Preaching a Forgotten Doctrine

If we were to appraise the doctrines of the Bible by their frequency of mention, then the doctrine of the second coming of Christ would be at the top of the list.

An instructor in Bible college rightfully stated that every major doctrine of the Bible has a chapter devoted to it. To name a few, I Corinthians 13 expounds on love; I Corinthians 15 on the resurrection; Romans 4 on justification by faith; Romans 10 on salvation; Hebrews 9 on the blood of Christ; and Hebrews 11 on faith.

When we examine the doctrine of Christ’s second coming, however, we do not notice that a single chapter is devoted to its exposition; rather, we see that many chapters are set aside to declare the truths regarding that precious doctrine. What chapters come to mind when you think of the doctrine of the second coming? I think immediately of Matthew chapters 24 and 25. Then, I think of Mark’s version of the Olivet Discourse, found in Mark 13. One’s study of the second coming would be incomplete if he has not studied Luke 17 and Luke 21. The Old Testament gives many prophecies regarding the second coming of Christ. Isaiah 11 and Zechariah 14 are such chapters.

Not only are many Bible chapters devoted to this Bible doctrine, there is an entire book of the Bible which reveals to the church the coming Christ, and that is the book of Revelation. So, not only is there a chapter devoted to this great subject; there are MANY chapters devoted to it. In addition to the many chapters that deal with this subject, there is an entire New Testament book that expounds upon this subject.

In addition to these truths, nearly all of the Old Testament writers prophesy regarding the second coming of Christ, either in word or in allegory; and every New Testament writer, without exception, explicitly states the fact of our Lord’s return, many of them doing so repeatedly.

So, it is clear that if we ministers do not preach the second coming of Christ, we are neglecting a major doctrine of the word of God. You cannot preach the “whole counsel of God” while neglecting to declare the truth of Christ’s return to this earth.

Why This Major Doctrine is Often Neglected

Let me, from the beginning, state that although I do not find it justifiable, I do understand why this great teaching of Christ’s second coming is neglected by the good, well-meaning ministers of our day.

First, the doctrine of Christ’s second coming is neglected by some because they do not understand much of the doctrine. Most ministers understand that Christ is coming, but there is so much included in that doctrine. To illustrate the point, when one studies the second coming of Christ, he cannot do so without studying the antichrist, the Great Tribulation, Israel, the church, the last days, and other subjects. This fact overwhelms some ministers to the point of negligence.

Second, this precious doctrine is often neglected because, in some areas, it is a controversial subject. It is difficult to either study or teach this doctrine without delving into the controversy regarding the relation of the church to the Great Tribulation. To avoid this debate, some merely dismiss the subject altogether.

Third, some fail to preach the second coming of Christ because it has been abused through the years. The Millerites in the middle of the nineteenth century predicted that Christ would return on a certain day in 1844. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have repeatedly set a date for Christ’s coming, as have the Seventh-Day Adventists. In recent years, nearly every reader will recall the Harold Camping hoax, when Judgment Day was predicted for May 11, 2011, then again in October 2011. Also in 2011, it went around in some circles that Joe Biden was soon to be the antichrist because something was going to happen to President Barack Obama in his first term that he would no longer be the U.S. President. These are all gross and pathetic abuses of the precious doctrine of Christ’s second coming. Because some have abused the doctrine of Christ’s second coming, some shy away from it altogether.

Preach the Second Coming Anyway!

In spite of these understandable facts, we ministers should declare with boldness that Christ is coming to this world to judge the quick and the dead! The skeptics will mock, but they always have. Paul gives us the formula for dealing with skeptics in Romans 3:3-4, where he said, “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar.” Not believing in the second coming won’t keep Him from coming. Not believing in hell won’t put out the flames! Not believing in God won’t cause Him to cease to be! It is in your power to believe what you wish; but it is not in your power to cause your beliefs to change the truth!

If you are a minister who likes to keep it simple and perhaps it wears you out to think of studying all the aspects of Christ’s coming, then preach His coming and leave it at that! Preach that He is coming again, and try to win souls until He does! If you are a minister who doesn’t care for controversy, then let me be frank with you. Get over it! Controversy is part of preaching the gospel! In Acts 17:17, Paul disputed with the Jews in their own synagogues! The doctrine of the second coming of Christ is a controversial one, but we ministers must get over that! No matter how you preach the second coming, someone won’t like it! So, the best thing to do is to preach the second coming of Christ, and enjoy the controversy that is sure to follow! Perhaps you neglect to preach this great doctrine because it has been abused through the years. To you, let me say that this is a prime reason to preach the second coming! The world has heard all kinds of unscriptural teaching regarding the second coming. It is time that they hear the truth of the matter that Christ is coming literally and bodily to judge the quick and the dead!

The Church and the Great Tribulation - Part 2

Will the Church Go Through the Great Tribulation? -Continued

The Church IS APPOINTED to Tribulation

So far, we have examined two truths from the book of I Thessalonians; first, that the church is not appointed to suffer the wrath of God; and second, that the church has already been delivered from the wrath to come. In the same book (I Thessalonians), the same author (Paul the apostle) tells us that the church, though not appointed to wrath and delivered from wrath, IS APPOINTED to tribulation:

I Thessalonians 3:3-4 – “That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 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.”

No statement could be clearer. The church is subject to tribulations and afflictions in this life. This truth is reiterated throughout the New Testament.

Luke 21:12 – “But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and PERSECUTE you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.”

John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have TRIBULATION: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

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.”

Romans 5:3 – “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that TRIBULATION worketh patience.”

Romans 8:35 – “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall TRIBULATION, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

II Corinthians 7:4 – “Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our TRIBULATION.”

Revelation 1:9 – “I John, who also am your brother, and companion in TRIBULATION…”

Revelation 2:9 – “I know thy works, and TRIBULATION, and poverty,”

Revelation 2:10 – “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.”

The Church is Delivered from Tribulation

Here is what we know thus far from scripture: first, that the church is not appointed to suffer any of the wrath of God; second, that the church is delivered from the wrath of God; third, that the church, although delivered from wrath, is appointed to suffer tribulation.

Now, I present to the reader a fourth point. The church is delivered from tribulation. You say, “Wait a minute! You just said the church would have to suffer tribulation, and now you’re saying that the church is delivered from tribulation!” Yes, that’s what the Bible teaches. There are tribulations I will have to endure, and there are tribulations that will come upon the world that I will never have to go through. Look with me:

Romans 2:5-11 – “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, TRIBULATION AND ANGUISH, UPON EVERY SOUL OF MAN THAT DOETH EVIL, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.”

