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| Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992. |
I wish that I did not have to write this chapter, but I cannot leave it out. In order to have a complete
picture of Eschatology, we must have it. In this chapture we will be looking at those situations ans happenings which will
take place on earth after the Church is taken up to Heaven. No, I don't claim to have all the answers for questions connected
with this difficult period. But I pray that at least this booklet, and especially this chapter, will warn many unbelievers
ans encourage them to accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord and thus be ready for His Second Coming. We don't have to spend
much time debating the fact that we live in very critical times. Our age is known as the age of computers, the space age,
or the atomic age. We have reached the moon and perhaps very soon, will land on another planet. All around us we see great
progress in technology and in medical science. With the help of many wonderful drugs and laser, many difficult surgeries are
performed much faster and almost without any complications. We take most of these modern things for granted. Yet what we see
is the fulfilment of Daniel's prophecy. He states that at the end of time there will be a great increase in knowledge. (Daniel
12:4b) However, we must be realistic and also see that with the increased knowledge and with great advances in technology
and science we see the rise of many crimes. Divorces are sky rocketing, robberies, killings and many other evils are on the
rise. Many people are on drugs and live promiscuous lives. Our time is very similar to the time of Noah, just before the great
flood, when people became so wicked, that they were only thinking and doing evil. (Genesis 6:5) Futhermore, we see the coldness
and the loss of love among most people in families, in churches and in society. Therefore this world is ready for the just
judgment day. Jesus warns us about this in Matthew 24:21:22, where we read: "For then there will be great distress, unequalled
from the beginning of the world until now - and never to be equalled again. If those days had not been cut short, no
one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened."
1. This is not the end of the world. This "great distress" is called "the great tribulation" in the King
James Bible. The Good News calls it "terrible trouble". Yet all translations tell us that this suffering will be great and
unequalled since the beginning of time. But this great tribulation does not mean the end of the world. Some teachers of the
Bible say, that after the Rapture on the Church this world will end. According to their theory, as soon as the Lord takes
up His redeemed, He will destroy all the rest of the people. After that He will establish His kingdom of peace and righteousness,
where all the redeemed people shall reign with Him forever and ever. However, the Bible says something else, at least the
way I see it. As we were looking at it in chapter one, after the Church is taken up from this earth, all the redeened
will be rewarded for their labours. This will take place in heaven. At that same time on earth will be this great tribulation.
According to Daniel 9:27 it will be the last week of his prophecy. During this time the "Antichrist" will
rule the world and all sufferings and tribulations of which we read in the book of Revelation 4-19, will take place. The Good
News Bible says: "That ruler (Antichrist) will have a firm agreement with many people for seven years, and
when half this time is past, he will put an end to sacrifices and offerings. The Awful Horror will be placed on the highest
point of the Temple and will remain there until the one who put it there meets the end which God has prepared for him." (Daniel
9:27)
2. Who must go through the great tribulation?
First of all there will be all unbelievers. All those people who did not accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour
will be left behind when the Church is taken up, and they must go through the great tribulation. The people of Israel must
also go through this great distress and suffering. The prophet Jeremiah refers to it as "a time of trouble of Jacob, but he
will be saved out of it." (Jer. 30:5-7)
Why do I believe that all the people who were born of the Holy Spirit, will not be here? Because I
believe that as God took his servant Noah out of this world before He destroyed it with the flood, (Gen. 6-7), and as He led
Lot out of Sodom, before He destroyed it by fire, (Gen.19) in the same way Jesus will take out His redeemed before this
great tribulation will come upon the earth. Therefore it is my sincere prayer that all of you dear friends who are reading
this booklet, will be in CHRIST, that ARK of safety, before this terrible time comes. Do it right now. Tomorrow might be too
late! Perhaps this following illustration will help you to make that important decision. One indifferent lawyer, because of work
and worldly pleasures, was neglecting his family, his church and his soul. A very close friends of his, a medical doctor,
was a very sincere and active Christian. On many occasions he warned his indifferent friends to come to his sences, and like
the Prodigal son, return to his Heavenly Father in repentance before it was too late. (Luke 15:11-32) Like most other people,
this unbelieving friend had many excuses. His favourite alibi was that he was too busy. He also claim that God is so loving,
patient and kind, that He will not allow him to be lost. One day this lawyer suddenly got very ill. Right away his doctor
friend was called. After examining him, he prescribed medication, put it into his hand and started for the door. "Wait a minute!"
shouted the lawyer. "How could you leave without telling me what illness I have, and how much medicine I shoud take?
"This is not so important", replied the doctor. "The main thing is that I have prescribed your medicine, isn't that enough?
