11 Questions You've Always Wondered About the End Times

[Chad]

Pastor David Jeremiah​

1. Are we living in the Apocalypse?​

We are closer to the end than ever before. That's an obvious statement, but many who don't even believe in the Bible believe the world will one day end and that we are getting closer to that time. We don't know exactly when the end will come, but it will be triggered by the Rapture.

I believe the Church, those who have placed their faith in Jesus as Savior, will be raptured to heaven before the world experiences the Apocalypse. Seven years after the Rapture, Jesus will return to end the world as we know it.

Even now signs of the End Times are evident—signs that will only deepen and recur more frequently as the end draws closer. Jesus describes these signs in Matthew 24.

The Sign of Deception​

Many people will claim to be the Savior of our troubled world. People will search for leaders to deliver them, and they will seek mystics and religious leaders who claim to have deeper knowledge. Ignorant of truth, they will be easily deceived. Jesus is the only salvation for this world, and He warns us not to be fooled by such counterfeits.

The Sign of Disputes Among Nations​

Wars and dissension among people groups will rise. There will be constant talk of conflicts, border skirmishes, race wars, and national battles.

The Sign of Devastation​

There will be more and more famine, "earthquakes in various places," and pestilence, the rise of disease (Matthew 24:7).

The Sign of Deliverance Into the Tribulation​

Just before Jesus' Second Coming, there will be an explosion of antagonism toward God's people. Christians will be persecuted. Many will pay a high price for proclaiming Jesus' name.

Many of these signs are taking place today. In verse 36, Jesus explains that no one except the Father knows the time or day of the Rapture, but He gives us signs to watch for. As the Rapture approaches, we can expect these signs to grow exponentially.

2. Who or what are the four horsemen of the Apocalypse?​

Numerous movies and TV shows have dealt with apocalyptic circumstances, and many of us have heard of the four horsemen. Hollywood uses this symbolism for its own purposes, but the true meaning of the four horsemen can be found in the Bible.

Revelation 6:1–8 describes Jesus opening the first four seals of judgment at the beginning of the Tribulation. Each of these seals releases one of the horsemen who usher in various judgments on the earth.

White Horse​

"And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer" (Revelation 6:2).

The rider on the white horse is the Antichrist. He is a representative of Satan who will unite the world under the guise of peace but will later wage war against God's people. His white horse is a forgery of Jesus' Second Coming (19:11–16). Satan's purpose always has been, and always will be, to counterfeit the work of Christ.

Red Horse​

"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 6:4).

The fiery red horseman represents mortal combat between nations, regions, and even close relations. He ushers in war, murder, and bloodshed.

Black Horse​

"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).

Black is often associated with famine in the Bible. The standard daily wage for ancient laborers was a denarius. In the early days of the Tribulation period, food will be in short supply. Common people will have to work all day just to survive, yet the luxuries of the wealthy ("oil and wine") will remain untouched.

Pale Horse​

"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 6:8).

Death is the pale rider with Hades (or hell) following behind. They will kill with the sword, hunger, diseases, and wild beasts—the four judgments prophesied in Ezekiel 14:21.

3. What does 666 mean?​

During the Tribulation, every living person will be required to bear the mark of the Beast—the number 666.

According to Revelation 13, the Beast from the earth (the False Prophet) will introduce the mark: "He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" (Revelation 13:16–17).

The False Prophet will be the Antichrist's right–hand man. He will introduce the mark to bolster the Antichrist's one–world rule.

Taking the mark will be the only way to function in society. Those who refuse the mark will be forced to go bankrupt or starve.

Why 666?​

Revelation 13:18 tells us it is the number of man. We see this affirmed throughout Scripture. In Genesis, man was created on the sixth day. In the Old Testament Law, men were called to work six out of every seven days. In Israel, a Hebrew could only be held as a slave for a maximum of six years. After six consecutive years of sowing a field, it was required to lie fallow.

The Greek word used in this passage is charagma. In antiquity, it was associated with the Roman emperor. It often contained the emperor's name, his image, and the year of his reign. The charagma was necessary for buying and selling and was required to be affixed to documents to attest to their validity.

In man's last attempt at ruling the world, the number 666 will represent the apex of human ingenuity and competence.

4. What is the Battle of Armageddon?​

The Battle of Armageddon marks the triumphant ending of the Tribulation period. It is the final battle between the forces of good and evil, with Jesus as the victor.

Six major powers are involved in the final campaign: the revived Roman Empire, the northern confederation (Russia and her allies), the kings of the East (Asia), the kings of the South (Africa), the Lord and His armies, and the nation of Israel.

Israel will be at the center of the conflict. When the nations see the Lord's armies coming (the angels and believers who were raptured into heaven), they will forget their squabbles and band together to fight against the Lord.

Of course, they will be powerless against the Lord Jesus when He appears in all His power and majesty as the King of the universe. Revelation 19 describes His return: "His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns.… Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.… He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS" (19:12–16).

He will slay nations with the sword as His armies stand together watching. The battle will be over before it begins. In one dramatic moment, He will throw the Antichrist and the False Prophet into the lake of fire at the conclusion of the Battle of Armageddon.

According to Revelation 14:20, the bloodshed resulting from Armageddon will spread over a 200–mile area (approximately the size of Israel) and reach a depth of four feet (the height of a horse's bridle). "All the birds" will be "filled" with the flesh of the battlefield (Revelation 19:21) and it will take seven months to bury the dead and seven years to rid the earth of all the weapons which were gathered by the nations (Ezekiel 39:8–16).