There is tribulation and anguish reserved, on the day of wrath, for every soul of man that doeth evil. This is tribulation that is directly related to coming of the day of wrath. During this time, there is tribulation and anguish that no part of the church of Jesus Christ will go through; it is reserved entirely for EVERY SOUL OF MAN THAT DOETH EVIL. The “tribulation and anguish” in these verses cannot be the general afflictions and tribulations that are appointed to the church. It must, then, speak of the Great Tribulation, which is reserved, not for the church, but for every soul that doeth evil. Although the church is appointed to suffer tribulations, these verses make it plain that there is tribulation and anguish that is reserved only for evildoers, and not for the church. This tribulation that is reserved for evildoers, and not for the church, is the time period known as the Great Tribulation! We see clearly that there is a difference between the tribulations to which the church is appointed, and the tribulation and anguish reserved for evildoers, the Great Tribulation. When you read a verse that uses the word, “tribulation,” the context of the verse will easily allow you to determine whether he is speaking of the tribulations of this life to which the church is appointed, or the Great Tribulation, which is reserved for evildoers.

There are those who teach that the church will go through, either some or all, of the time period known as the Great Tribulation. Among this crowd, I am often accused of teaching that the church will not suffer. The truth is this – the church of Jesus Christ was born in suffering. The first centuries of the church were stained with blood. In recent years, there has been much persecution against the church today. Muslim countries hate freedom, hate Christians, hate Christ, and hate the church. Christians, on a regular basis in many of these countries, are beheaded for their faith. The Bible teaches plainly that Christian will suffer, and for two millenniums, Christians HAVE SUFFERED.

But although Christians have been suffering for two millenniums, NO CHRISTIAN HAS EVER SUFFERED IN THE TIME PERIOD KNOWN AS THE GREAT TRIBULATION. Paul was beheaded for the gospel. He suffered tribulation. But did Paul suffer in the time period known as the Great Tribulation? No, for that time is yet future. Peter was crucified upside down. He suffered for Christ. But did Peter suffer in the time period known as the Great Tribulation? No, for that time is not yet here. My point is this – the church has suffered for two thousand years, but the church has not gone through the Great Tribulation, for the Great Tribulation has not yet occurred. When a person pulls out the verses that promise tribulation to the church, these verses do not prove that the church will endure the Great Tribulation. This is proven by the fact that saints through the ages have suffered for their faith, as those verses promised, but none of those saints have passed through the Great Tribulation. It is possible to suffer tribulation without suffering during the time period known as the GREAT TRIBULATION! The church does not have to go through the Great Tribulation in order to suffer!

Repentance Delivers from Great Tribulation

We have already seen that the church, though appointed to tribulation, is delivered from the tribulation and anguish that is reserved for evildoers, the Great Tribulation. Now let us examine another verse that promises that repentance delivers from great tribulation:

Revelation 2:20-22 – “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.”

In these verses, Jesus is speaking to the church in Thyatira. Evidently, there was a woman with a spirit like Jezebel, the rebellious woman in the Old Testament. Jesus clearly states that if Jezebel would repent, as well as those who committed adultery with her, they would be delivered from great tribulation. We have already seen that if a person repents and follows Christ, they WILL SUFFER tribulation. But here, we are told that these that committed adultery would be cast into great tribulation, EXCEPT THEY REPENT! Repentance will keep you from the tribulation mentioned in these verses. If you repent, turning to Jesus Christ for salvation, you are appointed to suffer. You will suffer tribulation. But there is a tribulation mentioned here that you will NEVER SUFFER. It can only be the Great Tribulation that is coming upon the whole world.

The Great Tribulation is the Judgment of God

II Thessalonians 1:6 – “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to RECOMPENSE TRIBULATION to them that trouble you.”

Here, we see that there is a tribulation reserved for those who afflicted the saints. Yes, the saints will suffer the afflictions and tribulations of life. But this verse speaks of a tribulation that is recompense, or reimbursement, to those who afflicted the people of God. It is a tribulation reserved for those who afflicted the saints; it is not a tribulation for the saints. It can only be speaking of the Great Tribulation from which we are delivered.

The Great Tribulation is a Time of Wrath

We have already seen clearly that the church is delivered from the wrath of God in its entirety. Jesus referred to the Great Tribulation as “days of vengeance” and “much wrath upon this people”:

Luke 21:20-23 – “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.”

Jesus here speaks of “the desolation.” In Matthew 24, verses 15 and 21, Jesus places the abomination of desolation as being brought about in a time of great tribulation. In the verses above, Jesus states that the days of the desolation, an event taking place in the Great Tribulation, are days of vengeance, and “wrath upon this people.” The days of Great Tribulation are days of wrath, and the church has been delivered by the cross of Christ from the wrath to come.

Concluding Verses

Revelation 3:10 – “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.”

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.”

The Church and the Great Tribulation - Part 1

Will the Church Go Through the Great Tribulation?

Before us we have a much disputed question in our day, a question that sparks interest in some and initiates division in others. Sadly, in spite of the complexity of the doctrine of the second coming of Christ, this one question seems to dominate the entire study of prophecy for some. Some preachers have the idea that studying the subject of prophecy means studying whether or not the church will go through the Great Tribulation. There is so much more in the study of prophecy than simply this question. But this question is legitimate, and I will answer it with scripture.

To understand the question more clearly, one must understand that in the end time, there is a time period known as the Great Tribulation:

Matthew 24:21 – “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

This time period has not yet happened. It is reserved for the end of time as we know it. It will occur when the Antichrist, the last world dictator, will be revealed. There is another event that will happen in the end of time. It is called the rapture of the church, a time when the true church of Jesus Christ will be raptured, or caught up to meet the Lord in the air:

I Thessalonians 4:16-18 – “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

The great question here is this – I know there is a time period coming known as the Great Tribulation. I know there is an event coming called the rapture of the church. But will the rapture of the church happen BEFORE the Great Tribulation (we refer to this teaching as “Pre-tribulation” or “Pre-trib”), IN THE MIDDLE of the Great Tribulation (we refer to this teaching as “Mid-tribulation” or “Mid-trib”), or AFTER the Great Tribulation (we refer to this teaching as “Post-tribulation” or “Post-trib”)? That is the question.

The Church is not Appointed to Wrath

I touched on this very briefly in my recent posts on the day of the Lord, but I will hit it again as it is necessary. This is the foundational point in answering the question at hand. To see whether or not the church will go through the Great Tribulation, one must understand, first and foremost, that the church of Jesus Christ WILL NOT and MUST NOT suffer the wrath of God.

I Thessalonians 5:9 – “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”

There can be no misunderstanding here – the church is not appointed to suffer the wrath of God. Concerning this truth, it appears to me that we have much unity in the body of Christ. It seems that all Bible students agree on this one point. I know of no one anywhere who teaches that the church will suffer the wrath of God. Regardless of whether a person believes that the church will depart from this world before, during, or after the Great Tribulation, everyone agrees that the church will not be here for the wrath of God. I know of some who define their position as PRE-WRATH, meaning the church will leave before the wrath of God is poured out. It seems that everyone agrees with this point – the point that the church is not appointed to suffer the wrath of God.

