The Last Days: 6. The Great Tribulation

[0:00] So we're continuing in the last days, and the subject today is the Great Tribulation.! Still to be fulfilled is the prophecy by Daniel of the 70th week.

[0:14] There were 70 weeks of years prophesied by Daniel, and 69 of those weeks were fulfilled already. And we're waiting on Daniel's 70th week of years.

[0:28] In those last seven years, we're going to see a lot of prophecies fulfilled. In those last seven years, there's going to come a culmination of all these things that we've been talking about.

[0:42] And that 70th week will start with what is called the Confirmation of the Covenant, in which there will be a seven-year agreement made that affects Israel and many other nations.

[0:54] It will be a confederacy and a strengthening of an alliance. And on the surface, it's going to seem like a good thing. There will be a promise of long-term peace and safety.

[1:08] And peace and safety will be the theme and the narrative of that time. Already in the news, we've seen in the past months big ordeals about peace in the Middle East and big hoopla's and President Trump bringing peace to the Middle East and all these things.

[1:28] It's going to be similar to that. It's going to be the conversation and the narrative of the hour. But there will be a seven-year agreement made with Israel and many other nations about peace.

[1:39] And at the beginning of this seven-year period, Israel will enjoy their third temple. They will be sacrificing and making oblations to God like they did in the Old Testament.

[1:52] They're going to start that back up again. They already have all the furniture pieces designed and ready. They have all the designs and the blueprints for the temple.

[2:03] They're just waiting for the approval to build. And they're ready to build the temple. And during this time, it's going to be a remarkable time as these sacrifices and oblations have not taken place for nearly 2,000 years.

[2:23] Since 70 A.D. when their temple was destroyed and they were scattered all over the world with no nation of their own. And the thing that triggered these last days is that Israel became a nation in 1948.

[2:39] They regained full control of their holy city, Jerusalem, in 1967. And at some point soon, they will have their temple on the Temple Mount and begin their sacrifice and oblations again.

[2:52] However, it's not going to be a long-lasting peace. It is at that three-and-a-half-year mark, in the middle of that seven-year agreement, that covenant, that there is going to be a betrayal.

[3:07] The false promise of peace and safety will be revealed. And that is at the point in which things will go from great to terrible. It is in the middle of the seven-year agreement that the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel and reiterated by Jesus takes place.

[3:28] That is when the man of sin, an Assyrian, will stand in the newly built third temple and commit the abomination of desolation. He will cause the sacrifice and oblations to cease.

[3:41] And that holy city of Jerusalem will be under siege. And at that point, the world is going to be turned upside down, starting in Jerusalem.

[3:52] And Jesus called that time the Great Tribulation. And it will not just affect Israel, but it will affect you. It's going to affect me. And it's going to affect this whole world.

[4:04] So, let's look at our first set of verses here in Matthew chapter 24, verse 15 through 22. When he therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place, whoso readeth let him understand.

[4:22] Then let them which are in Judea flee into the mountains. Let him which is in the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house. Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

[4:35] And woe unto them with our child and give suck in those days. But pray that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day. For then shall be great tribulation.

[4:48] This is Jesus speaking. Then shall there be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time. No, nor shall ever be.

[5:01] So, there's never going to be a more hard time. There's never going to be more turmoil. There's never been anything like this in the history of the world.

[5:13] And you think of all the things, all the calamities that happen in the world that we know of. I mean, you have great plagues. You have world wars.

[5:25] All these things that have taken place in the world. We have Nazi Germany with the Holocaust. All these terrible things that have happened in the world, in the history of the world.

[5:36] And here Jesus is saying that this is going to be a greater tribulation in those times. It's not going to be as, nothing's been as bad since the beginning of the world.

[5:47] And there's not going to be anything that bad after these things are done in the future. This is a great tribulation. In verse 22, the Bible says, And expect those days should be shortened.

[6:01] Except those days should be shortened. There should no flesh be saved, but for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened. Okay? And so, our notes for these verses is, Jesus referred to the last three and a half years as the great tribulation.

[6:19] And secondly, the final worldwide time of judgment and persecution before Christ's return. Okay? The final worldwide time of judgment and persecution before Christ's return.

[6:34] That's the great tribulation. I want to talk about some key things that Jesus mentioned there. He talked about the flight. And I want to talk about the flight of the Israelites.