The Battle of Armageddon will not be much of a battle. Evil will make its final stand, but good will win. Jesus will conquer without sustaining any losses. The nations and all powers of evil will be no opposition for His strength. The bloody battlefields will be all that remains of those who rejected Him.

5. What happens at the Great White Throne Judgment?​

As Jesus sits on His great white throne, every unsaved person—the spiritually "dead" who have rejected Him—will stand before Him. Having been summoned from the grave and from the sea, each person will accept their final judgment. Jesus will read records of each one's life. Scripture tells us that every person's words, actions, and thoughts, no matter how secret or insignificant they appear in the moment, will be exposed and brought to account.

Those who placed their trust in Jesus and accepted Him as Savior will not be present. Cleansed by the righteousness of Jesus, they already will be justified before God.

People "small and great" will be represented (Revelation 20:11–15). Many people who did seemingly good things on earth and were admired by their peers will be there—even many who held offices in the church and were thought to be Christians. Matthew 7:22–23 says, "Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' "

As each one stands trial, the only basis for judgment will be whether his name is in the Book of Life. No one judged on that day will be in the Book of Life, so each will be cast into the lake of fire. There will be no negotiation or second chances. The judgment is final, and the punishment—hell—is forever.

Is your name written in the Book of Life? Have you placed your trust in Jesus and accepted the eternal salvation He offers to you? If you haven't, make the decision today!

6. Is the Antichrist alive today?​

The Antichrist could be alive today. There are no prophecies to be fulfilled or prerequisites to be met before his lifetime. However, it is impossible for us to know because he hasn't been revealed to the world. The Bible says that the Antichrist will not be revealed until after the Rapture, when the Holy Spirit is no longer restraining the work of evil on earth (2 Thessalonians 2:1–12). This individual will be revealed in his adulthood, ready and prepared to take leadership. Since the Rapture could happen at any time, the Antichrist might already be walking the earth.

While we can't be certain of his timing, we can be certain of his nature: He will be the incarnation of Satan, the great deceiver. He will present himself not only against Christ but instead of Christ. Second Thessalonians 2:4 describes him as one "who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." He will be the master counterfeiter.

Daniel 7 says the Antichrist will have "a mouth speaking pompous words" (verse 8). "He shall speak pompous words against the Most High" (verse 25). "And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies" (Revelation 13:5). The Antichrist will be a charismatic leader who will sway the masses with his speaking ability. Noted for his wonderful eloquence, this man will be able to capture the attention and admiration of the world. His ability as an orator will enable him to unite the world in one, all powerful government.

Through it all, God will remain in control. Because of mankind's stubborn refusal to accept His truth, God will cause people to believe the lies of the Antichrist, "that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thessalonians 2:12). Revelation 13:7 says that "it was granted to [the Antichrist] to make war with the saints and to overcome them." The Antichrist will come in great power, but only in the power that God allows him. And he will be revealed according to God's plan, after believers are taken into heaven at the Rapture.

7. Will everyone hear the Gospel before Jesus returns?​

Now, this can be a tricky question. Yes, everyone will have the chance to hear the Gospel before Jesus returns to earth in the Second Coming, but there is no biblical evidence that everyone will hear it before the Rapture of the Church occurs. When Matthew 24:14 says the "gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world" before the end comes, it is referring to the Gospel being preached during the Tribulation period—which answers another frequently asked question…

8. Is there a second chance at salvation after the Rapture?​

Yes, there will be a multitude of people living during the Tribulation who choose to believe in Jesus and are saved. Most of these new believers will be martyred for their faith during the Antichrist's evil reign. Revelation 7:9–14 describes these new believers assembling in heaven after the Rapture:

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" … Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

How will these people discover the truth of the Gospel after the Rapture?

Revelation 7:4 provides an important key: God will choose and seal 144,000 Israelites, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel, before Christ sends judgment. They will be given the power and protection of the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel during this time. They will be fearless because they will have the promise of God's protection—no one will be able to harm them. When their work is complete, they will be taken to heaven.

Revelation also mentions two people who will be empowered to be God's witnesses for nearly three–and–a–half years during the Tribulation (Revelation 11:3). Then, after the 144,000 are taken into heaven, an angel will proclaim the Gospel "to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water' " (Revelation 14:6–7). This bold preaching of both angels and men testifies to the strength of God's character, His grace and justice. While His judgment is being poured out on the earth, His message of mercy will continue to be proclaimed.

During the Tribulation, multitudes will be saved through the Gospel, but don't count on second chances. If you haven't already, surrender your life to Jesus and discover the abundant life He has for you today and for eternity.

9. Is there a difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming?​

This is one of the biggest misunderstandings about prophecy. The Rapture and the Second Coming are often confused, but they are two distinct events on God's prophetic timeline.

First, the Rapture will occur when Christ returns to take every Christian from every era to heaven with Him. Paul wrote about the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

The Rapture is God's protection of His saints from the Tribulation—the seven years of judgment that will be poured out on earth after His children ascend to heaven. There are some who argue the Tribulation will begin before the Rapture. However, the Bible says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). I believe this means the Church will not experience the judgment God has planned for that time.

After seven years, Jesus will return for His Second Coming. This time He will appear not as a humble child but as the powerful and glorious King of the universe, surrounded by all His saints. He will gain victory at Armageddon and establish His kingdom on earth.

At the Rapture, Jesus comes for His saints. At the Second Coming, He comes with His saints.

