I typically try to steer clear of controversial topics. Well, I guess that's probably not quite the right way to say that. I'm sure there are people who would say that a lot of the topics I write about are controversial--after all, it's a big controversy in the world today to say that Jesus is the only way to God. This post, though, is about something controversial within the Church.
There are some matters of doctrine that are debated from congregation to congregation. Some of those are things I believe we can overlook. When it comes right down to it, some of those issues are minor talking points. They don't have any true, lasting effects on believers or the lost, so arguing about them doesn't do anything other than divide. Other issues, however, are worth talking about. Those are the ones that run the risk of causing confusion that can prove harmful. In my mind, the discussion surrounding the tribulation and the rapture is one of those.
If you've heard of the tribulation, it's probably been something along the lines of this:
The tribulation is coming at the end of times, and it will be the most horrific time that has ever been seen on earth. It is when God's judgment will be poured out on mankind, and it will be so bad that people will cry out to the rocks to fall on them so they will be hidden. The Antichrist will be set up as the supreme leader of the earth, and he will force all people to bow to him. He will force them to get a mark on either their head or hand, and without that mark they won't be allowed to buy or sell. But God's people don't have to worry about it because we will all be raptured and gone.
But...what if that's not the case?
I don't know the exact timeline of the end times, but I don't know many people who look around right now and don't think we're getting closer to that time. In Matthew, Jesus talks to His followers about the end times. We have another record in Mark and one in Luke. In all of these, Jesus tells His disciples that they need to pay attention and use wisdom to figure out what's going on. With that in mind, I believe it is the duty of every follower of Christ to do the same. With that said, I feel like I need to share the view I've come to believe on the idea of the rapture and the tribulation. There's a whole lot to cover, so I'm planning on splitting this up a bit.
So, since I've procrastinated enough, here's part 1:
In Matthew 24, the disciples asked Jesus to explain what He meant when He said the temple would become rubble. They didn't understand His words when He said He would come again (in part because they couldn't imagine Him leaving), and they asked Him point blank how they would know it was the end of time.
Jesus' answer to them is pretty straightforward, and it paints a pretty bleak picture. Here's the gist:
"People are going to come and claim to be the Savior. The world is going to be full of wars, famines, and earthquakes--but that's just the start.
My followers are going to be handed over to the enemy, tortured, and killed. Many people who claim to be my followers will turn away from the idea of faith because the only thing increasing will be wickedness.
The 'abomination that causes desolation' that Daniel predicted will be set up in the temple, and that's when you'll know that the really bad stuff is starting. In fact, when that happens you should run and take shelter in the hills, because that will start a time that's so bad that it won't compare to anything that has ever happened on earth since the beginning of creation.
People will start telling you to be relieved, because the Savior has come--but don't be fooled. They are fakes, and they will do everything they can to fool God's people.
After all of that, then I'll return. It won't be a secret--all the nations of the earth will see me return leading armies of angels, and I will gather all the faithful of the earth."
I don't know about you, but I believe Jesus when He speaks. I have to admit that sometimes I don't really like what He has to say, but I believe His words are always true. In this passage, I believe Him when He says that He will return and gather His people after all the bad stuff happens. Like so many others, I don't like the idea of suffering. I read Revelation and Daniel and hope those I love won't have to see the devastation described by the prophets. At the same time, though, I have to admit that what I read doesn't support the idea that followers of Christ will be "raptured" from the earth before the tribulation.
Let's look at Revelation. I'm not claiming to know all the answers--in fact, the more I study the more I realize just how much I have to learn. However, I do think there are some parts of Revelation that are pretty clear. If we start with chapter 5, we see the timeline of the end times. It's not a minute-by-minute timeline, but it does tell us the order of events, starting with the opening of the 7 seals.
First, can I point out one of the things I think is the neatest about Revelation? As we see this scene opening, all of heaven is mourning because there isn't anyone worthy to open the scroll. But then the elders tell John, "Look, here comes the Lion of Judah!" So John looks for the Lion--the mighty king, coming in power and majesty. But when he looks for the Lion, he sees the Lamb. And not just the Lamb, but the One who had been slain.