[6:47] Jesus teaching about the coming great tribulation makes mention of your flight. And that they should pray that their flight is not in the winter or on the Sabbath. We'll read it again, Matthew 24, 16 through 20.

[7:00] Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains. Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house.

[7:12] 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.

[7:25] And in parallel scriptures in the Gospels, we look at Luke chapter 21. I put verses 20 through 40 in your deal there, but it's 20 through 24.

[7:37] And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. This is Jesus speaking. When you see Jerusalem compassed, that means encircled, with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

[7:57] Then let them which are in Judea flee into the mountains, and let them which are in the midst of it depart out. So if you're in the middle of Jerusalem, get out of the town. And let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

[8:11] So if you're already out of town, don't let them come back into town. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days.

[8:24] For there shall be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captive into all nations.

[8:36] And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. Okay. And so for our notes for those two portions of verses, At the beginning of the great tribulation, Jerusalem will be left desolate.

[8:55] It's going to be encompassed by armies. Already there's a term called the ring of fire that's around Israel now, where they're attacked from the north and the south.

[9:07] And they have to worry about Hezbollah. And they have to worry about Hamas. And they have to worry about Iran. And they have to worry about Lebanon.

[9:19] And they have to worry about Syria. And they have to worry about all these different enemies around them. They fought a seven-front war just in the past couple years, where they're fighting on seven fronts at once.

[9:32] And so we see these things already building up. Okay. Talking about the flight of the Israelites. The great tribulation begins.

[9:43] And for the second half of Daniel's 70th week prophecy, it is going to be the worst times in the history of the world. Not only will the Israelites be persecuted, but the Bible teaches us that those that carry the name of Jesus will be persecuted as well.

[9:59] They will be persecuted those of His name. And it is at that time that the beast will have full power. His image and His mark will be worshipped by the world.

[10:12] And those that refuse are going to be persecuted. So let's talk about the mark of the beast. As we learned in the powers and players of the last days in a previous lesson, the false prophet is going to cause the people to make an image of the beast.

[10:32] Remember, the beast is going to suffer a wound in its head. This is a man. This is a figure that represents this Antichrist world government that's in this Antichrist system.

[10:48] And there's going to be a PR guy. There's going to be a person. I don't know who it's going to be. But the false prophet is going to give power to the beast.

[11:02] This guy. But he's going to be wounded in his head, the Bible said, if you remember. And it's going to be a life-threatening wound. Either he's going to die or come close to it.

[11:12] But then he's going to be miraculously healed or resurrected in a sense. And the false prophet is going to have the people of the world make an image unto him and cause people to worship the image.

[11:27] I don't know if you remember those things from our previous lesson or not. But the beast is going to have received great power. And when the beast comes into full power for those 42 months, that is when the mark of the beast is put into place.

[11:42] And you have to remember, we're going to be talking about three and a half years. We're going to be talking about 42 months. We're going to be talking, you're going to hear terms of 1260 days.

[11:53] Those are all, they all equal three and a half years. Okay. So this is the last 42 months, the last three and a half years of Daniel's 70th week of years.

[12:05] Revelation chapter 13, verse 16 and 18 through 18. And he causeth all both great and small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads.

[12:18] And that no man might buy or sell, save he that he had the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom.

[12:29] Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast, for it is the number of man, of a man. And his number is six hundred, three score and six, or six, six, six.

[12:40] Okay. And so the mark of the beast, for our notes, the mark will be on the right hand or forehead, and no one can buy or sell without it.

[12:57] And the mark will represent the beast's name or number of his name. Okay. And here's why it's imperative that we do not receive the mark of the beast.

[13:11] In Revelation chapter 14, verse 9 through 11, we read, And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast in his image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand.

[13:28] Okay. So here's the angel saying, here's a warning. If any man worship the beast in his image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand. Verse 10.

[13:39] The spirit shall drink of the wine which is poured out without mixture. It's going to be an undiluted wrath of God. And to the cup of his indignation.

[13:50] And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever.

[14:01] And they have no rest day or night who worship the beast in his image or whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Okay. So those that accept the mark will experience the seven vials of wrath of God.

[14:16] And we, in our previous lessons, we learned about the seven trumpets and the seven vials of God's wrath. The seven trumpets sound and their warnings.

