Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Some Good News About The Tribulation



Image: international.uni-halle.de
Yeah, you read that right. I just finished an article for my blog and while searching the scriptures, I found a nugget… a big fat nugget. I thought you might want to know about it, so here we go!

I found this nugget while reading chapters 13 & 14 in the book of Revelation.  Here is the scripture for those of you who aren’t running to get your bible or clicking on your desktop icon to pull up your favorite bible software. I apologize in advance for copying chapter 13 in its entirety, but I wanted to put the underlined portion of scripture in context. You can just read the underlined portion if you prefer, because that’s the portion I’ll be referring to.

Chapter 13 (KJV)
1And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3And 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. 4And 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? 5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9If any man have an ear, let him hear. 10He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. 11And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14And 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. 15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

So we see here a picture of the Beast and the False Prophet in the last half of the Tribulation, which is known as the Great Tribulation. He orders an image of the Beast to be made. He then “gives life” to this image so that it speaks. This image demands to be worshiped, using death as a punishment for disobedience. Everyone is then commanded to receive the mark of the beast in their forehead or right hand. Anyone who refuses this mark will be prohibited from purchasing or selling anything.

You may be asking yourself where the good news is in all of this. Hold on, it’s coming. It’s found in Revelation 14.

Chapter 14 (KJV)
1And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. 6And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them…

Did you see it? The good news? For those of you who missed it, here it is:

Our loved ones and friends who remain after the Rapture will be given absolute 100% proof that God exists, thus giving them another chance to repent! 

Chapter 13 describes what’s going to happen, but chapter 14 lets us know that God is going to send angels to shout with a loud voice warning the inhabitants of the earth to fear God and give Him glory! Read the underlined portion of chapter 14 again. These are the words that will be heard by everyone on the earth at this point and time in the Tribulation. They’re encouraged to give their lives to God and to reject the mark of the Beast and to refrain from worshiping the Beast. 

How do I know that what is written about in Chapter 14 will take place before, or just as, the mark of the Beast and the worship of his image is made mandatory as described in chapter 13? If that wasn't the case, then the warning would be moot.

Chapter 13 reveals to us what Satan’s plan will be, but chapter 14 shows us that God has a plan to warn everyone on the planet before these new laws can be instituted by the Beast.

So there it is. Take comfort in knowing that even when we’re gone, the Lord has prepared so much for those who remain here on the earth during that time of Tribulation. He has prepared the two Witnesses, the 144,000 Messianic Jews, and he will send angels to audibly warn the entire population of the planet against worshiping the Beast and taking his mark.

Thank you, Lord God, for tempering Your anger during the Tribulation and allowing those who are lost opportunity upon opportunity to repent during this time of Tribulation. May all glory and honor be to You Lord God, forever and ever!  Amen!

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