The Church is Delivered from the Wrath to Come

I heard a man tell this story once. He said that in a certain town many years ago there was a tornado that went through, devastating the entire area. There was a church there. The church, like many other buildings in town, was destroyed. People died, including some of the church people. The pastor of the church, who was said to have been a man of God, said that he felt like the tornado was sent by God as wrath and judgment upon that town. The wrath of God that was demonstrated in the tornado, the preacher said, was not APPOINTED for the church in that town, but it was rather appointed for the wicked. But even though the church in that town was not appointed to the wrath of the tornado, the church still suffered some of it. The preacher then used I Thessalonians 5:9, which states that the church is not appointed to wrath, to say that even though the church is NOT APPOINTED to wrath, the church still may have to suffer some of it.

NOT SO! Not only is the church of Jesus Christ not appointed to wrath, but in the finished work of Jesus Christ upon the cross of Calvary, we are already delivered from wrath!

I Thessalonians 1:10 – “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”

Just as sure as the church has been delivered from the pit of hell, not to suffer a single flame of it, the church has also been delivered from the wrath of God, not to suffer a single bit of it.

TO BE CONTINUED...

The Man of Sin - Part 6

Who is Keeping the Antichrist from Being Revealed?

In defining the restrainer, it is important to understand a few principles beforehand. First, the Bible calls this restrainer a “he” in II Thessalonians 2:7. Second, it makes logical sense that He who restrains the Antichrist must be stronger than both the Antichrist and the dragon (Satan) that gives him his power.

Greater is He that is in You

Do we have an individual in scripture who is stronger than the coming Antichrist and the devil who is already in the world? Yes we do!

I John 4:4 – “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

John said, “Greater is he that is in you!” This provokes the question, “Who is in us?” To answer this, let us begin with John’s gospel:

John 1:12 – “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

According to the above verse, John 1:12, who becomes a son of God? Those who RECEIVE HIM by BELIEVING on His name. You do not become a child of God by baptism; you do not become a child of God by speaking in tongues; you do not become a child of God by submitting to a dress code; you do not become a child of God by faithful church attendance. It is solely and completely by trusting Jesus Christ, believing on Him alone for salvation. At that moment, the sinner becomes a child of God!

The very moment one believes on Jesus Christ for salvation, not only does he become a child of God, but something else happens.

Galatians 4:6 – “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”

Because a person is a son of God, God sends the Spirit of His Son, the Holy Ghost into his heart. Let’s get this straight! A person does not receive the Holy Ghost because he tarried; a person does not receive the Holy Ghost because he has been faithful; a person does not receive the Holy Ghost because he spoke in tongues. The Holy Ghost lives within a person because that person is a child of God!

The Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God, lives within you and me who are saved by the grace of God. John was speaking of the Holy Ghost when he said “Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.” This definitely qualifies the Holy Ghost to be the restrainer. He is greater than the devil, and is therefore greater than the Antichrist who receives his authority from the devil.

Another Look at Judas

In part 3 of this series, I discussed Judas Iscariot – the Antichrist in Christ’s day. It would benefit the reader to read part 3 of this series if you have not already. Judas hanged himself at the time that Christ was on trial. Judas was gone before the Holy Ghost descended on the day of Pentecost. It had to be that way! The Holy Ghost’s arrival itself would hinder the Antichrist from remaining on the scene.

Didn’t the Holy Ghost Exist Before Pentecost?

Critics of my opinion may point out that the Holy Ghost existed before Pentecost. True! David declares the Holy Spirit’s omnipresence:

Psalm 139:7-8 – “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.”

Yes, the Holy Ghost most certainly existed before Pentecost. In addition to this, the Holy Ghost also worked prior to Pentecost. The Holy Ghost came upon men so that they prophesied in the Old Testament. The Holy Ghost departed from men in the Old Testament.

But still yet, Jesus Himself promised TO SEND the Holy Ghost after He ascended to heaven. I did not say that; Christ said that!

John 16:7 – “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

What was special about the Spirit’s descent on the day of Pentecost? If the Holy Ghost was already omnipresent, then what is so exceptional about the day that Christ sent Him on the day of Pentecost?

The answer is simple. Just as the Son received a body in a little town called Bethlehem, the Holy Ghost received a body on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. The body in which the Holy Ghost lives is called the church. In this manner, the Comforter CAME. I hear preachers say, “We need another Pentecost.” Nothing could be further from the truth. We do not need another Pentecost any more than we need another Bethlehem. We do not need another Pentecost any more than we need another Calvary. The Holy Ghost descended on the day of Pentecost to dwell in a body called the church, and He will never depart from the church.

John 14:16 – “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you FOR EVER.”

It is true that Jesus Christ came to this earth as a babe in Bethlehem. After His death, burial, and resurrection, He ascended into heaven, departing from this earth. In the same manner, the Holy Ghost descended from heaven on the day of Pentecost to live in a body called the church. And, just as sure as Jesus departed, ascending to heaven, the Holy Ghost will one day depart from this earth. You say, “I thought the Holy Ghost would never leave the church.” I say, “You’re right. The church is going with Him.” When the Holy Ghost leaves this world, taking the church with Him, then and only then can the man of sin be revealed.

How Can People be Saved after the Holy Ghost is Gone?

Here is a question often brought up by the critics. In their mind, the Holy Ghost cannot be the restrainer because salvation would not be possible if the Holy Ghost is absent. The Holy Ghost, though He will ascend from this earth with the church, will not cease to exist after the church is gone. I am not teaching that, when the Holy Ghost is taken out of the way, that He will be non-existent. Just as the Holy Ghost existed and worked BEFORE his DESCENSION on the day of Pentecost, He will exist and work AFTER his ASCENSION with the church in the rapture. Just as Abraham believed God and was counted righteous before the Holy Ghost DESCENDED, others will believe God and be counted righteous after the Holy Ghost ASCENDS with the church. There was salvation BEFORE the Holy Ghost came in Acts 2, and there will be salvation AFTER the Holy Ghost leaves in the rapture.

The Job Description of the Holy Ghost

Another reason I believe the restrainer is the Holy Ghost is found in His very job description:

John 16:8 – “And when he [the Comforter] is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”

The One who is restraining the MAN OF SIN is the same One who was sent to reprove the WORLD OF SIN.

The Holy Ghost will one day be removed from the scene, taking the church with Him. But until then, His voice is still crying out:

Revelation 22:17 – “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

The Man of Sin - Part 5

Who is Keeping the Antichrist from Being Revealed?