When Jesus came, Israel was looking for the Lion. They were waiting for the Messiah to come as a mighty ruler, driving out the Romans and bringing God's kingdom to earth. Instead, Jesus came as a Lamb and was slaughtered to take our place. In this moment in Revelation, though, the Lamb who was slain is shown to be the Lion of Judah--the only One worthy to open the seals of the scroll and truly bring about God's kingdom on earth.
New kingdoms are very seldom created in peace, though. Before the new kingdom can take over, the old has to be defeated. The same is true of the earthly kingdom, where the Prince of the Earth (Satan) has reigned for so long. Before the new kingdom can take over, the old has to be driven out.
The first four seals that are broken involve something you've most likely heard of many times--the 4 horsemen.
The first rides a white horse and has been given a conqueror's wreath (like the crown given to early Greek olympians). He rides out to conquer the earth. The second rides a fiery red horse and is given a sword, bringing war with him. The third rides a black horse and is holding a set of scales, telling us that barely enough food for one person will cost a day's wages. The fourth is Death, riding a pale horse. The others are bad, but this one is where the picture really starts to get bleak. This rider is given the power to kill 1/4 of the earth's population with famine, war, disease, and even wild animals. That list wraps up the idea of the end times for a lot of people, but in reality it's just the start of all the horrific things to come.
The fifth seal gives us our first glimpse of hope. John sees the souls of those who have been martyred for following Christ, and they are crying out for justice. They want the earth to be judged and they want to be avenged. Here's a bit of a shadow on that hope, though--they are told to wait, that they still have other brothers and sisters who are going to be murdered for their beliefs. So while there's hope, there's also heartache. There's not a whole lot of room for speculation, either, as we'll see in just a little bit when John sees those who are to be added to this group.
The sixth seal brings us back to earth and the things happening, very much like Jesus laid out in Matthew when He quoted the prophets: "a great earthquake shook the earth and the sun grew dark and became black (like mourning sackcloth) and the full moon became red like blood. The stars of heaven fell to earth as a fig tree drops its fruit during a winter storm. The sky snapped back as a scroll when it is rolled up. Every mountain was shaken off its foundation, and every island melted into the sea."
So here comes some pure speculation on my part. To me, this sounds like some sort of cataclysmic cosmic event, possibly an asteroid hitting the earth. If something like that happened, dust and smoke would cover the earth. That could cause the things described in Revelation 6:12-14. Another interesting possible effect? It could speed up the earth's rotation. Here's why that's interesting to me: Jesus told His disciples that God will shorten those days for the sake of His followers. If the earth's rotation was sped up, it could mean shortened days. Whatever the cause, though, the result is all the people of the earth hiding and crying out for the rocks to fall on them to hide them from God's wrath.
Next, we see a little bit of a reprieve where the angels are held back and told not to harm the earth until God's seal is placed on the 144,000. Just in case what I'm saying isn't already controversial enough for you, here's my next thought--that 144,000 doesn't include "Gentiles," which is the group I fall into. I believe that when Revelation says 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel are sealed, that's exactly what it means. I think the Israelites have always been God's chosen people, and I think at the end He will protect His people. I think they will be sealed so they can stand as a testament, so that the rest of the world will truly see His power.
Now, that doesn't mean that I think the 144,000 are the only ones God loves or the only ones who will see the new heaven and new earth. Right after this, John is shown a multitude from every people group on earth, and I fully believe there will be an uncountable number of believers from all over the world. However, Revelation 7:9 says those in the crowd are wearing white robes--the very same as the martyrs mentioned earlier. If that symbolism isn't enough, it's further clarified in verse 14 when John is told, "These are coming from the time of great suffering and affliction. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, cleansing them pure white."
The final seal is opened, and all of heaven is silent for what John says is about half an hour. Honestly, I think that's because they could see what all was about to happen and had to simply sit with that for a while. So for now, I'm going to do the same. My next post will pick up with the 7 trumpets.
