Saturday, January 07, 2006

Pre-wrath Big Picture

Here is a combination of relevant verses in order to get the simplified, big picture of the pre-wrath view. Some of the passages have been paraphrased to help them flow together.

Footer numbers are in parenthesis with the footnotes at the bottom of the completed post.
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Watch out that no one deceive you (1). And be on guard, for Christ has told us everything in advance (2). The Antichrist will confirm a covenant with Israel for seven years (3). And many will come in Jesus’ name, claiming, "I am the Christ," and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains (4).

Then, in the middle of the "week (5)," when you see the Antichrist standing in God’s temple exalting himself, proclaiming to be God (6) and demanding worship (7), you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of Christ (8).

At that time there will be an apostasy (9), when many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of Christ will grow cold for most, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations (10).

If you are in Jerusalem (11), when you see the Antichrist exalting himself (12) in the middle of the "week (13)," flee for your life. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers, for there will be great distress unequaled from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be equaled again (14).

The Antichrist will be successful until the time of his wrath is complete (15). If those days were not cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened (16).

Immediately after the distress following the abomination (17) there will be a great earthquake. The sun will turn black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon will turn blood red, and the stars in the sky will fall to the earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind (18). These are the signs that the Day of the Lord is about to begin (19).

When you see all these things, stand tall and look up, for you know that your redemption is near, right at the door (20). For at that time, the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory (21). The trumpet call of God will sound and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, those of us who are still alive in Him and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds (22). The Lord will send His angels and they will gather us from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other (23).

He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power on the day He comes to be glorified in His people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, if you believe the testimony (24).

His return will be the same as it was in the days of Noah. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man (25).

Now brothers, about times and dates we have no need to worry, for you know very well that Christ’s return will be like a thief in the night. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief (26). So, as was mentioned before, be on guard, for Christ has told us everything in advance (27)!

Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for His return will not come until the apostasy occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction (28). But don’t let your heart be troubled (29). Those who suffer He delivers in their suffering and He speaks to them in their affliction (30). Trust in the Father and His Son. In the Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, Jesus would have told us. But it is so, and He has prepared a place for us. And if He prepares a place for us, He will come back and take us to be with Him. We know the way to the place He has gone (31).

So don’t forget, He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing (32). Be confident that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (33). Eagerly wait for Him to be revealed (34), but be patient until He does come (35). And prepare your minds for action. Be self-controlled. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed (36)!

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1 Matt. 24:4
2 Mark 13:23
3 Dan. 9:27
4 Matt. 24:5-8
5 Dan. 9:27
6 2 Thess. 2:4
7 Rev. 13:12
8 Matt. 24:9
9 2 Thess. 2:3
10 Matt. 24:10-14
11 Matt. 24:16
12 2 Thess. 2:4
13 Dan. 9:27
14 Matt. 24:16-18, 21
15 Dan. 11:36
16 Matt. 24:22
17 Matt. 24:29
18 Rev. 6:12-13
19 Joel 2:31
20 Luke 21:28, Matt. 24:33
21 Matt. 24:30
22 1 Thess. 4:16-17
23 Matt. 24:31
24 2 Thess. 1:7-10
25 Matt. 24:37-39
26 1 Thess. 5:1-2,4
27 Mark 13:23
28 2 Thess. 2:3
29 John 14:1
30 Job 36:15
31 John 14:1-4
32 1 Thess. 5:10-11
33 Phil. 1:6
34 1 Cor. 1:7-9
35 James 5:7
36 1 Peter 1:13
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Excerpt from Who Will Be Left Behind And When, pp. 122-126
http://whowillbeleftbehindandwhen.com/

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9 comments:

Katherine Hall said...

Really liked this!

Anonymous said...

Dave,

I have a few questions:

1. Daniel 11:36(NKJV) states "Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done." Now, I've understood this to mean that the Anti-Christ will be successful until the Lord's wrath is complete. Is that correct or it is referring to Satan's/Anti-Christ's wrath during the Great Tribulation period? But, again, if it does mean the Lord's wrath, then how can the A/C be successful until the end of the Lord's wrath if the A/C is only allotted 1260 days and the Lord's wrath extends a bit longer to 1290 days? So, in other words, how can the A/C be successful until the end of the Lord's wrath, if his time is up at 1260 days?