II Thessalonians 2:6-8 – “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed…”

We have before us a most debated passage of scripture. Paul writes to the Thessalonian church regarding this man of sin. Paul teaches plainly two truths regarding the “restrainer”: first, that there is a restrainer, defined as someone who is withholding the Antichrist’s power, keeping him from being revealed; and second, that the Thessalonians, at the time of Paul’s writing, already knew the identity of this restrainer. “Ye know what withholdeth that he [the man of sin] might be revealed in his time,” Paul said. Since the Thessalonians already knew the personage of whom Paul was speaking, Paul did not take the time to state it in this passage. I have often wished that Paul would have just written a few more words to clearly identify this restrainer again for the Thessalonians, and thereby end the debate once for all. The Holy Ghost, however, with divine wisdom and purpose, withheld this information from us. The fact of the matter is this: the Bible does not state expressly who the restrainer is. I am very dogmatic when the Bible states something explicitly. But when the Bible does not clearly identify the restrainer, it would not be wise for Christians to break fellowship because of differences on the subject. I will therefore give briefly some theories I have heard, then I will give my own opinion.

Some Say the Restrainer is Human Government and Law*

Perhaps among the oldest of opinions regarding the restrainer is that it is identified by human government and law. Some state that the human government that hindered the Antichrist from being revealed was the Roman Empire. Paul stated in II Thessalonians 2 that the restrainer would be taken out of the way, and then the man of sin would be revealed. The Roman Empire WAS taken out of the way, but the Antichrist still has not been revealed.

As for the restrainer being human government in general, a simple study in Revelation will show that even after the Antichrist is revealed, there will still be human government. In Nebuchadnezzar’s vision of the world empires, human government DOES come crashing down, but not until after the reign of the Antichrist. So it cannot be human government that is taken away so that the Antichrist can be revealed.

Some Say the Restrainer is Satan

I have heard this by some, especially by some who promote a post-tribulation rapture of the church. Revelation 13:4 states that it is the dragon (the devil) that gives power to the beast. Since Satan has refrained from giving the Antichrist this power as of yet, he cannot come on the scene. This sounds feasible until we hear Paul’s words stating that the restrainer “will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed…” The Antichrist will not be revealed until whoever is restraining him is removed. If Satan is keeping the Antichrist from being revealed, then Satan must be removed prior to the Antichrist’s arrival. However, Revelation 20 shows us the removal of Satan into the lake of fire, but not until AFTER the reign of the Antichrist, and after the Millennium.

Some Say the Restrainer is the Church

While this opinion is, I believe, closer to the truth, I cannot embrace the idea that the church of Jesus Christ is the restrainer. There are two verses that are commonly used to prove this, being Matthew 5:13, in which Jesus tells his disciples “ye are the salt of the earth”; and Matthew 5:14, in which Jesus tells his disciples “ye are the light of the world.” Salt preserves against corruption, and light repels darkness. In the same way, the church keeps the man of sin from being revealed, they say.

Suppose I spoke to one who believes the church is the restrainer. I would ask him one question. When did the church begin? Did the church of Jesus Christ begin at the cross? At Pentecost? Or perhaps some time before either of these events?

Suppose he answers my question regarding the church’s beginning, stating that the church began either at the cross or at Pentecost. If that be the case, then the church was not yet on the earth when Jesus told his disciples “ye are the salt of the earth” and “ye are the light of the world.” If the church began either at the cross or on the day of Pentecost, then Christ was not speaking to the church when He made the above statements. In this case, any believers in Christ, whether before the church was founded or after the church is gone, would be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Even tribulation saints would be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and we know that tribulation saints will not keep the Antichrist from being revealed.

Now, back to my question to the one who believes the church is the restrainer. Suppose that, when I ask him regarding the church’s beginning, he says that the church began BEFORE the cross, and BEFORE Pentecost. Suppose he makes it clear that there WAS a church upon the earth at the time of the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus identified His disciples as the salt of the earth and the light of the world. In that case, I would point out that the Antichrist was present on the earth at that time. Judas Iscariot was the devil incarnated (John 13:27). Jesus identified Judas as being a devil (John 6:70). Judas, like the Antichrist of the end time, was called the son of perdition (John 17:12). I elaborated on this in detail in part 3 of this series, so I will not elaborate here. But these considerations keep me from believing that the restrainer is the church.

*Pentecost, J. Dwight. Things to Come. Dunham Publishing Company. Findlay, OH. ©1953. pp. 259-260.

The Man of Sin - Part 4

The Mystery of Iniquity

II Thessalonians 2:7, 8 – “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.”

In the above passage, we are told that “the mystery of iniquity doth already work.” What is meant by the phrase “mystery of iniquity”? I will discuss it in this post.

It is important to understand that the man of sin has not yet been revealed. In spite of what some say, we are not currently in the Great Tribulation, and the Antichrist is not here yet. The above passage, II Thessalonians 2:7-8, shows us three things: first, that someone is “letting,” or hindering, the Antichrist from being revealed; second, that whoever is hindering the Antichrist will one day be removed from the scene; and third, that this removal will allow the Wicked One (Antichrist) to be revealed. I will discuss later who is hindering the Antichrist from being revealed. But at this time, it is important to know that the Antichrist has not yet been revealed.

Today, there is much confusion on the subject of the Antichrist, and such confusion is uncalled for, since the Bible is so plain. I have heard far-out teachings that have striven to make Babylon of Revelation 18 to mean the United States. Some time ago, I had a man come to my church. After church, he told me that the American government has concentration camps throughout the country, ready to unload Christians at any time. I told this man that I already heard that Christians in America were headed for concentration camps – when Bill Clinton was president. And it never happened. I have heard that the new healthcare law mandates that every American receive a computerized chip in their hand in 2013. Some interpret this to be the mark of the beast.

Let us get some things straight. The first thing to get straight is the fact that funny, unscriptural teachings such as these do not arise from those who obey the myriads of New Testament verses that command us to watch, look for, be ready for, and wait for the coming of the Lord. These teachings always come from those who are looking for the Antichrist. Another truth to get straight is the truth that neither the United States, nor any American president, is the Antichrist. The man of sin will not rule from America. Understand this: we are not in the Great Tribulation, and the Antichrist is not yet revealed.

Our text, however, lets us know that although the Antichrist cannot be revealed until someone else is taken out of the way, the MYSTERY OF INIQUITY is already at work. This mystery of iniquity is what John calls the “spirit of antichrist.”

I John 4:3 – “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

I showed in the previous post how that the Antichrist will be influenced by the devil himself, as was Judas Iscariot. But devils of hell have been working for more than two thousand years to bring about this final empire ruled by the man of sin. There is a spirit of antichrist working in all the world, and we are seeing it more and more in the United States.

