age.
His
words are both a warning as well as instruction to be prepared with knowledge
of the truth that we may avoid being deceived, captured and destroyed by the
evil one. He first warns of wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, and
pestilences assuring his followers that these things will come to pass, but
will not be the signs of the end of the age. Rather he refers to them as “the beginning of sorrows”(vss.6-7).This
is preparatory for much more extreme consequences resulting in persecution and
martyrdom for faithful believers in Christ. We have not yet experienced this in
America, but we can be assured that it is coming from that international
satanic driven forces intent upon establishing a one world government. We can
see clearly in America the breakdown of the rule of law and the coming
political and economic chaos. With the impending economic collapse which is
soon to come our perceptions of America, the Bill of Rights and the
Constitution will be relegated to history and tyranny will be the new paradigm.
This fact is more than obvious at this time as we honestly analyze current and
developing trends. The church is in an advanced state of apostasy and has been
almost completely neutralized by government regulation (501C3) and spiritual
compromise. Iniquity will indeed abound more and more and the love of many will
wax cold.(Cp. Maatt.24:12). False prophets and false teachers abound in the religious
world and many are captured by their lies and distortions of the truth.
We
have observed within a generation the demise and destruction of a once free
nation. The stage is almost completely set for the establishment of a virtual
dictatorship including economic and political bondage. With it will come the
wholesale persecution of any who will confess and stand for Christ. America as
its collapse is complete will be merged with Mexico and Canada into a regional
government as one of ten such regions that will make up the emerging New World
Order. Daniel has prophesied the same at chapter seven, verse 7. “After this I saw in the night visions, and
behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it
had great iron teeth; and it devoured and brake in pieces and stamped the
residue with the feet of it……..and it had ten horns.” Daniel’s vision of the ten horned beast (regional
governments) is confirmed by the Apostle John at Rev 13:1. “And I stood on the sand of the sea, and I
saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon
the horns ten crowns, and in his heads were the name of blasphemy.” This
conforms to the United Nations Agenda 21 for world government as well as the
1980 Oded Yinon plan for a “Grater Israel”. For details see my book The Israel Deception.
Returning to the text of Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew 24 we perceive that
we are called upon to remain faithful in the face of adversity and persecution as “he that shall endure unto
the end, the same shall be saved.” (verse 13) “And this gospel of the kingdom
shall be preached in all the world for a
witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”(vs. 14).
Jesus warns us of a significant event to occur just prior to the
beginning of the great tribulation. “When ye therefore shall see the abomination
of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet……whoso readeth let him
understand.”(vs.15) For a full
understanding read my recent blog -The
Abomination of Desolation. This
solemn event occurs immediately prior to the onset of the tribulation and is
explained more fully at II Thes. 2:1-11.(See Daniel 12:11-12 and read my recent
blog The Great Tribulation). Jesus
tells us at Matthew 24:21 that this sign and its effects will mark the onset of
the great tribulation. This period which brings such tribulation as has never
been seen upon the earth and except the Lord would shorten it no flesh should
remain alive. Read the text of his warnings at Matthew 24:21-25. Compare this
text with Daniel 11:30-45 which reveals the Antichrist and his activities running
through the tribulation to the very end. Daniel 12:7 verifies the duration of
the tribulation to be 3 ½ years.( Compare also Rev. 11:2; 12:6 and 13:5). The
length of the tribulation is confirmed several times to be 3 ½ years and not a
seven year period as taught by most of today’s preachers. It will be a time of
extreme persecution and martyrdom of all who confess Christ for Satan and his
agent the Antichrist are purposed to remove any testimony of Christ from the
earth. Yes, the body of the church will be subjected to the tribulation
including persecution and martyrdom. No pretribulation ‘rapture’.
Returning
to the words of Jesus in Matthew 24 beginning at verse 29 we read: “Immediately after the tribulation of those
days shall he sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light………..Then shall
appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven……..md
they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of the heaven with power and
great glory…….and they shall gather his elect from the four winds, from one end
of haven to the other.”(vss.29-31)
The resurrection and the gathering of the elect occurs
after the tribulation. (Cp. I Thes
4:13-17; Daniel 12:1-2; I Cor. 15:51-52; Revelation 7:9-10; Rev. 11:11-12). See
my blog The Resurrection.
The
Day of the Lord shall ensue after the resurrection when the Lord returns with
his elect to bring judgment upon the earth. Contrary to dispensational teaching
which states that chapters 4-19 constitute the tribulation we find that many of
those chapters are dealing directly with the Day of the Lord or said another
way the Day of the Lamb’s Wrath. This activity of his judgment of the earth can
be found in Rev. Chapters 8,14,15,16 and finally reaching its consummation in
chapter 20 when men are judged at the great white throne. At chapter 21 and chapter 22 of Revelation we see that a new
havens and a new earth are brought into existence as the old world and its
order having been judged and destroyed. The Day of the Lord is consummated with
what has come to be known as Armageddon. Contrary to conventional wisdom this
happens outside of time and is not conventional warfare but entirely spiritual
in its nature and consummation. See my blogs The Day of the Lord and the Eschatology
of Armageddon. The reader will be
even better informed if they obtain and read my book These Prophets and the Revelation. I hope that this discourse will
bring new understanding to many.
David Lance
Dean website and blog access
at: authordavidlancedean.com
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