You know very well that this medicine will help you." "Yes, yes, indeed this is true", started the lawyer. "But the medication
is useless unless I take it. By knowing it or looking at it, it will not cure me. You must tell me exactly the time and the
right amount of medication I must take!" "Well, then, start taking your medication in about three days" replied the doctor
and he started to open the door. "In three days!" Exclaimed the sick man with anger and anxiety. "I could die at any moment
and you tell me to start taking my medicine in three days. What kind of doctor are you, anyway?!" "Then, when in your own
opinion", quietly asked the doctor, "do you feel that you must take your medicine?" "Immediately!" shouted the sick man. "Yes,
indeed, you must take it immediately." answered the doctor soberly. Having your medicine here, looking at it and knowing that
it would help, if taken properly, is not enough. You must take it as prescribed." But the doctor continued, "and so it is
with salvation. Knowing that Jesus Christ is our Saviour, that He is able and willing to save us, will not help us unless
we accept Him as our personal Redeemer and Lord. Only those who obey His requirements and believe Him, will be saved. Jesus
says: "I tell you the thuth, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) In John 1:12 He promises,
that "all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." But the greatest
promise and assurance is found in John 5:24. It states: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who
sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." How is it with you dear reader?
Do you only have the knowledge of salvation, or do you already love the Lord Jesus as Saviour? If you have already accepted
Jesus as your redeemer, then rejoice. But if not, repent and ask Him to save you right now.
I stated before that after the Rapture of the Church, our world will not end. Only the time of grace
will be over. This Dispensation of God's grace started at the time of our Lord's death on the Cross of Calvary. It became
evident after the day of pentecost, when God's Holy Spirit came down. (Acts 2) But this Dispensation of God's grace will end
when the Church is taken up. During the great tribulation all the dead unbelievers will remain in their graves until that
time when they shall be resurrected and judged. This will take place after the Millennium. We read that "The rest of the dead
did not come to life until the thousand years were ended..." (Revelation 20:5)
3. The length of this Great Tribulation.
According to Daniel 9:27 the Great Tribulation will last about 7 years. Although we do not know exactly
when this tribulation will start, we know that it will be a terrible time of great trouble such as this would has not seen
before. This will be a time of wars, famines, earthquakes and incureble diseases. Jesus himself tells us that there never
was anything like it since the beginning of time. (Please read again Matthew 24:21) One reason why this world will be filled
with such suffering and trouble will be that all believers, "the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13) will be removed to heaven.
Also that mighty God's Holy Spirit , Who came down to earth at Pentecost (Acts 2), and Who was shielding and standing in the
way of sin, and preventing Satan from causing many of these calamities, now will leave the earth. The apostle Paul reminds
us that "...the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till
He (Holy Spirit) is taken out the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed... " (2 Thess. 2:7-8a) Today, with the help
of the mighty Holy Spirit we are able to fight the enemy. He is the ONE who teaches and reminds believers of forgotten truths.
(John 14:26) He protects us, helps us to witness, and convicts the world of sin. (John 16:8) But this same Holy Spirit prevents
corruption and shields us from many other evils. After the Rapture of the Church, God's Holy Spirit will leave this world,
and Satan will be free to move, to seduce and cause confusion and suffering.
4. The time of the Great Tribulation will be the time of the Antichrist.
Without the Church there will not be anyone to preach repentance to them nor to explain the way of
salvation. Perhaps some people will remember the Gospel they heard preached in their church, or radio or television, or perhaps
they read it in a tract or in a book. But, perhaps because of fear or because of some conveniences, they will not follow the
teaching of Jesus Christ. They will be blinded by Satan. Actually Revelation 13:15-17 makes it quite clear that people
will be forced by Antichrist to receive his mark on their right hand or on the forehead. Those who will not receive his
mark, will not be able to buy or to sell. Satan, that old liar and deceiver, with his great power, tricks and lies, will deceive
people and force them to obedience. He will demand their loyalty, obedience and worship. All those who at one time refused
to trust God and follow Jesus, will now follow and serve Satan. We read in 2.Thessalonians 2:11-12 "... God sends them a powerful
delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted
in wickedness." What joy fills our hearts, that all those who are in Christ "will not be condemned." (John 5:24) Yet almost
all people who are left behind after the Rapture of the Church, will follow Antichrist even as sheep follow their shepherd.
If anyone should oppose him, or dare to confess Jesus as Saviour and Lord, that person will seal his (her) testimony
with his own blood as we see in Revelation 6:9-11, where we read: "When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the
souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud
voice, "How long, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" Then each of them was
given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who
were to be killed as they had been was completed." We also read about these saints in white robes, that they are those
"...who have come out of the great Tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
(Rev. 7:14) Reveletion 13:15 reveals futher that Antichrist will kill all those people who refuse to worship the image, or
his statue.