The Modern Cry for Unity

This spirit of antichrist, or mystery of iniquity, manifests itself in many ways. First, we see the mystery of iniquity in the modern cry for “unity.” In Revelation 3:10, we are told that the hour of temptation will come upon ALL the world. In Revelation 13:3, John tells us that ALL the world wondered after the beast. In Revelation 13:7, it is made clear that the beast will rule over ALL nations. In Revelation 13:8, we are told that ALL that are upon the earth will worship the beast (excepting those whose names are in the book of life). In Revelation 13:12, the false prophet will exercise ALL the power of the beast. In Revelation 13:15, the false prophet causes ALL to be killed who do not worship the beast. In Revelation 13:16, the false prophet causes ALL to receive the beast’s mark. As you can see, the Great Tribulation is a time that will involve ALL. The message of the Antichrist is “Let’s ALL come together. Let’s all worship together.” Ever heard that? I’m sure most readers have heard phrases such as these. While “unity” sounds good, we cannot unite with devils. I cannot join hands with Muslims and Buddhists. If a man prays to St. Jude, I cannot worship with him. If a man denies that Jesus Christ, while upon the earth, was God manifested in the flesh, I cannot join hands with that man. It is good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity (Psalm 133:1), but it is abominable for believers to join together with unbelievers (II Corinthians 6:14). Unity is important for the body of Christ, but we must be wary of any religious leader who promotes unity with unbelievers. Any such religious leader is operating in the spirit of antichrist – the mystery of iniquity.

The Desire for the Miraculous

Not only is the modern cry for unity evident that the spirit of antichrist is already at work, but there is further evidence in the modern desire for the miraculous. We live in a day where many are infatuated with someone who claims to have some type of miraculous power. If a man of God rises to expound upon the scriptures, most churchgoers today act bored to death. If a man of flesh, however, blows on people, claims to heal people, or announces in a church services that someone in the crowd has a headache, people follow after it like a maggot on molded meat. When the Antichrist and false prophet are the scene, they both will perform miracles. Notice:

II Thessalonians 2:4 – “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

Revelation 13:3 – “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.”

Revelation 13:13, 14 – “And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.”

Let me be clear. I do not care if they can tell you your phone number. I do not care if they can tell you where you are aching. I do not care who they heal, how much they heal, or what miracles they can do. If they are not preaching the pure, unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ – the gospel of faith in the finished work of Christ and faith in Him alone to be saved – the gospel that produces a holy life, causing the believer to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, then their anointing is a false one. They are then operating by the spirit of antichrist; not by the true Holy Spirit of God. A man’s work is not validated by any miracles he does; but rather by the Word of God. If a man’s message doesn’t line up with the book, he is a false prophet!

As we see these things on the rise in the religious world, it is clear that the mystery of iniquity – the spirit of antichrist – is already at work.

The Man of Sin - Part 3

The Son of Perdition

II Thessalonians 2:3, 4 – “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

In the previous post, I made the following statement: “Although the Bible gives many names for the man of sin, it is worthy to note that the Bible does not provide the name of the man of sin.” The Bible certainly gives many names, or titles, to this coming man of sin. Since I am using II Thessalonians 2 as my main text for this brief study, I have been using the term “man of sin” as the chief reference to him. This phrase “man of sin” shows us that the Antichrist will in fact be a man. While some insist that the Antichrist is merely a spirit, the Bible teaches that a MAN is coming to have dominion over the nations of this world. Others insist that the Antichrist is simply a system. However, the Bible reveals to us the truth that the Antichrist is a man of sin.

In II Thessalonians 2:3, he is called the man of sin, as well as the son of perdition. In addition to these titles, he is called the Wicked One (II Thessalonians 2:8); the Little Horn (Daniel 7:8); the Prince that shall come (Daniel 9:26); the Vile Person (Daniel 11:21); the Wilful King (Daniel 11:36); the Antichrist (I John 2:18); the Beast (Revelation 13:1).

In this post, I will examine closely the phrase “son of perdition,” and its relation to the man of sin. This phrase is only found twice in the entire Bible:

John 17:12 – “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”

II Thessalonians 2:3 – “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”

In the former passage, the phrase “son of perdition” is used by our Lord to identify Judas Iscariot, the Lord’s apostle who betrayed him. In the latter passage, the phrase is used in reference to the Antichrist, the man of sin. Both Judas Iscariot and the coming Antichrist are referred to as “the son of perdition.” Some Bible scholars insist that there is no connection between these two Bible characters. However, they are the only two characters in the scriptures given this title. In addition to this, there are more similarities between these two characters.

Both Judas Iscariot and the Antichrist were influenced by Satan himself. Some men are possessed with devils; but Judas was influenced, not by a devil, but by Satan himself:

John 6:70 – “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?”

Here, Judas is called a devil by our Lord. The reason our Lord made such a statement can be found in Luke’s gospel:

Luke 22:3 – “Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.”

Judas was called a devil by our Lord, not because he was possessed of devils; but rather because he was indwelt by Satan himself. Judas was the only man in the Bible, besides the Antichrist, who was influenced by Satan in this manner. The Antichrist, as Judas was, will be influenced by Satan himself. The Antichrist will not be possessed by devils, but rather by Satan himself:

Revelation 13:4 – “And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?”

Here, it is clear that the beast (man of sin) will receive his power from the dragon, who is identified in Revelation 20:2 as Satan. The Antichrist will not be influenced by devils, but rather by the prince of devils – by Satan himself.

It is also noteworthy that Judas came on the scene at the time of Christ’s first coming. The Antichrist will arrive at the time of Christ’s second coming.

It is also noteworthy that when Judas Iscariot hanged himself, the Bible does not say that he went to hell:

Acts 1:25 – “That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go TO HIS OWN PLACE.”

In Revelation 13, John saw the beast coming up out of the sea. The Antichrist comes up from somewhere beneath. I believe he is the same spirit that was in Judas Iscariot. When Judas died, he went beneath, I believe, to the bottomless pit. In Revelation, he will come again from that pit, in the person of the Antichrist.

The Man of Sin - Part 2

Identifying the Man of Sin

The Name of the Man of Sin

Although the Bible gives many names for the man of sin, it is worthy to note that the Bible does not provide the name of the man of sin. Look what Isaiah said concerning Cyrus, a Persian king:

Isaiah 45:1 – “Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut.”

In the above verse, Isaiah prophesies concerning a king by the name of Cyrus. The time of this prophecy is at least 150 years before Cyrus comes on the scene. From the time of Isaiah’s prophecy to the fulfillment thereof was about 175 years! About 175 years before it happened, God told us through His prophet that a man by the name of Cyrus, a king of Persia, would rise up, and would command the city of Jerusalem to be restored. Listen to me very carefully. God Almighty gave us the name of the Persian king Cyrus more than 150 years prior to Cyrus’ coming on the scene.