There are some matters of doctrine that are debated from congregation to congregation. Some of those are things I believe we can overlook. When it comes right down to it, some of those issues are minor talking points. They don't have any true, lasting effects on believers or the lost, so arguing about them doesn't do anything other than divide. Other issues, however, are worth talking about. Those are the ones that run the risk of causing confusion that can prove harmful. In my mind, the discussion surrounding the tribulation and the rapture is one of those.
If you've heard of the tribulation, it's probably been something along the lines of this:
The tribulation is coming at the end of times, and it will be the most horrific time that has ever been seen on earth. It is when God's judgment will be poured out on mankind, and it will be so bad that people will cry out to the rocks to fall on them so they will be hidden. The Antichrist will be set up as the supreme leader of the earth, and he will force all people to bow to him. He will force them to get a mark on either their head or hand, and without that mark they won't be allowed to buy or sell. But God's people don't have to worry about it because we will all be raptured and gone.
But...what if that's not the case?
I don't know the exact timeline of the end times, but I don't know many people who look around right now and don't think we're getting closer to that time. In Matthew, Jesus talks to His followers about the end times. We have another record in Mark and one in Luke. In all of these, Jesus tells His disciples that they need to pay attention and use wisdom to figure out what's going on. With that in mind, I believe it is the duty of every follower of Christ to do the same. With that said, I feel like I need to share the view I've come to believe on the idea of the rapture and the tribulation. There's a whole lot to cover, so I'm planning on splitting this up a bit.
So, since I've procrastinated enough, here's part 1:
In Matthew 24, the disciples asked Jesus to explain what He meant when He said the temple would become rubble. They didn't understand His words when He said He would come again (in part because they couldn't imagine Him leaving), and they asked Him point blank how they would know it was the end of time.
Jesus' answer to them is pretty straightforward, and it paints a pretty bleak picture. Here's the gist:
"People are going to come and claim to be the Savior. The world is going to be full of wars, famines, and earthquakes--but that's just the start.
My followers are going to be handed over to the enemy, tortured, and killed. Many people who claim to be my followers will turn away from the idea of faith because the only thing increasing will be wickedness.
The 'abomination that causes desolation' that Daniel predicted will be set up in the temple, and that's when you'll know that the really bad stuff is starting. In fact, when that happens you should run and take shelter in the hills, because that will start a time that's so bad that it won't compare to anything that has ever happened on earth since the beginning of creation.
People will start telling you to be relieved, because the Savior has come--but don't be fooled. They are fakes, and they will do everything they can to fool God's people.
After all of that, then I'll return. It won't be a secret--all the nations of the earth will see me return leading armies of angels, and I will gather all the faithful of the earth."
I don't know about you, but I believe Jesus when He speaks. I have to admit that sometimes I don't really like what He has to say, but I believe His words are always true. In this passage, I believe Him when He says that He will return and gather His people after all the bad stuff happens. Like so many others, I don't like the idea of suffering. I read Revelation and Daniel and hope those I love won't have to see the devastation described by the prophets. At the same time, though, I have to admit that what I read doesn't support the idea that followers of Christ will be "raptured" from the earth before the tribulation.
Let's look at Revelation. I'm not claiming to know all the answers--in fact, the more I study the more I realize just how much I have to learn. However, I do think there are some parts of Revelation that are pretty clear. If we start with chapter 5, we see the timeline of the end times. It's not a minute-by-minute timeline, but it does tell us the order of events, starting with the opening of the 7 seals.
First, can I point out one of the things I think is the neatest about Revelation? As we see this scene opening, all of heaven is mourning because there isn't anyone worthy to open the scroll. But then the elders tell John, "Look, here comes the Lion of Judah!" So John looks for the Lion--the mighty king, coming in power and majesty. But when he looks for the Lion, he sees the Lamb. And not just the Lamb, but the One who had been slain.