During the time of this great trouble people throughout the whole wide world will suffer from starvation,
war, plagues and from incurable diseases. Peace, protection, prosperity, law and order will be removed from the earth. Please
read carefully Revelation 6:1-9; 9:1-6 and 16:8-11.
Perhaps some of you are asking this quite legitimate question: "Why does God, Who is loving and powerful,
allow this great suffering? Since He is all-powerful, why does He not quickly and miraculously stop it?" In the first place,
this world must suffer the consequences for refusing God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who came to be their saviour.
They have refused Him by accusing Him falsely and nailing Him to the cross. (Matt. 27:32-44) On that cruel cross Jesus suffered
indescribable humiliation and agony. Yes, I know that Jesus was born in order to die as the Lamb of God for the sins
of this world. (Isaiah 53:4-6) But the people of Israel rejected their Messiah knowingly and willingly. They knew that He
was not guilty of any sin (John 8:46). His many miracles of mercy and His teachings, were sufficient proof that Jesus was
God. Even Pilate did not want to condemn Jesus to death because he found Him to be innocent. (Luke 23:4) Inspite of all that
evidence the people of Israel pleaded with Pilate to crucify Jesus. Their persistence was so strong that they even implored
the blood of Jesus to fall on them and on their children. (Matthew 27:25) Therefore the people of Israel ans all other unbelievers
must drink this cup of suffering during the time of the Great Tribulation. Several prophets refer to these terrible days.
Amos, for example writes: "Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day
will be darkness, not light. It will be as through a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house
and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him ..." (Amos 5:18:20) Zephaniah in chapter 1:1--18 states: "The
great day of the Lord is near - near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the Lord will be bitter, the shouting
of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day
of trumpet and battle and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. I will bring distress
on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out
like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord's
wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the
earth." Read also Proverbs 1:24-33.
5. A very interesting prayer meeting will take place in those days.
We see that the rich and poor, the mighty and leading men and women of this world as well as the ordinary
citizens, all will be calling on the mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb of God.
(Revelation 6:15-17) This indeed is a very interesting request. In most cases, people while praying ask for mercy, for help,
healing and salvation. Yet here we see people asking for rocks to hide them before Jesus Christ, who is coming to judge them.
Today, however, is still not to late to REPENT of your SIN and pray for forgiveness and acceptance by the
loving Saviour. Jesus says to all who want to hear and believe on Him, that He will give them eternal life, and that they
will not be condemned. (John 5:24) This truth is confirmed by Romans 8:1, where we read: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus." They are saved and protected even as Noah was safe in the ark during the great flood.
(Genesis 7)
6. The Antichrist is a real person. Thia is not a fictitious or imaginary being. Even as Jesus Christ is
real God in a human body, so is Antichrist. This is Satan in a human body. Today we do not know who this mysterious person
will be, and I will not speculate about him, because this label has been put on so many people erroneously. However, we can
state very positively that since Christ came from the Jewish people, so must the Antichrist be from the same people. Otherwise
he could not be called Antichrist (false christ). Also we must state that the Antichrist will not appear in this
world before the Church is taken up. The apostle Paul reminds us in 2.Thessalonians 2:7-8 that before the "lawlwss one" will
be revealed, first the Holy Spirit must be removed, because He stands in his way. After the Rapture, when the Holy Spirit
will leave, the Antichrist will take control of this world. We should also notice that prior to Antichrist's appearance, two
mysterious witnesses will prophesy in the city of Jerusalem (Rev. 11:1-13) Most likely they are Enoch (Gen. 5:24) and Elijah
(2.Kings 2:11) Both of these God's servants were taken up to heaven in a most mysterious way, without seeing death. Perhaps
that is the reason why they would have to return to this earth. These two witnesses will have great power for three
and a half years. They will prophesy and perform many great wonders and miracles. However their successful and glorious ministry
will end up in disaster, humiliation and death. Both will be killed by the Beast.
Let us now see the interesting contrast which is between the Christ and the Antichrist. Christ came down
from heaven as God's Lamb to take away the sin of the world.(John 1:29) Antichrist is the beast who comes up from the abyss.
(Rev. 11:7) Christ came to seek and to save lost sinners. (Luke 19:10) Antichrist will come to deceive, destroy and kill all
who will not obey him. (2.Timothy 2:9-12 and Revelation 13:15-17) Christ in humility died for others so that they may live.