Dear reader, we live in a time where people have tried, and continue to try, to name the man of sin. I am amazed that sincere people get caught up in trying to figure out who the man of sin is. Has it ever dawned on you, that the God who named King Cyrus no less than 150 years before he came on the scene could have given us the name of the man of sin had He wanted us to know? It would not have been any more of a challenge for God Almighty to put the name of the man of sin in the Bible than it was for Him to put the name of Cyrus in the scriptures! Before looking at this man of sin, this Antichrist, I want you to know this – naming him is not important! Down through the years, those who have tried to name the Antichrist have been wrong 100% of the time! Why are you so attracted to figuring out who the Antichrist is, when identifying the Antichrist has never once been successful?

As to the art of naming the Antichrist, I have heard some hilarious guesses! Of course, there are your classic examples – Mussolini, Hitler, and Franklin Roosevelt. Then, there are more modern examples. Ronald Reagan was supposed to be the Antichrist because his first name had six letters; his middle name had six letters (Wilson); and his last name had six letters! I know people who, at the moment of this writing, believe that Bill Clinton is the Antichrist, though Clinton is not currently in power. Some teach that the current president of the United States is the Antichrist. I have even heard it taught that Joe Biden is the Antichrist!

This kind of goofy nonsense originates from a perfectly blended combination of ignorance and foolishness! The fact of the matter is this: God did not tell us who the Antichrist is! Had he wanted us to positively identify the Antichrist, He could have identified Him as plainly as He did King Cyrus! Constantly, the New Testament Christian is admonished to be ready for the Christ, but never the Antichrist! You will never find the words, “wait,” “be ready for,” or “look for” in regard to the awful things coming upon the earth, or to the Antichrist. But many times, you will find that we are commanded to “wait,” “be ready for,” and “look for” the coming of the Son of man! Christ told us to “watch” for His coming repeatedly. Only ONCE do we find the word “watch” in reference to the Great Tribulation and the horrible things that will happen then:

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.”

The only time we are exhorted to watch with regard to the things coming upon the earth, we are commanded to watch and pray always, that we might escape them!

The Man of Sin vs. the Son of Man

It is striking to me that all of those who are interested in identifying the Antichrist seem to be equally uninterested in the promotion of the Christ. If I preach that Jesus is coming, and those who have rejected Him will be lost eternally, those who try to name the Antichrist are bored to tears. If, however, I preach that the Antichrist is coming, and hard times are coming, and you better be ready to suffer, these same folks who are trying to name the Antichrist would be moved to an altar of weeping and wailing! What if these people got as excited about Christ as they do Antichrist? We’d have such a revival we wouldn’t know what to do with all the revival fire! No matter how much we study prophecy, or the Antichrist, let us never give the Antichrist the place we ought to give the Christ!

TO BE CONTINUED…

The Man of Sin - Part 1

Introduction

While there is much to write concerning this “man of sin,” I will keep it as basic as possible. Even while keeping this study basic, there is a wealth of information regarding the basic study of this person. There is no need for the reader to send me an e-mail after reading this series of posts, reminding me that I “left this out” and “left that out” regarding the person of the man of sin. Understanding that volumes have been written concerning him, there is no way I can exhaust the subject in a post or two. I will examine this “man of sin” from the standpoint of II Thessalonians the second chapter. Although a few other passages may be consulted, II Thessalonians 2 will be the main text:

II Thessalonians 2:1-3 –

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
“That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”

That Day Shall Not Come, Except…

In the above passage, II Thessalonians 2, I draw your attention to the latter phrase of the third verse – “…for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”

Paul makes it clear to the Thessalonians that “that day” shall not come until there is a falling away, and the man of sin is revealed. Much false doctrine has arisen in failing to correctly identify “that day.” To what day is Paul referring when he says “that day shall not come”? The day is clearly identified in verse 2:

II Thessalonians 2:1, 2 –

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
“That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that THE DAY OF CHRIST is at hand.”

Paul tells the Thessalonian people not to be deceived into thinking that the day of Christ, or the day of the Lord, is at hand. Noah Webster, in his definition of the word “hand,” defines the phrase “at hand” this way: “At hand, near; either present and within reach, or not far distant.”* The term “at hand” can mean “near,” or it can mean “now present.” It is clear to me that the Thessalonians believed that they were presently in the time period known as the day of the Lord, the period of time initiated by the Great Tribulation. It seems that they had received a letter from someone claiming to be Paul the apostle, stating that the Lord had come for His church, and the day of the Lord had begun. Why else would Paul exhort the Thessalonians not to be deceived even by a letter “as from us”?

The Thessalonians thought they were in the day of the Lord, not only because they may have received a letter claiming to be from Paul stating this, but they were also suffering severely at this time.

In II Thessalonians 1, Paul repeatedly acknowledges the present sufferings of the Thessalonians:

II Thessalonians 1:4 – “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:”

II Thessalonians 1:5 – “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:”

II Thessalonians 1:6 – “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that TROUBLE you;”

II Thessalonians 1:7 – “And to you who are TROUBLED rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.”

With a letter supposedly from Paul stating that the day of the Lord was now present, and with a myriad of sufferings and severe persecutions, the Thessalonians were shaken in mind, and troubled, that the day of the Lord was at hand, or now present.

Paul writes this second epistle to the Thessalonians to clear up this misconception. Paul plainly states, that there are two events that, if they have not yet occurred, then the Thessalonians could NOT be in the time period known as the day of the Lord.

II Thessalonians 1:3 – “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come A FALLING AWAY first, and THAT MAN OF SIN BE REVEALED, the son of perdition.”

Paul reassures the Thessalonians that there is no way they were in the day of the Lord if there has not been BOTH a falling away, AND the revelation of the man of sin. In no way are we presently in the day of the Lord, or the Great Tribulation, because the man of sin has not been revealed. This was the message of Paul the apostle to the Thessalonians, as well as to us.

With that introduction, I would like to discuss the “man of sin.”

TO BE CONTINUED...

*Webster, Noah.  Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary of American English.

Israel in the Great Tribulation - Part 4

The Gathering of Israel

The Great Tribulation, as we saw in the previous post, is a time when Israel will be refined. The Jews who adamantly reject Jesus Christ during the Great Tribulation will die under the wrath of God. At the second coming of Christ, at the consummation of the Great Tribulation, every living Jew will look upon the Son of God, whom they crucified, and will believe on their Messiah for salvation. All Israel will be saved.

At the conclusion of the Great Tribulation, not only will Israel be saved, but Israel will also be gathered to her own land to inhabit it during the Millennium. Many scriptures teach that Israel, both kingdoms, will be gathered together to live in the land that God gave to her.

Deuteronomy 30:3 – “That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.”

Amos 9:14, 15 – “And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.”

Jeremiah 16:14, 15 – “Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.”

Ezekiel 20:40 – “For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.”

Zephaniah 3:19, 20 – “Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.”