At the Rapture, Jesus doesn't come all the way to earth. At the Second Coming, His feet touch down on the Mount of Olives and He will reign on earth.

At the Rapture, Jesus comes with a blessing for His saints. At the Second Coming, He brings judgment for those who have rejected Him.

The Rapture can happen at any moment, but we know the Second Coming happens seven years later.

10. Will believers today be on earth for the Millennial Kingdom?​

Not only will believers return to earth for the Millennial Kingdom—they also will rule with Jesus!

After the Tribulation, raptured believers will join the angels in Jesus' armies and return to earth with Him: "The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean" (Revelation 19:14, NIV). Jesus will gain victory at Armageddon, and believers will be given authority to reign with Him for a thousand years. Several passages throughout Scripture point to the believers' role in the kingdom:

Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him (Jude 14–15).

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (1 Corinthians 6:2)

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years (Revelation 20:4–6).

Believers today are rulers in the making. God is preparing us not only for heaven but also for administering peace during the Millennium. In this future era, God will establish the first truly righteous leadership we can trust. He will never make mistakes or wrong decisions. He will be the righteous King.

11. Will God destroy the earth?​

Pop culture leads us to believe the world will one day be destroyed in a giant apocalyptic explosion, and the earth will be completely destroyed. But God is not going to destroy the earth, He is going to purify it.

Second Peter 3:10 says, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up."

This passage could certainly lead us to believe the apocalyptic explosion theory. But when we study the original Greek, the word translated "burned up" more accurately conveys the idea of being uncovered or laid open. God is not going to burn the earth down to a heap of ashes, He is going to refine every element and atom all the way down to the earth's core. He's going to completely renovate the earth to a quality we haven't experienced. The beauty we enjoy in creation today is barely a taste of the vibrancy we will experience when God is finished purifying the world.

Again, in Revelation 21:1 it says, "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away."

God will not create a new earth like He did in Genesis. He will renovate His "very good" creation by removing all evidence of sin, decay, and disease. The earth will not be new in quantity but in quality—perfectly refurbished to its core.

Then the New Jerusalem—the city of heaven with streets of gold and pearly gates—will come out of the clouds, and all believers will reside there for eternity with God.

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:2–4

original article source: 11 Questions You've Always Wondered About the End Times

 

[34BillionthHumanBeing]

One thing to consider in what you are saying is that the word "antichrist" never appears in the book of revelation. What we do have that is explicitly in the bible are two beasts of land and sea. It seems to me that the two beasts are two key actors in the tribulation times as opposed to an antichrist, although the two beasts will be against Christ.

Many think the Bible is fully of metaphors and allegories. For me, it the Bible is literal. So, when revelation says two beasts then that's exactly what the earth is going to get. How these individuals may manifest can vary. For example, they wouldn't be actual demons because demons don't have physical form, but rather take over other's physical form or body. These beasts could be possessed. What I think is more realistic is that two beasts are the Nephilim. The Nephilim have played a key role in human history. Due to revisionist history, they have become a mere fairy tale but in reality, they are very much alive and well today. There are Nephilim in government, sports, entertainment, industry and so on. We just don't recognize it due to indoctrination.

The Nephilim come from a bloodline different from Adam yet also from Adam. Where God created Adam and Eve in the first seven days of creation we have Adam's pure bloodline. When mankind's population rose in numbers, the sons of God took Adamic females as wives. These are angels or what we know as the Watchers. Their offspring are the Nephilim. So now you have a bloodline not created in the first seven days of creation and its usurps "created in the image of God".

At some point in time God looks upon the earth. God is expresses regret that he created mankind. The earth is full of wickedness. This is key the word wickedness. There's no doubt sin is an element to wickedness, but I think the real element to wickedness is Adam's bloodline is no longer pure among men, who God created in his image. God sees Noah. Noah is righteous. We know Noah is righteous because he obeys God and has faith. In addition, Noah's bloodline isn't mixed. It can be traced back to Adam without Nephilim mix.

Important to realize that God sees Noah as righteous, not necessarily Noah's wife, his sons Japeth, Shem and Ham and their wives. Noah's wife, his sons and their wives are saved by grace, because Noah is righteous.

This is important because later the Nephilim show up again in the post flood era. We encounter the Nephilim again when God gives Joshua command over Israelites to wage war against the Canaanites. Notice that wickedness comes from Ham's bloodline. The giants come from Ham's bloodline. There are no giants in Japeth's or Shem's bloodline at that point in time.

If Noah can be traced back to Adam and Japeth, Shem and Ham can be traced back to Adam through their father Noah, then why do the Nephilim reappear in the post flood era? Because Ham's wife is the sole Nephilim survivor.

All four of Ham's sons are Nephilim hybrids.

Nimrod son of Cush is a man of renown or a hero. He is mighty hunter, a master tactician and a brilliant architect. Nimrod captivates all people form the lines of Japeth, Shem and his own from Ham into one city state. Nimrod is going to build a tower to heaven. Why? Because Nimrod knows who he is, Nephilim. He going to reinstate the Nephilim dominance on earth as it was before the flood. His city state will be an empire where the Nephilim will rule and bring Adam's bloodline into extinction. At the top of tower where its point goes toward the heavens, Nimrod will make an offering. Not a sacrificial offering of taking life, but rather a temptation. Nimrod will offer Adamic females from the lines of Japeth and Shem tempting angels in heaven to fall and take them as wives. This would bring back the Nephilim as it was before the flood.

