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Endtime
What Is The Great Tribulation?
Many Christians avoid the topic of the Great Tribulation either because they don’t understand it, or because they think they won’t be here for it. Their thinking is that if they aren’t going to have to endure it, there’s no reason to concern themselves with it. FIRST, you CAN understand it, and God described it in His Word, so He wants you to understand it. SECOND, the Church WILL be here for it. (I’ll just leave this right here for an upcoming post.)
WHAT IS IT?
The Tribulation is a time period which will lead up to the Battle of Armageddon, and the return of Jesus Christ to gather His Saints/Elect/Church. It will be a time of severe persecution of the Jewish people, and yes, even the Church. To get an idea of the scope of persecution, research the Holocaust, and know that Jesus said it would be worse.
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21)
WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE?
In Daniel chapter 9, the prophet is given revelation concerning 70 weeks of years (a 490 year period whereby God determined to accomplish some things. He tells us what those things are in verse 24:
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.“ (Daniel 9:24)
- To finish the transgression
- To make an end of sins
- To make reconciliation for iniquity
- To bring in everlasting righteousness
- To seal up the vision and prophecy
- To anoint the most Holy
One week of the seventy has yet to be fulfilled. That is a week of years, or a seven year period. The Church is waiting for this seven year period to begin. It is during this last seven years that the above things will be accomplished. This time period is going to wrap everything up that needs to be completed before Jesus is anointed King of kings and Lord of lords, and sets up His earthly 1,000 year millennial kingdom.
HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?
If asked, most people would say that the Great Tribulation will last for seven years. This, however, is not backed by scripture. While there will be a seven year period of time that leads up to the Battle of Armageddon and the return of Jesus to gather His Church, the Tribulation will only be during the second half of the “week of years,” or the final 3 and 1/2 years.
It is in the middle of the week (of years) that the antichrist will cause the daily sacrifices to stop, and will commit the abomination of desolation by standing in the newly built Jewish Temple, and claiming to be God. (their long-awaited Messiah) This incident is what will trigger the Great Tribulation. Up until this point there will have been pseudo peace for the first 3 and 1/2 years.
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.“ (Daniel 9:27)
“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.“ (Matthew 24: 15-21)
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
As we have seen, the Tribulation begins in the middle of the final seven years. We can verify the length of the Tribulation by comparing the variations of wording to describe the last half of the week.
Time, and Times, and Half a Time
“And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” (Revelation 12:14)
Time is one year. Times is two years, and half a time is half a year. We see the same description of a 3 and 1/2 year Tribulation period. *NOTE* The woman in this scripture is the collective Jewish West Bank settlers who are mentioned as “them which be in Judaea” above in Matthew 24:15-21.
42 Months
”But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.“ (Revelation 11:2)
“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.“ (Revelation 13:5)
1,260 Days
“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelation 11:3)
IN CONCLUSION
Whether the Tribulation is described as Time, and Times, and Half a Time, or Forty-Two Months, or 1,260 days, it is obvious that it is referring to a three and one-half year period of time. As we also saw, this period of time begins in the middle of the week when the antichrist steps into the newly built Jewish Temple, declaring himself to be God, or their Messiah.
At this point, the seven year Jewish/Muslim peace agreement that was instituted by the world government, will be broken, and terrible persecution will break out upon the Jewish people.
This three and one-half year Tribulation period is just ahead. If you are reading this, there is every reason to believe that you will live to see it. Still, you might be thinking that you’re not Jewish, so why should you be concerned? I will cover this question in detail in an upcoming post, but I’ll leave you with this one scripture:
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.“ (Revelation 12:17)
After the antichrist, possessed by satan, sends his initial onslaught against the Jewish people, in his rage, he will then send tribulation out into the rest of the world to persecute Christians in whatever nations he can. It remains to be seen how much authority he will have over the United States of America. (And that is for a future post;) One thing is for certain. It is time to trust God, more than we ever have before.
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I welcome you to leave comments. When talking about endtime prophecy and events, there is a lot to unpack, and I realize we won’t all agree. Don’t let that hinder you from leaving feedback.
Warm Regards,
-Pat
WAKE UP! It’s Later Than It’s Ever Been.
One day when I was a young girl, I woke up and walked out of my bedroom, and immediately sensed something different in my home. I didn’t know what it was, but everything felt strange. The atmosphere. The light coming in the windows. My family was acting strangely, not going about their normal morning routines. They were all sitting around the tv watching evening shows. I was extra hungry. Everything was just off.
I had put on my clothes like normal, and headed to the kitchen for breakfast. My mom gave me a peculiar look, and said something to the affect of, “Well, there’s not much use in getting dressed now. It’s almost time to go to bed.”
I’m not sure of the rest of the conversation, or why she had let me sleep, (Maybe she thought I was sick.) but I finally realized that I had literally slept all day. My natural rhythm was out of whack for days.
The worst part was the loss of all that time. Time that I could have been doing what kids my age did. Playing with my dogs, gerbils and Barbie dolls, riding my bike and reading my library books. It felt like time had sped up, and gone on without me.