Just as sure as the Bible teaches that all Israel will be saved from sin, the Bible makes it equally as clear that Israel will be gathered again to live in the land that God gave to her.

Rapture of the Church or Gathering of Israel?

The prophets undoubtedly prophesied that Israel will be gathered in the latter times to dwell in her own land. But it is noteworthy that Christ taught this doctrine. Notice the following passage, and notice the words and phrases emphasized:

Matthew 24:29-31 – “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 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.”

In the above passage, Christ tells his disciples that, after the Great Tribulation, when the Son of man will gather together the elect at the sound of a trumpet. In times past, I previously had believed that the above passage made reference to the rapture of the church. Now, it is obvious to me that there is no way that this passage speaks of the rapture of the church.

Notice the phrases in the above passage that I emphasized: “the sign,” “gather together,” and “four winds.” These phrases are found in an almost-identical Old Testament prophecy:

Isaiah 11:10-12 – “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for AN ENSIGN of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up AN ENSIGN for the nations, and shall ASSEMBLE the outcasts of Israel, and GATHER TOGETHER the dispersed of Judah from THE FOUR CORNERS of the earth.”

In our passage above, Matthew 24:29-31, Jesus speaks of a sign. In Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 11, Isaiah speaks of an ensign. In Matthew 24, Jesus said that the elect would be gathered together; Isaiah said that the remnant of His people would be assembled and gathered together. Jesus said that the elect would be gathered from the four winds; Isaiah said that the remnant of His people would be assembled form the four corners of the earth. In Matthew 24:29-31, Jesus is speaking of the same event of which Isaiah prophesies in Isaiah 11. There is one difference of wording between the two passages that will help us identify who Jesus refers to as “the elect.” In Matthew 24:29-31, Jesus refers to a gathering together of the elect. In Isaiah 11, Isaiah speaks of a gathering together of the remnant, but Isaiah does not refer to this remnant as “the elect.” Isaiah refers to this remnant as “the outcasts of Israel” and “the dispersed of Judah.” Whom Jesus calls “the elect,” is not the church, but rather “the outcasts of Israel,” and “the dispersed of Judah.” When Jesus speaks of the Son of man coming after the tribulation to gather together His elect, He is speaking of the Son of man coming to gather the Jews who had been scattered in the tribulation.

In Matthew 24:29-31, Jesus said that this gathering of the elect would take place at the sound of a trumpet. Isaiah does not say it in Isaiah 11, but Isaiah does confirm that the gathering of the Jews would take place at the sound of a trumpet:

Isaiah 27:12, 13 – “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and YE SHALL BE GATHERED one by one, O ye children of Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day, that THE GREAT TRUMPET SHALL BE BLOWN, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.”

In Matthew 24:29-31, to say that Jesus is referring to gathering the church together is inconsistent with the context of the passage. In the verses immediately prior to this passage, Jesus makes it clear that in the Great Tribulation, Israel will be scattered. He states that those who are in Judaea should flee. He speaks to the Jews, telling them to pray that when they are on the run, they should pray that their flight be not on the Sabbath day. Clearly, Christ is teaching that the Jews will be scattered during the Great Tribulation. It only makes sense that, if the Jews are scattered DURING the tribulation, then it would logically be the Jews who are gathered together AFTER the tribulation. This makes the most sense in context of the whole passage, and a gathering together of the Jews fulfils many Old Testament prophecies regarding the gathering of the Jewish people in the latter times, never to be plucked up again.

Israel in the Great Tribulation - Part 3

The Salvation of Israel

Jeremiah 30:7 – “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.”

Here are two great promises of God to the Jewish people; first, that Israel has a time of trouble through which to go; and second, that at the conclusion of that time of trouble, Israel will be saved! Israel will be saved with the same salvation with which every Christian is saved! This salvation is a salvation from sin:

Daniel 9:24 – “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and TO MAKE AN END OF SINS, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”

Romans 11:25-27 – “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall TURN AWAY UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”

The salvation of the nation of Israel is a major Bible doctrine. When post-tribulationists omit it from their teaching, they usually spiritualize it to mean that the church will be saved. NONSENSE! There are too many scriptures that refer to the salvation and complete restoration of the nation of Israel to omit it or spiritualize it:

When I speak of the salvation of Israel, I am referring to the act of God Almighty cleansing Israel from her sin at the close of the Great Tribulation:

Micah 7:18-20 – “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.”

Zephaniah 3:19, 20 – “Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.”

Zechariah 10:6-10 – “And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them. And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD. I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again. I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.”

These are only a few of many more passages that promise the salvation of Israel from sin, and the restoration of Israel from the lands to which they had been scattered. Just as sure as Israel will be scattered during the Great Tribulation, Israel will be gathered, restored, and saved at the close of the Great Tribulation.

The Great Tribulation – A Refiner’s Fire

It is clear that the nation of Israel will be saved from her sin at the close of the Great Tribulation. Does this mean that today’s Jew is guaranteed salvation and need not worry about whether or not he is saved? Not at all. Does Israel’s national salvation mean that no Jew can go to hell? Certainly not. Opponents of the clear, Bible teaching that Israel will be saved raise these questions. While they are legitimate questions that deserve a clear, concise answer, the Bible is not slack to provide those answers.

TODAY’S JEW IS NOT GUARANTEED SALVATION

In the age in which we are currently living, the church age, God’s dealings are with Jew and Gentile alike. There is no distinction between God’s dealings with the Jews and His dealings with the Gentiles.

Romans 10:12 – “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.”

Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 3:11 – “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”

As a matter of fact, when Christ prepared to ascend, He gave the Great Commission to His disciples. In this commission, He commanded them to give the gospel to the Jews first. We are reminded in the New Testament that the gospel is to “the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” This shows that the today’s Jew needs the gospel! He’ll go to hell without the gospel!

Acts 1:8 – “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

The Jew received the gospel before it was given to the Gentile. Without the gospel, Jews are lost. In the first three chapters of the book of Romans, Paul goes through great trouble to show all mankind is in sin, and in need of a Saviour. In Romans 1, Paul shows that the heathen need to be saved. In Romans 2, Paul’s message is that the hypocrites need a Saviour. In Romans 3, the message is that the Hebrew, or the Jew, is under condemnation. At the end of these three chapters, Paul states his conclusion – “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” In Romans 10:1, Paul states that his prayer for the nation of Israel is that they might be saved. Such a request is unnecessary if today’s Jew is guaranteed salvation. In this age, Jews are blinded by the god of this world, and they are as lost and hell-bound as can be without Christ! They need a Saviour! If they die without Jesus Christ, they will wake up in hell!

JEWS IN HELL WILL NEVER GET OUT

When I teach that “all Israel shall be saved,” I am not teaching that no Jew will be in hell. Neither am I teaching that Jews who are in hell will someday get out of hell on the basis of Israel’s national salvation.