God knows all. God saw what Nimrod was doing. God himself said that men have the capacity to accomplish what they set out to do. So even God realizes that more angles could be tempted, fall and the crisis starts all over again. God confuses men with languages, the city state and its tower are abandoned.

The Egyptian comes from Mizraim. In their culture the Nephilim coexisted. Anubis wasn't just some god of death or the keeper of the dead. This was a Nephilim being that posted watch over the dead. They don't draw pictures creating a fantasy, but rather document their history, people and culture.

The giants actually existed in time as far as the 1900's of our timeline. You just don't know about because we are all are not taught real history. World War 2 was not a war of Germany trying to take over the world. Hitler was an agent of deception working with America, the UK and Japan to bring about the New World Order. Japeth's bloodline had to be decimated. Too many living and breathing Christians all over Europe and North America. You also had huge population of giants in the Pacific Ocean Archipelagos. While Japan and the United States put on a show of war in the Pacific they worked together clearing out the giant populations, killing them all. All that nuclear testing that allegedly took place, never took place. It's to keep people away from those areas discovering evidence of Biblical truth.

If you are interested in more information about this there is gentleman by the name of John Levi who dedicated a great deal of his adult years researching our human past piecing together our actual history countering the narrative taught in the classroom.

JonLevi

A channel dedicated to exploring the forgotten history of humanity and other mysteries. Truth requires leaving the comfort of belief behind. All material is intended for entertainment purposes only. Content may expand your mind and liberate your soul. Please consult a mainstream expert before...

www.youtube.com

One particular video here:

...documents various Nephilim humanoids which is in addition to the giants.

There have been many years since Noah. This has given plenty of time where Ham's bloodline has mixed with Shem's and Japeth's bloodline. So the Nephilim hybrids now also manifest through Japeth and Shem, not just Ham. For example, take Abraham and Hagar where Hagar gives birth to Ishmeal. Hagar is a Nephilim Hybrid through Mizraim. Ishmeal bloodline expands into Arabs. A new man of renown or hero appears, Muhammad and claims the angel Gabriel has taught him the ways of God for 23 years. Like Nimrod, Muhammad is above human ability because of his of angelic bloodline. He manages to create Islam and convinces his kind that you don't need Jesus, change your nature and become new. Instead, your dedication to Sufism will make you holy and you will enter heaven on your works.

In closing the Nephilim are alive and well. We don't recognize them because of indoctrination. The Nephilim will play a key role in the end times, namely the two beasts.

 

[Oseas]

White Horse
"And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer" (Revelation 6:2).
The rider on the white horse is the Antichrist. He is a representative of Satan who will unite the world under the guise of peace but will later wage war against God's people. His white horse is a forgery of Jesus' Second Coming (19:11–16). Satan's purpose always has been, and always will be, to counterfeit the work of Christ.

What is written above is not true, but fake. The Antichrist is a SATANIC TRINITRY.

Revelation 16:13-14
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the MOUTH of the dragon(Revelation 13:11, take a look), and out of the MOUTH of the Beast (Beast of sea-Revelation 13:1-9), and out of the MOUTH of the false prophet. (false messiah of the Jews-John 5:43-47, an IMPOSTER)

14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles(Revelation 13:13-14 combined with 2Thessalonians 2:9-10), which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great Day of GOD Almighty.
And the main head among the three is the Beast of the earth-the dragon-Revelation 13:11-18.

The horserider of the white horse is Michael, he has a bow. For what? Psalms 7:11-13:
11 GOD Judgeth the righteous, and GOD is angry with the wicked every day. (SIX DAYS-6000 YEARS)

12 If he(the wicked) turn not, GOD will whet His Sword; GOD hath bent His bow, and made it ready. (The Word is GOD, GOD Himself)
13 GOD hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; GOD ordaineth His arrows against the persecutors.(with His bow);

a crown was given unto him, unto Michael, and he went out conquering and to conquer" (Revelation 6:2 combined with Daniel 12:1-3 and Revelation 12, take a look). It is he who fights against the satanic trinitry in Revelation 16:13-14 combined with Revelation 20:1-3.

It is he who fights against the horserider of the red horse, and against the horserider of the black horse, and against th horserider of the pale horse, whose name is Death, and Hell will follow him ---> Revelation 13:4).

Be careful or else get ready

Similarity between passing by the Red Sea and by the Red Dragon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - PUT THIS IN YOUR MIND ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - THE RED SEA AND THE RED DRAGON ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I believe you know that the Hebrews had to cross the Red Sea, and walk through a desert, walk until they got to the Promised Land after 40 years of...

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[Bill]

Pastor David Jeremiah​

1. Are we living in the Apocalypse?​

We are closer to the end than ever before. That's an obvious statement, but many who don't even believe in the Bible believe the world will one day end and that we are getting closer to that time. We don't know exactly when the end will come, but it will be triggered by the Rapture.

I believe the Church, those who have placed their faith in Jesus as Savior, will be raptured to heaven before the world experiences the Apocalypse. Seven years after the Rapture, Jesus will return to end the world as we know it.

Even now signs of the End Times are evident—signs that will only deepen and recur more frequently as the end draws closer. Jesus describes these signs in Matthew 24.

The Sign of Deception​

Many people will claim to be the Savior of our troubled world. People will search for leaders to deliver them, and they will seek mystics and religious leaders who claim to have deeper knowledge. Ignorant of truth, they will be easily deceived. Jesus is the only salvation for this world, and He warns us not to be fooled by such counterfeits.

The Sign of Disputes Among Nations​

Wars and dissension among people groups will rise. There will be constant talk of conflicts, border skirmishes, race wars, and national battles.

