JRM Sison Chapter - October 4, 2009

Do you believe in the end of the world? Many people look differently when this kind of topic is brought out. Some people think that the end of the world is about the destruction of the earth in the hands of man. With the technology acquired, man become obsessed on something that is greater. And with this obsession, man eventually is destroying nature, leading to the destruction of the earth. Nuclear power plant destroys the environment. Use of petrol destroys our ozone layer. The usage of agricultural fertilizer destroys the land. Plastic and styro products become an environmental hazard. These are only a few examples of how technology is destroying our planet. But is technology the cause of the coming end of the world?

Other people think that the end is not true but only a fiction of one’s imagination. There are many flicks (movies) that described Armageddon or the end of the world. This is the reason why many think that the end is not fact but fiction.

As Christians, how do we view the end of the world? Do we view it literally or allegorically? Literal interpretation leads to believing the end of the world as real while allegorical interpretation leads to believing the end of the world as a myth.

The Premillennialists/Pretribulationalist
I would like to emphasize our stand in the view of the end of the world. We believe on a premillennial second coming of Christ. We are premillennialist that believe on a pretribulation-rapture of the church. To some, there are three words that are new; premillennial, pretribulation (or just ‘pretrib’), and rapture. Let us define them;
     ·     Premillennial - relating to or occurring in the period immediately before the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.
     ·     Pretribulation - the belief that the Christian church are caught up in the air before the Great Tribulation.
     ·     Rapture - being caught up in the air that is applied to the second coming of Jesus Christ when true believers are expected to rise up to join him in heaven.
As pretribulationalist, we believe that the church will be caught up in the air before the 7 years Great Tribulation. But another question arises, what is the Great Tribulation?

The Great Tribulation
     And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
                                                                                                                                                                               Rev 9:6

The Great Tribulation is better described in the book of Matthew chapter 24 when the disciples asked when the end of the world will be (verse 2). Jesus’ answers can be summarized in this manner:
     ·     Many people will come to deceive us, even the elect (Mark 13:22), professing that they are Christ and His prophets showing signs and wonders.
     ·     We shall hear wars and rumors of wars but the end is not yet come.
     ·     Nations shall rise against nations; kingdoms against kingdoms.
     ·     There shall be famines, pestilences and earthquakes.
     ·     All the above are just the beginning of sorrows.
     ·     The deceivers will deliver us up to be afflicted.
     ·     They shall kill us.
     ·     All nations will hate us for the sake of the name of Jesus.
     ·     Many shall be offended.
     ·     Many shall betray one another.
     ·     Many shall hate one another.
     ·     Many false prophets will arise and deceive many.
     ·     Iniquity shall abound.
     ·     The love of many shall wax (grow) cold.

If you think that is frightening, Jesus further said, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be (v.21).” This tribulation is no ordinary tribulation for it never ever happened since the beginning of the world. Think of a worse event in the part of history and not even that can ever surpass the Great Tribulation. If you think that the problems you are in are hard enough, think about the Great Tribulation to come. Another horrifying description of the Great Tribulation is found in Revelation 9:6, “And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.” A person desires to die and death will escape him. It will be a time of great pain and sorrow. It will be a time of regret being ever born. This is the time where the Holy Spirit is nowhere to be found. 2 Thess 2:7 states, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” According to Ptr. Lee Roberson, in his book Some Golden Daybreak, about this verse;

Evil is hindered now by the Spirit, but He will be taken away and then terrible things will happen. After the Holy Spirit is taken up, then the Antichrist will be revealed.
Oh, how painful and difficult it may be that even the Comforter will be taken away! No more divine aid, just pure regret and sorrow and pain.

As Christians, do you believe about the Great Tribulation? If you do, then do you want to pass through the hardships and sorrows that it will bring for 7 years?

Getting Ready for the Lord
But there is an escape for this. The Great Tribulation is not for the church; it is for the Jews that denied the Father (when they chose Saul as their king rather than God), the Son (when they chose Caesar rather than Jesus), and the Holy Ghost (when they believed that the Holy Ghost is only a power to be reckoned). 1 Thess 4:16-17 state, “¹⁶ 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: ¹⁷ 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.” The church will experience rapture before the Great Tribulation will come. Another passage in the Scriptures spoke of this rapture-event for the church found in 1 Cor 15:51-53, “⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” The rapture will be in a short moment, in the twinkling of an eye. It is a “Now you see me, now you don’t” time for all TRUE Christians. Note that the rapture is not for all Christians. Jesus said in Matt 7:21, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” The rapture is only for those who are converts in Christ. The rapture has two requirements that must be met by every Christians:

     ·     Readiness - Christians must be ready. Jesus said in Matt 24:44, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” The disciples asked Jesus about the events that will transpire before the end of the world and Jesus not only described about the end of the world but also about His imminent coming for His saints. Let us try to review our church history; we will find out that the early church fathers teach more about the imminent coming of Christ than the Great Tribulation to come. They knew that the coming of Christ will precede the Great Tribulation. They knew that the rapture of the church will happen before the Great Tribulation. That is the reason why they were getting ready for the coming of Christ. Another example that the early Christians were waiting for the coming of Christ is found in Acts 12; Peter was about to be executed but God has saved him from the evil plans of Herod. The brethren were praying for him unceasingly but what was their prayer? Were they praying for his release or praying for a swift and painless death for Peter? The brethren saw how Stephen died; James was just killed by the sword; they knew that Peter was about to die. That is why when Peter came to the house of John Mark; they believed not the testimony of Rhoda, the damsel that heard the voice of Peter. They thought that it was his angel that was calling. But they were surprised when they saw him. They never expected him to live. Then, if they were expecting that Peter will die, who was it were they waiting for? It was the coming of Jesus Christ. They were expecting the coming of Jesus Christ for His saints that was why they were gathered together in the house of John Mark.
     ·     Holiness - A life of blessedness is expected to every convert of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “¹⁷ Pray without ceasing. ¹⁸ In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. ¹⁹ Quench not the Spirit. ²⁰ Despise not prophesyings. ²¹ Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. ²² Abstain from all appearance of evil. ²³ And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess 5:17-23).” Peter also said in 1 Peter 1:16, “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” Even Jesus stated in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Let us live a life of holiness for us to be worthy of the rapture that is about to come.

The Reward
Brethren, as Christians we must run the race of faith. The apostle Paul had said, “¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb 12:1-2).” Let us run the race with patience; lay aside the weight that the world is bestowing us; look unto our Lord Jesus Christ; expect the imminence of His coming and expect the reward that the Lord our God has to give us.