Jesus related to us a true story regarding a Jew who went to hell. In Luke 19, Christ tells about a rich man who died, was buried, and lifted up his eyes in a fiery, flaming hell. There was a conversation between this rich man and Abraham, the father of the Jews. The man in hell cried out to Abraham, referring to him as “Father Abraham.” Someone may say that Abraham is also the father of the faithful. This is true, but if the rich man were faithful to God, he would not have been in hell. Abraham was the rich man’s father because the rich man in hell was a Jew. He went to hell, and he will stay there forever. And yet, “All Israel shall be saved!”

The Salvation of Israel – How Will It Come About?

The salvation of the nation of Israel will occur after the Great Tribulation, and the Great Tribulation will be an agent to assist in bringing it about. In this present age, there are unbelieving Jews. In the Great Tribulation, there will also be unbelieving Jews. However, at the end of the Great Tribulation, every living Jew will at that time be saved! Throughout the Great Tribulation, Israel’s blinded eyes will gradually be opened, as more and more Jews will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. There will 144,000 Jews sealed during that time. There will be other Jews who will believe in their Messiah. At the close of the Great Tribulation, when Jesus Christ comes with the saints, every Jew living at that time will look upon Jesus Christ, and the Deliverer will save Jacob from his transgressions:

Zechariah 12:10 – “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”

This verse is clear that the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will look upon the One that they crucified, and will weep when they learn that it was their Messiah that they killed. The Jews looked upon whom they pierced when Jesus died on the cross (John 19:37); but there no weeping by the nation of Israel for Jesus when He died. John says that the Jews will look upon Jesus again at His second coming, and will wail because of Him.

Revelation 1:7 – “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”

Yes, Israel will behold their Messiah coming down from heaven after the Great Tribulation, and will weep because of Him. And yes, grace will be poured out to the entire nation, and all Israel shall be saved.

Zechariah 13:1 – “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.”

The fact that every living Jew will be saved at the second coming of Christ is soundly substantiated. Now, briefly, I will discuss the role of the Great Tribulation in bringing this about.

During the Great Tribulation, there will be unbelieving Jews, as there is now. Those Jews who absolutely refuse Christ in the Great Tribulation will suffer the wrath of God during that time, and will die lost under the wrath of God. Obviously, those Jews who die under the wrath of God will not be numbered with “all Israel” at the close of the tribulation. This is why, if you are a Jew, that the doctrine of the salvation of Israel is no guarantee that you will be saved. The Great Tribulation is a refiner’s fire. It will sever those Jews who will never be saved from those Jews who, at the close of the Great Tribulation, will be saved. After the Great Tribulation cuts off those Jews who would never be saved, the Jews who are left – every living Jew at the end of the Great Tribulation – will call upon the name of the Lord and be saved! Don’t take my word for it; take Zechariah’s word for it:

Zechariah 13:8, 9 – “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.”

Israel in the Great Tribulation - Part 2

The Scattering of Israel

Jeremiah 30:7 – “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.”

One of the most important things to remember concerning the Great Tribulation is that it has a Jewish aspect to it. Jeremiah writes, “…it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble…” Jacob was the man in the book of Genesis whose name was changed to Israel. Israel’s twelve sons became the heads of the twelve families, or tribes, of the nation of Israel. The Great Tribulation has much to do with the nation of Israel – “it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble.”

While some insist that the above verse is not referring to the Great Tribulation, scripture makes it clear that the verse concerns the Great Tribulation. The previous verse makes this clear:

Jeremiah 30:6 – “Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, AS A WOMAN IN TRAVAIL, and all faces are turned into paleness?”

This passage of scripture is talking about a time that is compared to a woman in travail. Paul calls this time the day of the Lord:

I Thessalonians 5:2, 3 – “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.”

I have already discussed in detail that the day of the Lord is a time period which is initiated by the Great Tribulation (see my recent posts entitled The Day of the Lord – parts 1, 2, and 3).

Jeremiah’s very description of “Jacob’s trouble” shows us that he is speaking of the Great Tribulation:

Jeremiah 30:7 – “Alas! for that day is great, SO THAT NONE IS LIKE IT: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.”

What does Jeremiah say about time of “Jacob’s trouble?” He says there is no day like it! This exact description is given in scripture to describe both the day of the Lord, and more specifically, the Great Tribulation. I brought out these scriptures in part two of my posts on the day of the Lord, but I will list them again for the benefit of the reader:

Joel 2:1, 2 – “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for THE DAY OF THE LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; THERE HATH NOT BEEN EVER THE LIKE, NEITHER SHALL BE ANY MORE AFTER IT, even to the years of many generations.”

Daniel 12:1 – “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, SUCH AS NEVER WAS SINCE THERE WAS A NATION, EVEN TO THAT SAME TIME: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”

Matthew 24:21 – “For then shall be great tribulation, SUCH AS WAS NOT since the beginning of the world to this time, no, NOR EVER SHALL BE.”

Mark 13:19 – “For in those days shall be affliction, SUCH AS WAS NOT from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, NEITHER SHALL BE.”

The Great Tribulation has a Jewish aspect about it. No one can study it without seeing the significance of the nation of Israel during this dreadful time. At this time, I will examine several passages of scripture that reveal God’s dealings with Israel during the Great Tribulation.

The Scattering of the Jews

In Jeremiah 30, it is clear that during the time of Jacob’s trouble, the Jews will be scattered. I will not comment much on this subject, as I already have done so in part 3 of my series entitled The Day of the Lord. At the close of Jacob’s trouble, the Lord promises to gather Israel out of the nations to which they have been scattered:

Jeremiah 30:10, 11 – “Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.”

It is only reasonable to believe that if, after the time of Jacob’s trouble, God is going place Israel in their own land, then during the time of Jacob’s trouble, Israel must be scattered. The scattering of Israel is a major Bible teaching regarding the nation of Israel in the Great Tribulation. Christ brings out the point in great detail in the Olivet Discourse:

Matthew 24:15-20 – “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.”

Christ says, “Let them which be in Judaea FLEE!” He goes on, “Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house!” He further instructs those who see the abomination of desolation (an event described in my previous post) not to return back to take their clothes. In addition to this, Christ further instructs them to pray that their flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day!

Two things are clear regarding the above passage; first, that Christ is dealing with the Jews during the tribulation; and second, that the Jews will be on the run during that time. Christ’s mention of the abomination of desolation regards the Jewish temple and the abominations committed in it during the Great Tribulation. “Let them which be in Judaea FLEE!” Judaea is a land of Jewish occupancy. Christ then gives a prayer request – He requests that they pray that their flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day! The Sabbath is of Jewish concern. The Jews will have a flight (or, a time of fleeing) in the Great Tribulation. Christ instructs them to pray that it will be neither in the winter, nor on the Sabbath day!

TO BE CONTINUED…