The Sign of Devastation​

There will be more and more famine, "earthquakes in various places," and pestilence, the rise of disease (Matthew 24:7).

The Sign of Deliverance Into the Tribulation​

Just before Jesus' Second Coming, there will be an explosion of antagonism toward God's people. Christians will be persecuted. Many will pay a high price for proclaiming Jesus' name.

Many of these signs are taking place today. In verse 36, Jesus explains that no one except the Father knows the time or day of the Rapture, but He gives us signs to watch for. As the Rapture approaches, we can expect these signs to grow exponentially.

2. Who or what are the four horsemen of the Apocalypse?​

Numerous movies and TV shows have dealt with apocalyptic circumstances, and many of us have heard of the four horsemen. Hollywood uses this symbolism for its own purposes, but the true meaning of the four horsemen can be found in the Bible.

Revelation 6:1–8 describes Jesus opening the first four seals of judgment at the beginning of the Tribulation. Each of these seals releases one of the horsemen who usher in various judgments on the earth.

White Horse​

"And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer" (Revelation 6:2).

The rider on the white horse is the Antichrist. He is a representative of Satan who will unite the world under the guise of peace but will later wage war against God's people. His white horse is a forgery of Jesus' Second Coming (19:11–16). Satan's purpose always has been, and always will be, to counterfeit the work of Christ.

Red Horse​

"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 6:4).

The fiery red horseman represents mortal combat between nations, regions, and even close relations. He ushers in war, murder, and bloodshed.

Black Horse​

"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).

Black is often associated with famine in the Bible. The standard daily wage for ancient laborers was a denarius. In the early days of the Tribulation period, food will be in short supply. Common people will have to work all day just to survive, yet the luxuries of the wealthy ("oil and wine") will remain untouched.

Pale Horse​

"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 6:8).

Death is the pale rider with Hades (or hell) following behind. They will kill with the sword, hunger, diseases, and wild beasts—the four judgments prophesied in Ezekiel 14:21.

3. What does 666 mean?​

During the Tribulation, every living person will be required to bear the mark of the Beast—the number 666.

According to Revelation 13, the Beast from the earth (the False Prophet) will introduce the mark: "He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" (Revelation 13:16–17).

The False Prophet will be the Antichrist's right–hand man. He will introduce the mark to bolster the Antichrist's one–world rule.

Taking the mark will be the only way to function in society. Those who refuse the mark will be forced to go bankrupt or starve.

Why 666?​

Revelation 13:18 tells us it is the number of man. We see this affirmed throughout Scripture. In Genesis, man was created on the sixth day. In the Old Testament Law, men were called to work six out of every seven days. In Israel, a Hebrew could only be held as a slave for a maximum of six years. After six consecutive years of sowing a field, it was required to lie fallow.

The Greek word used in this passage is charagma. In antiquity, it was associated with the Roman emperor. It often contained the emperor's name, his image, and the year of his reign. The charagma was necessary for buying and selling and was required to be affixed to documents to attest to their validity.

In man's last attempt at ruling the world, the number 666 will represent the apex of human ingenuity and competence.

4. What is the Battle of Armageddon?​

The Battle of Armageddon marks the triumphant ending of the Tribulation period. It is the final battle between the forces of good and evil, with Jesus as the victor.

Six major powers are involved in the final campaign: the revived Roman Empire, the northern confederation (Russia and her allies), the kings of the East (Asia), the kings of the South (Africa), the Lord and His armies, and the nation of Israel.

Israel will be at the center of the conflict. When the nations see the Lord's armies coming (the angels and believers who were raptured into heaven), they will forget their squabbles and band together to fight against the Lord.

Of course, they will be powerless against the Lord Jesus when He appears in all His power and majesty as the King of the universe. Revelation 19 describes His return: "His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns.… Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.… He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS" (19:12–16).

He will slay nations with the sword as His armies stand together watching. The battle will be over before it begins. In one dramatic moment, He will throw the Antichrist and the False Prophet into the lake of fire at the conclusion of the Battle of Armageddon.

According to Revelation 14:20, the bloodshed resulting from Armageddon will spread over a 200–mile area (approximately the size of Israel) and reach a depth of four feet (the height of a horse's bridle). "All the birds" will be "filled" with the flesh of the battlefield (Revelation 19:21) and it will take seven months to bury the dead and seven years to rid the earth of all the weapons which were gathered by the nations (Ezekiel 39:8–16).

The Battle of Armageddon will not be much of a battle. Evil will make its final stand, but good will win. Jesus will conquer without sustaining any losses. The nations and all powers of evil will be no opposition for His strength. The bloody battlefields will be all that remains of those who rejected Him.

5. What happens at the Great White Throne Judgment?​

As Jesus sits on His great white throne, every unsaved person—the spiritually "dead" who have rejected Him—will stand before Him. Having been summoned from the grave and from the sea, each person will accept their final judgment. Jesus will read records of each one's life. Scripture tells us that every person's words, actions, and thoughts, no matter how secret or insignificant they appear in the moment, will be exposed and brought to account.

Those who placed their trust in Jesus and accepted Him as Savior will not be present. Cleansed by the righteousness of Jesus, they already will be justified before God.

People "small and great" will be represented (Revelation 20:11–15). Many people who did seemingly good things on earth and were admired by their peers will be there—even many who held offices in the church and were thought to be Christians. Matthew 7:22–23 says, "Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' "

As each one stands trial, the only basis for judgment will be whether his name is in the Book of Life. No one judged on that day will be in the Book of Life, so each will be cast into the lake of fire. There will be no negotiation or second chances. The judgment is final, and the punishment—hell—is forever.