[14:28] And we see they affect one third of the earth. And it's a call for repentance. It's God in the last days saying his vengeance is about to come.

[14:39] For all the sin and disobedience of the world. All the persecution of his people over the years. And he's going to...

[14:50] Remember the Lord said vengeance is his. We're not to take vengeance ourselves on people when we're mistreated or when we're persecuted. But the Lord said vengeance belongs to him.

[15:02] And this is the time of vengeance. And it's in these last three and a half years. And those that take the mark, the trumpets are warnings to the whole world.

[15:14] But the wrath of God is 100% directed towards those that take the mark of the beast. So the trumpets are going to affect one third of the world as warnings, as a call to repentance.

[15:29] And it's in this sense that the end is here at hand. But then at some point in the last three and a half years towards the end, we're going to see the seven vials of God's wrath poured out on those that take the mark of the beast.

[15:44] Or worship his image or his name. Okay. Revelation chapter 20 verse 4. Remember, like I said earlier, the Bible teaches us that it's not just Israel.

[16:17] It's not just the Israelites, the Jews that are going to be persecuted. It's the people of the name of Jesus. The people that carry his name. Okay. And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God.

[16:32] And which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

[16:47] Okay. So these that are seen in John's vision in Revelation 20 verse 4 are those that refused the mark of the beast were persecuted for the name of Jesus.

[17:02] They were killed. Those that refused the mark are killed. Okay. Okay. And those that refused the mark will be part of that first resurrection when we read and studied and learned that at the last trump, then the dead in Christ are going to rise first.

[17:23] And then we, which are alive and remain, those that are alive and remain through that tribulation are going to be caught up together to meet them in the air.

[17:35] And then so shall we ever be with the Lord. Amen. And so there is another set of scriptures that is very important to understand. And many people think that once they know of the mark of the beast, they've been warned, maybe in a Bible study in Houston, okay, that they have this new information, that they're going to be on the lookout.

[17:58] They're going to know better. Okay. And that, you know, they don't, but they don't have to fully commit to the word of God and still make it as long as they just don't take the mark.

[18:08] And they think that they can not fully commit to the words and commandments to be separate from the world, to live holy lives, to get a deep love for truth, the word of God, and they think they're going to be okay.

[18:22] But the fact is those people that never fully commit to truth will not be okay, no matter how much knowledge they have about the things to come. In 2 Thessalonians 2, verses 9 through 12, it says, Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders.

[18:48] Okay. We're talking about the Antichrist, the beast, the Antichrist system, the false prophet and the beast. God is going to send people.

[19:24] People that never committed fully to his word that maybe have been around churches before, maybe been in Bible studies before, or not.

[19:37] But for whatever reason, they've never fully fell in love with the word of God. They never fully committed to truth. And they might know some things. Because the question is, I've been asked this question recently, how are people not going to see when the mark of the beast comes?

[19:54] How are people not going to say we shouldn't do that because it's not in the Bible? Or even the people that are developing it, even as we speak probably, with this digital coin thing, where cash is not going to be anymore.

[20:10] And it's all part of this. It's going to be a cashless society. You can't buy or sell without a mark in your forehead or right hand. But how are people not going to understand what's going on?

[20:22] And this is the answer to that question. Okay. It says, They're going to fall for it.

[20:40] God is going to cause them to actually believe the false prophet and the beast. And that they all might be damned who believe not truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

[20:53] A lot of people don't know that's in the Bible. Okay. For those that do not love truth, do not believe truth, have pleasure in unrighteousness, God will send them a strong delusion so they will take the mark.

[21:08] And so we should get a deep love and be obedient to the word of God. Live a life separate from worldliness. Consecrate yourself unto the Lord and to all good works so that you will be, you will be sent a, so you won't be sent a strong delusion and believe a lie, the false prophet and the beast, and fall for taking the mark.

[21:34] If you do not fully engage truth, God will send you a strong delusion and the great tribulation, and you will believe the deception and be lost.

[21:45] All right. So now we're going to jump into the two witnesses. So just to reiterate, we have to get a love for truth. We have to study the word of God.

[21:55] We have to apply its teachings to our life. We have to really get to the point where we crave and this nourishes, that we find this nourishment in this and that it's something that gives us strength.

[22:07] And we just love the word of God. And if we do that, then we're going to want to find out what pleases God. We want to please God. And then we begin to conform to his word and we find salvation and we'll be saved from all these things.