2. Aside from regional wars and Armageddon, do the scriptures explicitly state that there will be a World War 3 and, if so, when will it occur in relation to Daniel's 70th Week?

3. There is the prophecy about Damascus being destroyed. When does this occur in relation to Daniel's 70th Week?

Gone Fishin' said...

Raul,

Here’s the verse in the NASB:

Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. (Daniel 11:36 NASB)

The context of the entire verse is what the antichrist will do, not what God will do. Notice that it starts out speaking of the “monstrous” things he will accomplish and finishes with the fact that “what has been decreed will be done.” Because of this context I don’t think that it would make sense within the structure of the verse to throw in a mention of God’s indignation unless the indignation is said to be God’s. It wouldn’t flow or have any clarity.

Think about your question. It’s not making sense to you that the antichrist could be successful, or could “prosper,” during the time of the Day of the Lord’s wrath. I think there’s a reason that it’s not making sense to you. I think you’ve answered you own question! It’s not possible.

This is one of the reasons that the pre-wrath position sees the antichrist as being "rendered useless" when the Day of the Lord begins after the sixth seal sometime during the final half of the week. Certainly he will be around for the complete 1260 days but during the final portion of this time he will have limited strength due to the trumpets and bowls of God's wrath. Notice that Daniel 12:11 even give the antichrist 30 MORE days after the 1260. Not that he will prosper, but that he will have more time to suffer before his TOTAL destruction. I hope this helps.

2. Aside from regional wars and Armageddon, do the scriptures explicitly state that there will be a World War 3 and, if so, when will it occur in relation to Daniel's 70th Week?

First, I think you’re assuming that we are in the literal end. Who says there will ONLY be a world war three. What if there’s another 1000 years left and there’s world war 3, 4, 5 and 6 still allotted for the future?!

Check out the rest of Daniel 11. It speaks of many wars that will take place between the man of lawlessness and other kings/countries. This is certainly something that I think would fit under and world war definition, though I have to admit that I’m not completely sure if this will take place before or during the great trib.

3. There is the prophecy about Damascus being destroyed. When does this occur in relation to Daniel's 70th Week?

You will have to show me this passage. It’s not clear in my mind. I did a word search for Damascus and came up empty. Do you know the verse?

Anonymous said...

Dave,

First, thanks, it does make sense to me that Daniel 11:36 does refer to the A/C's indignation, not the Lord's wrath. So then, is the indignation here referring specifically to the Great Tribulation period, when he persecutes the Church? You make a great point about WW3. There could be several more world wars yet to come. And like you said, who is to say that we are in the last days. What about the Gog and Magog invasion? Is that describing some future World War, which leads to the final battle of Armageddon? About the prophecy concerning Damascus, I was referring to Isaiah chapter 17.

Gone Fishin' said...

I actually just put your question and my answer on my blog as a new post. There I talked about what you just
mentioned ie. the Great Tribulation. I'll get back to you about your new question.

Katherine Hall said...

Hi Dave,

I noticed you dropped in at Joel's. Most are "Very Pre-Trib". They will get downright fiesty. (I took your poll.) I still really like this post. My sister loved it when she came to understand prewrath.

Rolly said...

Hi, hit your site this morning, well done. I was a pre trib believer until 15 yrs ago when the Lord showed me the light or correct timing. It is all logical. I meet heaps of liberals, they live on lies & hate.
As to pre tribers, that is 99% of the Christians I challenge them that if you witness the signing of the Peace Accord then you must state you have been Deceived and have deceived other people. That is my challenge to preachers. We are in the last days so people have itching ears to listen to deception. Rolly. Praise the Lord.

JRR said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
JRR said...

I am a witness to the pre wrath. I was returned by Christ after being poisoned by my stepfather as a child. I was told it is not my time. Later confirmed through the Holy Spirit that I will walk through the tribulation. Do not let anyone deceive you. It is the last time and we are under deception already by the antichrist. How else will he trick you into the mark? How else will the hour fall when we have to decide is this real or is this antichrist.