Is your name written in the Book of Life? Have you placed your trust in Jesus and accepted the eternal salvation He offers to you? If you haven't, make the decision today!

6. Is the Antichrist alive today?​

The Antichrist could be alive today. There are no prophecies to be fulfilled or prerequisites to be met before his lifetime. However, it is impossible for us to know because he hasn't been revealed to the world. The Bible says that the Antichrist will not be revealed until after the Rapture, when the Holy Spirit is no longer restraining the work of evil on earth (2 Thessalonians 2:1–12). This individual will be revealed in his adulthood, ready and prepared to take leadership. Since the Rapture could happen at any time, the Antichrist might already be walking the earth.

While we can't be certain of his timing, we can be certain of his nature: He will be the incarnation of Satan, the great deceiver. He will present himself not only against Christ but instead of Christ. Second Thessalonians 2:4 describes him as one "who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." He will be the master counterfeiter.

Daniel 7 says the Antichrist will have "a mouth speaking pompous words" (verse 8). "He shall speak pompous words against the Most High" (verse 25). "And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies" (Revelation 13:5). The Antichrist will be a charismatic leader who will sway the masses with his speaking ability. Noted for his wonderful eloquence, this man will be able to capture the attention and admiration of the world. His ability as an orator will enable him to unite the world in one, all powerful government.

Through it all, God will remain in control. Because of mankind's stubborn refusal to accept His truth, God will cause people to believe the lies of the Antichrist, "that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thessalonians 2:12). Revelation 13:7 says that "it was granted to [the Antichrist] to make war with the saints and to overcome them." The Antichrist will come in great power, but only in the power that God allows him. And he will be revealed according to God's plan, after believers are taken into heaven at the Rapture.

7. Will everyone hear the Gospel before Jesus returns?​

Now, this can be a tricky question. Yes, everyone will have the chance to hear the Gospel before Jesus returns to earth in the Second Coming, but there is no biblical evidence that everyone will hear it before the Rapture of the Church occurs. When Matthew 24:14 says the "gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world" before the end comes, it is referring to the Gospel being preached during the Tribulation period—which answers another frequently asked question…

8. Is there a second chance at salvation after the Rapture?​

Yes, there will be a multitude of people living during the Tribulation who choose to believe in Jesus and are saved. Most of these new believers will be martyred for their faith during the Antichrist's evil reign. Revelation 7:9–14 describes these new believers assembling in heaven after the Rapture:

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" … Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

How will these people discover the truth of the Gospel after the Rapture?

Revelation 7:4 provides an important key: God will choose and seal 144,000 Israelites, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel, before Christ sends judgment. They will be given the power and protection of the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel during this time. They will be fearless because they will have the promise of God's protection—no one will be able to harm them. When their work is complete, they will be taken to heaven.

Revelation also mentions two people who will be empowered to be God's witnesses for nearly three–and–a–half years during the Tribulation (Revelation 11:3). Then, after the 144,000 are taken into heaven, an angel will proclaim the Gospel "to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water' " (Revelation 14:6–7). This bold preaching of both angels and men testifies to the strength of God's character, His grace and justice. While His judgment is being poured out on the earth, His message of mercy will continue to be proclaimed.

During the Tribulation, multitudes will be saved through the Gospel, but don't count on second chances. If you haven't already, surrender your life to Jesus and discover the abundant life He has for you today and for eternity.

9. Is there a difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming?​

This is one of the biggest misunderstandings about prophecy. The Rapture and the Second Coming are often confused, but they are two distinct events on God's prophetic timeline.

First, the Rapture will occur when Christ returns to take every Christian from every era to heaven with Him. Paul wrote about the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

The Rapture is God's protection of His saints from the Tribulation—the seven years of judgment that will be poured out on earth after His children ascend to heaven. There are some who argue the Tribulation will begin before the Rapture. However, the Bible says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). I believe this means the Church will not experience the judgment God has planned for that time.

After seven years, Jesus will return for His Second Coming. This time He will appear not as a humble child but as the powerful and glorious King of the universe, surrounded by all His saints. He will gain victory at Armageddon and establish His kingdom on earth.

At the Rapture, Jesus comes for His saints. At the Second Coming, He comes with His saints.

At the Rapture, Jesus doesn't come all the way to earth. At the Second Coming, His feet touch down on the Mount of Olives and He will reign on earth.

At the Rapture, Jesus comes with a blessing for His saints. At the Second Coming, He brings judgment for those who have rejected Him.

The Rapture can happen at any moment, but we know the Second Coming happens seven years later.

10. Will believers today be on earth for the Millennial Kingdom?​

Not only will believers return to earth for the Millennial Kingdom—they also will rule with Jesus!

After the Tribulation, raptured believers will join the angels in Jesus' armies and return to earth with Him: "The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean" (Revelation 19:14, NIV). Jesus will gain victory at Armageddon, and believers will be given authority to reign with Him for a thousand years. Several passages throughout Scripture point to the believers' role in the kingdom:

Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him (Jude 14–15).

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (1 Corinthians 6:2)

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years (Revelation 20:4–6).

Believers today are rulers in the making. God is preparing us not only for heaven but also for administering peace during the Millennium. In this future era, God will establish the first truly righteous leadership we can trust. He will never make mistakes or wrong decisions. He will be the righteous King.

