“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” Romans 11:25 NKJV
It probably comes as no surprise that the topic of numerous conversations I have had in the past couple of weeks surrounds the level of anger being manifested by those who believe that anyone who disagrees with their personal position on any subject deserve whatever they get. While this might come as a shock to many, as believers I would have to ask us all, myself included, should this really come as a surprise knowing where this world is going to go? Understanding what the Word of God tells us about the end of this age, is it any wonder to observe the lines being drawn so vividly between good and evil?
Most are familiar with the story of Noah and the flood, and many understand that Jesus referred to the days we appear to be living in now as being like the days of Noah. While the obvious correlation might be that this world is surely ripe for judgment, I can't help but think of many other ways that our times and Noah's time might share some similarities. Right now, considering the anger we see, I can't help but wonder what level of anger might have been directed at Noah as he built the ark and witnessed to an unbelieving world? While easy to believe Noah was subjected to laughter and scorn, I'm willing to wager he and his family were certainly the target of much anger and hateful speech from those who felt threatened by his message.
I wrote the following a couple of years ago but witnessing the events of the past few weeks I felt led to share it once again. As we watch and read of what many are calling a very uncertain future with skyrocketing inflation, shortages leading to possible famine, predictions of another pandemic, war in the Ukraine, and a weak and ineffectual leadership running our country, I think believers could use some good news. I truly believe God has given us that good news by virtue of His promise to remove us from this earth before His judgment takes place, by way of the rapture of the Church.
When the subject of the events which have transpired since the start of 2020 is raised, an adjective which is being used more and more lately to describe the state of our nation is the word “divisive”. Unfortunately for us as a society, it seems to have escaped notice that one of the world’s oldest strategies for achieving victory in any conflict is “divide and conquer”. While many might argue the point, it seems perfectly obvious to me that the author of the divisiveness running rampant in our country today is none other than Satan, and his agenda is succeeding spectacularly.
There will be those who would call this an oversimplification, but if we choose to accept that this fight is spiritual in nature it follows that there exists only two sides; believers and non-believers, us and them. That said, how often have you heard an argument lately where someone uses the pronoun “they”? Most often, it seems, I hear it used such as “they” want us to do this, or “they” want us to believe such and such. Of course, let’s not forget the most common usage; “they want to control us”! While I will leave the identification of who “they” are to you, for the purpose of this discussion we will simply consider there exist only the two sides mentioned above, and I think the Bible makes it clear that eventually, “they” get what “they” want.
“When does that happen” you ask? As believers, I think most would agree that it occurs after the rapture of the Church, when all true believers in Jesus Christ are instantaneously removed from this earth to meet with the Lord in the air and go to live with Him in our heavenly home for all of eternity. As revealed by Paul in the passage above, that event occurs when the full number of believers is arrived at, and the Church in God’s eyes is complete. At that point in time, the Church is taken, the “restrainer” or Holy Spirit is removed as well, and “they” are left behind to experience the world "they" have always wanted.
“When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.” Revelation 6:3-4 NKJV
Utopia: an ideal place or state, or an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect.
Dystopia: a society characterized by human misery, as squalor, oppression, disease, and overcrowding.
It might sound odd, but at that instant in time, believers get what they want, and those left behind get what they want. The problem though, is that while believers are rewarded with indescribable riches and eternal happiness with our Lord and Jesus Christ, instead of the utopia “they” expect, “they” are rewarded with a dystopian world of unimaginable sorrow. While “they” ignore if not outright disbelieve what the Bible has to say about what happens on this earth after the rapture, the picture God paints of life when “they” get what “they” want is one which no one in their right mind would want to be a part of.
According to the passage above, the very first result of the rapture is that peace is removed and violence of almost unimaginable severity begins to occur. Rather than rejoicing that believers have somehow disappeared, “they” begin to kill each other off.
“When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” Revelation 6:5-6 NKJV
Most scholars agree that what we are told in these verses is that inflation runs rampant. The economic system we enjoy now somehow disappears and “they” will have to spend an entire day’s wages to purchase enough food for just one day.
“When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.” Revelation 6:7-8 NKJV
Here we are told that the next result will be famine, obviously resulting in violence as people are willing to kill in order to survive, which certainly makes sense considering how expensive food will be. Most commentaries also consider the death that follows in this passage is a result of global pestilence, which seems entirely logical taking into account what conditions are going to be like. Those same conditions, apparently, cause the beasts of the earth to turn on humans and see them as a source of food for survival.
“And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” Revelation 6:15-17 NKJV
Most of us are familiar with the expression “have, and have not’s”, but it would appear in this passage that rich or poor, powerful or weak, everyone is going to be affected in such a way as to try and hide as best they can in order to escape what takes place in the world at this moment in time.
“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” Matthew 24:22 NKJV
Some have taken the position that Jesus is saying here that the period we know as the tribulation is shortened from the seven year length revealed to us elsewhere in the Bible. My thought here is that, rather, because He is responding to the disciples questions concerning the end of the “age” what He is saying is that God cuts short this period of time at seven years. I believe the reason is clear. If God did not stop the tribulation after seven years and allowed this age to proceed, eventually man would simply cease to exist as “they” would sooner or later kill themselves off.
In years past, when I have taught on the book of Revelation, a common reaction was disbelief that the world could degenerate to the point where these events could occur. Maybe in the past that position could be considered understandable, but my question to you today is have you watched the news lately? This world is willingly being led down a path by Satan that has only one end. Unfortunately, the sad result is that in the end, “they” get what “they” want.
Watching Satan do his evil work all around us can be upsetting and uncomfortable, yet we as believers understand that God has promised to give us the strength we need to endure until He comes. While the world yearns and hopes for a return to "normal", I would suggest that things are only going to get worse. Paul refers to the rapture of the Church as "our blessed hope", (Titus 2:13), and as this world continues its descent into darkness we can rest in the assurance that we will be delivered.
Of course, while the deliverance from the evil of this world is available to all, it’s guaranteed only to those who choose to accept it by believing on the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If you are reading this today and have never made that decision, you can do it right now wherever you might be by simply praying a prayer like this;
Jesus I know that I am a sinner, and have sinned against you. I believe you loved me enough to send your Son Jesus to die for my sins, and that He rose from the dead so that I can live. Forgive me of my sins and come into my life and help me to live for you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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