When Jesus came, Israel was looking for the Lion. They were waiting for the Messiah to come as a mighty ruler, driving out the Romans and bringing God's kingdom to earth. Instead, Jesus came as a Lamb and was slaughtered to take our place. In this moment in Revelation, though, the Lamb who was slain is shown to be the Lion of Judah--the only One worthy to open the seals of the scroll and truly bring about God's kingdom on earth.
New kingdoms are very seldom created in peace, though. Before the new kingdom can take over, the old has to be defeated. The same is true of the earthly kingdom, where the Prince of the Earth (Satan) has reigned for so long. Before the new kingdom can take over, the old has to be driven out.
The first four seals that are broken involve something you've most likely heard of many times--the 4 horsemen.
 |
| Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, 1887, by Viktor Vasnetsov |
The first rides a white horse and has been given a conqueror's wreath (like the crown given to early Greek olympians). He rides out to conquer the earth. The second rides a fiery red horse and is given a sword, bringing war with him. The third rides a black horse and is holding a set of scales, telling us that barely enough food for one person will cost a day's wages. The fourth is Death, riding a pale horse. The others are bad, but this one is where the picture really starts to get bleak. This rider is given the power to kill 1/4 of the earth's population with famine, war, disease, and even wild animals. That list wraps up the idea of the end times for a lot of people, but in reality it's just the start of all the horrific things to come.
The fifth seal gives us our first glimpse of hope. John sees the souls of those who have been martyred for following Christ, and they are crying out for justice. They want the earth to be judged and they want to be avenged. Here's a bit of a shadow on that hope, though--they are told to wait, that they still have other brothers and sisters who are going to be murdered for their beliefs. So while there's hope, there's also heartache. There's not a whole lot of room for speculation, either, as we'll see in just a little bit when John sees those who are to be added to this group.
The sixth seal brings us back to earth and the things happening, very much like Jesus laid out in Matthew when He quoted the prophets: "a great earthquake shook the earth and the sun grew dark and became black (like mourning sackcloth) and the full moon became red like blood. The stars of heaven fell to earth as a fig tree drops its fruit during a winter storm. The sky snapped back as a scroll when it is rolled up. Every mountain was shaken off its foundation, and every island melted into the sea."
So here comes some pure speculation on my part. To me, this sounds like some sort of cataclysmic cosmic event, possibly an asteroid hitting the earth. If something like that happened, dust and smoke would cover the earth. That could cause the things described in Revelation 6:12-14. Another interesting possible effect? It could speed up the earth's rotation. Here's why that's interesting to me: Jesus told His disciples that God will shorten those days for the sake of His followers. If the earth's rotation was sped up, it could mean shortened days. Whatever the cause, though, the result is all the people of the earth hiding and crying out for the rocks to fall on them to hide them from God's wrath.
Next, we see a little bit of a reprieve where the angels are held back and told not to harm the earth until God's seal is placed on the 144,000. Just in case what I'm saying isn't already controversial enough for you, here's my next thought--that 144,000 doesn't include "Gentiles," which is the group I fall into. I believe that when Revelation says 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel are sealed, that's exactly what it means. I think the Israelites have always been God's chosen people, and I think at the end He will protect His people. I think they will be sealed so they can stand as a testament, so that the rest of the world will truly see His power.
Now, that doesn't mean that I think the 144,000 are the only ones God loves or the only ones who will see the new heaven and new earth. Right after this, John is shown a multitude from every people group on earth, and I fully believe there will be an uncountable number of believers from all over the world. However, Revelation 7:9 says those in the crowd are wearing white robes--the very same as the martyrs mentioned earlier. If that symbolism isn't enough, it's further clarified in verse 14 when John is told, "These are coming from the time of great suffering and affliction. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, cleansing them pure white."
The final seal is opened, and all of heaven is silent for what John says is about half an hour. Honestly, I think that's because they could see what all was about to happen and had to simply sit with that for a while. So for now, I'm going to do the same. My next post will pick up with the 7 trumpets.
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~Mandy