11. Will God destroy the earth?​

Pop culture leads us to believe the world will one day be destroyed in a giant apocalyptic explosion, and the earth will be completely destroyed. But God is not going to destroy the earth, He is going to purify it.

Second Peter 3:10 says, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up."

This passage could certainly lead us to believe the apocalyptic explosion theory. But when we study the original Greek, the word translated "burned up" more accurately conveys the idea of being uncovered or laid open. God is not going to burn the earth down to a heap of ashes, He is going to refine every element and atom all the way down to the earth's core. He's going to completely renovate the earth to a quality we haven't experienced. The beauty we enjoy in creation today is barely a taste of the vibrancy we will experience when God is finished purifying the world.

Again, in Revelation 21:1 it says, "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away."

God will not create a new earth like He did in Genesis. He will renovate His "very good" creation by removing all evidence of sin, decay, and disease. The earth will not be new in quantity but in quality—perfectly refurbished to its core.

Then the New Jerusalem—the city of heaven with streets of gold and pearly gates—will come out of the clouds, and all believers will reside there for eternity with God.

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:2–4

original article source: 11 Questions You've Always Wondered About the End Times

MAy the Lord fill us with His wisdom, love and forgiveness.

Dear Chad,

As an intro, I want to state that I have no enmity towards you, only love. But there are a number of statements you made in this "11 Questions" that are in error.

Things that you claim that are in the scripture are not, and you've added to them to mean something completely different.

"Many of these signs are taking place today. In verse 36, Jesus explains that no one except the Father knows the time or day of the Rapture, but He gives us signs to watch for. As the Rapture approaches, we can expect these signs to grow exponentially."

It is true that Jesus explains that no one except the father knows the time or day. But he does not say anything of the rapture. And I'm sure you've probably read my comments about the rapture constantly reminding people it is a false teaching.

As you know many here use the scripture as the foundation of their faith. And we know that Jesus is the Cornerstone of that Foundation.

So if we look at the scripture as a tool not only as the word of God but as a reference point to show how God deals with the world and Punishment as well as saving his people, you will see in every single instance. That God's people go through the time of the punishment, although they are not subject directly of the punishment.

A really great example of this is Moses and the pharaoh. God punishes Egypt, there Israelites are somewhat saved from this yet they also have to experience all the craziness the frogs that flies all the craziness.

Even after leaving Egypt and taking all of the riches with them from Egypt they do not go to heaven. They are lead Into the Wilderness.

I know many like to use the story of Noah as an example of the rapture. However that doesn't work either. Because first of all and Noah in his faith built the ark and where did the people go into the ark, his family along with all the animals. You can call it the Great Escape so to speak. But they still have to go through the Deluge that the rest of the world is experiencing even though they're saved in the boat of course. And they have to start over. Just like a Lot, who escapes via the angels from Sodom and gomorrah's destruction. He had to also start over.

So there's no instance where we find that any of the Israelites whose hardship was definitely worse than ours is now, were they were taken to heaven in some kind of rapture.

My question to you Chad, if you go to the scripture for proof of whatever anyone ever says about their experiences with God. Why don't preachers follow the scripture when it comes to what they think the Rapture might be?
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"The rider on the white horse is the Antichrist. He is a representative of Satan who will unite the world under the guise of peace but will later wage war against God's people. His white horse is a forgery of Jesus' Second Coming (19:11–16). Satan's purpose always has been, and always will be, to counterfeit the work of Christ."

You should point out to everyone that this is your opinion, although I know it's held by many to be their opinion as well that the rider of the White Horse is the Antichrist.

There are a few problems with this though. Because as you and I know everything written in the scripture has a purpose. As an example the color is white, and white in Israel represents peace.

Also there's a number of other things that you have to contribute, the direction of the Four Horsemen. In the Old Testament I can't remember exactly where it's at and I don't have my Bible with me at the moment. But it tells us that the White Horse goes to the West. The symbolism of the rider of the white horse the bow and the arrows strangely enough represents all of those countries and entities that were involved with the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.

I recognize that this is my personal View, but I believe that the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel was the breaking of the first seal. All those that were involved, the United States Egypt Israel, and the Vatican where the signing of the peace treaty was held, all these entities use the symbols of the bow and arrow in their National symbols.

And you have to remember the wording. "He went out conquering into conquer" , in some Bibles it reads this way, "he went out conquering as if to conquer".

Something that also comes to mind with this, it never does say that he actually conquers anything.

If you recall the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel it started with Egypt and went to many other countries including Jordan, Saudi Arabia and a number of other countries. And as time went on those peace treaties kind of fell apart too. Something to think about.

If you think of the first Horseman to be the Antichrist, then it seriously out of sequence with everything else and the Antichrist does come into play later on in Revelations anyways.

Also there's one other problem in setting the Antichrist as the first seal. When the Antichrist does come along, we may not recognize him at first but we will recognize him eventually for the falsehood that he will teach. So if that is the Antichrist, why is it such a surprise for everyone when the breaking of the Six Seal takes place. "Run and hide for the great day of the Lord is here, and who can stand against it"
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"Those who placed their trust in Jesus and accepted Him as Savior will not be present. Cleansed by the righteousness of Jesus, they already will be justified before God."

You stated this phrase in regard to the Last Judgment.

I fully disagree, that those who accepted Jesus would not be present. Everyone will stand before the Lord.

" Scripture tells us that every person's words, actions, and thoughts, no matter how secret or insignificant they appear in the moment, will be exposed and brought to account."