[22:24] And we have great promises at the end if we do that. So let's look at the two witnesses. The abomination of desolation is the siege of Jerusalem.

[22:37] And then the need for the Jews to flee Israel is the beginning of the great tribulation. It's also the time that the false prophet helps the beast to secure his image and power over the world for those 42 months, the last three and a half years, 1260 days, as the Bible teaches.

[22:58] The false prophet will be enforcing the taking of the mark of the beast. And those who refuse will be killed. And this goes on for the entire 42 months.

[23:10] The beast has power. Okay. All eyes will be on Jerusalem. And at this time in the beginning of the last three and a half years, that God will place two witnesses on the streets of Jerusalem.

[23:25] We find this in Revelation chapter 11, verse 3 through 6. There are several verses around this. You can find verses in the Old Testament in Zechariah.

[23:37] This is the verses that give us the most explanation. Revelation chapter 11, verse 3 through 6. These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

[24:02] And you can get a better understanding about what that means when you read the text and Zechariah. But for the sake of this study, we're not going to go there.

[24:14] Verse 5. So if somebody goes up to these two prophets placed in the streets of Jerusalem, and for the last three and a half years, these two prophets are going to be there prophesying and teaching truth and calling people to repentance.

[24:44] And the Bible even says bringing plagues upon the earth, getting people to repent. And if someone goes there and tries to kill them, whatever means that they tried to kill them, they're going to be killed by.

[24:57] So it's like invincibility or something like a shield that reflects back. And the Bible says that out of their mouth comes fire. Okay.

[25:09] Fire proceeds out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies. And if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. Verse 6. These have power to shut heaven. It means they can cause rain to stop and a drought and famine.

[25:23] That and rain not in the days of their prophecy and have power over waters to turn them to blood. Which we read a lot about in the seven seals and the seven trumpets and the seven vials of God of wrath.

[25:37] It's all taking place during the same time that these two witnesses are prophesying in Jerusalem. And they have these power to do these things and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will.

[25:49] Okay. And so for notes there, God gives two prophets power. And they preach and call for repentance for 1,260 days, which is the last three and a half years.

[26:08] And they destroy anyone who tries to attack them. Okay. So they're invincible. They're given power by God to be there.

[26:18] And they're to be witnesses unto him. And they witness to the world. Imagine the news coverage. Imagine the idea of these two guys that are invincible.

[26:31] And how much of a thorn on the side these two witnesses will be to the antichrist system that's in place. False prophet and the beast. God's going to give them power.

[26:44] They're going to preach repentance for three and a half years. And then anyone that tries to attack them is going to die. Okay. Revelation chapter 11, verse 7 through 10.

[26:59] And when they shall have finished their testimony. Okay. So when they're done testifying. The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them and shall overcome them and kill them.

[27:13] So when they're done testifying or they're finished their mission that God's placed them there for. Then God will allow them to be killed.

[27:25] And verse 8. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city. Which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt where also the Lord was crucified. We're talking about Jerusalem and there's a whole bunch in that that we're not going to go into.

[27:38] Verse 9. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half. And shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

[27:51] Verse 10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them. And make merry and shall send gifts one to another. Because these two prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth.

[28:01] They're going to celebrate the death of these two witnesses of God. Okay. For our notes. After three and a half years the beast kills them. And their bodies lay in the streets for three and a half days.

[28:18] Revelation chapter 11. We're continuing. The next verse. Verse 11 through 13. And after three days and a half the spirit of life from God entered into them.

[28:31] Verse 13.

[28:49] In the same hour was there a great earthquake. And the tenth part of the city fell. And in the earthquake were slain of men 7,000. And the remnant were frightened and gave glory to the God of heaven.

[29:04] Okay. So after three and a half days laying there. Life returns to them. And they ascend up into heaven. And they ascend up into heaven. And people that see that are amazed.

[29:17] And once they're ascended into heaven there's going to be an earthquake. And a tenth part of Jerusalem is going to be destroyed, leveled. And the Bible says 7,000 people are going to die in that instant.

[29:31] But people are going to get, because of all that, it's going to be the final great witness. People will give glory to God. And so most people don't even, have never even heard about the two witnesses.