Time Will Speed Up In The Last Days.
There is coming a time, and I believe it has already begun, when the length of days will be shortened because of God’s grace to His Church. Such difficult and evil times will come upon the world, that even the Church will be at great peril of being lost but for this gift of grace.
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matthew 24:21-22)
“For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.” (Mark 13:19-20)
The Dog Days of Summer Are Gone.
Remember when you were a child how summer days just went on and on? When kids and dogs had nothing better to do than hang out, just beating the day’s heat with a cool glass of lemonade and the swish of a tail.
I use to think that it was just the mark of childhood. As my own kids were growing up, however, I noticed that they began to exclaim that Christmas or their birthday had come around very fast. They just couldn’t believe another year had gone by. When I was a kid, it seemed a lifetime between Christmases and birthdays.
I don’t believe this speeding up of days is my imagination. Nor is it the imagined result of growing older with adult responsibilities. I am convinced that the days are literally being fast forwarded through.
Length Versus Number
Some believe that the actual number of days in the endtime will be shortened. I cannot believe this to be true because scripture gives us a very set timeline to gauge when we are living.
“And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.” (Daniel 12:11)
On the contrary, scripture very specifically tells of a time that the length of our days and nights would be shortened by one third. I believe that time has begun.
“And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.” (Revelation 8:12)
What Will We Do With Our Days?
Considering that we are all Sheltering In Place, and knowing that our days are shorter than ever, how will we spend them? We are limited from doing some things, but are they things that really matter to the Kingdom?
If we are going to be proactive for the cause of Christ, now is the time. For the time being we can still reach out over the internet and all venues electronic to be a witness. We can write, call, text, video teach, and of course, there’s never been a better time to pray like we have never prayed before. Jesus, Himself, said…
“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4)
THE BEAR AND THE LEOPARD (Daniel 7, Part 2)
Endtime prophecy is filled with IMAGERY and SYMBOLISM. This can frighten people, or cause them to feel like endtime prophecy cannot be understood. God doesn’t want you to be frightened. He wants you to be informed. It is His will that we understand His Word as it applies to the time we are living in.
As we continue our study of Daniel 7, let’s remember that the “beasts” in Daniel’s dream were not actually living creatures, but were SYMBOLS depicting nations, along with their leaders. Many times, if we continue to read, scripture actually explains itself. We find the interpretation of the beasts in the following verses:
“I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.” (Daniel 7:16-17)
“Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.” (Daniel 7:23)
RELEVANT SYMBOLS
When God chose animals to symbolize endtime nations and their kings in prophecy, He chose symbols that would be recognizable and relevant to the people living in the endtime. Knowing this, it makes perfect sense that He would choose the animals that He did.
THE LION WITH EAGLE’S WINGS
The first beast that Daniel saw was a lion with eagle’s wings. In my previous post, IS AMERICA IN YOUR BIBLE? Daniel 7, Part 1: http://www.patvick.com/america-in-your-bible-daniel-7-part-1/, we identified this beast as GREAT BRITAIN and the wings that were plucked as the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Both of these animals are recognized as the national symbols for these two nations.
“And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.” (Daniel 7:3-4)
THE BEAR
It is also well known that the bear is often associated with the nation of RUSSIA. In many political images, you will see Russia depicted as and spoken of as the Russian Bear.
I cannot say specifically what the three ribs in the bear’s mouth represent, although they are most likely territories that Russia has taken control of by force. When we read or watch the news on any given day, it is clear that Russia has a ravenous appetite for territory and control, and has shown itself willing to go to great lengths of military force to acquire more and more.
“And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.” (Daniel 7:5)
THE LEOPARD
In modern times, the leopard has been associated with the nation of GERMANY. The Leopard Tank was designed by Germany, and is the main battle tank of the nation’s military. The leopard in Daniel 7 has four heads. These four heads symbolize the three previous times Germany has risen to power, or what we know as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd “Reichs,” as well as the fourth, which the nation is now experiencing.
“After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.” (Daniel 7:6)
HOW IS THIS INFORMATION RELEVANT?
You might be wondering why knowing what nations are represented by these animals is important in the grand scheme of things? How does it affect your every day life?
The United States Of America is only 243 years old. It is only in these last 243 years of 6,000 years of human history that this prophecy could even come to pass. This means we are living, at this moment, in the endtime. With Great Britain, the U.S., Russia, and Germany very prominent on the world scene, endtime prophecy isn’t for some time in the future. It is for our lives today.
THE DREADFUL BEAST
We will cover the fourth beast of Daniel’s dream in an upcoming post. Please check back soon, and God bless you as you study His Word.
-Pat
Are You Hoping For Heaven, But living Like The Devil?
Years ago, I knew a lady who lived like the devil. She had enough Church influence to know right from wrong. If you happened to get into a conversation on the Bible, she knew all the right answers, and could even quote scriptures.