This is what the scripture tells us, and you said it yourself. Every person's words actions and thoughts no matter how secret or insignificant they appear at the moment will be exposed and brought to account. It doesn't say just the non-believers it says "Every Person's".

"Matthew 7:22–23 says, "Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' ""

This is actually scripture that I've used to point out something very important. If you pay attention to this particular scripture, where the man says " Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name"

This line is extremely important in understanding that those who are followers of Jesus and have accepted Jesus as the Lord and savior can lose your place in heaven. I know this goes against a lot of teaching, but you have to look at the scriptures to really understand this particular phrase

Jesus himself tells us that the devil cannot cast out the devil.

So let's think about this for a minute, the person is claiming that he has cast out demons in the Lord's name. We know that it's true because it's in the scripture, it is the word of God. The inspired word of God.

Okay we also know based on scripture in Acts that you cannot use your own authority, human authority to cast out a demon.

The only way a person can cast out a demon is if he indeed is using the authority of Jesus. And how can we possibly have the authority of Jesus if we are not Believers in Jesus? It's not possible. You have to be a believer and believe in Jesus and have faith in Jesus to know that that demons going to get cast out through the power of Jesus.

And yet at the judgment you have that scripture verse. Where the Lord says to the man who cast out demons, away from me I never knew you.
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I hope that you take time to hear what I have to say and I would love to hear your response to these thoughts.

Sincerely Bill Brown

 

[Oseas]

Dear Bill Brown
Although your post is directly addressed to the author of the topic, to our dear Chad, allow me to contribute with interpretation and some reflections on your post. As you know, we are literally living in the time of Apocalypse.
Here goes what I would like to comment based in your good post, below quoted:

It is true that Jesus explains that no one except the father knows the time or day. But he does not say anything of the rapture. And I'm sure you've probably read my comments about the rapture constantly reminding people it is a false teaching.

Perfect, Bill, perfect. I literally agree with you that "Jesus explains that no one except the father knows the time or day" of His return. In my vision, based in the Word of GOD, the Word is GOD and is life, the meeting of JESUS with His people at His coming will occur in the day 1335- Daniel 12:12, never before the day 1335, but never. For now it is impossible to know when this the Ineffable,Wonderful, Indescribable, Unspeakable day will be in the Christian Calendar.
1Thessalonians 5:4-6: -> 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

As you know many here use the scripture as the foundation of their faith. And we know that Jesus is the Cornerstone of that Foundation.

Perfect. In my understanding, these "many you highlighted" are those which are based/grounded only on the Holy Scriptures, on the legitimate Word of GOD, the tree of life, the Word is GOD and is life, (John 7:39 & 6:63 and especially John 17:8&14-15), not based in human opinions, the tree of good and evil-Genesis 3:1& Matthew 16:22-23, a mortal speech and source of false interpretations of the Word of GOD through their cunningly devised fables, false doctrines, apostasies, and so on (Matthew 15:18-19 combined with Romans 3:13 and James 3:5-6 and Proverbs 18:21).

So if we look at the scripture as a tool not only as the word of God but as a reference point to show how God deals with the world and Punishment as well as saving his people, you will see in every single instance. That God's people go through the time of the punishment, although they are not subject directly of the punishment.

Perfect, and Daniel prophesied, saying: Daniel 12:7&10-12:
7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

10 Many shall be purified, and made white(Revelation 19:8), and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away(the sacrifice of JESUS has already lasted around 738.000 days - END of the Dispensation of Grace), and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

(NOTE: So those which are not waiting and will not get to the day 1335, will not be blessed. As you said, "That God's people go through the time of the punishment, although they are not subject directly of the punishment", you are right, Bill, and will be blessed only who gets to the day 1335, i.e. 45 days after 1290 days, or 75 days after the END of the 2nd half of the lasst week, week 70th, in literal FULFILLMENT of Daniel 12:12 and Revelation 12:9-12).

Perfect, we MUST look at the Scripture as a tool. GOD said: Isaiah 8:20-22:
20 To the Law and to the Testimony: if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them. (The Testimony of JESUS is the Spirit of prophecy-Revelation 19:10)

Consequences:
21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.

Romans 2:6-11
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons with GOD.

A really great example of this is Moses and the pharaoh. God punishes Egypt, there Israelites are somewhat saved from this yet they also have to experience all the craziness the frogs that flies all the craziness.

Yes, they were protected by the blood of the lamb: Exodus 12:13 - And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

Even after leaving Egypt and taking all of the riches with them from Egypt they do not go to heaven. They are lead Into the Wilderness.

Perfect. Hebrews 11:28-40
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea (now, the red Dragon-Revelation 12:9-12 combined with Revelation 13:11-18) as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 GOD having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
May our Lord GOD bless us and keep us, and gie us His protection
Amen

 

[Oseas]

1Corinthians 15:51-53 combined with Revelation 11:15-18 and 1Thessalonians 5:3 51-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: ... "then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and THEY SHALL NO ESCAPE"-1Thessalonians 5:3. Revelation 11:15-18 15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms OF THIS WORLD are become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. 16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before GOD on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped GOD, 17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord GOD Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. 18 And the NATIONS were(WILL BE)ANGRY, and thy WRATH is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou should give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and should DESTROY them which destroy the earth. ... 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. 54 ... Death is swallowed up in victory. GOD hath not appointed us to WRATH, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that,whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.-1Thessalonians 5:9-11. Philippians 3:20-21 20 For our conversation is in heaven(heaven?Ephesians 1:3-8); from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.