[29:44] So I wanted to make sure we include that. This is something that happens for three and a half years. These two witnesses standing in the streets of Jerusalem in the last days witnessing to the world.

[29:58] And unfortunately, there's great deception in the world at that time through the Antichrist system. And probably very few will turn, but it seems like maybe some will.

[30:11] Okay. So let's look at the post-tribulation resurrection rapture. So I want to finish out this lesson with proving to you that the first resurrection and rapture of the church is going to happen after the tribulation.

[30:33] Because most people believe that we won't suffer through the tribulation, that God will rapture us out of the earth before the tribulation.

[30:47] So they're called pre-tribulation believers. And then we have people that believe that it will be sometime in the middle of the tribulation. And those are called mid-tribulation believers. And then there's those like myself.

[31:02] And I'm going to teach you and show you why. I believe the word of God is clear that it's post-tribulation rapture. Okay. And then I heard someone even say, I'm a pan-tribber.

[31:15] Okay. And so not pre, mid, or post. I'm a pan-tribber. I don't know what's going to happen, but it's all going to pan out. Okay. And I think that's a bad position to take.

[31:26] I think that's a bad position to take because there's so much in the Bible about the end times and prophecy. It's there for a reason. God wants us to know and be prepared and understand, know what to expect.

[31:38] And for us to kind of push it to the side and say, I'm not going to invest my time or effort into trying to understand these things. I think it's not a good position to take because it's there for a reason.

[31:51] And we're going to need, remember, that love for truth and understanding of truth to overcome the deception that's going to come. It's going to be powerful deceptions in the last days. Okay. So the post-tribulation resurrection and rapture.

[32:03] The first thing we need to understand is the fact that there are only two resurrections prophesied in God's word for the last days. There's what is known as the first resurrection. And then there's the second resurrection.

[32:16] Okay. So let's look at the first resurrection. The first resurrection is for those that died with the Holy Ghost and are transformed from mortal to immortal. And they will be like the angels.

[32:27] We learned about this last week. Okay. With the seventh trumpet. And the first resurrection happens at the seventh trumpet, meaning that those that make the first resurrection are alive for the 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth.

[32:42] It's called the millennial reign. We learned about that last week. Revelation chapter 20, verse 4 through 6. And I saw thrones, and they set upon them, and judgment was given unto them.

[32:53] And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands.

[33:05] And they lived and reigned with Christ 1,000 years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the 1,000 years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection.

[33:20] On such the second death hath no power. But they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him 1,000 years. Okay. So there very clearly, the Bible teaches us that it's the first resurrection comes after the tribulation.

[33:39] Because we're going to have to be faced with the option of the mark of the beast. Are we going to accept that mark or face the persecution?

[33:50] And so it's very clear that those that are on the throne, on those seats, given the job of being judges like we read about earlier, those were those that came out of the tribulation or were killed during the tribulation for not accepting the mark.

[34:10] Okay. But it says in verse 5, But the rest of the dead lived not again until the 1,000 years were finished. Talking about the millennial reign. When Christ returns, and as it says in the Bible, where the dead in Christ will rise first, and those that are alive and remain will meet him in the air at his return.

[34:27] That's the first resurrection. Okay. The resurrection of the dead in Christ. And we're going to meet him in the air, and we're going to forever be with the Lord. And when he touches down, we're going to be touching down with him, and he's going to finish off his enemies.

[34:45] Okay. And he's going to set up the millennial reign, and we're going to, as it says there in verse 6, But they shall be priests of God and Christ, and shall reign with him 1,000 years.

[34:56] We're going to be given crowns. We're going to be judges, and we're going to be priests for God. Okay. For those that would have survived through all that tribulation.

[35:09] And God's going to set up his kingdom on earth for 1,000 years, the millennial reign. Sorry, I forgot to give you the notes. Okay. Okay. Okay.

[35:20] So those who refuse the mark during the great tribulation are in the first resurrection. There is no resurrection before the first resurrection. Otherwise, it wouldn't be called the first resurrection.

[35:32] So quite literally, that seventh trumpet, the last trump, when the dead in Christ shall rise first, that is the first resurrection. And those that are in the first resurrection will be with Christ and his kingdom.

[35:46] Let's look at the second resurrection. The second resurrection is the resurrection of the unrighteous, those that died without the Holy Ghost. The second resurrection takes place after the 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth.