She knew and believed the Oneness of God. She knew and believed the New Birth experience as taught in Acts 2:38-39. She knew and believed in Holiness. She had a general knowledge of Endtime events.
Did I mention she lived like the devil?! Being a young Believer, and full of zeal for the Lord, I was astounded at this phenomenon.
As is often the case with people who know the Truth, but aren’t living Him, she loved to engage others in conversation about the Bible. One evening, we were having one such discussion concerning the Rapture and the Mark of the Beast. She said to us, “I know I’m not living right. I know I won’t make the Rapture, but when the time comes, I have decided, no matter what, I won’t take the Mark.” (I’ll reserve my comments on her belief in a pretribulation Rapture for another post.)
Being a young Christian, I didn’t know what to say to her then, but in the years that have passed since, I have often thought of her remark. If someone were to say the same thing to me today, I would share with them Jeremiah 12:5.
“If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5)
I fear that there are many people that think like this lady did. They think that after living their lives in whatever manner they choose, that somehow, by sheer determination, they will be able to decide to do right “when the time comes.”
If you are one of those people, I would ask you the same question that Jeremiah did. If you can’t serve God and do right while living in peaceful times today, how do you think you will find the resolve to live for God when hard times come tomorrow? When persecution comes? When tribulation comes?
Willpower is a lousy disciplinarian when it comes to spiritual matters. If you are not truly CONVERTED to Christianity, If you are not truly BORN AGAIN of the WATER and the SPIRIT, your willpower is like a spider’s web in satan’s face.
Willpower is a lousy disciplinarian when it comes to spiritual matters. Share on X
The Apostle Paul told the young minister, Timothy,
“In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (2 Timothy 2:25-26)
You may think you are calling the shots while being backslidden. You may think that one day, in the future, when you have sown the last of your wild oats, when you have achieved a certain measure of success, when you have gained notoriety among your peers, when you have consumed all of this world’s pleasures…that you will simply “decide” to come to God.
You are being deceived, my friend, and it is the most delicious deception the devil offers on his buffet of deceitful delicacies. The Truth is that you are being held captive at his will. Not only is he calling the shots, but he is doing so in relatively peaceful times.
What true persecution does the North American Church know of? If you squirm when someone asks whether you go to that Pentecostal Church, do you truly think that you will have the fortitude to live for God when the “Horsemen” arrive? When the whole world is reeling out of control?
I implore you. I beg you. I reason with you. If you feel the tug of the Spirit reading these words, don’t wait to “decide” to serve God. Turn to Him now. FIND A CHURCH that teaches the Acts 2:38 New Birth message, and go there as soon as possible. Repent of your sins, be baptized in the name of Jesus’ Christ for the remission of those sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. Commit to living a life of Holiness.
If you have known the Lord, but have walked away, if you have filled your life with the world’s delicacies, WAKE UP! Realize your soul has been snared. Turn away from satan’s table of deceit, and turn back to God, while His Spirit is dealing with you. The horsemen are fast approaching, and you need to be prepared for spiritual battle.
Warm Regards,
-Pat Vick
As always, feel free to leave a comment, share to social media, SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter, and email me PAT@PATVICK.COM.
Seven Days And Counting…
Here we are, seven days from the election that will forever change our American story. It reminds me of Noah’s story. He worked steadily for over one hundred years, following specific instructions from God, to build a boat for the saving of whosoever would get on board. Whether or not anyone believed Noah’s crazy sounding preaching didn’t change the fact that a flood was coming, and nothing would ever be the same again. To believe or not only affected whether that individual or family would be saved from the sure and soon coming deluge.
Even though God is a God of judgement, He is also a God of mercy. This doesn’t mean He will not judge our sin. It means that He will continue to give opportunity to turn away from sin and to Him up to the end. This was the case for Noah’s generation. God gave Noah a seven day final warning:
“For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.” (Genesis 7:4)
Noah and his family had seven days to finalize last minute preparations before the divinely appointed day when the rain would begin.
“In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.” (Genesis 7:11)
Scripture doesn’t give us any indication that it began with a sprinkle and splatter of warning raindrops. God’s Word was the warning.
“In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;” (Genesis 7:13)
“And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in.” (Genesis 7:16)
After the seven days of warning, on the same day that Noah’s family entered into the ark, the Lord shut the massive door, and the windows of heaven were opened and rain began to fall in torrents. There was no more opportunity for mercy after God shut the door. After a hundred years of hearing the preached Word, and seven days of final warning, only Noah and his family were on board when the door was shut and the rain began to fall.
So, here we are seven days from the election that will forever change our American story. No matter which candidate wins, it will cause a shift in the spiritual realm. I believe when this election takes place, a spiritual door will be shut by God Himself.
Am I saying you won’t have another chance to get right with God after the election? No. That’s not for me to know. I’m saying that God, in His mercy, is tugging at your heart right now, and it’s high time to get in the ark of safety. Seven days and counting…
“And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man…” (Genesis 6:3)
As always, feel free to leave a comment, share to social media, and email me at pat@patvick.com.
Warm Regards,
-Pat