( 1.Thess.5:10 and John 14:19) Antichrist with great pride and arrogance will exalt himself, proclaiming to be God. He will
demand from everybody to be worshipped as God. (2.Thess.2:4 and Rev.13) Christ was rejected by most nations. Only certain
individuals followed Him and still gladly follow and serve Him today. Antichrist will be admired and followed by all
nations of the world! (Rev.11:10 and Revelation 7) Christ, after His resurrection went up to heaven, to prepare a place
for His Church, and to be with His Heavenly Father in that glory He always had.(Acts 1:11) Antichrist will be thrown alive
into the lake of fire. (Rev.19:20)
It is important to state that Antichrist will have dual power. He will be both a religious and political
leader. Under his clever leadership all nations will be united into a universal government. He will be the absolute head of
that world-wide organization, and will use his dictatorial authority to the fullest! But let us not forget the truth, that
the Church of Jesus Christ, that includes all true believers from all nations, races and ages, will be gone from this world.
(1.Thess. 4:13-18) How encouraging it is to know this truth that all believers in Christ will escape the cruelty of that tyrant.
Antichrist will be a very clever, able and powerful leader. This is Satan in a human body. Even as Jesus was strengthened
by His Father, so Antichrist will be strengthened by the Devil. He will perform many great miracles and wonders and thus deceive
and gain respect of the whole wide world. (Revelation 13:11-18) His leadership will last only seven years.
What is interesting and almost unbelievably true, is the fact that Antichrist will also deceive the people
of Israel. He will convince them that he is actually their friend, helper and defender and promoter of peace and security.
The Jewish people will accept and follow Antichrist, because he will be sympathetic to their cause. Most likely he will help
them to build their temple of worship. However, in about three and a half years, this tyrant will reveal his true identity
and the real aim, which is to destroy Israel. At that time the people of Israel will recognize that they were deceived. This
will become evident especially when Antichrist will exalt himself over everybody and will sit in their temple and demand worship
as God. The people of Israel will rebel against this blasphemous request. Their rebellion against Antichrist and ensuing
riots will cause great persecution. Many Jewish people will be killed. During this time, which the prophet Jeremiah calls
"Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:5-7) many Jewish people will lose their lives. Perhaps during this time Antichrist will eliminate
more Jewish people than did Hitler. During this terrible suffering, oppression and persecution the Jewish people will
pray for their promised Messiah - Redeemer.
Revelation 7:5-8 states that 144,000 evangelists, out of all the tribes of Israel will be preaching and
preparing people for the coming of their long awaited Messiah - Saviour. I believe that this Messiah is the same Christ
we believe in and are waiting for at His Second Coming.
When the two witnesses are defeated and killed by Antichrist (Rev. 11:7) the whole world will see their
dead bodies on their televisions, and they will greatly rejoice, and send each other presents and gifts. This celebration
will last only three and a half days. Their joy will quickly turn into shock, panic and confusion, when they will see God's
witnesses resurrected and ascending to heaven. (Rev.11:9 -12)
Right after that we hear the seventh trumpet and Christ the Lord in coming as Mighty King to war against
the Antichrist. Now "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of Christ, and he will reign for
ever and ever." (Rev.11:15-19) This great battle between Christ the King and His followers, with Antichrist and his army is
known as ARMAGEDDON. (Rev.16:16) In the Hebrew language it means Mount Megiddo. Here the great beast and Antichrist will be
finally defeated. His army will be destroyed but he himself will be thrown alive into the Lake of Fire, (Rev.19:20) and thus
will end the Great Tribulation. Now the Lord Jesus Christ will establish His kingdom of peace and righteousness, known
as Millennium, which will last 1,000 years. We will lokk at this special kingdom in chapter 5.
7. Megiddo. It was my privilege to visit this famous place in 1974. Megiddo is in the
beautiful valley of Jezreel, between two mountains, Carmel and Tabor. King Solomon had his fort here. Many famous people fought
great battle in this valley. Joshua, Gideon, Deborah and Barak. Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander the Great, Mark Anthony and Napoleon
also fought in Megiddo. King Saul was defeated in this area by the Philistines, and later on was killed on Mount Gilboa, which
is in this valley. (1.Sam.31:1) Yes, indeed, many famous and decisive battles were fought in Megiddo. And now, at this
very place the most important, and most likely the last battle ever fought on this planet, will take place at the end
of the Great Tribulation. Antichrist and his false prophet will be thrown alive into the lake of fire where they will stay
for ever and ever! Praise be to God for this revelation. (Rev.19:20) Neither Antichrist nor the false prophet will ever again
tempt or persecute God's children, or deceive anyone else. It is also very important to notice that Antichrist will not
be able to war against Christ. He will be caught and thrown into the lake of fire before the battle starts. Only his followers
will be killed in this final battle. Their bodies will become food for many birds of that region. (Rev.19:17-21)
Chapter 4:
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