[36:01] The second resurrection is for judgment of the lost, and it leads to a lake of fire. Revelation chapter 20, verse 11 through 15.

[36:13] And I saw a great white throne and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away and was found no place for them.

[36:24] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God. And the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works.

[36:41] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and the death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them. And they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.

[36:55] This is the second death, verse 15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Okay, so for your notes, the second resurrection is after the 1,000-year reign of Christ.

[37:10] And it's for those that were not written in the book of life. And there's only these two resurrections, no others. The resurrection of the righteous in Christ Jesus, and then 1,000 years later, after the millennial reign, the resurrection of the ungodly.

[37:25] And if you know the story of Jesus speaking to Nicodemus in John 3, it's no wonder Jesus said in John 3 that if you are not born again, you will not see the kingdom of God.

[37:42] Okay? John 3, verse 3-5 says, So if you're not, that's why I said if you don't, if you're not.

[38:13] The Bible also says that if you die and you have that same spirit that was in Christ, is in you, then you too will be raised from the dead as Christ was.

[38:25] So we need that Holy Spirit in us when we die. Okay? We need to make sure we live right and die right. Okay? Because we want that Holy Spirit in us.

[38:36] Otherwise, we're not going to make that first resurrection. Okay? And we're not going to even get to see the kingdom of God. That 1,000 year reign, we don't even get to see that if we don't die with the Holy Ghost.

[38:49] This is a hard truth most people don't want to acknowledge or believe. And that is the fact that the Word of God teaches us in several places that the first resurrection happens after the tribulation.

[39:00] That means we're going to have to go through the tribulation and we're going to have to face all the persecution. 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 1-3. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[39:14] We're talking about by the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the gathering together unto Him. So this is talking about when Jesus returns and we're gathered together, well, dead and alive, to Him.

[39:25] Okay? Verse 2. That ye be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled, neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us, as that day of Christ is at hand.

[39:37] Verse 3. Let no man deceive you by any means. For that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.

[39:50] Okay? So here's very clearly is we're being taught the Word of God that the resurrection and rapture will not happen until there's a falling away.

[40:02] Meaning a lot of people are going to quit believing. A lot of people are going to walk away from believing in God's Word. A lot of people are going to backslide, as we would say, and go backwards and give up living for God.

[40:16] Okay? There's going to be a falling away. We hear a lot of talk about end-time revival. We're going to have revival in the end times. We've been promised end-time revival. We're experiencing end-time revival. The gospel has reached the world.

[40:29] It's all over the world. It's in every language. For the last 125 years, since the late 1800s, early 1900s, since Azusa Street in Los Angeles, there's been revival.

[40:44] Great outpourings of revival. And this is the last days. Okay? And it also says that that resurrection and rapture, that gathering together at Christ's return is not going to happen until the man of sin is revealed.

[40:55] And that's what we were talking about earlier, the abomination of desolation. That's when the man of sin enters the third temple in Jerusalem and causes the sacrifice and oblations to cease.

[41:07] Okay? And that happens in the last three and a half years, which is called the Great Tribulation. Okay? All right. And then here's kind of the seal the deal for me.

[41:19] Okay? And there's so many other scriptures, but these are the ones that are often looked over, that show us that the rapture, the resurrection and rapture comes after the tribulation.

[41:33] Okay? Let's look at Matthew chapter 24, verse 29 through 31. Okay? And this is Jesus speaking. If you have your Bible and you're following along in your Bible and you have the red letter edition, it's going to be in red letters because Jesus is speaking.

[41:50] Okay? Immediately after, verse 29, immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

[42:04] So we learn all that in the seven trumpets and the seven vials last week. Okay? So that he's talking about that. Okay? Verse 30. Okay? So it's immediately after the tribulation of those days that's going to happen.

[42:17] It says, verse 30, and then. Shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn. And they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

[42:30] And he shall send his angels with the great sound of a trumpet. And they shall gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other.

[42:41] So that is when the resurrection of his elect and the rapture takes place is immediately after the tribulation of those days.

[42:54] All those cosmic signs are going to happen. And then that's when our redemption comes.

[43:04] Okay? So Jesus himself places the gathering of the elect after the tribulation. The word of God consistently places the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the catching up of the living saints immediately after the tribulation.

