Jesus repeats that some tribulation is ahead for the disciples, but He also tells them to be happy and not despair since He has overcome the world. “These things I have spoken to you, that IN ME YOU MAY HAVE PEACE. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.” (John 16:33) Them Jesus said, “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there YOU MAY BE ALSO.” (John 14:3)
There is so much biblical confusion going on in this world concerning two things I would like to discuss.
- WHEN WILL THE RAPTURE TAKE PLACE? The anti-christ shall, “…confirm a covenant with many for ONE WEEK (a week of years 7 years 2,520 days) But in the middle of the week (1260 days or 31\2 years), He shall BRING AN END to sacrifice and offering (the Jews went back to offerings and sacrifices). And on the wing of abominations (the abomination of desolation) shall be one who makes desolate… (“the (anti-christ) sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:4)) “ (Daniel 9:27) When does this happen? “…do not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for THAT DAY WILL NOT COME unless THE FALLING AWAY COMES FIRST, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition…And now you know what is restraining (katechō: that which hinders Antichrist from making his appearance), that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He (Holy Spirit in His Church) who now restrains will do so until HE is TAKEN OUT of the way (raptured, caught up).” (2 Thessalonians 2:2-3,6-7)
- THE JEWS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE CHURCH BECAUSE OF THEIR DISOBEDIRNCE! This is a false teaching known as the Replacement Theology. “I ask then: Did God reject His people? BY NO MEANS! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.” (Romans 11:1) When the tribulation comes, “On that day the LORD will SHIELD THOSE WHO LIVE IN JERUSALEM, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD going before them. On that day I will set out TO DESTROY ALL THE NATIONS THAT ATTACK JERUSALEM.” (Zechariah 12:8-9) “In those days and at that time, when I RESTORE THE FORTUNES OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and DIVIDED UP MY LAND.” (Joel 3:1-2)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham