End Times Check List: The Olivet Discourse

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Next, a period of widespread persecution of Christians will occur:

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. (Matthew 24:9)

When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. (Revelation 6:9)

These scriptures outline the actions of the Beast as he reveals his true nature:

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:15-16)

And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:5-8)

Notice that the two most important chapters in the Bible relating to the End Times and the Tribulation, Matthew 24 and Revelation 6, agree completely on this sequence of events: the Antichrist coming into the world to conquer, a great war, a deadly famine leading to massive death, widespread persecution of Christians, and the Antichrist finally revealing his true nature with people worshiping him as God.

We believe that before this 7 year Tribulation period the true Christian believer will be Raptured. Why? Jesus described it this way:

And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. (Luke 17:26-30)

In both of His examples, the righteous people were saved first, then came swift destruction for the wicked. There was no apparent warning.

That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. (Matthew 24:39-41)

In other words, the Rapture will come as a complete surprise, and during normal activities. It will come before the Tribulation!

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So, when will the Rapture happen?

In the book of Matthew, we see Jesus teaching the Apostles that his Rapture of the bride will be linked to a certain generation:

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near—at the door! I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. (Matthew 24:32-34)

We believe that this generation started when Israel (often Biblically symbolized as a fig tree) was reestablished as a nation in 1948 after 1,900 years of dispersion, persecution and oppression. The reason we think this is the last generation, is that the Rapture, Tribulation and Second Coming require the existence of the nation of Israel.

A Biblical generation is defined as 70 to 80 years:

Our lives last seventy years
or, if we are strong, eighty years.
Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow;
indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away. (Psalm 90:10)

Now, applying simple addition, we can add 80 years to 1948 = 2028, and conclude that the Second Coming is near. This is the season for His return and for all that was prophesied to be fulfilled.

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What’s the practical take-away?

Be wise & discerning

Matthew 24:4 – “Take heed that no one deceives you.” (2 Thess. 2:11)

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Be faithful

Matthew 24:45-47 –“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master
made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom
his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him
ruler over all his goods.”

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Be prepared

Jesus goes next into Parable of Ten Virgins; only those virgins who were
prepared got to enter in! “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to
us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore,
for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (Matt. 25:11-13)

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If you are not sure that you are saved, you can accept Christ into your life right now, by praying:

“Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.  Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life.  I ask you in to my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior.”

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Current events are aligning with Biblical prophecy