[43:23] At the last trump. After the cosmic signs. After Babylon's fall. And at the coming of Christ. There's no scripture that teaches a secret pre-tribulation rapture.

[43:36] All evidence points to a post-tribulation rapture. And think about if we didn't have that understanding. Think about if we believed.

[43:47] Because maybe we're slightly uneducated in the word. Just hear what other preachers might teach or something like that. But let's say we believe a pre-tribulation rapture and we see something that comes and it's the mark of the beast.

[44:01] And we're like, well, that can't be the mark of the beast because we're supposed to be gone by now. And think of how many people would fall for that. So, well, this can't possibly be the mark of the beast because according to my preacher that I listen to, you know, I'm supposed to be gone already.

[44:19] Right? And so there's this misunderstanding. But when you really break down the scriptures and read them, it makes it very clear. And this is intentional by God. He wants us to know.

[44:30] He wants us to understand these things. So we're prepared for them. Okay? Jesus explicitly says the gathering of the elect is immediately after the tribulation.

[44:43] The rapture happens at the last trump. After all seven tribulation trumpets, the saints are seen in heaven after Babylon's fall at the end of the tribulation.

[44:56] Okay? The martyrs of the tribulation, those that are killed, beheaded for not taking the mark, are raised in the first resurrection. The great multitude comes out of the great tribulation.

[45:09] I gave you scriptures from every statement I'm making. You can read it yourself in scripture. Okay? All these scriptures prove the resurrection and rapture is at the end of the great tribulation when Christ returns in glory.

[45:23] All of the prophecies of the great day of the Lord will be completed by the end of the great tribulation. Okay? We must prepare for the return of our Savior.

[45:35] Jesus ended Revelation saying, behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according to his work shall be. Amen. Now on these last two pages that I have for you, these are just for you further.

[45:53] Okay? I'll go through these real quick on this next page on page 58. Prepare yourself for the coming Lord. I put together ten things that, and I back it up with scripture, that the word of God tells us to prepare for the first resurrection and rapture.

[46:12] You want to be prepared for the first resurrection and rapture? Then do these ten things. One, watch and be ready. Two, be sober and watchful. Kind of sounds the same, but when you read the scriptures, you understand.

[46:27] Number three, live holy and blameless lives. Holiness is important to God. Okay? God said, be holy for I am holy.

[46:38] Okay? We have to have peace with all men and holiness, and without which no one shall see the Lord, the Bible says. Okay? Holiness is important.

[46:48] Abide in Christ and his word. We talked about that a couple Thursday nights ago. Purify yourself. Okay?

[47:00] We have to, every man have this hope in him, purify himself, even as he is pure. Be faithful and endure to the end. We're going to have to go through these things.

[47:12] Don't be part of that great falling away. Okay? Commit to God. Okay? Love God and keep his commandments. Be filled with the Holy Ghost.

[47:26] Pray always. And love the brethren and do good works. The theme that I've been feeling for 2026.

[47:38] And I always thought if I ever became a pastor, I wouldn't be like one of those guys that always has to have the theme for the year. But now that I am a pastor, God does deal with me, I feel like.

[47:54] And the theme that keeps going over in my head is together, serving, winning.

[48:06] Together, serving, and winning. Winning together, serving God, and winning. Winning at life.

[48:18] Winning at overcoming temptations. Winning at overcoming sin in the world. Winning souls around us of those that don't have truth. And that's what I'm feeling for 2026 is together, serving, and winning.

[48:34] And then the last page on 59 here, it's just some facts I put together about the great tribulation. On the left column are basically all the major things that happen. And then I give you the scriptures where you can find them and study them.

[48:48] And then on the right-hand side, I put the timing of that. On the bottom left, I gave this little reference for all the terms that are used for the last three and a half years, which is the great tribulation.

[49:01] You got three and a half years, 1260 days, 42 months. And then you see one that's called time, times, and dividing of time, which is one plus two plus a half equals three and a half years. These are all terms that are used in the Bible when it's referring to the great tribulation.

[49:16] So when you come across those, know that it's talking about that. And then on the bottom right-hand side is the resurrection and rapture of the church happens at the end of the tribulation.

[49:26] And I give several more scriptures there for that, for yourself to study. Amen. And we got to study the word of God and show ourselves approved. Amen.

[49:37] Let's pray. Lord Jesus, I thank you for your word. I pray, God.